BINDING BONDS|1

BINDING BONDSÂ |Â 1
< nextÂ
parings: jung jaehyun x reader
genre:Â ceo!au, arranged marriage!au, (semi) angst, consumption of alcohol, asshole/player Jaehyun, swearingÂ
note: BB deals with themes of mental and physical abuse, which can be upsetting for some readers. If you feel uncomfortable reading these types of plots, you are advised to not continue
[ 4.9 k words ]

Out of breath. Thatâs what you felt when you woke up this morning and saw that you were going to be late to work.Â
âSHOOT!â you jolted out of bed and sprinted to the bathroom.Â
Today was the first day where you would work under your mother to prove to her that youâre worth the CEO position. Your mother was the CEO of Audace, a clothing line competing against other luxury brands such as Gucci, CocoChanel, Versace, Louis Vuitton. Today, you couldnât afford to be late, so there you were, sloppily throwing makeup on your face in your bathroom.Â
âNot today, youâre not gonna ruin this y/n,â you talked to your reflection.Â
As soon as you looked as ready as you could be, you rushed out the door of your apartment and into your car.Â
âWhatever, Iâm already late,â you sighed and as soon as you knew it, you were taking a detour to the coffee shop.Â
Parking your car, you shut the door and entered the little coffee shop. It was always your favorite, even though you never drank coffee. The comfort it held, held a soft spot in your heart.Â
âHey Soojin, Iâll have my usual,â you smiled, setting your sunglasses on top of your head, âOh! And a medium chai for my mom please,â you figured that you could bring her her favorite drink while you were at it.
âOf course, $5.75 please.âÂ
You swiped your card and stood aside, waiting for your drink. You sat at the nearest table and looked at the little pot of sunflowers sitting in the center. You ran your fingers against the soft petals, but soon your thoughts were interrupted by a call.Â
You sighed looking at the contact, âmorning, mother.âÂ
âWhy are you late? You were supposed to be here half an hour ago,â she asked.Â
âI overslept and made a little detour,â you simply replied.Â
âY/n!â As soon as you heard your name called, you stood up and grabbed both of your drinks.Â
You nodded at Soojin to thank her and rushed out of the coffee shop.Â
âWell you better be on your way in the next half hour because we have a meeting with our joint company, got it?â Your mother sternly said as you opened the door with your back.Â
âOf course! Iâm coming right n-HEY! Watch it!!â you yelled.Â
You looked down at your stained white blazer and blouse. The iced matcha you were dying to drink was suddenly gone and absorbed into your shirt. It was the first blazer your mother bought you for your first day of working with her.Â
âChill, princess, you were in my wayâ the man stood in front of you, the nickname he gave you frustrated you even more.Â
The man stood tall and confident, he was wearing his own suit and he wore it well, too bad your drink spilled a bit on him.Â
âDo you have a napkin?â you desperately asked him.Â
âOnly my handkerchief,â he replied.Â
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It's a bad idea, right? (02)

*àłàŒÂ pairing: han jisung x fem!reader.
*àłàŒÂ genre: college!au, brother's best friend & 3racha Jisung (yes he is his own genre lol), y/n is Minho's slightly younger sister, childhood friends to lovers, slow burn, angst, fluff, drama, my attempt at humor.
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*àłàŒÂ summary: The Lee siblings' rule was simple: donât flirt, kiss, sleep, or even dare to think about dating the other siblingâs friends. Pretty straightforward stuff, right? No matter how ridiculous that rule sounds now, both of you respected it religiously for years, being one of the main reasons your relationship remained as strong as it did for so long. But, what happens when your brother decides to break it on a random Friday night, at a frat party, with one of your closest friends? You decide to take revenge, of course. And what better way to do it than with the help of his precious best friend, Han Jisung, whom youâve been crushing on since forever?
*àłàŒÂ warnings: cursing, suggestive themes, jealousy, sexual tension, mentions of drinking and smoking.
âĄ. part 01 .âĄ

âĄ. a/n: hii <3 i really struggled with this part since I wanted it to end in a completely different way but tbh, I think this new ending is better. yn and jisung are really, really into each other (horny) in this part so enjoy! <3 do let me know your thoughts about this chapter!! <3 i love reading them (the first part of this chapter is from jisung's pov).

Their little private party continued well into the night, with drinks pouring and smoke making everyone a little hazy and disconnected from the world. It was an intoxicating feeling, one Jisung enjoyed to the fullest at the end of every gig and every night if he could.
Still, things were a bit different now. Usually, he would have people all over him, touching and whispering the dirtiest of things in his ear until heâd finally snap and take them to his dressing room. When away, he preferred to use his hotel room for such activities but while in town, the dressing room was his best choice since his house has always been off-limits. He wasnât like Chan or Changbin, Jisung valued his privacy and the precious memories heâs made over the years in said house. Call him sentimental, but the only people who have ever stepped foot in his childhood bedroom were his best friend, his first girlfriend and the other two members of 3racha. Thatâs it.
Was it a bit weird to be so protective over something so silly and insignificant? Maybe. Did Jisung care? Not really.
Even so, heâs only ever allowed a handful of people in his personal bubble, as well as his bedroom, his safe space if you will. Thatâs why all the hookups were strictly happening somewhere far, far away from that bubble. Maybe he was afraid of intimacy, to let someone else see him bare in more ways than one and thatâs why heâs locked his heart away and threw the key somewhere so out of reach for everyone.
Or maybe, he just had commitment issues. Thatâs what Minho always says anyway.
One thing was certain though â no random stranger would ever step foot in his house, no matter how high, intoxicated or horny he was. Jisung was a man with well-established boundaries and nothing will change that.
Thatâs why he was no stranger to going home alone. It was, however, out of the ordinary for him to end the night without getting his dick wet. Itâs not like he lacked options: there were many, an overwhelming amount. He just wasnât feeling it, no energy left in him to text any of them back, to deal with any more people than heâs already had to tonight.
His social battery ran out too quickly and now all he wanted to do was go home and sleep for two days straight, turning his phone off and disappearing from everyoneâs lives for a while. His friends and manager will understand, surely.
A deep voice interrupted his inner turmoil as he dwelled on the matter, oscillating between calling over one of his booty calls from the bar for a quick fuck or just going straight home and locking himself away. Guess that had to be put on hold for the time being.
