Love Song

Love Song

To soften the blow of the previous post, here’s a fluffy one-shot guaranteed to make you feel warm in this rainy weather. Well, if you also come from where I am though – ingat tayo, mga kaibigan!

Grab a mug of your preferred hot beverage, and cozy up to this piece inspired by my favorite song from Neo Zone! 

Too bad there’s no GIF for that though, so please enjoy this aesthetically-pleasing one of what you should do right now. 

Mahal ko kayong lahat! :)

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POV: 3rd person since this is part of my recent writing before coronavirus made us its prisoners.

Word count: 1,200 + words 

Warning: This is fluffy as hell, and this is a Johnny/Essie piece before they got together. 

Recommended listening: Do I even need to say it? Stream Love Song, you guys! I repeated it over and over until I finished writing this. 

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Who would’ve thought that sharing an umbrella would spark something between two friends?

It was already the rainy season, and Johnny hated it. He didn’t like lugging around an umbrella, which he thought added unnecessary weight to his bag. He’d rather wear a cap instead, but knew that wouldn’t do anything to protect him from even the lightest of rains.

Essie, on the other hand, was alright with it. She was used to constant rains since it was the only other season she had in her home country. She was always equipped with a small umbrella inside her bag, and if the weather forecast reported that there would be heavy rains, she stuffed her parka into it as well.

The two were about to meet for their usual Starbucks hangout, but then it suddenly rained hard. Johnny groaned at how unfortunate this was, frowning at the large droplets that decorated his window.

Oh man, it’s raining. I hate it, he texted Essie, leaning against the wall and looking at the dreary landscape outside his apartment with disdain.

Aw, it’s fine. Just wear your raincoat and bring an umbrella. And don’t forget to waterproof your stuff too, just in case, was her reply a few seconds later, making him groan louder.

This woke up his roommate Mark, who was sleeping on the sofa. “Hey, what’s up, hyung?”

“Hey Mark, it’s raining. Essie and I are supposed to meet at Starbucks today,” Johnny replied, pointing to the window with his thumb.

“No wonder I feel like sleeping some more,” the younger guy mumbled, lying down on the couch again and wrapping himself in the thick blanket by his foot.

“Ugh, this sucks. I can’t stand the rain,” the older guy whispered to no one in particular, staring at his window until the rain started to calm down.

///

After a few more text exchanges, Essie decided to pick up Johnny at his apartment. You’re a big guy yet you can’t handle the rain, she messaged him, her annoyance evident in her tone.

Hey, what’s it to you? I really don’t like it, babe. I’m sorry I have to make you do this, but I promise, I’ll return the favor tenfold, he replied, rolling his eyes at how irate she sounded in her message.

Well, have you experienced getting your home flooded? I would get it if you have trauma because of that, but never mind. I’m already on my way, was her last message which he didn’t have anything to say back.

He has read the news that it is common for her home country to get flash floods during the monsoon season, which made him wonder if her house there has indeed been flooded before.

///

Essie arrived a few minutes past 2 p.m. and was completely dry (and cozy) in her olive green parka. She gave Johnny a silent wave once he opened the door.  

“Hey, baby,” he pulled her a bit closer to him and kissed the top of her head. “Thanks for doing this. I’ll make it up to you,” he hooked one arm around her waist and closed the small gap between them.

“Uh, thanks,” she mumbled, leaning her cheek against his shoulder. “But we better get a move on. The rain might get stronger soon..” She pried herself off him and took out the umbrella that she stuffed on the exterior pocket of her jacket.

When she opened it, Johnny laughed. “Essie, how will we fit in that?” The girl’s umbrella was good for one person, cramming two would result in one’s shoulders getting drenched.

“That’s why I said you should wear your parka,” she sighed, stepping away from his doorway. “Let’s go, Mr. Suh.”

///

Usually, it took them 10 to 15 minutes to walk to the nearest Starbucks. However, since it was raining, it felt like forever.

Essie insisted to be the one to hold the umbrella, despite hitting Johnny’s head numerous times with it. “Baby, please,” he grumbled, “let me hold the freaking umbrella. You know I can definitely cover both our heads with it without injuring the other.”

“This is part of my service to you, sir,” she replied, accidentally hitting his head again with the umbrella. “Sorry about that!” She giggled at the sight of her companion rubbing his head and making faces on how it hurt.

If he was being honest with himself, he wasn’t hurt by the times she hit his head repeatedly. He was enjoying every time their shoulders bumped into each other as they walked. He pretended to be hurt initially, but when he didn’t get a reaction from her, he let it slide and watched her intently as she held the umbrella as high as she could without losing her focus on the road.

If one of his shoulders kept hitting hers, the other was soaked. He was glad that he followed her advice and wore his parka. Although he felt cold on the outside because of his damp shoulder, his insides felt warm because of their proximity.

He wanted to slip his free hand into hers and give it a gentle squeeze as a way to show his appreciation. He was able to do so when Essie walked a bit too early for the pedestrian light to go green and was about to be hit by a motorcycle. He pulled her toward him before something bad happened, and both looked at each other in shock.

“Essie, be careful please,” he said softly while squeezing her hand.

“I’m sorry, John,” she replied in the same manner, her hand still in his.

As the pedestrian light went green, the two never let go of the other’s hand. Once they reached the other side, Johnny plucked the umbrella from Essie’s grip and held it. “Now let me, please,” he said, earning the nod of his friend.

They walked in silence toward Starbucks, which was only a few meters away. Both processed what just happened, and to an outsider’s perspective, their cheeks (and ears) were flushed.

Johnny thought that he was starting to like the rain better, minus the part that his best friend and secret crush was about to be hit by a motorcycle. Essie was convinced that sharing umbrellas can be a sweet (and cute) way for people to get together. Not that she’s expecting Johnny to court her soon, but she felt something in the way he held her hand when he pulled her toward him.

She took a glance at him, and he caught her. “Yes, baby?” He asked, flashing him a smile that made her cold heart warm.

“Thanks for, you know, saving me,” she said in a small voice before looking away. She felt her ears were burning at how flustered she was.

“Aw, no problem. You know I’ve always got your back,” his hand that held hers now moved around her waist and pulled her close to him. “And now we’re here.”

