(I Hope This Is Okay ) - Tumblr Posts
Her...business visits to Pride were just as quick as solving the problem she was hired to do. Villám insisted on snacking on flowers, no matter how Karma tried to convince the stubborn horse the otherwise. At least she managed to find a few which looked harmless instead about to bite her horse in return. Always on the lookout, while she could blend in Villám was quite a sight, drawing too much attention and not all of it was only curiosity.
The figure was familiar, something which Karma couldn't really say often, both her work and nature preventing her to see the same person twice.
“Ah, the fellow arsonist.”
She nodded in greeting, remembering the brief exchange with the snake demon.
“Don't want to bother, just thought it would be rude to not acknowledge. About to travel anyways.” the wraithlike gunslinger gestured at the book he's currently reading, she wouldn't like being disturbed when finally at peace for a while
Pentious’s tongue has been flicking in and out of his mouth on repeat for the past ten minutes. He isn’t staring off into the distance or anything. He’s just sitting there, reading a book. Tongue going in and out. In and out. Flickering and twitching and fluttering before slipping back in between his teeth, and then almost immediately flicking back out again. He doesn’t seem to notice.
poisedalacrity:
“…oi, y’dropped something.”
Words spoken after tapping on another’s shoulder, holding up a knife by the blade. “Think your holster might be gettin’ loose, or the sheath isn’t the right size.”
On her worst days, the wrath practically drips knives, from every sheathe, and every hidden holster. Usually so neat and secure and meticulous, and yet, with hours of precious sleep missed, or a slew of poor reports to wake up to in the morning, it isn’t... Uncommon.
Rare enough not to pose a danger, but an embarrassment? Surely. “Oh-” There is a pause as she takes it back, looking to the guardian. “Er- Thank you, lightbearer. It has been... It has been a long few weeks.”
Home pt. 3
(part 3 of the home series)
There were a lot of things you’d gotten used to as of late. Lying to your parents being first and foremost. You’d gotten surprisingly good at it. Unfortunately you hadn't gotten used to lying to your sister and as such, you were crashing and burning. Big time. Your sister had called you an hour before your morning alarm had gone off, before either of your parents had woken up, she had been a nervous wreck. Between the culture clash of dwarven vs human weddings and meeting in-laws your sister was close to a break down. It had never truly occurred to you that weddings- especially interspecies ones- could be so stress inducing. Her poor fiancée was clueless on how to help calm her and just as stressed.
That was how you’d found yourself at their house pouring over wedding plans and getting a crash course in dwarven culture. They wanted a blend of both human and dwarven customs, a way to stay true to themselves and show they knew exactly what they were getting into. It was a romantic notion. Then your roll in the wedding had popped up. Your sister was adamant you were to be a guest of honor. Her fiancée agreed, after all they had decided days ago that you were going to be the one to walk your sister down the aisle. It had been well and good to talk about. Certainly something to ease the tension.
“So (y/n), do you have a plus one to bring with you?” Your sister had asked as you helped look over dress designs. The question hadn't fully registered with your brain before you were opening your mouth.
“Not really, I haven't been spending much time with my usual friends since taking another job.”
“You took another job?” Your mind screeched to a halt as you realized what you had just said. Shit. Your sister wasn't supposed to know about that! God, you’d been so careful. There was still time to salvage this.
“Ah, yeah. Its for your wedding present. Don't think you can get any more information about it though! Its a surprise.” You laughed it off but your sister wasn't fooled by your nervous fidgeting.
“(y/n)…” Oh no. Not the concerned voice. You were a sucker for it. She cradled your hands in hers across the table and even her fiancée looked concerned for you. It was too much. You were so close to spilling your guts to them.
“What’s that face for?” You asked with a mischievous smile. It was fake but your sister didn't need to know that. Not at all. She frowned at you as you carefully pulled your hands away. No doubt she wasn't going to let this go, but there must have been someone out their who loved you because she did drop it.
“We’ll talk about this later, okay? Right now I need your opinion on what colors we should use for the theme.” The relief you felt was palpable. When you left, a full six hours later, your sister and sister-in-law crushed you into a tight hug. For a moment you didn't want to leave at all. But you had to. You couldn't stay with your sister forever, being a third wheel was not your idea of fun, and you had things to do. But you still lingered in their embrace.
Happy Birthday, Sweet!!!
I hope you have a lovely birthday, @awesomedurraworld! I hope your new year is spectacular and you will continue to bless us with lovely works and such.