âHan Jisung.â
Looking up, he canât help but smirk at the person he finds standing in front of him. âYongbok. You keep surprising me tonight. Do you miss me, is that it?â
Felix rolls his eyes in response, already regretting his choice to approach him, which amuses Jisung greatly. Standing up, he ignores the buzzing phone in his hand and crosses his arms, giving the other man his whole attention for the time being.
The silence stretches on as Felixâs face contorts unpleasantly and itâs clear that heâd rather be doing anything else than speak to him right now. It must have taken everything in him to come over and start this conversation and without you by his side, it looks like Yongbok has already reached his limit.
Speaking of, where have you disappeared to? And most importantly, why was your loyal puppy bothering him instead of being with you?
Growing tired, Jisung tries his best to mask the exasperation in his voice. âWhat do you want, Yongbok? Do you need help finding your way home to your owner or what?â
The glare he receives in response is hilarious to his tipsy self, the alcohol in his system making him miss all the obvious social cues. Not like he cared in the first place, this was Yongbok in front of him after all.
âHelp? From you?â Yongbok laughs, throwing his head back. âNot in a million years.â
Jisung is the one who rolls his eyes now, finally throwing the annoying device that hasnât stopped buzzing on the chair behind him. âThen? I donât want to spend the rest of my night with you, so spit it out already.â
Any traces of the smile previously on his features vanish instantly as big, brown eyes look straight into his. âIâm here to give you a warning.â
Amused, Jisung raises an eyebrow, leaning back on the chair nonchalantly. If Yongbok was expecting him to shiver in his boots, heâd have to try harder than that.
Stepping closer, Felixâs voice gets lower. âIf you hurt her, Han Jisung, I swear I will return that pain tenfold.â
That piques his interest and he uncrosses his arms, straightening his posture. Heâs a few inches taller than the man before him but Jisung learned a long time ago to not underestimate him. Felix mightâve been petite but behind the bright and smiley exterior was a very skilled fighter, one that wasnât afraid to step in and defend his loved ones.
Jisung wasnât stupid â he knew that even with the boxing lessons Minho made him take as some sort of bonding activity, he was no match for Felix in a physical fight.
But what Felix seems to have forgotten is that Jisung has an advantage. Or several.
âDonât worry about that.â Suddenly much more sober than before, he lets the ghost of a smirk appear on his tense features, one that Felix doesnât fail to notice.
âAfter all, Iâm not the one who made her cry, am I?â
As expected, his words hit a bit too close to home and Felixâs tough exterior visibly crumbles as he takes a step back, like he was in pain himself. Like he was the one left sobbing for days on end by his best friend, abandoned like an old toy that inevitably got replaced by another, shiny and new. Like you were the one that hurt him and not the other way around; like he was the victim in the whole situation.
The nerve of him to act like he was the one Jisung held in his arms as his shirt got drenched, fragile heart breaking in his hands with every pained whimper that escaped your mouth. The audacity had Jisungâs anger rising without a clear reason, not really understanding his reaction. Maybe it was the alcohol, or the memory of your tear-stained face looking up at him, so broken and sad in the passenger seat of his car on a random Monday back in high school, when he picked you up in Minhoâs place.
It was most likely both that fuelled his unexplainable anger and kept him talking, completely ignoring the look on Felixâs face just like he ignored you back then.
âNor did I lead her on for months on end like a fucking asshole, right?â
Felix visibly flinches at the words, certainly relieving those same memories Jisung was thinking about just moments ago. Even though he couldnât and he never will because he wasnât there. Felix wasnât there to comfort you when you needed him the most, Jisung was.
And he remembers it like it was yesterday.
So whatever pain Felix might be feeling now could never compare to the one you felt back then, struggling to breathe through the sobs that even his soothing touch and whispered words of comfort couldnât diminish.
Without giving him any other chance to speak, he continues carelessly, landing the finishing blow.
âNow that weâre both on the same page, Yongbok,â he exhales through gritted teeth, taking a step closer towards him just like Felix has done before when he expected him to back down. âGet the fuck out of my face.â
He blinks, schooling his face into a neutral expression that doesnât prevent Jisung from seeing right through him as he hoped. On the contrary, his clenched jaw tells him everything he needs to know.
Yongbok is fuming, barely holding himself together. But, heâs also aware of his faults so he backs off, not blowing up in Jisungâs face like he wants. For such a nice guy, loved by many, Felix had a pretty short fuse.
Guess thatâs why heâs such a great actor, charming everyone he meets with just a few pretty words he never means.
Anyways, crisis averted for now. Somewhat.
âWhatâs going on here?â Chanâs voice interrupts their glaring match but the tension remains as palpable as before, even as they both take a step back from each other. Even tipsy, theyâre both still sober enough to remember that fighting in front of Chan wonât end well for either of them.
âNothing.â Felix finally speaks, voice hoarse and deeper than before, the storm behind his eyes not visible to Chan. âI was just leaving, Y/n is waiting for me.â
Chan nods slowly, trying to understand what happened as Felix walks past him without as much of a glance in his direction.
Jisungâs eyes follow his retreating form for a moment before he reaches for his discarded phone and his mouth opens on its own accord, not being able to stop himself. âMake sure you donât make her cry on the way home, Yongbok.â
Both of Felixâs middle fingers shoot up in the air as he continues to walk away, not bothering to give any other answer to the obvious taunt. Jisung only smirks, satisfied he managed to get under his skin for a second time that night.
When he finally disappears and they remain alone in their little space in the VIP section, Chan turns to him with curiosity written all over his face.
âWhat was that?â
He shrugs, already captivated by his phone. âIâm just looking out for Minhoâs little sister.â
Chan doesnât buy it, Jisung can tell without even looking at him. But he doesnât react, fingers moving across the screen as he types, cancelling multiple plans he made while sober and in a more social mood.
âJisung.â Chan sighs, not even expecting an answer as he runs a hand through his dark curls. âDonât start playing with fire if you arenât ready to get burnt.â
That makes him tear his gaze from the device, a cocky smile slowly morphing onto his features. âOh, but Iâm ready.â
Then, he shows his screen to Christopher who canât help but also smirk when he recognizes the people in the picture before him. It was you and Jisung after all, sharing a supposed kiss that was already gaining thousands of likes despite being posted just minutes ago. With the lighting and the angle, his fans wouldnât be able to recognize you but the people that mattered certainly would.