Both looked up at the logo of Starbucks above the door, and Essie got the umbrella from his other hand to close it. Johnny opened the door once that was done, and they took refuge in the warmth that their favorite coffee shop had to offer.

–––

FIN

Snippets from an Affair

The title already told you what you need to know, so before you continue, here’s Jaehyun for you to look at in that iconic suit he wore in the ‘Kick It’ MV. 

Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned. 

CHAROT! Anyway, you know the drill:

Mahal ko kayong lahat! :) 

–––

Summary: Take a glimpse of Essie and Jaehyun’s affair from the second day until the fifth. I’m not sure if I’ll consider these as completely canon, but I might write a mini-series on their rendezvous soon. 

POV: 2nd person again.

Word count: 1,300 + words

Warning: Baby’s revealing her first smut, and then another. Well, sort of. But there’s smut here, so you can skip that if you’re uncomfortable. 

Recommended listening: I mentioned two songs: The Internet’s ‘Give It Time’ and The Beatles’ ‘And I Love Her’. I think both will be Jaehyun-approved too! 

–––

When insomnia hits you, Jaehyun was one of the people you always called. You were all alone in the apartment, and you needed someone to talk to.

Good thing that your now-lover was there to keep you company since your boyfriend was out of town for a gig. Mark was abroad with Taeyong for a special project, leaving Jaehyun all by himself in his apartment as well.

It was the second day of your affair, and he decided to drive around the area after picking you up in your area. While one of his hands was on the steering wheel, the other held your hand. You chatted about everything as he drove, your eyes moving from him to the scenery outside.

Late-night drives made you feel warm despite the freezing air conditioning inside the car. You wished you could always do this with him, but you know that you couldn’t afford this with your situation.

“Darling, look. There’s a new café open there,” he pointed at a small but brightly-lit shop at the corner of a new building. “Want to try their offerings?”

You squeezed his hand in affirmation, which he stroked to mean that he got your message. As he parked the car nearby, he noticed that you kept on wrapping your arms around yourself. After all, you just wore a thin long-sleeved shirt and a mini skirt.

“Essie, take this,” he said softly, removing the hoodie that he wore. You took it wordlessly and slipped it on. “It looks good on you,” he commented, stroking the material of his jacket that seemed a bit baggy on you.

“Thanks for letting me borrow your hoodie, mon amour,” you said, tugging at the strings at the neck of his jacket. “I wasn’t prepared for a late-night drive like this.”

“Well, you should next time. And I don’t mind you wearing my jacket.” He grabbed your wrist and pulled you into a hug, which you reciprocated.

You didn’t mind that you hugged in the middle of the street at 3 in the morning. You stayed in that position for a bit until you felt him shuffling. You saw that he got his phone out of his jeans pocket and took a photo of you in an intimate position.

“Must you always take a picture every time?” You asked, amused at his boldness to take a picture of you together.

“Yes, mon amour,” he said, smiling. “Hey, I like the sound of that. I’ll call you that from now on.” He led you inside the new café wherein you were the only customers they had.

\\\

You never expected that your tryst with Jaehyun will turn out like this on the third day.

Playing in the background was The Internet’s ‘Give It Time’ as he planted kisses all over your body. You were in a swanky hotel room, and he had already stripped you down to your underwear. You wore your best lingerie as he took you out to a fancy dinner after work. He wore a suit and bow tie, while you wore a red dress with a high slit. It drove him crazy, and you felt his hands caressing your thigh throughout the dinner.

Now that you were back in your room, he went loose. Although he was already whispering the dirty things he’ll do to you in the elevator, nothing could compare to the beast he unleashed as he threw you on the bed and undressed you within seconds.

“I want to do you so bad, darling,” he moaned as he caressed your breasts. “Please,” you mouthed, your hands playing with the collar of his shirt. “May I?”

When you heard him say yes, you were quick to unbutton his shirt and his jacket. “I want to leave this on,” you purred as you tightened the bow tie on his neck. He let out a strangled cry when you tightened it a bit too much, making you bite your lip in excitement.

You unbuckled his belt and unzipped his pants, leaving him only in his boxer briefs. His bulge grew bigger when you used your teeth in pulling down his underwear, eliciting a loud moan from him. “Darling, be careful,” he hissed, berating you for using your teeth.

After all, the first time you did this, he was hurt when you grazed your teeth on his member. But you always thought that was sexy and decided to try again.

“Sorry, but I can’t help it.” You were on your knees, and you licked the tip of his member gently. He seemed to enjoy it until he grabbed your hair forcefully and pushed your head closer to his dick.

“Don’t be a tease, and take it all in,” he grunted, moving your head as you tried not to gag. He was getting bigger in your mouth, and you closed your eyes to relish the moment.

As the rhythmic slapping of his cock against your mouth continued, you peeked that his legs were becoming unsteady. “I’m about to cum, darling,” he said, his voice shaky from too much stimulation. You shut your eyes and anticipated his release. When it did come, you gulped it all in.

He slowly took out his dick from your mouth and watched you lick the remaining cum from your hand. “I’ve got enough protein now,” you giggled as you looked at him straight in the eyes. His sultry façade faded as he saw your reaction, and he bent down to your level to kiss your forehead.

“I’ll give you more of that, mon amour,” he said as he carried you to the bed. “I’m going to fill you up with my loving.”

\\\

In the week that you and Jaehyun had trysts, you realized how much of a boyfriend material he is on the fourth day.

As you cuddled on the couch at his place, he suddenly sang you an old love song. It was one of your favorites: ‘And I Love Her’ by The Beatles.

He looked at you in the eyes, arms wrapped around your waist, as he sang the song wholeheartedly.

She gives me everything

And tenderly

The kiss my lover brings

She brings to me

And I love her

You couldn’t help but smile at how romantic he was being and felt your cheeks flush as he swayed you in his embrace.

A love like ours

Could never die

As long as I

Have you near me

You poked the dimples that appeared on his face as he continued singing, which prompted him to squeeze you tighter.

Bright are the stars that shine

Dark is the sky

I know this love of mine

Will never die

And I love her

He kissed your forehead after he wrapped up the song. “I love you so much, darling,” he whispered.