Many blessings amd Birthday wishes!
https://archiveofourown.org/works/54833887
(I clearly don't know how to post links)
꒰১ ✦ : ˚ʚ 【 @dupliciti / STARTER CALL. 】 ɞ˚ : ✦ ໒꒱
‧₊˚ ⋅ ꒰১ ᯓ ☆ㅤ˗ˏˋㅤ𝑶𝒉, 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒈𝒏𝒊𝒛𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒂𝒏. She and Captain Gepard had spent HOURS toiling over those wanted posters after all. Sure, she might have added someㅤ—ㅤflowery and fanciful embellishments out of habit by accident but surely, those posters had gotten THE POINT across.
˚ʚ ☾ ɞ˚ㅤ˗ˏˋㅤㅤNowadays, most of those posters were NO LONGER needed. The Astral Express had not only cleared their named but assisted in saving Belobog. THIS MAN on the other handㅤ—ㅤ
˚ʚ ☾ ɞ˚ㅤ˗ˏˋㅤㅤ❛ㅤSir, are you AWARE that you're a WANTED CRIMINAL in Belobog ? Frankly, I should have you ARRESTED right here.ㅤ❜
• eric wanting a baby pt. 2 (first post is here!)
hey can we spread some love across the dashboard tonight ... rb and say in the tags why you initially followed + why you stayed for the person you rbed from !
@lingerxng ╱ I said we’d plot but I wrote anyway
They could not say they knew of oracles ( at least, in this sense ). Prophecy spoken through a mortals mouth, a message from the gods. It was not as if Enkidu did not know of gods. A silly thought --- they were divine. But, before them stood a demigod who knew such things. One who regularly practiced communing with the gods ( a god ?? they were still unsure ) for the “benefit” of humanity. ❝ It does not bother you, speaking for them ?? ❞
@familydutyhonour || Ned & Cat
Lady Stark is with Maester Luwin, the words ring through his mind as Ned makes his way through the halls of Winterfell. He could not think what could cause his wife to seek out the Maester, but the possibilities ran through his mind. The Lord still remembered the chill that had given his grandmother the cough that had taken her from them when Benjen was as young as Robb and Jon were now. He could hear the boys’ laughter ring through the chilly air. Old Nan had taken them out into the yard and they were enjoying one of their new favorite past times, snow fights.
At least his heir and Jon were going to be occupied, he found himself grateful for that, while he went to investigate if he should be worried or not for the well being of his wife. Catelyn and him had not really gotten off to the most wonderful of starts to their marriage, loss and a war had certainly not been ideal circumstances for a wedding. When she came north and found Jon already in the nursery... he had feared that she would never forgive him. He would never forget the look on her face when he told her that the boy was his bastard, the necessary lie to keep that final promise...
There was no denying the boy had Stark blood, and he did not know if it would ever not pain him to think of the child’s mother enough to finally tell his wife. Perhaps he would some day, but as it currently stood, if the reason for her visit to the Maester was grave then it would not be best if the boys, who were near inseparable, were to suddenly make an unexpected appearance. It may have only taken Cat a few weeks time before she allowed him back into her bed, but he did not even entertain the idea that she had forgiven him. Jon was not her family, even if he was Ned’s. Thoughts left the children as he got further away from their squeals of happiness as they played and his mind went right back to what could possibly bring Cat to the Maester.
Worry gripped him as he made his pace fastened. Had he not kept her warm enough? He knew that his wife was certainly still not use to the cold. Was something else, perhaps, ailing her? Finally, he found himself at Maester Luwin’s door and took a deep breath. As the Lord knocked, he spoke up, trying his best to hide the worry in his voice. “I was told that Lady Stark was here?”
SHADES OF RED
Fight Club Owner! Sukuna x Wealthy! Reader teaser
Here is the teaser @rinhaler hope you find it interesting
Warnings: swearing, mentions of sexual desire
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"Coming up in my club and business is a fucking invasion of privacy, princess. Didn't your parents teach you any form of manners?"
You scoff, turning on your heels fixing him a piercing glare. The audacity he has to call you that. "First off, do not call me princess. Secondly, you are a heinous man for allowing and orchestrating vile legal entities, like this illegal fight club to exist. Thirdly, my parents do not give a flying fuck about my existence."
Sukuna smirks, simply amused by your boldness and sharp tongue. You definitely weren't a cop or some government agent, not with those clothes. "It's called capitalism, sweetheart. Surely you're familiar with that term since you dress like a white collar person."
