Kim Yoohyeon - Tumblr Posts
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ୨ 🪞⸼🕊 ୧ ㅤㅤ➳ ℬorᥒ to dιᥱ
She’s so fine 🧎🏼♀️🫠
it’s the f-boy energy for me 🥴
「 ｄｒｅａｍｃａｔｃｈｅｒ ａｕ | ｗｅｒｅｗｏｌｆ ｐａｃｋ 」
ιllιlı.navigation.ılιllι
[a/n: this is only for entertainment purposes, do not come for me for writing this]
𝒋𝒊𝒖;
name: kim min ji
hometown: daejeon, south korea
birthday: may 17, 1994
age: 27
position: alpha
fur colour: black
eye colour: red
transformation age: 22
𝒔𝒖𝒂;
name: kim bo ra
hometown: changwon, south korea
birthday: august 10, 1994
age: 27
position: beta
fur colour: brown
eye colour: golden
transformation age: 22
𝒔𝒊𝒚𝒆𝒐𝒏;
name: lee si yeon
hometown: daegu, south korea
birthday: october 1, 1995
age: 26
position: beta
fur colour: brown
eye colour: golden
transformation age: 21
𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒐𝒏𝒈;
name: han dong
hometown: wuhan, china
birthday: march 26, 1996
age: 25
position: salutary
fur colour: silver
eye colour: golden
transformation age: 20
𝒚𝒐𝒐𝒉𝒚𝒆𝒐𝒏;
name: kim yoo hyeon
hometown: incheon, south korea
birthday: january 7, 1997
age: 24
position: delta
fur colour: silver
eye colour: golden
transformation age: 20
𝒅𝒂𝒎𝒊;
name: lee yu bin
hometown: seoul, south korea
birthday: march 7, 1997
age: 24
position: omega
fur colour: brown
eye colour: golden
transformation age: 19
𝒈𝒂𝒉𝒚𝒆𝒐𝒏;
name: lee ga hyeon
hometown: seongnam, south korea
birthday: february 3, 1999
age: 22
position: omega
fur colour: silver
eye colour: golden
transformation age: 17
「 ｄｒｅａｍｃａｔｃｈｅｒ ａｕ | ｖａｍｐｉｒｅ ｃｌａｎ 」
ιllιlı.navigation.ılιllι
[a/n: this is only for entertainment purposes, do not come for me for writing this]
𝒋𝒊𝒖;
name: kim min ji
hometown: daejeon, south korea
human birthday: may 17, 1994
vampire birthday: january 13, 2017
age when turned: 23
human eye colour: brown
vampire eye colour: red
food choice: human blood
powers: strength
abilities: psychic electrokinesis
how she turned: spelled by witch
psychic electrokinesis: minji can cover her body with an electrical current. upon physical contact while her gift is in use, depending on the power she puts into it, the person can feel as little as static shock or great enough to cause their knees to buckle and have them on their backs.
𝒔𝒖𝒂;
name: kim bo ra
hometown: changwon, south korea
human birthday: august 10, 1994
vampire birthday: january 13, 2017
age when turned: 23
human eye colour: brown
vampire eye colour: golden
food choice: animal blood
powers: speed
abilities: elemental manipulation
how she turned: spelled by witch
elemental manipulation: bora ability allows him to physically manipulate the four elements of nature with her will: fire, water, air, and earth. her power is channeled through his mind and hands.
𝒔𝒊𝒚𝒆𝒐𝒏;
name: lee si yeon
hometown: daegu, south korea
human birthday: october 1, 1995
vampire birthday: january 13, 2017
age when turned: 22
human eye colour: brown
vampire eye colour: red
food choice: human blood
powers: speed
abilities: tracking sense
how she turned: spelled by witch
tracking sense: siyeon can find anyone anywhere in the world once he's been in their presence and "tasted" their mind. she is a million times more gifted in tracking than other vampires.
𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒐𝒏𝒈;
name: han dong
hometown: wuhan, china
human birthday: march 26, 1996
vampire birthday: january 13, 2017
age when turned: 21
human eye colour: brown
vampire eye colour: golden
food choice: animal blood
powers: beauty
abilities: visual projection
how she turned: spelled by witch
visual projection: handong can project a vision into others' minds. the vision can seem so real to the person impacted by them can easily forget that it's not real, extremely quickly. this power is most useful in clouding her target's vision.
𝒚𝒐𝒐𝒉𝒚𝒆𝒐𝒏;
name: kim yoo hyeon
hometown: incheon, south korea
human birthday: january 7, 1997
vampire birthday: january 13, 2017
age when turned: 20
human eye colour: brown
vampire eye colour: golden
food choice: animal blood
powers: compassion
abilities: tactile telepathy
how she turned: spelled by witch
tactile telepathy: yoohyeon can see every thought someone has ever had upon physical contact with them. the longer the contact, the more yoohyeon is able to see others' thoughts.
𝒅𝒂𝒎𝒊;
name: lee yu bin
hometown: seoul, south korea
human birthday: march 7, 1997
vampire birthday: january 13, 2017
age when turned: 20
human eye colour: brown
vampire eye colour: red
food choice: human blood
powers: strength
abilities: pathokinesis
how she turned: spelled by witch
pathokinesis: yubin can feel the emotions of those around her as well as manipulate them according to his content. yubin’s gift is no illusion, a mental shield would not protect against it. she likely consciously controls the manipulative aspect of the ability, but it is unclear whether she can do so also with the sensorial aspect of it.
𝒈𝒂𝒉𝒚𝒆𝒐𝒏;
name: lee ga hyeon
hometown: seongnam, south korea
human birthday: february 3, 1999
vampire birthday: january 13, 2017
age when turned: 18
human eye colour: brown
vampire eye colour: red
food choice: animal blood
powers: speed
abilities: pain illusion
how she turned: spelled by witch
pain illusion: gahyeon projects the illusion of being in extremely intense physical pain into others minds, thus incapacitating them. the pain that gahyeon inflicts is described as being like "burning" inside of the victim. gahyeon’s power only allows her to affect one victim at a time, while her brother can affect multiple targets at one time. although her pain comes instantly, and his power takes a few seconds to fully incapacitate his target.
At Your Service
Pairing: Jiu x Fem!Reader (& some Yoohyeon x Fem!Reader)
Warnings / Misc. -- Fluff, Angst, Smut, Mentions of violence, etc.
Word Count: 33,401 (grab a snack)
Synopsis: Jiu -- a married heiress and product of the centuries old, successful dynasty of Kims -- finds herself in need of a new personal maid following the sudden departure of her previous one. When opportunity arises and brings Y/N L/N -- a stubborn, working class citizen with a hatred for her less than ideal circumstances -- to her doorstep, how will they deal with the fallout?
Disclaimer: This writing is a work of fiction, and no disrespect is meant for those mentioned herein.
A/N: Hey everyone! Here's my first Dreamcatcher fic. I hope you enjoy! :)
💖 Happy Reading 🌹
◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚ ▸◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚ ▸◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚ ▸◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚
◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚ ▸◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚ ▸◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚ ▸◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚
Blood trickled down the side of your father’s hand, shining crimson in the subtle flicker of candlelight. A makeshift weapon – some mangled piece of metal, resembling a shiv – cut into his skin slightly, due to the force of his grip on it.
His weight was shifted to one foot, keeping him prepared to strike if need be; with the front door of your home slightly ajar, he craned his neck enough to communicate with the guards on the other side. His thumb rubbed the handle of the blade in rhythmic strokes… one, two … keeping his breathing in check. Appearing suspicious was a death sentence, and he knew that; so, he patiently waited for the opportunity to make a move.
In an eerie flash of black suits and gloves, the men pushed their way inside.
They came to loom over your family members with piercing gazes, staring holes into them. Tension was thick in the room, nearly suffocating. Each second was an hour as the interrogation they started dragged on, only increasing the chance of impulsivity on both sides. Glancing eyes were a silent challenge, the twitch of a finger was a call to arms.
At the center of it all, surrounded in more ways than you even knew at the time, was you. Had you known then how drastically your life would change, maybe you’d have done things differently.
Maybe you would have started running after that first knock.
-
“We aren’t here seeking trouble, Y/F/N. What the heiress requires is simple, and you’re the first on the list to provide it,” the boss explained, reclining in your father’s chair. His slicked-back hair looked greasy in the low light of the room.
“Y/N has nothing to do with any of my financial dealings,” your father reiterated, not backing down. “Paying off my debts isn’t something that concerns her.”
That statement earned him a wary glance from you, though he didn’t see it.
The leader shrugged in response. “We have our orders just the same as you. And besides,” he reasoned, leaning forward enough to touch his elbows to his knees, “...this is something to be grateful for. All of your debt will be forgiven when she finishes her time at the estate. It’s as easy as that.”
“The estate?” You broke in, confusion heavy in your tone.
The man seemed appreciative of your question, with the way his face brightened as he turned his focus to you. “Precisely, Y/N. It’s a beautiful place, where Mrs. Kim lives; acres and acres of land, so many sights to see. And the house, well…” he paused, attempting to build anticipation like a parent reading to their child. “... the house is the best part. You’ll have your own quarters, near the heiress’s room, and be free to roam the halls once your work is completed for the day.” A wistful look befell him. “It's absolutely breathtaking."
“What’s the catch?” You asked skeptically, narrowing your eyes. Your father turned to face you, unbelieving that you’d even entertain the idea by inquiring further.
The leader sat up straighter, shaking his head slightly. “There isn’t one, Y/N, despite what your father may have led you to believe.” He glanced at him almost smugly before returning his gaze to you. “Everyone can benefit from this deal. The heiress gets the maid she needs, you can enjoy a few months away in the countryside, and your family will be relinquished of any debts owed. It’s truly that simple.”
You pondered for a moment. “How long would I be indentured?”
Your father adamantly shook his head, coming to stand in front of you. “No, Y/N. You’re not doing this. I forbid it.”
“Why?”
The guards near your other family members took a step closer to them, though you failed to see it at the time.
“This isn’t your due to pay,” he reasoned, hoping you’d just listen to him for once. “And nothing that these men say is ever true. Not fully, anyway.” He glanced over his shoulder subtly, stealing a peek at the boss. He took note of the positions the rest of the men were in, committing them to memory.
“But father, if I have the chance to help like this I have to take it,” you affirmed, steadfast in your desire to be useful.
“No.”
“Father–”
“I said no, Y/N.” He leveled his gaze with yours, stern and final.
The leader sighed dramatically behind him, slapping his knees before moving to stand.
“I was really hoping to do this the easy way, Y/F/N.” He tutted, taking a step closer. Your father turned around to look at him, fiddling with the metal in his pocket again.
“Why do you always have to be so difficult?” He sounded genuinely disappointed.
The other men darted forward when he nodded his head, grabbing the arms of your family members and forcefully restraining them behind their backs. You lunged towards your mother instinctively, ready to free her, but were met with the chilling sound of a gun cocking before you could pry their hands off of her.
“Now now, Y/N. Don’t be like your father.”
Tears began to brim in your eyes as you slowly turned to look at the pair of them. A statement like that could only mean a handful of things, and none of them were good.
Your father's shiv was angled directly at the man's throat, nearly poking into his Adam's apple. In retaliation, you found his pistol pointed directly at your father’s head.
Neither of them backed down; if the scene before you were a war of wills, it would surely be a bloodbath.
“Don’t be a hero, okay?” The adversary smiled crookedly, looking truly evil in the light of the room. “You have the power to end this however you want.”
Y/F/N reached a hand out to you, sensing how frightened you were. Even when his life was on the line, keeping you calm was more important.
“Don’t listen to him, Y/N/N. Nothing good will come of anything he says–”
A stomach-churning crack rang out before you even had time to blink.
Only once your father spit a mouthful of blood onto the wooden floor and let out a quiet groan did you understand what happened. The man had pistol whipped him in a fit of anger.
Your enemy let out a shaky breath, fighting his every instinct to prevent himself from shooting your father right then and there. “I’ll be generous and give you thirty seconds, Y/N. Either come with us back to the estate and begin your servitude, or stay here and see what happens.”
You swallowed nervously, rooted in place.
“I can’t promise you’ll like the outcome of the latter,” he stifled a laugh, “...but do as you wish.”
Hushed sobs came from your mother, heartbreaking for a multitude of reasons. The rest of your family, too, threw insults at the men and attempted to wiggle free of their grasps, though their efforts proved futile.
These people were unpredictable, and that frightened you more than anything else. Preparing for their next move was impossible; the unknown held far more risks than rewards when it came to them, and you were aware of that. Subjecting those closest to you to a fate so uncertain would never sit right with your conscience.
“I’ll go.”
Whatever happened to you, you could take.
A pleased smile made its way to the fiend’s lips. “Smart girl, she is,” he praised, leaning in a bit closer to your father. Y/F/N shifted away, disgusted.
With the flick of a hand, the group of guards released your family and headed for the door.
“You have five minutes to pack your things, Y/N. Not a second longer.”
He pressed the end of the pistol to your father’s forehead as a warning, leaving an indentation on it after he pulled it away and returned it to the holster on his hip. His hands slicked back his messy hair again out of habit, and he followed after his men to wait outside.
Devastated, you looked around the room at the people you loved most. When, or even if, you’d see all of them again, you didn’t know. But this decision increased that likelihood to some degree, and with that, you could live peacefully.
—
An Hour Later
The midnight sky reigned supreme high above, jet black and ominous. Sprawling tree branches loomed over the road you traveled down, cutting jagged paths and creating an eerie canopy to further entrap you. Every whizzing branch sealed your fate that much more, and here, under it all, anything seemed feasible. Your mind ran wild with the possibilities.
Even the moon cowered behind clusters of clouds, hiding itself away and refusing to offer much light to the land below. But a few distant, brave stars twinkled every now and then, giving you a small sense of hope.
Usually, you’ve found, nature has an odd way of predicting things.
The car shimmied over the rough terrain of the road, jostling you some in your seat and adding to your already jumpy nerves. Its tires crunched as you traveled, working alongside the wildlife and insects to fill the evening air with sound. The driver looked back at you through the rearview mirror, his eyes a tense blue. They studied you carefully, for a moment, before training themselves back on the expanse ahead. You fought a shiver and pulled your jacket tighter around your body.
The forest parted more as you traveled, slowly opening up its brooding curtains little by little. Eventually, and in time with the increasing sparsity of trees on either side of you, the thick underbrush subsided. The road before you widened, and the headlights of the car illuminated a menacingly tall, wrought iron fence. Spikes pierced the air high above, serving as silent threats to anyone who dared to climb over.
Two gargoyles guarded either side -- leering menaces.
Kim Estate was posted in fancy lettering on a sign where the two sides met, front and center. It was polished and clean, just as expected. When two suited staff members emerged from the booths on either side of the road and released the lock, the sign glinted as it caught the attention of the car’s headlights in just the right way. With the way it sliced through the reflecting light, it resembled a blade.
Your driver nodded to the man on the other side of his window before pressing the gas again, and you slid yourself closer to the window in anticipation. Despite your circumstances, you couldn’t ignore the curiosity in your system.
Once the car rounded one last curve, the manor finally came into view. Truthfully, it looked like something a royal family would live in.
Lampposts dotted the grand driveway, showering soft golden light down to guide those coming and going. A sizable fountain greeted you at the center of it all, complete with an angel statue at its top. Water cascaded over its marble rim, catching the rays of two underwater lights on its way. Large flower beds stretched out on either side of the grassy area around it, wavering gently in the late-night breeze.
The house itself stretched far and wide from left to right and featured three floors, from what you could tell. Two halls extended on either side as well, reaching out and beckoning brave visitors inside. Its appearance was a mix of Gothic and Mediterranean, thanks to the Kim family’s own personal tastes and circle of friends. With those closest to them insisting on such a style and ensuring that they had certified architects to complete such a daunting task, it only made sense for them to graciously accept it.
And, in its own ways, it held a mysterious charm. The slight frost of its windows veiled what was going on inside, adding to the secrecy it possessed. Every arch and peak told a story, built by hands long-gone; they were situated up high, keeping watch over the land and its inhabitants. The designs so carefully etched there, sprawling and winding their ways into elaborate patterns as they connected with one another, were the eyes of the place.
The angel was merely a façade.
Shortly, your door was opened for you by a thin woman. She couldn’t have been more than twenty five years old. Her cheeks were rosy as she extended a gloved hand to you, aiding your departure from the car. She subtly nodded to an unseen figure behind you once you were out, and the sound of the trunk opening filled the otherwise quiet night air.
“Follow me, please, Miss.” Her voice was kind; far softer than you had imagined it’d be.
She led you through the main doors, keeping her pace slow enough to allow you ample time to take in your surroundings.
Torches burned in various places, all stationed methodically to fit the aesthetic and offer just enough light. They flickered near the art pieces that adorned the walls of the entryway, casting shadows of battles and conquests here and there.
A final embrace between two ill-fated lovers called from the end of the hall, larger than all the rest. Bittersweet smiles graced their faces as they peered at one another, finally having broken free of the tenacious arms holding them back. Their bloodied hands reached out for each other, barely brushing; but the flickering light changed their cruel fates, however, by closing the gap anytime a draft picked up. It offered them what they sought in those final moments: the simple pleasure of peace, together.
Your eyes lingered on it until you were instructed to round a corner, passing it by. Up close, you could see a flower tied to the man’s belt, waiting and ready to be given to his love. Its white petals were painted with droplets of crimson, somehow – strangely – making it all the more beautiful.
The woman’s flat shoes clicked against the floor as she led you further into the manor, through another hall. Here, the paintings were far more vibrant and lighthearted. Cherry trees blossomed from one frame to another, scattering their shimmering petals across the hall as they so pleased; women dressed in traditional clothing frolicked in a rich field of green, baskets in hand. They held their hats down, tipping their chins to prevent them from blowing away in the breeze.
At the far end of the hall, where you were headed again, a portrait hung proudly. A single woman was shown in it, smiling softly for her admirers; her eyes smiled, too, and you found yourself able to breathe again the longer you looked at it. She looked regal, dressed to the nines, yet approachable. A kindness gleamed in her eyes, full of power.
Amid the darkness of all the rest, this space was a bright reprieve. This woman.
Your lips tugged up, ever so subtly, as you exited the hall, replaying the vision of the woman in your mind as you went. You knew she’d stay with you, then, and you were happy with that notion. Perhaps this endeavor would be a little more bearable that way.
“The heiress is in her study,” a voice informed, pulling you from your thoughts as you entered a foyer. A large staircase laid in front of you, branching off widely once it climbed its way to the second story. Frilly garlands adorned its rails and spindles, making it look more inviting.
A man came into view, clean cut and professional. His hands were clasped behind his back in a relaxed pose, putting you at ease.
“Give me a moment and I’ll see if she’s ready to greet you.”
“Yes, sir.” You bowed politely, and he returned the gesture before heading off.
A moment later, the woman beside you spoke. “For now, I’ll make sure that all of your luggage has made it to your room, Miss.” She smiled gently at you, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Once you meet with the Lady, I’ll be waiting to tell you all about what’s expected of you.”
“Thank you, ….” You trailed off, waiting for her to fill in the blank for you.
“Yoohyeon,” she finished, dipping her head slightly – shyly.
“Thank you, Yoohyeon.” Her smile deepened at the way you said her name, though you didn’t notice it. “I appreciate your kindness more than you know.”
“I’m happy to be of assistance.”
Her humbleness surprised you, given that you were expecting everyone beyond that fence outside to be pretentious – at least to some degree. But no malice existed in her, as far as you could tell; for your own sake, you hoped that assumption was never proven wrong. She might be capable of making the next few months survivable, if it stayed true.
She left a moment later with a word of goodbye, leaving you alone and to your own devices.
Your hands hung at your sides, mindlessly toying with the ends of your sleeves as you waited. A few stray staff members passed by silently, stopping only for a brief second to observe you before they moved on with whatever they were doing. Some stayed longer than others, though, lingering in the shadows of the halls or kitchen to investigate further. You were new meat here, and you knew it; blaming them for their curiosity wasn’t something you cared to do. You just hoped they’d be civil once their gossiping phase ran its course.
“Ms. L/N,” a familiar voice said, grabbing your attention again. You raised your head, meeting the gaze of the man from before.
“Mrs. Kim will see you now, if you’ll just follow me. I’ll take you to your quarters once you’ve been introduced.”
You nodded politely in response, and he smiled. He turned on his heel, enticing you to tread after him in pursuit. His form led you to a grand room just behind the stairs, where he delivered two swift knocks to its door.
“Come in,” a distant voice responded, feminine in a beautiful way.
He stepped through the threshold and welcomed you inside, ensuring his face appeared stoic. You thanked him and entered, doing your best to seem confident.
Any chance of that crumbled the second you laid eyes on her.
The woman from the painting sat behind a massive oak desk, clad in a floral dress that hugged her figure perfectly. Glasses rested across the bridge of her nose, pushed up gently by her fingers as she raised her head to look at you. It tilted curiously, presumably due to the awestruck look on your face. You’d always been terrible at hiding your emotions in situations like this.
“Y/N, yes?” She asked, wanting to make sure she got your name right. Such a thing was important to her.
Stacks of papers rested in front of her, some splayed across the desk while others were neatly organized. She must’ve had a busy day.
“Yes, ma’am.” You bowed, suddenly snapping back to reality and remembering your place. You dropped eye contact, afraid of overstepping this early on.
She stood from her chair and approached you slowly, taking her time as her eyes trekked up and down your body. They lingered in places they probably shouldn’t have, though you were none the wiser. She noticed the way your chest rose a little faster than before as she stepped closer. It intrigued her.
Wordlessly, she raised a hand to dismiss the man behind you.
As he shut the door behind himself, your nerves truly began to kick in. The woman before you already had more power over you and your future than either of you realized. Whatever she did or didn’t do, whatever decisions she made, she was deciding for the both of you. From now on, your destiny would depend on her every whim.
That kind of vulnerability terrified you.
“Look at me.”
You blinked a few times, cautiously returning your gaze to her expectant one.
It was riddled with curiosity, but not the kind of eager children. She’d done this many times before; she had things that she was searching for in you. A criteria you needed to meet.
Her right hand raised to your cheek, giving you half the urge to flinch. But instead of being met with a slap, you felt her fingertips press against your jawline, turning your head to the side. She inspected you, admiring the curve of your face and how soft your skin was against hers. She turned it back, doing the same to the other side before taking a small step back.
“Turn around.”
Warmth spread to your cheeks, but you did as she asked. Her gaze was heavy on you, training itself on the subtle lines of your muscles that were visible through the form-fitting shirt you wore. As you lifted your arms at her request, they tensed and shifted, almost dancing for her.
She was pleased; you’d suit her just fine.
“Alright, that’s all,” she said, retreating to the edge of her desk. The backs of her legs pressed into the polished surface, keeping her grounded.
Her arms crossed loosely at her chest. You turned around, happy to be facing her again. She was a sight for sore eyes in every sense of the phrase.
"I trust that your ride here went well," she stated, giving enough opportunity for you to confirm or deny it.
"It did, ma'am." Your lips pressed together as you nodded, out of habit.
She smiled lightly. Had your answer been anything short of what it was, she would've had someone's head for it.
Her reputation was important, after all.
"I'm glad, Y/N.” Her tone and aura were as warm as the fire that burned in the hearth across the room. It made you want to be close to her; she was capable of drawing you in without even trying.
She turned her wrist over in time with the drop of her eyes. A quick glance at the thin watch that rested across it shocked her.
“Gosh,” she breathed, her eyebrows raising. “...seeing that it's already so late, I won't ask you to do anything tonight." She promised. “You’ll begin tomorrow morning, eight o’clock sharp. I’m to be dressed and ready promptly for a breakfast with some investors.”
“Yes, ma’am,” you nodded.
Her eyes found yours again, softening a little. The light offered by the fire casted on her, making them sparkle in a subtle kind of way. The dark brown of them was a touch lighter; speckles of a hidden richness that typically laid dormant, waking up. You had to be looking to see it, but that made it all the more special to you.
“Ezekiel will show you to your room,” she informed, reaching beside herself for a bell. It rang twice… ding, ding… before the door glided open behind you.
“Good night, Y/N. Sleep well.” A gentle smile rested on her lips as she said the words.
“Good night, ma’am.”
With a final bow, you were escorted out and towards your room, leaving behind an incredibly interested heiress. Her expectations were exceeded by you; respectful, calm, beautiful. Though she’d heard of your existence through the grapevine a few times – details of your family rolling off the tongue of her father or other business partners – she’d never gotten to know much about you individually. But now, with the prospect so conveniently perched right in front of her, she’d never been more intrigued.
—
The Next Morning
*beep be-beep beep be-beep*
The sound of your alarm was both welcome and nerve-racking. It set you in motion in an instant, and you had it turned off before it could muster up a second set of rings. Truthfully, you hadn’t gotten much sleep. Your unfamiliar surroundings, paired with the pressure you felt to perform well, prevented you from resting easily. But, for what time you had managed to slip away to dreamland, you were grateful; it was enough.
You parted ways with your bed with a sleepy yawn before heading to the restroom to get cleaned up and ready for the day ahead. After you were presentable, you made your way towards the heiress’s room.
