At Your Service

At Your Service

Pairing: Jiu x Fem!Reader (& some Yoohyeon x Fem!Reader)

Warnings / Misc. -- Fluff, Angst, Smut, Mentions of violence, etc.

Word Count: 33,401 (grab a snack)

Synopsis: Jiu -- a married heiress and product of the centuries old, successful dynasty of Kims -- finds herself in need of a new personal maid following the sudden departure of her previous one. When opportunity arises and brings Y/N L/N -- a stubborn, working class citizen with a hatred for her less than ideal circumstances -- to her doorstep, how will they deal with the fallout?

Disclaimer: This writing is a work of fiction, and no disrespect is meant for those mentioned herein.

A/N: Hey everyone! Here's my first Dreamcatcher fic. I hope you enjoy! :)

💖 Happy Reading 🌹

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◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚ ▸◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚ ▸◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚ ▸◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚

Blood trickled down the side of your father’s hand, shining crimson in the subtle flicker of candlelight. A makeshift weapon – some mangled piece of metal, resembling a shiv – cut into his skin slightly, due to the force of his grip on it. 

His weight was shifted to one foot, keeping him prepared to strike if need be; with the front door of your home slightly ajar, he craned his neck enough to communicate with the guards on the other side. His thumb rubbed the handle of the blade in rhythmic strokes… one, two … keeping his breathing in check. Appearing suspicious was a death sentence, and he knew that; so, he patiently waited for the opportunity to make a move.

In an eerie flash of black suits and gloves, the men pushed their way inside.

They came to loom over your family members with piercing gazes, staring holes into them. Tension was thick in the room, nearly suffocating. Each second was an hour as the interrogation they started dragged on, only increasing the chance of impulsivity on both sides. Glancing eyes were a silent challenge, the twitch of a finger was a call to arms.

At the center of it all, surrounded in more ways than you even knew at the time, was you. Had you known then how drastically your life would change, maybe you’d have done things differently. 

Maybe you would have started running after that first knock.

-

“We aren’t here seeking trouble, Y/F/N. What the heiress requires is simple, and you’re the first on the list to provide it,” the boss explained, reclining in your father’s chair. His slicked-back hair looked greasy in the low light of the room. 

“Y/N has nothing to do with any of my financial dealings,” your father reiterated, not backing down. “Paying off my debts isn’t something that concerns her.” 

That statement earned him a wary glance from you, though he didn’t see it.

The leader shrugged in response. “We have our orders just the same as you. And besides,” he reasoned, leaning forward enough to touch his elbows to his knees, “...this is something to be grateful for. All of your debt will be forgiven when she finishes her time at the estate. It’s as easy as that.”

“The estate?” You broke in, confusion heavy in your tone.

The man seemed appreciative of your question, with the way his face brightened as he turned his focus to you. “Precisely, Y/N. It’s a beautiful place, where Mrs. Kim lives; acres and acres of land, so many sights to see. And the house, well…” he paused, attempting to build anticipation like a parent reading to their child. “... the house is the best part. You’ll have your own quarters, near the heiress’s room, and be free to roam the halls once your work is completed for the day.” A wistful look befell him. “It's absolutely breathtaking." 

“What’s the catch?” You asked skeptically, narrowing your eyes. Your father turned to face you, unbelieving that you’d even entertain the idea by inquiring further. 

The leader sat up straighter, shaking his head slightly. “There isn’t one, Y/N, despite what your father may have led you to believe.” He glanced at him almost smugly before returning his gaze to you. “Everyone can benefit from this deal. The heiress gets the maid she needs, you can enjoy a few months away in the countryside, and your family will be relinquished of any debts owed. It’s truly that simple.”

You pondered for a moment. “How long would I be indentured?”

Your father adamantly shook his head, coming to stand in front of you. “No, Y/N. You’re not doing this. I forbid it.”

“Why?” 

The guards near your other family members took a step closer to them, though you failed to see it at the time. 

“This isn’t your due to pay,” he reasoned, hoping you’d just listen to him for once. “And nothing that these men say is ever true. Not fully, anyway.” He glanced over his shoulder subtly, stealing a peek at the boss. He took note of the positions the rest of the men were in, committing them to memory. 

“But father, if I have the chance to help like this I have to take it,” you affirmed, steadfast in your desire to be useful. 

“No.”

“Father–”

“I said no, Y/N.” He leveled his gaze with yours, stern and final. 

The leader sighed dramatically behind him, slapping his knees before moving to stand.

“I was really hoping to do this the easy way, Y/F/N.” He tutted, taking a step closer. Your father turned around to look at him, fiddling with the metal in his pocket again.

“Why do you always have to be so difficult?” He sounded genuinely disappointed. 

The other men darted forward when he nodded his head, grabbing the arms of your family members and forcefully restraining them behind their backs. You lunged towards your mother instinctively, ready to free her, but were met with the chilling sound of a gun cocking before you could pry their hands off of her. 

“Now now, Y/N. Don’t be like your father.”

Tears began to brim in your eyes as you slowly turned to look at the pair of them. A statement like that could only mean a handful of things, and none of them were good.

Your father's shiv was angled directly at the man's throat, nearly poking into his Adam's apple. In retaliation, you found his pistol pointed directly at your father’s head. 

Neither of them backed down; if the scene before you were a war of wills, it would surely be a bloodbath.

“Don’t be a hero, okay?” The adversary smiled crookedly, looking truly evil in the light of the room. “You have the power to end this however you want.”

Y/F/N reached a hand out to you, sensing how frightened you were. Even when his life was on the line, keeping you calm was more important. 

“Don’t listen to him, Y/N/N. Nothing good will come of anything he says–”

A stomach-churning crack rang out before you even had time to blink.

Only once your father spit a mouthful of blood onto the wooden floor and let out a quiet groan did you understand what happened. The man had pistol whipped him in a fit of anger. 

Your enemy let out a shaky breath, fighting his every instinct to prevent himself from shooting your father right then and there. “I’ll be generous and give you thirty seconds, Y/N. Either come with us back to the estate and begin your servitude, or stay here and see what happens.” 

You swallowed nervously, rooted in place. 

“I can’t promise you’ll like the outcome of the latter,” he stifled a laugh, “...but do as you wish.”

Hushed sobs came from your mother, heartbreaking for a multitude of reasons. The rest of your family, too, threw insults at the men and attempted to wiggle free of their grasps, though their efforts proved futile. 

These people were unpredictable, and that frightened you more than anything else. Preparing for their next move was impossible; the unknown held far more risks than rewards when it came to them, and you were aware of that. Subjecting those closest to you to a fate so uncertain would never sit right with your conscience.

“I’ll go.”

Whatever happened to you, you could take. 

A pleased smile made its way to the fiend’s lips. “Smart girl, she is,” he praised, leaning in a bit closer to your father. Y/F/N shifted away, disgusted. 

With the flick of a hand, the group of guards released your family and headed for the door.

“You have five minutes to pack your things, Y/N. Not a second longer.” 

He pressed the end of the pistol to your father’s forehead as a warning, leaving an indentation on it after he pulled it away and returned it to the holster on his hip. His hands slicked back his messy hair again out of habit, and he followed after his men to wait outside. 

Devastated, you looked around the room at the people you loved most. When, or even if, you’d see all of them again, you didn’t know. But this decision increased that likelihood to some degree, and with that, you could live peacefully. 

—

An Hour Later

The midnight sky reigned supreme high above, jet black and ominous. Sprawling tree branches loomed over the road you traveled down, cutting jagged paths and creating an eerie canopy to further entrap you. Every whizzing branch sealed your fate that much more, and here, under it all, anything seemed feasible. Your mind ran wild with the possibilities.

Even the moon cowered behind clusters of clouds, hiding itself away and refusing to offer much light to the land below. But a few distant, brave stars twinkled every now and then, giving you a small sense of hope. 

Usually, you’ve found, nature has an odd way of predicting things.

The car shimmied over the rough terrain of the road, jostling you some in your seat and adding to your already jumpy nerves. Its tires crunched as you traveled, working alongside the wildlife and insects to fill the evening air with sound. The driver looked back at you through the rearview mirror, his eyes a tense blue. They studied you carefully, for a moment, before training themselves back on the expanse ahead. You fought a shiver and pulled your jacket tighter around your body.

The forest parted more as you traveled, slowly opening up its brooding curtains little by little. Eventually, and in time with the increasing sparsity of trees on either side of you, the thick underbrush subsided. The road before you widened, and the headlights of the car illuminated a menacingly tall, wrought iron fence. Spikes pierced the air high above, serving as silent threats to anyone who dared to climb over. 

Two gargoyles guarded either side -- leering menaces. 

Kim Estate was posted in fancy lettering on a sign where the two sides met, front and center. It was polished and clean, just as expected. When two suited staff members emerged from the booths on either side of the road and released the lock, the sign glinted as it caught the attention of the car’s headlights in just the right way. With the way it sliced through the reflecting light, it resembled a blade. 

Your driver nodded to the man on the other side of his window before pressing the gas again, and you slid yourself closer to the window in anticipation. Despite your circumstances, you couldn’t ignore the curiosity in your system.

Once the car rounded one last curve, the manor finally came into view. Truthfully, it looked like something a royal family would live in. 

Lampposts dotted the grand driveway, showering soft golden light down to guide those coming and going. A sizable fountain greeted you at the center of it all, complete with an angel statue at its top. Water cascaded over its marble rim, catching the rays of two underwater lights on its way. Large flower beds stretched out on either side of the grassy area around it, wavering gently in the late-night breeze. 

The house itself stretched far and wide from left to right and featured three floors, from what you could tell. Two halls extended on either side as well, reaching out and beckoning brave visitors inside. Its appearance was a mix of Gothic and Mediterranean, thanks to the Kim family’s own personal tastes and circle of friends. With those closest to them insisting on such a style and ensuring that they had certified architects to complete such a daunting task, it only made sense for them to graciously accept it. 

And, in its own ways, it held a mysterious charm. The slight frost of its windows veiled what was going on inside, adding to the secrecy it possessed. Every arch and peak told a story, built by hands long-gone; they were situated up high, keeping watch over the land and its inhabitants. The designs so carefully etched there, sprawling and winding their ways into elaborate patterns as they connected with one another, were the eyes of the place. 

The angel was merely a façade. 

Shortly, your door was opened for you by a thin woman. She couldn’t have been more than twenty five years old. Her cheeks were rosy as she extended a gloved hand to you, aiding your departure from the car. She subtly nodded to an unseen figure behind you once you were out, and the sound of the trunk opening filled the otherwise quiet night air. 

“Follow me, please, Miss.” Her voice was kind; far softer than you had imagined it’d be. 

She led you through the main doors, keeping her pace slow enough to allow you ample time to take in your surroundings. 

Torches burned in various places, all stationed methodically to fit the aesthetic and offer just enough light. They flickered near the art pieces that adorned the walls of the entryway, casting shadows of battles and conquests here and there. 

A final embrace between two ill-fated lovers called from the end of the hall, larger than all the rest. Bittersweet smiles graced their faces as they peered at one another, finally having broken free of the tenacious arms holding them back. Their bloodied hands reached out for each other, barely brushing; but the flickering light changed their cruel fates, however, by closing the gap anytime a draft picked up. It offered them what they sought in those final moments: the simple pleasure of peace, together. 

Your eyes lingered on it until you were instructed to round a corner, passing it by. Up close, you could see a flower tied to the man’s belt, waiting and ready to be given to his love. Its white petals were painted with droplets of crimson, somehow – strangely – making it all the more beautiful. 

The woman’s flat shoes clicked against the floor as she led you further into the manor, through another hall. Here, the paintings were far more vibrant and lighthearted. Cherry trees blossomed from one frame to another, scattering their shimmering petals across the hall as they so pleased; women dressed in traditional clothing frolicked in a rich field of green, baskets in hand. They held their hats down, tipping their chins to prevent them from blowing away in the breeze.

At the far end of the hall, where you were headed again, a portrait hung proudly. A single woman was shown in it, smiling softly for her admirers; her eyes smiled, too, and you found yourself able to breathe again the longer you looked at it. She looked regal, dressed to the nines, yet approachable. A kindness gleamed in her eyes, full of power.

Amid the darkness of all the rest, this space was a bright reprieve. This woman. 

Your lips tugged up, ever so subtly, as you exited the hall, replaying the vision of the woman in your mind as you went. You knew she’d stay with you, then, and you were happy with that notion. Perhaps this endeavor would be a little more bearable that way. 

“The heiress is in her study,” a voice informed, pulling you from your thoughts as you entered a foyer. A large staircase laid in front of you, branching off widely once it climbed its way to the second story. Frilly garlands adorned its rails and spindles, making it look more inviting. 

A man came into view, clean cut and professional. His hands were clasped behind his back in a relaxed pose, putting you at ease. 

“Give me a moment and I’ll see if she’s ready to greet you.”

“Yes, sir.” You bowed politely, and he returned the gesture before heading off. 

A moment later, the woman beside you spoke. “For now, I’ll make sure that all of your luggage has made it to your room, Miss.” She smiled gently at you, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Once you meet with the Lady, I’ll be waiting to tell you all about what’s expected of you.”

“Thank you, ….” You trailed off, waiting for her to fill in the blank for you.

“Yoohyeon,” she finished, dipping her head slightly – shyly. 

“Thank you, Yoohyeon.” Her smile deepened at the way you said her name, though you didn’t notice it. “I appreciate your kindness more than you know.” 

“I’m happy to be of assistance.”

Her humbleness surprised you, given that you were expecting everyone beyond that fence outside to be pretentious – at least to some degree. But no malice existed in her, as far as you could tell; for your own sake, you hoped that assumption was never proven wrong. She might be capable of making the next few months survivable, if it stayed true.

She left a moment later with a word of goodbye, leaving you alone and to your own devices.

Your hands hung at your sides, mindlessly toying with the ends of your sleeves as you waited. A few stray staff members passed by silently, stopping only for a brief second to observe you before they moved on with whatever they were doing. Some stayed longer than others, though, lingering in the shadows of the halls or kitchen to investigate further. You were new meat here, and you knew it; blaming them for their curiosity wasn’t something you cared to do. You just hoped they’d be civil once their gossiping phase ran its course.

“Ms. L/N,” a familiar voice said, grabbing your attention again. You raised your head, meeting the gaze of the man from before. 

“Mrs. Kim will see you now, if you’ll just follow me. I’ll take you to your quarters once you’ve been introduced.”

You nodded politely in response, and he smiled. He turned on his heel, enticing you to tread after him in pursuit. His form led you to a grand room just behind the stairs, where he delivered two swift knocks to its door. 

“Come in,” a distant voice responded, feminine in a beautiful way. 

He stepped through the threshold and welcomed you inside, ensuring his face appeared stoic. You thanked him and entered, doing your best to seem confident.

Any chance of that crumbled the second you laid eyes on her. 

The woman from the painting sat behind a massive oak desk, clad in a floral dress that hugged her figure perfectly. Glasses rested across the bridge of her nose, pushed up gently by her fingers as she raised her head to look at you. It tilted curiously, presumably due to the awestruck look on your face. You’d always been terrible at hiding your emotions in situations like this.

“Y/N, yes?” She asked, wanting to make sure she got your name right. Such a thing was important to her.

Stacks of papers rested in front of her, some splayed across the desk while others were neatly organized. She must’ve had a busy day.

“Yes, ma’am.” You bowed, suddenly snapping back to reality and remembering your place. You dropped eye contact, afraid of overstepping this early on.

She stood from her chair and approached you slowly, taking her time as her eyes trekked up and down your body. They lingered in places they probably shouldn’t have, though you were none the wiser. She noticed the way your chest rose a little faster than before as she stepped closer. It intrigued her.

Wordlessly, she raised a hand to dismiss the man behind you. 

As he shut the door behind himself, your nerves truly began to kick in. The woman before you already had more power over you and your future than either of you realized. Whatever she did or didn’t do, whatever decisions she made, she was deciding for the both of you. From now on, your destiny would depend on her every whim.

That kind of vulnerability terrified you.

“Look at me.”

You blinked a few times, cautiously returning your gaze to her expectant one. 

It was riddled with curiosity, but not the kind of eager children. She’d done this many times before; she had things that she was searching for in you. A criteria you needed to meet. 

Her right hand raised to your cheek, giving you half the urge to flinch. But instead of being met with a slap, you felt her fingertips press against your jawline, turning your head to the side. She inspected you, admiring the curve of your face and how soft your skin was against hers. She turned it back, doing the same to the other side before taking a small step back. 

“Turn around.”

Warmth spread to your cheeks, but you did as she asked. Her gaze was heavy on you, training itself on the subtle lines of your muscles that were visible through the form-fitting shirt you wore. As you lifted your arms at her request, they tensed and shifted, almost dancing for her.

She was pleased; you’d suit her just fine.

“Alright, that’s all,” she said, retreating to the edge of her desk. The backs of her legs pressed into the polished surface, keeping her grounded. 

Her arms crossed loosely at her chest. You turned around, happy to be facing her again. She was a sight for sore eyes in every sense of the phrase. 

"I trust that your ride here went well," she stated, giving enough opportunity for you to confirm or deny it. 

"It did, ma'am." Your lips pressed together as you nodded, out of habit.

She smiled lightly. Had your answer been anything short of what it was, she would've had someone's head for it. 

Her reputation was important, after all.

"I'm glad, Y/N.” Her tone and aura were as warm as the fire that burned in the hearth across the room. It made you want to be close to her; she was capable of drawing you in without even trying.

She turned her wrist over in time with the drop of her eyes. A quick glance at the thin watch that rested across it shocked her.

“Gosh,” she breathed, her eyebrows raising. “...seeing that it's already so late, I won't ask you to do anything tonight." She promised. “You’ll begin tomorrow morning, eight o’clock sharp. I’m to be dressed and ready promptly for a breakfast with some investors.”

“Yes, ma’am,” you nodded. 

Her eyes found yours again, softening a little. The light offered by the fire casted on her, making them sparkle in a subtle kind of way. The dark brown of them was a touch lighter; speckles of a hidden richness that typically laid dormant, waking up. You had to be looking to see it, but that made it all the more special to you. 

“Ezekiel will show you to your room,” she informed, reaching beside herself for a bell. It rang twice… ding, ding… before the door glided open behind you.

“Good night, Y/N. Sleep well.” A gentle smile rested on her lips as she said the words.

“Good night, ma’am.”

With a final bow, you were escorted out and towards your room, leaving behind an incredibly interested heiress. Her expectations were exceeded by you; respectful, calm, beautiful. Though she’d heard of your existence through the grapevine a few times – details of your family rolling off the tongue of her father or other business partners – she’d never gotten to know much about you individually. But now, with the prospect so conveniently perched right in front of her, she’d never been more intrigued. 

—

The Next Morning

*beep be-beep beep be-beep*

The sound of your alarm was both welcome and nerve-racking. It set you in motion in an instant, and you had it turned off before it could muster up a second set of rings. Truthfully, you hadn’t gotten much sleep. Your unfamiliar surroundings, paired with the pressure you felt to perform well, prevented you from resting easily. But, for what time you had managed to slip away to dreamland, you were grateful; it was enough. 

You parted ways with your bed with a sleepy yawn before heading to the restroom to get cleaned up and ready for the day ahead. After you were presentable, you made your way towards the heiress’s room.

Softly, you delivered two knocks to the heavy wood of her door.

After waiting a customary few seconds, you let yourself in and shut it behind yourself, being mindful of the latch. When you did, you couldn’t believe your eyes. Her room was a beautiful utopia, full of the summer sunshine that cascaded in through the flowy, white drapes of her tall windows. A dreamy haze had settled over everything, coating it in stardust. The furniture around her room was of the highest quality fabrics and materials that money could buy, and every embellishment and decoration surely cost more than your entire life savings. The paintings that adorned the walls were just as unique and special, all authentic pieces depicting artistic moments of life.

It was a far cry from your simple room, and it all gave you the urge to rub your eyes, just to make sure you weren’t seeing things. 

When your shock began to subside, you focused your mind back on the task at hand and approached the bed. Mrs. Kim was clad in a silky, yellow nightgown, sprawled haphazardly and still in the throes of sleep. The covers were pushed down to her knees, revealing how her gown had ridden up her thighs as she’d tossed and turned throughout the night. Her hair was splayed across her pillow in every direction imaginable, and yet she looked just as elegant as always.  

How lucky you were to get to see her in such a peaceful state.

“My Lady,” you tried, hesitant to wake her when she looked so comfortable.

She turned her head and sighed in response, still fast asleep. You’d have to try harder. 

“Ma’am,” you called, putting a hand on her shoulder. You shook it slightly. She twitched, finally pulled from whatever dream she had been having. 

Her eyes peeked open as she looked at you, feeling a little sheepish. She was convinced she looked a mess in the mornings, no matter what people told her. 

“Hi,” she sleepily smiled, raising her arms above her head as she stretched the tension out of them. 

“Good morning,” you grinned. 

She sat up and looked at her bedside clock, running a hand through her hair to tame her locks back into place. “Right on time, Y/N,” she noted, clearly pleased, “...off to a good start.”

A word of gratitude left you on instinct, and you were thankful for such a reflex. Had you not had it, you would’ve kept staring at her in awe and embarrassed yourself to no end. 

“I have to be at the dining hall in an hour,” she informed, as she stood up and headed towards the bathroom that was attached to her bedroom. You followed behind her, listening intently as she filled you in. “The breakfast will take a couple of hours, most likely. I cleared my schedule for the rest of the day to allow you time to familiarize yourself with everything, so you won’t have to worry about me. I’ll likely stay busy in my study.” 

Your jaw went a little slack as you crossed the threshold and stepped into her bathroom. The sheer size of it caught you off guard, as did everything else. A vanity sat on the right side, shining and glittering with bottles upon bottles of every product in existence. The tub was directly across from it, large enough to fit upwards of three people at a time. The toilet itself looked like a mini throne, and you had half the urge to laugh at how ridiculous the situation was. One stone from its handle could likely pay off every bit of debt your father owed in the first place.

“I’ve assigned Yoohyeon to be your guide for the day,” Mrs. Kim spoke again, drawing you from your daze. “You should’ve met her last night.”

“I did.” You assured her.

“Good.” Her reply was short and sweet.

She glanced at the empty tub, silently prompting you. You sprung into action at once, mentally scolding yourself for not having the water ready. Getting used to this new routine would certainly be full of moments just like this, as much as you disliked it. 

As you filled the tub and made sure the temperature was just right, she took her gown off and removed her earrings, setting both on the marble countertop of her vanity. You retrieved some oils and scents from the cabinet that hung overhead and quickly added them to the water as it flowed from the faucet. The motion of it made plenty of suds appear in no time. 

In the name of sparing your pride and maintaining her privacy, you averted your gaze as she gracefully stepped into the deep tub. Her body was soon enveloped by the mountains of bubbles as it sank down below the surface, further and further. Only then did you turn the water off and kneel down beside her. 

To ensure that the water remained warm for the entire time she was in it, the two of you worked simultaneously. While you shampooed and conditioned her hair, she used a delicate loofah to wash her body. You assisted with her back and other hard to reach areas, but she was self-sufficient in every other way. For that, you were grateful. You’re convinced you would’ve died if she had been the type to make you wash her yourself. Sharing such an intimate interaction with anyone would’ve been bad enough, but with her? Someone you found so attractive? No, you wouldn’t have survived it. 

She must’ve been aware of the effect she had on you, because she made sure to keep a ring of suds around herself at all times. Modesty bubbles, she declared them, to put you at ease on your first day. You were both aware that time would allow for more adjustment and comfortability when it came to things like this, and patience was something you had for one another. In the meantime, you traded jokes and splashes of water to loosen up and shake off any awkwardness you felt. 

By the time you emerged from the bathroom, she had deposited a handful of bubbles on top of your head, and a generous dollop of them rested on the tip of her nose as well, courtesy of you. 

You approached her closet and sought out the suit that Yoohyeon had told you she’d need last night. As you flipped through the seemingly endless row of clothes, all strung up on hangers, you felt the heiress come up behind you. The towel around her body stayed bound in place as she reached up and wordlessly got rid of bubbles for you, laughing all the while. 

You shook your head at her with an amused smile as you retrieved her outfit and turned around, holding it up. You intended to make her bed while she got dressed, and so she waited until you had your back turned to drop her towel. 

The sound of it landing on the hardwood floor made your heart speed up, but you made a vow not to think too much of it. Your hands buried themselves in the covers, tugging hard to snugly put them back into place.

The rest of the hour flew by as you helped her fix her hair and complete the subtle makeup look that she chose for the day. Truthfully, you wished you could’ve had a little more time with her to yourself before she had to go. But, it wasn’t your place to want something like that, and as the two of you walked your way towards the meeting room, you made peace with just being in her presence for what little time you had left. 

She reciprocated subtly, without you even recognizing it: normally, her strides were fast, but with you at her side, she slowed them immensely. When you matched her pace, she smiled. 

Shortly, you rounded the corner to the hall that housed the meeting room.

Yoohyeon came into view, rocking up unto her tippy toes and back down to occupy herself as she patiently waited on your arrival. Her hands were behind her back, clasped but fidgeting, and her eyes regarded the fancy ceiling design as if she hadn’t seen it everyday for the past three years of her life. 

When she heard your approaching footsteps, she snapped back to reality and lit up as bright as a Christmas tree. Her smile was so warm you couldn’t help but reciprocate without even trying.

Mrs. Kim traded greetings and pleasantries with her once the two of you had joined her, and you did the same. Before you could talk for very long, though, the heiress had to wrap things up. 

“Take care of her, Yoohyeon. Show her everything; I want her to know her way around the place.” She instructed.

The younger girl bowed respectfully, reassuring her. “I’d do nothing less, my Lady. She’ll know the place like the back of her hand in no time.”

Mrs. Kim grinned, looking between the two of you. It seemed as though she wanted to say something more as her eyes lingered on you a second longer than usual, but the door beside her opened before she got the chance to. It was her husband.

His brow raised expectantly, and an air of impatience seemed to leak out of the room behind him through the open doorway. You peered inside, finding a few balding men all sitting around a large table with annoyed expressions on their faces. It made you grimace and wish to send your condolences to the heiress before she had to enter.

“I’ll see you after,” she said, regarding you. 

You bowed and offered a word of good luck to her before she disappeared into the room behind Mr. Kim. 

Muffled sounds of discussion instantly began, unintelligible to you through the thick walls.

Yoohyeon smiled at you and linked her arm with yours, leading you away. She was clearly excited to have been gifted such a task; her other responsibilities had grown monotonous, making her less than fond of them. But now she had the opportunity to wander about the estate with you and see everything through new eyes. She couldn’t have possibly been happier. 

-

She took her job seriously, much to your relief. No stone was left unturned as she showed you around and explained the heiress’s weekly schedule to you.

Areas and rooms existed for just about every possible task imaginable. Every time you thought the tour was over, Yoohyeon would inevitably lead you up more stairs or turn another corner and down a new hall to discover. Meeting halls, dining rooms, ballrooms, personal quarters, kitchens, studies, recreational areas, specialized spaces for the arts, even an indoor swimming pool – they all blended together, creating the complex and intricate layout of the manor.

“An art instructor conducts lessons for her on Tuesdays and Thursdays at noon,” she had said, as she let you peep into the expansive art gallery. It housed tons of paintings and sculptures from far and wide, all acquired by the Kims in some way. A few were originals, done by the heiress’s father. 

