MK (Part I)

MK (Part I)

As promised, here’s another Mark post to make up for that brief birthday piece that didn’t get to highlight him that much.

I’ll try my best to post a lot of Mark content since it’s his birthday month, so stay tuned. 

Let the GIF below remind you of that. By the way, this is one of my favorite looks on him! Don’t you all agree?

Mahal ko kayong lahat! :)

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Summary: This piece was inspired by one of the prompts in @neoculturedrabbles​ list: 

Prompt #20: “What did you do this time?”

POV: 2nd person since I wrote this late last year. 

Word count: 749 words

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“Essie noonaaaaa!” It was the first thing you heard from Mark when he called you up late in the afternoon.

You just woke up from your nap and was about to start a relaxing day doing nothing, but the younger guy had to call you after drinking a glass of lukewarm lemon water.

“Yes, Mark? What can I do for you?” Your voice sounded hoarse, and you cleared your throat, so you sound better.

“I need your help, like, right now. Please. I really need you.” You sensed the fear in his voice, and you held onto your comforter tighter.

“What did you do this time?” Your voice could not hide the exasperation you felt at his call.

You should know by now that when he calls you with a whiny voice, he is up to no good.

“I forgot my wallet at home. I’m with Haechan, and you know how he is, he doesn’t bring a wallet when he’s with his hyungs,” you heard a sharp objection from his dongsaeng, “so can you please bring it here? You know how it looks like, right?”

You sighed, remembering his beat-up leather wallet that could’ve belonged to your uncle. “Yes, Mark. I know what your wallet looks like. Because I’m delivering it to wherever you and Donghyuck are eating, you have to treat me.”

It was his turn to sigh now but in defeat. “Okay, Essie noona. I got you. I’m really sorry I had to disturb you…”

“It’s fine, Mark. As long as you treat me to my fave cake and coffee, we’re good.”

The next thing you heard was Haechan laughing diabolically in the background before you hung up.

///

An hour after he called, you were on your way to the restaurant with his wallet. It felt heavy, and you wondered what it contained.

As you opened the door to the restaurant, you saw Haechan waving at you excitedly. You returned his wave in the same manner, making Mark sink deeper into his seat.

“Here you go, Mark Lee,” you said, handing his wallet before sitting down beside him. “Please don’t forget this every time you step out of the house, okay?”

He bowed in apology after getting the wallet, his face almost hitting the floor. “I’m really sorry, Essie noona,” he then looked at the guy across him, “but this one’s nagging me to hurry up a while ago, and I forgot to bring this in return!”

Haechan looked away, whistling a particular tune. You laughed at their interaction before you patted Mark on his shoulder.

“You should already expect that when you’re with him, okay?” You glanced at the blond boy, who gave you his trademark wink-and-hand-check pose.

Mark could only grumble in response, carefully fishing out bills out of his wallet.

///

After he paid for the meal he and Haechan ate, it was your turn to be treated.

You walked alongside the hyperactive boy, who you did a secret handshake with when he stood up from his seat. It took a minute and a lot of hype sounds (e.g., a lot of ‘hey’s’ and ‘get it’), making Mark embarrassed and amused at your thing.

“Hey, how come I don’t have like that with any of you?” He asked, raising an eyebrow at both of you.

“’Cause you’re not cool enough?” Haechan replied in his usual sassy way, eliciting giggles out of you. “And you’re always out, dude. How can we have a special handshake when you’re not here?” You added, planting your hands on your hips.

Your housemate pouted, defeated again with your ‘teamwork.’ “Haechan and I have become close over the past few months too,” you said softly, glancing at the guy beside you who responded with a bashful smile.

“I’m sorry that I’m always out, you know I don’t have much control with my schedule,” Mark mumbled, digging his hands deeper into his pockets. “But anyway, let’s have cake and coffee. My treat.”

You and Haechan exchanged your special high fives and screeched in delight. “Oh yeah! Mark’s treating us!”

“Guys, please. Stop doing that. It’s embarrassing,” your housemate whispered as he walked faster and farther from you.

Haechan, who was taller than you, hooked an arm around your shoulder and walked animatedly beside you. His energy was infectious, and you followed suit, later on singing a Queen song as you trailed the person who was going to treat you to dessert.

–––

FIN

Two Birthdays

I wrote this piece today in honor of today’s birthday celebrators, one of which NCTzens should know by heart. 