You could only kiss his nose in response since you were afraid that you were falling hard for him as well.

\\\

Jaehyun never fails to mention that he gets extremely sweaty whenever you’re together. You remembered it the most when you fucked – you never wanted to call it making love since you knew you were sinning every time you did it – and you just wanted to dry him off with a towel.

“Mon amour, does it bother you?”

He asked after a round of sex on the fifth day of your affair. “What do you mean?” You tilted your body toward him, and he grabbed your forearm.

“I mean, look at me, darling,” he gestured at his naked sweaty body with his free hand, “I’m bothered by this. Aren’t you?”

You took the towel on the bedside table and wiped him on his neck first, then dabbed it down his torso. “I am, but I don’t want to think about that when you’re ramming your dick inside me, you know?” You chuckled, now wiping his arms.

“Sorry for that stupid question,” he laughed, grabbing the towel from you. “But I get sweaty so easily. I hope you wouldn’t be bothered by it in the long run.” He was now drying his legs with the soaked towel.

“Whoever chooses to be your partner shouldn’t be, mon cheri,” you kissed his now dry shoulder. “Because they should focus on your performance, as always.” With those words, you pinned him down and dominated the next round of sex.

–––

FIN

P.S. I wonder if you’ll get drunk every time you read their pretentious name-calling in French. Did you guys try it? 

Housemates (Ten)

Did you expect that I’m going to write about Ten? If not, then surprise! I have a soft spot for him, and here’s my take on him being Essie’s housemate. 

Mahal ko kayong lahat! :)

–––

Summary: This installment is inspired by this post, and one of the scenarios mentioned is inspired by an offhand comment I made that shocked my officemate because he never knew I had green humor. Yes, I take a lot of inspiration from everywhere – myself included. 

POV: 2nd person again. 

Word count: 1,300 + words

Warning: Okay, I have to be honest here – Ten might be a bit OOC because I pegged him as someone with a sassy personality that can come sometimes across as something else if you know what I mean. I edited out some parts that imply his alleged sexuality since I don’t want to fight anyone on that. I hope you understand, and please enjoy this piece! 

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When you lived with Ten for a week, it was a hell of a ride. Or trip, whatever the kids say these days.

Most of your friends said that the two of you are a terrible combination. Both of you couldn’t stop making green jokes to the point that people wanted to shut you up.

But most of the time, it was Ten who started it. That boy had one of the dirtiest minds, and you loved that side of him because if you were completely honest with yourself, you are a freaky bitch.

“I want some meaty barbecue on a long stick,” he said while you were eating at the dining table with Johnny, Jaehyun, Mark, and Doyoung. He even invited the four men to have dinner with you, so it’s not just the two of you bitches making goo-goo eyes at each other.

You and Mark almost choked on your zucchinis with his offhand comment while Johnny raised an eyebrow at him.

“Isn’t that meaty enough? I made sure to get the meatiest meat of them all,” the Korean-American eyed the barbecue he was eating, which Jaehyun observed as well.

“But what I got isn’t as meaty as yours!” Ten whined, frowning at the barbecue stick he was almost done eating.

“Teeeeen!” You groaned, your face flushed from the innuendo of his words. He gave you a smirk in response, and you felt your cheeks heat up even more.

“How about you, Mark? Is your barbecue stick meaty?” There was no stopping Ten now that he had been told to by no less than an ally.

The younger guy observed his stick and shrugged. “Just the right meatiness, I guess?” He said before taking a bite.

“Ah, that must taste good,” the Thai commented loud enough for you – and only you – to hear.

You kicked him under the table, and he returned it. “Damn bitch, slow down! I don’t want to die laughing because of your meaty barbecue,” you muttered.

He just laughed at your reaction as he got another barbecue stick to eat.

\\\

“What do you mean we can’t have fruits?!” You grumbled, still browsing the fridge for something to eat. Ten’s fridge was close to being bare, and he almost screeched at you for suggesting to have apples in his chiller.

“Girl, you should know by now that I hate fruits. Like, seriously.” He assumed a serious pose in front of you, hands folded in front of his chest.

“That’s a weird fear to have, but okay? So you fear even bananas then?” You closed the fridge and copied his position.

“If that’s a banana that isn’t yellow and green and comes in different sizes, then yes.”

“Is there any other banana that’s not yellow and green?”

He gave you a wink, and shame on you that you didn’t get what he meant right away.

“You are such a horny bastard, Chittaphon Leechaiyapornkul.”

Ten cackled at your response before he dragged you with him to the living room.

\\\

You pulled an all-nighter at Ten’s and was ready to call it a night (well, what else would you call it?).

However, the Thai stunner had other plans as he played some upbeat Top 40 song. “Girl, let’s have a dance battle! Whoever dances the most gets to skip all household chores!”

It was your third day staying in his place, and you have been assigned some chores by the host himself. To make your stay more fun and challenging, he decided to hold a dance battle at four in the morning.

“Chittaphon!” You groaned, but in the end, you were dancing along to the choreography of a Latin trap song with no effort at all.

In the end, Ten won – he knew all of the choreographies of each song. Of course, he would win – he set up the game for him to do so.

“You put me in a trap!” You shook him by the shoulders, and he was laughing at how much of a sore loser you were.

“Of course, dear! You’re in my court, so I get to make the rules here. So…” he looked around the apartment for something you can do for him, “please take out the trash.”

“I’ll get you for this, Chittaphoooon!” You swore, raising your fist in the air in annoyance. As always, Ten giggled at your amusing reaction.

\\\

In another similar moment, Ten disturbed you in the wee hours of the morning for something.

At first, he woke you at 2:45 a.m. asking for a phone charger. “But wait, isn’t your phone an Android one?” You asked, halting the search for your charger in your bag.

He looked at the socket of his phone and smiled sheepishly. “Oh yeah, it is. And you have an Apple charger, right?”

You nodded, and he laughed awkwardly, embarrassed that he had to shake you in bed for a charger that’s not even compatible with his phone.

“But can you help me look for it then?” He used his cute voice, which made it hard for you to say no. “Damn you Ten, you owe for me this,” you grumbled as you got up from the bed, helping him find his phone charger in his apartment.

