THANKS I Was Semi-permanently Frowning :( In All Seriousness I Like This Series Sooo Much!! You're Great

THANKS i was semi-permanently frowning :( in all seriousness i like this series sooo much!! you're great at thisss 😭

Better Than Me | Part 24: Fractured

Summary: You and Seokmin have been dating for a few years, but now you're the star of a new drama with your co-star Rowoon, which makes Seokmin insecure. Seokmin tries his best to be supportive and understanding, but sometimes it's too much, and you're both unsure if your relationship can survive the jealousy and fights.

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Withering for You || Seungcheol - Epilogue

Pairings: Seungcheol x Fem!Reader

Genre: Angst, Fluff, Smut, CEO! Seungcheol au, Husband! Seungcheol au, Wife! Reader au, Music Teacher! Reader au, Arranged Marriage au, College Sweetheart au, Exes to Lovers au

Synopsis: When you are arranged married to the man, whose heart you had broken years ago, even dreaming about mending things seems next to impossible when he has been holding grudge for all these only to return it to you tenfold.

Warnings (specific to this part): tears, profanities, everyone is hurt and sad, mention of alcohol consumption, lovesickness, healing, friendly threats, suggestive

Word Count: 5.7k

Banner credits to my baby @hoeforhao <3

[ SVT Masterlist ] [ SVT Flick - Fic Masterlist ]

Teaser | Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Epilogue

You're enjoying the peace and calmness that moving to a different country has brought within. It has been half a year since your divorce with Seungcheol had been settled, been four months of you making a decision seemingly best for you by moving out.

Both you and Seungkwan had wanted to open several branches of your academy all around the world because you both believed that music transcends barriers and connects souls.

Though your motive while shifting was a break from everything but it also resoluted to build another branch rooted to Melodease.

You are busy nowadays, given you've to overlook the purchase and legal matters, start taking care of the design, contract and staffing. Seungkwan has offered to come over and share the workload but you're always the one to brush it off. Because keeping yourself busy is the only way to not overthink about that one person whom you wanted to spend the rest of life but apparently it was too much of an ask.

The divorce, you had tried everything to withdraw it but you should have known, it was Seungcheol who wanted for it to happen at any cost. So eventually you succumbed to his stubbornness. He wasn't even willing to face you, making it impossible for you to reach out to him so you couldn't quite recollect when was the last time you saw him. All you could remember is he never again made an eye contact with you, since he left your house that fateful night.

A rift has been created between you and your friends. You were so mad at all of them for making Seungcheol aware of the bitter past that you've been hiding. They got earfuls from you whenever they breathed in your direction. You had stopped humouring them, even going as far as to inform them about your departure just two days before. A huge fuss was caused by Mingyu and Eunsoo while Seungkwan and Wonwoo blamed themselves quietly.

When Wonwoo had arrived at your doorstep the night before your departure to apologise and ask you to reconsider your decision, you in turn had assigned him a task which you couldn't do yourself.

Your parents visit you from time to time and it's your brother who crashes at your place the most because though everyone hesitates, he's the only one who doesn't lend an ear to your protests.

"It's been half a year, don't you think you should let loose and forgive those four.", Chan voices out distressed as he once again sees the string of texts and voice messages he received in the group chat he was suddenly added to one day just so your friends could get updates of you.

"You don't understand Chan. It was not their decision to make. You don't think I could have told Seungcheol if I wanted to?", you sit down frowning, "We did end up getting divorced after all. And even though I'd have dealt with my career, I don't know how he is doing on his own because now he would neither even confide in his family and nor he has many friends. It has become a fight against his family, against the people he cherished the most."

Chan understands your friends but most importantly he understands you, he nods and sighs, "There's something I haven't told you."

"Did Seungcheol come and apologize to you, mom and dad after I left?", you say giving a small smile.

Chan is flabbergasted, "How did you know?"

"I just guessed. I knew he'd come someday, it's only after I left. Wish I could have just gotten a glimpse of him before coming here. Why do I miss him?", you say suddenly fanning your face and look up trying to blink away the tears. Chan observes you silently.

Your heart still beats for Seungcheol.

Seungcheol rubs the wedding band which sits on his finger, lost in thoughts he then proceeds to caress the other wedding band the one he wears in a chain, which is also yours.

In the last few months, he solely focused on destroying Jiah. He went on to dig her past and accumulate every malicious deed, hurtful comments or poor gestures done by her throughout her life including all her flings. If it would have been earlier he would have had a hard time believing it all but not anymore. After gathering every possible bit, he made his PR team to work overtime to destroy her image. Each day new articles would resurface by random journalists on several platforms.

"I'm sorry, Cheol", Jiah cries at his feet, hands clasped, begging, "Please please just stop, I'm ruined."

Seungcheol laughs completely apathetic, "This has just begun. I'll bring you on the streets. I make you cry tears of blood."

Jiah looks him at horrified, "I'm begging you, we are best friends Cheol--"

Seungcheol burns at her words, "Since you showed me how best of a friend you are, it's my turn to show how great I can be. I won't stop until you dread hearing my name, until you regret what you've done. Hell, you've just heard of it, I'll make you live in it."

"I'll do anything you want, I'll apologise to Y/N please spare me.", Jiah continues to beg.

"Don't you dare utter her name with your filthy mouth. For the tears you made her cry, I'll make you cry tenfold. If you think there's gonna be an end to it, no, you'd suffer till your consciousness stays with you."

Then he makes the security drag her out of the building, onto the road.