Mark Lee has been my gateway to the world of NCT, and now I am fully immersed in it. Well, not so much with the Dreamies but I appreciate them.

Then, who’s the other one celebrating their birthday? I guess you have to find out who! Johfam knows – don’t embarrass me, guys.

As always, I put a GIF to hype you up – here’s Marky with black hair, which is the best color on him. 

Mahal ko kayong lahat! :) 

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Summary: This piece is dedicated to Mark Lee and Mama Suh, who share the same birth date of August 2. Johnny and Essie prepare something for them, and then get emotional at the end. Aren’t they such attention-hogging drama queens? 

POV: 3rd person as usual. 

Word count: 1,160 words 

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August 2 is an important day for Johnny Suh – not only is it the birthday of his dearest eomma, but it was also the special day of his bro Mark Lee.

Since Essie Park has been living with the two boys for quite some time now, those days have also become important to her. She loves both of them – Johnny is her boyfriend, while Mark is the little brother she never had.

She woke up early to prepare a feast for the birthday celebrators, which in turn, made her partner do so as well. Both of them were puttering away at the kitchen at five in the morning, preparing a mixture of both Korean and Western dishes.

“Baby, why don’t you check on the birthday boy?” Johnny suggested after placing a newly cooked omelet on a plate with mashed potatoes and vegetables on it. Essie gave him a thumbs-up and silently ran to Mark’s room, whose door was slightly ajar. She could see that he was cocooned in his comforter, and she couldn’t tell if he was still asleep or pretending to be.

“I can’t tell if he’s still sleeping or not,” she whispered once she was back at the kitchen. The couple glanced at the clock – it read 7:40 a.m. – and giggled. “Probably not yet,” her boyfriend said, who picked up the French press nearby to make their coffee. “Let’s give him a few minutes, and then we’ll surprise him.”

\\\

At around 8:30 a.m., Essie led Johnny to Mark’s room as he carried a small tray of breakfast food. She opened the door carefully and saw that the young man was still asleep. This time, they can see his bare face – he always had a mustache forming – and they could hear him snoring lightly.

She went to the left side of the bed while Johnny went to the opposite side, placing the tray at the foot of the bed. The couple looked at each other first before they decided to surprise Mark by screaming their birthday greeting.

“Happy birthday, Mark Lee!”

The birthday boy, who is now 21 as of writing, was startled and kicked the comforter off the bed. “What the hell,” he grumbled, looking at his hyung and noona in disbelief first, “but thank you, guys. You didn’t have to scream into my ear like that.”

“But that wouldn’t be fun, right?” Johnny snickered, which earned him a glare from the younger guy. “Happy birthday, Marky!” Essie squealed, messing with his hair. He bit his lip as his hyung joined in on playing with his hair, trying his best not to be annoyed at the situation.

When they were done, Johnny reached over to the small tray and placed it closer to Mark. “Of course, you know how it is in this household when someone has a birthday. We made you breakfast fit for a king like yourself.” Essie made dramatic hand gestures to emphasize that, as there were three plates crammed into the tray that contained a full-course meal.

“Thank you again, Johnny hyung and Essie noona! I truly appreciate it,” the birthday boy said, now less grumpy than a few minutes ago. Once he got his utensils, he dug into his majestic breakfast. The couple patted his back affectionately as he bit and gulped his food.

After he finished eating, Johnny left the room briefly to grab his Polaroid camera. Then, they took pictures – the couple’s favorite was of them kissing Mark on the cheeks with the guy completely flustered in the middle.

“This is so cute!” Essie gushed, staring at the newly-developed photo lovingly. “I’m going to hang it up in my gallery. May I, love?” Johnny winked at her, which meant she could. She replied by tackling him in a hug, in which she also included Mark after.

“I love you boys so much,” she murmured while still in proximity with them. “We love you too,” they said in unison, and everyone giggled at their harmonization.

They spent a few more minutes in bed talking and teasing each other until Mark had to go home to his parents’ house to spend the rest of the day with them.

“Maybe I’ll see you tomorrow, guys. I might spend the night there,” he said as he tugged at the straps of his backpack.

“It’s okay, Mark. You deserve the time off with them. And I’m sure it has been a while you went to Mass with your family too,” Essie said softly, remembering the time that she and Mark went to church recently to pray for their intentions.