\\\

The third time that he had to ruin your peaceful sleep was when he lost his glasses. It was almost 5 a.m., and he was whining about where he had put it.

“Essie, my sweet girl! I need my glasses! Please help me find them,” he pleaded, almost kneeling in front of you.

“Where did you last put them? Do you remember where?” You asked as you put on your slippers.

“I forgot, I’m sorry! But I really need them! I can barely see anything,” he said while holding your wrist. He led the way on the search for his glasses, his other hand free for touching any surface they come across.

“You know, I’m blind as a bat too when I don’t have my glasses on. So next time, please remember to take care of them!” You decided to lead the search instead of him since you wore yours.

“Yes, Essie noona,” he said too sweetly, making you roll your eyes. “Don’t call me that, Chittaphon. Don’t remind me I’m old.”

“But you said you’re as blind as a bat without glasses, so I presume you’re a dusty old bat with them.”

“Chittaphoooon!”

\\\

When you and Ten stepped out of the house for some shopping, you were a bit annoyed that he relegated you to be his photographer.

“At least you’re not the one carrying these bags, girl,” he huffed, raising the paper bags that he carried in one hand. “Just take photos of me, and I’ll carry your bags in return.”

“Whatever you say, bitch. Now, can you please fix your pose?” You directed him to lean toward the column and give his best Greek sculpture pose.

Once he did, you took multiple snaps. “Yes, yes…work it, uh-huh…that’s fabulous!” Your comments were honey to his ears – he loved getting complimented for his modeling.

“Can I look at my pics?” You handed him his phone back and scrutinized the shots you took. “Oh my, I look gorgeous,” he gushed, sliding through each photo with a smile on his face. “Let’s look for another location at this mall.”

You rolled your eyes at his comment but grinned anyway. You were flattered that he loved your photos. Maybe you should get back into photography, so you and Johnny can bond more through the hobby.

After all, things were looking peachy for the both of you. It seems there is a possibility that you can take your friendship a bit further, but of course, Ten has to know if you and Johnny end up together.

Ah, such feelings complicate friendships, but that shouldn’t ruin them completely. You hoped that Ten would still be okay with you if you admitted that you had a crush one of his closest friends.

–––

FIN

Sugar and Fluff (Volume 2)

Here’s a follow-up to the first installment of this mini series, which features Johnny and Essie struggling with their feelings for each other. 

There’s also the special participation of NCT 127′s resident bunny, Kim Doyoung! What is he up to there?

He ain’t dancing to Elevator (127F) with Johnny, that’s for sure! Read on, and let me know what you think! 

Mahal ko kayong lahat! :)

–––

POV: 3rd person since two of these are some of my recent writing during this quarantine period. The last one, however, was written last year.

Word count: 2,300 + words 

–––

I. Inspired by an Instagram post that speculated Doyoung is dating someone, and I'm sorry I couldn't remember the exact post

It didn’t take long for Essie to figure out that Doyoung was dating someone.

Not that she liked him to that extent, but she felt that he had a lighter aura around him. He was usually sulky with his arms crossed over his chest, looking at everything with disdain. Although once you get to know him, he is far from what he shows in public.

This time though, he smiled and laughed more. He wasn’t shy to show off his gummy smile, which was one of the things his fans love about him.

“Yeah, Essie. I am seeing someone,” he told her while they waited for Johnny to pick up their orders at Starbucks. It has become a ritual for the three friends to hang out at the famous coffee shop after their schedules. Essie feigned shock by mouthing an ‘O’ and placing a hand over the edge of her lips. “Really now,” she replied, her eyes scanning for their friend still waiting on the counter.  

“Yeah, believe it or not. I never thought I’d end up dating,” Doyoung chuckled, playing with the hem of his sleeves. He wore an oversized sweatshirt and a pair of slim-fitting jeans, looking like every girl’s boyfriend. “Congratulations, dude,” she shook his hand, which he took gratuitously. “Thank you, Ms. Park, I hope you do end up dating someone soon,” he replied, tightening his hold on her hand.

“What’s that supposed to mean, Kim Dongyoung?” She raised an eyebrow at him before retracting her hand from his grip.

It was good timing for Johnny to enter the scene with their drinks. “One hot green tea for you,” he handed Doyoung his beverage, “and a sickeningly sweet White Chocolate Mocha for this girl,” he rolled his eyes at Essie who stuck her tongue out in response before grabbing the drink from him. “Okay then, we’ve got all our drinks. How’s everyone doing?” The Korean-American glanced at them both before slurping on his iced Americano noisily.

“He told me he’s seeing someone,” the only girl in the table said, pointing her finger at Doyoung. “Oh, you only told her now, dude?” Johnny’s eyes widened at her statement. “Yeah, it’s not as if I’ve told everyone of this already,” the younger guy mumbled, blowing off the steam that came from his cup.

“Who else knows of this status change, Doyoung?” Essie asked, wrapping a tissue around her drink before sipping on it. “Well, all the band members and you.” He sighed in relief when there was no more steam coming from his drink.

“Okay then…but why do you think I should date someone soon?” She brought back the question that he hoped she would forget.

“You told her that?” Johnny acted as the audience to their conversation, his over-the-top reactions eliciting some looks from other tables.

“I mean, you’re a great girl, you get along well with guys, and I’m sure one of us probably has a crush on you,” Doyoung’s response caught the two off guard. Essie’s face flushed to the point that she had to sip on her drink to cool her down. Johnny, on the other hand, coughed into his drink and looked away from his tablemates.

“Dude, is that for real? One of you likes me that way?” The girl almost choked on her question after she recovered from her momentary shame.

“Yeah, that’s what I think. One of us likes you a lot. As in. I can feel it…” Doyoung glanced at his hyung carefully, who buried his face in his hands in embarrassment. “Oh, stop it Kim Dongyoung!” Johnny whined, making his friends laugh.

Of course, Doyoung knows that Johnny likes Essie. He was the first to know of his feelings toward the girl, and the more the three of them hung out, he noticed how sweeter and kinder he is to her (than to him).