Using her now completely ruined image, he pulled all cards to ruin off her father's company. Though he felt bad for her parents but they should have raised their daughter well and since they didn't it fell on their plate as well. That's what he had said to her father when he had the business go bankrupt.

Seungcheol doesn't stop here, he's still finding ways to put Jiah behind the bars, and if concrete proof doesn't knock on his door, he has his mind set on creating a whole new room of miseries for his said best friend.

But nothing he does gives him a sense of fulfillment. He's empty, heartbroken and a looser in love. Every time he remembers the way he had treated you, the schemes he had plotted against you, the venomous words he had said to you and the hatred he harboured towards you, they make him wanna disappear from the face of earth.

His parents don't get to see him, there's no monthly family dinner at the Choi's anymore.

Seungcheol who wanted to have you as his in all of the lifetimes, doesn't dare to make such a wish anymore. He has failed you, so he accepts the fact that you deserve the best. Someone who's not him. Someone who gives you all the smiles and none of the tears.

The wedding gown which you left untouched in his closet when you had moved out, Seungcheol walks in every night just to hold the garment. He imagines you in it and hugs it to his chest pouring his heart out. Each night  the empty house echoes his cries. The composition you had gifted him on his birthday, he plays it everyday while reminiscing the times he has got to spend with you.

His heart only beats for you.

"You are in love with your ex husband who's in love with you as well? I still don't get why you both are divorced."

You roll your eyes and walk past Jihoon who doesn't bother to follow behind because you'd be able to hear him anyways.

"Make it make sense, from what I heard...", his brows quirk up and nods at himself, "The bigshot Choi Seungcheol is being unnecessarily dramatic when you both can now live happily ever after."

You throw him a glare, "Don't you dare call him dramatic. He's in a rough spot and going through hell. But since he's stubborn and won't listen to anyone, we'll both keep wallowing in pity."

Jihoon gives you a look, "At least you're sensible. Anyways, you'd always see a DND board on my cabin's door. So please don't hesitate to get lost and not show your face to me."

You're neither surprised nor disappointed.

Lee Jihoon is a prodigal producer who's renowned around the world for his compositions. He can play every instrument in and out (claimed by people) specialising in Violin. You and Seungkwan had been eyeing him since long for managing your academy and it took you a lot of effort and determination to be able to rope him in. The man is always snappy and unfiltered. He knows he ain't people pleaser thus, he likes his space and doesn't allow interference. You just have to trust and leave the rest up to him and it'll be all taken care of.

Surprisingly, he knew you as well and though he would never admit, you're guessing the only reason he agreed to manage the new branch because as an artist he felt violated with your supposed plagiarism case. That he empathizes with you.

You don't usually go around sharing your personal life with everyone but with Jihoon it came in candid. Gradually, he came to know about you and you about him. The man is a feline who can differentiate good from bad. So after pulling many late nights and over many drinks, you both have become comfortable with each other. So comfortable that he treats you as his errand woman and every time you dare to protest he threatens to breach the contract because as he brags he has money. That annoying mf--

Jihoon knows he shouldn't be nosy but also he couldn't turn a blind eye to how you cry every time you get wasted. How whenever you bring up your husband there's an abyss of longing in your eyes. Though you're diligent and pushing yourself hard, your mind always reels back to him.

"It's your birthday next week, what do you want?", Jihoon asks and tuts instantly, "Except for Seungcheol, I can't give you him."

"Nothing.", you state blatantly, "Just stay with the academy."

"Nevermind, trying to give you Seungcheol sounds easier.", Jihoon jokes and the cushion he receives on his face isn't uncalled for.

Nobody is as distressed as Mingyu. He hasn't seen you in months, you don't talk to him like before. He feels guilty. He shouldn't have involved himself in your matters when he knew why you tried so hard to cover the truth. He regrets urging Eunsoo to confess to Wonwoo because even though she presses that she's fine and masters at hiding her feelings whenever in the same room as Wonwoo, he knows she isn't exactly doing well. It's been quite a time and neither you nor Eunsoo are doing well. Not like Wonwoo or Seungcheol are doing any better.

So he thinks it's only the doable, he needs to take the matters into his hands, if not alone atleast with Chan and Seungkwan. It might try to fix things one last time, with no expectations, no agendas of his own.

When Chan asked Mingyu to accompany him somewhere, he found it odd but agreed nonetheless.

His face changes when he finds himself infront of Seungcheol's house.

"If you see any tendencies of violence in my speech or body language just hold me back. I don't wanna beat Seungcheol but actually I do wanna beat him.", Chan says as they enter the house.

Mingyu is already breaking in cold sweat and the only accountable relief is Wonwoo's presence. When they see Seungcheol, both Chan and Mingyu are shocked at his state. He looks sick and tired.

"Are you okay?", Mingyu asks and Seungcheol nods. That's when his eyes falls behind and he sees the large wedding picture frame hung on the wall. His eyes linger further and he sees how on every wall there are pictures of you, or you and him.

Chan witnesses that Seungcheol's doing as bad as you, maybe worse. Seungcheol has not been able to meet his eyes since he knew about the past like now, his eyes are down in shame.

"Look at me", Chan says calmly, "You don't have to be ashamed of something you have never taken part in."

"But my father did.", Seungcheol whispers, "I can't forgive myself about how I treated you all and her when all you did was protect me."

"You are not doing fine neither she is.", Mingyu adds, "What's the point of seperation when you both love each other?"