“Yeah, that’s true. Well, I’m off then. Have a nice day ahead!” Mark waved at them until he was out of their eyesight.

\\\

“Then, that leaves us with the next thing on our agenda – call Mama,” Johnny said once they retreated to the couch.

“Check what time is it there first, dummy,” Essie teased, flicking the space in between his eyebrows. “I’m sure she’s awake at this time,” he replied, rubbing the part she hit. “Come here, my big baby,” he patted the space beside him, “and let’s call her up to say our birthday greetings.”

It was already late in the evening in Chicago when the couple called Mama Suh, who was already in her pajamas. “Happy birthday Eomma! I hope you had a fun and fabulous day there,” Essie said while she waved enthusiastically at her boyfriend’s mother.

“But of course, my darling! We went to this hotel and had a nice steak and wine dinner,” the older woman shared, which got her son ‘ooh’-ing and ‘aah’-ing at the details of her day.

Johnny and Essie snuggled closer to each other as they listened to Mama Suh talk about her day and more. “I wish you two could go here again, I’d love you to experience what I had too,” she said wistfully, making the couple hug each other tighter.

“We’ll fly there again once things are better, Mama. We promise that,” her son replied.

“Yes, Ma. You can count on that. We miss you so much,” his girlfriend added.

As much as they didn’t want to end the call on a sad note, Mama Suh got teary-eyed, and soon, they were crying and sniffing.

Although it has been years since Johnny decided to work in Korea, he always made it a point to fly back to his hometown in Chicago yearly. However, given the current pandemic, he couldn’t.

The couple held each other for a while after their call, saddened by the effects of the global situation and a million other thoughts.

“Baby?”

“Yes, love?”

“Promise me we’ll be together forever?”

Essie looked at her boyfriend’s distraught face, and she kissed him squarely on the lips. “Yes, I promise you that.”

He returned the gesture and carried her to their shared bedroom, presumably to make sure that she will stay true to her words.

–––

FIN

P.S. I know, it doesn’t feature enough Mark! Don’t worry; I have another post to make up for that.

Soul-searching (Part I)

I’m feeling pretty crummy right now, hence posting a sad piece for tonight. The Mark piece I promised at the end of the previous post will have to wait for a while.

For the first time, I’m sharing one of the few pieces that feature WayV’s Kun, one of my top three guys from the group. If you were curious about who are the other two, it’s Ten and Lucas. But what the heck, I love Xiaojun, Hendery, and Yangyang too!

Here’s a GIF of Kun with blue-gray hair, which I consider to be one of his superior looks. And of course, I want that color too! 

Mahal ko kayong lahat! :)

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Summary: If anyone was curious where Essie went to during her cool-off with Johnny, she went to Kun’s. Find out if he was able to help and comfort her or if he made things worse eventually. In short, this piece was supposed to be one thing but ended up as a brain fart. 

POV: 3rd person since this is a recent piece of writing. Like, just a week or two ago. 

Word count: 1,300 + words

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“This isn’t how you take a break from a relationship, Essie,” Kun whispered, avoiding to look at the deflated form of his ‘friend’ who was crying at his doorstep.

“Then what should I do?” She answered back, wiping the tears that have now soaked the collar of her shirt.

“I don’t have the answers to everything, dear. But what we’re doing,” he glanced at her before looking away again, “isn’t going to solve anything. It will make things worse, or it has already become worse.”

“But I’m not coming for you in that sense, dude! I needed someone to talk to.” Essie looked at him intently, hoping that he understood what she meant.

“I know, but I believe I’m not the person for this. Not anymore. Youngho is also a close friend of mine. Both of us know that he gets jealous easily, and for us to be spotted like this will spark speculations among our circle.” The blue-haired guy leaned against the door and sighed, looking at anything than her face.

“So, is that what you think? You care about your reputation than our friendship?” He did not like the way she said it, but he refused to look at her still.

“Essie Park, I value our friendship, whether you believe it or not. That’s why I can’t let us get into this further. I think I’ve already said what you needed to hear. We’ve already done what you wanted to happen. I’m sorry, but please, you have to find the answers to your problems on your own this time.”

With that, he gently closed the door on her face and silently cried as he locked it.

He didn’t expect that she would come to him about her problem with her (sort of ex-) boyfriend. There she was, with a giant duffle bag slung over her shoulder, knocking on his door if she could stay over.

“Why me?” were the first words he blurted after she told him of her story.