That does not mean that he dated someone so he could get ahead of the two, who he thought were moments away from admitting to each other. Unfortunately, it took them weeks before they got together. He dated because he felt that this girl that he met was perfect for him, and the girl felt the same. He happened to be in a good place at a good time. He wished that his friends would get together soon because he might not take the tension they sometimes had.

Essie, during this time, was still unsure of her feelings for Johnny. They became close over a short period and sometimes, she feared that they could end their friendship in the same way. She didn’t want to ruin their dynamic since she thought that they were doing fine as it is. Although she felt tempted to touch or kiss him in return, she had to fight it because she didn’t want history to repeat itself. Some of the guys that she liked disappeared because she would reciprocate their sweet gestures, when in fact, they didn’t like it. That was a confusing period in her life, which she didn’t want to bring back.

Johnny is both similar and dissimilar to Essie. They are similar in the sense that they didn’t want to ruin their friendship. They are dissimilar because he is sure of his feelings for her while she is still contemplating on it. He wasn’t shy to show how affectionate he can be – he held her hand, wiped away excess food or smudged lipstick from her face, hugged her often, and even kissed her on the forehead or cheek. He wanted her to pick up on his actions, hoping that she would feel the same as him. There were instances that he saw (or felt) it, but most of the time he saw her struggling. He feared that struggle might lead to the termination of their friendship, which was one of the things he feared in life. He’s that whipped for her, man.

As the three regained their momentum and talked about their day, their eyes told of different stories. Doyoung was observant as always, still betting on the possibility they’ll confess to each other before the month ends (and hoping to win against Haechan and Taeil). Essie looked at each guy dreamily, wondering how the former was with his girlfriend and how Johnny will be with his future partner. Johnny’s honey eyes were focused on Essie, who he caught looking at him longingly. When he winked at her, she slapped his arm and flipped him the bird. Their tablemate laughed at their interaction, his mind thinking of ways on how he can get the two to admit their feelings sooner.

\\\

II. Inspired by Johnny's claim on NNN that he’s good at giving massages

“I’m so tired,” Essie grumbled one night after having dinner with Johnny. The two housemates hung out at the couch, still thinking on how to cap off the week. Tomorrow was a Saturday, which meant they could sleep in as long as they wanted. “Do you want to rest now?” Johnny asked, looking up briefly from his phone. The girl shook her head and buried herself deeper into the couch. “My back hurts since Wednesday. I have one of those things you sit on to help with your back, but I don’t think it’s helping at all,” she said, massaging the part of her back that she could reach with one hand.

“Oh, would you like a massage?” His eyes lightened up at his suggestion as he almost jumped on her part of the couch. “I’m great at giving massages,” he bragged, “and if you’re not convinced, you can ask Eomma about it.”

Essie raised an eyebrow at him. “You want me to text your mom about your massage skills? Hey, I trust you enough to give me a good one. So, get into it,” she grabbed his phone to place it on the coffee table and stuck her tongue at him.

“But I suggest you take a shower first, so after I give you a massage, you’ll have a good night’s sleep.” His advice was taken well by his subject, who now stood up to retrieve her towel from her bedroom. “And before I forget, do you have any essential oil you prefer?”

“Lavender, please. I want to sleep well after this hellish week. Thank you,” With that, Essie disappeared into the bathroom to wash away some of her stresses.

\\\

She returned to the sofa in her pajamas while Johnny changed into a muscle shirt and boxer shorts. “Ready for your massage, madame?” He asked, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.

“Oh, John! Please don’t give me any ideas!” She retorted, her face flushing with the wink he just gave her. “But yes, I am ready for my massage, monsieur.” She positioned herself on the sofa with her back facing him.

“Do you mind if I…” His hands slid over the edge of her pajama top, and she gave him a thumbs-up. “Okay, baby, if that’s what you say,” he mumbled as he raised her shirt just below her bust line.

“Thank you for offering to do this, Johnny,” she said, her voice muffled by the pillow beneath her.

“Anything for my cute but grumpy housemate,” he said cheerily before coating his hands with essential oil. “Get ready to experience my magic.”

\\\

After massaging her back for thirty minutes, Essie fell asleep. Johnny sensed it when he heard her softly snoring and caught her with her mouth a bit open. “A few minutes from now, she’s going to drool on that pillow,” he said softly before snickering.

“My princess, I’ll just be here on the other couch and watch over you,” he continued in the same tone before plopping carelessly on the seat across hers.

“Okay, thanks. Love you,” she mumbled, burying her face deeper into the pillow.

He tried his best to contain his laughter (and giddiness with what he heard) by biting his lip. “Love you too,” he replied loud enough for her to hear. When he didn’t hear anything else other than her soft snoring, he took out his phone and opened his Notes app to type out his thoughts.

I can’t help but fall in love with her more. I never know what to expect from her, and it makes life interesting. I hope she feels the same way, or else I don’t know what to do with myself.

\\\

III. Inspired by his stint in Lipstick Prince

“Can I do your makeup, Essie?” Johnny’s question startled the girl, who just finished putting on her primer.

The six-footer barged into her room as she was getting dressed. Good thing she wore a bathrobe – she was usually naked or in her underwear when she did her makeup.

“Come again?” She raised an unmade eyebrow at him, hoping she wasn’t hearing things. “I want to do your makeup!” His voice sounded girlish, and he also did a cute pose to convince her further.

“What for? Do you want to film a challenge with my face?” Essie sounded annoyed at the thought of being used for his videos.

“No, it’s not that! But maybe someday,” he coughed over that last part, “but now, I just want to. I feel like doing someone’s face.”

“Why not do it on your face then?” The girl was feeling snappy now as she searched for her brow pen in a pink cup.

“But I don’t have that much makeup, baby. Please, let me do your face!” He whined. She shot him a glare, which he replied by kneeling in front of her. “I am confident that you’ll like what I’ll do.”

“Is that so? Fine, let’s get it.” She twirled her chair in front of him and even spread her arms to show her compliance.

He rubbed his hands excitedly as he approached her. “But first, where are we going?”

“I’m going to have some tea time with my friends,” she deadpanned. “I’m wearing that dress,” she pointed at a forest green dress with a delicate flower print, “and those shoes.”