Like Minho, if he paid close attention, which he didnât most of the time. But to be honest, thatâs what he was hoping for. Minho scrolling past his feed without a second glance and giving him more time to enjoy this silly ploy with you. The alcohol in his system along with the adrenaline pumping through his veins from the little confrontation that just took place completely erased all of his nerves and previous protests regarding your plan, leaving him giddy with excitement.
Minho might not notice but there was no doubt in his mind that Yongbok would, despite having him blocked on all socials. This will reach him one way or another and Jisung couldnât wait to see his blood boil as he turned green with envy, jealous of the way he got to touch and feel you while he was stuck on the sidelines, watching it all.
âIâve waited long enough, donât you think?â And for once, Chris actually agrees with him.
Oh, this was going to be so much fun.
â----
The weekend finds you on the couch, scrolling idly through your phone while a random show plays in the background and one of the cats sleeps soundly on your stomach, deeming you comfy enough for a bed. Itâs quiet and peaceful, with the sun barely peeking through the closed curtains and you almost doze off as your scrolling slowly stops. Your breathing evens out and sleep is right there, on the tip of your eyelashes, coming to take you to dreamland until the most annoying voice in existence startles both you and the feline and your phone slips through your fingers and falls to the ground. The cat jumps off and runs away instantly, seeking comfort with his other two siblings while you remain there, groaning into a pillow.
âCome here! I made breakfast.â Your brother yells from the kitchen and this is the first time in your life that you start to consider murder as the only option left to solve all of your problems.
Rolling your eyes, you complain under your breath as you drag your feet to the kitchen, forgetting all about your phone and the sweet dream that was about to take you under. When he sees you, Minhoâs whole face lights up from where heâs sitting at the table, not expecting you to actually join him.
Well, too bad you wonât.
âThanks.â Is all you say before grabbing your plate and making your way back to the living room, Minhoâs face falling in the process.
Itâs been exactly one week since that incident at the party, when Minho, letting his dick take over, broke one of your promises. One week since youâve spoken more than three sentences to him.
Truth be told, you were starting to miss him but every time you tried to make things right, to push it all aside for the sake of your relationship, your anger got the better of you and it all went back to square one. It was childish and you could feel Minhoâs annoyance rising because of your behaviour but, you just couldnât stop yourself, especially when you remembered all the years youâve spent following that rule just for his sake. Just so he wonât be upset or uncomfortable having to pick between his sister and one of his friends.
Youâve put his happiness above yours for so long and in the end, he couldnât have cared less. You were miserable for nothing. Thatâs where all of the anger came from, among other things (Han Jisung).
Minho lets out a loud sigh but other than that, remains seated and gives you the space you need. Your brother wasnât a bad guy, far from it, but he really messed up and now he had to bear the consequences of his actions.
As you make yourself comfortable on the couch again, Dori comes back and jumps onto your lap, purring, almost like he wants to take away your anger himself which warms your heart. This is why your brotherâs furballs were your favourite thing about him.
Ten minutes later, when youâre done eating, Minho comes to get your plate and goes back to wash it without a word. Every time you two argue and it ends up being his fault, your brother has the same pattern when it comes to apologizing. If words donât work, he switches to acts of service and if those donât work either, he starts spending money on the most random stuff you might have said you liked 5 years ago. His brain worked in mysterious ways.
Thankfully, the doorbell rings and breaks the awkward atmosphere.
Picking Dori up, you make your way towards the door and almost gasp when you realize whoâs on the other side.
âGood morning, sweetheart.â His voice is low, like he just rolled out of bed and came here first thing and the sound alone awakens the dormant butterflies that always go crazy when heâs near. âCan I come in?â
You nod, trying to catch your breath as you step to the side and Dori jumps from your arms to rub himself against Jisungâs legs in greeting. The boy smiles, the most genuine youâve ever seen him and crouches down to pet the little feline, his favourite out of the three. And nobody could blame him when the bond they shared was absolutely adorable.
Suddenly, youâre very conscious of your appearance and your hands shoot up to at least fix your hair as his back is to you, patting down and cursing under your breath at the ugly pyjamas you chose to wear last night.
Of course, Han Jisung has to show up looking all perfect at 10 a.m. while you still look like a literal zombie. Just your luck, really.
You havenât seen him since his gig a few days ago but youâve kept in touch, and he certainly didnât mention anything about suddenly coming to your house on a Saturday morning. So, that means heâs here to see your stupid brother. Great. You can never win, can you?
âOh?â Minhoâs voice reaches both of you simultaneously as he comes strolling into the hallway with the other two cats in toe, hands still wet. âWhy are you here?â
From the way he speaks, you would never guess these two have been best friends since middle school.
âGood morning to you too, baby.â Jisung smirks as he looks up, still petting Dori whoâs now on his back, showing his belly, and your heart canât help but flutter at the nickname even though he didnât address you. There was something almost enthralling about the way this word rolled down his tongue, just like fresh honey. Addicting even, making you want to be the only one with the privilege of hearing it. Want to be his baby. Wait, what â
âCanât I come and visit my best friend once in a while?â He continues, smirk slowly morphing into a smile yet the playfulness doesnât leave his voice. âIâve missed you.â
Minho rolls his eyes, drying his hands on the dark blue apron he wore. Your dadâs apron. âI saw you two days ago.â
âAnd that was two days too long!â
âDo you guys need a moment?â
They both turn to look at you at the same time like they just remembered you were hearing this too. Jisung gives you an apologetic smile and stands up, pushing the hair back from his eyes. âAnother time. Youâre the one I came to see today, sweetheart.â
Minhoâs eyes narrow as he looks between the two of you, completely oblivious to the excitement that is quickly taking over you. And just like that, for the first time that morning, Han Jisung manages to make you smile with a single sentence.
But before you can open your mouth, your brother butts in and the world comes crashing down again. âSee her? What for? I didnât know you guys were that close.â
The glare you send his way would make any normal person feel uncomfortable but as weâve already established, you and your brother were far from normal. Heâs grown immune to your antics a long time ago as nothing you can do or say phases him anymore.
Or so, he thinks.