Softly, you delivered two knocks to the heavy wood of her door.
After waiting a customary few seconds, you let yourself in and shut it behind yourself, being mindful of the latch. When you did, you couldn’t believe your eyes. Her room was a beautiful utopia, full of the summer sunshine that cascaded in through the flowy, white drapes of her tall windows. A dreamy haze had settled over everything, coating it in stardust. The furniture around her room was of the highest quality fabrics and materials that money could buy, and every embellishment and decoration surely cost more than your entire life savings. The paintings that adorned the walls were just as unique and special, all authentic pieces depicting artistic moments of life.
It was a far cry from your simple room, and it all gave you the urge to rub your eyes, just to make sure you weren’t seeing things.
When your shock began to subside, you focused your mind back on the task at hand and approached the bed. Mrs. Kim was clad in a silky, yellow nightgown, sprawled haphazardly and still in the throes of sleep. The covers were pushed down to her knees, revealing how her gown had ridden up her thighs as she’d tossed and turned throughout the night. Her hair was splayed across her pillow in every direction imaginable, and yet she looked just as elegant as always.
How lucky you were to get to see her in such a peaceful state.
“My Lady,” you tried, hesitant to wake her when she looked so comfortable.
She turned her head and sighed in response, still fast asleep. You’d have to try harder.
“Ma’am,” you called, putting a hand on her shoulder. You shook it slightly. She twitched, finally pulled from whatever dream she had been having.
Her eyes peeked open as she looked at you, feeling a little sheepish. She was convinced she looked a mess in the mornings, no matter what people told her.
“Hi,” she sleepily smiled, raising her arms above her head as she stretched the tension out of them.
“Good morning,” you grinned.
She sat up and looked at her bedside clock, running a hand through her hair to tame her locks back into place. “Right on time, Y/N,” she noted, clearly pleased, “...off to a good start.”
A word of gratitude left you on instinct, and you were thankful for such a reflex. Had you not had it, you would’ve kept staring at her in awe and embarrassed yourself to no end.
“I have to be at the dining hall in an hour,” she informed, as she stood up and headed towards the bathroom that was attached to her bedroom. You followed behind her, listening intently as she filled you in. “The breakfast will take a couple of hours, most likely. I cleared my schedule for the rest of the day to allow you time to familiarize yourself with everything, so you won’t have to worry about me. I’ll likely stay busy in my study.”
Your jaw went a little slack as you crossed the threshold and stepped into her bathroom. The sheer size of it caught you off guard, as did everything else. A vanity sat on the right side, shining and glittering with bottles upon bottles of every product in existence. The tub was directly across from it, large enough to fit upwards of three people at a time. The toilet itself looked like a mini throne, and you had half the urge to laugh at how ridiculous the situation was. One stone from its handle could likely pay off every bit of debt your father owed in the first place.
“I’ve assigned Yoohyeon to be your guide for the day,” Mrs. Kim spoke again, drawing you from your daze. “You should’ve met her last night.”
“I did.” You assured her.
“Good.” Her reply was short and sweet.
She glanced at the empty tub, silently prompting you. You sprung into action at once, mentally scolding yourself for not having the water ready. Getting used to this new routine would certainly be full of moments just like this, as much as you disliked it.
As you filled the tub and made sure the temperature was just right, she took her gown off and removed her earrings, setting both on the marble countertop of her vanity. You retrieved some oils and scents from the cabinet that hung overhead and quickly added them to the water as it flowed from the faucet. The motion of it made plenty of suds appear in no time.
In the name of sparing your pride and maintaining her privacy, you averted your gaze as she gracefully stepped into the deep tub. Her body was soon enveloped by the mountains of bubbles as it sank down below the surface, further and further. Only then did you turn the water off and kneel down beside her.
To ensure that the water remained warm for the entire time she was in it, the two of you worked simultaneously. While you shampooed and conditioned her hair, she used a delicate loofah to wash her body. You assisted with her back and other hard to reach areas, but she was self-sufficient in every other way. For that, you were grateful. You’re convinced you would’ve died if she had been the type to make you wash her yourself. Sharing such an intimate interaction with anyone would’ve been bad enough, but with her? Someone you found so attractive? No, you wouldn’t have survived it.
She must’ve been aware of the effect she had on you, because she made sure to keep a ring of suds around herself at all times. Modesty bubbles, she declared them, to put you at ease on your first day. You were both aware that time would allow for more adjustment and comfortability when it came to things like this, and patience was something you had for one another. In the meantime, you traded jokes and splashes of water to loosen up and shake off any awkwardness you felt.
By the time you emerged from the bathroom, she had deposited a handful of bubbles on top of your head, and a generous dollop of them rested on the tip of her nose as well, courtesy of you.
You approached her closet and sought out the suit that Yoohyeon had told you she’d need last night. As you flipped through the seemingly endless row of clothes, all strung up on hangers, you felt the heiress come up behind you. The towel around her body stayed bound in place as she reached up and wordlessly got rid of bubbles for you, laughing all the while.
You shook your head at her with an amused smile as you retrieved her outfit and turned around, holding it up. You intended to make her bed while she got dressed, and so she waited until you had your back turned to drop her towel.
The sound of it landing on the hardwood floor made your heart speed up, but you made a vow not to think too much of it. Your hands buried themselves in the covers, tugging hard to snugly put them back into place.
The rest of the hour flew by as you helped her fix her hair and complete the subtle makeup look that she chose for the day. Truthfully, you wished you could’ve had a little more time with her to yourself before she had to go. But, it wasn’t your place to want something like that, and as the two of you walked your way towards the meeting room, you made peace with just being in her presence for what little time you had left.
She reciprocated subtly, without you even recognizing it: normally, her strides were fast, but with you at her side, she slowed them immensely. When you matched her pace, she smiled.
Shortly, you rounded the corner to the hall that housed the meeting room.
Yoohyeon came into view, rocking up unto her tippy toes and back down to occupy herself as she patiently waited on your arrival. Her hands were behind her back, clasped but fidgeting, and her eyes regarded the fancy ceiling design as if she hadn’t seen it everyday for the past three years of her life.
When she heard your approaching footsteps, she snapped back to reality and lit up as bright as a Christmas tree. Her smile was so warm you couldn’t help but reciprocate without even trying.
Mrs. Kim traded greetings and pleasantries with her once the two of you had joined her, and you did the same. Before you could talk for very long, though, the heiress had to wrap things up.
“Take care of her, Yoohyeon. Show her everything; I want her to know her way around the place.” She instructed.
The younger girl bowed respectfully, reassuring her. “I’d do nothing less, my Lady. She’ll know the place like the back of her hand in no time.”
Mrs. Kim grinned, looking between the two of you. It seemed as though she wanted to say something more as her eyes lingered on you a second longer than usual, but the door beside her opened before she got the chance to. It was her husband.
His brow raised expectantly, and an air of impatience seemed to leak out of the room behind him through the open doorway. You peered inside, finding a few balding men all sitting around a large table with annoyed expressions on their faces. It made you grimace and wish to send your condolences to the heiress before she had to enter.
“I’ll see you after,” she said, regarding you.
You bowed and offered a word of good luck to her before she disappeared into the room behind Mr. Kim.
Muffled sounds of discussion instantly began, unintelligible to you through the thick walls.
Yoohyeon smiled at you and linked her arm with yours, leading you away. She was clearly excited to have been gifted such a task; her other responsibilities had grown monotonous, making her less than fond of them. But now she had the opportunity to wander about the estate with you and see everything through new eyes. She couldn’t have possibly been happier.
-
She took her job seriously, much to your relief. No stone was left unturned as she showed you around and explained the heiress’s weekly schedule to you.
Areas and rooms existed for just about every possible task imaginable. Every time you thought the tour was over, Yoohyeon would inevitably lead you up more stairs or turn another corner and down a new hall to discover. Meeting halls, dining rooms, ballrooms, personal quarters, kitchens, studies, recreational areas, specialized spaces for the arts, even an indoor swimming pool – they all blended together, creating the complex and intricate layout of the manor.
“An art instructor conducts lessons for her on Tuesdays and Thursdays at noon,” she had said, as she let you peep into the expansive art gallery. It housed tons of paintings and sculptures from far and wide, all acquired by the Kims in some way. A few were originals, done by the heiress’s father.
“She’s enrolled in two language courses to broaden her horizons in the business world.” Yoohyeon informed, as you passed by one of the executive meeting rooms. Books full of practice materials were all perfectly shelved inside, peering back at you from beside a menacing desk. “Those are held on Mondays and Wednesdays at three o’clock sharp. Don’t be late,” she warned, sending a tense look your way. “He’s a pain in the ass to deal with if she arrives late, and neither of you want to be on the receiving end of his ranting. Trust me.”
The outside was much the same, as you worked your way through acres of land complete with gardens (both botanical and for farming), stables, pastures, coops, ponds, a lake, and a racetrack. The lavishness caught you off guard, but you did your best to hide it and stay composed. On the inside, though, you were like a kid in a candy store. You wanted to get lost in your own personal exploration of it all.
By the time you had made your way back inside, you felt like you’d been gone for a week. The miles that you had hiked were weighing heavily on you, but it was the best kind of exhaustion. Your body may have been tired, but your mind was anything but.
The sound of Mr. Kim’s voice made its way to your ears as you rounded the corner, at Yoohyeon’s side. He kissed his wife’s cheek before whispering a word of goodbye and exiting towards the carport.
She watched him go, looking just as tired as you.
“Ma’am!” Yoohyeon called, waving to her once she turned in your direction.
Her face lit up upon spotting the two of you. “Ah, Yoohyeon. Y/N.”
The gloss on her lips shimmered as she smiled, taking in the sight of you in your uniform. You looked even better then than you had that morning.
“What brings you this way?” She addressed Yoohyeon.
“We were just finishing up our tour,” she explained, motioning to you with a tilt of her head. “The library is our last stop.”
“I could show her,” the heiress suggested, perking up a little. You were ignorant as to why she would be interested in such a task after spending hours in a meeting, but the last thing you would do is turn her down.
“Would that be alright?” Her voice was light, concealing the hidden hope that laid beneath.
Your body felt the urge to blush when you noticed the sweet way she looked to you, waiting on your decision with polite nonchalance. The smile on her face didn’t help anything either.
“Of course, ma’am.”
Her grin only deepened. “Fantastic. Shall we go now?”
You nodded, allowing Yoohyeon to step past you as she switched places with the heiress. She touched your shoulder as a way of saying goodbye.
“I’ll get started on my other tasks,” she announced, bowing.
“Thank you, Yoohyeon. We’ll see you later.” The heiress dipped her head down in response, full of respect for her employee. She couldn’t imagine life without her and the rest of the team.
The younger girl smiled as she turned away; something about her resembled sunshine no matter what she did, and now was no different. Even the way she walked was cheerful.
Once she disappeared around the corner of the hall, Mrs. Kim addressed you again.
“Right this way.”
You walked in pleasant silence, simply taking in the hallways and rooms that you passed by on the way. Various workers greeted you; their jobs were easily discernible based on the color of their uniforms.
Green was reserved for the gardeners and landscapers, white for the chefs and waiters, and traditional black and white for the maids and male servants alike.
Those designated as greeters outside were dressed in all black, providing a sleek and pristine first impression to anyone visiting the estate. They specifically were made to look prim and proper at every given moment. One too many wrinkles could cost them their job if they weren't careful.
And you could tell they envied the others for that exact reason.
Some of them watched you through the soaring windows of the main hall, scoping you out like predators monitoring their prey. Feeling self-conscious, you averted your gaze and put a bit more distance between yourself and the heiress. That’s what they seemed to be so interested in, anyway. It was obvious that some of them were jealous that a new-comer like you was being awarded such a moment with her.
“Don’t mind them,” she spoke, more aware of the situation than you thought. She stepped around you so that she was next to the windows, wordlessly blocking you from their view.
It shouldn’t have surprised you that she was paying such good attention without making it glaringly obvious, given that that was her M.O. Always being aware of the little things is what she did best. But even still, you were taken aback by it all.
“Yes, ma’am,” you replied, bowing your head.
She cut her eyes at the workers that still dared to glare at you, and eventually they retreated to their stations to do something productive with their time. Only then was she satisfied.
The library gleamed in its full glory, shining brighter than ever as you arrived at its doors. Intricate patterns decorated the outside of it, wrapping around one another and flowing in various directions. It was fitting that such a place would be adorned with such poetic embellishments.
From your side, she watched you take it all in with a smile on her face.
Tucked just out of your view, someone inside rose from their chair. They dusted their uniform off and opened the door, stepping outside of it to hold it open for the two of you.
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Kim.” They greeted, bowing in respect. When they noticed you at her side, they extended you the same courtesy.
She thanked them and led you in, walking slowly so you could revel in yet another moment of awe as you looked around. Books of all kinds – old, new, domestic, foreign, small, large, short, lengthy – resided in their rightful places among the shelves that soared above, nearly touching the ceiling. The smell of their pages painted the air, enriching the room with their combined stories and adventures. Torches and candles all illuminated the space in strategically chosen places; all of their flames were covered to protect the books, but they still burned bright enough to guide you every step of the way, no matter what avenue you chose to stroll down.
Hours and hours of information and fiction alike lined the shelves, creating nooks and crannies that you could get lost in for God knows how long. They were all organized to a T, completely in order. It was overwhelming, if you were honest, and daunting to take in all at once. But the heiress seemed to sense that, and so she put a reassuring hand on your shoulder.
“We can visit here every so often and work through the different sections together, if you’d like. I know it’s a lot.”
“I’d love that.”
“Then it’s settled.” Her smile lines appeared as she said the words, and you unconsciously mirrored her.
“How about we start with the poetry wing for now? You can choose any book that catches your eye.”
“That sounds great.”
With another warm smile, she nodded and led you over to it. She set you loose, free to explore the rows and rows of content until you were satisfied. Your fingertips brushed over the spines of the books as you passed them, ambling about as you read the titles etched there. She herself meandered in your wake. Anytime she heard a sound from you – whether it be one of surprise, excitement, or intrigue – she found herself peeking around the shelves or between breaks in the books to catch a glimpse of you. You were oblivious the entire time, but she didn’t mind; something about that made the moment all the more special for her.
She didn’t need your eyes on her, like everyone else. Simply admiring your innocent joy was enough for her, and she was able to be the beholder for once. It was a welcome change.
A few more minutes passed before you returned to her. By then she had chosen a book as well and was already thumbing through its pages.
“I’ll go with this one,” you declared, proudly holding yours up in the warm light of the room so that she could see which one it was. The smile on your face warmed her heart.
“Good choice,” she praised. “I’ve read that…” she paused to think, tapping her chin, “...ten times since it was published.”
Your eyes widened immensely. “But it just came out a few months ago!”
She shrugged, attempting to hide the smug smile on her face. “It’s just that good. What can I say?”
You began to ramble on about how you’d been dying to get your hands on a copy of it ever since you heard that it was being released, and she listened intently. She learned that the author was one of your favorites, and that surprised her. You had that in common.
Something shifted in her eyes the longer she watched you, all eagerness and poorly concealed excitement. It made her want to participate – to do whatever she had to in order to keep you like that, forever. You were simply radiant, and she’d do whatever it took to protect that happiness for as long as possible.
“Let me take you somewhere,” she offered, speaking again only once you were finished. “I think you’ll love it.”
Your brows furrowed slightly as you looked up at her. “But what about your work?”
She shook her head. “It can wait.”
You grinned, and the gesture was far cuter to her than you realized. “Then let’s go.”
-
Your feet crunched against the dirt path that wound beneath them, arching up the incline of the hillside that presided over the mansion. You spotted the heiress in case she fell, keeping a careful eye on her as the two of you climbed. Within a few short minutes, you reached its peak and felt your eyebrows raising as the view before you came into focus.
A sprawling cherry tree stood tall next to a quaint bench, both of them overlooking the distant city. The two of you went and sat down, placing your books beside yourself.
The spot gave you a gorgeous view of the town and forest alike, as well as the mountains that surrounded you. Fog settled along the dips and plateaus of them, visible against the backdrop of rich, dense green.
People trodded their way about below, all moving past one another with their own responsibilities and schedules in mind. From what you could make out of the outskirts of the town, farmers were returning from their fields after a long day of hard work.
“Wow, Mrs. Kim. This is…. wow.”
She giggled lightly, amused. “I knew you’d like it.”
Dusky twilight painted the sky, with clouds that looked like carefully crafted brushstrokes taken straight from a storybook. The city lights stretched far and wide; residential and corporate buildings alike all switched them on in preparation for the night ahead. Some were hazy and dull, nearly burnt out – but others glowed brightly, cutting through the darkening atmosphere as they fought to be seen. Little beacons, spread amongst the winding streets and alleys. Their shades varied along the spectrum of colors, but that made them all the more unique and interesting to look at. Ones that were partially concealed could be discovered the harder you looked, and the more vibrant ones could serve as way points and markers on the mental map you had constructed in your mind. They were like shimmering stars in the night sky, creating their own constellations for you.
But they felt so far away from where you sat, and seeing them only made you think of your family; as beautiful as they were, you couldn’t stop your mind from taking it there. You hoped they were doing well, all things considered. Leaving them had been one of the hardest things you’d ever had to do in your entire life.
It didn’t matter that they were only a number of miles away. As long as you were at the estate, they were practically on Mars.
“You’re thinking about them, aren’t you?”
Her voice was quiet and gentle, easing you out of your thoughts instead of abruptly pulling you away. She knew you’d need moments like this in order to deal with the change you were being subjected to.
You could feel the way your smile had faded.
When you nodded, a wave of guilt washed over her. She already had a strong dislike of the way that you were chosen and brought to the estate, but that was out of her hands, just like a majority of other things. A large part of her heart felt for you, knowing you were just as powerless in the situation as she was.
The worried, homesick look in your eye was enough to conjure up every ounce of pity she had available.
“I just hope this arrangement will go smoothly,” you said. “I hope they're okay.”
She understood you completely. “You’re free to write to them.”
“Really?”
She nodded, smiling softly as the light returned to your eyes at the thought.
“I appreciate that.”
“It’s nothing,” she dismissed, waving a hand in the air. “You deserve more,” she whispered, almost under her breath. But you heard it, whether she knew that or not.
The two of you sat there for a while, just soaking in the remaining daylight that was fading quickly. The sun had already disappeared behind the mountains, and you knew it was only a matter of time before inky blackness took over its reign for the night.
Your books laid forgotten beside you until it was time to go. Although this was the perfect place to escape the world and read, it was impossible to pry your eyes away from the beauty around you.
She led you back down the hill as you shot one last look at the city over your shoulder, imprinting the image in your brain. Though your circumstances were far less than ideal, you were grateful for the opportunity to see it all in such a way. From up here, it held a kind of sparkle that was hidden away everywhere else. It shined in its own way, unlike anything else you’d seen before.
-
The Estate
Two servants greeted you at the doors of the dining hall as you slid your book into the deep front pocket of your uniform. Sensing the nervousness that had sprung up on you, Mrs. Kim sent a reassuring smile your way as you stepped inside with her. Your hands fiddled with the frills of your uniform along your thighs.
A waiter was finishing his job of setting the table as you took your seat next to the heiress. She sat at the head of the table; the opposite end would be occupied by Mr. Kim.
Given that you were her personal maid, of course, you were guaranteed a spot at the table. The senior maids and servants were extended the same courtesy, but everyone else ate dinner in their own quarters or separate dining halls, whichever they preferred. Unless a problem arose or the Kims felt generous, that configuration wouldn’t change.
That fact only heightened the pressure you felt to stay in line. You were afraid that even the smallest of slip ups would wreck things. This place was far too regal than you were used to; too much was at stake at any given moment, and being surrounded by the most influential people of the estate scared you more than you cared to admit.
But the heiress trusted you enough to give you this in, despite it only being your first official day. Something told her that you were capable of handling it, and that accounted for something. If for nothing else, you would do your best to keep it together for her.
More waiters and chefs flitted in and out of the room, setting out trays and dishes of steaming food across the length of the table top. Your stomach grumbled lightly as the smells of them made their way to you. Such a wide selection was foreign to you; at most, you were lucky to have a main dish with a side or two back home. But this was a feast fit for royals; no expense was spared in it, and you knew in your heart that it wasn’t something that was reserved for special occasions. This was a typical dinner, here, and that filled you with an eagerness that could only sprout from a situation like yours – coming from humble beginnings, and now thrust into a life of luxury. It was unfamiliar territory in every way, and you knew it would take plenty of getting used to.
But as the other guests began to filter in and take their seats, the instinctual way you corrected your posture and plastered on a polite smile put your mind at ease.
You could do this.
-
An Hour & A Half Later
The hall bustled with life as everyone ate and shared discourse with one another. Genuine laughter filled the room – some suppressed, some boisterous – as it bled out into the rest of the manor. In between bites of the delicious creations the chefs had spent hours making, utensils transformed into tools of explanation, aiding the guests in conveying their stories of the day. Many of them were slap happy, too, as they sipped on the alcohol in front of them. Their glasses were always refilled before they could even reach the bottom, so it was really no wonder they were entering into various stages of drunkenness already. Their cheeks were flushed in a charming kind of way; it made them look more approachable. The professional, jarring image they always put up had slipped away by now and left them like you. Normal.
The pleasant atmosphere left you unsure of why you were ever so nervous in the first place.
Mr. Kim thrust his glass of wine into the air, demanding a toast to commemorate your arrival. It was unexpected, but you welcomed it with a grateful smile.
Your eyes found the heiress’s on instinct, seeking support from her without you even realizing. She grinned back, reassuring you as she tilted her glass towards yours in the air. It was the first to clink, before everyone else rushed to extend their welcome to you. The man beside you nearly sloshed his drink out from the jovial way he shoved it upwards, but his muttered apology afterwards only made you laugh.
“To Y/N!”
Mrs. Kim watched you over the rim of her glass as she finished her wine in one long drink. You merely sipped on yours, having no intention of getting drunk like the rest of them. You wanted to conduct yourself well, and if you expected to be able to take care of her on top of that, you knew you had to be sober.
When a waitress approached the heiress to refill her glass, she raised a hand to stop her. She was so far gone at that point that she couldn’t fathom drinking another drop. Her skin was heated, and her cheeks were a shade of red that you’d never quite seen before. It was deep, yet bright; entirely beautiful, but also alarming. If it could speak for anything, you were sure it was a harbinger of the terrible hangover she would have in the morning.
Her movements were slightly altered as she reached for the apple that rested on the tablecloth in front of her. It wasn’t something you had expected for her to request, but you learned that whenever they’re in season, she asks that the chefs surprise her from time to time and send her the best looking one from their batches. The one in her hand was no exception, either; it looked fresh out of a storybook. Practically plucked straight from one of its pages.
She grabbed the handle of her knife as she inspected the fruit, picking a place to begin cutting. It made you nervous, though, and on instinct you placed your hands over hers to stop her.
“Let me,” you offered, taking the knife from her.
She agreed with a cute little nod.
Before long, you had it sliced and ready for her to eat. Carefully, you sat the knife on your plate and put the cut pieces on her napkin. The corner of her lips pulled back in a lopsided, lazy smile as she reached out for one.
When it disappeared beyond her lips and she took her first bite, she let out a quiet noise of approval and closed her eyes. It was sweet and juicy, just like she wanted. Her favorite variety never failed her.
“Here,” she suddenly said, gaining your attention.
You glanced down at her hand, finding it extended to you with a slice outstretched. She wiggled it, but before you could grab it she pulled it away. Confused, you looked at her again. Her mouth only opened in response, instructing you on what to do. She held it up to your lips, and after a moment of hesitancy you opened your mouth to receive it.
Her breath caught in her throat at the way your lips wrapped around it, and she swallowed hard at the sight. Some of the juices from it began to dribble down your chin, but she was quick to swipe them away with her finger and clean you up.
Your stomach flipped when she brought it to her lips, tasting the juice like it was nothing.
The tips of your ears warmed despite the innocence of the gesture, and you directed your attention to the floor as you finished chewing. If she was aware of what she had just done to your gay heart, she didn’t show it.
Depending on how you looked at things, that could be a blessing or a curse.
The remaining time you spent in the dining hall passed by in a flash. That moment with her left you speechless, and it occupied your mind in a way that allowed no room for any more small talk or jokes with the guests around you. Tales of the weeds that the gardener had conquered that morning paled in comparison to the memory of her touch; the one that held the most importance was glaringly obvious.
Even after she had excused the two of you from the hall and freed you to return to her room, you were still stuck up in your mind.
That all was brought to a screeching halt, though, as the tip of her stiletto slotted into a crack in the floor.
The fruity scent of alcohol was strong as she stumbled into you, sending the accents of it to wash over you as well. You caught her on instinct, looping an arm around her waist. She apologized for her tipsiness with an embarrassed smile, but you didn’t mind it in the slightest.
You were able to see a different side of her, like this, as you ambled on together. Every clumsy move she made inspired laughter; her quiet giggles filled the otherwise silent night air of the manor, drawing it out of its stupor. The candles even seemed to burn a little brighter as she passed by.