"She cries everyday because of you. Regrets wanting to be selfish and marry you because you're suffering. She blames herself for everything to the point that she isolated herself from her family, friends and her academy. She's alone off to a faraway place where if an emergency occurs the fastest we can get to her would be after a 10 hour journey.", Chan doesn't usually breaks but his voice cracks, "It's so hard to see her being hard on herself. The breakup in the past must have been hard on you, but for her it was worst. I shouldn't be disclosing this but it took her a lot of therapy sessions to get out of depression. It was arduous for all of us because as you know she's the life of our family, the academy and her friends circle."

Seungcheol listens to your brother wide, teary eyed. He feels as if he's in a whirlwind.

"When I don't have any grudge against you, Y/N wants to be with you the why are you making all of our lives miserable?", Chan speaks with frustration, "You still have chamce to make things right. Don't choose to be a victim to the circumstances once again and let the love of your life go. You both have defied the odds and been together so why complicate things when there could be happily ever after waiting for you both."

"Do I deserve--"

Seungcheol haults in track, scared when he sees Mingyu seething and fisting his hands.

"Stop being a crybaby and own up. You caused a lot of damage to Y/N and you should make it up to her.", Mingyu says through his gritted teeth, "Stop trying to run away. That woman has been suffering for years just because of your family and you. She's a saint for being so understanding and patient, always putting everyone above herself. Though she'd never admit, we all know that she went away just not to be a bother for anyone, specially you. I'll beat you to a pulp if you suck up one more time. Fucking coward!"

Tables turned, now it's Chan and Wonwoo who are holding Mingyu back because Mingyu himself has the patience of Saint so when he gets worked up, things get out of control.

In the midst of all this, Mingyu throws a glare at Wonwoo as well and that's when the later unhands him and steps back.

"Do you lack common sense? What's the point of hanging her pictures and playing her compositions when after all this, she's waiting with her hands open but you won't go.", Mingyu keeps on scolding, "Why do we have to come and speak sense into your mind when you're an adult with much developed brain, developed enough to plot things to ruin someone's career?"

Six pairs of wide eyes falls on Mingyu. Seungcheol thinks hell has come in form of the buff guy infront of him. Chan thinks it's so cool of the same buff guy. Wonwoo thinks in near future he'll be facing the same fate as Seungcheol's facing today.

When Chan and Mingyu leave, Wonwoo stays behind. He quietly places a box on the table.

Before Seungcheol could enquire, he answers, "Y/N had requested me to give you this box on her birthday. Though I don't know what it contains but I do have a feeling that there won't be any more appropriate time to hand this over. I should have given it to you earlier."

After Wonwoo leaves, Seungcheol exhales sharply as his hands gently caress the box and carefully opens it.

There's a letter that sits atop. He opens the thread tied around it and starts reading.

Hey Cherry,

I couldn't help but call you that, sorry if it made you uncomfortable. If you're reading this, then it's probably my birthday today. I'll make my birthday wishes later but here's a return gift for you. This box is an ode to you, to commemorate your love because enough we didn't get our happy ending, I could live the rest of my life reminiscing the moments we spent, the love we shared together.

Now let me show you what our love meant through my eyes. There should be a sweater inside the box, take that out.

Seungcheol immediately takes out the red crochet sweater and traces over the garment and the wordings on it. He then goes back reading the letter.

Remember when we were dating, I had grown an interest on crocheting and took classes. I had woven this sweater for you. It says "Mon Amour", which means my love in French another outcome of the music lessons I was taking from the French teacher. Never got a chance to give you this and now that you've grown big muscles, it won't fit you. You can give it or throw it.

Now you'd see a pile of vinyls. Since you've always encouraged me to pursue my passion, you became the source of my inspiration. There are 26 vinyls and each of those compositions were inspired by you. Some were composed when we were dating, some after our breakup, throughout the span of seven years and some while we were still married. I thought of returning these to their owner in true sense. These came straight out of my vault. You can keep them or burn all of them.

Seungcheol takes out the vinyls and rearranges all of them in the order of the dates written on them. He notices each Vinyl cover had a colour of it's own and each one was addressed to his name in your handwriting.

You've always loved Tulips. Remember each time I bought you those, how you'd end up getting sad because they'd wilt? So I gathered every colour I could and preserved it for you. There's a flap in which I've kept the Tulips. Don't get sad anymore, they'll stay with you now.

The rest are random things I had brought on whim either because I thought you'd like them or it reminded me of you and they may not make any sense to you.

Seungcheol notices the spilled ink in many places, blurring the words, as the letter reaches it's end because of the tears those fell down while you wrote the letter.

Nostalgic isn't it? So now that we're closing in, I'd like to say a few things to you. I don't blame you for happened in the past, nor does my family. As things turned out, we didn't end up together. But I don't want you to become a stranger whose laugh I could recognize anywhere. Let's not be that (only if you're comfortable enough to acknowledge me if we ever cross paths again).

As I said, even though it's my birthday I'll make a wish for you, make sure to fulfil it. Not request but it's a demand from your ex-wife. I wish you would move on from all the sufferings and pain. You should move on from me, from us. I wish for you to fall in love again with someone who'd keep you happy and bring back the liveliness in you. I admit it would hurt me, a lot but it'd mean nothing if you'd be well.

Never hesitate to come and find me, even if it's just for a brief moment. I'm always available for you. Also, just to remind you, don't you feel lonely, remember my friends are yours as well. Do disturb them at your will, most they'll do is throw tantrums but they're nice I promise. I love you, will always do. But you, move on okay? So that's all I guess. Sorry took too much of your time. Take care of yourself.