Before you can open your mouth and bite back, you feel a strong arm wrap around your shoulders and pull you close, the smell of his cologne invading all of your senses and making you a little unstable on your feet.
âThereâs a lot you donât know about our relationship, right, sweetie?â
Then it all clicks in your head, making sense. Jisung isnât here to see Minho â heâs here to annoy him! Heâs here for you! Thank God his arm was already holding you upright because you were sure your legs mightâve betrayed you at the realization.
Your features relax and soften as you look up at him, batting your eyelashes in what you hope is a seductive way. He looks down instinctively and winks, smirk widening when you reach out and gently trace his jaw with one finger, pleased you caught on to his act.
âYou donât have to tell him all of our secrets now, Ji.â You purr and he responds by leaning into your touch, playing it up as much as he can since heâs aware Minho could see right through your act if he tried.
Thankfully, your brother is still stuck on the way Jisung enunciated that one word, relationship, like he was hinting at something deeper going on, something he wasnât aware of. Heâs deep in thought, you can tell by the way his eyebrows furrow, visibly displeased at the new revelation and that makes you so giddy you have to stop yourself from giggling by hiding your face in Jisungâs shoulder.
He knows what youâre doing and responds accordingly, pulling you flush against him and thatâs when Minho snaps out of it, both eyebrows shooting up in brief surprise. Quickly discarding his apron, your brother turns to walk back into the apartment and thatâs when you two share a conspiratorial grin.
However, Minho isnât one to back down easily. âFine, give me ten minutes then the three of us can go and do something fun together.â
Wait, what? You werenât expecting that, and Jisung can tell by the look of horror that crosses your face as you pull away, panicking.
âThe three of us?â Jisung questions, not shaken at all. âItâs Saturday, Min. You have dance practice with Yongbok and Hyunjin, remember?â
Minho stops in his tracks, pausing for a moment as he seems to remember his schedule and groans loudly, annoyed at the whole situation. Your face lights up and Jisung squeezes your shoulder reassuringly with a smile.
Bless his weird attachment to your brother and his elephant memory.
Turning around, all three cats scramble to him and you understand why the moment your eyes meet his, cold with no hint of amusement left in them. Minho mightâve been immune to your childish acts but in your case, even a narrow gaze from him made you stand straighter, slightly terrified. In those instances, you were left feeling like the bullies that dared bother you as a child, the ones he took care of one by one â frozen in fear.
That makes your brother sound like some sort of child gangster but truth be told, Minho is scary now and was even scarier back then. Or thatâs what your undeveloped mind was fooled into believing back then, since his anger was never directed towards you, ever.
Seeing their brother beat a middle schooler with a stick would do that to any child.
One thing thatâs never changed since then, however, was the fact that no matter how scary Minho appeared on the outside, you were never truly afraid of him. Because you knew, even from a young age, that he would never hurt you. On the contrary, heâs always been a little too protective of you, coddling and spoiling you rotten.
Still, that didnât mean Minho didnât know how to make you question and regret all of your life decisions with a single look. Heâs mastered the warning gaze from your parents at a young age and the feelings it awakened in you never changed. Discomfort with a side of good old shame.
âHm, lucky you, right?â
You donât respond, looking away as your whole face warms at the hidden implication. Stupid brother with his stupid mouth and his stupid mind games.
Jisungâs arm around your shoulders comforts you silently and Minho notices, eyes flying straight to the unusual display of affection.
âHave fun,â and suddenly, he smiles innocently like nothing even happened, âbut if youâre not home by the time I return from practice youâre sleeping outside with the dog.â
If you had any doubts Minho couldnât tell what you were doing, they all went out the window in a split second.
You frown, not falling for his evil ploys. âWe donât have a dog.â
âNo, but Jisung does.â Jisung snorts next to you and your glare finds a new target as you elbow his side, Minhoâs smile widening. âIâm sure Bbama will love to have a sleepover with you.â
He then turns around to continue on his merry way, humming as the cats follow him like heâs their leader or something, the one that carries all the answers theyâve been looking for. Traitors, furry little traitors, all of them.
But then, as you glare at his retreating back, it hits you.
You were supposed to have the upper hand! Heâs going to be the one sleeping outside with the dog, not you!
And so, youâre on his trail in a second, the cats all running away from the scene. âHow dare you speak to me like this?! You little bitch, come back here! â
That morning, Han Jisung is once again subjected to one of your arguments, against his will as always. The only good thing is that after all these years, heâs gotten so used to them that when you and Minho come into the living room still bickering, heâs fast asleep on the couch with all of the cats on him.
By the time youâre done getting ready for the day and leave the house with Jisung, your mood is already ruined. All thanks to Minho, a normal occurrence lately.
Getting out of his car with a huff, Jisung follows before quickly locking it and catching up with you. His arm finds solace around your shoulders again and without meaning to, you slow down to accommodate him.
âWhere are we going?â you ask, looking straight ahead as you continue leading him like you know exactly where. A girlâs wrath is capable of amazing things.
He smiles, amusement with a very obvious hint of fondness clear in his voice. âYou started walking away without me despite not even knowing where we are?â
You shrug, already becoming used to the weight of his arm around you. Itâs pleasant and warm, lulling the butterflies to sleep as you begin relaxing in his presence. Youâd never thought this would happen, not after being so nervous and excited around him for so many years because of your bottled-up feelings.
A welcomed development if you said so yourself. Finally, you managed to calm the fuck down and act normal in front of the guy you liked.
Wonder how long that will last.
âThis way.â He gently steers you both in the right direction and your destination becomes clear.
âThe arcade?â Thereâs a hint of excitement in your voice and Jisungâs face lights up, elated to finally see you happy. âI havenât been here in years! I love this place!â
Heâs beaming, grinning from ear to ear as he looks down at you. âYeah? Me too! Your brother and I used to come here all the time back in high school.â
You know this. After all, thatâs the reason you used to drag Felix here after school almost every day, just to get a glimpse of the cool senior your brother spent most of his time with. But with time, this became one of your and Felixâs favourite places thanks to the memories you made together and you often looked back fondly on those times. Skipping class has never been as fun since.
Even though you still skip class together now, in college, you arenât as attached to the hip as you were back then because of your clashing schedules so, itâs not the same.