Once you finally reached her room, she collapsed onto the bed with a happy sigh. The covers poofed out at the sides from her impact, drawing a smile from you.
“I’ll go grab your things,” you informed, before slipping away.
A muffled reply came, but seeing as her cheek was pressed against one of the pillows, it was far from intelligible.
You returned a few minutes later with her nightgown and shawl, crossing your fingers that she hadn’t fallen asleep yet. The material was warm in your hands, having just come out of the dryer.
“Mrs. Kim?”
“Mmm,” she hummed, still snuggled against the side of her pillow.
“Sit up for me, please.”
“Do I have to?” A whine left her.
“Yes.”
She listened shortly after, though her eyes remained closed. Her body swayed slightly as the bed beckoned her to fall back over and sleep.
“Once you get changed, we’ll clean your face and then you can rest. Deal?”
Her eyes peeked open hesitantly, one after the other, as she nodded.
When she grabbed the hem of her jacket to take it off, you quickly averted your eyes and excused yourself to the bathroom to get her skincare products rounded up. The darkness of the room made finding them a little difficult, but after diligently searching the shelves, her favorite cleanser, serum, and hydrating lotion all found their way into your line of sight eventually.
You sat them on the counter and entered her room again. You were curious as to what was taking so long.
When you spotted her on the bed, it was physically impossible to contain your laughter.
“Stop it,” she warned.
Her arms were stuck above her head, tangled in the sleeves of her shirt. She had managed to wiggle free of the suit jacket, but her good fortune ended there.
“Here, let me help.”
She still heard your suppressed laughter as you approached the bed, but she didn’t scold you anymore. It was obvious that she wanted to laugh, too.
Being mindful of her jewelry, you slid the half-unbuttoned top over her head, freeing her. For a moment, you wondered how long she had been stuck like that.
“Can you help me with the rest?” She asked. Despite the fact that such a thing was literally in your job description, she didn’t want to order you.
“Of course.”
You crouched down, removing her heels before placing them neatly beside her dresser. The lack of lighting in the room helped you avoid blushing too much as you unbuttoned her pants and slid them down her legs, feeling just how smooth they were in the process.
You reached around her next, feeling for the clips of her bra. In one motion, the two sides of it released and came tumbling down. She sighed appreciatively.
"Better?"
She cooperated well as you slipped her nightgown over her head.
"So much," she replied.
"Good. Now let's get you washed up."
-
She obediently sat on the chair next to her vanity, perching herself on its edge. The alcohol in her system made her appreciative of how cold its surface was against her heated skin.
As you filled a bowl up with water and wet a cloth, she watched you through hazy eyes.
The top few buttons of your uniform were undone, and some of your hair had fallen out of the clip that was nestled in its strands. She smiled to herself when you tucked the unruly pieces behind your ears to get them out of the way.
“Here we go, ma’am,” you grinned. You pulled a small footrest out of its cubby beneath the sink and placed it in front of her before easing yourself down onto it.
She closed her eyes and lowered her head, letting it hover close to the bowl as you began to clean off what makeup she had on. It was minimal for the most part, with most of the focus being on her eyes; the intricate design she had requested came off easily, though, much to your relief.
After wiping off as much as you could with the wet cloth, you used your hands to apply the cleanser to her skin. She giggled drunkenly as you cupped her cheeks and raised her head, needing to see her better to reach all the necessary places. They were warm against your palms, completely flushed.
Once she was sufficiently sudsed up, you used the water to rinse her off. You snagged a dry towel off of the hanger and dabbed her skin with it afterward, before setting the bowl on the counter beside her. You applied the serum and lotion evenly, noticing how dewy they made her look. Even now, bare faced and sleepy, she was still the most beautiful woman you’d ever seen.
Mr. Kim truly was a lucky man.
She shifted in the chair and inadvertently knocked the towel off of your leg. It fluttered to the floor before you had time to react. As you bent slightly to the side to retrieve it, only then did you notice that her lipstick hadn’t budged, despite your efforts. It was stubbornly still stuck on her lips.
“Ah, just a second,” you requested, as you put the towel to the side and took the cloth out of the bowl, flipping it over in search of a clean spot to use. She looked at you expectantly, unaware of what exactly had happened.
Her lips were full and rosy, looking more kissable than usual somehow as you focused all of your attention on them. You couldn’t help but admire their gentle curves and arches, and the way that they parted slightly every time she drew in a breath. Using the cloth, you rubbed them in gentle strokes to remove the lipstick and gloss that colored them so beautifully.
An aspect of the motion felt intimate. Perhaps it was how she wrapped her fingers around your forearm, embracing you in her own way. Maybe it was that her gaze seemed to have trouble finding a place to stay; it wandered from your eyes to your mouth. Possibly even the fact that she leaned in a little closer as you worked, granting you all the access you needed.
Or maybe it was a combination of all those things. You weren’t sure. All you knew was that you needed to hurry and finish the task at hand before you did something reckless. She was alluring in a dangerous way, and you didn’t feel particularly strong enough to remain in line if she kept it up.
She wanted to kiss you in that moment more than anything.
To feel your lips against hers, and the weight of your body in her arms. She wanted your hands on her, touching her and caressing her in ways that she’d never felt before. From what little she had already experienced, she knew it would be Heaven.
But she had no clue why her desire for such a thing was so strong. It had to have been the alcohol simply heightening her urges. She barely knew you, after all, and you were her employee. Perhaps it was more so the action itself rather than the person in question.
Though, when she considered it, none of her previous maids had ever even so much as turned her head. But you… you did. Something about you simply drew her in; you were like a magnet, and she had felt a certain pull to you from the second she met you. It made no sense, and never before in her life had she jumped the gun in such a way.
Whether she was drunk or sober didn’t matter; anytime she looked at you, it was as if she had to make a conscious effort to stop. You captivated her with even the simplest of actions. And now, as you so diligently followed her routine and made sure to take care of her, something changed. Her inhibitions put themselves on pause, allowing the alcohol to override her systems of judgment and ultimately let her be reckless.
She leaned forward, pressing her hands down against the seat at her sides in an effort to boost herself closer to you. Desperate curiosity fueled her movements – a deadly combo, making her movements clumsy.
When her lips brushed against yours, the rush of surprise you felt was impossible to hide.
They were softer than you could’ve ever imagined as they slid over yours, sweet and inviting. Her head tilted to the side subtly as she tested the waters, wanting to brave a step forward. Demurity was present in the movement, but the reality of the situation sunk in and hit you like a ton of bricks, all at once.
Your eyes opened wide as you pulled back, putting distance between the two of you. The tell-tale uptick of your heartbeat would’ve sold you out in an instant if she could’ve heard it.
But you were oblivious to her intentions in the worst possible way.
A large part of her wanted you to know that she did it on purpose. Or, at the very least, to have a suspicion of that and trust your gut feeling.
But you didn’t. You couldn’t. Every possible factor about the situation prevented you from believing she wanted to kiss you. That was just simply unthinkable. The rich, married, successful heiress with one of the most important reputations in the world to uphold had the urge to kiss you? Definitely not. She was just drunk and miscalculated her movements.
When the reality sunk in that you weren’t going to reciprocate her curiosity – or even allow her to explore it herself – she silently thanked every lucky star she’d ever had for her ability to blame her advances on the alcohol in her system and the sleep that she was in such desperate need of. Her pride could be saved and things wouldn’t have to change between the two of you.
She just prayed that you wouldn’t question her. Lying to you wouldn’t be easy when her mind was busied with the fact that you still tasted like the cherry wine that had been served with dinner. All she wanted to do was taste it again.
You swallowed nervously, still reeling. The sick, inky feeling of icy shock still coursed through your veins. It was hard to breathe, with the way that she was still looking at you; her warm eyes were full of light, even in the darkness. But you pushed the feelings away and stood up.
“I’m all done, ma’am. Let’s get you in bed now.”
She nodded and stood up, too, crossing behind you as you emptied the bowl into the sink. Its contents swirled together, pooling with one another before ultimately disappearing down the drain and into nothingness. Just like her memories of tonight would need to do.
-
Soft frills caught her eye as she climbed into bed and pulled the blanket over herself. She reached down for the material, finding that it was the shawl you brought in earlier. Heat still hung in its fibers, residual yet plenty noticeable. It replaced what warmth she was beginning to lose as the effects of the alcohol were starting to subside, and she was grateful. The chilly evening air was beginning to seep inside, little by little.
She wrapped it around her shoulders tightly, reveling in how it felt against her.
You emerged from the bathroom shortly after and lingered by her bedside, not knowing exactly what to do. She had already managed to tuck herself in and get settled, so you really weren’t needed anymore.
“Thank you, Y/N,” she spoke, breaking the quiet. “Good night.” A beat passed, far more tense than either of you expected it to be.
You nodded, avoiding her gaze. “No problem. Sleep well, ma’am.”
She dipped her head down as you bowed, respectfully mirroring the gesture, and once you left the room she let out a heavy sigh. Her fingertips pressed to her lips, toying with them as her mind wandered.
Little did she know that on your way back to your room, you did the same.
—---
Following that eventful first day, a professional distance was established between the heiress and yourself. It was mainly your doing, so as to keep yourself in check and guarded. The last thing you wanted to do was forget the seriousness of your arrangement and ruin the opportunity you had to give your family a better life.
But, inevitably, and as the next few weeks bled into months, you began to get to know one another more and grow closer. With every passing day, you found that she had a funny way of lessening the divide between you; her charms chipped away at it, little by little as she disarmed your defenses.
Your time together was filled with countless memories and adventures, but a handful in particular truly stood out among the rest. Looking back, they were the ones that told the story of you. Fate was written in those encounters, present in everything that allowed them to happen just as they did, whether you realized it at the time or not.
It would be a disservice to go without mentioning them.
1.) Spontaneity
The heiress taught you the importance of living in the moment.
> Outside, On The Lawn <
A once-calm afternoon gave way to an evening storm of such high caliber that you were left to question what humanity had done to anger Mother Nature so severely.
Through your fingers, you peered up at the raging horizon.
It seemed out of the blue that the clouds rushed in, claiming their throne in the sky as they overtook the bright Sun. You were left to hastily help Mrs. Kim up in response and seal up the small bag you had on your back. Out of it, you took the umbrella you packed earlier in case something like this would’ve happened.
The two of you began your retreat towards the house, striding across the lawn as the clouds above opened up. What began as a light drizzle turned into a downpour in an instant as rain flooded down relentlessly.
“Quickly, ma’am,” you instructed over a roar of the wind, using the umbrella to shield her from the stinging droplets that pelted your skin. You took the brunt of it, only caring that she was out of harm's way.
Much to your dismay, her pace only slowed.
“Wait, Y/N,” she said, placing a gentle hand on your forearm.
You stopped and turned to look at her, impatient but obedient. Her eyes shined with a mischievous innocence – one that surprised you. What she had planned, you had no idea.
Her fingers wrapped around the handle just above where yours rested as she took the umbrella away from you. When you made a move to get it back, she simply grinned and shook her head.
Before you could react, she uncovered the both of you and let the umbrella fall to the ground at your feet.
Rain instantly sprayed down on you, working to drench what areas of your skin and clothes it hadn’t reached before. The swaths of wind that continued to blow in only made things worse; they heightened the frigidity of the rain, making your breath catch in your throat at the sensation.
But when you shot a shocked look up at the heiress, she couldn’t have possibly looked happier.
Her shirt clung tightly to her skin, hugging the curves of her breasts and sides in a way that seemed deserving of having poetry written about it. Her lacy undergarments were becoming visible through the thin material, fading in more and more with every blast of the current. Her fancy updo – which you had spent a considerable amount of time on earlier – was undeniably ruined; strands of it fell down in different directions and ways than you had intended. Water droplets hung in the locks that came down to frame her face, sparkling with all the light they refracted.
You couldn’t find it in yourself to be the slightest bit upset.
The childish smile on her face, so eager and bright, took away any ill thoughts you ever could’ve had about the situation.
“Let’s go.”
Your eyebrows furrowed at her sudden command. “What?”
She giggled at your bewilderment. “Just trust me. Come on,” she quickly reassured, sticking her hand out to you. With a swift glance down at it, you shrugged and released your inhibitions. Here goes, you thought to yourself, as you placed your hand in hers.
She wasted no time in taking that and running with it – literally. She nearly yanked you out of your shoes as she pulled you after her.
The two of you thundered across the courtyard together, shouting into the wind.
Your shoes made sloshing sounds amid the rain, just as soaked as the rest of you. She didn’t seem to care at all about the state that her fancier ones were in; when you came upon a large puddle that was forming, she splashed right in.
Joyous laughter bubbled out of her when you jumped in, too. She spun you around a time or two, admiring the curve of your smile as you lifted your face to the sky.
You couldn't help but want her to experience it, too, and so you reached out for her.
Your arms wrapped around her waist as you stepped closer, planting your feet to keep the both of you steady. Once you sent her a nod of approval, she put her hands on your shoulders and leaned back.
She closed her eyes and let the rain fall freely all over her; it was only obstructed by the partial cover that your body provided as you hovered closely. She, for a moment, was the eye of the storm. Delicately perched in your arms, she existed amid the chaos that surrounded you.
A candle in the wind, burning brightly. You, serving as her holder.
Her hands reached high up to the sky, and she reveled in the chilly sensation of the water running over her palms and down her arms. Your warmth staved off a majority of the cold, making it bearable as you provided it so readily for her. Seeing the content smile on her face made it all worth it.
But, before long, an end was brought to your plans. Mother Nature warned you more harshly, showing her anger at discovering you were still outside in the first place; the clouds above darkened, swirling in dangerous patterns as the winds mixed with one another. When a large bolt of lightning was unleashed, streaking its searing path down to Earth, you both jolted in response.
You held your breath for a moment at the way she clung to you, her heart racing as she trembled from the shock; but you released it in the form of a laugh as she shied away, embarrassed over getting so frightened.
You pulled her up and made sure she was alright before you took her hand again, and the two of you raced back to the manor. Cracks of lightning and booms of thunder followed you, shouting and complaining like the grumpy old neighbors you see in movies.
When you crossed the threshold, only then did you realize your fingers had become intertwined along the way.
The gesture was small, and completely unintentional, no doubt; but there was no denying the rush of butterflies it sent to your stomach.
The heiress only let go of you when a few maids rushed in with towels in their hands, ready to dry her off as quickly as possible. They fussed over her like their lives depended on it – three sets of hands all working together to get the water off.
Another servant emerged from the hall a few seconds later and handed you a towel with an expression that resembled amusement.
“Y/N can take it from here, ladies,” the heiress spoke after a couple of minutes, gaining everyone’s attention.
You stood up straight and raised your head, halting your efforts to dry your hair.
“Yes, ma’am,” they replied, bowing before scurrying away.
She turned to look at you, waiting patiently until she heard the last of their footsteps fade far into the manor, before she burst into laughter again. You joined her, unable to resist. Once the two of you wound down, you made pleasant conversation about her little surprise and meandered your way back to her quarters.
You headed for the bathroom immediately after arriving, prepared to get her bath ready and have it cooling off. A small sense of guilt resounded in her heart when you passed her, shivering as you wrapped your towel around your shoulders. The soaked material was definitely useless to you now, and while she would be getting warm and cozy you’d be forced to watch from beside the tub. That fact didn’t sit right with her.
“Y/N,” she called lightly, undoing the rest of her buttons before sliding her top off of her shoulders.
“Yes?” You responded, tilting your head up and towards the open doorway of the bathroom, but keeping your eyes on the water in front of you. Steam radiated from it, swirling as you added in one of her favorite oils.
She stripped out of her long skirt and undergarments, all of them far heavier than usual with the amount of water they held in their threads. She placed them in a bin that one of the maids had set out earlier, when they first spotted the two of you outside.
“You should take a bath, too.”
You smiled, happy to know she wanted you to be taken care of.
“I will, don’t worry,” you called back again, adding a few droplets of soap to make some suds appear. “Once you’re cleaned up, I’ll head back to my room and take one.”
“No.”
Your brows furrowed in confusion, and you turned to look at her. This time, when your eyes raised up, they were met with the sight of her standing completely bare in the doorway. Your crouched position only made things worse for you, and you hastily looked away.
Welp, you definitely weren’t cold anymore. That took care of that problem.
“I meant with me, here. There’s no use in wasting more water, and I want you to be warm.” She explained nonchalantly, taking a few steps into the bathroom towards you. “I can’t have my maid getting sick, now can I?”
Your cheeks burned, likely hotter to the touch than the water in front of you.
What was it with the two of you and this bathroom?
You shook your head, aware that the absence of an answer would seem suspicious. Silently, you cursed yourself for feeling the way you did. Such a routine task for a maid shouldn’t be such a big deal; seeing her naked shouldn’t have the kind of effect on you that it does.
You weren’t sure if you’d ever get used to it.
Her hands slid onto your shoulders from behind, and you held your breath as she took the towel off of them. Her fingers tapped them lightly, silently requesting that you stand up. You turned to face her and stepped to the side, extending your hand to help her into the tub. She held it and used it to steady herself.
Once she was in, she grasped the sides of the tub and lowered herself in slowly, allowing her skin time to adjust to the heat. Cautiously, you watched as more of her body disappeared below the soapy surface. The lines of her back and shoulders tensed and shifted, making you ache in a lovesick kind of way. They were beautiful as they showcased her effort.
Steam continued to billow up, causing the baby hairs around her face to curl.
“Come on, don’t wait until it’s cold,” she teased, though you knew the prompting behind her words was serious.
You bit your cheek and stripped, keeping your back turned to her to spare your pride. Your position prevented you from seeing the way that her eyes glanced over to you, stealing looks on more than one occasion. Her curiosity overruled her better judgment. Part of her felt sorry for peeking, but she truly couldn’t help herself.
Was it really so bad? Perhaps you’d be upset with her if you knew.
Once you were free of your garments, you approached the other side of the tub and carefully stepped in. She brought a hand out of the water, holding it up to you just as you’d done for her; steam radiated from it, making her look like some sort of super hero. You thanked her as you took it, getting inside with her.
The tub was plenty big enough for the both of you, so leg room wasn’t an issue. You each stretched your legs to the right, sitting at opposite ends. Occasionally, you felt a tantalizing brush of her soft skin against you, but you did your best to block it out.
This definitely wasn’t the environment to get even more hot and bothered in. Too many opportunities existed here for you to embarrass yourself or for her to discover your blossoming feelings.
“Nice, isn’t it?” She asked some time later, smiling to herself. Her head was laid back, resting against the edge of the tub.
You nodded as if she could see it. “Mhm.”
“Thank you for doing this.” The words came out like a sigh.
“Running a bath?” You laughed, taken aback by her unexpected praise. “It’s just my job, ma’am.”
“I meant using all of my favorite oils and scents,” she explained, letting her hand swirl around in the water. The other still rested along the side of the tub, leaving heated fingerprints to the slightly colder surface.
“You already know what I like,” she added. “I’m grateful to have someone as observant as you.”
You grinned to yourself, feeling proud. Knowing that she noticed and appreciated the effort you put in was enough for you.
She spoke again after another comfortable minute passed. “And my last maid refused to do anything spontaneous, so you’re a welcome improvement.”
You chuckled at that. If spontaneity with her ended as an evening like this, you’d be a fool to deny it. Mentally, you sent a word of gratitude to whatever idiot came before you.
Her hand absentmindedly brushed against your knee as you uttered a happy reply.
“I’m glad you think so.”
—--
2.) Watch Yourself
The heiress showed her devotion to you in a new way, exposing you to another side of herself in the process.
You hummed a quiet song to yourself as you tidied up some of the garlands and wreaths that were strung up across the porch of the manor. Some were handmade by the crafters of the estate, while others were gifts from friends, family, and business partners of the Kims. They were meant to welcome the season and spiff up the house – two things the heiress loved dearly.
She sat in a rocking chair nearby, flipping through the pages of one of her favorite books. Care was put into the way she cradled it, ensuring no harm came to the precious material.
She looked up at you occasionally, when she would take a sip of the tea that rested on the flat arm of her chair.
A handful of other servants aided you – everyone working hard in various locations – but her eyes always had a funny habit of drifting back to you.
It began as simple curiosity. The endearing way you raised up onto your toes to reach the highest peaks of the wreaths especially made her smile.
But that curiosity evolved into something far less innocent before she knew it. She studied the curve of your body as you bent over, reaching deep into the bin in front of you to grab another string of festive tinsel. The sleeves of your uniform were hiked up at your shoulders to offer you some relief from the heat that bogged the estate down. Your muscles flexed as you moved about, searching for the perfect piece to go along with the aesthetic that you had in mind.
You bit your lip in the process, and it was all she could do to stop herself from openly staring.
She cleared her throat and attempted to compose herself once you grabbed what you were after and looked up. Her heart pounded as she pretended to read again, hoping to throw you off her trail.
She felt your eyes on her for an aching second, just as curious as she had been, before you looked away.
Part of her was disappointed, strangely.
Regardless, she didn’t question it. Her nose remained firmly stuck between the pages of her book for the next few minutes as she did everything she could to distract herself from you. And it worked, for a while, until the lovers described in her poems all began to take the shape of you. They all had your soft smile, as she imagined them in her mind; and your pretty eyes. Their mannerisms all became yours, in one way or another. They expressed and made love in ways that she imagined you would, despite the fact that that was as far of an overstep as she possibly could’ve taken. She felt ashamed, like she was taking advantage of the mere thought of you.
Yet, why was she blushing?
-
The worn handles of the decoration box rubbed against your fingers as you carried it down the stairs of the porch and towards the fountain in the middle of the driveway. You’d been asked to decorate it, too, specifically with the ornaments and wreaths that the youngest Kims had crafted.
Each of them started as a simple ring of twigs, giving the traditional shape of a wreath. From there, the children were given free reign of what… artistic… directions and liberties they took. In many cases, fake berries and leaves were crudely wrapped around the twigs; some were glued, and others stapled. Those made by the older children were easily discernible, of course, but all of them were just as charming as the last.
When you knelt down in front of the fountain and took out the first one, you discovered that you were smiling.
Later, when you were finishing up, the sound of tires treading heavily on the pavement behind you grabbed your attention. A car approached, sleek and dark in every way it could’ve been; the tint of the windows was nearly jet black.
It came to a stop halfway around the circle, obstructing your view of the porch. When the door opened and a man stepped out, your blood ran cold.
It was the man from that night back at your house.
He was dressed in black slacks and a gray button up, both of which were mussed in an uncouth kind of way. Sunglasses sat across the bridge of his nose, just as dark as the windows of his car. He removed his cap, slyly grinning at you as he tossed it in the car and shut the door.
His dress shoes squeaked lightly as he began his approach, reeking of a polish so strong that you could smell it from where you were. You stood up when he neared you.
“Ah, Y/N,” he greeted, too overzealous and too fake for your liking.
You remained silent, refusing to return the gesture. His carefully practiced smile faltered, but only for a moment.
“How is maid life treating you?” He tried.
“It’s fine, sir,” you returned shortly. You had the desire to allow your voice to deadpan, but you decided against it at the last second.
“Is it, really?” His voice dropped a little lower, quieting to become inaudible to anyone other than you. A wry look gleamed in his eye, making you uneasy.
“Because your parents are really worried sick,” he pouted, before taking a look around. You stiffened at the mention of them, and he noticed.
Shit.
“Maybe I should pay them another visit,” he suggested, smirking sinisterly. "Let them know you're alright." His feet treaded towards you when he took a couple steps closer, looming above.
Dread tightened in your chest. A sinking feeling of restriction was settling over you, but you did your best to hide that fact. Letting this man think he had power over you was the last thing you wanted.
“I think your father and I have a few things to discuss, anyway.”
You took a cautious step back, unsure of what he planned to do next. He was definitely the type of person to resort to violence if his tactics of intimidation failed.
“No, you don’t. I’m holding up my end of the bargain by being here.”
One of his unkempt eyebrows tweaked up at the corner. He hadn’t expected you to respond like that.
“Clearly you know nothing of his past if you think that’s the only business that exists between the two of us.”
Your eyes narrowed at him as you fell silent.
“Aww, what’s wrong?” He pouted again, mocking you. “Don’t know your daddy as well as you thought you did?”
The grimace that found its way to your face showed every ounce of disgust you felt towards him. Just as he went to invade your personal space and make another, more malicious comment, authoritative footfalls resounded from somewhere behind you.
Before you had the chance to turn around and see who the source of the sound was, a protective hand found its way to the small of your back.
The heiress.
Her eyes were set firmly on the man, with a gaze so icy it frightened you.
His leer faded as he recognized her; a bit of color left his face.
“Is there a reason you’re keeping my maid from me?” Aggravation led her tone. From your position at her side, you noticed the way her jaw tensed the longer she looked at him.
“My bad, Mrs. Kim,” he soothed, too smug to apologize yet too much of a coward to ignore her outright. He attempted a smile again to ease the tension, but it soon dropped.
She wasn’t in the mood for his bullshit, either.
“I suggest you leave, Dae-Jung. Now.”