“Because you look like someone I can depend on,” she murmured while fiddling with her thumbs.

“I’m flattered that you think that way, but I don’t think that’s just the reason,” he said firmly as he held her wrist.

Even if she was trembling under his touch, he didn’t let go. He looked at her panicked face to see if she was going to tell him more, but he didn’t expect it when she spoke.

“I can’t put into words yet, but I’ll tell you when I’m able to. But please, Kun. I need your help.”

It was her tears that moved him, and he couldn’t help but comfort her with a hug.

She stayed at his apartment for almost a month, and they had long talks over the state of her relationship. He was glad to know more about her since he wasn’t able to the last time he was at her place. Before anyone thinks he wants to get into her pants, that isn’t the case. He isn’t looking for a relationship now because he’s devoted to his career as a musician and producer.

However, as they got to talk more about life, he realized that this felt off. Essie was still in a relationship with Johnny Suh, and if any of his band members found out that she was staying in his place, then news would spread that they are dating. They were part of a tight-knit circle, and Ten is the closest to Johnny among his bandmates.

It was fortunate that none of their common friends visited his place since he was out at the studio most of the time. But whenever he came home, he felt that he had a girlfriend waiting for him. If he was honest with himself, he felt giddy whenever Essie prepared breakfast and dinner for them both before they had their deep talks, and whenever she asked him how his day went after he settled into his pajamas.

There was a moment that he embraced her from the back as she cleaned the dishes one morning. “Hey, what’s up?” She asked, slowly looking at his beaming face.

“Nothing, I just want to share my happiness with you,” he replied, resting his chin on top of her shoulder.

He didn’t let go as she continued to clean the remaining dishes. He even helped her as he held the heavy pots and pans for her to scrub on.

“Kun, you’re awfully being sweet right now. What’s up, really?” she said after she was done, hands on her hips.  

He shoved his hands into his pocket and looked at anywhere than her face. “Maybe I just want to show my appreciation for the things you’ve done for me lately?”

The silence that ensued after felt unbearable to both of them that either one started a makeout session on the couch.

“You had a motive, didn’t you?” Kun asked, still panting from the intensity of their kisses. When she didn’t reply, he tilted her face to look at him. “You want me to love you so you can forget how you’re hurting, is that it?”

This time, her tears didn’t move him. He sat up and moved at the other end of the couch, contemplating on what to say to her.

“I like you, Kun. But I don’t want it to end that way. You’ve been a great help to me, and I mean it.” She said, tucking her knees to her chin.

“Don’t you think you’re leading me on?” His voice was trembling, and she couldn’t tell if it was out of sadness, anger, or a combination of both.

“No, Kun. I don’t want to do that to you or anyone else.”

“But you already did with your other suitors, if you haven’t noticed. You are easily swayed, Essie. If you weren’t like that, then you wouldn’t end up in this situation.”

She let out a shaky breath before responding. “I know, and I’m sorry. You’re the only person right now who has been helping me with this predicament I have.”

“Don’t forget your therapist as well,” he muttered, which elicited a chuckle from the girl. “Yes, and him too. You’re the only two people I have right now who has helped me so much.”

When he saw the sincerity in her eyes, he erased those thoughts and tried his best to act like how he was with her before.

As days passed, he couldn’t. He felt that their dynamic has changed after they kissed. He was touchier and called her ‘dear’ often. She reciprocated his actions, and sometimes they pecked each other on the lips before they went to sleep.

Kun finally snapped out of this honeymoon period after they had sex. Both of them were tipsy from their respective parties, and she smelled so good that it drove him crazy. She could say the same for him, and everything became a blur when he hovered over her naked figure.

The morning after was the most awkward situation they have experienced, and it was only in the evening that he had the guts to cut ties with her.

As the scene from earlier replayed in his mind, Kun became a sobbing mess on the floor. He couldn’t believe that he would like her to that extent and realized that she was dangerous to be with in the long run.

“I wonder how Youngho must feel right now,” he mumbled, looking at the couch that has now been marked with her memories.

Images of her sobbing on one corner and then naked and moaning his name mixed in his mind, which led him to the decision to sell it immediately.

He got a new couch that was more expensive and opulent-looking, hoping that this one will have happier memories than the last.

For now, he will focus on his music and forget that he, like Jeong Jaehyun, had a brief affair with Essie Park.