Excited to go in and play some games, you almost miss Changbin at the entrance.
âLook who decided to finally show up!â His loud voice disturbs your pink and peaceful bubble full of memories of high schooler Felix and you canât help but sigh, already missing your daydreams.
âWhat took you so long?â He continues, all his annoyance directed at Jisung. Itâs all an act because Changbin could never be upset at him, especially since when your eyes meet, he smiles. Heâs surrounded by seven other people you donât recognize, who wave and greet you politely once your gaze moves to them.
Guess Chan was busy.
A small part of you feels a bit disappointed by their presence. Even though you were aware this wouldnât be a date per se, you were still looking forward to spending some quality time with him alone, wanting to peel back all of the layers and see who exactly was hiding behind the many masks he liked to show off. Maybe another time.
âSorry, sorry,â Jisung runs a hand through his silky hair, not sorry at all, âMinho was being difficult.â
âYou mean, a pain in the ass like always.â You mutter bitterly.
That gets a loud laugh out of Changbin, and the others follow suit, just not as flamboyant. Do all the members of 3racha run their own little cults on the side? Surely Chris wouldnâtâŠright? Right?!
He grins and changes the subject, though you sense thereâs more heâd like to add to your comment. âWeâre all here so letâs have some fun, yeah?â
Everyone cheers and you canât help but giggle, joining them before making your way inside.
Where you expected loud chatter and laughter was only the music from the speakers playing in the background, accompanied by the bright neon lights from all the game machines. The place was empty, creepily so, and you gravitated towards Jisung for support, hiding behind him in what you hoped was a subtle enough way.
Changbin and the others run wild, like children, the moment they step in, not finding anything wrong with the deserted place. Noticing your presence, Jisung turns around with a laugh, gently grasping both of your hands.
âSorry, pretty, I shouldâve mentioned it sooner.â He says, drawing comforting patterns on your knuckles. âChangbin and I rented out the whole place for the day, thatâs why it looks like something straight out of a horror movie.â
Oh, right. They were rich and famous or whatever.
You nod, visibly relaxing with the help of his comforting touch and go on ahead to discuss your plan for the day.
In the end, you settle on a pretty simple one.
Take a few pictures of each other, think of some clever captions and post them, hoping everyone (your brother) believes youâre currently on the best date of your life. Who elseâs date would rent out a whole arcade for them to spend time together in peace, getting to be as lovey-dovey as they want? No ones.
Too bad Jisung wasnât actually your date either. You were mourning that thought every day.
Once satisfied with all the posts, Jisung gets pulled away by some of the others, people youâve learnt are part of their crew, laughing loudly as they cheer him on at a game of basketball. Youâre left alone at a table somewhere a bit further away from all the fun, making yourself busy with the drink and snacks he bought to make this whole date even more believable.
Naturally, your thoughts fly to your high school days and all the time you used to spend in this very same arcade back then. Jisung has already revealed the reason he picked this place but a part of you fooled itself into believing he did it for you too, that he knew what it meant to you.
But this was Han Jisung after all, so he probably didnât. Itâs not like you could blame him either â in some aspects, you were as much of a stranger to him as he was to you since youâve never had the chance to get to know each other on a deeper level.
Isnât it strange? How you can know a person for most of your life but also know next to nothing about them?
âHaving fun?â
Changbinâs presence snaps you out of it as he takes Jisungâs previous seat across from you, smiling brightly. âI sure hope so, Jisung did all of this for you, after all.â
âWhat?â
Your eyes widen comically, not believing Changbinâs words at all which causes him to laugh in response, picking up his friendâs discarded drink.
âDidnât he tell you?â Heâs still smiling, messing with one of his bracelets that came undone. âDamn, he has no game at all, huh? No wonder heâs been single since high school.â
Your whole world is spinning and you canât help feeling like youâre being pranked right now. Jisung couldnât have done this for you! Youâre his best friendâs annoying little sister, why would he even want to do something for you?
Though, now that you think about it, he gave in easily after your argument, agreeing to help you get back at Minho with minimal complaints. But why? Does he see it as some sort of duty to protect you and make sure youâre happy all the time like he once did when you were teenagers? Is he looking out for you, wanting to keep an eye out in case you do something stupid?
Wait, what if somehow, this whole thing has been orchestrated by Minho and youâve fallen into his trap, playing his game? No way! Has your stupid brother been behind this all of this time? Is Jisung just a pawn, moving according to his orders?
Oh my god, what if â
âY/n?â Changbin moves some hair out of your eyes gently, looking at you with slight concern. âYou good?â
You shake your head, chasing away all of the irrational thoughts before nodding at his question. Sure, if being annoying was a competition, both Jisung and Minho would somehow share first place, winning every time. But, neither of these menaces would do something like this right? Play with your head and feelings in the most cruel way imaginable.
There was no way; thatâs what you chose to believe to stop your brain from going into overdrive. Felix would beat their asses, after all, defending your honour until the end. Yeah, that sounds better.
âWhy would Jisung go through all this trouble for me?â You finally ask, and Changbin lets out a relieved sigh at the sound of your voice. Were you really that out of it that he started worrying? Cute.
âWhy not?â He plops a fry in his mouth before extending his arm and asking you to fix his bracelet, tired of struggling. âYouâre his best friendâs sister. He likes making you smile.â
Your jaw drops, and so does the bracelet, the sound deafening to your overwhelmed mind. JisungâŠlikes seeing you smile. Since when?!
Across from you, Changbin frowns. âHey, are you sure youâre okay?â
Your brows furrow, and he can read the confusion on your tense features. âI just donâtâŠunderstand.â
âItâs simple, Y/n. Seeing you happy, makes him happy. Why do you think he teases and flirts with you all the time? Your laugh makes him act like an excited puppy, living to please his owner.â
Youâre not buying it. âHe acts like that with everyone, even with Minho!â
âWell, he isnât renting out arcades for everyone, now, is he?â The smile returns to his lips once you finish fixing the bracelet, eyes crinkling at the corners. âAnd especially not for Minho.â
âHe said you rented it together!â
Now, Changbin is the confused one, blinking at you for a moment before standing up abruptly. âHan Jisung!â
âNo, donât!â You stand up as well, setting a hand on his toned bicep, panicking. âPlease donât call him back here.â
Seeing the look on your face, he nods, most likely understanding that all of this new information is currently overwhelming. What he doesnât understand, however, is why did Jisung lie? But thatâs something heâd have to ask him later when you arenât here.