"I'm a financial broker and a consultant." You clarify, the front of your shoes tapping impatiently while it echoes in the cold but smelly lockeroom, waiting for your cousin to change. You can hear him grumble and huff in irritation about you meddling in his life. The oh so sultry way he said sweetheart made your insides feel repulsed. There was no way you enjoyed him calling you pet names.
"Oh so you should be aware then. You deal with shady clients from time to time so you can't be that stupid. There are far seedy businessmen than me who do worst than what I run. You might have even funded them." The patronizing tone he used boiled your blood. You had half a mind to slap that smirk off his face and the other was to punch his face. You don’t care if he’s 6'6 feet with muscles or whatever, you on thin ice with violence tonight. You aren’t scared of any man. At least that's what your mind is telling yourself as you are front of the pink-haired male.
"You must get off being so arrogant. That prideful that you had to resort to shady businesses to get through in life?" You smirk with vehemence. Satisfied that the grin was gone and replaced by a scowl, you took it further. "You must have a fucked up life that you needed to get by like a vulture and work your way up-" you were cut off when Sukuna was suddenly in front of you.
The confidence you had inside died instantly when you saw just how dark his face got and those looming red eyes staring at you like you were a dangerous insect. If looks could kill, you'd be incinerated. It was frightening and erotic the way he was towering over you, ready to pounce you like a predator.
"For someone who's a professional businesswoman, you sure got a mouth that acts like they can fucking talk to others however they want." He growls out, the tension so thick, even Hiroshi stopped moving. You couldn't tell if your cousin was scared or not, not when his eyes commanded you to look at him. "You should really be careful with who you're talking too. You think you can just come in here and think you're the shit. Get the fuck outta here with that attitude." Sukuna is keenly aware of your bossy attitude, along with your bravery. He does admire it dearly, but sometimes people like you need to be reminded of their place. He can think of many ways to put you in your place and do the nastiest and sinful things to let you know who's dominant.
"Oh I will." You utter, regaining the bravery back to look at him. "I don't plan on coming back here and neither is Hiroshi."
"No, what the fuck!? You can't just tell me not to come here and force my life around!" The irritated voice of your 18-year old cousin shouts in the lockeroom. He reappears in a black wifebeater tank top, black joggers, a white baseball cap worn backwards and black and white converses. His face, fueled with rage and hurt despite the few yet prominent bruises on his face fills you with regret. Maybe you should have kept a closer eye on him in school.
"Yes you are and I said so. Get your stuff and let's go." You order him, yet he refuses, his toned biceps crossing his chest in indignation.
"Fuck that! You’re not my mom just because you’re raising me! I am not gonna let you do what you want me to do just because it doesn't go with your "white collar" bullshit!" Hiroshi spat. Your eyes widen in shock for a split second, hurt by how he replied, and Hiroshi knew he fucked up by saying the first words he didn't mean to say. But you instantly regain composure and was about to respond coldly until a deep tone interrupted.
"What a family feud you are causing here." The feigned surprised voice of Sukuna makes you bristle, giving him a death stare. Seriously why is this man even in your presence.
"He can leave tonight. Let him recover and rest from his bruises. But," He looks to you with that same dark expression that sent shivers down your spine, and it was the good kind of shivers, "if you think you can just house arrest my top fighter and micro-manage him, he's part of this world now and can do as much as he pleases, princess. So you shouldn't stop him."
The challenge he declared to you made your competitive side ablaze. You faced him head-on with a fearsome look of your own. "Hiroshi is not coming back here and that's final. Hiroshi, let's go."
What a conceited, self-centered bitch you are. He chuckles in his thoughts. Now he was interested in you and your confidence. Just as she swipes his arm with her shoulder, her classy and expensive heels echoing the tiled floor, he eyes his top fighter who was furious at the thought of being forbidden from coming back here. Sukuna stops Hiroshi by the shoulder, making the IED teen look at him.
"Don't worry kid, you're still allowed here. Can't have my top fighter out of the game now. We'll figure something out, but for now just go home and rest up." He hears Hiroshi grunt out a low "fine" before he storms out of the lockeroom with veiled rage.
As for you...he really is intrigued by your beauty, your confidence and finesse. But that attitude of yours has to be fixed. Give it time and you'll warm up to him soon.
---------------------------------------------
I am excited but nervous to write this series. I hope I did Sukuna justice with his personality here.
“ where are you taking me? ” ( Calvin, if you're cool with that ) @devilsdaughtcr
Calvin glanced back at Scarlett and smiled, he was pretty damn proud of himself for getting her this far, and on horseback no less.