–––

FIN

Intoxicated (Part II)

Since delayed gratification is my middle name whenever I have these mini-series, here you go, folks!

I’m so into Johnny being a DJ – I hope he’ll share his remixes on Soundcloud or any similar platform. And in this universe I’ve written, he is one than being the idol that he is now.

Mahal ko kayong lahat! :)

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Summary: I’m picking up where I left on the first part, with Johnny now as the intoxicated person from a night out. Essie’s quite awkward in this, and it’s amusing to see her as such.

POV: 3rd person here, baby.

Word count: 1,000+ words

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Prompt #7: “I love you.”

“…go back to sleep.”

It was Johnny’s turn to come back home intoxicated. 

Shockingly, Essie was still awake in the wee hours of the morning. After all, the weekend was approaching so she could stay up late doing whatever her heart desired.

Tonight – or should it be today? – she decided to continue writing her greatest novel. It was about a historical time-travel piece, and she was stuck on how to explain the intricacies of time travel, hence staying up late to research about the topic. 

So when she heard Johnny’s heavy footsteps approaching his room, she tiptoed toward her door and opened it slightly. She saw him fumbling for the doorknob, and she was about to help him out. But when he finally opened the door, she stepped away and went back to her bed. 

However, she felt uneasy that he had to stumble to his bedroom. Maybe he drank more than his usual. When they drank, he could finish two bottles of wine and almost two buckets of beer. In short, he has quite the stamina when it comes to drinking. 

A few minutes later, Essie decided to check up on him. She knocked softly on his door before opening it, revealing him still in the outfit he wore earlier. He was in a blazer, shirt, fitted jeans, and black leather shoes. He looked like a young professional who went out drinking after his work hours. He was scrolling through his phone and looked serious while doing so.

“H-hi,” she stammered at his doorway. “Hi Johnny, you okay?”

He slowly turned to look at her and flashed her a small smile. “Hey, Essie. Why are you still up?” He sounded a bit hoarse, probably from his alcohol consumption.

“I-I couldn’t sleep. Anyway, are you okay?” she asked again, more confident this time.

“Well, yeah. I’m fine. My head kind of hurts though,” he grumbled, massaging his temples.

“You had too much to drink?” She gave him a sheepish grin, afraid that he might get angry with her response.

“Yeah, I went more than my usual limit. By just one bottle, though. You were right,” he sat up this time, “Pink Moscato tastes good. We’ll get a bottle of that the next time we grocery shopping.”

Essie noticed how bloated his face looked from drinking, which emphasized the bags under his eyes. 

“Do you want an Advil? Berocca? Or plain water?” She offered, one of her hands planted on his doorknob.

 “A pitcher of water and both of those, please. Thanks, baby,” he whispered before lying down on his bed again.

The girl returned to his room a moment later with a lukewarm pitcher of water and packets of the medicine. She placed them on his bedside table before sitting down beside him on the bed.

“I got your water and medicines as promised, sir,” she said softly, tapping him on his forearm. “Thanks again, baby,” he mouthed. “Come lie down here with me.”

She did what was told, and he moved toward his right so she could lie down comfortably beside him.

“So what and where did you drink, Mr. Suh?”

“You know it’s part of my job, Essie. After playing, the crew gets drinks after. And I had too much wine. I even took some tequila shots. Maybe some vodka too.”

“That’s a lot, man. I’m going to return what you said to me last time I was wasted: rehydrate and eat healthy.”

“But I can do that, not like some people,” he scoffed, glancing at the irritated look Essie now wore. “You didn’t have to call me out, you know,” she grumbled. 

Johnny laughed slightly at her response before rolling over to look at her face-to-face. “I can feel my headache getting worse, baby. Can you get me the water and the Advil?”

The girl poured some water in a glass and handed him the medicine. “I hope you’ll invite me next time you go on a crazy drinking spree,” she suggested playfully.

“That wasn’t even crazy. It was just our usual after-work drinking. But yeah, I’ll drag you along to one of my events if you’re still awake by then.” She nudged him on the ribs, and he sat up to drink water and the Advil capsule.

Afterward, he handed the glass back to her so she could put it on the bedside table. He plopped onto his bed again, his hand trembling against his forehead. He groaned at the sensation he was feeling, making Essie worry about him more.

“Is there anything else I can do to help you?” She asked, concern etched on her face. Before he said anything, he grabbed her hand with his free one and held it tight.