Johnny gasped when she pointed at the pair of black velvet ankle boots beside her hamper. “Very Stevie Nicks in the fall, baby. I love it!” He clapped his hands together in excitement and looked at the items on her dresser. “So, should I start now?”

“Yeah, you should. I only have,” Essie glanced at her watch, “45 minutes left before I need to get going. So please, do my face now.” She patted her cheeks for emphasis, and he gave her a salute before he got busy pulling out her drawers for makeup to use.

\\\

Essie was impressed with his work. Sure, he was no pro, and she helped him out a bit, but he did a great job with her eyeliner.

“You know I suck doing my eyes,” she said, admiring the thick cat eyeliner he created. “But you made me look like I’ve got my shit together. Merci beaucoup!”

He laughed at her comment as he observed his work again. They decided to do dramatic eyes with a minimal lip, as well as a dewy but flawless base.

“Thank you too that you trusted me to do your face today, baby,” he said, wrapping his arms around her shoulders. “I did 75% of the job anyway,” she muttered, making the guy huff in front of the mirror.

“But it’s the thought that counts! At least I can do makeup for you…”

“Or for any girl, really. I’m not the only one you can do this too, you know.”

“But I want it to be only you.”

The two stared at each other in the mirror, Johnny’s arms still wrapped around her.

“I’m not your doll, John. And don’t even say that I look like one.”

He sighed in defeat and let go of her. “Fine. But my sentiments remain the same.”

She was unsure of how to continue this conversation further, so she checked her phone on the table. “Okay, I have 10 minutes left to get dressed, so Johnny, please step out of the room now.” She shooed him with her hand, which he rolled his eyes at.

“How are you getting there?”

“I’m taking Uber or Lyft, whichever’s cheaper.”

“Let me drive you there. Please?” This time, he didn’t have to use a cutesy voice to persuade her.

“Okay, that’s one offer I won’t resist,” she smiled briefly before it was replaced with a scowl a second later. “Now, please let me get dressed.”

–––

FIN

Conflicted

So, I never thought that it would come to this. I do not tolerate this action due to family history, but I don’t know what came over me. Maybe I was overpowered by this guy’s charms that I just had to write something like this. 

To know more what I’m talking about, read on. I won’t even give a summary because I want you guys to know what’s up with this. 

And here’s the devil, erm, Jeong Jaehyun looking like a full-course meal even if he’s just serving face to hype you up. 

Mahal ko kayong lahat! :) 

–––

POV: 2nd person still. 

Word count: 1,900 + words 

Genre: Romance, with a dash of fluff and a bit of angst. A well-balanced meal, if I should say so myself. 

Warning: Read until the bottom of this page, and you’ll get what you’re going to read, maybe next post or some other time. 

–––

You felt conflicted whenever Jaehyun was near you.

Although he was your boyfriend’s ex-roommate, there were times that he would hang out at your apartment to catch up with him.

After all, they used to work together as radio DJs. They had a nightly program that you always tuned to before. You and Johnny were still best friends then, and you know you would be frustrated if he still had his program now that you’re together. You two won’t have the time to cuddle, because he would be working and you would wake up with him asleep on the couch.

As you watched Johnny and Jaehyun converse at the dining table, you couldn’t help but observe the younger guy. He was a Disney prince in real life – creamy white skin, immaculately dressed, and with great hair to boot. He also had a beautiful voice that everyone, regardless of age and gender, would fall for.

Those reasons made you feel weird because you’re already in a relationship with one of the most handsome men you know, but at the same time, you couldn’t keep your eyes off him sometimes.

Why am I even thinking of this? You thought as you tied your hair up in a bun to focus on your sideline. It has been a hot minute since you edited textbooks, and sometimes they amused you because some manuscripts contained hilarious content from idiotic authors.

You were already halfway editing the textbook when you felt someone tap your shoulder. You turned around to see Jaehyun, smiling with his adorable dimples on display.

“Hi Essie, it’s time to eat,” he said gently before he went back to the dining table. You followed suit since you didn’t say no to an invitation to eat. You saw that the guys prepared Korean barbecue, which you have been craving as of late.

“Wow, samgyupsal! I missed this!” You cooed, eyeing all the side dishes that you haven’t eaten in months. “I know you’ve been craving for this, baby. I hear you looking for samgyupsal in your sleep,” Johnny said, eliciting a chuckle from Jaehyun.

You glared at your boyfriend who just gave you a heart sign and winked when you raised your fist at him. Your guest was laughing at your interaction, entertained how one of his best friends bantered with his girlfriend.

As the three of you dug in, you talked about everything – from the weather, your music playlists (to be honest, you liked Jaehyun’s taste more than Johnny’s), your upcoming plans, and even your relationships.

“Uh, can someone please pass me the kimchi?” You asked, your hand trying to reach the bowl of said food across the table. It was Jaehyun who handed you the bowl, and you almost dropped it when your fingers touched.

“Sorry,” you both muttered, giving timid looks at each other. Johnny noticed your interaction and raised his eyebrows.

“Babe, what’s this? You’re shy of Jeong Jaehyun?” He asked, even stamping his feet for effect. You could tell that he was both curious and annoyed – curious that you felt that way and annoyed that maybe your feelings for him weren’t that strong as he thought.  

“B-but…” you started, your eyes meeting Jaehyun’s for a moment before you turned to your boyfriend. “He’s too handsome, just like you…” Your voice was so soft that you felt you were the only one who heard it.

There was a moment of silence before Jaehyun cleared his throat. You and Johnny looked at him, which made him flustered. His ears were practically red now.  

“Baby, I know he’s too handsome for this world, but I hope you’re not falling for him,” Johnny said monotonously, trying his best not to sound jealous.

On your part, you appreciated his honesty. That was one of the things you loved about him – his brutally frank comments helped you with your problems most of the time.

However, you also enjoyed how he seemed jealous of your budding crush on his friend, who now covered his face with his hands. “Please stop looking at me,” Jaehyun mumbled while peeking from the small spaces in between his fingers.

“Of course not, darling! You’re still my number one,” your attention was directed to Johnny this time, “but I have to be honest that Jaehyun is such a stunner that I can’t help but look at him sometimes,” you ended by taking a glance at the guy on your right.