"If I told you that it wouldn't be a surprise now would it?" Calvin said with a smirk.
"It's not far now, just follow me."
Hello I just wanted you all to know I'm agender that's it have a great day
This is it, my daisies.
This is my introduction, honestly idk why it took so long but..
I go by Nana when not writing or Lilith when I’m writing ✍️
I am not particularly interested in religion or politics
I am 20!!
I am a college student so some updates will be slow and I have a job so I might not post very often.
I am very bipolar in most of my designs so don’t be shocked if my ocs seemed to changed.
I am African American.
My blog will have warnings if it is- NSFW, Gore, and or other political warnings.
I am a new artist and writer.
I go by she/ they
That is all for introduction my daisies.
Jezebel story rewrite
After the holy war, many felt as if life itself was slipping through their fingers- so many towns, kingdoms, and even cities were slowly building themselves up again. Some very common and well-known towns were forgotten but many other towns came, and some holy knights left Liones to start their journey. They spread out across the world while others stayed in their hometown, two holy knights lived and worked in a village that slowly became a huge city. The city was known for its beautiful and foreign women and its knights, it pales in comparison between Camelot and Liones but still has great soldiers. But this city has a dark and dangerous secret: it is very horrible to its demonic residents, many demons live in famine and poverty. Anyone who helps them will be punished.
In the cold winter, a nun and her husband who was a priest came into the town. The nun held onto her pregnant belly as she and her husband rushed into a hospital, the doctors were quick and polite with the nun as she gave birth. But something went wrong- wrong, as the nun was pushing out the baby the room felt like dark energy was pulsating around the room. The wind from the winter was blowing harshly and even broke a window as the nun gave birth, the trees fighting the harsh winds as the nun tried to push out her baby peacefully, the priest noticed this and was immediately shocked and frightened. The nun tried to push out but a loud and harsh sound came from outside, the husband tried his best to cover up the windows but the wind was too strong. The husband looked out the window to see it, a huge winter storm messing with the entire town.
But after a few more pushes, a baby came out but it wasn’t crying. The nun cried as the doctors cleaned off the baby, “I-Is it stillborn..?” the husband asked as he held his wife but the doctor looked at the baby and smiled softly at them. “It’s a girl.” The doctor looked at them softly and the husband smiled and hugged his wife tightly, they celebrated the birth of their baby but the doctor didn’t tell them the other news. “But we will have to examine your daughter for a couple of days, since she wasn’t crying we don’t know if she is healthy” the doctor explained as he slowly walked to the nun, the nun held the daughter softly in her arms and cried “Oh.. She’s so perfect..” she wail as she rubbed her daughter head softly. The husband agreed and kissed his wife “She must’ve gotten it from you..”. “I think Jezebel will be a nice name for her.” the nun looked at her husband softly and the husband nodded softly.
The doctor smiled softly as the couple gushed over their daughter but he cleared his throat, “Please we need to examine her..” he mumbled softly and the nun gave him Jezebel. After a few days, the nun and her husband were starting to get worried, “The doctor still hasn’t given us our baby back!” The husband growled at the nurse and the nun wailed loudly. After telling the staff the story, the nun and the husband waited for hours for the doctor to come; the doctor looked at the couple with huge eye bags and a pink blanket wrapped in his arms. The doctor took them into a room and sat them down, he asked them a series of questions, and at the end, he sighed helplessly. “Your daughter is a demon..” he told them coldly as he rubbed his forehead in stress and he looked at the nun and her husband “We don’t serve or even provide for demons here but since you both are humans, I have an option.” The doctor looked away and put Jezebel on the soft baby bed.
“Hide her from the city and don’t let her go out in public without supervision from one or the other. I placed a curse on her- whenever she uses dark magic- she is met with a pain that is indefiniteable.” He told them before leaving them with nothing but their demon baby and their thoughts.
As Jezebel grew, she turned into a smart and beautiful girl. She would often get dolls and treats from boys and girls would always ask her for things like relationship advice- she always helped others. Her ambition grew with her, she found out she was a demon at a young age and swore to never eat a soul. She was talented and praised as such, but one day. She was attacked by a knight and the knight burned down her family house, after this violent attack. Jezebel started to practice fighting and magic, by the age of 12 she was already top of her class in fighting but magic was too much for her. It was supposed to come naturally and without using demon magic she was weak. Eventually though she gave up on using magic and only used her fighting skills.