“She’s enrolled in two language courses to broaden her horizons in the business world.” Yoohyeon informed, as you passed by one of the executive meeting rooms. Books full of practice materials were all perfectly shelved inside, peering back at you from beside a menacing desk. “Those are held on Mondays and Wednesdays at three o’clock sharp. Don’t be late,” she warned, sending a tense look your way. “He’s a pain in the ass to deal with if she arrives late, and neither of you want to be on the receiving end of his ranting. Trust me.”

The outside was much the same, as you worked your way through acres of land complete with gardens (both botanical and for farming), stables, pastures, coops, ponds, a lake, and a racetrack. The lavishness caught you off guard, but you did your best to hide it and stay composed. On the inside, though, you were like a kid in a candy store. You wanted to get lost in your own personal exploration of it all.

By the time you had made your way back inside, you felt like you’d been gone for a week. The miles that you had hiked were weighing heavily on you, but it was the best kind of exhaustion. Your body may have been tired, but your mind was anything but. 

The sound of Mr. Kim’s voice made its way to your ears as you rounded the corner, at Yoohyeon’s side. He kissed his wife’s cheek before whispering a word of goodbye and exiting towards the carport. 

She watched him go, looking just as tired as you.

“Ma’am!” Yoohyeon called, waving to her once she turned in your direction.

Her face lit up upon spotting the two of you. “Ah, Yoohyeon. Y/N.”

The gloss on her lips shimmered as she smiled, taking in the sight of you in your uniform. You looked even better then than you had that morning.

“What brings you this way?” She addressed Yoohyeon.

“We were just finishing up our tour,” she explained, motioning to you with a tilt of her head. “The library is our last stop.”

“I could show her,” the heiress suggested, perking up a little. You were ignorant as to why she would be interested in such a task after spending hours in a meeting, but the last thing you would do is turn her down.

“Would that be alright?” Her voice was light, concealing the hidden hope that laid beneath. 

Your body felt the urge to blush when you noticed the sweet way she looked to you, waiting on your decision with polite nonchalance. The smile on her face didn’t help anything either. 

“Of course, ma’am.” 

Her grin only deepened. “Fantastic. Shall we go now?”

You nodded, allowing Yoohyeon to step past you as she switched places with the heiress. She touched your shoulder as a way of saying goodbye. 

“I’ll get started on my other tasks,” she announced, bowing.

“Thank you, Yoohyeon. We’ll see you later.” The heiress dipped her head down in response, full of respect for her employee. She couldn’t imagine life without her and the rest of the team.

The younger girl smiled as she turned away; something about her resembled sunshine no matter what she did, and now was no different. Even the way she walked was cheerful.

Once she disappeared around the corner of the hall, Mrs. Kim addressed you again.

“Right this way.” 

You walked in pleasant silence, simply taking in the hallways and rooms that you passed by on the way. Various workers greeted you; their jobs were easily discernible based on the color of their uniforms. 

Green was reserved for the gardeners and landscapers, white for the chefs and waiters, and traditional black and white for the maids and male servants alike. 

Those designated as greeters outside were dressed in all black, providing a sleek and pristine first impression to anyone visiting the estate. They specifically were made to look prim and proper at every given moment. One too many wrinkles could cost them their job if they weren't careful.

And you could tell they envied the others for that exact reason.

Some of them watched you through the soaring windows of the main hall, scoping you out like predators monitoring their prey. Feeling self-conscious, you averted your gaze and put a bit more distance between yourself and the heiress. That’s what they seemed to be so interested in, anyway. It was obvious that some of them were jealous that a new-comer like you was being awarded such a moment with her. 

“Don’t mind them,” she spoke, more aware of the situation than you thought. She stepped around you so that she was next to the windows, wordlessly blocking you from their view. 

It shouldn’t have surprised you that she was paying such good attention without making it glaringly obvious, given that that was her M.O. Always being aware of the little things is what she did best. But even still, you were taken aback by it all. 

“Yes, ma’am,” you replied, bowing your head. 

She cut her eyes at the workers that still dared to glare at you, and eventually they retreated to their stations to do something productive with their time. Only then was she satisfied. 

The library gleamed in its full glory, shining brighter than ever as you arrived at its doors. Intricate patterns decorated the outside of it, wrapping around one another and flowing in various directions. It was fitting that such a place would be adorned with such poetic embellishments.

From your side, she watched you take it all in with a smile on her face. 

Tucked just out of your view, someone inside rose from their chair. They dusted their uniform off and opened the door, stepping outside of it to hold it open for the two of you. 

“Good afternoon, Mrs. Kim.” They greeted, bowing in respect. When they noticed you at her side, they extended you the same courtesy. 

She thanked them and led you in, walking slowly so you could revel in yet another moment of awe as you looked around. Books of all kinds – old, new, domestic, foreign, small, large, short, lengthy – resided in their rightful places among the shelves that soared above, nearly touching the ceiling. The smell of their pages painted the air, enriching the room with their combined stories and adventures. Torches and candles all illuminated the space in strategically chosen places; all of their flames were covered to protect the books, but they still burned bright enough to guide you every step of the way, no matter what avenue you chose to stroll down. 

Hours and hours of information and fiction alike lined the shelves, creating nooks and crannies that you could get lost in for God knows how long. They were all organized to a T, completely in order. It was overwhelming, if you were honest, and daunting to take in all at once. But the heiress seemed to sense that, and so she put a reassuring hand on your shoulder.

“We can visit here every so often and work through the different sections together, if you’d like. I know it’s a lot.”

“I’d love that.”

“Then it’s settled.” Her smile lines appeared as she said the words, and you unconsciously mirrored her.

“How about we start with the poetry wing for now? You can choose any book that catches your eye.”

“That sounds great.”

With another warm smile, she nodded and led you over to it. She set you loose, free to explore the rows and rows of content until you were satisfied. Your fingertips brushed over the spines of the books as you passed them, ambling about as you read the titles etched there. She herself meandered in your wake. Anytime she heard a sound from you – whether it be one of surprise, excitement, or intrigue – she found herself peeking around the shelves or between breaks in the books to catch a glimpse of you. You were oblivious the entire time, but she didn’t mind; something about that made the moment all the more special for her. 

She didn’t need your eyes on her, like everyone else. Simply admiring your innocent joy was enough for her, and she was able to be the beholder for once. It was a welcome change. 

A few more minutes passed before you returned to her. By then she had chosen a book as well and was already thumbing through its pages. 

“I’ll go with this one,” you declared, proudly holding yours up in the warm light of the room so that she could see which one it was. The smile on your face warmed her heart.

“Good choice,” she praised. “I’ve read that…” she paused to think, tapping her chin, “...ten times since it was published.”

Your eyes widened immensely. “But it just came out a few months ago!”

She shrugged, attempting to hide the smug smile on her face. “It’s just that good. What can I say?”

You began to ramble on about how you’d been dying to get your hands on a copy of it ever since you heard that it was being released, and she listened intently. She learned that the author was one of your favorites, and that surprised her. You had that in common.

Something shifted in her eyes the longer she watched you, all eagerness and poorly concealed excitement. It made her want to participate – to do whatever she had to in order to keep you like that, forever. You were simply radiant, and she’d do whatever it took to protect that happiness for as long as possible. 

“Let me take you somewhere,” she offered, speaking again only once you were finished. “I think you’ll love it.”

Your brows furrowed slightly as you looked up at her. “But what about your work?”

She shook her head. “It can wait.”

You grinned, and the gesture was far cuter to her than you realized. “Then let’s go.”

-

Your feet crunched against the dirt path that wound beneath them, arching up the incline of the hillside that presided over the mansion. You spotted the heiress in case she fell, keeping a careful eye on her as the two of you climbed. Within a few short minutes, you reached its peak and felt your eyebrows raising as the view before you came into focus.

A sprawling cherry tree stood tall next to a quaint bench, both of them overlooking the distant city. The two of you went and sat down, placing your books beside yourself. 

The spot gave you a gorgeous view of the town and forest alike, as well as the mountains that surrounded you. Fog settled along the dips and plateaus of them, visible against the backdrop of rich, dense green. 

People trodded their way about below, all moving past one another with their own responsibilities and schedules in mind. From what you could make out of the outskirts of the town, farmers were returning from their fields after a long day of hard work.

“Wow, Mrs. Kim. This is…. wow.”

She giggled lightly, amused. “I knew you’d like it.”

Dusky twilight painted the sky, with clouds that looked like carefully crafted brushstrokes taken straight from a storybook. The city lights stretched far and wide; residential and corporate buildings alike all switched them on in preparation for the night ahead. Some were hazy and dull, nearly burnt out – but others glowed brightly, cutting through the darkening atmosphere as they fought to be seen. Little beacons, spread amongst the winding streets and alleys. Their shades varied along the spectrum of colors, but that made them all the more unique and interesting to look at. Ones that were partially concealed could be discovered the harder you looked, and the more vibrant ones could serve as way points and markers on the mental map you had constructed in your mind. They were like shimmering stars in the night sky, creating their own constellations for you.

But they felt so far away from where you sat, and seeing them only made you think of your family; as beautiful as they were, you couldn’t stop your mind from taking it there. You hoped they were doing well, all things considered. Leaving them had been one of the hardest things you’d ever had to do in your entire life. 

It didn’t matter that they were only a number of miles away. As long as you were at the estate, they were practically on Mars. 

“You’re thinking about them, aren’t you?” 

Her voice was quiet and gentle, easing you out of your thoughts instead of abruptly pulling you away. She knew you’d need moments like this in order to deal with the change you were being subjected to.

You could feel the way your smile had faded. 

When you nodded, a wave of guilt washed over her. She already had a strong dislike of the way that you were chosen and brought to the estate, but that was out of her hands, just like a majority of other things. A large part of her heart felt for you, knowing you were just as powerless in the situation as she was. 

The worried, homesick look in your eye was enough to conjure up every ounce of pity she had available.

“I just hope this arrangement will go smoothly,” you said. “I hope they're okay.”

She understood you completely. “You’re free to write to them.”

“Really?”

She nodded, smiling softly as the light returned to your eyes at the thought. 

“I appreciate that.”

“It’s nothing,” she dismissed, waving a hand in the air. “You deserve more,” she whispered, almost under her breath. But you heard it, whether she knew that or not. 

The two of you sat there for a while, just soaking in the remaining daylight that was fading quickly. The sun had already disappeared behind the mountains, and you knew it was only a matter of time before inky blackness took over its reign for the night.

Your books laid forgotten beside you until it was time to go. Although this was the perfect place to escape the world and read, it was impossible to pry your eyes away from the beauty around you.

She led you back down the hill as you shot one last look at the city over your shoulder, imprinting the image in your brain. Though your circumstances were far less than ideal, you were grateful for the opportunity to see it all in such a way. From up here, it held a kind of sparkle that was hidden away everywhere else. It shined in its own way, unlike anything else you’d seen before. 

-

The Estate

Two servants greeted you at the doors of the dining hall as you slid your book into the deep front pocket of your uniform. Sensing the nervousness that had sprung up on you, Mrs. Kim sent a reassuring smile your way as you stepped inside with her. Your hands fiddled with the frills of your uniform along your thighs. 

A waiter was finishing his job of setting the table as you took your seat next to the heiress. She sat at the head of the table; the opposite end would be occupied by Mr. Kim. 

Given that you were her personal maid, of course, you were guaranteed a spot at the table. The senior maids and servants were extended the same courtesy, but everyone else ate dinner in their own quarters or separate dining halls, whichever they preferred. Unless a problem arose or the Kims felt generous, that configuration wouldn’t change. 

That fact only heightened the pressure you felt to stay in line. You were afraid that even the smallest of slip ups would wreck things. This place was far too regal than you were used to; too much was at stake at any given moment, and being surrounded by the most influential people of the estate scared you more than you cared to admit. 

But the heiress trusted you enough to give you this in, despite it only being your first official day. Something told her that you were capable of handling it, and that accounted for something. If for nothing else, you would do your best to keep it together for her. 

More waiters and chefs flitted in and out of the room, setting out trays and dishes of steaming food across the length of the table top. Your stomach grumbled lightly as the smells of them made their way to you. Such a wide selection was foreign to you; at most, you were lucky to have a main dish with a side or two back home. But this was a feast fit for royals; no expense was spared in it, and you knew in your heart that it wasn’t something that was reserved for special occasions. This was a typical dinner, here, and that filled you with an eagerness that could only sprout from a situation like yours – coming from humble beginnings, and now thrust into a life of luxury. It was unfamiliar territory in every way, and you knew it would take plenty of getting used to. 

But as the other guests began to filter in and take their seats, the instinctual way you corrected your posture and plastered on a polite smile put your mind at ease.

You could do this.

-

 An Hour & A Half Later

The hall bustled with life as everyone ate and shared discourse with one another. Genuine laughter filled the room – some suppressed, some boisterous – as it bled out into the rest of the manor. In between bites of the delicious creations the chefs had spent hours making, utensils transformed into tools of explanation, aiding the guests in conveying their stories of the day. Many of them were slap happy, too, as they sipped on the alcohol in front of them. Their glasses were always refilled before they could even reach the bottom, so it was really no wonder they were entering into various stages of drunkenness already. Their cheeks were flushed in a charming kind of way; it made them look more approachable. The professional, jarring image they always put up had slipped away by now and left them like you. Normal.

The pleasant atmosphere left you unsure of why you were ever so nervous in the first place. 

Mr. Kim thrust his glass of wine into the air, demanding a toast to commemorate your arrival. It was unexpected, but you welcomed it with a grateful smile. 

Your eyes found the heiress’s on instinct, seeking support from her without you even realizing. She grinned back, reassuring you as she tilted her glass towards yours in the air. It was the first to clink, before everyone else rushed to extend their welcome to you. The man beside you nearly sloshed his drink out from the jovial way he shoved it upwards, but his muttered apology afterwards only made you laugh. 

“To Y/N!” 

Mrs. Kim watched you over the rim of her glass as she finished her wine in one long drink. You merely sipped on yours, having no intention of getting drunk like the rest of them. You wanted to conduct yourself well, and if you expected to be able to take care of her on top of that, you knew you had to be sober.  

When a waitress approached the heiress to refill her glass, she raised a hand to stop her. She was so far gone at that point that she couldn’t fathom drinking another drop. Her skin was heated, and her cheeks were a shade of red that you’d never quite seen before. It was deep, yet bright; entirely beautiful, but also alarming. If it could speak for anything, you were sure it was a harbinger of the terrible hangover she would have in the morning.

Her movements were slightly altered as she reached for the apple that rested on the tablecloth in front of her. It wasn’t something you had expected for her to request, but you learned that whenever they’re in season, she asks that the chefs surprise her from time to time and send her the best looking one from their batches. The one in her hand was no exception, either; it looked fresh out of a storybook. Practically plucked straight from one of its pages.

She grabbed the handle of her knife as she inspected the fruit, picking a place to begin cutting. It made you nervous, though, and on instinct you placed your hands over hers to stop her. 

“Let me,” you offered, taking the knife from her. 

She agreed with a cute little nod.

Before long, you had it sliced and ready for her to eat. Carefully, you sat the knife on your plate and put the cut pieces on her napkin. The corner of her lips pulled back in a lopsided, lazy smile as she reached out for one.

When it disappeared beyond her lips and she took her first bite, she let out a quiet noise of approval and closed her eyes. It was sweet and juicy, just like she wanted. Her favorite variety never failed her. 

“Here,” she suddenly said, gaining your attention.

You glanced down at her hand, finding it extended to you with a slice outstretched. She wiggled it, but before you could grab it she pulled it away. Confused, you looked at her again. Her mouth only opened in response, instructing you on what to do. She held it up to your lips, and after a moment of hesitancy you opened your mouth to receive it. 

Her breath caught in her throat at the way your lips wrapped around it, and she swallowed hard at the sight. Some of the juices from it began to dribble down your chin, but she was quick to swipe them away with her finger and clean you up.

Your stomach flipped when she brought it to her lips, tasting the juice like it was nothing. 

The tips of your ears warmed despite the innocence of the gesture, and you directed your attention to the floor as you finished chewing. If she was aware of what she had just done to your gay heart, she didn’t show it. 

Depending on how you looked at things, that could be a blessing or a curse. 

The remaining time you spent in the dining hall passed by in a flash. That moment with her left you speechless, and it occupied your mind in a way that allowed no room for any more small talk or jokes with the guests around you. Tales of the weeds that the gardener had conquered that morning paled in comparison to the memory of her touch; the one that held the most importance was glaringly obvious. 

Even after she had excused the two of you from the hall and freed you to return to her room, you were still stuck up in your mind. 

That all was brought to a screeching halt, though, as the tip of her stiletto slotted into a crack in the floor.  

The fruity scent of alcohol was strong as she stumbled into you, sending the accents of it to wash over you as well. You caught her on instinct, looping an arm around her waist. She apologized for her tipsiness with an embarrassed smile, but you didn’t mind it in the slightest. 

You were able to see a different side of her, like this, as you ambled on together. Every clumsy move she made inspired laughter; her quiet giggles filled the otherwise silent night air of the manor, drawing it out of its stupor. The candles even seemed to burn a little brighter as she passed by.

Once you finally reached her room, she collapsed onto the bed with a happy sigh. The covers poofed out at the sides from her impact, drawing a smile from you. 

“I’ll go grab your things,” you informed, before slipping away. 

A muffled reply came, but seeing as her cheek was pressed against one of the pillows, it was far from intelligible. 

You returned a few minutes later with her nightgown and shawl, crossing your fingers that she hadn’t fallen asleep yet. The material was warm in your hands, having just come out of the dryer. 

“Mrs. Kim?” 

“Mmm,” she hummed, still snuggled against the side of her pillow.

“Sit up for me, please.”

“Do I have to?” A whine left her.

“Yes.”

She listened shortly after, though her eyes remained closed. Her body swayed slightly as the bed beckoned her to fall back over and sleep.

“Once you get changed, we’ll clean your face and then you can rest. Deal?”

Her eyes peeked open hesitantly, one after the other, as she nodded. 

When she grabbed the hem of her jacket to take it off, you quickly averted your eyes and excused yourself to the bathroom to get her skincare products rounded up. The darkness of the room made finding them a little difficult, but after diligently searching the shelves, her favorite cleanser, serum, and hydrating lotion all found their way into your line of sight eventually.

You sat them on the counter and entered her room again. You were curious as to what was taking so long.

When you spotted her on the bed, it was physically impossible to contain your laughter. 

“Stop it,” she warned.

Her arms were stuck above her head, tangled in the sleeves of her shirt. She had managed to wiggle free of the suit jacket, but her good fortune ended there.

“Here, let me help.”

She still heard your suppressed laughter as you approached the bed, but she didn’t scold you anymore. It was obvious that she wanted to laugh, too. 

Being mindful of her jewelry, you slid the half-unbuttoned top over her head, freeing her. For a moment, you wondered how long she had been stuck like that. 

“Can you help me with the rest?” She asked. Despite the fact that such a thing was literally in your job description, she didn’t want to order you. 

“Of course.” 

You crouched down, removing her heels before placing them neatly beside her dresser. The lack of lighting in the room helped you avoid blushing too much as you unbuttoned her pants and slid them down her legs, feeling just how smooth they were in the process. 

You reached around her next, feeling for the clips of her bra. In one motion, the two sides of it released and came tumbling down. She sighed appreciatively.

"Better?" 

She cooperated well as you slipped her nightgown over her head.

"So much," she replied.

"Good. Now let's get you washed up." 

-

She obediently sat on the chair next to her vanity, perching herself on its edge. The alcohol in her system made her appreciative of how cold its surface was against her heated skin. 

As you filled a bowl up with water and wet a cloth, she watched you through hazy eyes. 

The top few buttons of your uniform were undone, and some of your hair had fallen out of the clip that was nestled in its strands. She smiled to herself when you tucked the unruly pieces behind your ears to get them out of the way. 

“Here we go, ma’am,” you grinned. You pulled a small footrest out of its cubby beneath the sink and placed it in front of her before easing yourself down onto it. 

She closed her eyes and lowered her head, letting it hover close to the bowl as you began to clean off what makeup she had on. It was minimal for the most part, with most of the focus being on her eyes; the intricate design she had requested came off easily, though, much to your relief. 

After wiping off as much as you could with the wet cloth, you used your hands to apply the cleanser to her skin. She giggled drunkenly as you cupped her cheeks and raised her head, needing to see her better to reach all the necessary places. They were warm against your palms, completely flushed. 

Once she was sufficiently sudsed up, you used the water to rinse her off. You snagged a dry towel off of the hanger and dabbed her skin with it afterward, before setting the bowl on the counter beside her. You applied the serum and lotion evenly, noticing how dewy they made her look. Even now, bare faced and sleepy, she was still the most beautiful woman you’d ever seen. 

Mr. Kim truly was a lucky man. 

She shifted in the chair and inadvertently knocked the towel off of your leg. It fluttered to the floor before you had time to react. As you bent slightly to the side to retrieve it, only then did you notice that her lipstick hadn’t budged, despite your efforts. It was stubbornly still stuck on her lips.

“Ah, just a second,” you requested, as you put the towel to the side and took the cloth out of the bowl, flipping it over in search of a clean spot to use. She looked at you expectantly, unaware of what exactly had happened. 

Her lips were full and rosy, looking more kissable than usual somehow as you focused all of your attention on them. You couldn’t help but admire their gentle curves and arches, and the way that they parted slightly every time she drew in a breath. Using the cloth, you rubbed them in gentle strokes to remove the lipstick and gloss that colored them so beautifully. 

An aspect of the motion felt intimate. Perhaps it was how she wrapped her fingers around your forearm, embracing you in her own way. Maybe it was that her gaze seemed to have trouble finding a place to stay; it wandered from your eyes to your mouth. Possibly even the fact that she leaned in a little closer as you worked, granting you all the access you needed. 

Or maybe it was a combination of all those things. You weren’t sure. All you knew was that you needed to hurry and finish the task at hand before you did something reckless. She was alluring in a dangerous way, and you didn’t feel particularly strong enough to remain in line if she kept it up. 

She wanted to kiss you in that moment more than anything. 

To feel your lips against hers, and the weight of your body in her arms. She wanted your hands on her, touching her and caressing her in ways that she’d never felt before. From what little she had already experienced, she knew it would be Heaven. 

But she had no clue why her desire for such a thing was so strong. It had to have been the alcohol simply heightening her urges. She barely knew you, after all, and you were her employee. Perhaps it was more so the action itself rather than the person in question.

Though, when she considered it, none of her previous maids had ever even so much as turned her head. But you… you did. Something about you simply drew her in; you were like a magnet, and she had felt a certain pull to you from the second she met you. It made no sense, and never before in her life had she jumped the gun in such a way. 

Whether she was drunk or sober didn’t matter; anytime she looked at you, it was as if she had to make a conscious effort to stop. You captivated her with even the simplest of actions. And now, as you so diligently followed her routine and made sure to take care of her, something changed. Her inhibitions put themselves on pause, allowing the alcohol to override her systems of judgment and ultimately let her be reckless. 

She leaned forward, pressing her hands down against the seat at her sides in an effort to boost herself closer to you. Desperate curiosity fueled her movements – a deadly combo, making her movements clumsy.

When her lips brushed against yours, the rush of surprise you felt was impossible to hide. 

They were softer than you could’ve ever imagined as they slid over yours, sweet and inviting. Her head tilted to the side subtly as she tested the waters, wanting to brave a step forward. Demurity was present in the movement, but the reality of the situation sunk in and hit you like a ton of bricks, all at once. 

Your eyes opened wide as you pulled back, putting distance between the two of you. The tell-tale uptick of your heartbeat would’ve sold you out in an instant if she could’ve heard it.

But you were oblivious to her intentions in the worst possible way. 

A large part of her wanted you to know that she did it on purpose. Or, at the very least, to have a suspicion of that and trust your gut feeling. 

But you didn’t. You couldn’t. Every possible factor about the situation prevented you from believing she wanted to kiss you. That was just simply unthinkable. The rich, married, successful heiress with one of the most important reputations in the world to uphold had the urge to kiss you? Definitely not. She was just drunk and miscalculated her movements. 

When the reality sunk in that you weren’t going to reciprocate her curiosity – or even allow her to explore it herself – she silently thanked every lucky star she’d ever had for her ability to blame her advances on the alcohol in her system and the sleep that she was in such desperate need of. Her pride could be saved and things wouldn’t have to change between the two of you.

She just prayed that you wouldn’t question her. Lying to you wouldn’t be easy when her mind was busied with the fact that you still tasted like the cherry wine that had been served with dinner. All she wanted to do was taste it again.

You swallowed nervously, still reeling. The sick, inky feeling of icy shock still coursed through your veins. It was hard to breathe, with the way that she was still looking at you; her warm eyes were full of light, even in the darkness. But you pushed the feelings away and stood up.

“I’m all done, ma’am. Let’s get you in bed now.”

She nodded and stood up, too, crossing behind you as you emptied the bowl into the sink. Its contents swirled together, pooling with one another before ultimately disappearing down the drain and into nothingness. Just like her memories of tonight would need to do. 

-

Soft frills caught her eye as she climbed into bed and pulled the blanket over herself. She reached down for the material, finding that it was the shawl you brought in earlier. Heat still hung in its fibers, residual yet plenty noticeable. It replaced what warmth she was beginning to lose as the effects of the alcohol were starting to subside, and she was grateful. The chilly evening air was beginning to seep inside, little by little. 

She wrapped it around her shoulders tightly, reveling in how it felt against her. 

You emerged from the bathroom shortly after and lingered by her bedside, not knowing exactly what to do. She had already managed to tuck herself in and get settled, so you really weren’t needed anymore. 

“Thank you, Y/N,” she spoke, breaking the quiet. “Good night.” A beat passed, far more tense than either of you expected it to be. 

You nodded, avoiding her gaze. “No problem. Sleep well, ma’am.”

She dipped her head down as you bowed, respectfully mirroring the gesture, and once you left the room she let out a heavy sigh. Her fingertips pressed to her lips, toying with them as her mind wandered. 

Little did she know that on your way back to your room, you did the same.

—---

Following that eventful first day, a professional distance was established between the heiress and yourself. It was mainly your doing, so as to keep yourself in check and guarded. The last thing you wanted to do was forget the seriousness of your arrangement and ruin the opportunity you had to give your family a better life. 

But, inevitably, and as the next few weeks bled into months, you began to get to know one another more and grow closer. With every passing day, you found that she had a funny way of lessening the divide between you; her charms chipped away at it, little by little as she disarmed your defenses.

Your time together was filled with countless memories and adventures, but a handful in particular truly stood out among the rest. Looking back, they were the ones that told the story of you. Fate was written in those encounters, present in everything that allowed them to happen just as they did, whether you realized it at the time or not. 

It would be a disservice to go without mentioning them.

1.) Spontaneity 

The heiress taught you the importance of living in the moment.

> Outside, On The Lawn <

A once-calm afternoon gave way to an evening storm of such high caliber that you were left to question what humanity had done to anger Mother Nature so severely. 

Through your fingers, you peered up at the raging horizon.

It seemed out of the blue that the clouds rushed in, claiming their throne in the sky as they overtook the bright Sun. You were left to hastily help Mrs. Kim up in response and seal up the small bag you had on your back. Out of it, you took the umbrella you packed earlier in case something like this would’ve happened. 

The two of you began your retreat towards the house, striding across the lawn as the clouds above opened up. What began as a light drizzle turned into a downpour in an instant as rain flooded down relentlessly.

“Quickly, ma’am,” you instructed over a roar of the wind, using the umbrella to shield her from the stinging droplets that pelted your skin. You took the brunt of it, only caring that she was out of harm's way. 

Much to your dismay, her pace only slowed.

“Wait, Y/N,” she said, placing a gentle hand on your forearm. 