From,

Your Cherry (for one last time, promise)

Seungcheol is bawling his eyes out, screaming in pain as he reads your letter again and again, occasionally holding it close to his chest.

There's only one question that reels in his mind. How could you love him so selflessly?

You didn't expect much on your birthday but with all your friends and family travelling hours long, jamming up your place just to celebrate your day, it feels nice.

"Jihoon arranged the cake, but since Y/N wanted the party to be held in here he cancelled the venue.", Seungkwan states as a matter of fact, "Thank God, he's here otherwise my lifeline would have receded to half worrying about her."

All of your friends look at you happily chatting with your parents.

"Thanks Jihoon.", Eunsoo expresses her sincere gratitude, "I'm so relieved that she has you. She still hasn't forgiven us and knowing how private she tends to be, it's nice that she at least has you."

"We all feel the same.", Wonwoo assures and Eunsoo side eyes him as she shifts further away from him, changing seats.

Jihoon smiles genuinely, "Y/N is a great person to have around you so gradually you'd be willing to reciprocate the efforts."

"Good things, happen to good people but why is she suffering?", Mingyu sighs, chugging the can of bear, "She says she's mad at me, but she bought me my favourite limited edition watch when I was still recovering from the ligament injury."

"Yeah same, she checks on me throughout the day and night whenever I am going through a rough patch.", Eunsoo adds, "Even asked me to come and stay with her to take my mind off", she looks at Wonwoo, "things."

"Yeah, we may not always talk like we did before but she still cares the same.", Seungkwan says, "It's her nature, she can't do anything about it."

"Something good should happen to her soon.", Jihoon implies as he twirls the can in his hands.

The night goes on with you spending time with your dearest ones and catching up with everyone.

"Thanks for coming everyone.", you say making a toast, "I haven't felt this good lately. Y'all made my day really special."

At some point it's a mess, you're chasing Mingyu, who's screaming for his life because he smashed a big chunk of cake on your face. Eunsoo is eating off Jihoon's ears because she wants to hear him play Violin. Wonwoo doesn't like it a bit but there's nothing he can do apart from glaring at Jihoon. Seungkwan and Chan are debating over something useless, everyone is sure that next they're gonna fight each other to impose their point. Your parents look at all of you with a fond smile on their faces.

It's an hour till midnight when everyone decides to leave for the hotel they've been staying in. Though your friends and brother offer you help but you send them all away knowing they're still tired from such long journey.

You clean up the place and check the time before jogging down to throw the Dustin bags. All you could think of was if Seungcheol had read your letter. Doesn't matter if not today, as long as he reads it, any day is fine.

It's chilly outside as the full moon shines brightly. You stand outside not entering the gate and close your eyes to feel the breeze. It's calming, you think.

When you open your eyes after staying out for good amount of time, you think you had drunk a little too much.

"I shouldn't have drunk so much, now I'm seeing you.", you shake your head, slap your cheeks and look ahead again, "Why are you still here? Just vanish.', then you turn back to go inside the house.

"Y/N..."

You halt and say, "Now I'm hearing things also, great."

Suddenly you're being back hugged, "You're not hallucinating.", that's when you freeze, realisation gnawing on you.

Seungcheol has really come, he's physically present.

"W-What are you doing here?", you asked in your choked voice.

"I think we should have this conversation inside, only if you'll allow me to.", Seungcheol says and loosens his grip.

"Y-Yeah sure.", you don't look back, at him and walk straight into the house with him following you.

As Seungcheol takes a seat, you kick away the balloons, "Sorry, it's a mess right now.", and you flee to the kitchen to bring some slices of cake, "Have them, it's your favourite flavour."

"Happy Birthday, Y/N", he wishes you, taking the plate and you smile at him fondly.

"Have you eaten dinner?", you ask him and he shakes his head, "Came here straight from the airport."

While he eats the cake, you serve him all the dishes saying, "You should have told me that you'd come. I would have waited and we could have had the dinner together."

Seungcheol looks at you, wordless. So do you, observe him, the black hair that falls on his forehead, thick eyebrows, his brown orbs, dimpled cheeks, the small nose and stubbled chin, all of it. There's a soothing silence and you don't wanna break it.

"Y/N, there's a reason to why I came today."

You are calm, willing to listen to anything he has to offer because nothing worse can happen than what has already happened.

"I am not well without you.", he gives a small smile not meeting your gaze, "People are saying I look like a ghost nowadays, you can see it as well.", there's a pause before he looks at you and continues, "Your friends and brother have been trying hard to speak some senses into my mind. And I received the box you left for me, last week."

"But you were supposed to receive it today", you say calmly, "If my friends and family are pestering you, I'm sorry. I'd tell them to stop."

Seungcheol chuckles, shaking his head. He grabs both of your hands, "The problem isn't about me being unwell without you. The problem lies with you being more heartbroken and pained without me. You have suffered enough, you shouldn't be suffering anymore."

His hands trail gently upto your face, "And I'm here today to solve that."

You habitually lean into his touch, "Don't say something that would break my heart again, on my birthday."

"I know even without trying or repenting if I ask you to take me back, you'd do it in a heartbeat.", tears prick at his eyes as he speaks, "And now that there're no more secrets, though it's selfish of me but I want us to be together again, to live and to love forever. I want to love you right, treat you like you deserve to be treated."