âDo you want to come play with me? Thereâs this one game I can never win, no matter what strategy I choose to go with.â
And thatâs how Changbin manages to calm you down once again, making you forget all about your previous conversation. Not that you werenât curious about Jisungâs motives, itâs just that your feelings got the better of you and suddenly, your heart was beating a bit too fast and your delusions almost took over. And you couldnât have that, not when you were finally spending time with the guy thatâs been off limits for years.
Okay, maybe spending time is a bit of an exaggeration since he pretty much abandoned you, but hey, at least your followers were jealous, right? A win is a win.
At some point, Changbin is also dragged away and youâre left alone trying to kill all the zombies and save the world, a task that proves to be a bit more difficult than you remembered. If only Felix was here with you, then every pixelated person would be safe and sound and youâd get to bask in all of his glory.
Thankfully, youâre not alone for long.
After a while, two strong arms wrap around your waist from behind startling you momentarily until the familiar and comforting scent reaches your nose and you relax, relieved.
âHi, baby.â The embrace along with his soothing, low voice make you feel like youâre floating on a fluffy cloud, very tranquil. Youâve wondered how heâd feel wrapped around you dressed like this, comfy in his white hoodie and pants, since this morning when he appeared at your front door. You have to admit - for once, reality was better than the daydream.
âWhat are you playing?â He continues, resting his chin on your shoulder to look at the screen in front.
You shake your head, trying to ignore the shiver that runs down your spine as his breath keeps hitting your cheek. âNothing, because Iâm losing. Felix was always better than me at this game.â
He hums lightly, looking at the toy gun in your hands. Without a word, his arms detangle from around your waist to move upwards, warm hands falling over yours gently. Your head turns slightly to the side to look at him and thatâs when you realize how close he is, actually stealing your breath away. The proximity isnât intoxicating as usual but instead, warm and fuzzy, so intimate it has you falling for him all over again.
You canât help but wonder if he feels it too, how natural it is to hold each other like this. His breathing is steady and not ragged like it was that night before his performance, calm and content as he maintains eye contact. His pupils arenât blown, and the emotion behind them is one you canât recognize. An emotion usually well-known to you but completely foreign in his eyes.
âIâm sure together we can change that.â
Thereâs no hint of tobacco or weed in his breath and that, for some strange reason, makes you very happy. Maybe because he finally resembles the person you fell for so long ago, or maybe the person you made him out to be in your head. Who was Han Jisung, after all? You really didnât know anymore, but youâd like to find out again.
Either way, the swarm of butterflies in your stomach go berserk as his hold on you tightens and he raises the gun, eyes flickering between you and the screen.
âShall we?â He doesnât need to ask you twice.
Breaking the embrace for just a moment to put in another coin, you return in his arms again once the game starts and as promised, he helps you. Itâs a silly zombie game but youâre both having the time of your lives, laughing away as he does all the work and shoots everything in sight. Itâs fun, freeing, and you wish this moment would never end as his genuine laugh makes your heart grow inch by inch with every minute that passes.
Youâre having so much fun together that time flies in a blink of an eye and suddenly, youâve played like five rounds of the same game.
When the âvictoryâ screen appears, Jisung puts the toy down and steps back, only to pull you in another hug as you turn around, happiness written across both of your faces.
Letting go, your back is to the machine as he runs his hands through honey-blonde hair, still smiling brightly.
âI bet even Yongbok would be jealous of this score.â
You laugh, nodding, your happiness so contagious it has him chuckling as well. âYou guys should play together sometimes. Youâd make an unstoppable team.â
His smile drops instantly as he rolls his eyes, all in good fun, and you canât help but reach out to pinch his full cheeks which makes him pout cutely. The sight pulls at your heartstrings and causes your pulse to pick up, not letting go of his cheek. He looks adorable like this, from his bare face to his comfy outfit, without the furrow between his eyebrows that seems to be a constant in his life.
His lips look very plush, and your mind flies far away with thoughts about melting against them in a much-needed kiss. You wonder what itâd feel like, what heâd taste like all sober and relaxed like this, and youâre once again reminded of that night a few days ago when you almost found out.
âNo thanks,â he shakes his head, still pouting and your hand falls on his shoulder, âIâd rather spend my free time with you, sweetheart.â
Warmth rushes to your cheeks but you do your best to ignore it, briefly avoiding his gaze. âI bet you tell that to all the girls.â
Thatâs when he steps closer, almost pinning you to the machine as his arms circle your waist again, chest to chest. He licks his lips and your eyes zone in on them, all wet and oh so inviting, shamelessly staring. Jisung notices and leans forward, for once not smirking or acting all smug, putting a strand of hair behind your ear and taking the opportunity to cup your cheek after, bringing your face even closer to his.
âMaybe,â He admits, not missing a beat and youâre the one rolling your eyes now, âbut this is the first time I mean it.â
Your heart thumps loudly in your chest and in fear of him hearing, you make to pull away but are surprised when he doesnât let you, instead squishing your cheeks together with both of his hands. In the absence of his rings, theyâre warm and soft, just like he is being right now.
âVery smooth, Ji.â You finally come up with a reply, voice quieter than before and speech slightly unclear. âCareful though, I might actually believe you.â
But he understands you, of course. âMaybe you should.â
His doe eyes drop to your mouth for a moment, lingering there as he lets go of one side of your face to trace your bottom lip with his thumb. Pulling it down lightly, he then moves to the top one, pushing against it like one would on a pillow to test its quality. Without even thinking about it, they pucker and you kiss his fingertip and thatâs the moment his eyes darken completely, the stars in them disappearing instantly.
Inhaling sharply, he continues with a bit of difficulty. âYou know Iâm no liar.â Then his hands drop before he moves to cradle the back of your head tenderly, bumping your nose with his.
A nervous chuckle bubbles out of you, suddenly feeling breathless. âYes, you are.â
Jisung laughs, the sound so low and devoid of any amusement that it sends a shiver down your spine, your own hands planting themselves on his chest as your brain decides between pushing him away and pulling him closer, finally closing this annoying distance.