He glanced at you again after that, as if deciding whether or not to say something else. Like the losing dog in a fight, he wavered; his predatory gaze lingered, stuck to you in a way that made you feel grimy.
The subtle way Mrs. Kim pulled you in a little closer to her body deterred him; her arm snaked further around your waist, settling there.
With a click of his tongue, he relented.
“Have a good evening, everyone!” He shouted loudly all of a sudden, putting his hands up. The workers outside all raised their heads to see what the outburst was about. Many of them shared similar expressions of annoyance.
“Keep up the good work for our dear Lady.”
Contempt was written all over his face as he backed away, retreating to whatever corner of Hell he came from. You looked away, not wishing to see him for a second longer than you had to.
Instead, your eyes happened to find their way to the heiress, who remained at your side, standing tall. She intently watched his every step until he reached his car and sped off; if he had come back to start trouble again, she wanted to be prepared. And for you, she was more than ready.
“I’m sorry about him, Y/N,” she mitigated, releasing her hold on you.
You tried not to let your disappointment show too much at the loss of contact.
“It’s not your fault, ma’am.”
You retrieved the decoration box before joining her again.
“Still,” her head shook, frustration and dislike evident in the motion. “Dae-Jung is terrible. If it were up to me, he never would’ve been hired in the first place.”
That piqued your interest. “Who has the final say, then?”
“My father and Hyun Wook,” she answered. A hint of resentment skated by on her tone, but you didn’t point it out.
Interesting. Perhaps they knew more about whatever shady past he had.
She kicked a stone across the courtyard as you neared the porch’s stairs. Her hands were nestled in the pockets of her dress, and she looked as though she wanted to say something more. You waited patiently as she visibly contemplated.
“If he ever causes you any trouble again – or if anyone here does, for that matter – tell me. The last thing I want is for you to be mistreated during your stay.”
You smiled at her sincerity, feeling a little giddy.
“I appreciate that, ma’am. Thank you.”
She nodded, seemingly relieved at your words.
When you laid the box on the porch, leaving it out for the other servants to use later, you noticed the heiress’s book. It was laid open on the seat of her chair – not carefully shut like it should’ve been. It was askew, too, showing that she had likely thrown it down in haste. As to why she was in such a rush, you had no idea.
The reality of that made you wonder.
–
3.) Savior
Fate kept you on your toes, ensuring that you never got too complacent.
The smell of fresh dirt and fertilizer hung heavy in the air, pervading it as you stepped outside. Faint floral scents skated by on gusts of wind as well, but they couldn’t rival the richness of the Earth. It brought everything to life as it welcomed the changing season in full, promising abundant harvests for the year to come.
The notion lightened your spirit as you took it in. In the city, things like this had always been a struggle; food was far more scarce for your neighborhood, and having a plot of land decent enough to produce true sustenance was a rarity. Your family had always managed to make it by, but just barely.
You wondered, then, if the heiress would allow you to send some crops back home in order to help. Surely she’d extend the courtesy, provided the circumstances.
As you smoothed out the gardening uniform you wore and made your descent over the lush yard towards the garden, you made a mental note to ask her.
And before long, following one final turn around the corner of the supply shed, you spotted her.
Your Lady.
The sun wrapped around her, holding her tight like a sweet kiss as she thanked a passing landscaper for his hard work. He bowed kindly, the gesture full of respect. The skirt of her dress wavered in the passing breeze, rippling as it so pleased when she returned the motion to him.
Her sun hat partially obstructed her view as she turned to look at you, but the sweet way she tilted her head back to peek at you from beneath the rim made you smile.
“There you are!” She called out, putting her hands on her hips. Her eyes squinted slightly as she braved the bright sun solely in the name of greeting you properly.
“I apologize for my tardiness,” you responded, making your way down the hill to her. The slope wasn’t too terribly steep, and for that you were thankful.
“I hope it wasn’t too much of an inconvenience.”
She shook her head, adamant but easy going. “Not at all. I’ve just been enjoying the weather.”
A quick glance down at her legs gave you another insight into her solo endeavors.
“And playing in the pond, I see.” An amused smile toyed at your lips when she looked down at them as well, reminded of her excursion.
“And playing in the pond,” she echoed, nodding to herself.
After that, neither of you said anything for a bit. Both of you fell into a comfortable silence as you admired the land, allowing yourselves the opportunity to take it all in. For her, the sights and sounds were pleasant reminders of the life she so graciously lived. But for you, they were new discoveries entirely.
Birds and insects that you’d never heard before shared their unique calls, creating melodies all of their own. Some were piercing, bordering on shrill; others as soft as silk as they floated by in pursuit of one another.
When she caught a glimpse of your innocent amazement, she couldn’t help but smile. It warmed her heart to see that you were adjusting well to the abrupt change that you went through, and knowing you hadn’t lost the curiosity that you harbored from that first day comforted her even more. Although she was aware that being at the estate wasn’t something you ever asked for, she hoped that experiences like this could remedy things to some degree. The time you were losing with your family was irreplaceable, no doubt, but perhaps you would have plenty to tell them about upon your return. That eased her conscience, at least.
Maybe, if things were done right, even some of that initial anguish could be replaced with more happy memories like this one.
You’d made her happier in your short time at the manor than she ever imagined you could’ve, and that meant something.
She took you by the hand and led you to one of the benches near the pond, careful to avoid the bees and wasps that buzzed by.
Confusion tweaked at your features momentarily, but the comfortable hold that she had on you melted it away.
Gardening could wait until she wanted to do it, you supposed, as she guided you to sit down.
The metal seat was warm against your body, but not hot. The sun’s energy was stored there like a reservoir, allowing you to savor the feeling of it over time. Unconsciously, you sunk into the bench a little further, truly feeling at ease. She joined you shortly after, sitting close enough that your knees brushed each other whenever you shifted around.
The proximity was more than welcome by you, though you did your best not to make that too obvious.
Embarrassing yourself like that wasn’t very high on your to-do list for the day.
A gathering of tall flowers wavered next to you, blowing in the breeze; as you reached a hand out to them, their petals brushed against your palm in various patterns, soft and mild.
They were lavender plants. Such pretty things. Almost capable of holding a candle to the woman beside you. Almost.
“Isn’t it beautiful out here?”
Her voice was airy, full of light.
“Absolutely,” you answered, stopping your eyes from wandering anymore and instead focusing them on her again. Her cheeks were flushed, but you couldn’t determine if it was due to the heat or some sudden shyness that befell her.
“Thank you for letting me experience it like this.”
‘Like this’, meant with her, just the two of you, hidden away from the rest of the world as the sun worked its fateful magic on the land and added a type of sparkle that was absent during any other part of the day. It meant with her, feeling her leg bump against yours as she spun in the seat and tracked the path of a passing butterfly that was taking flight for the first time.
But you didn’t elaborate on that. A confession that brazen simply wasn’t in the cards for you.
“You’re more than welcome, Y/N,” she assured warmly, bringing you back to your senses. The rim of her hat tilted in the way again as she turned to you, and, without thinking, you raised a hand to push it up for her.
She stilled for a moment, surprised – just the same as you.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have–”
“It’s fine,” she chuckled, not letting you finish your unnecessary apology.
Her fingers readjusted the tie below her chin as she settled the hat into place a little better, ensuring that it would stay put from then on.
A new kind of sparkle showed in her eyes as they glanced between yours; something rested in that shimmer, hidden like a present, waiting to be understood when the time was right.
She moved in a little closer to you, shifting her hips with a feminine subtlety that gave you half the inclination to believe you’d simply made it up in your mind. But a hint of caution showed on her face, letting you know that she was testing something.
What that was exactly, you had no idea. But you certainly weren’t complaining.
Unbeknownst to her, in her effort to close some of the distance between you, the heel of her shoe had scraped across a patch of grass beneath the bench, thus interrupting a bee that was feeding from one of the flowers there.
Its buzzing grew louder, full of anger that it intended to make known.
Just as she went to say something to you, her words were interrupted by a sudden shout of pain as the bee flew up her dress and stung her leg.
You jumped in surprise, but after a quick explanation from her you snapped into action. Carefully, you looped her arm around your shoulders and stood up, easing the weight of her body against yours. You knew that walking would be immensely painful in her situation, so you made it a point to prevent her from feeling the effects of gravity to the best of your ability.
Her soft groans of pain filled your ears with each advancing step you took towards the manor, hasty and a bit rocky. You made sure to gently lift her a little, easing the strain on her leg. Any movement of it, though, sent a jolt of searing pain to her injury. Nevertheless, you persisted.
She leaned into you for support and you held her close, keenly aware of her discomfort.
Your head shook in frustration when you eventually made it inside and reached the grand staircase. It seemed to tower in that moment, daunting as you peered up at it.
At once, an idea came to mind.
“Come here,” you said, bending your knees slightly as your arm descended to her lower back. Her eyebrows raised briefly when she glanced down at you, unsure.
“Just trust me.”
She nodded a moment later, quickly biting her lip to stifle another whine as you picked her up. Her arms wrapped around your neck securely as you began your ascent; much to her relief, the pain was far more bearable this way. As a thank you, she pressed a faint kiss to your collarbone, where her full lips had been brushing against.
The sensation made your heart race, but you shook off the feeling. Now wasn’t the time.
Once you made it to her room, you carefully sat her down on the edge of her chair and raced to retrieve some supplies and ointment from the closet in your quarters. While you were away, she hiked the material of her dress up to her waist and examined the sting.
Although the stinger was no longer attached, the wound itself proved that her attacker hadn’t been a bee at all. It was a hornet – something she’d had adverse reactions to in the past.
The degree of swelling that her skin had already undergone alarmed her; if just the short journey here alone had given the venom that much power and opportunity to affect her this much, she could only imagine what it would continue to do.
You immediately picked up on her worry when you reentered her chambers, loaded up with an array of remedies to heal her. A small glimmer of comfort settled over her at the sight of you.
“We’ll need to clean it first,” you informed, immediately approaching her and setting your supplies down at her feet. You went to your knees in front of her, quickly reaching for the bowl of soapy water you had prepared.
Her legs parted for you without solicitation, giving you pause for a moment.
You dipped your fingertips in the solution, generously coating them before you sat the bowl back down and moved in closer to her. A grimace pulled at your features when you saw the injury, an angry swirl of red and white. You could only imagine the pain she was experiencing.
She hissed once your fingers first made contact with her heated skin, and you noticed the way her nails dug into the arms of her chair. When you repeated the motion a few times, ensuring the area was thoroughly clean, she bit down on her bottom lip to prevent a slew of curses from escaping. Tears brimmed in her eyes, almost spilling over.
Water trickled down her thigh as she shifted slightly, leaving trails in its wake to glimmer in the midday sunlight that had worked its way into the room. Her legs trembled from the aftershocks, inspiring pity.
Carefully, you patted the area dry and wiped your hands before reaching for a small tin of ointment.
“Here, ma’am,” you soothed, dabbing the smooth cream onto her abused skin. Her fingers wrapped around your wrist when you shifted closer, softly enveloping it. You looked up at her, partially through your lashes.
You were so beautiful to her then that she didn’t know what to do with herself.
“Call me Jiu. Please.”
A new kind of smile graced your lips, warming her heart. It was curiosity mixed with relief; like a child hearing their mother say yes to whatever plans they had concocted. She was allowing you access to a part of herself that not many people ever saw.
“Does that feel a little better now, Jiu?” You asked, testing the waters. Her name felt foreign on your tongue, but in all the right ways.
She nodded, peering down at you. “It does.”
Her breathing stilled as you lifted her leg, slotting it over your shoulder. A look of surprise washed over her features at the contact, but it soon melted away to something else entirely when she felt your breath fan out across her thigh.
You blew steadily, hoping to dry the ointment a little and help activate the cooling effects of the lidocaine in it. She sighed, tilting her head back. Her thumb rubbed a small circle along the inside of your wrist, just above your pulse point in a show of gratitude.
“You’re so good to me,” she praised, smiling lazily. Your heart skipped a beat.
“...thank you,” she added. Her voice was altered slightly due to her position, making it sound deeper than usual. Amusement was present in her tone, too, now that the adrenaline was beginning to fade and she knew she would be okay. You had such a good way of calming her down.
You bit back a relieved laugh. That could’ve ended badly.
“Anything for you, Jiu.” You quipped back, smiling at the way she squeezed your wrist in return.
—---
4.) Sharing Isn’t Caring
Destiny promised nothing short of an ebb and flow for you, during your stay. Highs and lows, steps forward followed by steps back. It was all a process – one that required serious effort to put your trust into.
> In The Heiress’s Room <
Jiu’s fingers interlaced with yours, held up in the golden sunlight. Rays reflected off of her rings as she twisted your joined hands, admiring the show. Their patterns casted to different parts of the room in various directions, sparkling.
The beauty of your moment, though, was quickly interrupted by an intrusive knock that rapped out against the open door.
“I heard you’re heading out for a picnic,” Hyun Wook noted, inserting himself in a place he so clearly didn’t belong. Biting back a scoff had never been more difficult.
“We are,” Jiu responded simply, not taking his bait right from the get go. It was clear what he wanted, and you knew a man like him wouldn’t beat around the bush much longer.
“Why don’t I join you?” He suggested, doing his best to sound genuine. He wished to appear spontaneous in a charming way; how bothersome that that had to be at your expense.
A faint arrogance befell him when he caught you rolling your eyes in his peripheral.
Jiu looked to you, raising an inquisitive brow as if it mattered what you wanted. You lowered your gaze to the floor in response, silently surrendering.
“Sure, Hyun Wook.”
You failed to catch the hint of disappointment that painted her tone.
He sighed dramatically, pretending to be relieved. “I thought you’d say no there for a second,” he smirked, stepping towards her.
The soft hold that she had had on you was lost in that moment, given up to him instead when she let go of your hand. As she politely laughed at what he said, bringing hers up to cup his cheek, you tore your eyes away from her. Jealousy simmered in your chest, hanging heavy.
“Fetch the basket,” he ordered, raising a dismissing hand in your direction. His lovesick attention never left Jiu for a second; the sight made your stomach hurt.
Begrudgingly, you did as you were told. Before you could even make it out of the room, though, he had picked her up in his arms and spun her, earning himself another one of her laughs.
Of all things, who would’ve predicted that that would upset you the most during your stay here?
Images of that night back in the city flashed in your mind at once, reminding you of the circumstances that brought you here in the first place. Allowing yourself to feel this way for the heiress would only complicate things more and get you into trouble; for your family, you made a vow to snap back into reality and stay there.
The childish fiction in your head was delusion anyway – it’s not like Jiu felt the same about you.
How could she? You pondered, grabbing the handle of the basket and taking it off of the kitchen counter with little care. You were simply her maid. A girl meant to serve her, here, in this mansion poised so highly above the struggle and bustle of the city below. After these next few months were through – once she was done with you – you’d be sent back to live whatever life you could manage, and it was unlikely you’d ever even hear a whisper of her name again.
It was time for you to know your place and stop pretending otherwise.
–
Outside
With a flourish and twist, the heavy quilt in your hands unraveled in a pop of color, fanning out across the grass. Once the corners were smoothed out and tethered down into the ground, you retrieved a small pillow from the bag on your back and laid it down in the center. With practiced ease, you outstretched a hand to Jiu and helped her onto the cushion.
Hyun Wook remained standing as you unpacked the contents of the basket and spread the containers out to the right of her. His eyes surveyed the land halfheartedly, only for show. They flitted up and over the cherry trees that were beginning to blossom, skimmed over the rippling surface of the pond, and lingered a second too long on a pair of passing maids. Against his hips, his fisted hands rested; he was posing in the way that men do when they’re aiming to impress.
“Y/N, sit here,” Jiu directed, pointing to the open spot to her left. She leisurely removed her gloves.
Confused, you glanced between the two of them. Maids were meant to busy themselves elsewhere during this sort of thing, or at the very least sit elsewhere. As to why she was changing the rules, you were oblivious.
“Are you sure–”
“Yes.” Her word was firm, leaving no room for debate.
Hyun Wook turned around just as you sat down, and you had the pleasure of watching the expression on his face slowly sour. Had he stopped posing for five seconds, perhaps he would’ve gotten your seat.
“Where am I to sit?” He asked, voice posh and annoyed. So spoiled.
Jiu glanced at you, finding the folded blanket you were going to sit on resting across your lap. She took it and tossed it at him.
“On this.”
He caught it, but barely. You held back a snicker as he rolled his eyes. Checkmate.
—
5.) Full Moon
Sleep refused to come to you that night.
The theater of your mind was fixated on Jiu, starring her in every production it mustered. Act One was full of her quirks and mannerisms; Act Two her humor. But Act Three, which you were firmly stuck in the middle of, comprised your every interaction. Every smile, fleeting glance, lingering touch. It all drove you mad, replaying with the apparent intention of breaking your heart.
Her scent still remained on you from before; the expensive perfume had found a second home on your skin and in the fibers of your uniform, settling there like a special secret.
It had transferred to you in a moment of panic during the picnic earlier, when she pulled you close in search of the safety that your arms provided. Danger – what she had been evading – buzzed by languidly on its way towards another flower.
You could remember how warm her skin was, then, as her hold on you tightened. Only once you whispered words of reassurance quietly to her did she begin to calm down and relax into you.
While you had been keenly aware of her lingering fears, given her past run-in with the wasp, Hyun Wook was oblivious. His ignorance lent itself to something similar to annoyance as he watched the scene in front of him unfold. When Jiu had put her head on your shoulder, he scoffed.
You recalled the way that she simply closed her eyes, using your steady heartbeat as a way to calm down. She pretended he wasn’t there, and before long her moment of fear subsided. Her hand found yours in your lap, and she laced her fingers with yours in a silent show of gratitude.
Now, laying in bed, it was all you could do to try and forget the feeling.
It’s not like you wanted to – you’d gladly spend an eternity or two getting lost in all the ways she’s touched you, no matter how insignificant – but you knew you had to forget.
All of the feelings you had bottled up for her, stored away in your heart, were dangerous. What was platonic to her set your heart ablaze with the notion of what if; things she didn’t think twice about were stuck in your mind for days on end. But living like that wasn’t really living.
So, you made a pact with yourself to try and get over your growing love for her.
And if your pursuit of that was to start tonight, you’d have to take a walk. They always had a way of clearing your mind.
-
Beneath your slippered feet, the ground was chilly. You could feel it – distant, held at bay – despite the comfy memory foam that cushioned your every step. The hallways were much the same, with their towering ceilings and numerous windows allowing the night air to sneak in. But the blanket wrapped around your shoulders staved it off, and you were at ease.
Moonlight painted the artworks that you passed, leaving the soldiers depicted to fight shadow monsters instead of each other for a change. Their swords gleamed, catching what measly bits of candle light they could from the walls around them. The flames of them flickered gently, but burned with purpose. At an hour like this, free of the hustle and bustle of the staff, they didn’t have to worry about being blown out. No passing drafts would mark their demise. They were free to burn; and so, they did.
You followed them mindlessly, having no real destination in sight. What wandering you did in the manor paralleled the wandering of your mind; every turn put distance between Jiu and you, offering a gentle reprieve from the feelings that plagued you. The image of her faded with every hall you turned down, until it left you completely.
In lieu of her, you focused on the moon and stars.
Glimpses of them came to you through the large windows that arched high above, whose panes were fogged slightly from the rivaling air temperatures.
From behind the puffy clouds, you could see that tonight welcomed a full moon. It was bright, and it coated the landscape of the estate in a gray hue. Entirely calming, and entirely unique. The night sky was free of the smog that you’d grown used to in the city; here, everything was so clear.
Awe twinkled in your eye, matching that of the stars that shined down. Two types of beholders, both sharing a look at one another.
Only when you heard the faint crackling of a fire did you care to break yourself free of the late-night, hazy spell that you were under.
You blinked, looking around as you attempted to locate where you were. Realization dawned on you when you spotted an open door, cracked just enough to show you a sliver of a large mahogany desk. You’d know it anywhere.
Despite every valiant effort you had put in, your feet had managed to meander you all the way back to Jiu’s office. The last place you should’ve been, and yet the only place you really wanted to be.
The floorboards creaked under her weight as she padded around inside. She put something on her bookshelf before bending at the waist and dragging a finger along the spines of the row in front of her. After a moment of searching, she pulled out what she was looking for.
You pressed closer when she sat down in her chair, beside the fire. It was out of sight of the door, and, foolishly, you wanted to see her. You promised yourself that you’d just stay for a few more seconds before leaving.
But, given the luck that you’ve always lacked in life, that wasn’t what destiny had in store.
When you took another step forward towards the door, the front of your slipper got caught on the floor. You lurched forward, lightly bumping your head into the door.
Jiu jumped slightly, looking up to locate the source of the noise.
“Hello?” She asked, voice light but cautious.
Embarrassed, you brought a hand up to rub your forehead.
“It’s just me, ma’am.”
You opened the door as you nursed your bruised ego.
“Ah, Y/N,” she grinned, waving you in. “Come sit down.”
You shut the door behind yourself and followed her command, moving to sit in the leather chair opposite her. Part of you hoped it would swallow you up, then and there; a fate like that would be far more welcome than one as embarrassing as this.
“You know,” she started, sounding thoughtful, “...you’re cute when you blush.”
Your heart lurched at her unexpected compliment. She really shouldn’t say things like that.
She got what she was after when you raised your head back up, no longer looking at the floor. If it was that easy to get you to look at her, she’d have to remind you of little things like that more often.
“But, Y/N, I have to ask,” she tilted her head to the side slightly. “What are you doing up this late?”
You bit your tongue when the truth tried to rush out.
“I just couldn’t sleep, is all.”
She took that at face value, nodding to herself as something came to mind.
“How about some tea, then?” She offered, using her head to motion to the stand next to the window behind her desk. Sure enough, a teapot rested there, emitting a faint stream of steam into the air.
“I could use a refill, anyway,” she added, peeking past the rim of her cup on the table beside her.
“Sure.”
While she headed over to fill the cups up, you took the opportunity to look around the room. The fire that she had been meticulously stoking for the past hour or two was burning well; it crackled with life every so often, emitting soft pops to remind you of its presence. Its flames reached up high, licking the air in bold stripes as they stretched into the chimney.
A few books were stacked on the edge of the table that sat between your two chairs; two of them were poetry, and one a collection of drawings that Jiu always kept with her. On a few occasions, you’d caught her scribbling away in it or doodling when she thought no one was looking. She was always the cutest to you, then, with her tongue darting out of her mouth in concentration or her brows knitted together as she tried to get the lines perfect.
The memories brought a smile to your face.
“Here you go,” she said, handing the cup to you with the utmost care. You took it gingerly, savoring the warmth it radiated.
When she noticed your hands wrapping around it, she put two and two together. Wanting to help, she tugged the edge of your blanket up and a little closer to your body.
Her hand smoothed over the top of your hair as she untucked it from the blanket and fixed it for you. She peered down, smiling to herself.
"You look adorable in those," she noted, glancing at your new pajamas. "I knew they'd suit you well."
You paused. What?
"You got these for me?"
Her eyes blinked… once, twice… a little confused. "Of course I did. Who else would've?"
You blanked, rethinking things after she pointed that out. It never crossed your mind to consider who had been the one to pick them out; all that you considered certain was that it had nothing to do with her. You couldn’t imagine any other heiress being so involved in such an insignificant thing for their maid – especially one that was still relatively new. The fact that she cared that much wasn’t lost on you, and neither was the fact that she kept her special purchase a secret.
The gesture was in good faith, and her actions only further proved that; she wasn’t seeking anything by getting the outfit for you. She simply wanted you to be comfortable, and that made you like her even more, somehow.
“I don’t know how to thank you.”
She laughed lightly, shaking her head. “There’s no need. Seeing you in them is enough.”
You watched her sit down, elegant despite the lack of a reason for her to be. It must’ve just been second nature to her to be so ethereal at this point.
You took a sip of your drink when she crossed her legs, hoping to distract yourself. And by God, that scalding tea did the trick.
“What’re you doing up this late?” You asked in return, once a short bit of comfortable silence had passed. She finished the drink she was taking before setting her cup down on its saucer.
“Well, I’ve had a lot on my mind lately,” she admitted, settling more into her chair. Her back arched slightly as she sought a more comfortable position, and you weren’t strong enough to stop yourself from peeking at her body. The long gown she wore was a sight for sore eyes, with the way its simple design made it shimmer in the low light of the room. Every beautiful curve of her was enhanced by it; surely somewhere in the world it was a crime to look so good in something so plain.
“Hyun Wook is…” she rolled her eyes and grinned at you as she visibly fought the urge to call him something unsavory, “... Hyun Wook. And the meetings lately have made me want to rip my hair out. So,” her shoulders rose and fell in a defeated shrug, “...I’m a little all over the place.”
“Have you told your father that you’re stressed?”
She scoffed, though her intention wasn’t to hurt your feelings. “That’s not something he cares about.”
You frowned, upset that he would be so rude to his only daughter. If you were capable of it, you’d make up for everything he lacked just to prove that she deserved better.
“What matters to him is money, and money is earned by the more deals we close. It’s only business.”