Ever since then she swore herself two things- that she’ll never eat a soul and that she’ll never let her get weak and bullied like that again.
fem!yeonjun who’s asking you for help to do her makeup… you end up in the same position as this famous meme where one girl hovers over the other to do her makeup… you’re on top of her, your eyes should be focusing on her face for the makeup to apply on, but her cleavage looks too hypnotizing… ever since you’ve known yeonjun was bi, your feelings of friendship for her started to mix with those of love… and since this was your first crush on a girl, you were being shit at hiding how much yeonjun arouses you… 🥺
“any time now, y/n,” yeonjun says, playfully impatient.
you swallow thickly, liquid eyeliner in hand as you hover over your best friend. you’ve known each other for years, but you don’t think you’ve ever been so physically close before.
was she always this pretty? did her lips always look this full?
did her boobs always look this good in this shirt? you’ve seen her in it before, a black square neck crop top, her cleavage poking out of the top, soft and supple and oh, so kissable.
but you can’t do that. you shouldn’t even think of doing such a thing.
“mkay, close your eyes,” you say, leaning forward to apply dark brown eyeliner to yeonjun’s eyelids. your stomach turns as you observe more of her beautiful features. long eyelashes, button nose, her soft cheeks… and again, those full, pink pouty lips just begging to be kissed.
but you can’t do that.
you shouldn’t, you’re just friends.
“make me look pretty, ‘kay?” yeonjun says.
“whatever, just don’t move,” you respond dryly. she doesn’t need your help with that at all. she’s already so beautiful and funny and outgoing and magnetic and charismatic and…
“jjunie, i think i love you.”
the words left your lips before you could even stop them.
yeonjun’s eyes shoot open and she looks right up at you.
“what?”
“i… uh, i was just joking! what, can’t take a joke?” you force out a laugh. yeonjun isn’t convinced.
“y/n, be so for real right now,” she says. she props herself up on her elbows and you move back, prepared to get off of her lap, but you’re taken by surprise when you feel her hands on your hips, forcing you to stay.
“nope, stay right there,” she says firmly. “you’re gonna repeat what you said, right now.”
your confusion must make itself apparent on your face because yeonjun makes a face at you.
“you heard me. if you’re gonna say what you said, say it with your chest.”
you feel sick to your stomach. you can feel the warmth of her hands through the fabric of your skirt.
“i-i can’t,” you say with a shake of your head.
“you just did.”
“i know, and that was stupid.”
“why?”
“what?”
“why was it stupid?” yeonjun asks. curse her need to always know the answer.
“because! we’re not… like that.”
“like what?”
“you ask a lot of questions.”
“i just wanna hear you say it,” yeonjun’s hands slide up from your hips to rest softly on your waist.
she knows exactly what she’s doing. if there’s one thing yeonjun has down to a science it’s her ability to wear you down.
“i said i think i love you, jjunie.”
“see? how hard was that?” she says with a smirk and you push her hands off of your body.
“whatever, just forget i said anything.”
you move to get off of her lap, but she holds you in place with her strong hands. your heart is pounding as you straddle her.
“aht, i didn’t say you could leave yet. you said you think you love me. what do i have to do to make you know it?”
Hi! I have a question if I may? So I want to read 2ha but I'm truly confused. I've seen that the book has apparently 7 volumes in total and 5 are available on Amazon but the other two aren't available there yet. Where do people read 2ha then? Like I'm truly questioning whether I should even start this series if the translation isn't finished but it must be since other have read it?
Hi, sorry for the late reply, I tried responding earlier but apparently it didn’t go through. I know people find translations on the internet, so I just googled where I could read it for free and looked on different websites until I found one I liked. It’s pretty much up to the reader with the format and how grammatically correct the translations are, since sometimes it’s just run through google translate. But sometimes they can be buggy and stop working at random points. O know the story is complete, but not every website has all of the chapters. I would maybe look on reddit because I know people there would have good suggestions.
@haus-der-mysterionmusen
Dark circles under his eyes were a fashion statement to the cadet. He was in a perpetual state of exhaustion, no amount of sleep seemed to change that. He trudged forward, frown deepening at the weight of his own legs. Maybe it was time for a power nap or something.
"C'mon, Red," the large lion mech leaned down, opening it's mouth with what could easily be taken as a purr. "Let's head back to the castle."
His attention, however, was caught by a shine of metal in the distance. "Who's out this far?" The paladin muttered to his lion, walking up the ramp slowly, far too focused on the shimmering thing in the distance.
to love or not..