The nerve of this guy to wink at you at this moment! You felt your body heat up at this, and you clenched your utensils tightly to fight it off.

“Jaaaaay! Don’t make her fall in love with you! She should be in love with me, and only me!” Johnny was whining like a baby, and the tension that enveloped the table earlier vanished.

You and Jaehyun laughed at how the 6-footer was acting. “Don’t worry, she won’t. Right, Essie? You’ll try your best not to fall in love with me?” The prince-like guy gave you another wink again and blew you a brief kiss.

You laughed in return, flushing red at the attention you were getting. “Hey, you’re totally trying to steal her from me!” Johnny quipped, whose long arm grabbed your wrist so you can focus your attention on him.

“I’m the only one you love, right?” He changed his voice to a sultry one and he gave you The Look. You felt your heart flutter and your insides became warmer. Ah, he still got you every time he did that.

“Yes, honey,” you murmured, shyly looking at his face. “You’re the one that I love.”

Jaehyun began to sing Shania Twain’s ‘You’re Still The One’, and Johnny followed suit. Then all of you sang the song until the end and burst into laughter at how funny (and flirty) you felt for the past few minutes.

After eating, Johnny had to take care of some errands, leaving you and Jaehyun alone in the apartment. “Don’t you even dare, Jeong Yoon-oh,” your boyfriend threatened, which you and your companion did not take seriously. “Don’t try to do anything to my girl,” were his last words before he left the house.

\\\

If there was one word to describe your situation after Johnny left, it was awkward.

You were seated on the end of the couch with a pillow on your stomach as you busily scrolled through your social media feed. On the opposite end was Jaehyun, who was also doing the same.

You could hear the videos he was playing, and you bet he could hear you mutter something under your breath. That was one quirk of yours whenever you scrolled through your Twitter feed – you had to comment on people’s tweets audibly first before responding to them on the app.

“You’re such a hoe, bitch,” you mumbled as you also typed it as your response. You were commenting on Ten’s latest post, which was an outtake on one of his shoots. He looked like a Renaissance painting that came to life with his velvet suit, silk ruffled shirt, and jeweled shoes.

“Who’s a hoe, Essie?” Jaehyun asked, melting you with his stare.

“It’s definitely not you!” You responded, cheeks red from embarrassment. You didn’t mean for him to hear your comment – you made a mental note to correct your quirk, so people don’t question you.

He laughed at your reaction and moved closer to where you were seated. “Then who are you calling a hoe then?”

You leaned back against the couch, hoping that there will be more space you could back out into. “It’s only Ten that I call as such, and it’s our thing,” you said, raising your phone to your face to cover how flushed it was.

“Really? You and Ten have a thing? Does Johnny know of this?” With every word he spoke, he moved closer to you.

“Not like that, dude! Ten’s one of my closest friends now. And you know he won't do something that will make Johnny angry, right?”

This stopped Jaehyun from approaching you, and it was his time to lean back on the sofa. “Oh, is that so?” he rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

When you thought that he was done from crawling toward you, he surprised you when he wrapped his arms around your waist.

You squealed as he tickled you on the sides, on your knee, and his hands crept up on your neck.

“Jaaaaaay! Stop that!” You said in between panting, getting tired from laughing. You were pushing him away, but he easily overpowered you with his strength.

“No, Essie, I don’t want to! Say the magic word,” he said while staring at you with all his might.

Time slowed, and you took in how intent he was on making you say the magic word – what was it, anyway?

“Please?” You breathed, returning the stare he gave you. “Please, darling,” you tried again, your voice breathier than usual.

He loosened his hold on you, but he didn’t let go. “Do I need to repeat myself?” You asked, your hands ready to untangle yourself from him.

“Darling, you make me feel conflicted,” he said with the most painful expression on his face. It was a mixture of sadness and struggle, a combination that was indeed painful to see on anyone.

“Are you for real, Jaehyun?” You raised an eyebrow, hoping it masked how shocked you were with his words. You hoped you sounded scandalized to make him stop what he was doing.

“Essie, I like you. A lot. It pains me that I was never able to make a move on you first,” he said, tilting his body toward yours. He now had a loving expression on his face, making your heart melt.

“But why now?” You could feel the tears pooling at the corner of your eyes.

Come to think of it, Jaehyun was always nice when you hung out with Johnny before. He never teased you – he was actually very sweet and was always on your side. There were times he held your hand, and you let him since you two were good friends.

And how could you forget that he used to kiss your cheek every time you said your farewell? It was not just your cheeks touching – he really pressed his lips lightly on your cheek.

But best friends trump good friends, and eventually, you weren’t able to maintain your closeness once you spent more time with Johnny instead.

“I’m sorry, Essie. I don’t know what to do,” he slowly unhooked his arms on you, “I’m such a fool for coming here. Now I’m confused,” he ran his hands through his hair and looked distressed.

“I’m sorry too, Jay. But if you must know, I like you a lot too,” you said while fiddling with your thumbs.

“Essie, you’re making me more confused,” He sounded annoyed now. “I don’t want to ruin your relationship with John, I know how much he loves you.”

“But does he know that you…like me too?” As much as it made you cringe, you just had to ask him that.

His answer surprised you. “He doesn’t, and I intend to keep it that way.”

This was a plot twist that made your love life more complicated – even though you already have Johnny, you had Mark trying his best to woo you, and now Jaehyun has joined ‘the group chat’, as the kids would say.

“So, what do you plan to do then?” The question came out of your mouth without any thinking, which you now regret.

“Do you want to sin with me?” The way he delivered it sent shivers down your spine. It felt as if you were talking to the devil, only he was clad in a sweater and black jeans.

From that day until the following week, you and Jaehyun had your trysts.

–––

FIN

Couple Things (Part I)

I know this can be a part of the Sugar and Fluff series, but it’s quite long to be a part of the compilation. Hence, another mini-series is born that focuses on Johnny and Essie’s life as a couple. 

How can she, or anyone else, not resist the charms of this giant cutie? Right? As always...

Mahal ko kayong lahat! :)

–––

Summary: This piece is inspired by another prompt, which I’m not sure if it came from the fluff generator or a friend of mine. It goes like this:

Essie is sick with a cold and can't sleep. Johnny wakes up from Essie’s twisting and turning and has to entertain Essie somehow until they fall asleep.