“I understand that, but you matter in that equation, too.” You reasoned. “How he expects you to do all of that with no breaks is beyond me.”
She tutted. “Just one of the perks of being a Kim; especially since I’m the oldest and a woman. He expects me to prove myself in ways the rest of the family would never have to.”
“Why doesn’t Hyun Wook help you? Aside from the occasional meeting, all I ever see him do is laze around or drink with his friends when he’s here.”
“Helping me isn’t something he signed up for when we got married. That wasn’t part of the agreement.”
“Agreement?” Your curiosity was piqued.
She nodded, taking another sip of her tea. “My father arranged our marriage when we were teenagers. Once Hyun Wook’s parents gave their conditions and final blessing a few years ago, we were married.”
“And I’m assuming you didn’t have much of a say in things, right?”
Her eyes crinkled in the corners as she smiled lightly. “You’re a fast learner, Y/N.”
The confirmation was bittersweet for a multitude of reasons. It gave you hope – maybe that meant she didn’t harbor real feelings for him – but it made you unequivocally sad for her. This woman, so pure and good natured, was subjected to a life of servitude, too, without even fully realizing it. In some ways, you had more freedom than her. How was that fair?
“I wish things were different,” you said, aware that you were incapable of remedying the situation. You wanted to express your dislike of her circumstances regardless.
“Me too,” she sighed gently – just the way she was taught to. “But, it’s not all bad, you know.”
When you raised a brow, she took that as a sign to continue.
“You’re here now. And I like to think that we give each other something we never had before.”
“What do you mean, exactly?”
She sat forward in her chair a little, leaning closer to you. “Just… something new, I suppose. You’re unlike anyone I’ve ever met before. You keep me on my toes.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” you laughed. She did, too, thinking you couldn’t possibly be any cuter than you were in that moment.
Her hand landed on your forearm as her giggles died down.
“It definitely was, Y/N. And you know I don’t give them out often.”
“Why me, then?” You didn’t care if you sounded cheesy or desperate – you were past the point of that. A very real, very genuine intrigue weighed heavy on your mind after finding out about her arrangement with Hyun Wook, and it could only be appeased by some honest answers from her.
“Out of everyone, why me?” You reiterated. The question was loaded.
“Because you’re special to me. Don’t you see that?” Her brows knitted together, taken aback by your oblivion. She’d never hidden her affection for you. “I value all of the staff here, as you know. But, given the choice, I’d always choose to spend time with you over them. You just know me better, somehow.”
“Is that all?” You half-joked, cracking a smile.
Her hand skated down to yours, holding it as her thumb brushed across your knuckles.
“We’d be here until dawn if I were to list all the reasons.”
Your eyes screwed shut as you scrunched your face up in protest. “You’re such a flirt, Jiu. Cut it out.”
A low chuckle left her, husky enough to break your heart right then and there. “Why should I?”
You didn’t dare breathe, let alone give her a reason.
“I can lie, if you’d rather,” she promised, removing herself from you completely and sitting back again. Her eyes scanned over you, waiting and searching for an answer of some kind. “But I’m not the best at that. Especially when it comes to you.”
What could she possibly have meant by that? She had to be toying with you.
When you saw her subsequently glance at your lips, you panicked. It brought back memories of that night, so long ago.
“Right,” you declared, clearing your throat. You searched for something to change the topic with.
The poetry book from earlier was the first thing to make its way into your line of sight.
You missed the disheartened look that washed over Jiu, and how her face fell a little at the loss of contact.
But by the time you looked back at her again, her walls were raised once more and all traces of disappointment were gone.
She picked up on your silent hint. Without another word, she reached forward and picked up the aged book, running her fingertips across its cover.
“Would you like to hear one of my favorites?” An air of excitement began to surround her, evident in the soft smile that she gave you. It was eagerness restrained, though, and you wondered how often she’s had to bite her tongue before.
“I’d love nothing more.”
Her gaze softened at that, vulnerable for a moment in a way you hadn’t quite seen before. Your words – or tone, whatever it had been – seemed to have struck a chord in her.
She thumbed through a few pages until she landed on one that she frequented quite often. She cleared her throat quietly, turning her face away in a show of respect. When she was ready, she glanced up from the page and into your eyes.
“I love you,” she started, giving you pause. You certainly hadn’t expected those words to be the first out of her mouth. “...as certain dark things are to be loved, in secret,” she continued, returning her eyes to the page despite the fact that she had every word memorized a million times over. “...between the shadow and the soul.”
You looked on at her, watching as she grew a little shy.
“Beautiful.” You whispered, unable to stop yourself. It was just loud enough for her to hear, and part of her questioned what you were referring to. She hoped you meant her, just as much as the poem itself.
“Read me another.”
“Really?”
You nodded, motioning to the book. “Please.”
It was obvious that she enjoyed it, and seeing her so happy only did the same to you in return.
She flipped through the pages again, bringing her free hand up to toy with her bottom lip as she searched the pages for a particular writing. You took a long drink of your tea, hiding behind the rim of your cup.
Soon enough, she found the next one.
This time, she didn’t take her eyes off of you when she recited it.
“I want to do with you what spring does with the cherry trees.”
The words were simple, completely innocent. It was likely that no hidden meaning lied beyond the more obvious one, and yet, it made you think.
Did she want to be the reason for your blossoming? Did the idea of seeing you, so open and new, get her through the day? Perhaps she wanted to be the reason you thrived. The harbinger of your impending success for another year.
Still, you couldn’t help but wonder. If the flush of her cheeks was any indication, her mind had taken it elsewhere, too.
“Wow,” you breathed, attempting to break the tense silence. “Those were wonderful. Thank you.”
She looked pleased. “If you’d like, we could do this more often.”
“That would be great,” you smiled.
She mirrored you. “How about tomorrow night? Same time, same place.”
“I’ll be here.”
—----------------------
That night with Jiu left you falling even deeper than what you had been before.
Your nervous system was on high alert the next morning, making you far clumsier than normal and unable to conduct yourself well for a majority of the day. You did your best to stay composed whenever you were around her, and it worked some. But even still, you were sure you made an utter fool of yourself on more than one occasion.
Work prevented you from being around her much during the day, and you were left to throw yourself into your other tasks. For once, her absence was a welcome one; with the promise of meeting again in a matter of hours, you were at peace. You could use the time until then to calm down and ready yourself for whatever she had in store.
And that you did. After finishing your jobs and putting together a care package to send to your family – a gift so graciously approved by Jiu – you found that you still had some time to kill. With it, you decided to make a small gift for her.
Yoohyeon lent you a piece of her art paper and pencils, and on it you sketched an array of the flowers that Jiu had told you she loved over the past few months. You shaded and colored them to the best of your ability, and you wrote the words of her poem as a sort of border around their petals. When it was all finished, you were genuinely proud. It took quite a while for you to be satisfied, but you couldn’t deny that it was worth it.
As you waited, counting down the hours until you were reunited, you thought up all the possible ways she might react to it.
Like a lovesick teenager, you hoped that she loved it. Your heart gave in to its childish desire to make up scenarios in your head in the meantime.
With every hourly chime of the grandfather clock at the end of the hall, a new possibility was constructed. They all made you smile, though your nervousness grounded you with the fact that reality might not match up with them. You made peace with that, though it was easier said than done.
Eventually, the time came. The rest of the manor had all retreated to their rooms, more than ready to knock out. You, on the other hand, were wide awake as you grabbed the present and snuck out of your quarters, careful to remain quiet.
Your heart beat wildly in your chest; so hard you were sure everyone else could hear it echoing down the empty halls. You paid no mind to the moon, now; the stars didn’t grab your attention as they had before. But, looking back, you wish they would have. You wish you would’ve listened to the cry of the owl outside, perched high on the angel’s shoulder at the fountain. Its large eyes were open wide, as if pleading for you to turn around and forget your pursuit.
It was all too little too late, though.
The distant sound of voices – mumbling, quietly discussing something – faded in as you neared Jiu’s room. They grew louder the closer you got – more forceful. The door was open so slightly that it appeared to be the latch’s fault, rather than it intentionally being left that way.
Your curiosity got the better of you when you heard Jiu say something else inside, low and unintelligible. You approached it, closing the final gap that existed between you and the heartbreak waiting inside.
As you peeked in, your heart sank.
Hyun Wook had beat you to her, it appeared.
His hand pushed its way past the silk underslip of her dress while her legs wrapped around his waist, pulling him in close. He groped her wantonly as their bodies moved together, all heat and drunken lust. She was perched atop the dresser, though her position was anything but secure. It rocked rhythmically, bumping the wall as his searching hips found comfort between her warm thighs. Their muscles flexed; every twitch made you sick.
She moaned lowly when he ripped the straps of her dress down, causing you to grimace. You could only hope it was fake, entirely generated to boost his ego and not rooted in any actual pleasure.
The betrayal you felt, sitting heavy on your chest, made it hard to breathe. He was her husband, and you knew that – you knew that. Even still, some part of you foolishly believed that she would end things with him. That she would stop seeing him altogether, whether it be for sex or anything else.
Although you were aware that their daily interactions were simply meant to save face, witnessing them was still daunting. But this – this hushed, late night rendezvous – was something else completely. With no one else around to catch them at such an hour, they had no need to put on a show. This was entirely for them. Every shuddered breath, every cry, every thrust of their hips was meant for them.
You backed away from the door, feeling numb. A final glance at her was stolen before you made your silent retreat, but it only hurt more in the end; he captured her full lips in a bruising kiss, muffling the groan that left them.
The paper in your hands folded in on itself, then, crumpling from the force you exerted. Until you made it back to your room, it remained clutched tightly in your fist.
Once you were inside, you threw it in the fireplace.
—
The Next Morning
Distant sounds of silverware clanking together woke Jiu.
They were jarring – a far cry from her typical alarm: you. Although she was disappointed that you weren’t there to greet her, she brushed off the feeling. Perhaps you were just exhausted and slept in by accident. With how hard you’d been working lately, she couldn’t blame you.
She’d always appreciated how good you were to her.
When she rang the bell a few minutes later to alert you, it took you far longer than normal to come in. The special knock you always used was absent this time, too, exchanged instead for two dull thuds.
Admittedly, it made her sad; she always valued your early morning interactions. The sleepy way you would rub your eyes or yawn as you helped get her ready for the day always made her smile, and she often found herself thinking of it in the middle of her business meetings. Your groggy voice was always endearing, too.
Such a shame things were different today.
You didn’t waste time doting on her. Your hands weren’t as gentle as usual, and you certainly didn’t stop to admire her body as you washed it. If anything, you avoided looking as much as possible; you caught a glimpse of a dark spot on her neck at one point, and that was enough to sour your mood even further somehow. Haste was present in everything you did and said.
If she noticed or cared, she didn’t make it known.
Tension hung in the air, along with an awkwardness that neither of you were very fond of. In your pursuit of avoidance, you failed to notice the observant gaze she set on you. Carefully, she attempted to read you; she made sure to look away when your attention was eventually returned to her, despite how hard it was. If she made her concern too obvious, she knew you’d close up and push her away. And for a situation as delicate as this, she was willing to treat it as such.
But, after a while of pretending, things caught up with you. The mask you put up slipped, showing your true feelings:
When you tugged the laces of her corset just a little too hard, making her draw in a tight breath and hold onto the dresser for support, it became apparent that your overzealous hands clearly hadn’t forgotten last night. A mumbled apology was made, but it did little to convince her.
“What is your problem?” She asked, though her tone resembled an accusation.
Your eyes found hers in the mirror. You debated.
“I don’t have a problem, Jiu.” You declared, tying the ends into a bow before turning around. She turned, too, observing you as you laid out a selection of dresses for her to choose from.
“I know you well enough to recognize that that's a lie.”
The statement gave you pause, but you found yourself scoffing after it subsided.
“Why do you care?” You asked genuinely, raising your head to meet her gaze from across the bed. “It doesn’t concern you.”
“If something is troubling you, I’d like to know. This is my estate, so I feel responsible.” She explained.
You shook your head, dismissing her. “Don’t. I can handle myself fine.” The last thing you wanted was her pity.
“I didn’t say otherwise, Y/N,” she tilted her head subtly, softening her gaze. “I know you can. But that doesn’t keep me from wondering.”
When you finally looked at her again, searching her eyes as you attempted to decide on your next move, the curiosity there took you by surprise. Something unspoken lied just behind the annoying sparkle in them, drawing you in again. You loathed it in every sense of the word – this power she had over you. But still, you couldn’t fight the urge to give in and tell her why. Maybe, if you were lucky, she’d have a reaction that resembled guilt.
“Fine,” you started, taking a few steps across the room to sit at her window-side table. “I didn’t sleep very well last night. That’s why I’m like this.”
Relief flashed across her face momentarily, and she took a seat on the end of her bed. “Do you know why you couldn’t sleep?”
Your jaw clenched. “I was a bit under the weather.”
“I’ll have Yoohyeon make you some tea tonight, if it happens again.” She offered, oblivious to your lie.
“Are you planning to see Hyun Wook again?” You dared to ask, watching as realization flooded over her. It replaced the relief from before. “If so, then go ahead and tell her now.”
She swallowed, glancing down at the floor. “You heard us last night?”
A humorless laugh left you. “Put lightly, yes. But I saw you, too. It was quite the show.”
“Y/N, I–”
“What, Jiu?” You raised your chin up, silently challenging her. The images of them together were resurfacing in your mind, only making your mood worse. “Are you going to say I wasn’t meant to see it? Because that’s obvious. It would be concerning if you wanted me to.”
She took a deep breath, weighing something of her own. “I barely remember it. We were drunk; it just happened.”
You nodded to yourself as if you were expecting her answer to sound something like that. “Convenient, no?”
“What do you want me to say?” She seemed taken aback.
“Something a little less overused, maybe.”
She sighed, feeling frustration beginning to creep up on her. So many unsaid things existed between the two of you, complicating matters beyond their limit. Eventually, she knew, they’d all come out. Exactly how and when that would happen, though, she wasn’t sure.
“He came to my room and surprised me, okay? We had some drinks, and one thing led to another.”
So she really did want to sleep with him. What little hope you had left was crumbling fast.
“Okay,” you said, standing up. Your sudden response surprised her, and the evidence of that was clear on her face as you crossed the room again.
“Okay?” She repeated, sounding unsure.
You hummed in affirmation, ready to move on and get her ready for the day. The faster you got her dressed and prepared, the faster she would be out of your sight.
“That’s it?”
If you didn’t know better, you’d have sworn some disappointed painted her tone.
“What else is there to say?”
So much.
She paused for a moment. “Nothing, I suppose.”
Your hands clasped together in front of you as you subtly motioned to the dresses with your head.
“Then let’s get you ready.”
—
The rest of the day saw you busied with any and every one of your tasks that didn’t involve Jiu. You avoided her at every opportunity, only letting the essential responsibilities of yours be the reasons you reunited. After they were finished, you were gone faster than she could say goodbye. For any duties bordering on trivial, the other maids stepped up and assumed them.
Were you allowed to do that? You weren’t exactly sure. But did you care? Absolutely not.
Being around her made your chest ache. Every attempt from her at simple banter or a normal conversation stung; her oblivion made things ten times worse. Did she question why you were so upset? Did she dig deeper, searching for a reason that her maid would be that affected by an expected interaction between husband and wife?
No. She couldn’t have. Because the Jiu you knew was clever. Had she stopped to consider the circumstances for even a moment, she surely would’ve pieced things together.
You couldn't decide if that hurt more or not.
Regardless, you tried to gather up what self restraint you had left and use it to stop thinking about her. Finding ways to help out around the busy estate was incredibly easy, and for once you found yourself grateful for that.
The gardeners and animal caretakers were paid visits by you in the morning, but you spent most of the day holed up in the kitchen. Along the way, you heard news of an event that was scheduled for later that night; a group of investors were returning to discuss a merger of their companies, and Hyun Wook had agreed to host. Following a meeting with all of them, there was to be a celebration of sorts in the ballroom, complete with a vast array of refreshments and foods. Being the… bright… mind that Hyun Wook is, though, he failed to mention it until the day of.
His incompetence only fanned the flames of your hatred, but you held your tongue and channeled your energy into helping prepare everything. It took a lot of effort, but you knew it would be worth it in the end.
Yoohyeon was there to keep you company for a while, when she took her occasional breaks, and that was enough for you. Though it was obvious to her that you were upset, she didn’t question it. Her instincts as your friend knew better than to push you for information when you were so vulnerable. She knew you’d come to her about it eventually, when things settled into place. She offered words of encouragement in the meantime and hugged you close when she saw you getting overwhelmed.
The kitchen staff was friendly, too, despite the stress they were under. You even began to forge friendships with some of them, working closely and depending on one another to ensure that things ran smoothly. Pressure piled on your shoulders in ways you had never experienced before, given the change in tasks. But you persevered, and your efforts helped keep the night from being a total disaster.
When things kicked off in the ballroom, the head chef thanked you for your assistance and sent you to enjoy the party.
Yoohyeon bumped her shoulder into yours as she walked out with you, finished with her responsibilities too and free to keep you company. She helped you get changed into something more fitting for a celebration before you both headed to the ballroom.
-
“We should just go to the library,” you pouted, pulling at the collar of your shirt.
“I think drinking is exactly what you need right now,” she replied, shutting your bedroom door behind herself. “We can dance and enjoy ourselves, and it’ll take your mind off of whatever’s bugging you.”
She joined you again, poking your arm in an attempt to cheer you up.
“If you say so,” you sighed, walking on towards the ballroom.
The skirt that she had chosen for you flowed and swayed with every step you took, looking far more elegant than you’d ever admit. It made you feel attractive despite your low spirits, and you figured that had to count for something.
When you arrived, the doors were opened by two male servants dressed in full black outfits, denoting their status. Their faces were stoic as you treaded inside. Too bad they couldn’t come in and enjoy themselves as well.
The biggest, brightest chandelier you’d ever seen hung above the dance floor, twinkling as its jewels and beads caught the lights of the room. Throngs of people were already under it; those that occupied the center were busy dancing joyfully together, finally letting themselves loose, while the pockets of people that bordered them chose to converse and watch one another over the rims of their glasses instead.
Tables lined the rest of the room, every one of them a carbon copy of the next. Despite the lack of a heads up, the staff had managed to whip everything into shape; not even a single napkin was out of place. Had you not been privy to the constraints that were placed on them, you would’ve assumed that they had days to prepare with just how orderly everything was.
Waiters wordlessly cycled through the crowd, keeping an eye out for any glasses whose contents were quickly dwindling. They had them switched out with fresh ones before the guests could even think of complaining. Their practiced ease was admirable as they kept things running smoothly, unfazed by the music and bustle of the party.
Yoohyeon tugged on your arm, pulling you over towards the dance floor. On your way, you passed by the center table that stretched from one side of the room to the other. The kitchen’s creations all shined in their respective places on it, sitting on their fancy plates. It all looked delicious, but you weren’t in the mood to eat. Even if you had been, it wouldn’t have mattered; Yoohyeon was on a mission, and you were coming along for the ride whether you wanted to or not.
She wiggled her way through the crowd with you in tow, only stopping once you broke through the outer ring and the middle of the dancefloor was in sight. She didn’t push you into the heart of the action; instead, she settled for a nice spot nearby, where you both could move freely and still be a part of the hoopla.
And move, she did. As the group of musicians on the elevated stage began their next song, she jumped at the opportunity to dance. Your initial attempts to match her energy were half hearted at best, but the longer the music played, the more you opened up. She joked with you and made a fool of herself in the best possible way, knowing just how to lift your spirits. Before long, the two of you were lost in the rhythm of the music; your cares had slipped away, and for a pleasant moment, every thought of Jiu that had been plaguing your mind vanished. The feeling of Yoohyeon’s body pressed tightly against yours as you swayed together, free with the beat, replaced everything else.
Your hearts raced together, just as in sync as the smiles on your faces. You dipped one another and spun around, lacking any care for the traditional way that the song in question was meant to be danced to. Others might have sent you unapproving looks, but that was truly the last thing you cared about in that moment. The happiness you felt outshined and deflected any haughty contempt that came your way.
Only once you began to get a little too hot for comfort did you step off the dance floor for a quick break.
Yoohyeon jovially knocked into you with every other step, still reeling from the excitement that coursed through her veins. It wasn’t a common occurrence for staff like her to be invited to such a night of fun, so it was really a no-brainer that she was so eager to be there. Truthfully, she worked harder than anyone else you’d seen at the estate. If anyone deserved a night of freedom, it was her.
“Ah, my favorite!” She blissfully sighed, still a bit out of breath as she took the drink that a passing waiter outstretched to her.
He did the same for you as she made quick work of downing hers, much to his amusement. He let a smile break out across his face as he handed her her second glass of the evening and retrieved the now empty one.
You thanked him by raising your glass in a silent toast to his efforts before taking a sip. He bowed and left directly after.
Across the room, Jiu stood among a group of guests that had no intention of fully enjoying the party around them. Her husband was at her side, sipping on the whiskey he’d just received a few minutes prior. His arm was around her waist, possessive in the way that it stayed there. The conversation around her began to sound more like unintelligible mumbling as she turned her head away, seeking a moment of reprieve from the mind-numbing boasting that everyone was doing.
As if on cue, Yoohyeon took a step to the side. Her body no longer blocked your view of the heiress, and before you could look away, your eyes locked with hers.
Surprise overtook her features, but you weren’t so lucky. Disappointment returned to you, making your face fall as you took in the sight of her. When you noticed your rival’s hold on her slipping further south, you couldn’t help but roll your eyes. You shook your head and looked away, scoffing quietly.
Did they have no shame? Did she?
All of hers must have run out without you realizing.
Bitterness filled your heart in a dangerous way. It made you want to get back at her, somehow; to make her feel just as shitty as you did. You racked your brain for a solution, though your better judgment pleaded for you to just let it go. You tried, for a hot second, but jealousy is a cruel destroyer, after all – a purveyor of ruin – and it worked its magic on you.
However reckless your next move was didn’t matter. The fallout would come in due time, and you could pick up the fallen pieces of your house of cards then.
You leaned closer to Yoohyeon, placing a hand on her forearm.
“Kiss me.”
The whispered request made her eyes widen immensely, but you pulled her closer to your body to conceal that fact.
“What?”
You peeked over her shoulder, finding Jiu looking tense. Her grasp on the glass in her hand was growing tight, nearly capable of shattering it. A small smile graced your lips at the realization.
“Just do it, please,” you practically begged, knowing your window of opportunity was closing fast. If something was going to be a turning point, it had to happen right then.
Yoohyeon followed your line of sight, and in an instant she understood. Softly, she turned your head so that you were looking into her eyes again.
Her fingertips pressed into the front of your shirt, backing you up against the large pillar that stood behind you. Its chilly surface connected with your back just as her lips found yours, slotting together like two puzzle pieces. You cupped her cheeks and tilted your head, giving the illusion that you were kissing her deeper.
At least, it started that way.
She bit your lip, earning herself a moan of surprise; that wasn’t what you had been prepared for. Her arms wrapped around your waist when you shuffled a little further into her hold, unconsciously seeking the warmth that she provided. Both of you could feel yourselves getting carried away, but oddly, neither of you stopped. It felt too good in the moment to give it up.
Her hands were gentle as they raked over your body, eager enough to sell your lie but restrained enough to avoid bordering on anything serious. The game you were playing was dangerous, but you’d be lying if you said it didn’t thrill you.
Your fingers tangled in her hair, tugging softly as she pressed her warm thigh between yours. Her eyes watered slightly in response, but she smiled against your lips as she savored the feeling.
All of your pleasure instantly turned to fear, however, when someone roughly grabbed your wrist. It was Jiu. Her aura was one that you had never seen from her; entirely new, full of anger. She pulled you away from Yoohyeon at once, not bothering to care how harsh she was. Both of you stumbled, cheeks flushed and hearts racing.
“Go to your room, Yoohyeon.” Her tone was icy. Far scarier than you’d ever heard it be before.
Yoohyeon glanced at you warily, pausing for a moment to ensure that you’d be okay with whatever was about to happen. Waking up to hear the news of your murder (or expulsion) wasn’t something she wanted.
Despite the way that Jiu’s fingers squeezed tighter at Yoohyeon’s reluctance, you gave her a nod to let her know you’d be okay. She relented, then, and quickly bowed before making her departure.
When she was out of sight, you could practically feel the heat radiating off of Jiu. She turned on her heel and dragged you behind her, all the way to her quarters. A fire was lit within her, and nothing you could possibly do was capable of putting it out.
What she had in store, you had no idea. Hell, you were half certain she planned to actually kill you, with the way she thundered down the hall, not even acknowledging the staff that passed by and greeted her.
But, at the end of the day, that meant she felt something. Whether it was an indication of her feelings for you or just an unfathomable amount of hate for relationships between employees and public displays of affection, you’d soon be finding out.
The open door of her bedroom passed by in a whizz of dark brown as she shoved you inside, seething. She followed closely after and shut it behind herself, locking it.
Your back was still turned to her as you attempted to compose yourself. “Ma’am, we–”
“Shut your mouth, Y/N.”