Between the Lines
Pairing: Kim Mingyu x fem!reader
Genre: office au, office romance, angst, strangers(?) to lovers, C-workers to Lovers, fluff towards the end
Summary: Y/n faces unexpected turmoil as she discovers that her new collaboration partner in the office is none other than Kim Mingyu, a figure from her college past associated with painful rumors. As they navigate their professional collaboration, Mingyu's persistent attempts to break through Y/n's guarded demeanor unravel a history of misunderstandings and hurtful rumors.
Warnings: slow burn-ish, reader is bullied in college, puckering of lips against each other, let me know if I missed anything
Word Count: ~3k
A/N: Happy Carat's Day! This is my first ever fic and I am not sure how this will go. This story is just an idea that has been in my drafts for ages. I hope you like it!
The harsh hum of the photocopier and the distant murmur of office life formed the backdrop as I stared at my screen, which had just received a notification of an email. The subject line sent a ripple of anticipation through me: "Collaboration Partner Assignment."
Opening the email, my eyes quickly scanned the details. I braced myself for the revelation, but nothing could have prepared me for the name that leaped off the screen – Kim Mingyu. My stomach churned, though I couldn't pinpoint why. Maybe it was the mounting pressure of the project or the unfamiliarity of working with someone from another company. A wave of discomfort washed over me as memories of college days resurfaced, memories I had long buried because of the same name! But it couldn’t be him, right?
I had hoped to leave the shadows of the past behind, but fate had different plans. Mingyu, a name that had once been sY/nonymous with popularity and my own insecurities, was now set to become an integral part of my professional life.
Navigating the familiar hallways towards the designated meeting room, my steps carried the weight of unspoken history. The door creaked open, revealing Mingyu already seated, his eyes lifting from a set of project documents to meet mine. A knowing smile played on his lips, oblivious to the turmoil brewing within me. It was him, Kim Mingyu!
"Y/n, right?" he said, extending a hand in greeting. "I'm Mingyu. Looks like we're going to be partners on this project."
I hesitated for a moment before accepting the handshake. "Yes, Y/n. Nice to meet you."
The sterile hum of the office's fluorescent lights set the stage for a reunion neither of us had anticipated. Mingyu, a name echoing through the corridors of my past, now sat across from me in a conference room. His smile seemed to mock my silent discomfort, reminiscent of college days where he effortlessly commanded popularity, and I existed on the fringes.
"Ready to dive into this project together?" Mingyu's voice snapped me back to the present, his expression oblivious to the tumult of memories that threatened to overwhelm me.
"Sure," I replied, my voice masking the unease within. The corporate battleground was familiar, but the arrival of Mingyu resurrected a dormant storm.
As we settled into the collaborative routine, Mingyu's attempts to get to know me became increasingly apparent. In team meetings, he'd throw casual questions my way, trying to unearth the person behind the professional facade.
"So, Y/n, any exciting plans for the weekend?" he'd ask, a playful twinkle in his eye.
"Same as always," I'd reply, nonchalant. I wasn't one to divulge personal details easily.
But Mingyu was persistent, undeterred by my guarded responses. "Come on, Y/n, there must be something you enjoy doing outside of work. Hobbies? Interests?"
His inquiry probed deeper than the surface, seeking to unravel the layers I had meticulously wrapped around myself. "Not really," I'd brush off, maintaining a stoic demeanour.
In the break room, he'd invite me to join him for a coffee, hoping to chip away at the walls I'd built. "Coffee break, Y/n? It's on me," he'd offer, a friendly smile playing on his lips.
"Thanks, but I prefer working through breaks," I'd decline, my gaze fixed on the computer screen.
Mingyu, always the optimist, remained undeterred by my cool demeanour. "Alright, next time then," he'd say, masking any disappointment that might have lingered beneath the surface.
Our interactions, or lack thereof, became a dance of casual questions met with guarded replies. It wasn't that I didn't notice Mingyu's efforts – I did. The truth was, I had carefully crafted my isolation, and I wasn't eager to let anyone in.
One day, as we reviewed project details, Mingyu tried a different approach. "Y/n, we make a good team, you know? But it would be even better if we understood each other a bit more. What do you say?"
His words held a sincerity that caught me off guard. Maybe it was the vulnerability in his eyes or the genuine desire to bridge the gap. I sighed, relenting just a bit. "Look, Mingyu, it's nothing personal. I'm just here to get the job done."
He nodded, understanding but undeterred. "Fair enough, Y/n. I respect that. Just know, I'm here if you ever want to talk."