You break down in tears, hiding your face in your palms, sobbing as you say, "This feels unreal. What if I'm dreaming and you'd be gone when I wake up?"

Seungcheol sniffles as he hugs you tightly, "I'm here, love. I won't go anywhere, I promise."

You snuggle closer to him, he embraces you tighter.

There are few taps on your back and you pull back only to Seungcheol making you stand up. You eyes questions him as he pecks your forehead quickly and kneels on his left knee.

Your eyes go wide as saucers as you watch him unfasten his chain and take out the ring, which you recognise is yours. He holds the ring saying, "I want to spend all of my tomorrows with you because you taught me the real meaning of love. Would you please with cherries on top, marry me?"

Not trusting your voice and with a frantic nod of head, you extend your hand towards him, onto which Seungcheol slides in the ring. You put the other ring on his finger and pull him into a fervent kiss.

Before he could take you to the bed and have you, you're pushing him away, "You haven't eaten, dinner first."

Seungcheol groans, his lips finding it's way back on your neck as he whispers, "I wanna eat you out. You're my meal, you're my dessert to devour."

You give up knowing, he's not going to listen because he's stripping you down to nothing, kissing and sucking everywhere.

"I love you, love you so much.", he keeps on murmuring, "You're mine, only mine."

Carrying you inside, he slams the bedroom door shut. All you could remember is his name and the way he worked on your whole body diligently through the night, till the morning.

"I wanna meet Lee Jihoon.", Seungcheol says during lunch, because that's when you both finally left the bed after long long sessions of love making.

But he makes you sit on his lap, "Because along with the plane ticket that I found on my office table, he had sent a card with the instructions to give it to you."

He takes out the card from his coat which was hung on the chair and gives it to you.

'Here's your birthday gift, Y/N. Told ya, giving you Seungcheol would be much easier.'

You are grinning ear to ear, "Definitely, he seems snappy but is actually quite a nice guy."

Seungcheol gulps when he remembers the other note which contained nothing but the pure threat of kidnapping, smuggling and dumping him to your house if he doesn't come here voluntarily, "Y-Yeah sure, he must be a nice guy..."

The nation is in uproar because it was such a sight to see Choi Seungcheol carrying his ex-wife in bridal style, smooching her throughout, in front of the media, till they're seen out of the airport.

Another shock comes from the musical prodigy, Lee Jihoon who returns to his roots posing as a bodyguard to the couple.

The media doesn't get to rest when a month later, both the Choi's and Lee's publish articles about your wedding to Seungcheol along with some glamourous shots from the private wedding that took place with limited guests consisting mostly closed friends and family.

Some are confused, some are shocked but more or less everyone is curious. No matter how hard the paparazzi are trying they're unable to pull tabs on what actually happened. You both are the trending topic and though all tabloids are based on pure speculations, it also shows the upper hand The Choi's have on protecting their matters.

"I have the sent the data as an anonymous to the police.", Wonwoo informs, "I'm sure it'll be concrete enough to put Jiah behind the bars."

"Great.", Seungcheol smiles, "Keep on digging, make sure once she's in, she never gets out of the prison."

Wonwoo gives a nod and leaves.

"Are you sure he like Eunsoo back?", Seungcheol turns to ask you.

"You should notice how stone cold poker faced Wonwoo starts to show emotions whenever he sees Eunsoo with Jihoon. I have caught him stealing glances at our Soo as well.", you sigh, "I know it must be hard for him, but I wish he could just be honest with his feelings."

"I'll talk to him", Seungcheol assures and as if a switch flips he pouts saying, "Why'd you have to go? We just got married."

"I'll have to look over the academy until it's fully functional.", you tell him, "Jihoon can take over after that but till then I'll have keep going back and forth. But hey, I'll be here for a month before I go, let's utilize it to the fullest."

"Of course, baby. Don't worry I'll manage my schedule so that I can be there with you for most of the time.", he pecks your lips, "I'm so proud of you. I love you."

"Love you too, Cherry.", you smile looking at him.

"Let's plan for our honeymoon--"

"Cheol, I was thinking that...", your lips purse into a line, "instead of touring, can we spend some time alone without work, just the two of us, somewhere cozy. Only if you're okay with it, I know you're busy and to take time completely off--"

You're cut off by his lips on yours. He kisses you for a good amount of time and says, "If you want it then I'll manage. Anything for you baby."

You smile pushing him away, "You're down bad.", ypj tease, "I'll have to drop by the academy, Seungkwan is waiting."

"I'll take you.", Seungcheol gets up grabbing the car keys, "I'm sure everyone is there specially Jihoon, I'm a fan."

You roll your eyes, "Yeah everyone is saying so but he's a plain pain in ass to me. Let's take Wonwoo with us.", grabbing your clutch, "I'm planning to visit Wonseok, let's go together this weekend. Also, I've informed Ms. Oh that we'd be eating out tonight."

As Seungcheol drives, your mind reels back to everything that happened over the month. Your husband proposing to you, you coming back and accepting things with his parents as they offer their earnest apologies. Though Seungcheol is still not on talking terms with them and you're yet to entirely let go of what they've done, you think time will mend the relationships.

Getting married again but this time just out of pure love. Discussions about having family, bearing his children in future comes often and you don't miss the gleam in your husband's eyes when you both talk over it casually nowadays, him always assuring that he's ready whenever you're ready. Your friends now becoming more of Seungcheol's group as they pick each other's habit and throw unfiltered banter, Jihoon included.