âYes, I am.â He admits a little too easily and suddenly, your conversation with Changbin comes rushing back.
You want to ask him about it, the curiosity eating away at your every thought until youâre a blabbering mess. But, you canât. The words seem to remain stuck in your throat every time you want to bring it up, making you incapable of doing so.
So, you stop fighting it and like every normal person caught in the moment, let yourself melt in his embrace.
Time stops and your eyes flutter shut, arms moving up his body to wrap around his neck and pull him flush against you. Everything and everyone vanishes and itâs just you, him and the purple and pink neon lights that still managed to somehow blind you even in darkness.
His lips finally touch yours but for some reason, he doesnât start kissing you and your eyes snap open in disappointment just to find him already staring back.
âIf Minho were to see us like thisâŠâ he trails off when you frown, one of your hands going to fist the material of his hoodie to coax him forward. âWeâd never hear the end of it.â
You whine, doing everything in your power to remain sane as the hand at the back of your neck tangles into your hair and pulls you back slightly, still keeping your lips connected but heads farther apart.
âAre you seriously thinking about Minho as weâre about to kiss?â you ask against his lips, voice regaining its strength. âWhat the fuck, Ji?â
He chuckles darkly, his hold on your hair tightening in a very pleasant way. âIâm just reminding you about the consequences, sweetheart. Games are fun until they arenât.â
âFuck the consequences.â You plead and the desperation in your voice makes him push you further into the cold machine. âForget about Minho and kiss me, please.â
Releasing his hoodie, your nails find his nape and you feel him shiver at the contact, lips parting without a sound once you move to scratch at the shorter hair there. Itâs clear as day he wants this as much as you do; why does he continue to torture you both?
âPlease, Jisung.â
That seems to be the right thing to say because he groans, frustrated and lets his head fall in the crock of your neck, latching onto the smooth skin.
âFuck, baby.â He says after planting a few, soft kisses there. âEvery time we end up like this, our first kiss replays in my head over and over again until Iâm dizzy. Do you remember? Youâve always said my name so prettily, baby, it drives me fucking insane.â
How could you ever forget? Nobody has ever kissed you like that ever since. It was the main reason you became so enamoured with him back in high school, after all, the reason â
âWow, get a room, you two.â
Both of your heads snap in the direction of the voice, glaring at the intruder that just ruined the long-awaited moment. As Changbinâs face comes into view once Jisung steps away reluctantly, you almost let out a scream, frustrated out of your mind. And horny. Frustrated and horny and pissed out of your mind.
Changbin just lost his place as your favourite 3racha member. Heâs now in the cockblocker category with Minho.
âBin, respectfully, what the fuck?â For once, Jisung voices his frustration as he fixes his hoodie and dishevelled hair, snapping at his friend.
Putting his hands up, Changbin takes a step back. âHey, you didnât give me any heads up about wanting to fuck Minhoâs little sister today!â
Both you and Jisung look away in opposite directions, not being able to meet Changbinâs accusing gaze. Youâre surprised to see him just as embarrassed as you are since heâs always exuding an infuriating amount of confidence that has almost every person he meets falling to his feet.
This side of Jisung was a new one. Yet another thing you didnât know about him.
Well, at least it was cute.
Not having any sort of filter whatsoever, Changbin continues despite your discomfort. âYou usually let me know about those things in advance!â
Thatâs when you turn to look at him, trying your best to not show the fact that your heart just dropped all the way to your stomach, the new information making you sick. Not new, since you knew he slept around, justâŠuncomfortable. This is one of those things you are aware of but canât hear out loud, donât want to as a means to keep your heart intact and pain to a minimum.
One of those things both Minho and Felix have warned you about, which you ignored each time.
When Jisung doesnât meet your eyes, you shake your head and hurry to leave the uncomfortable situation, keeping your head down and emotions in check.
âYeah, uh, I didnât sign up for this conversation so Iâll just leave you alone.â
So, you leave, not stopping once even as Changbin starts calling your name and yells about some pictures, going to the bathroom to pull yourself together. Hopefully, some cold water will do the trick, cooling your heated skin and thumping heart, maybe even stop this uncomfortable feeling in your gut.
You should have never fallen for Han Jisung, not so hard at least.
Quite the revelation to have at 4 in the afternoon, if you say so yourself.Â
The outing ends without any other major events and after that, you and Jisung steer clear of each other for a while. The texts stop and since youâre in different departments and majors, you donât see him around campus either. The aftermath of what happened at the arcade, in front of the stupid zombie game is hitting you a bit harder than usual as all of your dreams end up being about him, his fluffy clothes and plush lips that you were once again deprived of. But then you also remember his hand in your hair, pulling at the strands and his bruising hold on your hip and suddenly, those dreams are anything but innocent.
Youâre dizzy and out of it for a few days every time you remember that moment, but after a while, you finally return to normal (somewhat). The feeling of his hands on you still lingers, but mostly when youâre alone at night and scrolling through all the pictures you, him or Changbin have taken that day.
He looks happy in them, and if you didnât know it was all an act, youâd actually believe he was just a normal guy enamoured with his sweetheart. You both look happy, playing the part a little too well and thatâs what keeps messing with your head. No, not the staged photos when you were all camera-ready but the ones Changbin took when neither of you was aware of his presence.
Before interrupting, he had the bright idea to take out his phone and capture several moments between you, claiming you both looked too cosy and comfortable to miss out on it. And you were, it was obvious even from behind. Holding and caressing each other in the most natural way, like you were long-time lovers and not just two people who will never be together.
Neither of you ended up posting those, nor did you mention them on the way home, the drive being painfully silent. You did, however, make one of these pictures your home screen, your favourite one out of the bunch. In it, Jisung was hugging you from behind, not yet preoccupied with the game, giving you his undivided attention and affection.
It was cute, yet every time you unlocked your phone and stared at it, another part of your heart shrivelled up and died quietly, leaving behind this unexplainable feeling of emptiness. But as much as it hurt, knowing Jisung will never be yours even with Mihoâs promise out of the way, you could not delete those pictures.
Maybe you were a masochist, all these years pinning after him leaving you a little messed up.
Or maybe youâve finally lost your mind after living with your stupid brother for so long.
Yeah, that sounds better. Itâs all Minhoâs fault. All of your life problems are Minhoâs fault, heâs the worst.