The unspoken hurt lingered beneath the surface, but Mingyu never let it show. His attempts to befriend me continued, even if they were met with my persistent nonchalance.
In another attempt to connect, he invited me to a team dinner. "Y/n, we've been working together for a while now. Let's celebrate our progress. What do you say?"
I hesitated, then finally relented, "Fine, but just for a little while."
As the evening unfolded, I found myself in an unexpected situation – Mingyu's infectious charm gradually wearing down my defences. We laughed, shared stories, and for a brief moment, the professional barriers faded.
In the midst of the camaraderie, Mingyu leaned in and said, "See, Y/n? We're not that different after all."
I couldn't help but smile, the walls I had so carefully constructed showing signs of cracking. Mingyu's efforts were slowly paying off, breaking through the layers that shielded me from the world.
As we left the restaurant that night, I couldn't deny the shift in dynamics. Mingyu, once an unwelcome intruder from the past, had become a persistent presence in my present – a presence I was starting to appreciate, even if I wasn't quite ready to admit it.
The echoes of our team dinner lingered in the air as Mingyu and I left the restaurant. Laughter and camaraderie had briefly bridged the gap, but as we stepped back into the office building, I retreated into my familiar shell. The nonchalant exterior was my armour, and I wore it with practised ease.
Days passed, and Mingyu's efforts to break through my walls persisted, but my responses remained unchanged – short, guarded, and distant. The unspoken hurt beneath his eyes grew more evident with each interaction, until one day, frustration etched across his face.
As I sat at my desk, engrossed in my work, Mingyu approached, a determined expression on his face. "Y/n, we need to talk. Meet me in the meeting room in fifteen minutes," he said, his voice carrying a firmness I hadn't heard before.
I raised an eyebrow, caught off guard by the sudden shift in his demeanour. "Sure, whatever," I replied, my tone as indifferent as ever.
The meeting room, a neutral ground for professional discussions, now became the stage for an unexpected confrontation. As I entered, Mingyu was already there, his arms crossed, and a look of frustration etched across his features.
"What's your deal, Y/n?" he began, his voice tinged with a mix of anger and hurt. "I've been trying to get to know you, to be a good teammate, but every attempt is met with this... this wall you've built. What are you so afraid of?"
I sighed, my nonchalant facade momentarily faltering. "Mingyu, I'm not afraid of anything. I'm just here to work, not make friends."
His frustration bubbled to the surface. "You don't have to make it so difficult, Y/n. We're part of the same team, working towards the same goal. Why can't we at least get along?"
I leaned back in my chair, the familiar defences back in place. "Getting along is not a requirement for getting the job done."
Mingyu's eyes flashed with a mix of anger and disappointment. "It's not just about the job, Y/n. We spend a significant portion of our lives working together. Why make it miserable for both of us?"
His words struck a chord, a brief pang of guilt flickering within me. But I couldn't let him see it. "Mingyu, I have my reasons for keeping things professional. Let's just focus on the project and leave it at that."
He leaned in, his frustration giving way to a determination that mirrored the spark in his eyes. "Fine, Y/n. If that's how you want it, we'll keep it strictly professional. But know that it doesn't have to be this way."
Mingyu's proposal hung in the air, and for a moment, I considered the possibility of a truce – a ceasefire in the silent war that had defined our collaboration. The weight of his words pressed upon me, and I decided to break the stoic facade, if only for a moment.
"Fine," I responded, my tone betraying a hint of resignation. "Let's keep it professional."
As the days passed, our interactions adhered to the newfound agreement. Work discussions unfolded without the previous tension, and the strained atmosphere began to ease. However, beneath the surface, the unspoken distance lingered, a reminder of the unresolved history that bound us.
Late one evening, as the office lights flickered in the waning hours, Mingyu and I found ourselves alone in the workspace. The hum of computers and distant traffic outside seemed to amplify the silence between us. Mingyu broke the quiet, his voice softer than before.
"Y/n, there's something I need to know. The tension between us... is it just about work, or is there something more?" His gaze bore into mine, a silent plea for honesty.
I hesitated, contemplating whether to unravel the layers that guarded my past. In that moment, I decided to breach the unspoken barrier. "It's not just about work, Mingyu. There's history – a rumour that tainted my college years, and I believed you were behind it."
His eyes widened, a mix of surprise and realisation flickering across his features. "Rumour? What rumour are you talking about?"