POV: 3rd person because I believe I wrote it earlier this year. 

Word count: 1,200 + words

Warning: Although this piece was written before the coronavirus outbreak, I do not recommend sleeping with your partner or loved one when you are sick. Please do not follow Essie even if she has a drop-dead gorgeous boyfriend. 

Recommended listening: I will list down the songs mentioned in the story, which I hope you’ll like. 

–––

Essie insisted to sleep beside Johnny even though she was sick.

“It’s just the colds, nothing serious,” she grumbled, lying down on the right side of his bed. “But baby, it can be if you don’t recover from it soon,” was the reply of her boyfriend who looked down at her from the foot of the bed.

The girl snorted before burying herself in the blanket. “Whatever, I’ll sleep here,” she said, shimming herself further into the soft fabric on top of her.

Johnny groaned at his girlfriend’s reaction before he went to his side of the bed. He made sure there was a reasonable distance between them because he didn’t want to get sick as well.

As much as he wanted Essie to sleep in her bed and check on her from time to time, she insisted that she’ll sleep beside him so he wouldn’t be standing up now and then just to see how her condition is.

“I don’t want to be a burden, so I’ll just sleep beside you. I’ll keep a respectable distance, so you don’t get sick too,” she chuckled, flashing him a small smile.

He wasn’t able to respond as she grabbed her medicine, water tumbler, and blanket from her room and placed it on his right bedside table.

\\\

It was two in the morning that Johnny realized he couldn’t sleep properly. Essie kept on twisting and turning on her side of the bed to the point that she was about to fall.

Once he heard a loud thud on the floor, he got up immediately and saw his girlfriend tangled in her blanket.

At first, Essie didn’t react, but when she rolled towards the cabinet, she hit her head against a stray shoe, and she cried in pain.

Johnny stifled his laughter at the scene but shook his head afterward to get back to what he was supposed to do. He picked up Essie from the floor, dusted off her blanket and body from germs, and placed her back on her side of the bed.

As he did so, he heard her mumbling something. “What is it, baby?” he whispered, looking at her face that was mostly obscured by her curls.

“Thank you, daddy,” she mumbled, raising her arms in the air before curling them around his neck.

“So, I’m daddy now?” he chuckled, brushing her hair away from her face. He frowned when he saw how red it was and how sweat pooled on the corners of her forehead and temple.

“Baby, do you feel sticky?” He slipped his hand underneath the blanket and felt for her back. It was damp with sweat. “Oh no, you need to change your shirt.”

The girl groaned before she sat up on the bed. “Can I borrow a shirt, please?”

Johnny was quick to answer her question by plucking a clean shirt from his closet. He handed it to her, and she gestured him to turn around as she changed her shirt. A few seconds later, the sweaty shirt was discarded on the floor, and Essie buried herself deep into the comforter again.

He sighed at the sight of his girlfriend still wiggling under her blanket, thinking that it was better to take care of her when she slept on her bed.

\\\

At 3:30 in the morning, Essie was staring at the ceiling and humming to herself.

She found it hard to sleep again after Johnny picked her up from the floor. She glanced at her boyfriend, who was able to sleep after that incident. But after checking up on him for the fifth time, she was surprised when she saw him looking back at him.

“Youngho!” She cried, slapping his forearm, “Don’t scare me like that.”

“Why are you not asleep?” He asked, his eyes never leaving her face.

“I find it hard to sleep again after I fell. Thanks for picking me up again, by the way,” he acknowledged her words with a nod, “But now I can’t sleep. Sorry if I woke you up. Was I humming too loud?”

“It’s fine. So, how do I make you fall asleep again?”

“Why do you want me to sleep, John?”

“Essie, you need it so you can get better quickly. Don’t be such a brat.”

The girl whined and kicked her legs on the bed as her response. The guy rolled his eyes first before facing his girlfriend seriously. “Baby…” he said lowly, one of his hands gripping her forearm.

“Please make me fall asleep then,” was her calm and collected demand.

Oh, brother. This is going to be hard, he thought, removing his hand from her arm.

“What do you want me to do then?” He started to peel off the blanket from her upper body so he could see more of her.

“The usual, with some singing,” she chirped, clapping her hands together in glee. He moved closer to her – damn it if he gets sick later or on some other day – and ran his hand through her hair.

Essie closed her eyes as Johnny detangled the knots from her hair with his hand. He saw her smiling as he massaged her scalp, leaning her face closer to his hand. She closed her eyes as her cheek pressed against his palm, contented with his action.

He couldn’t help but smile at her reaction and used his free hand to caress the sides of her face. It was warmer than usual (since she was sick), and he pressed a gentle kiss on her forehead.

“Please sing for me, my love,” she mumbled after his cool lips left her.

He thought for a moment, stroking his chin and looking up at the window across him. The girl peeked at him, and he caught her looking. “Essie!” He whined, squeezing her sides gently before he laid down on the bed again.

Johnny sang his version of The Beatles’ ‘Martha My Dear’ by replacing the name with hers.

Hold your head up, you silly girl

Look what you’ve done

When you find yourself in the thick of it

Help yourself to a bit of what’s around you

Silly girl

He heard her giggle, making him peck her on the nose. “That song fits you well,” he commented after he was done.

“Hmph, that song was about Paul McCartney’s dog,” she said, opening her eyes to look at him. “More, please?”

Johnny was in deep thought again as he tapped her outer thigh. Essie closed her eyes again, and this time, she felt sleep was finally beckoning to her.

For his second song, he didn’t sing – he did his version of Yo La Tengo’s ‘Our Way to Fall’. It was technically a song but the lyrics were done in a spoken word manner instead of being sung.

So try and try even if it lasts an hour

With all our might, try and make it ours

Cause we’re on our way

We’re on our way to fall in love

He felt sleepy when he was about to recite the last verse. But he persevered until he reached the last word. When he did, he heard Essie softly snoring with her mouth slightly ajar.

The baby princess brat has finally succumbed to slumber.

He sighed in relief and gently removed his hand from her face. When she didn’t wake, he shut his eyes and drifted off immediately.

–––

FIN