Almost another week passes before you hear from Han Jisung again. But, surprise, surprise, he doesnât come and talk to you in person.
âHey, guys!â Changbin plops down between you and Felix one day at lunch, surprising everyone with his presence. âWhatâs new?â
Jeongin looks at him, startled out of his mind. âWhat the hell are you doing here?â
Seungmin nods. âYeah, you donât even go here.â
You and Felix also share a look full of suspicion behind his back, silently asking each other the same thing. His sudden appearance gets a few gasps and causes a small commotion at the tables nearby but as always, Changbin doesnât pay them any attention. A man on a mission never gets distracted.
âBoo, you whores!â He shoots them a look full of fake annoyance, but all it does is cause laughter at your little table. Satisfied, he grins and turns to you. âIâm having a party this weekend and I was wondering if youâre free?â
A party at Changbinâs place usually means a whole lot of trouble. Thereâs alcohol, weed, dancers, small celebrities and pretty much everything you could ever imagine. Itâs like one of those 2000sâ MTV house parties you used to watch on TV as a child. His âhumble abodeâ becomes a full-on music festival which automatically makes it a 3racha party. And if itâs a 3racha party, that means Jisung will be there. And if Jisung is there, your heart will burst.
So, yeah, maybe youâll pass this one, even if youâre aching to see him again.
âYou too, Yongbok.â
âIâd rather eat glass, thanks.â
Changbin laughs, slapping his back playfully, clearly not taking Felixâs words seriously. But you know better, so you frown, flicking his nose to show his rude behaviour wasnât appreciated in the slightest.
With a sigh, you respond. âI donât really feel like partying, Bin.â
âMinho will be there.â He says nonchalantly, stealing one of Felixâs fries and getting another glare from the man.
âWeâll be there!â
Satisfied, he sends a wink your way before standing up and bidding goodbye, not lingering in the cafeteria for longer than necessary. Did he come all this way here just to invite you to a party he couldâve texted about? What was he planning?
Taking another sip of his strawberry milk, Seungmin meets your gaze head-on. âSince when do you speak for all of us?â
Felix nods, also turning to look at you from his seat at your side.
âWhat? I single handedly ended your miserable weekends. The least you can do is be nice about it!â
They both roll their eyes at the same time, before Seungmin stands up, grumbling under his breath about his plan to take over the world, most likely. He instead settles for getting another piece of pie, for now.
As expected, Jeongin is on your side. âCome on, a party at a rich guyâs house wonât kill you.â He tells Felix, whose mood soured significantly since Changbin showed up.
Grumpy Felix shows up only two times a year when certain people have the audacity to start sprouting nonsense in his presence. Thatâs it. So, seeing him so blue about the whole thing really isnât sitting right with you.
Bumping his shoulder with yours, he doesnât even bother to look up from his food this time.
Confused, you ask. âLix, why do you keep acting like this? Are you going through puberty again?â
That gets a laugh out of Jeongin whose platinum blonde hair bounces along with his joy. Felix doesnât share the same sentiment and for a brief moment, your heart squeezes painfully in your chest at his lack of reaction.
âCan I live?â He raises an eyebrow, purposely making his voice even deeper than it naturally is to get you to back off, all in good fun, of course.
You grin and bat your eyelashes at him, getting all up in his face. âNope.â
And without any sort of warning, your nimble fingers find his sides and you change tactics, wanting to make him laugh at all costs. It works in an instant and the sound of Felixâs much higher laugh brings a smile to both yours and Jeonginâs faces as you tickle him, taking him by complete surprise.
But as expected, his retaliation doesnât take long to come and in a blink of an eye, the roles are reversed and suddenly, youâre the one struggling to breathe as he begins tickling you mercilessly. He overpowers you easily, and you almost fall out of your chair with laughter but his quick reflexes catch you quickly, holding you up by the waist with one arm while continuing his attack with the other.
One thing about Felix is that heâll always catch you, no matter how dangerous the fall. Always.
Youâre finally saved when Seungmin returns with his pie, accompanied by none other than Hyunjin.
âHello, friends I havenât seen since this morning.â He greets everyone, taking a seat beside Jeongin, on his left while Seungmin takes his usual seat on his right. âWhatâs new?â
âChangbin invited us to a party and Lix doesnât want to come with me.â You huff once you regain your composure, your sides starting to hurt from all the laughing. Even at the mention of his name, Felix doesnât budge and acts unbothered, like you arenât actually talking but his arm remains around your middle, holding you warmly.
Hyunjinâs eyes widen and he gasps dramatically, a little over the top. âNo way! Lix said no to you? The world must be ending.â
Seungmin and Felix roll their eyes, the former busy with his dessert while the latter tries to hide his growing smile, secretly enjoying your antics. Of course, he is, Felix can never keep a straight face around you.
Nodding, you lean forward in your seat to be closer to Hyunjin. âRight?!â Then, with a fake sniffle, you continue. âHe doesnât love me anymore.â
Jeongin laughs and shakes his head when Hyunjin nods vigorously, agreeing with your lies. Thatâs when Felix frowns and hugs you closer, leaning his head against yours as his way of debunking your nonsense.
âNot true.â He mumbles under his breath before hiding his face in your hair. You canât help but smile at the gesture, taking hold of the hand thatâs on his thigh under the table, hoping that after this ridiculous show, youâre putting on he will finally agree to the party. You physically can't be away from him for that long, he has to come with you and the others.
Stealing some of Jeonginâs food, Hyunjin adds. âYou know I normally wouldnât entertain that though but, in this case, I think you might be right, Y/n.â
âWill you two shut up?â Felix groans, lifting his head and glaring at the both of you. âFine, Iâll go to the stupid party.â Looking straight at you, he then adds. âHappy?â
You cheer and throw your arms around his neck to squeeze him in an embrace, missing the smug smirk that forms on Hyunjinâs plump lips and the warning look Felix sends his way. They communicate with their eyes alone until you pull away and start going on about the party, suddenly excited since all of your friends are coming.
In your haste, you donât even notice the way Felix scoots a bit farther away from you, thoughts elsewhere.
Then, that same night you get a text that turns your whole world upside down, making the party an event that you must attend at all costs.
[off-limits j.one]: see you this weekend, sweetheart
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