College, a realm of possibilities, unfolded before me. Amid vibrant campus life, I preferred solitude, finding solace in the quiet corners of the library. My routine, a sanctuary, was disrupted when a rumor about me and Mingyu, the campus heartthrob, began to circulate.
Whispers painted a false picture – a rejected proposal, a scornful comment. The rumor, like wildfire, labeled me as the girl who dared to confess, only to face ridicule. My once-unnoticed existence transformed into isolation as judgmental gazes and hurtful labels became my companions.
The most painful aspect was the misunderstanding – the lie that branded me a loner, rejected and ridiculed. The library, my refuge, now felt like a glass house, the rumor exposing me to the harsh scrutiny of others.
Mingyu, oblivious to the storm, continued his life, while I bore the weight of fabricated rejection. The rumor, a dark shadow, cast a long-lasting mark on my college experience. The isolation, self-imposed or not, became my reality.
"The one where it was said I proposed to you in college, and you rejected me, saying you'd never date a loner like me," I confessed, my voice holding the weight of years of perceived betrayal.
Mingyu's expression shifted from surprise to understanding, a furrow forming on his brow. "Y/n, I never spread that rumor. In fact, I had no idea it existed until now. In fact, I wanted to be friends with you back then and expressed it to some of my friends!"
My defenses faltered as the revelation sank in. The narrative I had carried for years, the resentment that fueled our strained collaboration, crumbled like a fragile facade. "But... why would someone spread such a thing?"
Mingyu's eyes softened with sincerity. "I don't know, Y/n. But I promise you, it wasn't me. I regret that you went through that, and I wish I could've been there to clarify things."
The weight of the misunderstanding hung heavy in the room. Mingyu's admission brought forth a vulnerability I hadn't expected, and the unspoken tension that defined our collaboration began to unravel. As we navigate the murky waters of our shared history, the silence transformed into a hesitant dialogue.
"Maybe," he began, choosing his words carefully, "we can move past this together. Start anew, without the burden of misunderstandings."
In the quiet office, Mingyu and I shared a moment where words seemed unnecessary. His hand found mine, a gentle intertwining of fingers that spoke volumes. Leaning in, he kissed me with a tenderness that felt like an unspoken apology.
The kiss was slow, each movement deliberate, as if time itself had slowed down. Mingyu's lips met mine in a dance of connection, a soft exploration that conveyed a shared understanding. It wasn't just a kiss; it was a promise – a promise to let go of the past and embrace the possibility of something new.
As our lips lingered in the gentle exchange, the weight of misunderstandings lifted. Mingyu's touch, comforting and sincere, became a bridge that spanned the distance between us.
The air shifted after the shared kiss, the unspoken tension replaced by a newfound understanding. Mingyu, eyes reflecting a mixture of vulnerability and sincerity, gently pulled away, creating a space for words to bridge the lingering gap.
"Y/n," he began, his voice carrying the weight of unspoken sentiments, "there's something I'd like to propose."
I met his gaze, a silent invitation to continue.
"How about we take a step into the present? Leave the office behind for a while, just you and me. What do you say to a dinner? A date, maybe?" Mingyu's words hung in the air, a simple yet profound invitation.
The corners of my lips twitched into a hesitant smile, the remnants of the emotional whirlwind we had just weathered. "A date?" I echoed, the word carrying a hint of both surprise and curiosity.
Mingyu nodded, his eyes holding a hopeful gleam. "Yes, a date. No work, no misunderstandings – just two people sharing a meal and getting to know each other beyond the confines of the office."
The idea, once foreign, now seemed like a welcome proposition. A chance to rewrite the script, explore the uncharted territories of this evolving connection. "I suppose a dinner sounds nice," I conceded, the tension replaced by a sense of openness.
His face broke into a radiant smile, the lines of relief and excitement mingling. "Great! How about tomorrow night? I know a place not far from here. Casual, nothing too fancy. What do you think?"
Tomorrow night – a prospect that carried the promise of a fresh beginning. I found myself nodding, the corners of my own lips forming a genuine smile. "Tomorrow night sounds good."
Mingyu's joy was palpable, and as he pulled out his phone to exchange details, the office surroundings seemed to fade into the background. In the quiet aftermath of a shared kiss, the invitation extended marked a turning point – a step away from the weight of the past and into the possibilities of the present.
As we finalised the plans, Mingyu's gaze held a promise – a promise of a date that transcended the ordinary, a date that hinted at the potential for something more. The unspoken tension that had defined our collaboration was replaced by the anticipation of a shared meal, laughter, and the uncharted journey that lay ahead.