She took you by the arm again, spinning you around to face her. A grimace crossed her face as she noticed the state you were in. In particular, the gloss that had transferred from Yoohyeon’s lips to yours – smudged and unruly with want – made her sick.
“As much as you make me question it, I know you aren’t stupid.” Her elegant heel paced forward, taking an advancing step toward you. Afraid of doing the wrong thing, you didn’t move.
“So tell me, why would you do something as reckless as that in front of everyone?”
You swallowed, not sure of how to answer her. Between a rock and a hard place is precisely where you were wedged.
“I advise that you speak,” she warned after a moment of silence passed, “...for the sake of everyone.” The implication behind her words was obvious, and you resented the fact that she would use your situation against you like that.
“We just got carried away.”
The excuse was lame at best, and she clearly wasn’t satisfied with it. Her eyes rolled as she took another step forward in response, causing you to finally retreat some.
“Do you enjoy being difficult?” Her voice dripped with condescension as she continued to advance. “Or do you think I’m naive enough to believe you?”
Your back brushed against the wall, running into it. Your chance of escape was officially out the window. Shit.
“No, ma’am.”
Her eyes darkened at your use of the title, filling you with dread.
“Take off your shirt.”
“W-what?” You couldn’t stop the stutter in your voice no matter how hard you tried.
“Take it off,” she repeated, crossing her arms. She tilted her chin up slightly, making herself look superior. “You clearly didn’t care to show off out there, so why should it be any different now?”
She shrugged, letting her gaze slowly travel across your body. When she noticed that you were pressing your thighs together, she looked back up at your face.
“We really didn’t mean to make a show of it…”
Despite your half-hearted effort to change the topic, she refused to be swayed. With a cocked eyebrow, she waited for you to follow her instructions.
Anxiety swirled with embarrassment as you relented and brought your fingers up to the buttons of your uniform. They trembled briefly before you steadied yourself with a deep breath, determined to keep eye contact with her as you undressed – no matter how shy you were, you were still hurt by the memory of what you witnessed the night before. You wanted to see her reaction.
She watched with bated breath as you undid the buttons one by one, taking your time but not wasting it. You used every second to your advantage, teasing her without even really meaning to. She visibly tensed when you undid the last one, and you could practically feel your ego being boosted in the process.
You edged the material down your arms before tossing it on the bed across the room.
“Feel better?” She questioned, regaining the composure that she lost momentarily. “You know, now that you’re getting exactly what you wanted,” she finished.
“I didn’t w–”
The response died out in your throat. You knew it was a lie.
She smirked in such an aggravatingly sexy way that you wanted to slap her for it. “What, were you going to pretend you weren’t doing that to get my attention out there?”
You opened your mouth to reply, but gave up shortly after. Your cheeks warmed with embarrassment again.
“I saw the way you peeked over Yoohyeon’s shoulder, Y/N.” Confidence radiated off of her as every trace of vulnerability faded away. “How your eyes swept over me when her hand slid between your thighs. It was cute, really,” she chuckled softly, only making matters worse.
“And yet, she was the one touching me like that,” you finally spoke, aware that you had to push back against her attempt at belittling you. “It was her lips on mine, kissing me senseless. Not yours.”
She faltered for a moment, not knowing exactly what to say to that.
"And yeah, I may have wanted your attention," you admit, "but it wasn't too hard to get. Don't think I didn't see how you were looking at me."
Something changed in her demeanor, then, when she saw the hint of a smile that graced your lips. Nothing in the world could’ve stopped her from getting rid of it.
Her hands roughly connected with your shoulders as she pushed you up against the wall – further than you already were – and she shoved your thighs apart with her knee. Her grip moved down to your hips, gaining purchase there as she clutched them possessively. The breaths that left her were staggered – full of anger.
Your eyes opened wide when she reached down and grabbed the bottom of your skirt, hiking it up to your waist.
“Jiu, please–” you gasped, feeling her cold fingers easily slide past the barrier that your panties created. Without meaning to, your legs parted a little wider for her, allowing her to press the length of her body further into yours.
“Did she do this to you?” she asked, brazenly stroking you. Little tenderness was put into her movements.
“Is this,” she paused, gathering up your wetness on her fingertips, “...for her?”
A quiet moan slipped past your parted lips as your head fell back, exposing your neck to her. Her gaze flickered over your taut muscles before stopping to admire the wild beating of your heart, visible at your pulse point; suddenly, she felt the urge to mark you. To ensure that everyone knew who you belonged to, even if you weren’t awarded the same title over her in return.
“Answer me,” she warned, a dangerous look in her eyes. Her free hand came to fist in your hair, needing to be busied.
“N-No, Jiu. It’s not for her.”
Visibly, some tension left her shoulders. Still, her jealousy simmered.
“If I ever see something like that again or even so much as hear a rumor of it, you’ll be sent back home and your father will pay for his debts himself. Is that clear?”
Your thighs trembled around her hand, both from the implication of her threat and the way she was still touching you.
“Why do you even care?” It was a bad idea to test her, but you didn’t care. After the back and forth that you’d been put through for so long, you needed to hear her say it.
“I’m not playing your game, Y/N,” she spat, tightening her grip on your hair. Your face scrunched at the sensation.
“Tell me, please.”
The desperation in your voice must have been enough to convince her. Perhaps, though, her own desire played a part, too.
“She was all over you. It doesn’t take a genius to see what would’ve happened if I hadn’t stopped you when I did.”
Her strokes became languid, making you rut your hips to get relief yourself. “It was pathetic.”
“That’s rich, coming from you,” you managed out through ragged breaths, smiling to yourself.
She stilled her hand almost completely, arrogantly watching as you writhed a little harder.
“Are you trying to insult me?” She laughed lowly, pressing herself against you a little more. “If you want to do that, you’ll have to stop getting so wet before I even do anything.”
Your eyes closed again, unable to keep contact after catching a glimpse of her darkening ones. Danger flickered in them, but so did lust – the kind that can get you killed if you’re not careful.
“Then do something already.”
She watched your lips as you made your request, admiring the way they pursed and pouted with every syllable. From the very first time she laid eyes on you, she’d wanted to kiss them. To taste you, in more ways than one.
Denying herself such a simple pleasure for so long had been torture.
Your hands made their way to her hips, balling the soft material of her dress up as you waited impatiently. Despite how careful you’d trained yourself to be, never handling her belongings irresponsibly, all you wanted to do was rip it off of her.
A wave of confidence washed over you somehow, likely brought on by the adrenaline coursing through your veins.
“Are you afraid I’ll fuck you better than him?”
The sudden question surprised both of you, but you did your best to hide it. Jiu, on the other hand, clearly wasn’t able to; her eyebrows rose, taken aback. The resulting circle of her thumb against your clit, whether subconscious or intentional, lessened your doubts.
“Is that why you’re so jealous?” Your lips hovered over hers, brushing against them as you carefully teased her. “You don’t want me with Yoohyeon but yet you won’t take me yourself. Come on, now, Jiu. You’re better than that.”
Whenever she shifted forward, you moved back slightly. An ebb and flow, both torturous and enticing. She’d have to put in work to prove what she truly wanted.
“Be quiet.”
“Why should I?” You challenged. Her eyes stared back into yours, so fiery you didn’t know what to do with yourself. “You’re just mad I figured you out.”
“You don’t know half of what you think you do, Y/N.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
You shrugged, ignoring the urge to moan when she slid a finger down to your entrance. It circled, teasing you.
“Enlighten me, then.”
“You don’t deserve that, after tonight.”
You rolled your eyes. “Give it a rest. What Yoohyeon and I did was practically child’s play compared to you and Hyun Wook. Stop lamenting over it.”
When her head cocked to the side, you knew whatever was coming next would only hurt.
“I could say the same to you about what you saw, you know. It’s just what a husband and wife do; you have no right to be so upset.”
Her words, combined with the icy tone she put on, stung. She could read the hurt on your face as they sunk in.
Her attempt at hurting you like this hurt her, too, but she knew she needed to keep you at bay. It was a necessary evil.
“So did our plans for that night mean nothing to you, then?” You asked, sounding more angry than sad as the two emotions battled one another in your heart. You took her hands off of you and pushed her away.
She stumbled; your question struck a chord in her. It was easy to see, despite the effort she put in to hide it.
“They meant something to me. Believe that.”
A scoff left you. “Oh, I bet. I’m sure that’s all you could think about when he was inside of you.”
“I thought of you the whole time, Y/N.”
She was taking things too far now.
“Why the hell would you say something like that? Stop toying with me!” You shouted a little too loud for your own good, but truthfully you couldn’t have cared less.
“I’m not,” she mitigated, saying the words like a promise as she took a small step towards you. The hesitation in it made you hesitate, too. What was she up to?
“Every second I was with him I pretended it was you touching me. Kissing me. Fucking me.” The way that she glanced away made it obvious that she was replaying it all in her mind, and in that moment you would’ve done just about anything to have had a peek inside.
“Do you seriously think I could’ve made those sounds otherwise?”
Your heart beat a little harder at the memory of them.
"Why did you choose him, then?"
"When we started drinking, you were all I could think about." She admitted, looking ashamed but honest. "But I knew I couldn't have you. Not in the ways I wanted to. Needed to. And… he was available." She swallowed down the guilt that she felt rising in her.
"So I settled."
Her explanation was still partially a lie, but you were oblivious to that. She was still too afraid to tell you the full truth yet, though her heart begged her to.
"You could've come to the study and had me instead."
Something unreadable flashed in her eyes. It was lust mixed with something else.
“Could I have?” She asked, eyebrows raised, as if you were a child who just suggested the most impossible task known to man. Her tone was dripping with incredulity, and a bitter laugh threatened to leave her.
“Yes,” you breathed, emphasizing the word. “But even if you couldn’t have, it hurts to know you’d allow him to take my place.”
She looked away. Shame pervaded her mind.
“Why didn’t you tell me you felt this way?”
“I was afraid.”
“Of what?”
“You, Y/N.”
You couldn’t believe that. “Am I so threatening?”
“Yes!” She erupted. “Do you not see how much power you have over me?”
Your jaw went slack. “What power could I possibly have over you?”
“You rule me in ways you’ll never understand.”
“Help me learn them, then.” You took a step forward, extending a hand to her.
Several seconds passed. She looked at it, visibly deciding if she wanted to accept it, before she eventually decided to. When she met your gaze again, you could see the tears beginning to brim in her eyes.
“Oh, Jiu.”
“You have no idea what it’s like, Y/N, and I can’t fault you for that,” she started, looking up at the ceiling to prevent her tears from falling. “But my life is based on rules. It always has been, from the second I was born; and up until the second I die, I’ll still be subjected to them. Who I can meet with, who I can marry, what I can occupy my time with. It’s all limited, all monitored.” She explained.
You brought your hand up to cup her cheek when she sniffled, rubbing the pad of your thumb across her smooth skin. The way her chin quivered in response to the comforting sensation made your heart ache.
“But when you came to live here, something changed in me. You’ve made me feel seen and understood in ways I’ve never been by anyone else. My secrets are safe with you. I’m safe with you.”
She brought her free hand up, wiping her eyes on the sleeve of her dress.
“And as much as I love that, it’s terrifying. You could ruin me in a second.”
“I would never.” Your answer was almost instant.
“But you could. You could walk away after your time here is done and never see me again. You could forget about me and move on with your life. But that’s something I could never do.”
When she said ‘ruin’, you figured she meant her reputation. Not her heart. You’d never thought yourself capable of such a feat.
“Everything you do is important to me. I hang onto every conversation we have. Every look. Every touch.” Her eyes shut briefly, tensing. “I think about you in ways that I shouldn’t, and I’ve struggled with this awful sense of regret for so long. I tried to suppress my feelings when I found that I was incapable of stopping them. I figured it was the next best thing.” She admitted. “But then that night in the study sent me back to square one.”
Your gaze softened at the pitiful look on her face. She truly had been suffering.
“I knew it was foolish of me to push the boundary, but God did I enjoy it. My better judgment slipped away from me, then, and I paid for it when I saw Hyun Wook the next morning.”
That got your attention. “What do you mean?”
“He complained that I was growing too distant from him, and hinted that he would inform my father of his feelings unless I changed things.”
Subconsciously, your head shook.
“I thought about you and our plans all day long, and to be honest, I couldn’t wait to have you all to myself. I was worked up–”
“Worked up?” You interrupted, confused.
She blushed at your lack of understanding. “Turned on, Y/N,” she elaborated.
Oh.
“I was worked up when he came in. He was drunk and demanded I be a good wife. In his mind, that included drinking with him and fucking.”
You grimaced, fighting the urge to recoil at the image of that, which was taking shape in your mind.
“He thought my arousal was for him, and it only made things worse. When I tried to worm my way out of sleeping with him, he took his phone out and threatened to dial my father. I didn’t have the option to refuse anymore.”
“So that’s why you did it.”
She nodded, ashamed. She avoided your gaze, feeling unworthy of it.
Just like that, the final layer of her lie was peeled back. It opened to reveal the truth: that she never actually wanted to be with him at all.
“What would your father have done?”
Her head swayed from side to side sadly. “I don’t know, and that’s the worst part. But it wouldn’t have been anything good; he always sides with Hyun Wook.”
“And what would you have done, if he never came in?”
“I don’t know that either, Y/N, but I like to think I might’ve eventually told you my feelings.”
You pursed your lips in thought. "You did pretty well just now."
She grinned lightly at your sweet teasing. "You think so?"
"Mhm," you nodded, placing your hands on her hips as you backed her up towards the bed.
When her calves bumped into the frame, she gently plopped down onto the mattress. You stayed standing in front of her, moving to cup her cheeks. She nuzzled into your hold a little.
"All this time, I thought I was just fooling myself into believing you liked me back."
Her hands ran up and down your back, creating goosebumps in their wake. No matter what, she always knew just the right way to touch you.
"It feels good to know I’m not delusional after all.”
She laughed softly as she turned her head enough to kiss your palm. Her fingertips skated down your spine, ghosting over your skin until they reached your waist. She took hold of it, loving how warm you were against her.
“Well, I wouldn’t go that far,” she teased.
“Hey!” You pinched her cheek in retaliation.
“I’m kidding, jagi!”
You pushed her backwards, sending her down onto the mattress. The sheets poofed out all around her in response, absorbing all of her impact. She pulled you along with her, guiding you to straddle her.
Amusement shined in her eyes as she looked up at you, noticing your arms crossed in faux annoyance. The position made your chest look even more enticing to her.
Your act began to slip up when you noticed her staring. “Like what you see?”
She was brazen with it – not subtle like she’d always been before. A new level of desire burned in her; here and now, there was no one to stop her from doing what she’d dreamed of for so long.
Her hips raised suddenly, sending you forward and into her arms. Your lips brushed against hers in the process.
“I love it, Y/N/N. You’re so beautiful.” She answered, sweeping the fallen strands of hair out of your face. You shifted your weight to an elbow, using it to hold yourself up. Your free hand went to her side.
She traced your lips with her thumb, silently asking for permission. You granted it without hesitation.
Part of you would like to say you saw fireworks and stars as her lips pressed to yours, but that would be a lie. Instead, it was warmth spreading throughout your body as your heart beat harder to compensate. Though the feeling was new and unknown, it was like coming home. It was finding home in a foreign place.
Everything else – anything other than her – melted away in the moment, leaving you keenly aware of her every move.
Her shuddered breathing became obvious when she rolled you over; she trembled in your arms. The movement hiked her dress up to her thighs, and you took the opportunity to slide your hands beneath the silky material.
Her kisses were like the poetry she loved so much – each one a new line as you discovered one another for the first time.
She nipped at your lip – innocently, carefully – before gaining the courage to deepen the kiss. You moaned in response as her eager hands found their way to your bra, kneading your breasts. Your nipples hardened against her palms from all the stimulation you were receiving.
She arrogantly smiled against you at the feeling.
Her hips slowly ground down into yours, creating a torturous rhythm. The heat between your thighs was already insufferable, and feeling her small movements only made things worse. She controlled everything, then; her breath on your neck sent you spiraling in time with the rutt of her hips. She purposefully stuttered them to rile you up and bring you closer to the edge.
It was as if she wanted to make you come without even doing much at all.
And as pitiful as it sounded, she was completely capable of such a feat.
But your situation was far from a one way street. She may have hid it better, but she had never craved someone so much in her entire life. Your every sound and move made her throb a little harder as the ache between her legs became more and more unbearable.
Her soft lips peppered your neck with kisses and love bites as her hands greedily explored your body. She was attempting self control, but when your hips began to raise in time with hers, searching for friction, that went out the window. She could feel herself getting wetter by the second.
Her lips found yours again before she sat back on her knees, letting you take her full weight as she slipped her dress over her head. She was completely bare underneath it.
"We have to be careful," she reminded you, beginning to kiss her way down your body. She toyed with the waistline of your skirt, mentally debating on whether or not she should leave it on you.
She glanced at the door.
Sounds of the party were distant but audible, and she knew all it took was one wayward guest to ruin everything for the both of you. One miscalculation could be your demise… so why did that thrill her?
The door was locked anyway. Surely that would be enough.
"Jiu–"
"Shhh," she soothed, sensing your growing impatience. "I'm not going anywhere." She gave her full attention back to you, putting you at ease.
In one motion, she tugged your skirt down and off of your legs. Her eyes flitted up and over every curve of your body, alight with blatant lust and admiration. You were absolutely divine.
A smirk broke out across her face when she noticed the wet spot on your panties.
"Such a shame." She tutted at you, reaching down to run her finger over the ruined material. You jerked a little at the contact, now keenly aware of just how sensitive you really were.
"You want me to take these off?" She asked, feigning innocence as she pressed her palm against them, massaging you. "It has to be uncomfortable."
She pouted, mocking the state you were in. Even her cockiness turned you on.
"Please."
Her eyebrows raised ever so slightly, taken aback. "Asking so politely already? What a good girl."
"I can't wait anymore." You admitted, screwing your eyes shut. You had to make a conscious effort to steady yourself.
She chuckled darkly and pushed your thighs further apart with her hands. They were warm against your tender skin, and so possessive you didn't know what to do with yourself. She commanded your body better than you ever could've.
"You think I can?" Her voice was incredulous. "I've been dying for this."
She looped her fingers in the thin material and yanked it down, tossing it haphazardly behind herself.
A tremble racked through you, both from the coldness of the air and from the promise that lied in her words. Her eyes gleamed with a darkness that guaranteed you'd be even more of a mess soon enough.
She lowered herself down between your thighs, looking up at you all the while. Her lips dragged along your sensitive skin, leaving open mouth kisses and licks in their path.
"You have to be quiet for me, Y/N/N," she instructed. "Can you?"
You nodded, but she wasn't satisfied.
"Words."
"Yes, ma'am." You replied in an instant, voice hushed.
Her jaw tensed at your use of the title.
"Good. Keep it that way, or I'll stop."
The closing of your eyes and subtle push of your head back into the pillows was the submission that she was after, and it pleased her for the time being.
She flattened her tongue and licked a stripe up your slit without warning, making you flinch slightly. Your hands gripped the sheets when she wrapped her arms around your thighs, intending to keep you in place when you inevitably started losing your composure. She lapped at the slick that dripped down your center and hummed, loving the way you tasted. It was better than she had imagined, somehow, and it only made her want you more.
To think that such a beautiful woman like you could also taste so good seemed unfair. Finding your flaws was one of the hardest things she’d ever attempted.
She was merciless as she gave her all to you, pulling out every trick she’d ever thought of trying. Some of her movements were sloppy and unconventional, showing her inexperience, but it was obvious she was doing everything she’d want done to her. She paid attention to the noises you made and what pulled the biggest reactions from you, and adjusted her rhythms and approach accordingly. She was a fast learner, you came to realize, as she practically turned from a rookie to natural right in front of you.
But she wasn’t prepared for how much fucking you would effect her. The reins that held her together were slipping from her grasp the longer she had you like this. She needed relief, too, no matter how she got it.
She unconsciously humped the bed in time with every desperate roll of your hips, unable to control herself. The fire in the pit of her stomach was blazing, leaving her breathless.
She watched you bite into your lip in a poor attempt to quiet yourself; but it barely helped. As you came undone with a stuttered groan of her name, she felt a tell-tale rush of warmth between her own thighs as well. They pressed together, confirming what she suspected.
You gave her her first orgasm without even knowing it.
“Fuck,” she breathed, closing her eyes momentarily. Her core throbbed, needing more.
You raised your head at the sound of her voice, oblivious. “What?”
She shied away when you reached for her, causing you to push yourself up onto your elbows.
“Jiu…”
Her cheeks burned with embarrassment, but she wordlessly glanced underneath her body, leading your gaze to the mess that she’d made on the sheets below herself. Realization dawned on you, making an innocent smile appear on your face.
“Did you…?”
“I couldn’t stop it.”
She moved up your body, hovering over you. Any remaining humiliation she felt at the situation dissipated when you slid a hand between your bodies, wanting to feel for yourself just how wet she was. Her brows knitted together and she moaned, letting you explore her.
She allowed you to push her over on the large bed and straddle her, effectively trading your positions.
“Tell me what to do.” You requested, lazily stroking her. The tips of your fingers teased her, not committing to anything too seriously yet. “Tell me what you want.”
She swallowed, eyeing you. “I want your fingers, Y/N, and that pretty mouth. Show me what I’ve been missing all this time.”
You quirked a brow.
“Please,” she added, catching herself.
You smiled and leaned down, replacing your lips on hers as your hips settled between her thighs. Her tongue ran across your lips as she cupped your cheeks, pulling you in ever-closer and deepening the kiss. You melted into her embrace, much to her delight; everything about the moment was passion incarnate.
One of her hands dragged its way to your neck, which her slender fingers subsequently wrapped around. They tightened gently, reminding you of just how vulnerable you really were. She panted softly into your mouth between kisses, aware of the rapid beating of your heart.
You only broke away when you felt her lower half rubbing against you in its never ending pursuit of friction.
Your lips painted her soft skin with love bites in various hidden places, all carefully chosen as you worked your way down her body. They stalled at her chest as you licked and sucked her nipples, taking them into your warm mouth. You were showing her a type of pleasure she’d never experienced with her husband. He only ever focused on his own release; but you only focused on hers. Everything you did was the stuff of fantasy – things she’d read about in books and longed for, but had no hope of ever experiencing first hand.
Quiet whines slipped past her parted lips and she pushed her head back into the comforter anytime it all became too much to handle. You sucked a mark onto the inside of her thigh once you reached it, aware that it especially would only be visible when she was naked. No prying eyes could catch a glimpse of it and start drama; only two people in the manor would ever have a chance to see it, apart from her.
"Don't let him touch you again, Jiu, unless you want him to find out who you really belong to."
Her chest rose and fell faster than before – the result of your ministrations. The jealousy in your tone did unspeakable things to her.
But she didn’t have time to properly respond. Two of your fingers slid in easily as you took her into your mouth, wrapping your lips around her clit. Her walls were warm around you and softer than you ever could’ve guessed. They quickly adjusted to you as you stretched her out and wasted no time in giving her what she wanted.
Just as she requested, your fingers worked in time with your mouth, relentlessly chasing after her high. Every curl of them inside of her brought it a step closer; every swirl of your tongue earned you the gift of a new sound from her.
You committed them all to memory, wanting to replay them later. They were all so pretty; even her pitiful sobs and incoherent pleas sounded beautiful.
The blush on her cheeks was a deep crimson as she reached down and threaded her fingers through your hair. Her grip tightened as she got closer and closer, making your eyes water from the sting. It was a welcome pain, though, and you found yourself grinning against her when she unintentionally did it again.
She’d never experience pleasure like this before with anyone; it was overwhelming for her, but the last thing she wanted was for it to stop. She was discovering just how good she could feel and how empowering it was to have someone worshipping her in such a way.
How had she survived so long without you? Surely she was only half alive.
“Come for me,” you commanded, kissing the darkening mark on her thigh. Her body rocked, gyrating however it pleased as she met your every move halfway. Within a matter of seconds she was tensing and shuddering against you, unable to keep the pace you had set. When her back arched off the bed, you knew she was done for.
Her hand clasped tightly over her mouth to muffle the cries she let out as she tumbled over the edge and into euphoria. Sweat gleamed on her like a trophy, showcasing every ounce of effort you poured into getting her there. Her eyes were still closed as she reveled in bliss.
The tension in her taut muscles faded away when she eventually floated back down to Earth, still reeling. Her legs trembled from the aftershocks as you slowly cleaned her up a bit, savoring the taste of her.
But you didn't stop there. You got greedy, with the way she unconsciously continued to grind against your face with movements so subtle she likely didn't even recognize that she was doing them. But her body did; it recognized the pleasure you gave, and it didn't want it to stop.
Her other hand instinctively tightened in your hair again, still nestled in the mussed strands of it. Her breathing was far from controlled, and as you picked your pace back up it only became more erratic.
She whined as you continued between her thighs, determined to pull another orgasm from her. The overstimulation was almost too much for her to bear; her hands went to your shoulders as she tried to push you away.