If years of suffering have led you to witness these days then you're content because it's all worth it.

Even though Seungcheol is engaged in a conversation with the group, he sweeps a quick glance at you, smiling fondly and mouthing a 'I Love you' before diving back just to sulk at something Mingyu claimed.

You say those words right back to him in your heart, a thousand times more as you make a wish you have him as yours in all lifetimes.

To be fully seen by somebody and be loved anyhow is a human offering that can border on miraculous. Having withered for each other and falling back in love, lucky you both to be spending the rest of your lives together.

→ Do not copy, re-post, translate, or share any of my works on other platforms! All stories are copyrighted, joonsytip. ©️

[2:04 AM] Moving on from you was hard. 

 Still hard, and seeing you with someone else while he still thinks about you is even harder. 

 Sometimes, it’s almost comical that love makes him lose his mind like this. But here he is, pouring another bottle of wine into his glass as the light on his nightstand illuminates his bedroom now standing lonely. 

 Seungcheol knows he should leave you behind. But he can’t, not with the way that the image of your eyes staring right deep into his soul still serves as a mental image that he thinks back about every night before he lured himself to sleep with nothing but regret as the bed warmed by his side. 

 He has the tendency to overwork himself to death— you always tell him to take it easy. With you around, he did, but with you gone, the only way that he can proceed with his life normally is if he throws himself into work so that he won’t have time to entertain his heart of the ideas of ‘what if’s with you. 

 He always forgot to eat his meals on time whenever he was busy and he thinks that he didn’t die because you were the one to remind him of the food intake. But god, does it get harder to eat when you slip out of his life and he goes back to square one, with only the thoughts of you soothing his pain to stop all of his misery. 

 With each thought, the wine bottle soon becomes emptied and he pours another one and repeats the step all over again. 

 He doesn’t tell you this, and he hopes you won’t know it either. He has tried seeing other people but all he ended up seeing was a glimpse of you— he knows it’s selfish and it broke his heart a bit, thinking how much of a horrible man he is for leading people on. 

 He sometimes drive by your house. Or even change the usual route he usually takes for his work by driving on your street, just to see your house. But he doesn’t have the heart to face you and gradually, the amount of time he has done this has decreased, but it doesn’t make it hurt any less. He even goes to both of your favorite restaurants in hope to run into you, but it seems like you never revisit after the breakup. 

 He has to move on, even if he’s feeling so weak and defeated. 

 His eyes glances over to the view outside of the city— it looks dull and there’s no warmth to the scenery at all, just how he has been feeling for months. His lips didn’t dare to speak, he lost his ability to really speak his mind a long time ago once you make your way out of his life. 

 He then takes the last sip of the wine before he realizes that he managed to finish 2 bottles for tonight. 

 Enough is enough. 

So, he collects the beverages and the wine stains glass, placing it into the sink as he lets the water run. He cleans it with a sigh, and doesn't ever bother to turn on the light either as the light provided from far away was enough for him.

 With a heavy heart, he has to force himself to step out of the kitchen, making his way to go back to rest. His palm then unlocks the door of his bedroom that he has previously left in the cold, with neither the nightstand lamp turned off nor the air conditioner still brewing of cold air that runs past his body. 

 He then gently lays himself onto his bed, trying to secure warmth with the blanket, eyes attempting to close on its own due to his intoxicated state as his head can only think of you and your new lover, heart now trembling in pain. 

 Tonight, he allows himself to miss you again, but tomorrow, he knows he has to move on. 

COPYRIGHTED BY SADNIGHTFORUS, 2024

A/N: been feeling a little angsty lately. inspired by one of bloo's songs.

reblogs, comments and likes are appreciated!

𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 ˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥

01. cash (lack thereof)

🌼 warnings: none

🌼word count: ~1.9k

The words in the letter surprise you. In some ways, it gives you mixed feelings.

Happy, of course, that you’d gotten the job, signed the contract and you could move on from the clinic you’d dedicated over six years to after getting your degree to a larger hospital. It meant a change of pace, change in the people around you, and a step upward in your career.

Sad, that you couldn’t start immediately.

The letter announced the start of your contract to be in three months. But you were already packed up from your previous clinic and ready to move out.

Sitting back on your couch, you scan the letter again. “Commencement of the job will be three months from the date on the letter. Please contact us in the case of any confusion.” You sigh and toss the letter aside, leaning your head back.

Three months. Three months to do anything you wanted. Go on a long-needed vacation, binge-watch all the seasons of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, buy a whole supermarket’s worth of ice cream.. the possibilities were endless.

As you were in your reverie of much-anticipated relaxation, your phone rings.

You pick up, and your uncle’s voice rings out in a cheerful baritone, loud and joyful.

“Y/N!”

“Hi, Uncle.”

“Oh, I haven’t heard from you in a while, dear. How’s everything?”

“Good,” you say, a little awkwardly. “I got a new job.”

“Goodness! How wonderful.” Your uncle seems positively delighted. You clear your throat, and ask quietly, “Why'd you call? Is everything okay?”

“Definitely! We were just calling to ask if you were going back to the countryside this year.” Your uncle says. You freeze slightly. “I know it’s hard with how busy you are. But it’s good to have a break before you continue running off everywhere, you know?”

“But you aren’t living in the countryside anymore, Uncle,” you remind him. “I don’t have anyone to visit.”

“I know,” your uncle says, sighing. “Part of me wishes we stayed, but… oh well. That’s life. You have to move on from something.”

You stay quiet.