You stopped and turned to look at her, impatient but obedient. Her eyes shined with a mischievous innocence – one that surprised you. What she had planned, you had no idea. 

Her fingers wrapped around the handle just above where yours rested as she took the umbrella away from you. When you made a move to get it back, she simply grinned and shook her head.

Before you could react, she uncovered the both of you and let the umbrella fall to the ground at your feet.

Rain instantly sprayed down on you, working to drench what areas of your skin and clothes it hadn’t reached before. The swaths of wind that continued to blow in only made things worse; they heightened the frigidity of the rain, making your breath catch in your throat at the sensation. 

But when you shot a shocked look up at the heiress, she couldn’t have possibly looked happier. 

Her shirt clung tightly to her skin, hugging the curves of her breasts and sides in a way that seemed deserving of having poetry written about it. Her lacy undergarments were becoming visible through the thin material, fading in more and more with every blast of the current. Her fancy updo – which you had spent a considerable amount of time on earlier – was undeniably ruined; strands of it fell down in different directions and ways than you had intended. Water droplets hung in the locks that came down to frame her face, sparkling with all the light they refracted.  

You couldn’t find it in yourself to be the slightest bit upset. 

The childish smile on her face, so eager and bright, took away any ill thoughts you ever could’ve had about the situation.

“Let’s go.”

Your eyebrows furrowed at her sudden command. “What?”

She giggled at your bewilderment. “Just trust me. Come on,” she quickly reassured, sticking her hand out to you. With a swift glance down at it, you shrugged and released your inhibitions. Here goes, you thought to yourself, as you placed your hand in hers. 

She wasted no time in taking that and running with it – literally. She nearly yanked you out of your shoes as she pulled you after her. 

The two of you thundered across the courtyard together, shouting into the wind. 

Your shoes made sloshing sounds amid the rain, just as soaked as the rest of you. She didn’t seem to care at all about the state that her fancier ones were in; when you came upon a large puddle that was forming, she splashed right in. 

Joyous laughter bubbled out of her when you jumped in, too. She spun you around a time or two, admiring the curve of your smile as you lifted your face to the sky. 

You couldn't help but want her to experience it, too, and so you reached out for her. 

Your arms wrapped around her waist as you stepped closer, planting your feet to keep the both of you steady. Once you sent her a nod of approval, she put her hands on your shoulders and leaned back.

She closed her eyes and let the rain fall freely all over her; it was only obstructed by the partial cover that your body provided as you hovered closely. She, for a moment, was the eye of the storm. Delicately perched in your arms, she existed amid the chaos that surrounded you. 

A candle in the wind, burning brightly. You, serving as her holder. 

Her hands reached high up to the sky, and she reveled in the chilly sensation of the water running over her palms and down her arms. Your warmth staved off a majority of the cold, making it bearable as you provided it so readily for her. Seeing the content smile on her face made it all worth it. 

But, before long, an end was brought to your plans. Mother Nature warned you more harshly, showing her anger at discovering you were still outside in the first place; the clouds above darkened, swirling in dangerous patterns as the winds mixed with one another. When a large bolt of lightning was unleashed, streaking its searing path down to Earth, you both jolted in response. 

You held your breath for a moment at the way she clung to you, her heart racing as she trembled from the shock; but you released it in the form of a laugh as she shied away, embarrassed over getting so frightened. 

You pulled her up and made sure she was alright before you took her hand again, and the two of you raced back to the manor. Cracks of lightning and booms of thunder followed you, shouting and complaining like the grumpy old neighbors you see in movies. 

When you crossed the threshold, only then did you realize your fingers had become intertwined along the way.

The gesture was small, and completely unintentional, no doubt; but there was no denying the rush of butterflies it sent to your stomach.

The heiress only let go of you when a few maids rushed in with towels in their hands, ready to dry her off as quickly as possible. They fussed over her like their lives depended on it – three sets of hands all working together to get the water off.

Another servant emerged from the hall a few seconds later and handed you a towel with an expression that resembled amusement.

“Y/N can take it from here, ladies,” the heiress spoke after a couple of minutes, gaining everyone’s attention. 

You stood up straight and raised your head, halting your efforts to dry your hair. 

“Yes, ma’am,” they replied, bowing before scurrying away. 

She turned to look at you, waiting patiently until she heard the last of their footsteps fade far into the manor, before she burst into laughter again. You joined her, unable to resist. Once the two of you wound down, you made pleasant conversation about her little surprise and meandered your way back to her quarters. 

You headed for the bathroom immediately after arriving, prepared to get her bath ready and have it cooling off. A small sense of guilt resounded in her heart when you passed her, shivering as you wrapped your towel around your shoulders. The soaked material was definitely useless to you now, and while she would be getting warm and cozy you’d be forced to watch from beside the tub. That fact didn’t sit right with her. 

“Y/N,” she called lightly, undoing the rest of her buttons before sliding her top off of her shoulders. 

“Yes?” You responded, tilting your head up and towards the open doorway of the bathroom, but keeping your eyes on the water in front of you. Steam radiated from it, swirling as you added in one of her favorite oils.

She stripped out of her long skirt and undergarments, all of them far heavier than usual with the amount of water they held in their threads. She placed them in a bin that one of the maids had set out earlier, when they first spotted the two of you outside. 

“You should take a bath, too.”

You smiled, happy to know she wanted you to be taken care of. 

“I will, don’t worry,” you called back again, adding a few droplets of soap to make some suds appear. “Once you’re cleaned up, I’ll head back to my room and take one.” 

“No.”

Your brows furrowed in confusion, and you turned to look at her. This time, when your eyes raised up, they were met with the sight of her standing completely bare in the doorway. Your crouched position only made things worse for you, and you hastily looked away.

Welp, you definitely weren’t cold anymore. That took care of that problem.

“I meant with me, here. There’s no use in wasting more water, and I want you to be warm.” She explained nonchalantly, taking a few steps into the bathroom towards you. “I can’t have my maid getting sick, now can I?”

Your cheeks burned, likely hotter to the touch than the water in front of you.

What was it with the two of you and this bathroom?

You shook your head, aware that the absence of an answer would seem suspicious. Silently, you cursed yourself for feeling the way you did. Such a routine task for a maid shouldn’t be such a big deal; seeing her naked shouldn’t have the kind of effect on you that it does. 

You weren’t sure if you’d ever get used to it. 

Her hands slid onto your shoulders from behind, and you held your breath as she took the towel off of them. Her fingers tapped them lightly, silently requesting that you stand up. You turned to face her and stepped to the side, extending your hand to help her into the tub. She held it and used it to steady herself.

Once she was in, she grasped the sides of the tub and lowered herself in slowly, allowing her skin time to adjust to the heat. Cautiously, you watched as more of her body disappeared below the soapy surface. The lines of her back and shoulders tensed and shifted, making you ache in a lovesick kind of way. They were beautiful as they showcased her effort. 

Steam continued to billow up, causing the baby hairs around her face to curl.

“Come on, don’t wait until it’s cold,” she teased, though you knew the prompting behind her words was serious. 

You bit your cheek and stripped, keeping your back turned to her to spare your pride. Your position prevented you from seeing the way that her eyes glanced over to you, stealing looks on more than one occasion. Her curiosity overruled her better judgment. Part of her felt sorry for peeking, but she truly couldn’t help herself. 

Was it really so bad? Perhaps you’d be upset with her if you knew.

Once you were free of your garments, you approached the other side of the tub and carefully stepped in. She brought a hand out of the water, holding it up to you just as you’d done for her; steam radiated from it, making her look like some sort of super hero. You thanked her as you took it, getting inside with her. 

The tub was plenty big enough for the both of you, so leg room wasn’t an issue. You each stretched your legs to the right, sitting at opposite ends. Occasionally, you felt a tantalizing brush of her soft skin against you, but you did your best to block it out. 

This definitely wasn’t the environment to get even more hot and bothered in. Too many opportunities existed here for you to embarrass yourself or for her to discover your blossoming feelings.

“Nice, isn’t it?” She asked some time later, smiling to herself. Her head was laid back, resting against the edge of the tub.

You nodded as if she could see it. “Mhm.”

“Thank you for doing this.” The words came out like a sigh. 

“Running a bath?” You laughed, taken aback by her unexpected praise. “It’s just my job, ma’am.”

“I meant using all of my favorite oils and scents,” she explained, letting her hand swirl around in the water. The other still rested along the side of the tub, leaving heated fingerprints to the slightly colder surface. 

“You already know what I like,” she added. “I’m grateful to have someone as observant as you.”

You grinned to yourself, feeling proud. Knowing that she noticed and appreciated the effort you put in was enough for you. 

She spoke again after another comfortable minute passed. “And my last maid refused to do anything spontaneous, so you’re a welcome improvement.”

You chuckled at that. If spontaneity with her ended as an evening like this, you’d be a fool to deny it. Mentally, you sent a word of gratitude to whatever idiot came before you. 

Her hand absentmindedly brushed against your knee as you uttered a happy reply. 

“I’m glad you think so.”

—--

2.) Watch Yourself

The heiress showed her devotion to you in a new way, exposing you to another side of herself in the process. 

You hummed a quiet song to yourself as you tidied up some of the garlands and wreaths that were strung up across the porch of the manor. Some were handmade by the crafters of the estate, while others were gifts from friends, family, and business partners of the Kims. They were meant to welcome the season and spiff up the house – two things the heiress loved dearly. 

She sat in a rocking chair nearby, flipping through the pages of one of her favorite books. Care was put into the way she cradled it, ensuring no harm came to the precious material.

She looked up at you occasionally, when she would take a sip of the tea that rested on the flat arm of her chair. 

A handful of other servants aided you – everyone working hard in various locations – but her eyes always had a funny habit of drifting back to you. 

It began as simple curiosity. The endearing way you raised up onto your toes to reach the highest peaks of the wreaths especially made her smile. 

But that curiosity evolved into something far less innocent before she knew it. She studied the curve of your body as you bent over, reaching deep into the bin in front of you to grab another string of festive tinsel. The sleeves of your uniform were hiked up at your shoulders to offer you some relief from the heat that bogged the estate down. Your muscles flexed as you moved about, searching for the perfect piece to go along with the aesthetic that you had in mind. 

You bit your lip in the process, and it was all she could do to stop herself from openly staring. 

She cleared her throat and attempted to compose herself once you grabbed what you were after and looked up. Her heart pounded as she pretended to read again, hoping to throw you off her trail. 

She felt your eyes on her for an aching second, just as curious as she had been, before you looked away.

Part of her was disappointed, strangely. 

Regardless, she didn’t question it. Her nose remained firmly stuck between the pages of her book for the next few minutes as she did everything she could to distract herself from you. And it worked, for a while, until the lovers described in her poems all began to take the shape of you. They all had your soft smile, as she imagined them in her mind; and your pretty eyes. Their mannerisms all became yours, in one way or another. They expressed and made love in ways that she imagined you would, despite the fact that that was as far of an overstep as she possibly could’ve taken. She felt ashamed, like she was taking advantage of the mere thought of you.

Yet, why was she blushing?

-

The worn handles of the decoration box rubbed against your fingers as you carried it down the stairs of the porch and towards the fountain in the middle of the driveway. You’d been asked to decorate it, too, specifically with the ornaments and wreaths that the youngest Kims had crafted.

Each of them started as a simple ring of twigs, giving the traditional shape of a wreath. From there, the children were given free reign of what… artistic… directions and liberties they took. In many cases, fake berries and leaves were crudely wrapped around the twigs; some were glued, and others stapled. Those made by the older children were easily discernible, of course, but all of them were just as charming as the last. 

When you knelt down in front of the fountain and took out the first one, you discovered that you were smiling. 

Later, when you were finishing up, the sound of tires treading heavily on the pavement behind you grabbed your attention. A car approached, sleek and dark in every way it could’ve been; the tint of the windows was nearly jet black. 

It came to a stop halfway around the circle, obstructing your view of the porch. When the door opened and a man stepped out, your blood ran cold. 

It was the man from that night back at your house.

He was dressed in black slacks and a gray button up, both of which were mussed in an uncouth kind of way. Sunglasses sat across the bridge of his nose, just as dark as the windows of his car. He removed his cap, slyly grinning at you as he tossed it in the car and shut the door. 

His dress shoes squeaked lightly as he began his approach, reeking of a polish so strong that you could smell it from where you were. You stood up when he neared you. 

“Ah, Y/N,” he greeted, too overzealous and too fake for your liking. 

You remained silent, refusing to return the gesture. His carefully practiced smile faltered, but only for a moment.

“How is maid life treating you?” He tried. 

“It’s fine, sir,” you returned shortly. You had the desire to allow your voice to deadpan, but you decided against it at the last second. 

“Is it, really?” His voice dropped a little lower, quieting to become inaudible to anyone other than you. A wry look gleamed in his eye, making you uneasy. 

“Because your parents are really worried sick,” he pouted, before taking a look around. You stiffened at the mention of them, and he noticed. 

Shit.

“Maybe I should pay them another visit,” he suggested, smirking sinisterly. "Let them know you're alright." His feet treaded towards you when he took a couple steps closer, looming above.

Dread tightened in your chest. A sinking feeling of restriction was settling over you, but you did your best to hide that fact. Letting this man think he had power over you was the last thing you wanted. 

“I think your father and I have a few things to discuss, anyway.”

You took a cautious step back, unsure of what he planned to do next. He was definitely the type of person to resort to violence if his tactics of intimidation failed.

“No, you don’t. I’m holding up my end of the bargain by being here.”

One of his unkempt eyebrows tweaked up at the corner. He hadn’t expected you to respond like that.

“Clearly you know nothing of his past if you think that’s the only business that exists between the two of us.”

Your eyes narrowed at him as you fell silent. 

“Aww, what’s wrong?” He pouted again, mocking you. “Don’t know your daddy as well as you thought you did?”

The grimace that found its way to your face showed every ounce of disgust you felt towards him. Just as he went to invade your personal space and make another, more malicious comment, authoritative footfalls resounded from somewhere behind you.

Before you had the chance to turn around and see who the source of the sound was, a protective hand found its way to the small of your back. 

The heiress.

Her eyes were set firmly on the man, with a gaze so icy it frightened you. 

His leer faded as he recognized her; a bit of color left his face. 

“Is there a reason you’re keeping my maid from me?” Aggravation led her tone. From your position at her side, you noticed the way her jaw tensed the longer she looked at him.

“My bad, Mrs. Kim,” he soothed, too smug to apologize yet too much of a coward to ignore her outright. He attempted a smile again to ease the tension, but it soon dropped. 

She wasn’t in the mood for his bullshit,  either. 

“I suggest you leave, Dae-Jung. Now.”

He glanced at you again after that, as if deciding whether or not to say something else. Like the losing dog in a fight, he wavered; his predatory gaze lingered, stuck to you in a way that made you feel grimy. 

The subtle way Mrs. Kim pulled you in a little closer to her body deterred him; her arm snaked further around your waist, settling there. 

With a click of his tongue, he relented. 

“Have a good evening, everyone!” He shouted loudly all of a sudden, putting his hands up. The workers outside all raised their heads to see what the outburst was about. Many of them shared similar expressions of annoyance. 

“Keep up the good work for our dear Lady.” 

Contempt was written all over his face as he backed away, retreating to whatever corner of Hell he came from. You looked away, not wishing to see him for a second longer than you had to.

Instead, your eyes happened to find their way to the heiress, who remained at your side, standing tall. She intently watched his every step until he reached his car and sped off; if he had come back to start trouble again, she wanted to be prepared. And for you, she was more than ready.

“I’m sorry about him, Y/N,” she mitigated, releasing her hold on you. 

You tried not to let your disappointment show too much at the loss of contact. 

“It’s not your fault, ma’am.”

You retrieved the decoration box before joining her again.

“Still,” her head shook, frustration and dislike evident in the motion. “Dae-Jung is terrible. If it were up to me, he never would’ve been hired in the first place.”

That piqued your interest. “Who has the final say, then?”

“My father and Hyun Wook,” she answered. A hint of resentment skated by on her tone, but you didn’t point it out.

Interesting. Perhaps they knew more about whatever shady past he had. 

She kicked a stone across the courtyard as you neared the porch’s stairs. Her hands were nestled in the pockets of her dress, and she looked as though she wanted to say something more. You waited patiently as she visibly contemplated.

“If he ever causes you any trouble again – or if anyone here does, for that matter – tell me. The last thing I want is for you to be mistreated during your stay.” 

You smiled at her sincerity, feeling a little giddy. 

“I appreciate that, ma’am. Thank you.”

She nodded, seemingly relieved at your words. 

When you laid the box on the porch, leaving it out for the other servants to use later, you noticed the heiress’s book. It was laid open on the seat of her chair – not carefully shut like it should’ve been. It was askew, too, showing that she had likely thrown it down in haste. As to why she was in such a rush, you had no idea. 

The reality of that made you wonder. 

–

3.) Savior

Fate kept you on your toes, ensuring that you never got too complacent.

The smell of fresh dirt and fertilizer hung heavy in the air, pervading it as you stepped outside. Faint floral scents skated by on gusts of wind as well, but they couldn’t rival the richness of the Earth. It brought everything to life as it welcomed the changing season in full, promising abundant harvests for the year to come. 

The notion lightened your spirit as you took it in. In the city, things like this had always been a struggle; food was far more scarce for your neighborhood, and having a plot of land decent enough to produce true sustenance was a rarity. Your family had always managed to make it by, but just barely.

You wondered, then, if the heiress would allow you to send some crops back home in order to help. Surely she’d extend the courtesy, provided the circumstances.

As you smoothed out the gardening uniform you wore and made your descent over the lush yard towards the garden, you made a mental note to ask her. 

And before long, following one final turn around the corner of the supply shed, you spotted her.

Your Lady.

The sun wrapped around her, holding her tight like a sweet kiss as she thanked a passing landscaper for his hard work. He bowed kindly, the gesture full of respect. The skirt of her dress wavered in the passing breeze, rippling as it so pleased when she returned the motion to him.

Her sun hat partially obstructed her view as she turned to look at you, but the sweet way she tilted her head back to peek at you from beneath the rim made you smile. 

“There you are!” She called out, putting her hands on her hips. Her eyes squinted slightly as she braved the bright sun solely in the name of greeting you properly.

“I apologize for my tardiness,” you responded, making your way down the hill to her. The slope wasn’t too terribly steep, and for that you were thankful. 

“I hope it wasn’t too much of an inconvenience.”

She shook her head, adamant but easy going. “Not at all. I’ve just been enjoying the weather.”

A quick glance down at her legs gave you another insight into her solo endeavors. 

“And playing in the pond, I see.” An amused smile toyed at your lips when she looked down at them as well, reminded of her excursion. 

“And playing in the pond,” she echoed, nodding to herself. 

After that, neither of you said anything for a bit. Both of you fell into a comfortable silence as you admired the land, allowing yourselves the opportunity to take it all in. For her, the sights and sounds were pleasant reminders of the life she so graciously lived. But for you, they were new discoveries entirely. 

Birds and insects that you’d never heard before shared their unique calls, creating melodies all of their own. Some were piercing, bordering on shrill; others as soft as silk as they floated by in pursuit of one another. 

When she caught a glimpse of your innocent amazement, she couldn’t help but smile. It warmed her heart to see that you were adjusting well to the abrupt change that you went through, and knowing you hadn’t lost the curiosity that you harbored from that first day comforted her even more. Although she was aware that being at the estate wasn’t something you ever asked for, she hoped that experiences like this could remedy things to some degree. The time you were losing with your family was irreplaceable, no doubt, but perhaps you would have plenty to tell them about upon your return. That eased her conscience, at least. 

Maybe, if things were done right, even some of that initial anguish could be replaced with more happy memories like this one. 

You’d made her happier in your short time at the manor than she ever imagined you could’ve, and that meant something. 

She took you by the hand and led you to one of the benches near the pond, careful to avoid the bees and wasps that buzzed by. 

Confusion tweaked at your features momentarily, but the comfortable hold that she had on you melted it away. 

Gardening could wait until she wanted to do it, you supposed, as she guided you to sit down. 

The metal seat was warm against your body, but not hot. The sun’s energy was stored there like a reservoir, allowing you to savor the feeling of it over time. Unconsciously, you sunk into the bench a little further, truly feeling at ease. She joined you shortly after, sitting close enough that your knees brushed each other whenever you shifted around. 

The proximity was more than welcome by you, though you did your best not to make that too obvious. 

Embarrassing yourself like that wasn’t very high on your to-do list for the day.

A gathering of tall flowers wavered next to you, blowing in the breeze; as you reached a hand out to them, their petals brushed against your palm in various patterns, soft and mild. 

They were lavender plants. Such pretty things. Almost capable of holding a candle to the woman beside you. Almost.

“Isn’t it beautiful out here?” 

Her voice was airy, full of light. 

“Absolutely,” you answered, stopping your eyes from wandering anymore and instead focusing them on her again. Her cheeks were flushed, but you couldn’t determine if it was due to the heat or some sudden shyness that befell her. 

“Thank you for letting me experience it like this.” 

‘Like this’, meant with her, just the two of you, hidden away from the rest of the world as the sun worked its fateful magic on the land and added a type of sparkle that was absent during any other part of the day. It meant with her, feeling her leg bump against yours as she spun in the seat and tracked the path of a passing butterfly that was taking flight for the first time. 

But you didn’t elaborate on that. A confession that brazen simply wasn’t in the cards for you.

“You’re more than welcome, Y/N,” she assured warmly, bringing you back to your senses. The rim of her hat tilted in the way again as she turned to you, and, without thinking, you raised a hand to push it up for her. 

She stilled for a moment, surprised – just the same as you.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have–”

“It’s fine,” she chuckled, not letting you finish your unnecessary apology.

Her fingers readjusted the tie below her chin as she settled the hat into place a little better, ensuring that it would stay put from then on. 

A new kind of sparkle showed in her eyes as they glanced between yours; something rested in that shimmer, hidden like a present, waiting to be understood when the time was right. 

She moved in a little closer to you, shifting her hips with a feminine subtlety that gave you half the inclination to believe you’d simply made it up in your mind. But a hint of caution showed on her face, letting you know that she was testing something.

What that was exactly, you had no idea. But you certainly weren’t complaining. 

Unbeknownst to her, in her effort to close some of the distance between you, the heel of her shoe had scraped across a patch of grass beneath the bench, thus interrupting a bee that was feeding from one of the flowers there. 

Its buzzing grew louder, full of anger that it intended to make known. 

Just as she went to say something to you, her words were interrupted by a sudden shout of pain as the bee flew up her dress and stung her leg. 

You jumped in surprise, but after a quick explanation from her you snapped into action. Carefully, you looped her arm around your shoulders and stood up, easing the weight of her body against yours. You knew that walking would be immensely painful in her situation, so you made it a point to prevent her from feeling the effects of gravity to the best of your ability.

Her soft groans of pain filled your ears with each advancing step you took towards the manor, hasty and a bit rocky. You made sure to gently lift her a little, easing the strain on her leg. Any movement of it, though, sent a jolt of searing pain to her injury. Nevertheless, you persisted. 

She leaned into you for support and you held her close, keenly aware of her discomfort. 

Your head shook in frustration when you eventually made it inside and reached the grand staircase. It seemed to tower in that moment, daunting as you peered up at it.

At once, an idea came to mind.

“Come here,” you said, bending your knees slightly as your arm descended to her lower back. Her eyebrows raised briefly when she glanced down at you, unsure. 

“Just trust me.”

She nodded a moment later, quickly biting her lip to stifle another whine as you picked her up. Her arms wrapped around your neck securely as you began your ascent; much to her relief, the pain was far more bearable this way. As a thank you, she pressed a faint kiss to your collarbone, where her full lips had been brushing against. 

The sensation made your heart race, but you shook off the feeling. Now wasn’t the time.

Once you made it to her room, you carefully sat her down on the edge of her chair and raced to retrieve some supplies and ointment from the closet in your quarters. While you were away, she hiked the material of her dress up to her waist and examined the sting. 

Although the stinger was no longer attached, the wound itself proved that her attacker hadn’t been a bee at all. It was a hornet – something she’d had adverse reactions to in the past. 

The degree of swelling that her skin had already undergone alarmed her; if just the short journey here alone had given the venom that much power and opportunity to affect her this much, she could only imagine what it would continue to do.

You immediately picked up on her worry when you reentered her chambers, loaded up with an array of remedies to heal her. A small glimmer of comfort settled over her at the sight of you. 

“We’ll need to clean it first,” you informed, immediately approaching her and setting your supplies down at her feet. You went to your knees in front of her, quickly reaching for the bowl of soapy water you had prepared. 

Her legs parted for you without solicitation, giving you pause for a moment. 

You dipped your fingertips in the solution, generously coating them before you sat the bowl back down and moved in closer to her. A grimace pulled at your features when you saw the injury, an angry swirl of red and white. You could only imagine the pain she was experiencing. 

She hissed once your fingers first made contact with her heated skin, and you noticed the way her nails dug into the arms of her chair. When you repeated the motion a few times, ensuring the area was thoroughly clean, she bit down on her bottom lip to prevent a slew of curses from escaping. Tears brimmed in her eyes, almost spilling over. 

Water trickled down her thigh as she shifted slightly, leaving trails in its wake to glimmer in the midday sunlight that had worked its way into the room. Her legs trembled from the aftershocks, inspiring pity. 

Carefully, you patted the area dry and wiped your hands before reaching for a small tin of ointment. 

“Here, ma’am,” you soothed, dabbing the smooth cream onto her abused skin. Her fingers wrapped around your wrist when you shifted closer, softly enveloping it. You looked up at her, partially through your lashes. 

You were so beautiful to her then that she didn’t know what to do with herself.

“Call me Jiu. Please.”

A new kind of smile graced your lips, warming her heart. It was curiosity mixed with relief; like a child hearing their mother say yes to whatever plans they had concocted. She was allowing you access to a part of herself that not many people ever saw.

“Does that feel a little better now, Jiu?” You asked, testing the waters. Her name felt foreign on your tongue, but in all the right ways. 

She nodded, peering down at you. “It does.”

Her breathing stilled as you lifted her leg, slotting it over your shoulder. A look of surprise washed over her features at the contact, but it soon melted away to something else entirely when she felt your breath fan out across her thigh. 

You blew steadily, hoping to dry the ointment a little and help activate the cooling effects of the lidocaine in it. She sighed, tilting her head back. Her thumb rubbed a small circle along the inside of your wrist, just above your pulse point in a show of gratitude. 

“You’re so good to me,” she praised, smiling lazily. Your heart skipped a beat. 

“...thank you,” she added. Her voice was altered slightly due to her position, making it sound deeper than usual. Amusement was present in her tone, too, now that the adrenaline was beginning to fade and she knew she would be okay. You had such a good way of calming her down.

You bit back a relieved laugh. That could’ve ended badly. 

“Anything for you, Jiu.” You quipped back, smiling at the way she squeezed your wrist in return.

—---

4.) Sharing Isn’t Caring

Destiny promised nothing short of an ebb and flow for you, during your stay. Highs and lows, steps forward followed by steps back. It was all a process – one that required serious effort to put your trust into.

> In The Heiress’s Room <

Jiu’s fingers interlaced with yours, held up in the golden sunlight. Rays reflected off of her rings as she twisted your joined hands, admiring the show. Their patterns casted to different parts of the room in various directions, sparkling. 

The beauty of your moment, though, was quickly interrupted by an intrusive knock that rapped out against the open door. 

“I heard you’re heading out for a picnic,” Hyun Wook noted, inserting himself in a place he so clearly didn’t belong. Biting back a scoff had never been more difficult.