“I want a kiss here,” the hand on his forehead pointed on the space between his eyebrows. “Please?”

She rolled her eyes at his request to cover how flustered she was.

They weren’t together, but they had some questionable moments where people thought that they were a couple.

He liked to kiss the back of her hand, her cheeks, and her forehead when they were in public sometimes. In return, she cuddled with him whenever she felt cold, or when she felt warm and fuzzy inside.

Today was one of those days, but she didn’t let her desire consume her. She pecked the space between his eyebrows and stroked his hair a bit. He closed his eyes as she continued to stroke his hair, sleep slowly creeping into his system.

“I love you,” he mumbled, trying to keep his eyes open so he could see how she would react to his words.

He wasn’t able to make out her face since his eyes felt heavy already. If he only had more energy, then he would’ve seen her flush at his sweet statement.

“…go back to sleep. You’re just sleep talking by now,” she whispered, removing her hand from his hair. “Good morning, my dear Johnny.”

He fell asleep with a smile on his face, his heart full hearing her call him dear.

–––

FIN

JH (Part I)

So, I’m a bit behind my posting schedule. I’m sorry about that; you know how life can get in the way of things. But here we are again, focusing on my NCT 127 bias wrecker – Jeong Jaehyun.

Since he never looks terrible in his outfits and hair color, here’s a pink-haired GIF of Jay for your pleasure. It’s one of my favorite looks on him, and this era started wrecking me towards him. Oops!

Mahal ko kayong lahat! :)

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Summary: Like the previous post, the pieces here were inspired by a prompt list by @neoculturedrabbles​.

POV: 2nd person for the first, 3rd person for the second. 

Word count: 1,400+ words

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Prompt #13: “Is that my towel?”

“…”

“Never mind, I’ll get it later.”

Aside from placing his dirty launder in your hamper, Jaehyun tends to use your stuff too. At first, it didn’t sit well with you, considering your other housemates did that as well. (Johnny and Mark loved using your bath products, especially your sandalwood soap.)

Eventually, after the first week of your stay in his apartment, you got used to it. However, it bothered you (a bit) when you spotted him using your towel.

When he emerged from the bathroom, you saw that your white and blue striped towel was wrapped around his torso. He didn’t mind showing you his abs, erm, torso, and you tried your best to avert your gaze at it. You focused on his face instead – it was a bit obscured from his damp hair. At least that was less distracting than his upper body.

“Is that my towel?” You started, your eyes focused on his face. You couldn’t tell what his reaction was since he shook his head to cover his face more (probably from shame).

He didn’t respond and stood still on his spot.

“Never mind, I’ll get it later. Please dry it off well,” you mumbled, walking away and heading straight to the balcony.

\\\

As you smoked your fourth stick for the day, you heard the balcony door slide open to reveal a fully-clothed Jaehyun about to dry the towel he used.

You immediately put out the cigarette and looked at him place it carefully over the drying rack. “What gives, and you had to use my towel, Jay?” You asked, making yourself comfortable on the patio chair.

“Sorry about that, Essie,” he turned to look at you with an apologetic smile, “but I tend to use the first towel that I see.”

You sighed at his response and stood up. “Next time, I’ll place your towel inside your bedroom, so you don’t use mine.” You patted his shoulder before leaving, but he held your hand to stop you.

“I’m really sorry, dear,” he whispered, looking at you with puppy eyes. You sighed again because you knew what would happen next. “I’ll make it up to you, okay? I’ll treat you to coffee.”

“Okay, fine. You know my usual, right?”

“Yeah, do I need to say it out loud?”

“Nope, I’m confident that you know it by heart.”

Your response got a giggle out of him, and he let go of your hand so you could return inside.

Why must he always bribe you with your favorite things so you can forgive him for his forgetfulness? You thought, wrinkling your nose at the thought of just going along with his plans.

But you like it anyway; you like it when he spoils you like that.

“Shut up, brain,” you mumbled to yourself before settling on the couch with your phone.

///

Prompt #16: “My ex is over there. Can you kiss me?” 

Tonight was a cliché waiting to unfold: Essie was in a house party where she’s bound to see her ex from centuries ago.

The host of the said party was a common friend of theirs but also a friend of her new buddies Johnny, Jaehyun, and Mark to name a few.

The party was to celebrate this friend’s milestone of moving abroad for a job opportunity of a lifetime.