“But enough about us! Maybe try to go back at least once.” Your uncle says again. “Eat well, have a good rest… some sea air would be great for you. Call me if you need anything.”

“I will, Uncle. You too. Send my love to Aunt.”

With a cheery farewell, the call ends. You take a deep breath and try to recall the last time you went home to the countryside for a short visit three years ago.

Your aunt’s fragrant chicken soup. Your uncle’s over-interest in your knowledge about a shoe brand he liked. Your cousin’s feeble attempts to get freebies from when you did a checkup on the child of the owner of a popular makeup brand. Laughter, togetherness, the feeling of finally having someone to come home to.

But there would be no internet, no socialising. No fine dining, no external staff for the cleaning and dirty work you didn’t like. No polished floors, air conditioning wherever you went.

It was a win-lose.

Yet the feeling of not going back irked you, an emotion you couldn't place.

Five minutes. Ten minutes as you considered your situation.

Three months to do whatever you liked.

After a power struggle with your mind, you sat up, inhaling deeply and then letting it go. A day trip. You could spare a day trip visiting your old home, before you came back to reality, where you should be, instead of reminiscing on memories long past.

You were going home, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine would have to wait.

You hate it here.

Your heels dig into the rough gravel as you step out of your car. A bad choice to wear Louboutins, you surmise, as you reach into the backseat for your bag.

You had decided to go to the beach, before maybe grabbing a bite at a cafe, taking some pictures in a weak attempt to relive your childhood memories, before the one-hour-fifteen-minute drive home. It wasn't as if you were here to visit anyone, you reasoned to yourself as you picked your way through the old country road you remembered all too well -- there was absolutely no need to stay any longer than you had to.

Besides, after the abrupt death of your parents in a car accident midway through your diploma, you had sworn to leave the moment you could, the memories of two people who would never return sitting heavily on you.

And that was what you had done, a mere two months after receiving a full university scholarship. You had left and never looked back since.

Nostalgia rushes through you as you find a less sandy and hot spot and sit down, careful not to get any sand into your precious heels. The beach is mostly empty, save for a few people swimming, surfing, or having a family day out. Your gaze goes out to sea, hugging your legs to yourself.

You silently hype yourself up. No more sad memories. You didn't have time for that. You would take this chance to wallow for a bit, and then you would look forward. Better things were coming for you.

A full thirty minutes pass before you feel yourself about to combust. You get up, wincing at the roughness of the sand on your hands. As a kid, you loved the beach. But it was different now. You were a grown-up, and grown-ups don't soak in self-pity. Or sand.

You struggle back on to solid land, deciding to get a quick coffee at a small cafe before leaving. As you approach a store with the large sign reading 'Hwang's Coffee Corner', you reach for the aged, wooden door and pull it open.

The cafe smells not of coffee, but of a soft, vanilla-like aroma from a scented candle nearby. A middle-aged woman sitting at the counter humming to trot music looks up. Your instincts, long honed by long rides on lifts and shopping trips, force an up-down look at her as she stands to welcome you. Thick, curly, and unstyled hair held back with a purple headband, too-pink lipstick, an old blue dress, worn-out sandals.

You force yourself to ignore the judgmental comment at the tip of your tongue and grit out a barely-there hello. The woman smiles, big and unrestricted, introduces herself as Ms Hwang, the owner, and asks for your order.

"Just a latte, please."

"Got that!" Ms Hwang chirps, and you cringe at how loud her voice is, ringing in the silence of the cafe.

You fish in your bag for your wallet, deciding to just get a takeaway cup instead, and you pull out your credit card.

Ms Hwang shakes her head, "We only take cash."

Your face burns as you look back up at the woman. "Um..sorry. I don't have cash on me."

Her eyebrows shoot up. "What?"

"I only have credit cards."

"Oh. Well, it won't be of much use. The card machine hasn't been working for a while anyway, we only take cash." Ms Hwang's tone is slightly dismissive, as she taps away on the cashier screen.

Your face drops. What place doesn't take credit cards now?

Turns out the question was said out loud and not in your head. Ms Hwang looks up, eyes slightly wide at the intrusive question.

"What are you trying to say?" Her voice isn't that of the friendly lady-next-door anymore and has a sharpness to it. You sigh in mild irritation and reply. "Forget it. I'll try to get cash first."

"No, you won't! Explain what you meant. Are you trying to say this store is outdated?" The woman seems to be getting agitated, and you really don't want to have a conflict in the middle of this god-forsaken town right now.

"No, I-"

"Oh, Wonwoo!" The angry owner suddenly exclaims to someone who just entered the cafe, the bell above the door announcing their arrival. "Help me over here! This lady thinks the cafe is outdated just because she doesn't have cash and can't pay!"

You roll your eyes and turn around, ready to defend your case to the next person who is clearly going to take her side after her accusation.

Everything you were going to say flies right out of the window when you see him.

Clean-cut, damp, dark brown hair, strong and defined eyebrows that are currently raised at the unfolding situation, and deep-set eyes. Dressed in a simple flannel outerwear with a T-shirt and jeans, glasses perched on his sharp nose bridge, he looks every bit like a local heartthrob. You subconsciously recall your outfit.

But this heartthrob is currently striding in behind the counter, next to Ms Hwang, and raising his eyebrows at you in mild disapproval.