“We are,” Jiu responded simply, not taking his bait right from the get go. It was clear what he wanted, and you knew a man like him wouldn’t beat around the bush much longer. 

“Why don’t I join you?” He suggested, doing his best to sound genuine. He wished to appear spontaneous in a charming way; how bothersome that that had to be at your expense. 

A faint arrogance befell him when he caught you rolling your eyes in his peripheral.

Jiu looked to you, raising an inquisitive brow as if it mattered what you wanted. You lowered your gaze to the floor in response, silently surrendering. 

“Sure, Hyun Wook.”

You failed to catch the hint of disappointment that painted her tone. 

He sighed dramatically, pretending to be relieved. “I thought you’d say no there for a second,” he smirked, stepping towards her. 

The soft hold that she had had on you was lost in that moment, given up to him instead when she let go of your hand. As she politely laughed at what he said, bringing hers up to cup his cheek, you tore your eyes away from her. Jealousy simmered in your chest, hanging heavy. 

“Fetch the basket,” he ordered, raising a dismissing hand in your direction. His lovesick attention never left Jiu for a second; the sight made your stomach hurt.

Begrudgingly, you did as you were told. Before you could even make it out of the room, though, he had picked her up in his arms and spun her, earning himself another one of her laughs. 

Of all things, who would’ve predicted that that would upset you the most during your stay here?

Images of that night back in the city flashed in your mind at once, reminding you of the circumstances that brought you here in the first place. Allowing yourself to feel this way for the heiress would only complicate things more and get you into trouble; for your family, you made a vow to snap back into reality and stay there. 

The childish fiction in your head was delusion anyway – it’s not like Jiu felt the same about you. 

How could she? You pondered, grabbing the handle of the basket and taking it off of the kitchen counter with little care. You were simply her maid. A girl meant to serve her, here, in this mansion poised so highly above the struggle and bustle of the city below. After these next few months were through – once she was done with you – you’d be sent back to live whatever life you could manage, and it was unlikely you’d ever even hear a whisper of her name again. 

It was time for you to know your place and stop pretending otherwise. 

– 

Outside

With a flourish and twist, the heavy quilt in your hands unraveled in a pop of color, fanning out across the grass. Once the corners were smoothed out and tethered down into the ground, you retrieved a small pillow from the bag on your back and laid it down in the center. With practiced ease, you outstretched a hand to Jiu and helped her onto the cushion. 

Hyun Wook remained standing as you unpacked the contents of the basket and spread the containers out to the right of her. His eyes surveyed the land halfheartedly, only for show. They flitted up and over the cherry trees that were beginning to blossom, skimmed over the rippling surface of the pond, and lingered a second too long on a pair of passing maids. Against his hips, his fisted hands rested; he was posing in the way that men do when they’re aiming to impress. 

“Y/N, sit here,” Jiu directed, pointing to the open spot to her left. She leisurely removed her gloves.

Confused, you glanced between the two of them. Maids were meant to busy themselves elsewhere during this sort of thing, or at the very least sit elsewhere. As to why she was changing the rules, you were oblivious.

“Are you sure–”

“Yes.” Her word was firm, leaving no room for debate.

Hyun Wook turned around just as you sat down, and you had the pleasure of watching the expression on his face slowly sour. Had he stopped posing for five seconds, perhaps he would’ve gotten your seat.

“Where am I to sit?” He asked, voice posh and annoyed. So spoiled.

Jiu glanced at you, finding the folded blanket you were going to sit on resting across your lap. She took it and tossed it at him.

“On this.”

He caught it, but barely. You held back a snicker as he rolled his eyes. Checkmate. 

—

5.) Full Moon

Sleep refused to come to you that night.

The theater of your mind was fixated on Jiu, starring her in every production it mustered. Act One was full of her quirks and mannerisms; Act Two her humor. But Act Three, which you were firmly stuck in the middle of, comprised your every interaction. Every smile, fleeting glance, lingering touch. It all drove you mad, replaying with the apparent intention of breaking your heart.

Her scent still remained on you from before; the expensive perfume had found a second home on your skin and in the fibers of your uniform, settling there like a special secret. 

It had transferred to you in a moment of panic during the picnic earlier, when she pulled you close in search of the safety that your arms provided. Danger – what she had been evading – buzzed by languidly on its way towards another flower.

You could remember how warm her skin was, then, as her hold on you tightened. Only once you whispered words of reassurance quietly to her did she begin to calm down and relax into you. 

While you had been keenly aware of her lingering fears, given her past run-in with the wasp, Hyun Wook was oblivious. His ignorance lent itself to something similar to annoyance as he watched the scene in front of him unfold. When Jiu had put her head on your shoulder, he scoffed.

You recalled the way that she simply closed her eyes, using your steady heartbeat as a way to calm down. She pretended he wasn’t there, and before long her moment of fear subsided. Her hand found yours in your lap, and she laced her fingers with yours in a silent show of gratitude. 

Now, laying in bed, it was all you could do to try and forget the feeling. 

It’s not like you wanted to – you’d gladly spend an eternity or two getting lost in all the ways she’s touched you, no matter how insignificant – but you knew you had to forget. 

All of the feelings you had bottled up for her, stored away in your heart, were dangerous. What was platonic to her set your heart ablaze with the notion of what if; things she didn’t think twice about were stuck in your mind for days on end. But living like that wasn’t really living. 

So, you made a pact with yourself to try and get over your growing love for her. 

And if your pursuit of that was to start tonight, you’d have to take a walk. They always had a way of clearing your mind. 

-

Beneath your slippered feet, the ground was chilly. You could feel it – distant, held at bay – despite the comfy memory foam that cushioned your every step. The hallways were much the same, with their towering ceilings and numerous windows allowing the night air to sneak in. But the blanket wrapped around your shoulders staved it off, and you were at ease. 

Moonlight painted the artworks that you passed, leaving the soldiers depicted to fight shadow monsters instead of each other for a change. Their swords gleamed, catching what measly bits of candle light they could from the walls around them. The flames of them flickered gently, but burned with purpose. At an hour like this, free of the hustle and bustle of the staff, they didn’t have to worry about being blown out. No passing drafts would mark their demise. They were free to burn; and so, they did.

You followed them mindlessly, having no real destination in sight. What wandering you did in the manor paralleled the wandering of your mind; every turn put distance between Jiu and you, offering a gentle reprieve from the feelings that plagued you. The image of her faded with every hall you turned down, until it left you completely. 

In lieu of her, you focused on the moon and stars. 

Glimpses of them came to you through the large windows that arched high above, whose panes were fogged slightly from the rivaling air temperatures. 

From behind the puffy clouds, you could see that tonight welcomed a full moon. It was bright, and it coated the landscape of the estate in a gray hue. Entirely calming, and entirely unique. The night sky was free of the smog that you’d grown used to in the city; here, everything was so clear. 

Awe twinkled in your eye, matching that of the stars that shined down. Two types of beholders, both sharing a look at one another. 

Only when you heard the faint crackling of a fire did you care to break yourself free of the late-night, hazy spell that you were under. 

You blinked, looking around as you attempted to locate where you were. Realization dawned on you when you spotted an open door, cracked just enough to show you a sliver of a large mahogany desk. You’d know it anywhere.

Despite every valiant effort you had put in, your feet had managed to meander you all the way back to Jiu’s office. The last place you should’ve been, and yet the only place you really wanted to be. 

The floorboards creaked under her weight as she padded around inside. She put something on her bookshelf before bending at the waist and dragging a finger along the spines of the row in front of her. After a moment of searching, she pulled out what she was looking for. 

You pressed closer when she sat down in her chair, beside the fire. It was out of sight of the door, and, foolishly, you wanted to see her. You promised yourself that you’d just stay for a few more seconds before leaving.

But, given the luck that you’ve always lacked in life, that wasn’t what destiny had in store. 

When you took another step forward towards the door, the front of your slipper got caught on the floor. You lurched forward, lightly bumping your head into the door. 

Jiu jumped slightly, looking up to locate the source of the noise. 

“Hello?” She asked, voice light but cautious. 

Embarrassed, you brought a hand up to rub your forehead. 

“It’s just me, ma’am.”

You opened the door as you nursed your bruised ego. 

“Ah, Y/N,” she grinned, waving you in. “Come sit down.”

You shut the door behind yourself and followed her command, moving to sit in the leather chair opposite her. Part of you hoped it would swallow you up, then and there; a fate like that would be far more welcome than one as embarrassing as this. 

“You know,” she started, sounding thoughtful, “...you’re cute when you blush.”

Your heart lurched at her unexpected compliment. She really shouldn’t say things like that.

She got what she was after when you raised your head back up, no longer looking at the floor. If it was that easy to get you to look at her, she’d have to remind you of little things like that more often.

“But, Y/N, I have to ask,” she tilted her head to the side slightly. “What are you doing up this late?”

You bit your tongue when the truth tried to rush out.

“I just couldn’t sleep, is all.”

She took that at face value, nodding to herself as something came to mind.

“How about some tea, then?” She offered, using her head to motion to the stand next to the window behind her desk. Sure enough, a teapot rested there, emitting a faint stream of steam into the air. 

“I could use a refill, anyway,” she added, peeking past the rim of her cup on the table beside her. 

“Sure.”

While she headed over to fill the cups up, you took the opportunity to look around the room. The fire that she had been meticulously stoking for the past hour or two was burning well; it crackled with life every so often, emitting soft pops to remind you of its presence. Its flames reached up high, licking the air in bold stripes as they stretched into the chimney. 

A few books were stacked on the edge of the table that sat between your two chairs; two of them were poetry, and one a collection of drawings that Jiu always kept with her. On a few occasions, you’d caught her scribbling away in it or doodling when she thought no one was looking. She was always the cutest to you, then, with her tongue darting out of her mouth in concentration or her brows knitted together as she tried to get the lines perfect. 

The memories brought a smile to your face. 

“Here you go,” she said, handing the cup to you with the utmost care. You took it gingerly, savoring the warmth it radiated. 

When she noticed your hands wrapping around it, she put two and two together. Wanting to help, she tugged the edge of your blanket up and a little closer to your body.

Her hand smoothed over the top of your hair as she untucked it from the blanket and fixed it for you. She peered down, smiling to herself.

"You look adorable in those," she noted, glancing at your new pajamas. "I knew they'd suit you well." 

You paused. What?

"You got these for me?" 

Her eyes blinked… once, twice… a little confused. "Of course I did. Who else would've?" 

You blanked, rethinking things after she pointed that out. It never crossed your mind to consider who had been the one to pick them out; all that you considered certain was that it had nothing to do with her. You couldn’t imagine any other heiress being so involved in such an insignificant thing for their maid – especially one that was still relatively new. The fact that she cared that much wasn’t lost on you, and neither was the fact that she kept her special purchase a secret. 

The gesture was in good faith, and her actions only further proved that; she wasn’t seeking anything by getting the outfit for you. She simply wanted you to be comfortable, and that made you like her even more, somehow. 

“I don’t know how to thank you.”

She laughed lightly, shaking her head. “There’s no need. Seeing you in them is enough.”

You watched her sit down, elegant despite the lack of a reason for her to be. It must’ve just been second nature to her to be so ethereal at this point.

You took a sip of your drink when she crossed her legs, hoping to distract yourself. And by God, that scalding tea did the trick.

“What’re you doing up this late?” You asked in return, once a short bit of comfortable silence had passed. She finished the drink she was taking before setting her cup down on its saucer. 

“Well, I’ve had a lot on my mind lately,” she admitted, settling more into her chair. Her back arched slightly as she sought a more comfortable position, and you weren’t strong enough to stop yourself from peeking at her body. The long gown she wore was a sight for sore eyes, with the way its simple design made it shimmer in the low light of the room. Every beautiful curve of her was enhanced by it; surely somewhere in the world it was a crime to look so good in something so plain.

“Hyun Wook is…” she rolled her eyes and grinned at you as she visibly fought the urge to call him something unsavory, “... Hyun Wook. And the meetings lately have made me want to rip my hair out. So,” her shoulders rose and fell in a defeated shrug, “...I’m a little all over the place.”

“Have you told your father that you’re stressed?”

She scoffed, though her intention wasn’t to hurt your feelings. “That’s not something he cares about.”

You frowned, upset that he would be so rude to his only daughter. If you were capable of it, you’d make up for everything he lacked just to prove that she deserved better. 

“What matters to him is money, and money is earned by the more deals we close. It’s only business.”

“I understand that, but you matter in that equation, too.” You reasoned. “How he expects you to do all of that with no breaks is beyond me.”

She tutted. “Just one of the perks of being a Kim; especially since I’m the oldest and a woman. He expects me to prove myself in ways the rest of the family would never have to.” 

“Why doesn’t Hyun Wook help you? Aside from the occasional meeting, all I ever see him do is laze around or drink with his friends when he’s here.”

“Helping me isn’t something he signed up for when we got married. That wasn’t part of the agreement.”

“Agreement?” Your curiosity was piqued.

She nodded, taking another sip of her tea. “My father arranged our marriage when we were teenagers. Once Hyun Wook’s parents gave their conditions and final blessing a few years ago, we were married.”

“And I’m assuming you didn’t have much of a say in things, right?”

Her eyes crinkled in the corners as she smiled lightly. “You’re a fast learner, Y/N.”

The confirmation was bittersweet for a multitude of reasons. It gave you hope – maybe that meant she didn’t harbor real feelings for him – but it made you unequivocally sad for her. This woman, so pure and good natured, was subjected to a life of servitude, too, without even fully realizing it. In some ways, you had more freedom than her. How was that fair?

“I wish things were different,” you said, aware that you were incapable of remedying the situation. You wanted to express your dislike of her circumstances regardless. 

“Me too,” she sighed gently – just the way she was taught to. “But, it’s not all bad, you know.”

When you raised a brow, she took that as a sign to continue.

“You’re here now. And I like to think that we give each other something we never had before.”

“What do you mean, exactly?”

She sat forward in her chair a little, leaning closer to you. “Just… something new, I suppose. You’re unlike anyone I’ve ever met before. You keep me on my toes.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” you laughed. She did, too, thinking you couldn’t possibly be any cuter than you were in that moment. 

Her hand landed on your forearm as her giggles died down.

“It definitely was, Y/N. And you know I don’t give them out often.”

“Why me, then?” You didn’t care if you sounded cheesy or desperate – you were past the point of that. A very real, very genuine intrigue weighed heavy on your mind after finding out about her arrangement with Hyun Wook, and it could only be appeased by some honest answers from her.

“Out of everyone, why me?” You reiterated. The question was loaded.

“Because you’re special to me. Don’t you see that?” Her brows knitted together, taken aback by your oblivion. She’d never hidden her affection for you. “I value all of the staff here, as you know. But, given the choice, I’d always choose to spend time with you over them. You just know me better, somehow.”

“Is that all?” You half-joked, cracking a smile.

Her hand skated down to yours, holding it as her thumb brushed across your knuckles.

“We’d be here until dawn if I were to list all the reasons.”

Your eyes screwed shut as you scrunched your face up in protest. “You’re such a flirt, Jiu. Cut it out.”

A low chuckle left her, husky enough to break your heart right then and there. “Why should I?”

You didn’t dare breathe, let alone give her a reason.

“I can lie, if you’d rather,” she promised, removing herself from you completely and sitting back again. Her eyes scanned over you, waiting and searching for an answer of some kind. “But I’m not the best at that. Especially when it comes to you.”

What could she possibly have meant by that? She had to be toying with you.

When you saw her subsequently glance at your lips, you panicked. It brought back memories of that night, so long ago. 

“Right,” you declared, clearing your throat. You searched for something to change the topic with.

The poetry book from earlier was the first thing to make its way into your line of sight.

You missed the disheartened look that washed over Jiu, and how her face fell a little at the loss of contact. 

But by the time you looked back at her again, her walls were raised once more and all traces of disappointment were gone. 

She picked up on your silent hint. Without another word, she reached forward and picked up the aged book, running her fingertips across its cover. 

“Would you like to hear one of my favorites?” An air of excitement began to surround her, evident in the soft smile that she gave you. It was eagerness restrained, though, and you wondered how often she’s had to bite her tongue before. 

“I’d love nothing more.”

Her gaze softened at that, vulnerable for a moment in a way you hadn’t quite seen before. Your words – or tone, whatever it had been – seemed to have struck a chord in her. 

She thumbed through a few pages until she landed on one that she frequented quite often. She cleared her throat quietly, turning her face away in a show of respect. When she was ready, she glanced up from the page and into your eyes.

“I love you,” she started, giving you pause. You certainly hadn’t expected those words to be the first out of her mouth. “...as certain dark things are to be loved, in secret,” she continued, returning her eyes to the page despite the fact that she had every word memorized a million times over. “...between the shadow and the soul.”

You looked on at her, watching as she grew a little shy. 

“Beautiful.” You whispered, unable to stop yourself. It was just loud enough for her to hear, and part of her questioned what you were referring to. She hoped you meant her, just as much as the poem itself. 

“Read me another.”

“Really?” 

You nodded, motioning to the book. “Please.”

It was obvious that she enjoyed it, and seeing her so happy only did the same to you in return.

She flipped through the pages again, bringing her free hand up to toy with her bottom lip as she searched the pages for a particular writing. You took a long drink of your tea, hiding behind the rim of your cup.

Soon enough, she found the next one. 

This time, she didn’t take her eyes off of you when she recited it. 

“I want to do with you what spring does with the cherry trees.”

The words were simple, completely innocent. It was likely that no hidden meaning lied beyond the more obvious one, and yet, it made you think. 

Did she want to be the reason for your blossoming? Did the idea of seeing you, so open and new, get her through the day? Perhaps she wanted to be the reason you thrived. The harbinger of your impending success for another year.

Still, you couldn’t help but wonder. If the flush of her cheeks was any indication, her mind had taken it elsewhere, too. 

“Wow,” you breathed, attempting to break the tense silence. “Those were wonderful. Thank you.”

She looked pleased. “If you’d like, we could do this more often.”

“That would be great,” you smiled. 

She mirrored you. “How about tomorrow night? Same time, same place.”

“I’ll be here.”

—----------------------

That night with Jiu left you falling even deeper than what you had been before. 

Your nervous system was on high alert the next morning, making you far clumsier than normal and unable to conduct yourself well for a majority of the day. You did your best to stay composed whenever you were around her, and it worked some. But even still, you were sure you made an utter fool of yourself on more than one occasion. 

Work prevented you from being around her much during the day, and you were left to throw yourself into your other tasks. For once, her absence was a welcome one; with the promise of meeting again in a matter of hours, you were at peace. You could use the time until then to calm down and ready yourself for whatever she had in store. 

And that you did. After finishing your jobs and putting together a care package to send to your family – a gift so graciously approved by Jiu – you found that you still had some time to kill. With it, you decided to make a small gift for her. 

Yoohyeon lent you a piece of her art paper and pencils, and on it you sketched an array of the flowers that Jiu had told you she loved over the past few months. You shaded and colored them to the best of your ability, and you wrote the words of her poem as a sort of border around their petals. When it was all finished, you were genuinely proud. It took quite a while for you to be satisfied, but you couldn’t deny that it was worth it. 

As you waited, counting down the hours until you were reunited, you thought up all the possible ways she might react to it. 

Like a lovesick teenager, you hoped that she loved it. Your heart gave in to its childish desire to make up scenarios in your head in the meantime. 

With every hourly chime of the grandfather clock at the end of the hall, a new possibility was constructed. They all made you smile, though your nervousness grounded you with the fact that reality might not match up with them. You made peace with that, though it was easier said than done.

Eventually, the time came. The rest of the manor had all retreated to their rooms, more than ready to knock out. You, on the other hand, were wide awake as you grabbed the present and snuck out of your quarters, careful to remain quiet. 

Your heart beat wildly in your chest; so hard you were sure everyone else could hear it echoing down the empty halls. You paid no mind to the moon, now; the stars didn’t grab your attention as they had before. But, looking back, you wish they would have. You wish you would’ve listened to the cry of the owl outside, perched high on the angel’s shoulder at the fountain. Its large eyes were open wide, as if pleading for you to turn around and forget your pursuit.

It was all too little too late, though. 

The distant sound of voices – mumbling, quietly discussing something – faded in as you neared Jiu’s room. They grew louder the closer you got – more forceful. The door was open so slightly that it appeared to be the latch’s fault, rather than it intentionally being left that way. 

Your curiosity got the better of you when you heard Jiu say something else inside, low and unintelligible. You approached it, closing the final gap that existed between you and the heartbreak waiting inside. 

As you peeked in, your heart sank.

Hyun Wook had beat you to her, it appeared. 

His hand pushed its way past the silk underslip of her dress while her legs wrapped around his waist, pulling him in close. He groped her wantonly as their bodies moved together, all heat and drunken lust. She was perched atop the dresser, though her position was anything but secure. It rocked rhythmically, bumping the wall as his searching hips found comfort between her warm thighs. Their muscles flexed; every twitch made you sick. 

She moaned lowly when he ripped the straps of her dress down, causing you to grimace. You could only hope it was fake, entirely generated to boost his ego and not rooted in any actual pleasure. 

The betrayal you felt, sitting heavy on your chest, made it hard to breathe. He was her husband, and you knew that – you knew that. Even still, some part of you foolishly believed that she would end things with him. That she would stop seeing him altogether, whether it be for sex or anything else. 

Although you were aware that their daily interactions were simply meant to save face, witnessing them was still daunting. But this – this hushed, late night rendezvous – was something else completely. With no one else around to catch them at such an hour, they had no need to put on a show. This was entirely for them. Every shuddered breath, every cry, every thrust of their hips was meant for them. 

You backed away from the door, feeling numb. A final glance at her was stolen before you made your silent retreat, but it only hurt more in the end; he captured her full lips in a bruising kiss, muffling the groan that left them. 

The paper in your hands folded in on itself, then, crumpling from the force you exerted. Until you made it back to your room, it remained clutched tightly in your fist. 

Once you were inside, you threw it in the fireplace.

—

The Next Morning

Distant sounds of silverware clanking together woke Jiu. 

They were jarring – a far cry from her typical alarm: you. Although she was disappointed that you weren’t there to greet her, she brushed off the feeling. Perhaps you were just exhausted and slept in by accident. With how hard you’d been working lately, she couldn’t blame you.

She’d always appreciated how good you were to her. 

When she rang the bell a few minutes later to alert you, it took you far longer than normal to come in. The special knock you always used was absent this time, too, exchanged instead for two dull thuds. 

Admittedly, it made her sad; she always valued your early morning interactions. The sleepy way you would rub your eyes or yawn as you helped get her ready for the day always made her smile, and she often found herself thinking of it in the middle of her business meetings. Your groggy voice was always endearing, too. 

Such a shame things were different today.

You didn’t waste time doting on her. Your hands weren’t as gentle as usual, and you certainly didn’t stop to admire her body as you washed it. If anything, you avoided looking as much as possible; you caught a glimpse of a dark spot on her neck at one point, and that was enough to sour your mood even further somehow. Haste was present in everything you did and said. 

If she noticed or cared, she didn’t make it known. 

Tension hung in the air, along with an awkwardness that neither of you were very fond of. In your pursuit of avoidance, you failed to notice the observant gaze she set on you. Carefully, she attempted to read you; she made sure to look away when your attention was eventually returned to her, despite how hard it was. If she made her concern too obvious, she knew you’d close up and push her away. And for a situation as delicate as this, she was willing to treat it as such.

But, after a while of pretending, things caught up with you. The mask you put up slipped, showing your true feelings:

When you tugged the laces of her corset just a little too hard, making her draw in a tight breath and hold onto the dresser for support, it became apparent that your overzealous hands clearly hadn’t forgotten last night. A mumbled apology was made, but it did little to convince her. 

“What is your problem?” She asked, though her tone resembled an accusation. 

Your eyes found hers in the mirror. You debated. 

“I don’t have a problem, Jiu.” You declared, tying the ends into a bow before turning around. She turned, too, observing you as you laid out a selection of dresses for her to choose from.

“I know you well enough to recognize that that's a lie.”

The statement gave you pause, but you found yourself scoffing after it subsided. 

“Why do you care?” You asked genuinely, raising your head to meet her gaze from across the bed. “It doesn’t concern you.”

“If something is troubling you, I’d like to know. This is my estate, so I feel responsible.” She explained.

You shook your head, dismissing her. “Don’t. I can handle myself fine.” The last thing you wanted was her pity. 

“I didn’t say otherwise, Y/N,” she tilted her head subtly, softening her gaze. “I know you can. But that doesn’t keep me from wondering.”

When you finally looked at her again, searching her eyes as you attempted to decide on your next move, the curiosity there took you by surprise. Something unspoken lied just behind the annoying sparkle in them, drawing you in again. You loathed it in every sense of the word – this power she had over you. But still, you couldn’t fight the urge to give in and tell her why. Maybe, if you were lucky, she’d have a reaction that resembled guilt.

“Fine,” you started, taking a few steps across the room to sit at her window-side table. “I didn’t sleep very well last night. That’s why I’m like this.”

Relief flashed across her face momentarily, and she took a seat on the end of her bed. “Do you know why you couldn’t sleep?” 

Your jaw clenched. “I was a bit under the weather.”

“I’ll have Yoohyeon make you some tea tonight, if it happens again.” She offered, oblivious to your lie. 

“Are you planning to see Hyun Wook again?” You dared to ask, watching as realization flooded over her. It replaced the relief from before. “If so, then go ahead and tell her now.”

She swallowed, glancing down at the floor. “You heard us last night?”

A humorless laugh left you. “Put lightly, yes. But I saw you, too. It was quite the show.”

“Y/N, I–”

“What, Jiu?” You raised your chin up, silently challenging her. The images of them together were resurfacing in your mind, only making your mood worse. “Are you going to say I wasn’t meant to see it? Because that’s obvious. It would be concerning if you wanted me to.”

She took a deep breath, weighing something of her own. “I barely remember it. We were drunk; it just happened.”

You nodded to yourself as if you were expecting her answer to sound something like that. “Convenient, no?”

“What do you want me to say?” She seemed taken aback.

“Something a little less overused, maybe.”

She sighed, feeling frustration beginning to creep up on her. So many unsaid things existed between the two of you, complicating matters beyond their limit. Eventually, she knew, they’d all come out. Exactly how and when that would happen, though, she wasn’t sure.

“He came to my room and surprised me, okay? We had some drinks, and one thing led to another.” 

So she really did want to sleep with him. What little hope you had left was crumbling fast. 

“Okay,” you said, standing up. Your sudden response surprised her, and the evidence of that was clear on her face as you crossed the room again. 

“Okay?” She repeated, sounding unsure. 

You hummed in affirmation, ready to move on and get her ready for the day. The faster you got her dressed and prepared, the faster she would be out of your sight. 

“That’s it?” 

If you didn’t know better, you’d have sworn some disappointed painted her tone. 

“What else is there to say?”

So much.

She paused for a moment. “Nothing, I suppose.”

Your hands clasped together in front of you as you subtly motioned to the dresses with your head. 

“Then let’s get you ready.”

—

The rest of the day saw you busied with any and every one of your tasks that didn’t involve Jiu. You avoided her at every opportunity, only letting the essential responsibilities of yours be the reasons you reunited. After they were finished, you were gone faster than she could say goodbye. For any duties bordering on trivial, the other maids stepped up and assumed them. 

Were you allowed to do that? You weren’t exactly sure. But did you care? Absolutely not. 

Being around her made your chest ache. Every attempt from her at simple banter or a normal conversation stung; her oblivion made things ten times worse. Did she question why you were so upset? Did she dig deeper, searching for a reason that her maid would be that affected by an expected interaction between husband and wife?