"Please… I can't," she struggled out through broken moans, writhing.
Her body failed to adhere to her words, however; her hips raised rhythmically to meet your mouth, riding your tongue. She blushed deeply when you looked up at her through your lashes with lustful eyes.
She squirmed again, causing you to lay an arm across her pelvis and press her into the bed, keeping her in place.
"Yes you can," you mumbled, responding to her without fully taking your mouth away. The vibrations coursed through her, drawing another pitiful moan from her lips.
"Jagi, please–"
What an actress.
"One more, Jiu. We both know you want it, too."
"I-It's too much," she pleaded, shaking like a leaf.
You moved up her body and put your lips on hers in response, quieting her begging. She whimpered at the taste of herself on your tongue, paired with the curl of your fingers as they slid inside of her with even more ease than before. You found her sweet spot again and wasted no time in using that to your advantage.
"Y/N… ah–" she cried, latching onto you so tightly you were sure she'd leave marks. Her nails dragged along your back, harsh against your soft skin in the best kind of way.
"I'm almost there." The husky tone of her voice only spurred you on.
Her grinding was wanton now, full of reckless abandon. She buried her face in your neck just as her moans reached a fever pitch.
With another pulse of your fingers, she came hard around them, crying out your name.
She clutched you close to her body, almost as if she was afraid you’d slip away. You whispered sweet nothings as she came back down from her high, feeling weightless. Her tight grip loosened when she realized you weren’t going anywhere, and it gave you the chance to lay down beside her. Your hand splayed across her stomach when she looked up at you.
Innocence shined in her big, bright eyes, both precious and pure. Her heart was on her sleeve; she was in a state beyond vulnerability, and yet she wasn’t afraid like before. You, she realized, were her comfort. Her safety net, ready to catch her when she fell, and her supporter who’d never dream of leaving.
Something told her that her revelations were bigger than just post-orgasm niceties. She knew what you felt for each other was real, and that meant everything to her. In the world of smoke and mirrors that she had been raised in, that kind of thing didn’t exist. But you broke the mold; her enigma.
Your fingers traced gentle circles above her navel, drawing her from her daze.
A shy laugh left you, making your shoulders bounce slightly, and she couldn’t help but do the same. What were you to do now? She felt like she needed a few business days to recover.
She figured the next best thing would be to get cleaned up, and so she sat up to head to the bathroom and grab a towel. Her legs trembled as she attempted to lift them, not in the mood to cooperate. There was no way she could even stand yet, let alone walk.
“I’ll get it,” you soothed, already knowing what she was after. You leaned over and quickly kissed her again before heading off. Shortly after, you returned and gently cleaned her up before doing the same to yourself. Sensing that she had a few more rounds left in her, you hung it on the footboard for when you’d inevitably need it again.
“Come here.” She coaxed.
She held her hand up to you, beckoning you closer. But before you could take it, her wedding ring caught your attention as it came into view. Its expensive jewels shimmered in the available light of the room, making you frown.
When she noticed it as well, she paused, visibly debating. After a few seconds passed, she slid it off her finger and sat it on the bedside table.
Free of it, she held her hand out again and smiled as you took it this time.
"Let's stay here a while," she insisted. Her voice was hoarse in an attractive way. The sound of it made what happened tonight real; it confirmed that you definitely weren't dreaming.
"But what about the party?"
She just shook her head, unbothered. All she wanted to do was hold you close.
"Alright," you relented, unable to hold out any longer with the sweet way she was looking at you.
She opened her arms and took you into them lovingly, letting out a sigh of contentment.
Where the future would take you, you weren’t sure. But in her protective embrace, you felt safe from any challenges that might come your way. You’d face them together, always.
She was your safeguard, and you were her escape. Two things so fatefully intertwined were surely destined to find a way in the end.
Patience
Pairing: Siyeon x Fem!Reader and Yoohyeon x Fem!Reader
Warnings / Misc. -- Love Triangle, Angst, Pining, Fluff
Word Count: ~ 10,895
Requested By: @mandu-17
Disclaimer: This writing is a work of fiction, and no disrespect is meant for those mentioned herein.
A/N: Hey everyone! I hope you're having a good day / night and that you enjoy this piece :) Drink some water!
💖 Happy Reading🌹
◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚ ▸◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚ ▸◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚ ▸◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚
- Three Months Ago -
Seoul Fair
The entirety of Seoul and its inhabitants fell silent as you tossed one final, plastic ring towards the sea of bottles in front of you. With bated breath, you watched as it sailed through the air.
One side of it hit first, causing it to flop back and forth while fate decided what to do with it.
After a tense few seconds, it circled around the corner bottle’s rim and sunk down over the neck of it with a satisfying clink.
The crowd that had formed around you erupted with cheers and applause in an instant. You spun around in a rush, raising your arms into the air in celebration.
One person in particular caught your eye, with the soft smile that was on her face and the look of adoration that shined in her dark eyes. A few strands of her fluffy hair were blowing in the wind, caught by its currents.
Siyeon. Precisely the woman you were trying to win a prize for.
She opened her arms as you closed the short distance that stood between the two of you, catching you with ease as you leapt into them. She spun you around victoriously, sharing her cute little laugh with the world and warming your heart in the process.
She kissed your cheek before setting you back down on the ground, and you tugged her over to the booth so she could choose her prize.
Per her instruction, the worker used a hook and retrieved a wolf plushie from the top rack. She took it and you both thanked him before leaving.
“When did you get so good at that game, jagi?” Her arm looped with yours as she began to toy with the wolf’s ears. The neon lights of the attractions around you washed over the park, causing the plushie’s beady eyes to shine as they peered up at her.
“Beginner’s luck,” you shrugged, still smiling. “I’m glad you like it.”
“Like it?” She stopped in her tracks, making you do the same.
“I love it. Best gift ever,” she complimented, and leaned over to kiss your lips. You laughed against her as she pulled you in again and wound her arms around your middle, holding you close in her warm embrace.
She shivered when your hands pushed open her flannel jacket and made contact with her exposed midriff, caressing her skin. Your fingers looped in the waistband of her jeans, pulling her flush against your body as her lips moved against yours. She simply couldn’t get enough of you; you were too perfect for words.
Just a little ways away, Yoohyeon watched the two of you with a scowl. The line that she was waiting in was stagnant and apparently incapable of any movement whatsoever, much to her annoyance. Her sudden change in attitude became apparent to both Jiu and Dami – who were standing in front of her – when she let out a light scoff into the night air.
Just a few minutes prior, she was as bubbly and smiley as ever; but when she spotted you together, her mood soured immediately. She felt sick to her stomach, and the sinking of her heart only made things worse.
She couldn’t have you, no matter how much she was dying to. What a cruel fate.
Ever since Siyeon had introduced you to all of the girls a few months ago, Yoohyeon had been grappling with her blossoming feelings for you. Everything about you drew her in, from your sweet smile that was always capable of cheering her up to your sense of humor that matched hers perfectly. As you became a bigger part of all of their lives, she found it more and more difficult to deny the way that you made her feel.
It wasn’t hard for all of them to grow fond of you, with how much Siyeon gushed about you and how frequently you were invited over to the dorm. Just recently they had begun to bring you on little trips and outings such as this, certain that you would find a way to make them even more special somehow. And you always did.
But as much as Yoohyeon loved your presence, a part of her loathed it. Holiday dinners and movie nights in particular were some of the most destructive occasions for her resolve, because they meant that you were in her proximity for hours on end, looking radiant without even trying. The subtle touch of your hand was enough to make her heart speed up, and anytime she made you laugh or smile it was like the world stopped spinning for a moment. Her clumsiness was always countered by your vigilance, with you often swooping in to save her at the last second before she could trip over nothing or knock something over.
In so many ways, you complimented her better than anyone else ever had before. It made her wonder that if circumstances were different, perhaps you could’ve found the same love in your heart for her that she had for you. Maybe, if she had been the first to meet you instead of Siyeon, you would’ve been winning prizes for her now, at the fair, and waiting in the world’s slowest ferris wheel line by her side.
Ah, surely that was just wishful thinking. At least, that’s what she told herself.
“Look, unnie,” Siyeon beamed, holding the wolf up to Jiu as the two of you made your way over.
The eldest gave Yoohyeon another concerned once-over before regarding Siyeon with a pleased smile. Her free arm was still wrapped around your waist, and the sight made Yoohyeon turn away again.
“Woah, Y/N,” Jiu breathed, full of amazement. “I heard that game is totally rigged. How did you beat it?”
You grinned shyly when they all looked at you again, patiently waiting on your answer. With how intrigued they were, it was like you held the key to the universe.
“I had a good reason to win,” you said, bumping your shoulder into Siyeon’s. She blushed and used the plushie to cover her face, making everyone laugh.
“Yah, you’re such a flirt,” she groaned. “You know we’re already dating, right? You don’t have to win me over all the time.”
Dami noticed the subtle way that Yoohyeon twisted the top of her sneaker into the dirt at that, swiping it back and forth.
“And miss out on making you blush?” You quirked a brow like she was crazy. “Never.”
She muttered a quiet “Omo,” into the air before playfully rolling her eyes in response.
“Do you guys wanna join us?” Jiu asked, tilting her head to the side with a smile of gentle encouragement.
You looked at Siyeon, silently debating for a moment. Yoohyeon’s sad frame caught your eye when you returned your gaze to Jiu, leaning against the metal bars of the barrier.
“Of course. We’d love to.”
Though you didn’t see it, Yoohyeon shut her eyes in response. Why did you have to say yes? Out of every possible ride and booth here, you had to choose this one next? Her luck must’ve run out and turned negative somehow.
Siyeon helped you duck your way under the bars before doing so herself, officially joining the rest of them in line. You passed the remaining wait time by discussing your plan for tackling the remainder of the park before it closed for the night. There was only about an hour or so left before you had to leave, and you wanted to make the most of it by hitting up the rides that had the biggest reputations. Both Jiu and Dami liked your scheme, and so they decided then that they wanted to tag along with the two of you for it.
“What about you, Yoohyeon? Wanna come with?” You asked, concerned by her lack of a response thus far. She hadn’t joined into the conversation really and it upset you to see her so unlike herself. You missed her happy-go-lucky attitude.
When she felt you approach her side and innocently take her hand, she glanced over at you.
Why did you have to be so beautiful?
The smile on your lips knocked away any ill-feelings she had; every ounce of annoyance she had stored up melted away at the sight of you. Her defenses came tumbling down, just the same as her reservations.
“Sure,” she said, though she wanted to kick herself for being swayed so easily.
“Good.” You squeezed her hand with both of your own, showing your sincerity. “It wouldn’t be as fun without you.”
Siyeon put her chin on the younger girl’s shoulder and loosely wrapped her arms around her, giving her a back hug. Yoohyeon smiled, half-forced and half-genuine for a multitude of reasons.
She always did her best to refrain from taking her frustrations at the situation out on Siyeon, because at the end of the day it wasn’t her fault. When it comes to love, no one holds the reins; and precisely because no one can be blamed, the pain is a million times worse. She couldn’t find it in her heart to hate her member even though she wanted to; it would’ve made life far easier, and she could’ve distanced herself accordingly to attain some relief. But she was stuck in limbo – an odd and complicated area between love and jealousy – with no way out in sight.
So she grinned and bore it, allowing the two of you to show her some affection. Caught between love and loyalty, she struggled. Who knew that two of the people she cared about most in the world could leave her feeling such a way?
The ride attendant motioned you forward as the line surged one final time, and you were ushered onto the next available cart. It was large enough to fit all five of you, thankfully, and you ended up sitting between Siyeon and Yoohyeon. Jiu and Dami took the other side, sitting on either end of the bench there to more evenly distribute their shared weight.
Yoohyeon did her best to ignore your hand on her thigh, holding it tightly as the cart was taken higher and higher into the sky. It was warm and tempting against the chill that seeped in, both from the atmosphere around you and the metal seat that you were sat on. Should she have trained herself to be any less cynical, it might have given her some kind of foolish hope. When you shifted closer and settled against her side, briefly shutting your eyes when you neared the top of the wheel, she might’ve taken it as a sign of something more than what it was: innocent affection.
But as she caught a glimpse of the jacket wrapped around your shoulders – Siyeon’s, she quickly deduced – her senses were returned to her in full.
Siyeon was busy snapping pictures of the view for the two of you to look back on later; just the same as you, she loved aerial views like this. The flashing lights of the fair swirled and pulsated in different rhythms, all vying for the attention of passersby. Shouts of joy rang out, both from children and adults alike, and the comforting scents of different fair foods floated up on the breeze.
Yoohyeon tracked your line of sight to the city lights that shined from a little ways away – a different kind of hustle and bustle existing over there than the one you were centered in. Every beautiful thing around you was just that – beautiful – but the longer she looked at you, she realized none of it could compare.
Your smile had taken on a new kind of thrill – in the last few seconds it had learned a new way of beaming that reduced her to nothing but a bumbling fool. The joy on your face was contagious, and as she caught herself staring she registered that she was grinning back.
She was totally, utterly, and irrevocably in love with you. Head over heels in every sense of the phrase, though even it didn’t do justice to what she felt for you. It was a dangerous game that her heart and mind were playing, toying with one another with no regard for how it ruined her.
But she took your hand during a lapse in judgement and intertwined your fingers, allowing her thumb to caress your skin. It offered comfort when you peered over the side of the cart at the ground and immediately straightened up, regretting your decision.
She simply admired you, close but so far, wearing her poorly-guarded heart on her sleeve. She knew she couldn’t have you in the ways she truly wanted, and she knew she’d have to make peace with that in time.
But for now, she was okay with settling for this.
For the curl of your fingers around hers, and the nervous laughter you shared whenever the cart swayed a little. For the sweet way your voice uttered her name as you called for her attentioned and pointed out things you wanted her to see throughout the park below.
It might not have been capable of feeding her delusions forever, but in that moment it would suffice.
It was glorious torture, all at once; and she couldn’t say she wanted it to end.
《》《》《》《》《》《》《》
- Present Day -
As it went, fate had an odd way of panning out with time.
The members were gathered around Siyeon’s bedroom door, sharing hushed whispers of what plan of action they wanted to take. Yoohyeon was in the mix, too, although she was doing more listening than she was contributing to the conversation.
Her back was leaned against the hallway wall, and at the mention of your name she only pressed against it harder. The rigid surface remained steady, compensating for the weakness she felt.
“It’s been hours, unnie,” Gahyeon said, fixing her eyes on an uncharacteristically quiet Sua.
The second oldest tensed her jaw and nodded, acknowledging her. “I know, but I have no idea what to do. I’ve never seen her like this, guys.”
Jiu sighed and rubbed her forehead. Yoohyeon could only imagine the stress that she felt day in and day out by simply being their leader. It had to be exhausting.
“Have any of you heard from Y/N? Maybe she knows.”
Dami made a noise of contestation. “I think whatever it is that has Siyeon down right now has everything to do with Y/N.”
“She mentioned something about it to me this morning during breakfast, before she locked herself away,” Handong uttered. Everyone looked to her, awaiting her explanation. “It wasn’t much, but my guess is that they’re taking a break or something.”
Yoohyeon hated the piece of herself that rejoiced at that. She felt completely selfish.
“Seriously?”
“I wonder why…”
“There’s no way, they were so good together.”
“It must just be a misunderstanding.”
The girls all spoke over each other, simply sharing their disbelief.
A framed picture came into Yoohyeon’s view as she looked away, feeling ashamed. It was one of the three of you, smiling and happy on a trip you took with all of them to a national park some time ago. You went during the change in seasons, when the cherry trees were blossoming and offering their petals to the world. In fact, Jiu had managed to snap the picture just as some had landed in your hair; both Yoohyeon and Siyeon stood at your side, attempting to get them out for you.
It was a beautiful picture – a wonderful memory, even – yet it made Yoohyeon frown regardless. If that really was the case – if you had broken up – then both of them would be left heartbroken and neither one could do a thing about it.
It was one thing for Yoohyeon to suffer alone if it meant that at least Siyeon could be happy with you. But now? No, that didn’t sit right with her. She had grown used to the heartache, and she knew she could handle it; Siyeon didn’t deserve to feel it, too.
“Why don’t I go see how Y/N’s doing while you guys try to get through to Siyeon? She might tell me what happened and we can get both sides of the story that way.”
The girls all looked at her, silently weighing the pros and cons of the suggestion. Jiu, ever observant, was acutely aware of the feelings that the younger girl harbored for you; she knew it would be upsetting for her to confront you in such a way, and especially over a topic like this. But something shined in Yoohyeon’s eyes, and she knew she was determined to make things right in any way she could.
“I think that would be good. Do you have her number?”
Yoohyeon nodded. You’d given it to her on your second visit to the dorm, when you’d lost your phone and needed to call it in order to locate it. Even now, she could remember the way you jumped around together in celebration once you’d found it buried beneath the couch cushions.
“If she’s in the same state as Siyeon I doubt she’ll want to leave her apartment,” Dami said.
“I’ll just put something comfortable on then. Maybe she’ll let me come over.”
“I’m sure she will,” Sua agreed.
Yoohyeon fished her phone out of her pocket and held it up at them, wiggling it in the air to dismiss herself. She padded off to her room and scrolled until she found your contact, hitting the call button just as the latch of her door clicked into place behind her.
It rang a few times, and each second that passed by felt like a small eternity. She paced lightly as her fingers toyed with the sweater paw that her sleeve made.
“Hello?”
“Y/N!” She said a little too enthusiastically. She cleared her throat, correcting herself. “Y/N,” she repeated, a great deal calmer. “How have you been?”
“Not the best,” you answered truthfully. “You?”
“I’ve been better.”
“How’s Siyeon doing?” The hopefulness in your voice was obvious.
“Not the best,” she echoed, using your own words.
The line went silent for a few seconds in response, and was only broken by the subsequent sniffle you let out. She could tell you tried to conceal it, but she heard it regardless and it broke her heart.
“Can I come over? I want to see you.”
You sniffled again, not fully trusting your voice to keep from wobbling. “If you’re okay with seeing me as a mess, then sure.”
Her shoulders relaxed some. She was afraid you were going to reject the idea outright.
“Text me your address. I’ll leave soon, okay?”
“Alright,” you spoke gently into the phone, cradling it against your cheek. Its screen was cool against your heated skin, and the sensation made you grateful that she had called you.
You hung up after a shared word of goodbye and headed to the bathroom, wanting to look somewhat decent for her arrival. The hoodie, shorts, and bags underneath your eyes could stay, but your hair needed to be tamed and your nose needed to be blown. All the crying you’d been doing as of late had turned you into a wreck, plain and simply.
—-
- Your Apartment -
A gentle series of knocks came a little while later, letting you know she’d arrived.
Yoohyeon fidgeted in the small hallway in front of your door while she waited and busied herself by studying the dim hanging light that resided in the center of its ceiling. Her nerves were running high for some reason, and she couldn’t seem to calm them down.
You opened the door shortly after, revealing yourself in all of your… glory.
Her features pulled together in sadness as she regarded you and stepped inside. You shut the door behind her and were prepared to launch into the speech you had been rehearsing, but she spared you from giving it.
Her arms wrapped around you instead in a silent embrace, pulling you in until your body was pressed to hers. She didn’t care that you looked messy, or that you would dirty up her shirt; she simply offered herself to you and allowed you to find comfort in something other than your pillow for once. Her hands caressed your back as you began to cry again, painting her shoulder with the heavy droplets. They each held a little bit of your sadness and frustration; the more you cried, the lighter you felt.
She backed up until she reached the couch, and she quickly sat down and pulled you along with her. Your legs stretched across her lap and you settled your head in the crook of her neck, letting yourself go.
You had no idea why you felt okay enough to be so vulnerable in front of her; normally, you don’t cry in front of people. You’ve found over the years that your emotions are better dealt with in the safety and security of your bedroom or the shower, where prying eyes and ears don’t have the chance to listen in and question you about it later on.
It was unlike you in every way to openly sob in front of another person – even Siyeon herself had only seen you cry maybe once or twice, and neither of those occasions were of this caliber.
But something in the way Yoohyeon held you let you know everything would be alright. The occasional kisses that she left against your temple and the mindless way her fingers played with your hair calmed you down, giving you an avenue to ground yourself with. She even shed a few tears of her own, having been affected by how pitiful you were in her arms. If there was one thing she hated in this world, it was to see you cry.
Once your body began to relax against hers and your sobs turned to occasional sniffles, she knew you were making progress. You lifted your head and she cupped your cheeks, wiping away the remaining tears that streaked their paths downward with the pads of her thumbs.
“Only tell me about it if you’re comfortable and ready to, okay? I’ll stay right here regardless.”
You nodded and remained that way, shutting your eyes; she continued to cradle your face and hold you like you were the most precious thing in the entire universe. Your lips and cheeks were a bit puffy and your eyes were red, but your wet lashes looked full as they shimmered in the light of the room. You had that post-cry glow – one of the only positives in the situation at all.
When your breathing reached normalcy again, you moved a little out of her hold and allowed your back to lean against the arm of the couch behind you, taking advantage of its support; your legs still remained across her lap, however. Her hands fell to them, and her fingertips traced patterns against your skin while you found the courage to finally share what had happened.
“We broke up last night.”
She nodded, intending to give you the floor and let you do the talking.
“Things had been weird for a few weeks, and so we discussed them, but… I-I don’t really know where it all went wrong. We had always been fine before, but something about this one seemed really final.”
“Was it about anything in particular?”
You shook your head. “Not really? Just…” you let out a deep breath, “...I feel like we’d been growing apart for a little while, and then I guess it all just piled up. But even then, I don’t want us to throw away everything we’ve been through together, you know? We’ve been with each other for a while now.”
“I get that, Y/N/N.” She pushed the nagging in her heart aside. “Do you think she feels the same?”
Your shoulders lifted and fell in a heartbroken shrug, and another few tears dripped down your cheeks. “I don’t know. Probably not, after the last talk we had about it.”
She put a hand over yours on your lap, squeezing it tenderly in support.
“I wish it could’ve been a big blow out fight so I could start hating her and get past it. But she was reasonable and calm,” your breath hitched a few times, like babies do when they’re settling down, “...neither of us were harsh to each other, and yet somehow I still feel awful.”
“If it’s any consolation, she isn’t doing much better. Since breakfast she’s been locked in her room and not speaking to anyone. Not even Sua.”
A sigh left your lips at that information. “What do you think we should do?”
She took a little while to consider it, genuinely pondering. “Maybe just give it some time? Things like this always hurt the most when it’s all fresh and new. If you take a few days to think about it all and see how you feel then, maybe you’ll have a better grasp on what to do moving forward.”
“You’re right, Yooh. Thank you.”
“Of course; it’s what I’m here for.”
You wiped the remaining tears on your cheeks again and swallowed thickly, completely and utterly worn out. Truthfully, you’d expected to have run out of tears by the time she arrived; clearly that wasn’t the case by any means.
“Have you eaten today?”
You shook your head, prepared for an earful. Instead, she simply stood up and stuck her hand out, pulling you up as well. “Then let me make you something.”
She led the way into your kitchen, and when she spotted the island inside, she ushered you over to it. She pulled one of the high top chairs out for you and scooted it in once you were settled before heading to the sink to wash her hands.
“Any requests?”
“Y/FavFood/N, please.”
She smiled and rinsed the suds from her hands with the hot water that streamed from the faucet. “Alright, Y/N, but you have to promise to stay in here in case I start a fire. The last time I made that, our kitchen almost exploded.”
You laughed at that, surprised that her clumsiness had ever been that extreme. Surely it had to be a world record of some kind.
“I promise,” you said with a smile.
For a shining, wonderful moment, the heartbreak that you were going through became second on the list of things taking up space in your mind. It obviously didn’t go away completely, but the sadness was eclipsed by a certain 5’6” beauty that stood in front of your open refrigerator, scanning the shelves for all of the ingredients she needed.
The midday sunlight that streamed into the room offered a nice glow to everything, coating it in warmth. Her hair flowed elegantly in soft waves, and it caught the golden rays in various ways as she moved about. Her silhouette cut through the light gracefully, casting a shadow that was nearly capable of rivaling her real-life beauty.
You’d always thought she was incredibly attractive, though you never planned to act on it in any way. It was just a simple, undeniable fact of life. She was divine, and you didn’t mind being her admirer for once.
As she worked, you eyed her unabashedly. She caught you a few times and hid behind whatever utensil happened to be in her hand or threw a stray ingredient at you to convince you to stop, but it had the opposite effect. Without even trying, she drew you in. This woman, so sweet and gentle, waltzed into your life again when you needed someone more than anything. She was waiting without judgment, prepared to comfort you at your lowest without seeking a reward to show for it. Her kindness spoke volumes, and it wasn’t lost on you in the slightest.
How you would repay her, you weren’t sure. But you knew then that you could count on her no matter what, and that was huge.
—-------
In line with Yoohyeon’s advice, you allowed a week to pass before you met up with Siyeon to discuss things again. She came to your apartment and sat down with you, respectful in every possible way. It was odd to greet her with a short hug instead of a kiss like you were used to, but you managed. The atmosphere was still a bit tense – a little charged – as unfinished business hung in the air between you, but you both handled it like adults and did what you could to dispel it.