"You really shouldn't have said that." His voice is deep and rich. You snap yourself back to the present moment, and begin to protest hotly. "I said nothing of the sort! I only hold cards in my wallet, and she said that cards wouldn't work since the machine was broken. And that's strange, isn't it? Every place takes cards now-"

"Strange?" The man- Wonwoo, you remember, interrupts, head tilting in curiousity as he surveys you. "Strange how?"

You huff impatiently. Seriously, does no one here know the wonders of credit card transactions?

"Go to any shop in the city. I'll bet you anything they take cards-"

"This isn't the city, miss," he shrugs. "Most stores here usually take cash. And you should probably be carrying cash around with you anyway."

You sigh, massaging your temples. "Look, this is getting more complicated than it has to be, alright? I'll get some cash first, and-"

"How do I know you're not a swindler?" Ms Hwang cuts in, narrowing her eyebrows.

You sigh. She's not easy, that much you've figured out. You didn't even get the coffee, and she's already making a big fuss.

"I can leave my bag with you while I'm at it." You shrug the handbag off your shoulder, wincing internally when your beloved Marc Jacobs lands on the aged wooden counter. Ms Hwang immediately descends upon it, glaring at you.

"All this for a coffee?" Wonwoo asks, bemused, as he runs his hands through his hair.

"I'm proving that I'm not a con job, mister." You glare at him. "I don't even need the coffee, forget it!"

He shrugs, half-amused by your outburst. "Okay then, Miss Not-Con-Job. Hope you get the cash."

The waves are large today, Wonwoo muses as he hoists his surfing board out to the water and mounts it, careful to tuck his glasses away. Before long, he's soaring and cruising, sea air hitting his face in a cooling spray.

Humming to himself, he gets to his feet easily on the board, and sways with the water's direction.

This is life, he sighs out in relief. As his gaze crosses the beach he loves so dearly, of the laughing children and fond parents, he catches sight of a woman. Sitting all alone, hugging her legs to herself as she gazes out at the very sea he's cruising through.

No one should look sad in a place as beautiful as this, he thinks. And while his view keeps on wandering across the villagers' familiar faces, across the infinite span of the sea, he finds that his eyes, too, keep going back to her.

𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 ˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥

🌼 summary: going back to the countryside where you grew up was at the bottom of your list. unexpectedly, your life changes course, and you eventually find your home in weekly village cleaning, the sound of the waves, and with the local jack-of-all-trades, jeon wonwoo.

🌼 pairing: wonwoo x reader fic (written, fluff, angst, hometown chachacha!inspired)

🌼 genre(s): fluff, mild angst, yn can be mean sometimes at the start (this is inspired by the kdrama hometown cha-cha-cha, so some parts of the plot and characters are similar), wonwoo is an overall sweetheart

ch.01: cash (lack thereof)

masterlist. next.

writer's note: ookayy... i'm nervous 😭 it's my first written series sooo any feedback is welcomed!! thank you for reading 😙

hi! i just read both chapters of your this summer fic and its really really good T_T I cant wait for the forthcoming chapters, and im looking forward to them! can you pls add me to the taglist, if you dont mind? thank you!

hi there!! thank you sososo much, i’m really glad you’re enjoying it 🥹🥹 you’re in and you’ll be tagged from chapter 3 onwards! thank you again for reading 🤍

AAAAHHHHHH 😭😭

౨ৎ voicemails kim mingyu leaves you while he’s on tour - fluff (with a pinch of angst), established relationship, gn!reader (pet names used: baby, honey)

...one: you must've worn the hoodie i was wearing today right before i left because it smelled like you. it felt nice, kind of like you were here with me. wish you really were here though

...two: do you think it'll look weird if i put on some accessories for the encore today?

...three: i love you s'much. th's much (pause) wait you can't see. i swear 'm not that drunk jus' a bit. had a couple of drinks with the boys. jus' a couple. have i told you how much i love you? i love youuuu. mwah

...four: did you like the tik tok we posted with minghao today? i know you did. anyways, tell me about your day, i miss your voice

...five: i hope you're eating well honey, seriously you have to take care of yourself, and don't try to gaslight me into thinking that you're eating properly because i know you. i can't wait to come back and make a proper dinner for you.

...six: do you want to have a face time date tonight? i want to show you some of the gifts i bought for you

...seven: guess who almost fell off of the stage today. definitely not me (pause) definitely

...eight: is everything okay baby? you haven't called or texted today, i'm getting kind of worried. i know you might be busy, but please just let me know you're okay

...nine: i added some new songs to our playlist. i was listening to them on the way to the stadium and thought they would fit perfectly for our late night drives

...ten: do you miss me as much as i miss you?

taglist (if you want to be added, check my masterlist): @jeonghansshitester @soul-is-a-strange-kid @weird-bookworm @sea-moon-star @hanniehaee @wonwooz1 @byprettymar @edgaralienpoe @staranghae @itza-meee @eightlightstar @immabecreepin @whatsgyud @hyneyedfiz @honestlydopetree @vicehectic @dkswife @uniq-tastic @marisblogg @aaniag @daegutowns @carlesscat-thinklogic23 @embrace-themagic @ohmyhuenings @nidda13 @hrts4hanniehae @k-drama-adict @isabellah29 @f4iryjjosh @bangantokchy @mrswonwooo @bangtancultsposts @lllucere @athanasiasakura @chillseo @onlyyjeonghan @haecien @caramyisabitchforsvtandbts @hannahhbahng @valgracia @ohmygodwhyareallusernamestaken @mirxzii @hhusbuds @wonranghaeee @rosiesauriostuff @gyuguys @aaasia111 @tomodachiii @veryfabday