No. She couldn’t have. Because the Jiu you knew was clever. Had she stopped to consider the circumstances for even a moment, she surely would’ve pieced things together. 

You couldn't decide if that hurt more or not.

Regardless, you tried to gather up what self restraint you had left and use it to stop thinking about her. Finding ways to help out around the busy estate was incredibly easy, and for once you found yourself grateful for that.

The gardeners and animal caretakers were paid visits by you in the morning, but you spent most of the day holed up in the kitchen. Along the way, you heard news of an event that was scheduled for later that night; a group of investors were returning to discuss a merger of their companies, and Hyun Wook had agreed to host. Following a meeting with all of them, there was to be a celebration of sorts in the ballroom, complete with a vast array of refreshments and foods. Being the… bright… mind that Hyun Wook is, though, he failed to mention it until the day of. 

His incompetence only fanned the flames of your hatred, but you held your tongue and channeled your energy into helping prepare everything. It took a lot of effort, but you knew it would be worth it in the end. 

Yoohyeon was there to keep you company for a while, when she took her occasional breaks, and that was enough for you. Though it was obvious to her that you were upset, she didn’t question it. Her instincts as your friend knew better than to push you for information when you were so vulnerable. She knew you’d come to her about it eventually, when things settled into place. She offered words of encouragement in the meantime and hugged you close when she saw you getting overwhelmed. 

The kitchen staff was friendly, too, despite the stress they were under. You even began to forge friendships with some of them, working closely and depending on one another to ensure that things ran smoothly. Pressure piled on your shoulders in ways you had never experienced before, given the change in tasks. But you persevered, and your efforts helped keep the night from being a total disaster.

When things kicked off in the ballroom, the head chef thanked you for your assistance and sent you to enjoy the party. 

Yoohyeon bumped her shoulder into yours as she walked out with you, finished with her responsibilities too and free to keep you company. She helped you get changed into something more fitting for a celebration before you both headed to the ballroom. 

-

“We should just go to the library,” you pouted, pulling at the collar of your shirt. 

“I think drinking is exactly what you need right now,” she replied, shutting your bedroom door behind herself. “We can dance and enjoy ourselves, and it’ll take your mind off of whatever’s bugging you.”

She joined you again, poking your arm in an attempt to cheer you up.

“If you say so,” you sighed, walking on towards the ballroom. 

The skirt that she had chosen for you flowed and swayed with every step you took, looking far more elegant than you’d ever admit. It made you feel attractive despite your low spirits, and you figured that had to count for something.

When you arrived, the doors were opened by two male servants dressed in full black outfits, denoting their status. Their faces were stoic as you treaded inside. Too bad they couldn’t come in and enjoy themselves as well. 

The biggest, brightest chandelier you’d ever seen hung above the dance floor, twinkling as its jewels and beads caught the lights of the room. Throngs of people were already under it; those that occupied the center were busy dancing joyfully together, finally letting themselves loose, while the pockets of people that bordered them chose to converse and watch one another over the rims of their glasses instead. 

Tables lined the rest of the room, every one of them a carbon copy of the next. Despite the lack of a heads up, the staff had managed to whip everything into shape; not even a single napkin was out of place. Had you not been privy to the constraints that were placed on them, you would’ve assumed that they had days to prepare with just how orderly everything was. 

Waiters wordlessly cycled through the crowd, keeping an eye out for any glasses whose contents were quickly dwindling. They had them switched out with fresh ones before the guests could even think of complaining. Their practiced ease was admirable as they kept things running smoothly, unfazed by the music and bustle of the party. 

Yoohyeon tugged on your arm, pulling you over towards the dance floor. On your way, you passed by the center table that stretched from one side of the room to the other. The kitchen’s creations all shined in their respective places on it, sitting on their fancy plates. It all looked delicious, but you weren’t in the mood to eat. Even if you had been, it wouldn’t have mattered; Yoohyeon was on a mission, and you were coming along for the ride whether you wanted to or not. 

She wiggled her way through the crowd with you in tow, only stopping once you broke through the outer ring and the middle of the dancefloor was in sight. She didn’t push you into the heart of the action; instead, she settled for a nice spot nearby, where you both could move freely and still be a part of the hoopla.

And move, she did. As the group of musicians on the elevated stage began their next song, she jumped at the opportunity to dance. Your initial attempts to match her energy were half hearted at best, but the longer the music played, the more you opened up. She joked with you and made a fool of herself in the best possible way, knowing just how to lift your spirits. Before long, the two of you were lost in the rhythm of the music; your cares had slipped away, and for a pleasant moment, every thought of Jiu that had been plaguing your mind vanished. The feeling of Yoohyeon’s body pressed tightly against yours as you swayed together, free with the beat, replaced everything else. 

Your hearts raced together, just as in sync as the smiles on your faces. You dipped one another and spun around, lacking any care for the traditional way that the song in question was meant to be danced to. Others might have sent you unapproving looks, but that was truly the last thing you cared about in that moment. The happiness you felt outshined and deflected any haughty contempt that came your way.

Only once you began to get a little too hot for comfort did you step off the dance floor for a quick break. 

Yoohyeon jovially knocked into you with every other step, still reeling from the excitement that coursed through her veins. It wasn’t a common occurrence for staff like her to be invited to such a night of fun, so it was really a no-brainer that she was so eager to be there. Truthfully, she worked harder than anyone else you’d seen at the estate. If anyone deserved a night of freedom, it was her.

“Ah, my favorite!” She blissfully sighed, still a bit out of breath as she took the drink that a passing waiter outstretched to her. 

He did the same for you as she made quick work of downing hers, much to his amusement. He let a smile break out across his face as he handed her her second glass of the evening and retrieved the now empty one.

You thanked him by raising your glass in a silent toast to his efforts before taking a sip. He bowed and left directly after.

Across the room, Jiu stood among a group of guests that had no intention of fully enjoying the party around them. Her husband was at her side, sipping on the whiskey he’d just received a few minutes prior. His arm was around her waist, possessive in the way that it stayed there. The conversation around her began to sound more like unintelligible mumbling as she turned her head away, seeking a moment of reprieve from the mind-numbing boasting that everyone was doing.

As if on cue, Yoohyeon took a step to the side. Her body no longer blocked your view of the heiress, and before you could look away, your eyes locked with hers. 

Surprise overtook her features, but you weren’t so lucky. Disappointment returned to you, making your face fall as you took in the sight of her. When you noticed your rival’s hold on her slipping further south, you couldn’t help but roll your eyes. You shook your head and looked away, scoffing quietly. 

Did they have no shame? Did she?

All of hers must have run out without you realizing. 

Bitterness filled your heart in a dangerous way. It made you want to get back at her, somehow; to make her feel just as shitty as you did. You racked your brain for a solution, though your better judgment pleaded for you to just let it go. You tried, for a hot second, but jealousy is a cruel destroyer, after all – a purveyor of ruin – and it worked its magic on you. 

However reckless your next move was didn’t matter. The fallout would come in due time, and you could pick up the fallen pieces of your house of cards then.

You leaned closer to Yoohyeon, placing a hand on her forearm.

“Kiss me.” 

The whispered request made her eyes widen immensely, but you pulled her closer to your body to conceal that fact. 

“What?”

You peeked over her shoulder, finding Jiu looking tense. Her grasp on the glass in her hand was growing tight, nearly capable of shattering it. A small smile graced your lips at the realization. 

“Just do it, please,” you practically begged, knowing your window of opportunity was closing fast. If something was going to be a turning point, it had to happen right then.

Yoohyeon followed your line of sight, and in an instant she understood. Softly, she turned your head so that you were looking into her eyes again. 

Her fingertips pressed into the front of your shirt, backing you up against the large pillar that stood behind you. Its chilly surface connected with your back just as her lips found yours, slotting together like two puzzle pieces. You cupped her cheeks and tilted your head, giving the illusion that you were kissing her deeper.

At least, it started that way. 

She bit your lip, earning herself a moan of surprise; that wasn’t what you had been prepared for. Her arms wrapped around your waist when you shuffled a little further into her hold, unconsciously seeking the warmth that she provided. Both of you could feel yourselves getting carried away, but oddly, neither of you stopped. It felt too good in the moment to give it up.

Her hands were gentle as they raked over your body, eager enough to sell your lie but restrained enough to avoid bordering on anything serious. The game you were playing was dangerous, but you’d be lying if you said it didn’t thrill you.

Your fingers tangled in her hair, tugging softly as she pressed her warm thigh between yours. Her eyes watered slightly in response, but she smiled against your lips as she savored the feeling.

All of your pleasure instantly turned to fear, however, when someone roughly grabbed your wrist. It was Jiu. Her aura was one that you had never seen from her; entirely new, full of anger. She pulled you away from Yoohyeon at once, not bothering to care how harsh she was. Both of you stumbled, cheeks flushed and hearts racing. 

“Go to your room, Yoohyeon.” Her tone was icy. Far scarier than you’d ever heard it be before. 

Yoohyeon glanced at you warily, pausing for a moment to ensure that you’d be okay with whatever was about to happen. Waking up to hear the news of your murder (or expulsion) wasn’t something she wanted. 

Despite the way that Jiu’s fingers squeezed tighter at Yoohyeon’s reluctance, you gave her a nod to let her know you’d be okay. She relented, then, and quickly bowed before making her departure.

When she was out of sight, you could practically feel the heat radiating off of Jiu. She turned on her heel and dragged you behind her, all the way to her quarters. A fire was lit within her, and nothing you could possibly do was capable of putting it out. 

What she had in store, you had no idea. Hell, you were half certain she planned to actually kill you, with the way she thundered down the hall, not even acknowledging the staff that passed by and greeted her. 

But, at the end of the day, that meant she felt something. Whether it was an indication of her feelings for you or just an unfathomable amount of hate for relationships between employees and public displays of affection, you’d soon be finding out. 

The open door of her bedroom passed by in a whizz of dark brown as she shoved you inside, seething. She followed closely after and shut it behind herself, locking it. 

Your back was still turned to her as you attempted to compose yourself. “Ma’am, we–”

“Shut your mouth, Y/N.”

She took you by the arm again, spinning you around to face her. A grimace crossed her face as she noticed the state you were in. In particular, the gloss that had transferred from Yoohyeon’s lips to yours – smudged and unruly with want – made her sick.

“As much as you make me question it, I know you aren’t stupid.” Her elegant heel paced forward, taking an advancing step toward you. Afraid of doing the wrong thing, you didn’t move.

“So tell me, why would you do something as reckless as that in front of everyone?” 

You swallowed, not sure of how to answer her. Between a rock and a hard place is precisely where you were wedged. 

“I advise that you speak,” she warned after a moment of silence passed, “...for the sake of everyone.” The implication behind her words was obvious, and you resented the fact that she would use your situation against you like that. 

“We just got carried away.” 

The excuse was lame at best, and she clearly wasn’t satisfied with it. Her eyes rolled as she took another step forward in response, causing you to finally retreat some. 

“Do you enjoy being difficult?” Her voice dripped with condescension as she continued to advance. “Or do you think I’m naive enough to believe you?”

Your back brushed against the wall, running into it. Your chance of escape was officially out the window. Shit.

“No, ma’am.”

Her eyes darkened at your use of the title, filling you with dread. 

“Take off your shirt.”

“W-what?” You couldn’t stop the stutter in your voice no matter how hard you tried.

“Take it off,” she repeated, crossing her arms. She tilted her chin up slightly, making herself look superior. “You clearly didn’t care to show off out there, so why should it be any different now?”

She shrugged, letting her gaze slowly travel across your body. When she noticed that you were pressing your thighs together, she looked back up at your face. 

“We really didn’t mean to make a show of it…”

Despite your half-hearted effort to change the topic, she refused to be swayed. With a cocked eyebrow, she waited for you to follow her instructions.

Anxiety swirled with embarrassment as you relented and brought your fingers up to the buttons of your uniform. They trembled briefly before you steadied yourself with a deep breath, determined to keep eye contact with her as you undressed – no matter how shy you were, you were still hurt by the memory of what you witnessed the night before. You wanted to see her reaction. 

She watched with bated breath as you undid the buttons one by one, taking your time but not wasting it. You used every second to your advantage, teasing her without even really meaning to. She visibly tensed when you undid the last one, and you could practically feel your ego being boosted in the process. 

You edged the material down your arms before tossing it on the bed across the room. 

“Feel better?” She questioned, regaining the composure that she lost momentarily. “You know, now that you’re getting exactly what you wanted,” she finished. 

“I didn’t w–”

The response died out in your throat. You knew it was a lie.

She smirked in such an aggravatingly sexy way that you wanted to slap her for it. “What, were you going to pretend you weren’t doing that to get my attention out there?”

You opened your mouth to reply, but gave up shortly after. Your cheeks warmed with embarrassment again.

“I saw the way you peeked over Yoohyeon’s shoulder, Y/N.” Confidence radiated off of her as every trace of vulnerability faded away. “How your eyes swept over me when her hand slid between your thighs. It was cute, really,” she chuckled softly, only making matters worse. 

“And yet, she was the one touching me like that,” you finally spoke, aware that you had to push back against her attempt at belittling you. “It was her lips on mine, kissing me senseless. Not yours.”

She faltered for a moment, not knowing exactly what to say to that. 

"And yeah, I may have wanted your attention," you admit, "but it wasn't too hard to get. Don't think I didn't see how you were looking at me." 

Something changed in her demeanor, then, when she saw the hint of a smile that graced your lips. Nothing in the world could’ve stopped her from getting rid of it. 

Her hands roughly connected with your shoulders as she pushed you up against the wall – further than you already were – and she shoved your thighs apart with her knee. Her grip moved down to your hips, gaining purchase there as she clutched them possessively. The breaths that left her were staggered – full of anger.

Your eyes opened wide when she reached down and grabbed the bottom of your skirt, hiking it up to your waist. 

“Jiu, please–” you gasped, feeling her cold fingers easily slide past the barrier that your panties created. Without meaning to, your legs parted a little wider for her, allowing her to press the length of her body further into yours.

“Did she do this to you?” she asked, brazenly stroking you. Little tenderness was put into her movements.

“Is this,” she paused, gathering up your wetness on her fingertips, “...for her?”

A quiet moan slipped past your parted lips as your head fell back, exposing your neck to her. Her gaze flickered over your taut muscles before stopping to admire the wild beating of your heart, visible at your pulse point; suddenly, she felt the urge to mark you. To ensure that everyone knew who you belonged to, even if you weren’t awarded the same title over her in return.

“Answer me,” she warned, a dangerous look in her eyes. Her free hand came to fist in your hair, needing to be busied.

“N-No, Jiu. It’s not for her.”

Visibly, some tension left her shoulders. Still, her jealousy simmered. 

“If I ever see something like that again or even so much as hear a rumor of it, you’ll be sent back home and your father will pay for his debts himself. Is that clear?”

Your thighs trembled around her hand, both from the implication of her threat and the way she was still touching you. 

“Why do you even care?” It was a bad idea to test her, but you didn’t care. After the back and forth that you’d been put through for so long, you needed to hear her say it.

“I’m not playing your game, Y/N,” she spat, tightening her grip on your hair. Your face scrunched at the sensation.

“Tell me, please.”

The desperation in your voice must have been enough to convince her. Perhaps, though, her own desire played a part, too. 

“She was all over you. It doesn’t take a genius to see what would’ve happened if I hadn’t stopped you when I did.”

Her strokes became languid, making you rut your hips to get relief yourself. “It was pathetic.”

“That’s rich, coming from you,” you managed out through ragged breaths, smiling to yourself. 

She stilled her hand almost completely, arrogantly watching as you writhed a little harder.

“Are you trying to insult me?” She laughed lowly, pressing herself against you a little more. “If you want to do that, you’ll have to stop getting so wet before I even do anything.”

Your eyes closed again, unable to keep contact after catching a glimpse of her darkening ones. Danger flickered in them, but so did lust – the kind that can get you killed if you’re not careful. 

“Then do something already.” 

She watched your lips as you made your request, admiring the way they pursed and pouted with every syllable. From the very first time she laid eyes on you, she’d wanted to kiss them. To taste you, in more ways than one. 

Denying herself such a simple pleasure for so long had been torture.

Your hands made their way to her hips, balling the soft material of her dress up as you waited impatiently. Despite how careful you’d trained yourself to be, never handling her belongings irresponsibly, all you wanted to do was rip it off of her. 

A wave of confidence washed over you somehow, likely brought on by the adrenaline coursing through your veins. 

“Are you afraid I’ll fuck you better than him?”

The sudden question surprised both of you, but you did your best to hide it. Jiu, on the other hand, clearly wasn’t able to; her eyebrows rose, taken aback. The resulting circle of her thumb against your clit, whether subconscious or intentional, lessened your doubts.

“Is that why you’re so jealous?” Your lips hovered over hers, brushing against them as you carefully teased her. “You don’t want me with Yoohyeon but yet you won’t take me yourself. Come on, now, Jiu. You’re better than that.”

Whenever she shifted forward, you moved back slightly. An ebb and flow, both torturous and enticing. She’d have to put in work to prove what she truly wanted. 

“Be quiet.”

“Why should I?” You challenged. Her eyes stared back into yours, so fiery you didn’t know what to do with yourself. “You’re just mad I figured you out.”

“You don’t know half of what you think you do, Y/N.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

You shrugged, ignoring the urge to moan when she slid a finger down to your entrance. It circled, teasing you. 

“Enlighten me, then.”

“You don’t deserve that, after tonight.”

You rolled your eyes. “Give it a rest. What Yoohyeon and I did was practically child’s play compared to you and Hyun Wook. Stop lamenting over it.”

When her head cocked to the side, you knew whatever was coming next would only hurt.

“I could say the same to you about what you saw, you know. It’s just what a husband and wife do; you have no right to be so upset.”

Her words, combined with the icy tone she put on, stung. She could read the hurt on your face as they sunk in.

Her attempt at hurting you like this hurt her, too, but she knew she needed to keep you at bay. It was a necessary evil. 

“So did our plans for that night mean nothing to you, then?” You asked, sounding more angry than sad as the two emotions battled one another in your heart. You took her hands off of you and pushed her away.

She stumbled; your question struck a chord in her. It was easy to see, despite the effort she put in to hide it. 

“They meant something to me. Believe that.”

A scoff left you. “Oh, I bet. I’m sure that’s all you could think about when he was inside of you.” 

“I thought of you the whole time, Y/N.”

She was taking things too far now. 

“Why the hell would you say something like that? Stop toying with me!” You shouted a little too loud for your own good, but truthfully you couldn’t have cared less. 

“I’m not,” she mitigated, saying the words like a promise as she took a small step towards you. The hesitation in it made you hesitate, too. What was she up to?

“Every second I was with him I pretended it was you touching me. Kissing me. Fucking me.” The way that she glanced away made it obvious that she was replaying it all in her mind, and in that moment you would’ve done just about anything to have had a peek inside. 

“Do you seriously think I could’ve made those sounds otherwise?” 

Your heart beat a little harder at the memory of them.

"Why did you choose him, then?"

"When we started drinking, you were all I could think about." She admitted, looking ashamed but honest. "But I knew I couldn't have you. Not in the ways I wanted to. Needed to. And… he was available." She swallowed down the guilt that she felt rising in her. 

"So I settled." 

Her explanation was still partially a lie, but you were oblivious to that. She was still too afraid to tell you the full truth yet, though her heart begged her to.

"You could've come to the study and had me instead." 

Something unreadable flashed in her eyes. It was lust mixed with something else.

“Could I have?” She asked, eyebrows raised, as if you were a child who just suggested the most impossible task known to man. Her tone was dripping with incredulity, and a bitter laugh threatened to leave her. 

“Yes,” you breathed, emphasizing the word. “But even if you couldn’t have, it hurts to know you’d allow him to take my place.”

She looked away. Shame pervaded her mind.

“Why didn’t you tell me you felt this way?”

“I was afraid.”

“Of what?”

“You, Y/N.”

You couldn’t believe that. “Am I so threatening?” 

“Yes!” She erupted. “Do you not see how much power you have over me?” 

Your jaw went slack. “What power could I possibly have over you?”

“You rule me in ways you’ll never understand.”

“Help me learn them, then.” You took a step forward, extending a hand to her. 

Several seconds passed. She looked at it, visibly deciding if she wanted to accept it, before she eventually decided to. When she met your gaze again, you could see the tears beginning to brim in her eyes.

“Oh, Jiu.”

“You have no idea what it’s like, Y/N, and I can’t fault you for that,” she started, looking up at the ceiling to prevent her tears from falling. “But my life is based on rules. It always has been, from the second I was born; and up until the second I die, I’ll still be subjected to them. Who I can meet with, who I can marry, what I can occupy my time with. It’s all limited, all monitored.” She explained. 

You brought your hand up to cup her cheek when she sniffled, rubbing the pad of your thumb across her smooth skin. The way her chin quivered in response to the comforting sensation made your heart ache. 

“But when you came to live here, something changed in me. You’ve made me feel seen and understood in ways I’ve never been by anyone else. My secrets are safe with you. I’m safe with you.”

She brought her free hand up, wiping her eyes on the sleeve of her dress.

“And as much as I love that, it’s terrifying. You could ruin me in a second.”

“I would never.” Your answer was almost instant.

“But you could. You could walk away after your time here is done and never see me again. You could forget about me and move on with your life. But that’s something I could never do.”

When she said ‘ruin’, you figured she meant her reputation. Not her heart. You’d never thought yourself capable of such a feat.

“Everything you do is important to me. I hang onto every conversation we have. Every look. Every touch.” Her eyes shut briefly, tensing. “I think about you in ways that I shouldn’t, and I’ve struggled with this awful sense of regret for so long. I tried to suppress my feelings when I found that I was incapable of stopping them. I figured it was the next best thing.” She admitted. “But then that night in the study sent me back to square one.”

Your gaze softened at the pitiful look on her face. She truly had been suffering.

“I knew it was foolish of me to push the boundary, but God did I enjoy it. My better judgment slipped away from me, then, and I paid for it when I saw Hyun Wook the next morning.”

That got your attention. “What do you mean?”

“He complained that I was growing too distant from him, and hinted that he would inform my father of his feelings unless I changed things.”

Subconsciously, your head shook.

“I thought about you and our plans all day long, and to be honest, I couldn’t wait to have you all to myself. I was worked up–”

“Worked up?” You interrupted, confused. 

She blushed at your lack of understanding. “Turned on, Y/N,” she elaborated.

Oh.

“I was worked up when he came in. He was drunk and demanded I be a good wife. In his mind, that included drinking with him and fucking.”

You grimaced, fighting the urge to recoil at the image of that, which was taking shape in your mind.

“He thought my arousal was for him, and it only made things worse. When I tried to worm my way out of sleeping with him, he took his phone out and threatened to dial my father. I didn’t have the option to refuse anymore.”

“So that’s why you did it.”

She nodded, ashamed. She avoided your gaze, feeling unworthy of it.

Just like that, the final layer of her lie was peeled back. It opened to reveal the truth: that she never actually wanted to be with him at all. 

“What would your father have done?”

Her head swayed from side to side sadly. “I don’t know, and that’s the worst part. But it wouldn’t have been anything good; he always sides with Hyun Wook.”

“And what would you have done, if he never came in?”

“I don’t know that either, Y/N, but I like to think I might’ve eventually told you my feelings.”

You pursed your lips in thought. "You did pretty well just now." 

She grinned lightly at your sweet teasing. "You think so?" 

"Mhm," you nodded, placing your hands on her hips as you backed her up towards the bed. 

When her calves bumped into the frame, she gently plopped down onto the mattress. You stayed standing in front of her, moving to cup her cheeks. She nuzzled into your hold a little. 

"All this time, I thought I was just fooling myself into believing you liked me back." 

Her hands ran up and down your back, creating goosebumps in their wake. No matter what, she always knew just the right way to touch you.

"It feels good to know I’m not delusional after all.”

She laughed softly as she turned her head enough to kiss your palm. Her fingertips skated down your spine, ghosting over your skin until they reached your waist. She took hold of it, loving how warm you were against her. 

“Well, I wouldn’t go that far,” she teased. 

“Hey!” You pinched her cheek in retaliation.

“I’m kidding, jagi!” 

You pushed her backwards, sending her down onto the mattress. The sheets poofed out all around her in response, absorbing all of her impact. She pulled you along with her, guiding you to straddle her.

Amusement shined in her eyes as she looked up at you, noticing your arms crossed in faux annoyance. The position made your chest look even more enticing to her. 

Your act began to slip up when you noticed her staring. “Like what you see?” 

She was brazen with it – not subtle like she’d always been before. A new level of desire burned in her; here and now, there was no one to stop her from doing what she’d dreamed of for so long. 

Her hips raised suddenly, sending you forward and into her arms. Your lips brushed against hers in the process. 

“I love it, Y/N/N. You’re so beautiful.” She answered, sweeping the fallen strands of hair out of your face. You shifted your weight to an elbow, using it to hold yourself up. Your free hand went to her side.

She traced your lips with her thumb, silently asking for permission. You granted it without hesitation.

Part of you would like to say you saw fireworks and stars as her lips pressed to yours, but that would be a lie. Instead, it was warmth spreading throughout your body as your heart beat harder to compensate. Though the feeling was new and unknown, it was like coming home. It was finding home in a foreign place. 

Everything else – anything other than her – melted away in the moment, leaving you keenly aware of her every move. 

Her shuddered breathing became obvious when she rolled you over; she trembled in your arms. The movement hiked her dress up to her thighs, and you took the opportunity to slide your hands beneath the silky material. 

Her kisses were like the poetry she loved so much – each one a new line as you discovered one another for the first time. 

She nipped at your lip – innocently, carefully – before gaining the courage to deepen the kiss. You moaned in response as her eager hands found their way to your bra, kneading your breasts. Your nipples hardened against her palms from all the stimulation you were receiving. 

She arrogantly smiled against you at the feeling. 

Her hips slowly ground down into yours, creating a torturous rhythm. The heat between your thighs was already insufferable, and feeling her small movements only made things worse. She controlled everything, then; her breath on your neck sent you spiraling in time with the rutt of her hips. She purposefully stuttered them to rile you up and bring you closer to the edge. 

It was as if she wanted to make you come without even doing much at all. 

And as pitiful as it sounded, she was completely capable of such a feat. 

But your situation was far from a one way street. She may have hid it better, but she had never craved someone so much in her entire life. Your every sound and move made her throb a little harder as the ache between her legs became more and more unbearable.

Her soft lips peppered your neck with kisses and love bites as her hands greedily explored your body. She was attempting self control, but when your hips began to raise in time with hers, searching for friction, that went out the window. She could feel herself getting wetter by the second.

Her lips found yours again before she sat back on her knees, letting you take her full weight as she slipped her dress over her head. She was completely bare underneath it.

"We have to be careful," she reminded you, beginning to kiss her way down your body. She toyed with the waistline of your skirt, mentally debating on whether or not she should leave it on you. 

She glanced at the door.

Sounds of the party were distant but audible, and she knew all it took was one wayward guest to ruin everything for the both of you. One miscalculation could be your demise… so why did that thrill her?

The door was locked anyway. Surely that would be enough.

"Jiu–"

"Shhh," she soothed, sensing your growing impatience. "I'm not going anywhere." She gave her full attention back to you, putting you at ease.

In one motion, she tugged your skirt down and off of your legs. Her eyes flitted up and over every curve of your body, alight with blatant lust and admiration. You were absolutely divine. 

A smirk broke out across her face when she noticed the wet spot on your panties. 

"Such a shame." She tutted at you, reaching down to run her finger over the ruined material. You jerked a little at the contact, now keenly aware of just how sensitive you really were. 