Although the presence of Essie’s ex has not yet been confirmed, there is always a possibility that he will be there.

As she wove her way through the crowd, she noticed that Jaehyun was waving enthusiastically at her from a corner. She spotted that he had a drink on one hand, making her wonder where the hell the drinks could be.

The party wasn’t jam-packed, yet there was already a considerable crowd inside. She rushed through the brunette’s side, who was drinking a glass of red wine.

“Hey Jay,” she greeted, exchanging bisous with him. That was how they always greeted each other, anytime and anywhere. He returned it, his free hand squeezing hers.

“Glad you could come to this party,” he started, before taking a sip from his wine, “I thought I was the only one coming here.”

“Where’s John?” She asked, eyes scanning the room for the tall guy. As her eyes roamed for a moment, she didn’t notice that Jaehyun’s eyes darkened at the mention of his friend.

“He might not come; he had important errands to run,” he said, throwing his head back to disguise the fact that he was miffed with her question.

“Okay then…so let’s try to have fun here then?” Essie held out her other hand to him, which he took, and both of them went to the kitchen to get more drinks.

They chatted over wine and beer before they busted their dance moves with the rest of the crowd near the pool. People cheered for them when they did a spicy couple dance (bordering on dirty dancing) and howled even more when they recreated a pop idol’s famous choreography.

Essie’s carefree attitude didn’t last long after they were done dancing – she spotted her ex from afar talking to a girl in a skimpy outfit.

This prompted her to look at her clothing – a long-sleeved crop top, a pair of harem pants, and combat boots – and groaned when she realized what she was doing. So what if she wasn’t showing off her assets? He wouldn’t come back to her anymore, nor should she let him back in her life.

But before she could turn her eyes away from her ex, he spotted her. Panic was written all over her face as she turned to Jaehyun, who sensed her agitation. The guy wasn’t able to say anything as the words that came out of her mouth surprised him.

“My ex is over there. Can you kiss me?”

He was hesitant to grant her request at first but then realized that it was time to hit two birds with one stone – do what she was told and subtly let her know that he was into her.

So he did and pecked her on the lips.

The girl was surprised at his action but went along with it when he pressed his lips further. The peck didn’t even last a minute, but she hoped that her ex saw it so he wouldn’t dare confront her anymore.

After all, it was she who broke up with him. He had no right to claim her back for the things he did. He should understand that she was moving on just fine.

However, Jaehyun heard her wrong. Since they were in a crowded place where the music was about to ruin their eardrums, what she actually said was: “My ex is over there. Can you hide me?”

Add to that her small and soft voice – it was shocking that most of her friends don’t misunderstand her words…until now.

Essie was expecting that Jaehyun will lead her out of the area and resume their drinking session inside, but life likes to throw curveballs sometimes.

The two were left dumbfounded at what happened. “Jay…why did you kiss me?” The girl asked cautiously.

“You told me to?”

Her eyes widened, and her mouth hung open with his statement.

“No, Jay! I didn’t tell you that! What I said was, can you hide me?”

Ah, he heard all right now. His face warmed up at the realization that he misheard her, and suddenly, he couldn’t look her in the eyes. He covered his face with his hands, mumbling what an idiot he is.

“Oh no, Jay! Please don’t do this to yourself,” Essie whispered, holding him by the shoulders. “You misheard me, it’s fine. I’m not mad with what you did…”

“You liked it?” His answer shocked her again, making her clutch her chest.

“Jeong Jaehyun!” She shook both of his shoulders vigorously, which didn’t bother him at all as he chuckled at her reaction.

“I could do that again if you like.”

It took the girl a moment to respond. “Maybe when I see him near me again, I’ll let you.”

“That’s my girl,” Jaehyun closed the small distance between them by wrapping his arms around her and kissing her forehead. “We can pretend to be together; there’s no one aside from our common friend who knows us here.”

Essie raised an eyebrow at him, wondering where he got his bravado. “You’re awfully bold tonight, sir.”

“It must be the alcohol,” he glanced at the empty beer bottles on top of a nearby table, “shall we get another round, dear?”

“I never thought you’d ask,” she giggled, taking his hand in hers, and together they walked back to the house holding hands.

–––

FIN

Wondering

Instead of offering a sad read this time, I have a mushy one that got me thinking about relationships in general. Maybe it will do the same thing to you as well, or maybe it won’t. 