"You want me to take these off?" She asked, feigning innocence as she pressed her palm against them, massaging you. "It has to be uncomfortable." 

She pouted, mocking the state you were in. Even her cockiness turned you on. 

"Please." 

Her eyebrows raised ever so slightly, taken aback. "Asking so politely already? What a good girl." 

"I can't wait anymore." You admitted, screwing your eyes shut. You had to make a conscious effort to steady yourself.

She chuckled darkly and pushed your thighs further apart with her hands. They were warm against your tender skin, and so possessive you didn't know what to do with yourself. She commanded your body better than you ever could've.

"You think I can?" Her voice was incredulous. "I've been dying for this." 

She looped her fingers in the thin material and yanked it down, tossing it haphazardly behind herself. 

A tremble racked through you, both from the coldness of the air and from the promise that lied in her words. Her eyes gleamed with a darkness that guaranteed you'd be even more of a mess soon enough.

She lowered herself down between your thighs, looking up at you all the while. Her lips dragged along your sensitive skin, leaving open mouth kisses and licks in their path.

"You have to be quiet for me, Y/N/N," she instructed. "Can you?" 

You nodded, but she wasn't satisfied. 

"Words." 

"Yes, ma'am." You replied in an instant, voice hushed. 

Her jaw tensed at your use of the title.

"Good. Keep it that way, or I'll stop." 

The closing of your eyes and subtle push of your head back into the pillows was the submission that she was after, and it pleased her for the time being.

She flattened her tongue and licked a stripe up your slit without warning, making you flinch slightly. Your hands gripped the sheets when she wrapped her arms around your thighs, intending to keep you in place when you inevitably started losing your composure. She lapped at the slick that dripped down your center and hummed, loving the way you tasted. It was better than she had imagined, somehow, and it only made her want you more. 

To think that such a beautiful woman like you could also taste so good seemed unfair. Finding your flaws was one of the hardest things she’d ever attempted. 

She was merciless as she gave her all to you, pulling out every trick she’d ever thought of trying. Some of her movements were sloppy and unconventional, showing her inexperience, but it was obvious she was doing everything she’d want done to her. She paid attention to the noises you made and what pulled the biggest reactions from you, and adjusted her rhythms and approach accordingly. She was a fast learner, you came to realize, as she practically turned from a rookie to natural right in front of you. 

But she wasn’t prepared for how much fucking you would effect her. The reins that held her together were slipping from her grasp the longer she had you like this. She needed relief, too, no matter how she got it. 

She unconsciously humped the bed in time with every desperate roll of your hips, unable to control herself. The fire in the pit of her stomach was blazing, leaving her breathless. 

She watched you bite into your lip in a poor attempt to quiet yourself; but it barely helped. As you came undone with a stuttered groan of her name, she felt a tell-tale rush of warmth between her own thighs as well. They pressed together, confirming what she suspected.

You gave her her first orgasm without even knowing it.

“Fuck,” she breathed, closing her eyes momentarily. Her core throbbed, needing more. 

You raised your head at the sound of her voice, oblivious. “What?” 

She shied away when you reached for her, causing you to push yourself up onto your elbows. 

“Jiu…”

Her cheeks burned with embarrassment, but she wordlessly glanced underneath her body, leading your gaze to the mess that she’d made on the sheets below herself. Realization dawned on you, making an innocent smile appear on your face. 

“Did you…?”

“I couldn’t stop it.”

She moved up your body, hovering over you. Any remaining humiliation she felt at the situation dissipated when you slid a hand between your bodies, wanting to feel for yourself just how wet she was. Her brows knitted together and she moaned, letting you explore her. 

She allowed you to push her over on the large bed and straddle her, effectively trading your positions. 

“Tell me what to do.” You requested, lazily stroking her. The tips of your fingers teased her, not committing to anything too seriously yet. “Tell me what you want.”

She swallowed, eyeing you. “I want your fingers, Y/N, and that pretty mouth. Show me what I’ve been missing all this time.” 

You quirked a brow.

“Please,” she added, catching herself.

You smiled and leaned down, replacing your lips on hers as your hips settled between her thighs. Her tongue ran across your lips as she cupped your cheeks, pulling you in ever-closer and deepening the kiss. You melted into her embrace, much to her delight; everything about the moment was passion incarnate.

One of her hands dragged its way to your neck, which her slender fingers subsequently wrapped around. They tightened gently, reminding you of just how vulnerable you really were. She panted softly into your mouth between kisses, aware of the rapid beating of your heart.

You only broke away when you felt her lower half rubbing against you in its never ending pursuit of friction.

Your lips painted her soft skin with love bites in various hidden places, all carefully chosen as you worked your way down her body. They stalled at her chest as you licked and sucked her nipples, taking them into your warm mouth. You were showing her a type of pleasure she’d never experienced with her husband. He only ever focused on his own release; but you only focused on hers. Everything you did was the stuff of fantasy – things she’d read about in books and longed for, but had no hope of ever experiencing first hand.

Quiet whines slipped past her parted lips and she pushed her head back into the comforter anytime it all became too much to handle. You sucked a mark onto the inside of her thigh once you reached it, aware that it especially would only be visible when she was naked. No prying eyes could catch a glimpse of it and start drama; only two people in the manor would ever have a chance to see it, apart from her. 

"Don't let him touch you again, Jiu, unless you want him to find out who you really belong to." 

Her chest rose and fell faster than before – the result of your ministrations. The jealousy in your tone did unspeakable things to her. 

But she didn’t have time to properly respond. Two of your fingers slid in easily as you took her into your mouth, wrapping your lips around her clit. Her walls were warm around you and softer than you ever could’ve guessed. They quickly adjusted to you as you stretched her out and wasted no time in giving her what she wanted. 

Just as she requested, your fingers worked in time with your mouth, relentlessly chasing after her high. Every curl of them inside of her brought it a step closer; every swirl of your tongue earned you the gift of a new sound from her. 

You committed them all to memory, wanting to replay them later. They were all so pretty; even her pitiful sobs and incoherent pleas sounded beautiful. 

The blush on her cheeks was a deep crimson as she reached down and threaded her fingers through your hair. Her grip tightened as she got closer and closer, making your eyes water from the sting. It was a welcome pain, though, and you found yourself grinning against her when she unintentionally did it again. 

She’d never experience pleasure like this before with anyone; it was overwhelming for her, but the last thing she wanted was for it to stop. She was discovering just how good she could feel and how empowering it was to have someone worshipping her in such a way. 

How had she survived so long without you? Surely she was only half alive.

“Come for me,” you commanded, kissing the darkening mark on her thigh. Her body rocked, gyrating however it pleased as she met your every move halfway. Within a matter of seconds she was tensing and shuddering against you, unable to keep the pace you had set. When her back arched off the bed, you knew she was done for.

Her hand clasped tightly over her mouth to muffle the cries she let out as she tumbled over the edge and into euphoria. Sweat gleamed on her like a trophy, showcasing every ounce of effort you poured into getting her there. Her eyes were still closed as she reveled in bliss.

The tension in her taut muscles faded away when she eventually floated back down to Earth, still reeling. Her legs trembled from the aftershocks as you slowly cleaned her up a bit, savoring the taste of her. 

But you didn't stop there. You got greedy, with the way she unconsciously continued to grind against your face with movements so subtle she likely didn't even recognize that she was doing them. But her body did; it recognized the pleasure you gave, and it didn't want it to stop.

Her other hand instinctively tightened in your hair again, still nestled in the mussed strands of it. Her breathing was far from controlled, and as you picked your pace back up it only became more erratic. 

She whined as you continued between her thighs, determined to pull another orgasm from her. The overstimulation was almost too much for her to bear; her hands went to your shoulders as she tried to push you away. 

"Please… I can't," she struggled out through broken moans, writhing. 

Her body failed to adhere to her words, however; her hips raised rhythmically to meet your mouth, riding your tongue. She blushed deeply when you looked up at her through your lashes with lustful eyes. 

She squirmed again, causing you to lay an arm across her pelvis and press her into the bed, keeping her in place. 

"Yes you can," you mumbled, responding to her without fully taking your mouth away. The vibrations coursed through her, drawing another pitiful moan from her lips. 

"Jagi, please–"

What an actress. 

"One more, Jiu. We both know you want it, too."

"I-It's too much," she pleaded, shaking like a leaf. 

You moved up her body and put your lips on hers in response, quieting her begging. She whimpered at the taste of herself on your tongue, paired with the curl of your fingers as they slid inside of her with even more ease than before. You found her sweet spot again and wasted no time in using that to your advantage. 

"Y/N… ah–" she cried, latching onto you so tightly you were sure she'd leave marks. Her nails dragged along your back, harsh against your soft skin in the best kind of way. 

"I'm almost there." The husky tone of her voice only spurred you on.

Her grinding was wanton now, full of reckless abandon. She buried her face in your neck just as her moans reached a fever pitch. 

With another pulse of your fingers, she came hard around them, crying out your name.

She clutched you close to her body, almost as if she was afraid you’d slip away. You whispered sweet nothings as she came back down from her high, feeling weightless. Her tight grip loosened when she realized you weren’t going anywhere, and it gave you the chance to lay down beside her. Your hand splayed across her stomach when she looked up at you.

Innocence shined in her big, bright eyes, both precious and pure. Her heart was on her sleeve; she was in a state beyond vulnerability, and yet she wasn’t afraid like before. You, she realized, were her comfort. Her safety net, ready to catch her when she fell, and her supporter who’d never dream of leaving. 

Something told her that her revelations were bigger than just post-orgasm niceties. She knew what you felt for each other was real, and that meant everything to her. In the world of smoke and mirrors that she had been raised in, that kind of thing didn’t exist. But you broke the mold; her enigma.

Your fingers traced gentle circles above her navel, drawing her from her daze. 

A shy laugh left you, making your shoulders bounce slightly, and she couldn’t help but do the same. What were you to do now? She felt like she needed a few business days to recover.

She figured the next best thing would be to get cleaned up, and so she sat up to head to the bathroom and grab a towel. Her legs trembled as she attempted to lift them, not in the mood to cooperate. There was no way she could even stand yet, let alone walk.

“I’ll get it,” you soothed, already knowing what she was after. You leaned over and quickly kissed her again before heading off. Shortly after, you returned and gently cleaned her up before doing the same to yourself. Sensing that she had a few more rounds left in her, you hung it on the footboard for when you’d inevitably need it again.

“Come here.” She coaxed. 

She held her hand up to you, beckoning you closer. But before you could take it, her wedding ring caught your attention as it came into view. Its expensive jewels shimmered in the available light of the room, making you frown.

When she noticed it as well, she paused, visibly debating. After a few seconds passed, she slid it off her finger and sat it on the bedside table.

Free of it, she held her hand out again and smiled as you took it this time.

"Let's stay here a while," she insisted. Her voice was hoarse in an attractive way. The sound of it made what happened tonight real; it confirmed that you definitely weren't dreaming. 

"But what about the party?"

She just shook her head, unbothered. All she wanted to do was hold you close.

"Alright," you relented, unable to hold out any longer with the sweet way she was looking at you. 

She opened her arms and took you into them lovingly, letting out a sigh of contentment. 

Where the future would take you, you weren’t sure. But in her protective embrace, you felt safe from any challenges that might come your way. You’d face them together, always. 

She was your safeguard, and you were her escape. Two things so fatefully intertwined were surely destined to find a way in the end. 

In Your Dreams

Pairing: Yoohyeon x Fem!Reader

Warnings / Misc. -- Smut

Word Count: 2,273

Summary: When a 2AM knock came at your door during one of the season’s most torrential downpours, you never expected to find her, of all people, standing on your porch and looking so desperate. 

Disclaimer: This writing is a work of fiction, and no disrespect is meant for those mentioned herein.

A/N: Hey everyone! Sorry for the wait, but here’s the Yooh smut I promised :) Siyeon is next, so keep an eye out for that <3

◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚ ▸◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚ ▸◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚ ▸◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚

“Yoohyeon?” You gaped, shock evident in your tone as you lowered the television remote in your hand (which you had been fully prepared to use as a weapon, had she been anyone else). You quickly sat it down on the table by the door and peered at her, full of concern.

Her clothes were completely sodden – every fiber of them packed full of chilly rainwater as they clung tightly to her – and you had to make a conscious effort to not stare at the expanse of skin that her partially unbuttoned shirt exposed. 

The dark cover of night behind her was disrupted by the house lights of the neighborhood – all switched on, acting as little beacons of hope through the raging storm. A large flash of lightning came, too, streaking sharply against the brooding clouds above. 

“What are you doing here?” Your wide eyes darted across her features, searching for an explanation, but she shied away for some reason and failed to utter more than a quiet word here or there. 

When a clap of thunder rang out mere seconds later, she tensed slightly, still shivering from the cold.

You shook your head at her odd behavior but reached out, nonetheless, and pulled her inside. 

Perhaps a little shelter from the elements would open her up.

Water cascaded freely off of her, dripping down onto your floors and filling your foyer with its quiet sounds as you quickly shut and locked the door. You approached her again and moved her closer to the nearby vent that blew wondrous, warm air into the open space, silently hoping that it could work some magic. 

But even once you gave her time to acclimate and returned your gaze to hers, she continued to avoid it. 

Curious, you took it upon yourself to reach up and cup her cheeks, coaxing her into letting you see her. 

When you did, something clicked. Only then did you really take in the full sight of her. 

A vibrant blush painted her cheeks, and her pupils were blown wide as she peered back at you. Beneath the mussed, white, now practically see-through button up she had on, a set of dark lingerie showed, complimenting her tanned skin beautifully. One of the lacy straps of it had long ago fallen off of her shoulder, and her breast was close to showing because of that. The lines of her abs were visible as well, and every movement she made was full of some kind of alluring, restrained tension. 

Like it was killing her not to reach out and touch you.

Her bottom lip was rosy and swollen, due to her habit of biting it when she gets aroused. 

“I had a dream about you,” she admitted, like she couldn’t hold it in anymore. Her breathing was a bit quicker than normal – less stable. 

You were her best friend; she couldn’t believe she was about to do something like this. 

Her drenched clothes, paired with the warm air that felt its way up her body, created a tantalizing mix of sensations that caused goosebumps to arise; and your hands on her only multiplied them even more. She almost couldn’t stand it.

“And you drove all the way here because of it?” You wondered aloud, quirking a brow.

Though you weren’t totally oblivious to the implication behind her words, incredulity overtook your mind and tone. Even if she had had a wet dream about you, you were sure she would just laugh it off like everything else. Like every other charged interaction you’d ever shared, that danced precariously along the border of platonicity and attraction. 

There was no way she planned to do something about it. 

…right?

She swallowed, taking a second to decide if she was prepared to cross this boundary with you. You’d both tested the limits of your “friendship” before, playing with fire, toying with the line and pushing things to get a rise out of one another – but neither of you had had the courage to follow through completely. 

At least not until now.

Her head nodded sheepishly, sealing your fate. 

“I tried to take care of it myself, Y/N/N, but nothing felt as good as you did in that dream. Will you help me?” The soft plea in her voice bordered on a whine, and it ignited something in you that you had never fully considered with her before. 

Drip, drip, drip

Water pooled at your feet now, resembling the mess that you had inadvertently made in her panties. 

She wanted to take you right here on the floor, or up against the wall that stood behind you. She wanted to rip your clothes off and hear the beautiful timbre of your voice as you came undone, moaning her name. 

But she didn’t. She waited, doing her best to ignore the throbbing of her center and the curious way your eyes kept returning to her body, dropping lower and lower. She waited on you to make the next move, needing to know you wanted her just as badly as she did you.

“Kiss me, Yooh.”

That simple request set her in motion, and she had you in her arms in a second. The subsequent gasp that resounded in your throat at the coldness of her clothes was muffled by her lips before it really had a chance to escape. 

Desperation took on human form as she backed you up against the wall, stripping out of her shirt and slipping her shoes off all the while. 

You moaned into her mouth when she hastily unzipped your pants, nearly breaking your zipper in the process. 

Her frigid fingers slid past your panties with no further warning, and she whimpered quietly when she felt how wet you already were. 

“Y/N…” 

If there was any chance left of her restraining herself, it would have to be now. She was teetering on the edge of no control, and each second that she spent with you loosened her grip on the reins more and more.

“Keep going,” you breathily instructed, allowing your head to loll back against the wall. “I’m all yours.”

She shuddered, both out of excitement and chill. A new kind of darkness eclipsed the usual innocence of your eyes, and she didn’t quite know what to do with herself because of it. 

“Please tell me this is real…”

You chuckled at her earnesty. Even now, in a moment like this, she was capable of making you laugh. 

When you leaned forward and pressed an open mouthed kiss to her neck, she melted into you. You reached down into her pants to cup her with one hand, feeling the warmth that radiated from her cunt even through the lingerie, while the other wrapped around her, tenderly kneading the supple skin of her ass. 

She rocked against you out of instinct, vying for any bit of relief you would possibly award her; the needy movements pushed her own palm harder against your clit, causing you to moan softly. 

Her heart skipped a beat at the sound. 

“Does this feel real enough, baby?” You asked against her pulsepoint, just as your teeth lightly trailed across her sensitive skin. The taut muscles of her neck jumped as she strained helplessly in response. 

“Fuck,” she whined, embarrassed by how much of a mess you’d turned her into. She could feel your smile grow, and it made her walls pitifully flutter and clench around nothing.

“I know you can answer me better than that,” you teased.

You pushed her lace to the side and easily slid two fingers inside of her dripping heat, resolving to get your answer that way instead. 

“Ah!” She moaned at the intrusion, high pitched and broken as she was caught off guard. She looked down between your bodies, watching your fingers rhythmically disappear and reappear at her entrance as you fucked her. A new rise of blush made its way up to her ears at the sounds that she produced – none of which she had any semblance of control over. 

“Yoohyeon…” you warned, still waiting. 

“Yes, Y/N,” she replied, aware of her mistake – though, truthfully, she would make it again a million times over if it got you to touch her like this every time. “It feels so good. Please,” she stressed, fully aware that she wouldn’t survive if you left her without release now, “...don’t stop.” 

Her wish was your command. 

Encouraged by her words, you hiked one of her legs up around your waist and settled closer to her. The new position enabled you to easily reach her g-spot, and her resulting, guttural moan confirmed it. 

You wasted no time in exploiting that in the best possible kind of way. 

The ache between her thighs mingled with pleasure, both in equal, overwhelming doses. A tingling sensation was creeping its way up her spine, and the butterflies in her stomach only grew more untamed. 

“Just like that, jagiya,” she begged into your ear. 

Her hips stuttered, jerking messily as she bucked into you over and over. 

“You’re doing so good, baby,” you praised, admiring the flush of her skin and the way she trembled in your arms. Her weak legs squirmed, shaking as she used what strength she had left to hump a little faster. 

You added another finger as a silent way of rewarding her, and the resulting rush of warmth you felt around them made you smile. Her walls pulsed, eagerly stretching to accommodate the change, and beckoned you back inside with every pump you delivered. 

Even her pussy was greedy for you. 

Both of her hands went to the back of your neck as she pulled you forward and sealed her lips against yours in the dark. She didn’t waste much time with demurity; her kisses were messy and full of need as she tangled her fingers in your hair and roughly tugged on it. 

She swallowed up the subsequent sound of shock that you let out and used the opportunity to slip her tongue into your mouth. 

It was warm and inviting, just like the rest of her – so eager to please you. She stole your breath away when her kisses grew harsher – more possessive; the tell-tale clenching of her walls around your fingers told you she was getting dangerously close to release, and the small, staccato breaths she let out through her nose made you smile lightly. 

She was so precious, like that. Such a slut for you that she drove all the way to your house in the pouring rain at 2AM, and yet she still clung to her habitual shyness in a few small, undeniable ways. 

Knowing that she had it so bad for you boosted your ego majorly. 

Lightning flashed close by outside, and the bright pulse of it highlighted your combined, desperate movements against one another. She pressed further into you, and you knew she couldn't hold out any longer. 

Her pitiful shaking brought out the more merciful side of you.

“Show me what you can do, Yooh. Cum on my fingers,” you commanded, pulling away just enough to rest your forehead against hers. Her arms tightened around your neck, tethering you impossibly closer. 

The snap of her hips grew messy and rough – more primal as they worked to match the rhythm of your hand – and with a succession of filthy moans and whines, she hit her high. Her raised leg tightened around your waist, flexing to keep you in place. She cried your name out and clung to you, digging her nails into your shoulders hard enough to leave marks. 

You grimaced at the sting, but knowing you’d been the one to make her feel so good made the pain insignificant. 

She buried her face in your neck, peppering slow, grateful kisses there, and you held her close until her breathing began to even out again. 

When she eventually pulled away, you expected her to take a break. You gently lowered her leg and smiled at her, prepared to help her over to the couch so she could recover. 

But her release merely seemed to reenergize her, somehow, and she had no plans of stopping anytime soon.

She dropped to her knees in front of you and slid your pants down your legs in one motion, taking you by surprise. 

“It’s your turn now, baby,” she smirked up at you, tilting her head as a mischievous gleam showed in her eyes. Yet another flash of lightning came, outlining her striking features amid the darkness; she was a vision to behold in every way. 

Her lips easily found your v-line and felt their way across it, leaving kisses and little nips in their wake. Your head lolled back again as the promise of what was to come sank in. 

Along the backs of your calves her hands skimmed, trailing upwards and paying attention to every inch of you that they could touch. Desire led them – a fact evident in the wanton way they groped you. 

“God, I can’t wait to taste you.” She sighed the admission against your skin as if she’d been starved for a year and you were the first bit of food she had laid eyes on since. 

The conviction in her behavior made you blush, wondering how you’d ever survive whatever it was that she had in store. 

How you'd managed to survive so long without it stumped you just as much. 

Your body hummed in silent, aching anticipation. Like a band pulled tight, ready to snap at any moment. 

It seemed to set something off within her.

“You’d better choose a safe word now, Y/N,” she warned. 

Left Behind

Pairing: Jiu x Fem!Reader (and platonic relationships with the other members)

Warnings / Misc. -- Angst, Fluff

Word Count: ~ 7,890

Requested By: @3and30aresoultwins

Disclaimer: This writing is a work of fiction and no disrespect is meant for those mentioned herein.

A/N: Hey guys! This was a bit rushed and I’m not entirely in love with it, but I hope you enjoy it regardless. Feel free to leave DC requests in my inbox / messages! :)

💖 Happy Reading 🌹

◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚ ▸◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚ ▸◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚ ▸◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚

Life can change in the blink of an eye. Plans you make for the future that you envision can crumble with no warning, leaving you to pick up the pieces and find yourself all over again. 

Dreams can go down the drain just as easily as the blood, sweat, and tears it took to make them possible in the first place. Luck can run out. 

All of those things can happen, and you knew that. You just never expected them to happen to you.

–

It was a late November day in 2016 when the world as you knew it changed forever. 

Happyface Entertainment had requested that you come in separate from the other members to discuss an important matter. Vividly, you remember how vague they were over the phone; they refused to elaborate on what the meeting would be about. Their voices were soft, holding a carefulness in their tone that you didn’t fully understand until later. 

It was regret – because they knew what you didn’t. They knew that your impending removal from the group loomed overhead, waiting like a cobra to strike once you arrived. 

And strike, it did. Sitting in the meeting room – which was far too bright and far too suffocating – you grappled with the fate you’d just received. Your heart felt heavy, and your head hurt as it all sunk in.

MINX would be rebranding as ‘Dreamcatcher’ and adding two new members, but you wouldn’t be joining them. You hadn’t made the cut.

Just like that, it was over. Years of your life as a trainee, down the drain. So much pain and hard work, all for nothing. So many sacrifices. So many late nights. They hadn’t gone into detail about why you were turned down specifically, and that was probably a good thing, all things considered. It would’ve just been salt in the wound.

An offer was made for you to stay at the company and potentially continue as a soloist, but you declined it. It was a proposition made from pity at best, and you knew it. How could you have accepted? If they had such little faith in your abilities as a member of a group, you couldn’t imagine it would’ve been magically restored for your solo activities. You refused to become a half-hearted money grab that they could fall back on whenever they needed to; it wasn’t fair to you. With the rebranding set in motion, attention and focus would’ve been placed entirely on the girls; you’d have been made to wait in the meantime with no real end in sight, and it was unlikely you’d ever receive a similar level of support.

You’d have become the company’s has-been. Its resident outcast.

And the prospect of joining another company – if you were even lucky enough for that – was just as daunting. After training and growing up with the girls in such a way for so many years of your life, you couldn’t imagine going solo or joining another group. 

That wasn’t something you wanted. And, of course, given the blow that the company’s decision had dealt to your confidence, you felt incapable. You were too overwhelmed to be there any longer with all of their eyes on you, judging in one way or another. 

So while you still had enough composure over yourself, you bid farewell to them and left, leaving behind a part of yourself in the process. 

The real challenge came, though, when you had to say goodbye to the girls. They all handled the news differently, in their own ways, but it wasn’t something they could process easily at all.

Sua was prepared to leave the dorm and have an angry word with the higher ups, but you stopped her before she could. It wouldn’t have done any good; if anything, it could’ve put her in jeopardy, too, and that was the last thing you wanted. 

Siyeon went quiet as the idea of moving on without you sunk in. How could she part ways with someone she’d grown so close to? You were supposed to live out your dreams together. It wasn’t fair.

The normal spark in Yoohyeon’s eyes dimmed, and she retreated into herself. Her bubbliness dissipated in an instant, replaced by more sadness than she knew what to do with. She was the first to begin crying, and she sought the comfort of your arms when it became too much for her to handle alone. 

Dami, ever the reasonable one, was determined to phone the higher ups and talk some sense into them. She was convinced that if the other members all banded together and expressed their disapproval in a logical way, they would have no choice but to give you a chance, at the very least. But you stopped her for the same reason that you had stopped Sua. They had made themselves clear at the meeting, and you knew in your heart that their minds were made up.

You didn’t notice the tears in Dami’s eyes until you took her phone out of her hand and put it on the table beside her. When you brought her into your arms for a hug, they fell onto your shirt, warm and full of sadness. She hated feeling helpless more than anything else in the world, and knowing there was nothing left to do broke her heart.

Watching it all unfold was Jiu. She couldn’t wrap her mind around it; it felt like she was having a nightmare. How could they have turned you away like that? You were just as good at your job as any of them, and you were one of the most dedicated people she’d ever known. The fans loved you. Your talent showed without you even trying; it made no sense that they would let you go so easily. 

She tried to stop her tears from falling, but when you finally looked up at her, surrounded by the other members, she couldn’t hold back anymore. 

You had been her rock ever since she met you – her safe place. She could express her worries and concerns freely with you, despite her position as leader. Hell, you were just as much of a leader to the girls as she was. Your consistency and energy held everything together, and the members depended on you, always. She depended on you more than words could explain; you were the first and last thing on her mind most days. You kept her level headed when she felt the weight of the world on her shoulders, and you never let her lose sight of her goals.

Losing the backbone of the group seemed unfathomable in every way. Never in a million years would she have expected it to happen. 

But beyond that, Jiu felt like she was losing two people. Y/N – the member of her group – and Y/N – the woman she had harbored secret feelings for for as long as she could remember. She had planned to confess soon, but the opportunity for that was stripped away from her by this news of your departure. Her heart broke as she realized that you wouldn’t be in the dorm anymore; all those early morning and late night conversations and hang outs wouldn’t happen anymore. She wouldn’t be able to just walk to your room when she missed you, or hit you up with spontaneous plans whenever she felt like it. You’d be miles away and busy building whatever life you chose in the wake of this.

And the new members? They could never replace you. Not in a million years.

But she made a vow to never take her resentment for the situation out on them, because at the end of the day they were just striving to achieve their dreams as well. And besides, she knew you wouldn't have wanted her to be angry at them. Though, even still, she knew she'd always think of you when seeing them. A disappointment – a longing – would always remain in her heart, lamenting over what could've been. 

Because, at the end of the day, things would never be the same again. No matter how much you tried to stay in contact, conflicting schedules and prior engagements would eventually get in the way. Frequent calls and check ins would fade, becoming few and far between. Communication would be more difficult, given the distance. Nothing would compare to having you by her side in all the ways she had for the past few years. 

It all hit her at once, like an icy slap to the face. She tried to stay strong for everyone, but it was one of the hardest pills that she’d ever had to swallow. 

When you called her over and wrapped your arms around her, it took every bit of courage she had to keep from breaking down. As you wiped her tears and held her close, she tried to commit the feeling of it all to memory. She wanted to store it somehow, so that her body could never forget it. Her nails dug into the material of your shirt with purpose, and you simply hugged her harder at the feeling. 

You had no idea that she was in love with you. You were oblivious to it in the most heartbreaking kind of way. But she knew it was too late to tell you now. Putting that on you in the midst of everything else didn’t feel right, no matter how much she wanted to shout it from the rooftops. She wanted to find a way to justify it, selfishly, so that she didn’t have to deal with the reality of it alone. She wondered if maybe, if things were different, you would’ve felt the same.

It killed her, knowing that she couldn’t have you. Knowing that you were slipping right through her fingers and she was powerless to stop it. She’d have to pretend to be unfazed from now on, but she knew anytime she’d enter the dorm or company building you’d be the first thing on her mind. 

Her eyes would automatically go to the spot you would’ve been in. Choreographies now arranged for seven would always feel a little foreign, in the back of her mind. All the little things were already piling up, and she didn’t think that time was capable of easing the strain they placed on her heart. When it came to someone like you, so interwoven into her daily life and routines, she couldn’t fathom even spending a full week apart.

But the kiss that you pressed to her cheek reminded her that you were still there for the moment. The brush of your soft skin against hers as she nuzzled her head into the crook of your neck brought her peace and calmed her down. 

For now, she could still reach out and touch you. She could call you whenever she wanted to. Whip up a snack for you and show her affection in all the many ways that she loved to. For now.

The company had informed you that they would only give you until the start of the next week to pack your things and find a new living situation before you were officially removed.

It was all so fast. Too fast, for any of them to properly handle. You all knew it would be one of those things that you never fully got over. Just one of life’s cruelties. 

But for the last few days that you had left together, the girls promised to remain at your side. Between packing and bouts of crying, you’d do your favorite activities together. Movies and ice cream would be used to cope, with your sobs excused by whatever sad displays were playing out on the TV. You could go out on the town, order in, sing karaoke in the early hours of the morning, relax quietly – anything. They were determined to make them some of the most special days that you’d ever known.

After all, you deserved nothing less. Their shining star: Y/N.

—------------

Time Jump

For a while, things were relatively fine in the aftermath. You settled into the routine of your new life, living on the outskirts of Seoul and working at a quaint coffee shop that had happened to be hiring. The owners graciously allowed you to live in the small apartment above the café, and they treated you well. 

The girls each found time to spend with you, whether it be to shop, relax somewhere together, or just catch a meal at one of your favorite restaurants. They called and texted often, always making sure that you were doing well and taking care of yourself. They never failed to mention how much they missed you and how boring things were without you. 

On exceptionally beautiful Spring and Summer days, Jiu would do her best to have a floral arrangement sent to you. Her favorite flowers were paired with the ones you loved most, and a big bow usually held them all together. Sometimes, a short handwritten note even accompanied them.

If you were craving a specific food and mentioned it online somewhere, every now and then someone (who you later found out was Sua) would have a fresh batch of it delivered to your doorstep. It didn’t happen very often, but when it did you felt so cared for. 

Siyeon made sure to include you in Dreamcatcher activities, whether it be by using your representative emoji / animal in posts or doing a certain hand sign that you had more or less claimed as your own during your time with them. It was subtle, but it meant the world to you.

Yoohyeon sent you letters and pictures from time to time. Following a short vacation to Jeju that the girls went on together, she sent you a handwritten letter and some polaroids that they took with you in mind. 

In a solo project that Dami did, she added some subtle call outs to your situation and how unfair it was. Clearly, she was still as upset about the situation as before, and she missed how things used to be.

They all even posted special messages on their Instagram accounts whenever your birthday rolled around, ensuring that you felt included. 

But, as all good things do, their efforts started to fade after a while. Their schedules picked up during comeback season; events were held that kept them tethered to either their practice rooms, beds, or the stage; and other avenues of life got in the way. 

They faced more backlash than before, too, on the rare occasions that they were seen out with you. Some fans were still supportive and glad to see you, but others expressed their wishes for you to get a life and accept that you weren’t a part of the group anymore. Their comments and heckling were hurtful, adding salt to your still-sensitive wound; but you knew it upset the girls on top of that, and arguably, that hurt you more than anything the haters could’ve ever said. 

By then, you’d grown used to the harsh comments about yourself. But the girls never did; anytime they read or heard them, their once-happy smiles would always fade, and the shine in their eyes would dim as they looked at you. So many emotions were present, yet they remained unspoken. A million things, all too big and complicated for words. 

You knew then that your time with them was dwindling. Every visit seemed to be a little shorter, or interruptions from the company would spring up. Juggling everything was weighing on them, and you could see it clear as day. 

So you decided then that you would distance yourself. For the sake of everyone, you let your connections slip away, just enough. You’d learned over the months that fading away gradually and quietly hurt the least and was the most effective, and so you chose that path. 

For the most part, it worked. Other than on major holidays or birthdays, they were too busy to stop you or change things. Their texts came in less frequently, and video calls were few and far between. 

Although it pained you, you learned to live without them. 

It was more difficult than you expected, especially in the beginning; you’d underestimated just how much they’d impacted even the smallest parts of your life. When good news came or you wanted to share something you’d learned, it was always your first instinct to pick up the phone and dial up their numbers. Sometimes you found yourself looking through old pictures and reminiscing on the memories that were tied to them.

But you had to let go of that. Those habits that you picked up after years of being around them didn’t serve you anymore, and you had to break them. 

When it rained, you no longer allowed yourself to remember the way that Yoohyeon would cling to you under your umbrella after realizing she had misplaced hers.

When the rich scents of the nearby forest flitted their way over towards the coffee shop, you didn’t let your mind wander onto what Siyeon was up to. 

The warmth of the Sun didn’t remind you of Jiu’s smile. 

Loud laughter from patrons didn’t conjure up an image of Sua anymore.

And quiet Fall afternoons passed by the turning pages of whatever book you were reading didn’t make you think of Dami’s quiet charm. 

You didn’t allow the little moments to take you back, because you knew you’d never want to leave that state of mind if they did. It was undoubtedly one of the hardest challenges you ever faced, but you did it nonetheless.

—------

Two Years Later

It all started in time with the changing of the seasons. You were certain of it.

As the anniversary of MINX’s disbandment neared, a heavy feeling came to visit you again, like an unwelcome guest. 

The warmth faded. What few leaves were left on the trees made their final leap to the solid ground below, joining the swaths of others there to wither away. The skies were cloudy a lot of the time, basking the new season in an eerie haze. It wasn’t satisfactory at all – nothing like what that time of year is usually like, and nothing like what people look forward to. The approaching holiday season was off to a lackluster start by all accounts. 

But you did your best to persevere. 

Your job kept you busy most of the time, and you were grateful for that. Had it not, you would’ve spent the hours stuck on the past and wondering what you would’ve been up to at a time like this. Fansigns? Behind the scenes for a new music video? Song writing?

Any lull in the flow of customers allowed you to think, and you didn’t want that. Having no thoughts seemed better than having too many, after all.

But on one fateful afternoon, something unexpected happened. Destiny intervened – interrupting the monotonous flow that your life had taken on – and enabled the universe to work its magic. 

In Your Apartment

You had just sat down to eat a nice late lunch that you had prepared. The café owners had left town to visit some relatives for the evening, and so they gave you the rest of the day off. 

The television in front of you came to life as you pressed the buttons of the remote, and a garbled stream of changing colors and graphics washed across the room as you flipped through the available channels in search of something worthwhile to watch. 

You eventually found something halfway decent and began eating. 

It was a simple sandwich that you had purchased from the store, paired with a salad. Nothing fancy, but it was still tasty. 

No more than five bites in, your phone began to ring on the coffee table in front of you. You sighed and reached out for it, ready to flip it over and see if it was someone you could ignore or not.

Once you saw who it was, though, you froze.

A smiling picture of Jiu lit up its screen, bright and achingly beautiful. It had been so long since she’d called that you almost forgot how to act.

Should you even answer?

“Hello?” You asked, attempting to hide the nervous lilt in your voice.

“Ah, Y/N,” she greeted, a smile evident in the words, “...hi.”

You sat your fork down, curious as to why she was calling you so out of the blue. 

“I was wondering if you’d like to hang out with the girls and I after our performance today. We’ve missed you a lot and we want to catch up,” she explained, as if she read your mind. She was straight to the point, and you both loved and hated that.

Part of you wanted her to trade the usual niceties that come when you haven’t talked to someone in a long time, but deep down you knew that reverting to small talk with her wouldn’t have felt quite right either. 

“I–”

“But it’s totally okay if you don’t want to!” She interrupted in a rush, pushing the words out like her life depended on it. 

Her panic was endearing; it almost sounded like a teenager asking out their crush, if you thought about it.

You chuckled lightly, oblivious to the way it made her heart speed up. “I was going to say that I’d love to, Jiu. What time?”

This could be a huge mistake, but she had a way of working past your defenses in an instant, even after all this time. 

Her sigh of relief was audible, though you were sure she didn’t intend for it to be. It just made you smile even more.

“We should be finished up here at Show Champion around seven, so how about eight? That’ll give us time to go to the dorm and freshen up first.”

Your smile faltered at her mention of the dorm. “Sounds good,” you agreed. “Where should I meet you?”

She pulled the phone away from her ear and called for the girls, quickly asking for suggestions. A bittersweet smile graced your lips at the image of them in your mind, all thinking hard and throwing out ideas while gathered around her. It brought back so many memories. 

Sua shouted her choice so loudly that even you heard it crystal clear. The rest of them took a few seconds to agree, and then Jiu put the phone back to her ear. 

“How about our favorite restaurant near the dorm? The one we would always go to at this time of year.”

“I’ll be there.” 

“I can’t wait. See you soon.”

-

You finished your meal and showered before spending nearly a lifetime picking out what you wanted to wear. You didn’t have many fancy clothes to choose from, especially on such short notice, but you managed to put together a nice outfit that was still casual enough for a night out. 

You wanted to do something special – to surprise the girls somehow – just as a way of thanking them for all they’d done. Seeing them would undoubtedly bring back a lot of feelings and memories, but you couldn’t say that you weren’t looking forward to it. You couldn’t remember the last time they’d been free enough to call you up and invite you out, or even when your own schedule had allowed you to be the one to initiate things. So, this once, you felt like indulging a little. Distancing could begin again later. 

Spending some time with them would surely do you some good in the meantime, anyway. At least that’s what you told yourself.

With a glance at the clock, you discovered that you still had plenty of time to throw together a quick little surprise for them. The plan came together in your mind on the fly, and everything seemed completely doable. 

You just crossed your fingers and hoped for the best as you left your apartment and locked the shop up. You really wanted this gesture to make them happy. 

—

The Four Leaf Clover

Your shoes made soft crunching noises as they treaded over the sidewalk, even and rhythmic with your stride. For once, you didn’t mind the chill that washed over your body when the wind blew; it was refreshing. Your mind was too busy wondering what the night would hold to feel upset about anything, really, and you cherished that. You couldn’t remember the last time that had happened. 

The familiar corner shop – your destination – came into view a couple of minutes later, comfortably lit and cozy looking. An old man – one of its owners – sat outside of it on a wooden chair, completing a puzzle. He greeted you with a warm smile and seated bow, and you reciprocated before heading inside.

A small bell above the door announced your entrance.

“Welcome,” a feminine voice chimed, slightly worn with age. 

“Hi, Mrs. Park,” you smiled, approaching the counter. 

“My, my. It’s been too long, Y/N. How have you been?”

You took a breath. 

“Fine; I can’t complain. And you?” 

“Still kicking, sweetie. That’s all I can ask for.” She chuckled to herself. 

You nodded, regarding her. She still looked the same as you remembered. The years hadn’t even given her another wrinkle yet.

“So,” she started, “What can I get for you?”

“I’d like a custom arrangement: just seven pretty flowers with a nice bow.”

She hummed at the simple request. “And what kind of flowers will you be needing?”

“Oh, I um…” Somehow you hadn’t thought that far ahead. “I’m not sure, actually.”

“Don’t worry,” she mitigated. “I can pick them out for you. Who are they for? And what’s the occasion?”

Your shoulders relaxed a little, put at ease. 

“For some friends,” you explained. “We haven’t seen each other in a while.”

As you pictured all seven of them, Jiu stood out in your mind, like usual. The owner eyed you, studying the unconscious smile on your lips. 

“Friends, huh?” She teased. 

You opened your mouth to respond, but she didn’t let you. 

“I’ll have it ready in a jiffy. Hang tight, sweetheart.” She turned and pushed her way past the swinging doors that led to the back, shuffling off to put together your arrangement. 

You took the next few minutes to leisurely stroll around the small shop and admire all the creations it had to offer. Handmade crafts, knick knacks, and fresh bouquets were displayed beautifully. Small hand written signs indicated their prices, hanging near them or leaning on their stands. The marker lines on them were a little shaky, showing that whoever wrote them had done so with a trembling hand. 

The little details like that, seemingly so insignificant, showcased just how much effort the two of them put into the store. 

They’d been running it ever since you could remember. Having grown up nearby and attended your training at the company, you were never very far from it. When you moved into the dorm with the girls, it only brought you closer. The place almost always stayed busy, being frequented by families and supporters alike at all times of the year. 

Specials were given during exam season, because the Parks were aware of the stress that families were already under. They still wanted the students’ efforts to be celebrated. 

Those in mourning were given discounts on funeral arrangements to lessen their burdens.

Holiday events were hosted towards the end of the year, giving people the chance to come in and learn to properly decorate their own arrangements. Refreshments were provided, and they never failed to bring out the festive joy that that time of year is known for. Classes were taught by Mrs. Park, with her husband handing out supplies and ensuring everyone was well taken care of. 

Even when one of them was ill, the store stayed open. They made a promise to each other to keep their doors open for as long as possible, and they stayed true to that. 

That kind of consistency is beyond rare. 

You can only imagine how many days they saved by simply being open. Birthdays, funerals, anniversaries, parties, house warmings… you name it, they’ve saved it. 

It made you smile to yourself in a grateful kind of way, as your fingertips traced along the side of an antique clock on the counter. This tiny store, so unassuming and quaint, housed so many memories for so many people. 

What a beautiful thing it was.

—

“Seven orange alstroemerias,” Mrs. Park called, signaling that she was finished. 

You padded your way back over to her and found her zhuzhing up a beautiful array of them. They were vibrant and open wide, flaunting their colors. 

“They symbolize devotion and friendship,” she informed. 

“They’re perfect. Thank you so much.” 

Your fingertips skated over the silky material of the bow she had wrapped around them. It was prettier than you ever could’ve imagined.

She smiled deeply. “No problem, sweetheart.”

“How much do I owe you?” You inquired, reaching into your pocket for your cash.

“Twelve dollars.”

When you handed her the total amount, she took it into her small hands and pressed some buttons on the register to enter it in.

You peered down into the bouquet as you slid it closer to yourself, and a flash of red amongst the sea of orange caught your eye, nestled a little further down than all the others. Its petals were far different, too.

“Oh, ma’am,” you said, catching her attention before she could hand your change back. “You put an extra flower in here. A rose.”

“Oh, did I?” She tutted, but her response gave you the feeling that it wasn’t such an accident after all. “Go ahead and keep it, then. Free of charge,” she waved her hand into the air. “I’m sure you can find someone to give it to.”

She absolutely did that on purpose. The tell-tale smile on her lips as she handed you your change sold her out on the spot.

“Thank you.”

“You're welcome, honey. Have a good evening.”

You smiled just the same as her, finally on the same wavelength. “You, too.”

—-----

Show Champion 

The flowers rested in the crook of your elbow as you sent a quick text on your phone, letting your friend know that you were outside the building. The wind blew rather harshly as you waited for a reply; it rippled over your long overcoat and nipped at your cheeks, stinging your skin. 

Go-eun, the woman you were waiting on, had worked here ever since you were still a part of MINX. It was here that you first met her, all that time ago, and an easy-going friendship had blossomed almost immediately. Despite everything that had happened over the past few years, she had remained your friend and stayed in touch through it all. You were beyond glad to have her.

Before long, an outside door creaked open and her smiling face emerged. She had on a headset that connected her to the action that was happening inside. 

Her hand raised to it and she pressed a button as she motioned you inside. You stepped through the threshold and shook the cold off. 

“I owe you one.”

Her head swayed lightly and she waved a dismissing hand. “Don’t mention it. It’s the least I can do.”

“Thank you, Go-eun. Really.”

Her smile simply deepened in response, and she sent you a thumbs up for encouragement. You had explained your plan over the phone on your way to the performance hall, and she herself was excited to see it unfold. 

“Go get ‘em.”

You parted ways and headed down the side hallway towards the waiting rooms for the artists. The layout was still somewhat familiar from your time as an idol, but they had clearly rearranged some things in your absence. Your hands gripped the flowers a little harder, ringing their stems unconsciously.

After some walking, you rounded one final corner and were greeted by a sight that made your breath hitch tightly in your throat. 

Jiu’s laughter filled the hall as she exited a room, leading all the other girls out. They were joking about something that Sua had said, and they lightly jostled each other around. Gahyeon and Handong, the two new members, looked radiant in the dark outfits that their stylists had prepared. They fit into the group seamlessly, filling your shoes in some ways that you never could’ve. 

From what you had seen of them during your occasional bouts of watching Dreamcatcher’s content, it was easy to see how much they shined. They deserved every good thing in the world; they worked hard to achieve their dreams, just the same as the rest of you. They were talented; you could see why they were chosen for a task as daunting as a rebranding. 

No hard feelings existed between you, but your heart undeniably ached at the sight of them all together. Yet again, you were stuck on the outside looking in. 

From idol to fan, just like that. The beheld to the admirer. It still got to you.

“Y/N?”

Yoohyeon was the first to notice you. Her voice was small and full of cautious hope. She didn’t want to blink and find out that she was imagining things.

“Hi, Yooh. Miss me?” You smiled sadly, tilting your head. 

Her lip quivered in response. She always was the most emotional out of all of them.

Despite the loudness of the stage further away in the building, the hallway had fallen almost completely silent. It rang in your ears. The drop of a pen could be heard. 

The rest of them turned in your direction at the sound of your voice. Jiu locked eyes with you; her brows knitted together pitifully, like she wanted to cry, too. 

“What’re you doing here?” Incredulity shimmered in her tone.

The others perked up behind her, regarding you in quiet astonishment. They never expected you to be here.

Down the hall, near where Go-eun was peeking out at the crowd through a curtain, a security officer pressed the button of his walkie-talkie and spoke an order into it. He was keeping watch, making sure things ran smoothly.

You smiled to yourself and reached into the bouquet to retrieve the rose. Once it was freed, you outstretched it to Jiu. Her fingertips brushed against its petals as she glanced at the others. She realized then that hers was the only rose.

You were able to watch that fact dawn on her, filling her with hope. 

Could this mean that you…

“I wanted to surprise you all and show my support,” you explained. “I hope you–”

It all happened in a flash.

“Stop right there!” A booming voice shouted suddenly. Quick-moving footsteps, heavy and dull as they resounded against the floor, accompanied it.

Just as Sua stepped forward to see what the commotion was, two men approached either side of you and roughly grabbed you by the arms. 

None of you had thought that their warning was aimed at you.

The flowers all fell to the ground, getting stomped on by their careless feet. 

“Hey!” Dami exclaimed in response. 

You struggled against them, tugging on your arms in an attempt to be freed. Despite the attempts you made to explain who you were, they didn’t listen.

“We’re sorry, ladies.” They addressed the girls, “She must’ve managed to sneak her way back here from the crowd.”

Your heart sank. They thought you were just another fan. 

Jiu stepped forward, extending a hand to you.

Siyeon spoke up, “But she’s–”

They smugly shook their heads, and one of them raised a hand to stop her. “Don’t worry, we’ll get her out of your hair.”

Sua looked at them like they were insane. As they turned on their heels and harshly pulled you along, she marched behind them and grabbed the sleeve of one of their uniforms. 

“Yah, saekki, she’s not just a fan!” She shouted. 

They turned around, looking embarrassed and caught off guard by her use of language. “What?”

“She’s our friend. Now let her go.”

If looks could kill, those two men would’ve dropped dead on the spot. They released you in an instant and apologized, quickly bowing multiple times to everyone to show their so-called respect. They rushed away, returning to their posts immediately after.

In their wake, the hallway returned to silence. Blaring, awful silence. 

Although the encounter was over fairly quickly and was now resolved, the damage had been done. 

Yoohyeon approached you and tried to fix your mussed clothes, but you caught her hands before she could. You held them in your own, looking past her at the mangled bouquet on the ground, completely ruined. Aside from being pissed off, the girls all looked distressed and sad. Gahyeon and Handong averted their gazes, feeling ashamed. Jiu was almost teary eyed; Sua was shaking her head in anger; Siyeon went quiet; and Dami had her jaw set with a look of contempt on her face. Staggered curses fell from their lips.

In a matter of just a couple minutes, their happiness had soured and turned into this. What could’ve been a wonderful moment was now marred by your presence and the chaos that you brought along. 

You never should have come here. 

“I-I’m sorry, everyone.”

You dropped Yoohyeon’s hands and turned around, briskly striding towards the side door that you had entered. Tears of embarrassment stung your eyes, and you quickly swiped them away.

Go-eun looked concerned as you approached, but you just shook your head at her and left with a promise of explaining later. The wind was somehow even colder than before as you rushed out the door, and once it mixed with your salty tears you finally let yourself go. 

Fresh ones fell freely, replacing the others that threatened to dry from the wind. You sat down outside of the building and pressed your back against the frigid surface of the wall. Your forehead came to rest on your knees as you cried, feeling stupid. 

Why had you ever expected that to work out? You were such an idiot. 

Gahyeon reached down and picked up the bouquet, frowning. Sua and Siyeon had left directly after you to reprimand the security officers, and Dami was comforting a teary Yoohyeon. Jiu still held her rose in her hands, turning it over and over. 

She glanced back at the girls and nodded before heading after you. In the small gap that existed between her belt and the outside of her pants, she slid the stem of her rose. With it secured in place, she quickly treaded down the hallway.

When she slipped out the side door and saw you curled up, her heart broke. You raised your head at the sound of the heavy metal latching back into place behind her, and inadvertently met her gaze.

You stood up and wiped the rest of your tears before walking in the opposite direction. You didn’t even give her a chance to speak.

Although she was taken aback, she didn’t stall in going after you. Not anymore.

“Go back inside, Jiu.”

“No.”

You walked further down the sidewalk, tucking your hands into your pockets. “If you stick around me, I’ll just end up causing more problems.”

“Don’t say that, Y/N!” She scolded, sounding even more upset than she was inside. She had no reason to be, since you were just removing yourself from the situation. She wouldn’t have to worry about you anymore this way.

“Why shouldn’t I? It’s true, and we both know it!” You returned, exasperated. “You don’t have to pretend otherwise for my sake.”

“I’m not pretending,” she pressed, following after you. Her outfit wasn’t suitable for the weather, but the emotions coursing through her numbed her to the chill. This exchange hurt her more than the wind ever could, anyway. Why did you insist so hard on leaving?

“Just stop,” you said over your shoulder, not bothering to turn around. “Maybe another day,” you said, in reference to your plans.

You were far too upset to enjoy the night after all that, and awkwardly pretending that it didn’t happen would be just as painful.

“No!” She erupted, grabbing your arm and spinning you around. Your jaw went a little slack at the suddenness of it; this was a totally new side of her. 

“I’m sick of waiting, Y/N. That’s all I’ve ever done when it comes to you, and I’m not doing it anymore.”

Your brows furrowed. “What are you talking about?”

Her features were strikingly beautiful – so sharp. Their jaded edges displayed everything she was feeling, despite your inability to read them. You were still just as oblivious as ever.

She snuck a hurried glance around the both of you before pulling you over to the side of the building. She pushed you against it directly after, catching you off guard. Her arms wound around your middle as she moved to hold you close.

You had half the inclination to ask what she was doing, but the feeling of her mouth on yours interrupted those thoughts before they could even finish forming. 

Her lips kissed a reply against yours, saying all the words she never could before. 

I love you, they pressed, urgent and hard enough to bruise.

I always have, they whispered without words, soft in their reassurance. 

A million confessions flowed from them to yours, spreading like the strawberry gloss that painted them so beautifully. She couldn’t possibly have cared less about the messy state you were putting her in; she lived for the way you came alive in her arms, kissing her back with just as much passion as she felt herself. It was a confirmation that the feelings she had were mutual in the best type of way. 

A muffled sigh left you as you brought your arms up to wrap around her neck and draw her in closer. She pressed the length of her body against yours, molding to you like never before. Her hands gripped your hips possessively, begging you to stay for once in your life and see this through. She was afraid to let go again.

Her teeth captured your bottom lip as you tilted your head to the side, granting her more access. She took the opportunity to deepen the kiss without a second thought, releasing her inhibitions. She lost herself in your taste – in the feel of you. It was everything that she’d hoped for and more after spending so many years waiting. 

You were like Heaven to touch. 

The perfume on your neck drew her under as her lips trailed over your sensitive skin there, leaving a mark in their wake. 

She smiled when your hand fisted in her hair, returning the desperation that she felt. Her head was in the clouds. 

“Please don’t ever run away like that again,” she whispered against your jawline, allowing her lips to brush it in the process. “What happened wasn’t your fault.” She left small kisses behind as little reminders of her love for you. 

“Just because things went sideways in there doesn’t mean we don’t want you around. We’ve all missed you so much, Y/N/N… you have no idea.”

“I’m sorry.”

She pulled away enough to touch her nose to yours, moving it side to side. When you laughed at the feeling, she smiled. 

“The girls and I need you more than you know. They love you, and I…” she paused, swallowing nervously, “I love you. I have for a long time now.”

You stole another quick kiss from her lips, rewarding her for her confession. “Me too.”

Her thumbs rubbed comforting patterns against your hips. “Then will you stay? Please?”

You took a deep breath of the evening air to bring you back to your senses. You were still reeling, if you were honest, and thinking straight wasn’t something you felt very capable of with the woman of your dreams holding you in her arms like she was. Her kiss-swollen lips pouted, only further corrupting you. 

“I’ll stay,” you nodded. “And we can still go to the restaurant.”

She pulled away and did a little victory dance that had you smiling in an instant. Her face brightened, donning a beautiful smile as she cheered. She was such a dork that you almost couldn’t stand it. 

If any paparazzi were lurking nearby, her questionable choice of celebratory dance moves would’ve undoubtedly been a larger scandal then the kisses you shared. 

“Alright, alright,” you interrupted after a few seconds, stepping forward and grabbing her wrist to stop her. “We get the idea.”

“I’m just so happy,” she cooed, gazing into your eyes with so much love you nearly swooned at the mere sight of it. 