Anyway, here’s a bashful-looking Johnny who looks like a million thoughts ran through his mind at that moment. 

Mahal ko kayong lahat! :) 

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Summary: Johnny reflects on the state of his renewed relationship with Essie, and then shares a sweet moment with her. 

POV: 3rd person here. 

Word count: 865 words 

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Johnny wondered why he loves Essie so much despite the things that happened between them. 

She cheated on him, which he also did with his ex-girlfriend. Both didn’t last a week since they were both guilty of their actions. 

His girl was also courted by some of his friends, particularly Mark and Sehun. She declined Mark’s proposal since she has always seen him as her little brother like he does. However, she did not entertain any of Sehun’s advances because she has already learned her lesson with Jaehyun and that he was too cocky for her liking. 

Speaking of which, he has now rekindled with his friendship with Jeong Jaehyun, who he considered as his brother from another mother. It might not return to what it was, but he couldn’t imagine what life would be without one of his dearest and closest friends. 

As Johnny watched Essie sleep on her side of the bed, he noticed that most of her curly hair covered her face. Usually, she would be annoyed whenever a strand (yes, that specific) of her hair crosses her face and would swat it away. Since she’s sleeping, she didn’t feel anything. Her mouth was slightly ajar, and he could see the formation of her drool. 

He smiled at this sight of his lady, who always tried to look like her best (and flawless) self. It took time for her to be more open about her natural side – no make-up and everything – since she felt self-conscious around him. 

“You’re so perfect, I feel like such a blob when I’m beside you,” she told him one time while covering her face in shame. 

“No, I’m not,” he responded to her then, gently taking off her hands on her face. “We’re both humans. I accept all your quirks and imperfections, and I know you do with mine.”

She cried afterward, and he hugged her with all his might. 

Johnny ran his hands through her hair, untangling the knots that have formed at the end. It relaxed him, and he knew that it made her feel the same when she was awake. 

He couldn’t fathom where his love for her came from since he never stopped loving her despite the things they did. 

Was this fate or destiny then? If that was the case, he accepted it wholeheartedly. Essie was his soul mate, the love of his life, the mother of his children, and the one he would die for. 

She woke up when his hand got stuck on one of her curls, grunting at how it pained her. “That hurts,” she mumbled, swatting his arm away from her head. 

“Sorry, baby…” Johnny removed his hand on her hair and placed it on her waist. “Combing through your hair relaxes me,” he whispered, kissing the top of her head. 

“Same here,” she opened her eyes fully and looked at him. He had bags under his eyes, and his cheeks looked puffy. “Hey, did you eat last night? I wasn’t able to check on you. I fell asleep early,” she sat up on the bed and rubbed her eyes a bit. 

“Yeah, I did. I ate some leftover tonkatsu,” he sat up as well and wrapped an arm around her waist. 

“Your cheeks are puffy,” she squeezed them lovingly before giving them a peck each, “which I know you don’t like. But I love them.”

He rubbed his sore cheeks and groaned. “I couldn’t help but eat at night these days. Too tired, you know?”

She nodded at his statement and nuzzled her neck on his chest. “Both of us are. Were you able to sleep well?” 

“Not really. I couldn’t sleep. I envy you, to be honest.” He tilted her head to look at him.

They stared at each other for a minute before he pecked her on the lips. 

“Don’t be, you know my body clock’s messed up,” she pulled him to her level to peck him again, “and I’m just catching up on sleep now.” 

“Because like what Nini and I have been telling you, go to sleep early. But no, you just have to be a stubborn baby,” he pinched her nose, which made her yelp in pain. 

Essie rubbed her nose after he let go and pinched his arm. “Yes, Dad. I know. But is there anything I can do to help you fall asleep now?” Her tone of voice became soft, and she gave him a sweet look that made his heart skip a beat.

“Maybe the things I do for you can help me fall asleep?” 

“Okay, anything for my love,” the girl responded, guiding her boyfriend back on the bed and combing through his hair. 

She did what he usually did for her: comb through his hair, sing (in her case, hum) a lullaby, and even tap on the thigh. 

He fell asleep a few minutes after with a smile on his face. 

“I love you so much, Seo Youngho,” Essie whispered, kissing his forehead before she got up from the bed. “I choose you over everyone else in the world, and I will make sure of that in this lifetime.”

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FIN