“So are we,” Sua said from nearby all of a sudden.

“AHHH!” Both you and Jiu let out a scream of terror at the same time.

“How long have you been standing there?!” Jiu barked, recovering with a hand over her heart.

Sua pursed her lips, thinking for a second. “Just long enough to see your dance.”

“Very interpretive,” Siyeon narrowed her eyes and nodded, giving a thumbs up. She slung her arm around Sua’s shoulder as she came to stand beside her.

Yoohyeon and Dami appeared behind them a few seconds later, attempting to suppress their laughter. “You guys didn’t hear the door latch? It’s like a hundred years old.” Yoohyeon giggled. 

You cleared your throat, blushing more than you would’ve liked to. “I guess we were a little preoccupied.”

“Yeah, about to fuc–” Gahyeon began.

“Language!” The unnies all shouted in unison, interrupting the youngest member. She rolled her eyes, but an amused smile rested on her lips regardless as she neared the group as well. It grew wider when she looked at you, causing her eyes to form into little crescents. 

Handong was the last to show herself, but it was for a good reason. 

The bouquet was cradled in her hands, still wrapped in the paper and bow that it came with. Tape was wound around every broken piece of the flowers’ stems, making them semi-straight again. All of the girls had done their best to repair the damage that the guards had done, and that simple gesture alone made you want to cry all over again. The sentiment was unexpected but beyond welcome. 

“We’re really excited to spend the evening with you, Y/N,” Handong spoke, soft and smooth. “The girls talk about you all the time.”

You glanced around at all of them, finally feeling content in a way you hadn’t since you left the dorm all that time ago. So much love and adoration shined in their eyes for you, clear as day. For you, they’d do just about anything.

And while things wouldn’t ever be quite the same as they were before, you knew then that the girls would forge a new future with you in it, however they needed to. They never wanted to lose you again, and something about this time felt different. Deep down in your heart, you knew it would last.

As their arms all wrapped around you in the group hug that Sua initiated, you let your eyes fall shut. 

“I’m excited, too,” you said, smiling to yourself. 

And for the first time in a long time, you really meant it. 

These cracked me up, anon. The gay panic is real 🤕

On a serious note, thank you so much for enjoying 💖

I always love to hear back from you guys (jumbled thoughts and all)

Away With You

Pairing: Rosé x Fem!Reader

Synopsis: When a snowstorm of record-breaking proportion rolls into town and causes a city wide shut-in, you and Rosé take it easy and enjoy your time together.

Warnings / Misc. -- Fluff

Word Count: ~ 1,136

Disclaimer: This writing is a work of fiction, and no disrespect is meant for those mentioned herein.

A/N: Hi everyone! I found this in my drafts a while ago and thought I’d share it with you all. Hope you enjoy it :) Stay safe and take care of yourselves!

💖 Happy Reading 🌹

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The wind, frigid and biting, howls as it whips through the sprawling branches of the neighborhood trees. They sway, sometimes eerily, in their perfect alignments next to the sidewalk. 

More particles of snow and sleet surge down to Earth, accompanying every haunting gust and only further worsening the conditions that the blizzard is causing.

Strangely enough, it's at times like this that you find yourself wondering if hot cocoa producers will ever run out of product. 

Surely, you think to yourself, as you stand in front of the counter and stir in the contents of yet another batch. It's the fourth one you've made today, and it's not even past 2 PM yet.

Your gaze falls down to the mixture, watching intently as the rich, velvety powder swirls with the milk you added before. It lends more of its color with every whirl, and soon it's smooth mocha, warm and tempting. Steam billows from the mug, and you sigh as the chocolatey scent makes its way to your nose. 

In the living room, Rosé has the television set to your local news station as she strums out the notes of a potential chorus to her latest creation. Her fingertips dance across the strings, trying out different combinations and slides as she pleases. 

Beneath her, the piano bench supports her movements, making only a faint creak when she sets the guitar in her lap and focuses her attention on the piano keys instead. She's been like this for a while now: switching between the two instruments that she loves so much as she tries to finally put her finger on the elusive tune she's been seeking.

The weather has given her an excuse to stay home and reconnect with what she's been missing most: making music, and you. She can't think of anyone else she'd rather be squirreled away with.

"... multiple inches are expected to accumulate throughout the day, and by nightfall some areas could have up to three feet of snow in total." 

She lifts her head at the mention of the forecast, listening closely to the weatherman. 

"We strongly advise that you stay home and only go out when it's absolutely necessary. Multiple roadways are already covered, and they're expected to get even more dangerous as the day progresses. Power outages are likely as well, so get prepared, folks, and stay safe. Bundle up, grab something warm, and settle in."

Outside, snowflakes fall in heavy droves, turning the atmosphere into a whiteout. They whip past the bay windows of the living room -- which Rosé is now using as a portal to peek into the frigid world out there -- unrelenting as more and more of them make their way to the ground. They've already coated everything in sight with at least six inches, and they don't seem to show any signs of slowing down. 

The Sun is quickly being clouded over; only a few glimmers of its warm rays remain now, and they kiss the land goodbye while they still can. 

In fact, one delicate embrace between the two is strong enough to catch Rosé's eye; a rather small snowflake rides the swirling air current just outside the window, arching up into the air as it perfectly catches a golden shimmer of the Sun. It dances and skates for a few more seconds before ultimately fluttering against the pane and coming to rest in the corner of the sill. 

Rosie's lips briefly tug up in the corners at that, and she pauses to think. Maybe she can use that for a song...

Your slipper-clad feet shuffle forward as you finally make your way out of the kitchen and towards the living room, slowly but surely. Your tongue is slightly stuck out as you concentrate on keeping all the contents of the mugs inside of them, and you simultaneously ask yourself why the hell you filled them up so high. 

A quick glance at Rosie earns you the knowledge that she's scribbling away in her notebook again, and you smile warmly at the mere thought of it. For months, she's been dying to have some time to really unwind and recharge like this; writing always comes the easiest for her when she's relaxed and able to experiment without fear of judgement. She's always said that you're the only person she trusts enough to hear her rough drafts, and you cherish that. She really is something special. 

"Hi, baby," you greet, feeling the tension leave your body as you bring the mugs to the coffee table and set them on a pair of matching coasters. Rosie got them on tour back in Australia, and they've been her favorite to use ever since. 

"There's my girl," she beams, happiness radiating from her. A growing smile is evident in her voice as she quickly finishes in her notebook and sets her guitar in its case. 

The material of her sweater looks especially soft from where you are; you can practically see the fluffiness interwoven into each of the threads. 

"I was starting to miss you, you know," she plays, standing up to meet you by the sofa. Her eyes travel across your face, silently admiring you. 

"I could tell," you tilt your head to the side, "...your playing turned sad." 

"What can I say?" Her shoulders rise and fall in a soft shrug. "My muse wasn't around. I got lonely." 

Her muse, huh? Hearing that never gets old.

You run your fingers through her hair, feeling the loose curls tickle your palm as they slide by. They're silky, and the movement releases the smell of her vanilla shampoo into the air.

She melts into your touch, visibly relaxing. Her eyes close as you move to stroke her cheek, reveling in the feeling of your warmth against her. She'd be content with staying here, just like this, forever. 

"Rosie, baby, I don't understand you," you whisper, disbelief evident in your tone. You take a step closer, draping your free arm over her shoulder. 

"You get even more beautiful by the day. I don't see how that's physically possible." 

She smiles, her eyes still closed. She's amused. 

"You've already won my heart, Y/N," she quips, peeking at you, "You don't have to make me fall in love again." 

You shake your head, still smiling. "I mean it, babe. You're so beautiful." 

Her eyes open now, and her hands slip beneath the hem of your shirt, splaying across your back. She pulls you closer with a short tug, giving you no time to prepare before her lips are on yours. 

They whisper words of affection against your own in between sweet kisses, reminding you of how much she adores you. 

As you kiss her back and touch her in all the ways she loves most, she wonders how she got so lucky. 

Relief

Pairing: Sua x Fem!Reader

Warnings / Misc. -- Smut, Some Fluff

Word Count: 4,287

Summary: When a rough day at work leaves you in need of some TLC, Sua knows just what to do to make things better.

Disclaimer: This writing is a work of fiction, and no disrespect is meant for those mentioned herein.

A/N: Hey everyone! Here's some Sua smut :) Next up is Yoohyeon, so stay tuned!

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Friday, 11:37 PM – Y/N's Apartment, Seoul, SK

Your bleary eyes raised to meet Sua’s warm ones the moment you arrived at the door to your apartment. She didn’t even give you the chance to put your key in the lock before she had it opened and was welcoming you in, the ghost of a frown on her lips, pitying you. 

She greeted you softly, so as to not worsen the pounding headache that you’d mentioned over the phone. 

In one smooth motion, your bag was surrendered to her waiting hands, and you were melting into her strong frame as she drew you in close. 

"Come here, my love," she sighed, happy to finally have you back in her arms. 

She shut the door and locked it before setting your bag on the entry table, never once pulling away. You slipped your shoes off and blindly nudged them in the direction of the door, resolving to tidy them up later. You nuzzled your face into the crook of her neck, reveling in the comforting smell of her perfume as it greeted your chilly nose. 

The sensation brought goosebumps to her skin and reminded her of the surprise she had waiting in the other room. 

She rubbed your back gingerly, asking, “How does a bath sound? I have everything ready; we just have to put the water in.”

You nodded softly, your pouty lips brushing her pulsepoint in the process. 

“That’s my girl,” she smiled, pressing a kiss to your temple before turning around to lead you to the bathroom. One of her arms remained wrapped around you, helping you amble your way there. 

The soft scent of roses was the first to greet you upon arrival, and you blinked your eyes open as she turned to shut the door behind the two of you. 

Around the room, candles were placed in various spots, flickering gently and providing enough light that she didn’t need to turn on the overhead one. Some were on the floor, while others sat on the end of the tub or along the sink. 

In addition, rose petals were scattered across the tile. Vibrant, rich hues of red caught both the shadows and golden light of the room, looking like something out of a movie. 

A plethora of essential oils was placed near the tub, waiting and ready for you to choose from as you pleased.

“I know today was rough, so I wanted to try and make it a little better,” she explained from just behind you, peering around at the room as if she hadn’t spent the last hour making sure everything was perfect. 

She could almost give you the precise coordinates of each individual petal, if you asked. That’s how serious she took it. 

Your sock-clad feet wiggled, reveling in the softness of the swath of petals beneath you. Sometimes the depth of her love was too much for you to wrap your head around; the notion that she took so much time and effort out of her own day to make yours even a fraction better meant the world to you and then some.

“It’s not much,” she dismissed humbly, “but I couldn’t just sit around and do nothing.”

“It’s perfect, jagi,” you refuted gently, lifting your head to look over at her. 

Your eyes were glossy, practically brimming with salty tears just waiting to fall. Her sentimental side always had a way of doing that to you. 

“Hey,” she soothed, stepping forward to hug you close again. “Don’t cry. Let’s just get you in the tub, yeah? You’ll feel better in no time.”

“Alright,” you mumbled, nodding. As you reached up with one hand to wipe your tears, she gently took the other into her own and led you across the room. 

Her fingers skimmed down the front of your shirt as she faced you, gliding towards the buttons so she could begin undoing them. You watched her fondly, noticing the concentration on her features when she reached a troublesome one. 

Soon you were freed of the garment, and she slid it off of your shoulders before reaching around to undo your bra. It fell easily, and in less than a second – she’d become a master at undressing you over your years together, and the sentiment of that made you smile a little. 

“Is there anything in particular you’d like for dinner?” She asked as she lowered down onto her knees. The cushioned rug below welcomed her, preventing her skin from meeting the hard tile. “I’m planning to fix something while you’re in here.”

You swallowed thickly when she undid the first button of your jeans, feeling her warm breath spread across your exposed abdomen. Though her intention wasn’t necessarily set on getting you going, her movements certainly didn’t get the memo. 

When you failed to answer her, she lightly pinched your thigh. 

“U-uh,” you stuttered, trying to come up with a reply. “Maybe Y/Fav/Dish?”

She nodded, accepting the request without a second thought. “I’ve been craving it, too, actually, so that’ll be good.”

The material of your pants was soon tugged down to your ankles, and she helped you step out of each leg before finally peering up at you. The sight alone – her pretty eyes, warm and full of love as they gazed into your own – was enough to flip your stomach. But being practically naked in front of her – just the slip of a hand, or a kiss away from starting something sinful – filled your mind with possibilities that were lightyears away from innocence. 

Surely it was just the fatigue talking. You were exhausted, truly, so it was no wonder your emotions were so out of whack. Normally you weren’t this easy to rile up.

She looped her fingers in the material of your panties and slid them down your smooth legs, seemingly taking her time with it. 

If she noticed the way your nails pressed into your palms to prevent you from pulling her in, she didn't show it.

Once the thin garment came to pool at your feet, her eyes tracked back up to your center. 

They widened subtly – a mix of surprise and pride swirling within them – as she spotted the slick there. It glistened in the candlelight, making her smile. 

You looked away, feeling a bit embarrassed under her observant gaze. 

“Is that for me, baby?”

The wonder in her voice pushed away your shyness, if only for a moment. “Of course,” you answered, peeking back at her. "Who else?"

“But I haven’t even touched you yet…”

Her use of the word yet made your heart skip a beat. 

An amused scoff left you. “Do you seriously think this is the first time I’ve gotten wet just by being around you?”

Sua swallowed, blinking a couple of times as she centered her thoughts. Admittedly, that simple question sent her imagination a little wild. 

“Well I-” she paused, and you watched as her innocent wonder melted away, getting replaced by a self-satisfied smirk that you adored as much as you loathed. “I knew I was good, but that good?” Her brows raised, and she looked you up and down. “I’m honored, jagi.”

You reached a hand out to her shoulder and playfully shoved her backwards, making her flail for a moment as she fought to remain balanced. 

“Don’t let it go to your head,” you warned, pointing a finger at her in mock authority as you stepped past her and closer to the tub. 

You leaned over to examine the oils and scents that she had laid out for you, rummaging through them until you found the ones you wanted. You sat them apart from the rest and turned the faucet on, ensuring that the water flowing out was a good temperature. 

When you were satisfied, you grabbed the stopper and pushed it into the drain’s entrance.

Gradually, the tub began to fill. As the water splashed out into it, you added a few drops of the liquids to the steady stream and watched as suds began to appear in time with the new smells being released. 

It was pleasant, and you inhaled peacefully as you sat the last bottle down.

But suddenly, just as you went to upright yourself, a surprised moan was slipping out of your mouth and resounding around the room alongside the swashing of the water. 

Sua wordlessly bent you forward a little further, causing you to steady yourself on the wall with a shaky hand. The tile was cool against your palm – almost capable of distracting you from the heat pooling between your thighs. 

Her soft lips kissed a messy, impatient path from the back of your thigh up to your center, and you couldn’t help but shut your eyes. It felt like she had been holding back – restraining herself, for a time – and her resolve had crumbled.

Her hands stroked your skin gingerly, working up from your calves to the curve of your ass. 

With you presented so beautifully for her, positioned just right, she couldn’t stop herself from getting a taste. 

You whimpered when her tongue parted your folds and she began to lap up your arousal. It caught you off guard at first, coming out of left field, but you responded immediately, on instinct, and pushed yourself against her a little more. 

The tip of her tongue dipped into your entrance briefly, teasing you with the promise of what she was capable of. She moaned against you, enjoying the way you squirmed at the stimulation. 

“Sua…”

The arch of your back gave her better access, and she took advantage of it for a few glorious seconds, indulging the both of you. She reached an arm between your parted, trembling legs to toy with your clit; it was already swollen, just begging to be touched by her.

"You taste so good," she praised against you, voice low and lustful. She licked you again, but this time it was slower – more torturous. Like she was savoring you in more ways than one. 

You unconsciously writhed, pursuing the warmth of her mouth and tongue; but she merely grasped your hips and stilled them. 

There was little more you could do than moan in response to her strong grip; it was gentle enough, but an undeniable roughness lied just beyond her fingertips, waiting to be unleashed. 

It was easy to see that she wanted to ruin you, right then and there. But she refrained.

"I've been thinking about this all day," she admitted. Her lips ghosted across your sensitive center as she spoke, making you whine. "I already couldn't concentrate at work, but it was even worse when I got home. One look at the couch and I was thinking about the mess you made on it last night." 

"Oh god," you groaned pitifully, not only at her words but also the memories they brought back. 

She'd fucked you so hard that you'd been plagued with a limp all day – and a difficult one to conceal at that. 

Embarrassing, sure, but even more so arousing. The ache simply reminded you who you belonged to. That you were hers, totally and utterly. 

And you wanted more. No – needed it.

A breathless please was all you could manage, but it proved successful for the time being. 

She quickened her pace and pushed her tongue in further, feeling her own clit throb at the way your walls clenched around the intrusion. Your slick dripped down her chin, making a mess as you greedily swayed your hips to gain more friction against her face. 

She entertained it for a bit longer, getting just as lost in the sensation as you did; but just when that familiar fire in the pit of your stomach was sparking up, she retreated. 

All at once, without warning. Like the gates of Heaven itself were shut right before you and you were pulled back to Earth. 

A chaste kiss was placed against your folds, serving as a parting gift before she fully withdrew. 

Dazed and confused, you found yourself sulking at the loss of contact; the haze of pleasure had clouded your mind and made you forget about the task you had been in the middle of, before her little sexcapade started up.

At the sound of your ensuing, frustrated sigh, she could only grin.

“Tub’s full, baby,” she noted, standing up to reach around you and turn the water off. The simple observation served as a stand-in explanation for her withdrawal, and you accepted it after a moment. 

You were excited for the bath – to unwind after such a long day and get the chance to de-stress – but part of you wanted to say to hell with it and drag her to the bedroom so she could finish what she started. 

Though, of course, her efforts weren’t lost on you, and you knew you couldn’t just disregard the work she had put into arranging all of this for you. It deserved to be used and taken advantage of – but that didn’t mean you couldn’t strike up a deal with her somewhere in the middle. 

“Will you stay?” You tried, looking at her over your shoulder with an expression that she admittedly couldn’t say no to. "At least for a bit?" The soft grip you applied to her wrist didn’t help her resolve any, either. 

“Sure," she agreed with a smile. "Go ahead and get in; I’ll move some of this,” she motioned to the candles and petals around the tub. 

You followed her instructions and stepped inside, wincing at the slight sting that the hot water brought on. It mellowed out once you lowered yourself in and got comfortable, fading to a pleasant tingle, which you reveled in.

Steam radiated from the water's surface as Sua quickly cleared a spot for herself beside the tub, just behind your back. She retrieved a stool from the adjoining closet and placed it down, taking a seat.

Her fingers raked through your hair as she gathered up all of its strands, and soon she was twisting a band around them to keep them up and out of the way.

A quiet hum of gratitude resounded in your chest, and she kissed your temple in reply.

No more words were spoken after that for a while; they simply weren't needed. She knew that some silence would serve your tired mind well, and, frankly, she didn't need to be told how to help you relax. 

She already knew all of your ins and outs. What you liked, what you needed to unwind. 

Like the Sun in the sky, casting itself across the world below, she watched over you. Made sure you were comfortable, not needing for anything. That you were content and happy, tucked away from the outside world and centered in your own little paradise. 

It was domesticity at its finest, and you both loved it. Touches conveyed a million unspoken words; glances and microexpressions even more. Just the simple hitch of a breath could enable you to read one another like a book. 

So, of course, when a moan slipped out of your mouth at the feeling of her hands kneading your shoulders, Sua smiled knowingly. Like clockwork, she'd expected it; one muscle in particular always gave you trouble, and with the right application of pressure and care, you–

"Mmm," you moaned again, features scrunched up in equal amounts of pleasure and pain. 

"That's it, sweet girl. Let it out," she encouraged.

You listened, and soon the tension was leaving your body in droves.

When your shoulders and neck had loosened up, her hands drifted lower, ebbing just as softly as the water as they disappeared beneath the bubbly surface. 

Once they reached your abdomen, you allowed your head to loll back against the cool edge of the tub. You could feel her just beyond the limits of it, hovering close, warm and tempting. Her breaths landed on the exposed skin of your neck, a little jagged as they showcased her own sweet arousal. 

Tension and comfort permeated the air, mingling together like two lovers. They blended into one sensual, cozy ambience that came to settle over the room. 

The first two fingers of her right hand made contact with your clit languidly, taking their time, in no rush at all. Your sensitivity was through the roof already, but you pushed it aside to the best of your ability to enjoy her for as long as possible. 

She used all of the patterns you liked best, alternating between them as she dipped her head down to kiss your neck. You both loved and loathed the fact that she knew you so well; it was a bit embarrassing to be getting worked up again so easily, but god did it feel good. 

She moved in closer, raising her left hand to knead one of your breasts. The movement centered you between her arms, and it provided an added element of support. You were free to melt into her – to let yourself go. 

She rolled your nipple between her fingertips, toying with it as it hardened.

Her tongue slipped past her parted lips to lick across your skin in between kisses, swirling over the marks she left behind to soothe them.

“Sua, please,” you whispered breathlessly, shifting slightly. The waterline wavered, lapping a bit because of your movements. 

“How do you want it, baby?”

“I want your fingers,” you pleaded. “I need you inside.”

“Okay,” she whispered against your pulsepoint, as she obediently trailed her fingers down from your swollen, aching clit to your entrance. You were more than ready for her, and she could feel it from the very second she circled them over it. 

Desperation ruled you, clouding your mind; all you wanted was her. 

The whines that left your lips sold you out, each serving as its own plea for her to fuck you. On their own accord, your legs parted wider, falling open as far as the bounds of the tub would allow. 

Her fingers dipped inside of you with ease, and she didn’t waste anymore time teasing. Even if she had wanted to, she couldn’t have; the pulse of your walls was simply intoxicating. It spurred her on, luring her in further with every flutter and rush of warmth that came to surround her fingers. 

Wetness pooled in her own panties as well, leading her to unconsciously grind against the middle seam of her pants to attain relief in the meantime. 

"Can you take three, sweetheart?" She nibbled lightly on your ear, causing you to squirm helplessly. "Hmm? Will this pretty pussy stretch a little more for me?" 

Eager to please, you nodded vehemently, trapping your bottom lip tightly between your teeth. The move muffled your whimpers to a degree, but Sua heard every one of them. They were shuddered and broken – changing pitch when she finally slid another finger into you.

Your bare back met the soft material of her shirt when she pressed forward, transferring little droplets of water over to the fibers. 

Your mouth fell open when she pushed in knuckle-deep, curling them in time with the press of her palm to your clit. She took advantage of the opportunity presented and kissed you, greedily exploring your mouth as you sought air. All tongue and lips, she took what she wanted, making you melt into her and let her have her way. 

You could taste yourself on her when she deepened the kiss, and your legs instinctively closed around her hand, keeping her in place. You humped wantonly, inspired by the proud groan that resounded low in her throat. 

Water splashed roughly against the sides of the tub, some spilling over; but she simply leaned further into you and tightened her hold, cradling you close as you spiraled towards the edge of no control. 

Your heart pounded in your ears, so loudly that you feared she could hear it as clearly as you. 

The rush of warmth throughout your body – hot blood pumping through your veins, sent to each and every site that she touched you – brought even more blush to the surface of your heated skin. Flushed, desperate, yearning: you were a wreck for her in so many incredible ways. 

“Ah,” she sighed into your mouth, breaking the kiss but not pulling away, “just like that, baby. You’re close, aren’t you?” Her fingers curled within you, repeatedly rubbing up against your g-spot as a cocky smirk played on her lips. 

If you had been standing, your knees would’ve given out in a second. 

“Y-yes,” you struggled out, proud of yourself for managing even the simple confirmation.

“I can feel it,” she admitted, pressing a kiss to your chin, and then your jaw. “You’re taking me so well. So soft, begging for more.” The satisfaction in her low voice worked wonders for your praise kink, truth be told, and you nearly lost it at her words alone.

Her hand on your chest briefly came up to your mouth, and she extended two fingers, sliding them across your pillowy, kiss-bruised lips. “Open,” she commanded, watching over you from above. 

You did, and she pushed them inside, smiling to herself when you obediently swirled your tongue around them, coating them in your saliva. 

“Good girl,” she commended, appreciating how well you were listening. As much as she loved your bratty side – and taming it, more specifically – she couldn’t deny the hold that your submissiveness had on her.

With a wet pop, she drew her fingers out of your mouth and rubbed them against her thumb, coating it as well. She trailed them down to your other breast, finally offering it its own dose of attention as she rolled your nipple between them. 

You gasped when she pinched it, jutting your hips into the air on instinct. Your walls fluttered at the sensation as well, pulling her in deeper. 

This game she was playing with you, this push and pull, perfectly torturous, was just what you had been in need of all day. Where you ended and she began, you had no idea. The water blended everything together; your pleasure was hers, and hers yours. Every time you sank down onto her fingers, striding, leaping and bounding towards ecstasy, she grew closer, too. Due to her own grinding, her ruined panties had worked in between her folds, offering friction to her aching clit. Just from touching you, kissing you, holding you – she was so close.

She was simply under your spell. Enraptured, completely.

And realization dawned on you, then – like the Sun peeking out from behind a batch of clouds – that your headache was gone. Like the best kind of medicine, she was curing you.

Behind your eyelids, colors danced; her fingers flexed deep inside of you, pulsing, guiding them in their waltz like the maestro that she was. 

It didn’t take long for you to finally unwind, unraveling at your very seams with a sharp cry of her name. Surrounded by warmth – immersed in it, both inside and out – you fell into paradise. 

Time stopped for a few seconds, awarding you the opportunity to bask in the moment you had created together. Just as smoothly as the water, she coaxed you through it; and then the aftershocks, planting kiss after kiss against your skin, leaving even more marks in her wake. 

Your head fell back against her shoulder as you drew in deep breaths through your nose, attempting to return to normalcy. She eased out of you, careful and considerate along the way, and you shut your eyes again to calm your heart rate. 

The sound of her sucking her fingers clean of your slick was enough to spark up your desire again, so there’s truly no telling what would’ve happened if you had bore witness to it.

In your post-orgasmic haze, you reveled, holding onto the feeling for as long as humanly possible. Like the reward that it was, you savored it. Euphoria coursed through your frazzled mind, lapping at the edges of it like waves on a shore. You surrendered yourself to the bliss and sighed, feeling content. 

However, the sudden sound of pants hitting the floor brought you out of your reverie. 

Sua stood next to the tub in all of her glory, now naked from head to toe as her hands rested on her hips. She allowed you to gawk, because, frankly, watching you practically eye-fuck her was well worth it. 

“I’ll give you a choice, jagi, since tonight is all about you,” she spoke, when she noticed your tongue darting out of your mouth to wet your lips. 

“I’ll either join you in the tub for round two,” her head tilted to the side subtly as the notion brought a smile to her face, “or I can start prepping dinner.”

This wouldn’t be the first time she’s cooked naked, and the sight of her dressed in only an apron admittedly sent you a little wild, too. But could you pass up on her offer for another round?

You swallowed thickly, feeling overheated again with her brazen attention invested solely on you. 

“What’ll it be?”

‘My demise,’ you thought, though your lips instead declared an aroused, “Come here,” as you tugged her forward by the hand. 

Another splash of water was cast out of the tub as she tumbled into it, displacing itself in the name of making room for her. A high-pitched squeal pierced the air of the room, followed closely by her sweet laughter as she teased you for your eagerness. 

You chuckled, too, feeling the happiness bubble up in your chest as she wrapped herself around you and leaned forward to capture your lips in another kiss.