Tears were shed and you comforted one another like always. No matter what, you both hated to see each other so upset.
Amicably, you agreed to remain broken up and see what the future held. It was obvious that you still loved one another deeply and cared just as much as you had when you first fell. But times were changing, and life was beginning to take you in different directions; no matter how sad or disappointing it was, it was simply growing pains. Neither of you were to blame, and you found some solace in the fact that you hadn’t cheated or done anything rash to hurt one another in such a way.
Your friendship didn’t have to end by any means, and you made a promise to stay in touch. Neither of you believed you’d get over the other anytime soon – at least not fully, anyway – but you knew this was the best decision you could make for the both of you. Watching the relationship unravel any further would’ve only ended worse and caused more harm than good; you saw no real point in dragging it out when you could end on a relatively positive note instead.
So, that day, you shared one final goodbye kiss and left it at that. Whether it was merely the end of this chapter for your love story or the entire book, you’d find out in time.
—--
- Four Months Later -
When you entered your apartment after a morning of grocery shopping, you were surprised to find Yoohyeon sprawled out across your couch. Her limbs were haphazardly strewn about, and all of her focus was zeroed in on the phone in her hands. She was playing a game, you quickly realized, by the fast movement of her fingers and the look of concentration on her face.
As you latched the door behind yourself and locked it, the screen lit up red, washing her face in the color of defeat.
She groaned loudly and sat up before locking her phone and tossing it to the other end of the couch like a toddler. Sometimes she was really a sore loser.
“How was shopping?”
She stood up and stretched, and you did your best not to stare too hard when her shirt rose up enough to expose her midriff. The lines of her abs were clear, begging to be admired. But you averted your gaze before she could catch you.
“Fine. Pretty uneventful, really.”
She wordlessly took some of the bags from your hands and followed you into the kitchen, padding her way in with sock-clad feet. As you began to unpack everything and put it in its rightful place, she helped.
“How long have you been here?” You asked over your shoulder, bent at the waist as you placed some vegetables in the produce bin of the refrigerator.
Yoohyeon’s eyes raked over your backside, starting at the flexing muscles of your shoulders and flitting all the way down to your calves. Just as much as she’d fallen for your personality and mind, she’d fallen for your body as well. You were gorgeous to her in every capacity. Just the sight of you made her want to–
“Earth to Yoohyeon!”
She jumped, putting a hand over her heart.
“U-uh sorry! What did you ask?”
Her hand raised to the back of her neck as she scratched it, beyond embarrassed. She continued to hand you groceries as you reached out for them.
“I asked how long you’ve been here.”
“About an hour. The girls are out doing their own things and I knew you wouldn’t be gone too long, so I decided to come here and hang out with you.”
“You didn’t have anything better to do?” You quirked a brow, standing up straight and shutting the fridge.
“I always want to spend time with you, Y/N. That is one of my better things to do.”
“Yah,” you felt the beginnings of blush bloom on your cheeks as warmth spread to them, “...stop it with the smooth talk.”
She smiled so widely that her eyes formed into crescents in an instant. Knowing that she had such an effect on you never failed to put her in a better mood.
“No can do,” she shrugged, approaching you with open arms. She wrapped them around your neck and sighed into your hair when she felt yours wind around her waist, pulling her close. Her breath on your neck caused goosebumps to appear, and it took all the self restraint you had to keep from shivering.
The power she had gained over you in a matter of months was astounding, if you did say so yourself.
Following your breakup with Siyeon, Yoohyeon had established herself as a constant in your life that you could count on for just about anything.
Late night runs to the convenience store when you were having a bad week? She would be outside of your place with the car running before you could even hang up the phone.
You needed to unwind when work got you down? She was at your door with all of her favorite co-op video games, and all of your favorite snacks. If that didn’t cheer you up, she was always down to go for a walk in the park or watch TV shows or movies to take your mind off of things.
You were sick? She would run to the store at any hour and pick up every medicine you needed and every snack she knew you’d appreciate. Once she made it to your apartment, she wouldn’t leave until she witnessed you drink plenty of water and eat some of her home-made soup. (Even then, if you asked her to stay longer with you, she would agree in a heartbeat).
The more you got to know her, the more you began to fall. In the beginning, you did everything you could to prevent it, seeing as how both of you were still close with Siyeon. It felt slimy, in a way, to pull something like that with your breakup still relatively new. And, truth be told, you still weren’t completely over her. You were a lot further along than from where you started, but some progress still remained to be made. Siyeon’s quirks and mannerisms stuck with you, some becoming little habits of your own that you had picked up during your time together. The little things still reminded you of her from time to time, but you tried not to get too hung up on them.
From what you heard, she was on track to getting over you and seemed to be handling things well, too. It pleased you to hear that; more than anything, you wanted her to be happy. She deserved nothing less; and if you couldn’t be the person to give that to her, you wanted her to find the one that could.
Maybe you could be just as lucky, too, someday.
Yoohyeon’s phone rang, and she let go of you to go retrieve it from your living room. You watched her head out with a small smile, feeling content.
*ring ring*
“Hello?”
“Hey, Yooh,” Jiu chimed on the other end. “Are you still at Y/N’s house?”
She reentered the kitchen and sat down at one of the island chairs, meeting eyes with you across the room.
“Mhm.”
“Oooooo,” she teased.
“Unnie, what do you want?” Yoohyeon deadpanned. She was unamused.
Jiu pouted, tutting into the phone. “Ask Y/N if she wants to come over for a movie tonight. Sua and I are gonna make some food, too.”
She relayed the question, and you drew in a deep breath. You hadn’t visited the dorm again since things ended with Siyeon, so there was a high chance that it could be awkward. The last thing you wanted to do was ruin everyone’s night by making them walk on eggshells.
“I think it’ll be fun,” she added, smiling at you. “I’d love it if you’d come along.”
How could you deny her?
“Alright fine, you’ve convinced me.”
Both Yoohyeon and Jiu rejoiced at your decision, and once the eldest shared the message with the other girls you heard Sua screaming in the background victoriously. You laughed and shook your head, incredulous as to how her lungs and vocal chords were capable of projecting her voice so loudly. She never ceased to amaze you.
Yoohyeon said a couple more things into the phone before hanging up and turning to face you.
“They want us over there by six o’clock,” she informed. “Does that work for you?”
You nodded, leaning against the counter. You crossed your fingers, hoping for the best for the night ahead.
—---
- Dreamcatcher Dorm -
Yoohyeon snuck a glance at her phone. “5:55,” it read, before she pocketed it again. Not bad.
She opened her jacket for you as the two of you waited outside, and you slid your arms around her, reveling in the heat that she provided. It held the chilly air at bay and gave you an excuse to be close to her, leaving you with no reason to complain. She enjoyed the simplicity of the moment as well, far more than she probably should’ve. She was getting ahead of herself, like she always used to do before. But that was easy to do when you were brushing your hands across her exposed skin and holding her like it meant something deeper. Getting lost in her fantasies had always been easy when it came to you.
Gahyeon and Handong were the first to greet you when the door was flung open, nearly coming off its hinges. The youngest smiled eagerly and pulled you inside, loudly informing the rest of them that you’d arrived. Sua had clearly been teaching her her tricks.
She hugged you tightly, and you reciprocated. Once she released you and allowed you to inhale some much-needed oxygen again, you brought Handong in for a much softer embrace. Although you had gotten the least amount of time to bond with the two of them, they still treated you like an old friend and acted as if they’d known you for years; connecting with them just came naturally. It made you happy to know that they wanted you there and enjoyed your presence so much.
Dami appeared in the hallway as you conversed with the two of them, briefly catching up and finding out how they’d been after all your time apart. When you noticed her, a sincere smile made its way to her lips and she hugged you as well. She was pleased that you were doing well, and the sight of Yoohyeon behind you – watching you with a smile of adoration – only made her happier.
Knowing that the two of you had been so upset and down in the dumps before really bothered her, and so seeing that you had managed to help each other out of that place warmed her heart.
She led you to the kitchen – more accurately, the war zone – where you were greeted by the very messy sight of Jiu and Sua. They were covered in food, condiments, and…. some things that you couldn’t quite place, but you wiped the grimace from your face and smiled at them. Jiu waved a spatula at you in lieu of her hand, making you giggle. But when you looked to Sua, your grin faded a little; she had a dangerous look in her eye, and you half expected her to splash you with an ingredient or two.
Instead she rounded the corner of the counter with her arms outstretched, making grabby hands at you despite the batter that they were covered in. You slowly backed away as she came closer and closer, but when she began to run, so did you.
Only, a problem arose. Your body collided with something on the second stride, stopping you in your tracks.
Well, someone, more precisely. It was none other than Siyeon.
Sua looked between the rest of the girls with an awkward expression as she crept back behind the counter to hide, just in case things ended up going south in the wake of your impromptu reunion.
Siyeon was dressed in a cozy sweater and matching pair of sweatpants, looking undeniably adorable as her dark hair fell across her shoulders in a gentle wave. She wore slippers as well, and you noticed with a smile that they were the ones you’d bought her for her birthday.
“Hey, Y/N/N,” she said softly, leaning in to press a kiss to your cheek and hug you. You sunk into the strong embrace of her arms, beyond happy to have reached a place again where this was acceptable. She still gave such great hugs; no matter what, the softness of her touch would always be something you loved.
“Hello to you, too,” you responded, squeezing her a little tighter before letting go completely.
Though you were none the wiser, Yoohyeon was leant against the hallway wall as she watched the two of you catch up, trading jokes and conversation like it was nothing.
The rest of the girls had gone back to talking or were leaving to do their own thing by then, but she stayed, unable to take her eyes off of you. She was transfixed, more or less, and for more reasons than one. Jealousy had begun to bubble up within her, returning like it always did before. Dami noticed her sudden change in mood and put two and two together; finally, she understood.
Like the good friend that she is, she decided to distract her from the scene playing out in front of her. She slid her hands across her shoulders and guided her away, mentioning that no one could decide on what movie to watch and that they could use her help with choosing.
Yoohyeon glanced at you before leaving, but you didn’t return the gesture. You were too busy smiling at whatever an animated Siyeon had just said. With a sigh, she relented and padded alongside Dami a little defeatedly.
–
- The Kitchen -
When your time with Siyeon began to wind down and she decided to kick back in the living room with the others, you opted to lend a helping hand to Jiu and Sua. They were doing dishes and wiping the counter down, respectively.
When you approached the two of them, they greeted you with a smile again, now able to properly hug you since their aprons were off and their clothes were cleaned off. Jiu rubbed your back in a motherly sort of way, and it brought you more comfort than you even realized you needed at the time.
Sua too was gentle for once, and you grinned against her shoulder at her calm embrace. Her hold on you was strong, allowing you to sink further into to.
It lasted for all of about three seconds, though.
“No!” She screamed suddenly, right next to your ear.
You winced and pulled away, bringing your hands up to guard it in case she decided to surprise you again.
“What?!”
“The cake!” She whined, pointing behind you. She stomped like a frustrated child.
You turned around and Jiu peeked around your side to see what she was so upset about. An unopened box of cake mix stood behind a few plates and bowls of the side dishes that they had prepared, almost completely hidden from view. They must’ve overlooked it in the chaos of all the other cooking they’d been doing.
Jiu sighed, clearly tired. Cooking for the lot of them in general was exhausting, and she felt every possible side effect. But cooking with Sua… well, she deserved some sort of compensation for that. At least an award or something.
“I can make it,” you offered. “You guys can go rest. I’ll have it in the oven in no time.”
Their eyes lit up at that, like two kids on Christmas morning. Your offer was better than five hundred presents under the tree to them in that moment.
“You mean it?”
“Of course.”
You motioned to the living room with your head, encouraging them to take a break. Sua pinched your cheek as a thank you and Jiu informed you of where the ingredients that you would need were located. The eldest only stopped talking once Sua managed to pull her through the doorway and convince her to relax for once in her life.
You shook your head, amused and now alone.
You could already hear the girls running around and laughing with one another from the next room over, only separated by a wall. It brought you peace, in an odd way, even though you weren’t a part of whatever fun they were having. They brought the dorm to life whenever they were all together.
Their happiness was simply contagious, you concluded, as you made your way over to the cabinets and began to gather all of the ingredients you needed. You filled your arms and returned to the counter before making a second trip for the refrigerated components. Once all of them were splayed out in front of you and you’d retrieved the necessary utensils, you pulled your hair back and approached the sink to wash your hands.
A passing couple caught your eye through the window that resided above it, walking their dog together, all bundled up and close to each other. One of them took their phone out to snap some pictures of the sweet moment as you dried your hands off and grabbed one of the unused aprons to tie around yourself.
The three of them looked so… right together. They each complimented each other in some way, whether it be hair color, aesthetic, or even their amount of clumsiness. The puppy in particular was especially uncoordinated – with the way his big paws trod and stumbled over one another in his excited discovery of the land around him – but his two humans were right there beside him to catch him anytime he fell and get him back on track.
It was endearing, really, and it caused a feeling of wistfulness to tug at the strings of your heart, plucking them without minding the dissonant twinge that resounded as a result.
You wanted something like they had. Maybe you’d get it someday.
Alas, the task at hand returned to your mind, beckoning you back down to Earth. When did you start getting so daydreamy all the time?
You shook your head as you approached the counter again, checking through all of the ingredients one last time. With a quick tuck of your sleeves, you got to work.
-
In the living room, Dami was playing with the ends of Yoohyeon’s hair as she rested her head in her lap. The rapper peered down at her best friend, sensing the disappointment that she was trying so hard to hide. The years they’d shared together made her a certified Yoohyeon expert, though, and she saw through her poorly-crafted mask time and time again.
She poked her cheek, gaining her attention.
“Why don’t you go see how she’s doing?” She suggested, cocking her head to the side, towards the kitchen. The rest of the girls were having their own conversations, so she didn’t have to worry about being too secretive.
Yoohyeon’s shoulders raised and fell noncommittally. She didn’t even bother to reply with words. Your previous interaction with Siyeon was still at the forefront of her mind, and it discouraged her in a major way. The two of you shared so much history and looked so good together that she questioned if she even stood a chance at all, no matter if you were single or not. There was always a possibility that you’d end up with her member again – especially considering the way you two hit it off and picked back up on good terms immediately – and that fact was beginning to wear her courage down.
“Go,” Dami simply said. If she didn’t give her a little push, she’d never do it on her own.
She sighed heavily – a bit comically, even – but sat up regardless. Even if she couldn’t be brave when she faced you, it was impossible for her to deny that she wanted to see you.
Dami sent her an encouraging smile as she went, and once she was out the door Jiu caught her eye from across the room. She was perched on the couch opposite her, aware of what just went down between the two of them. She took a deep breath and released it, sending a prayer out to the universe that things would end well.
Or, at the very least, without a fight. Or fire. Or a structural collapse of the dorm.
(Un)surprisingly, with the combined efforts of all seven of the girls, two of those outcomes had already happened on multiple occasions. Jiu really hoped your encounter with Yoohyeon wouldn’t result in the third. She’d managed to narrowly avoid it thus far, and she planned to keep that going for as long as humanly possible.
-
When the door creaked open slowly, allowing a flood of light to enter your peripheral, you glanced up. A soft looking Yoohyeon came into focus as she emerged from the living room.
“Hi,” she said, voice altered by the small smile that crept onto her face when she saw you in your apron.
After sliding the cake onto the oven rack and shutting its door, you uprighted yourself.
“I was wondering if you’d ever show up.”
“Did somebody miss me?” She teased.
“Mhm,” you nodded. “I always do.”
You were casually leant against the countertop as she approached, eyeing the cake.
Along the sides of the bowls and utensils that you had prepared the batter in, remnants of the ingredients were visible. The bag of flour was standing tall next to them, as well as the sugar and baking soda.
“Did you guys decide on what movie to watch?”
She nodded, taking one last glance around the kitchen before returning her gaze to you. “We haven’t started it yet, though. Once the cake is done we’ll dig into everything and turn it on.”
Your eyes fell briefly to the numerous dishes of food further down on the counter that were just waiting to be eaten. Their containers were all insulated and covered well, preserving their steam and heat to prevent them from turning cold anytime soon.
“You look really cute like this,” Yoohyeon blurted out of the blue, like a secret she couldn’t contain anymore.
Taken aback, you regarded her with a surprised smile. “You think so?”
“The whole look,” she affirmed, motioning up and down your body. “Messy apron and all.”
A terrible, centuries-old, forsaken idea came to mind at the utterance of her words.
“Mmm,” you hummed, nodding to yourself as you pushed your body away from the counter and took a few steps closer to her. Her eyes widened a little as she became flustered, and she felt the fleeting urge to take a half-step back in response to your approach.
Something about the look in your eye worried her.
“If I can manage to pull off looking messy, then I’m sure you could, too.”
Your finger inconspicuously dipped into the cup of icing that you had prepared just before she entered the room. Its rich, chocolatey color coated it completely.
“What do you mean?” Her subsequent chuckle bordered on nervousness.
“Just this,” you said nonchalantly, as you casually brought your hand up to her cheek and ran your finger down it, past her jawline and down across her neck.
Her mouth fell open and she squealed, tightly closing her eyes. You couldn’t help but laugh at the sight.
The icing shimmered as she shifted away from you, now pouting.
“You’re mean.”
“Just making us even.”
“You call this even?!”
You nodded, unfazed by her whining. Your nonchalance drove her crazy, both in the best and worst possible ways. If only she could wipe that stupid smirk off your face…
“I don’t think so,” she mumbled, striding around you and towards the flour. She cupped her hands and filled them with the white powder, ready to strike.
But you caught on immediately and spun around to face her, knowing you could dodge her incoming act of retaliation if you had a clear view. You rounded the other corner of the kitchen island so that it stood in between you, giving you something to hide behind.
“Nuh-uh, Y/N. Get over here and take it like a woman.”
Your head shook. “I’m not so easy, Yooh. You’ll have to catch me yourself.”
She groaned and emptied her hands, dusting them off with an annoyed pout. “You’re no fun,” she complained, before crossing her arms.
She was giving up that easy? Huh…
You approached her cautiously, closing the distance between you as you returned to your original spot in front of the oven.
When you were within arms reach and she hadn’t made a surprise dash for one of the other ingredients to attack you with, you relaxed some.
Her sulking frame settled next to you in front of the oven, watching it work its magic. She gently laid her head on your shoulder, inadvertently making you tense a little bit. You didn’t dare move or breathe too hard, just in case it caused her to pull away. Having her so close was comforting, all cozy and relaxed here at the dorm.
Even if she was subtly wiping the chocolate from her cheek onto your sweater.
“You know, Y/N, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately.”
“Yeah?” You asked. “About what?”
“You, mostly.”
Your heart skipped a beat.
“And about how gullible you are.”
Your brows furrowed as you turned to her, confused as to what she meant.
But she was smart, and far faster than you ever knew she could be. She reached into her pocket and retrieved the handful of flour that she had deposited there, and in a second it was cascading over the top of your head in a powdery, hazy wave.
She must’ve hidden it in there when you had your back turned before.
You coughed and fanned it away, blindly reaching out for her. Her maniacal laughter filled the air around you.
She evaded your hands, dodging left and right as she hastily dipped two of her fingers into the mixing bowl behind you and gathered up some of the leftover cake batter onto them.
By then, you had cleared your eyes of the flour and caught her in the act. Before she could get you again, you grabbed her wrist and pushed her flush up against the counter, pinning her there with your hips.
She froze, immediately blushing at the intimate contact.
Oh… oh. So it was like that.
The playfulness of the moment quickly dissipated, shifting into something far less innocent as her giggles died down.
Her heart was racing – evident in the sporadic thumping you felt at her wrist’s pulse point. A mix of emotions all competed with one another inside of her, but the lust in her dark eyes slowly faded in, eclipsing the rest.
She searched your face for some sort of confirmation – some sign that you were just as affected as she was – and she found it in the way that you bit your lip. Your gaze was set on her mouth, admiring the fullness of her lips and the beautiful curves of them. It was achingly close to yours – just a breath away. You moved in a little closer, wanting to test the waters, but were still too afraid to make the next move.
So she made it for you.
Her free hand tangled itself in the material of your apron and tugged on it, closing what little distance was left between you. Her lips were soft and tasted of her favorite vanilla balm as they met yours halfway, pressing to them with a sense of urgency.
You could be caught at any moment if someone decided to walk in. But, strangely, that didn’t faze her. The only thing on her mind was you.
When you didn’t pull away, her body relaxed against yours. Your hold on her wrist loosened some when she deepened the kiss by tilting her head to the side and opening her mouth a little more.
She let both of her hands fall to your hips, which they gripped rather possessively. You whimpered at the feeling of her nails digging into them. An eagerness laid just beneath the surface of her somewhat calm demeanor, and it took every bit of power she had to keep things tame.
Everything she’d been waiting on was finally happening; she never wanted the moment to end.
You slipped your hand underneath the front of her shirt and allowed it to trace the lines of her toned stomach, caressing them in admiration. A shuttered sigh left her mouth in between kisses in response, and her knees grew weak.
You’d lost count of how many times you’d wanted to have her like this over the past few months. She was lost in you, completely and utterly, with how she trembled both in want and nervousness. Never in her entire life had she been so high-strung for someone. Her body hummed for you, encouraged by each and every one of your touches, no matter how small. They simply unraveled her.
She was vulnerable, there in your arms, basked in both the dying sunlight that filtered in through the window and the warm light of the oven that cast against your tangled legs. Hope blossomed in her chest like a poisonous flower, equal parts terrifying and beautiful.
But, all too quickly, a set of not-so-distant shouts and footsteps from the living room rang out.
It was Siyeon and Gahyeon, apparently playing some type of Guess Who game to pass the time.
The sound caught you off guard and snapped you back to reality. You pulled away at once, blushing at your own indiscretion.
Your eyes met Yoohyeon’s briefly before you averted your gaze and took a couple of steps away from her. Perhaps that interruption was a sign for you to stop while you still had the chance.
Her pupils were blown wide, and her lips were kiss-bitten and red – a little swollen. She swallowed thickly, looking dazed; her chest rose at a quicker rate than before, showcasing just how much you affected her.
“I, uh… I’m gonna get some fresh air,” you mumbled, before quickly turning to leave.
Still reeling and attempting to recover, she simply nodded and let you go.
Her palms made contact with the cool surface of the counter once you had exited the dorm and shut the front door behind yourself. Her lips were tingling, and she couldn’t help but smile as she pressed them together.
She couldn’t believe the two of you had just done that.
-
Outside, you paced for a few seconds in order to calm down. Your flushed skin thanked you, reveling in the slightly chilly breeze that soon rolled in.
You couldn’t believe the two of you had just done that.
You wondered, for a genuine second, when you had become clinically insane. Surely if you were to visit a doctor they’d have come to that conclusion.
How had you allowed yourself to get so carried away in the dorm, of all places? With your ex so close, and capable of walking in at any moment? And with Yoohyeon? Her own member?! Your head spun at your own stupidity.
The last thing you wanted to do was put your mending relationship with Siyeon back on the rocks with a stunt like that. You had to be more careful.
But why – why – did kissing Yoohyeon feel so right? It came naturally, like you were always meant to do it. You ebbed and flowed together, pushing and pulling, offering the perfect amount of chase and release.
Your connection with her was entirely different than what you had shared with Siyeon. It was new territory, full of promise just waiting to be discovered, while what you shared with Siyeon was familiar and safe.
It was a battle between routine comfort and the branching of comfort zones. Siyeon offered consistency and predictability – two things you valued most. But Yoohyeon promised a chance at adventure; with her, nothing was certain yet.
It was a love story already written versus an entirely new book, opened to its first, clean page.
If you chose to pursue something with Yoohyeon, you would have to forge your own way together, learning the ins and outs of each other – what made you tick. You’d have to start from scratch and put your trust in her, just the same as you’d done with Siyeon before. You’d have to be unafraid of being hurt again, or at the very least be brave in the face of that fear.
You’d have to entrust your poorly-mended heart to a woman capable of both healing it completely, and breaking it ten times over.
A groan slipped past your lips as you buried your face in your hands and sat down on the edge of the sidewalk. What a predicament you were in.
-
When you failed to return after a few minutes, Yoohyeon began to overthink the situation and worry about you. Her mind ran wild, and she knew the only way to quiet it was to just talk to you about it.
She grabbed her coat and slipped her boots on at the front door before heading out.
You were sitting on the sidewalk and toying with the pebbles that rested near your feet in an attempt to distract yourself. She took a seat beside you without a word, and you were grateful for that. You had no idea where to even begin.
Something warm wrapped around your shoulders and back, and as she tugged the sides of it further around you, you realized it was her jacket. What had you done to deserve her?
Her hands came to rest in her lap, and you gently reached over to hold them. She interlocked her fingers with yours and placed her free hand on top, bringing you comfort. Her thumb softly rubbed the top of your wrist.
She was always so patient with you, no matter what. She held you like no one else and regarded you with far more adoration than you probably deserved; but day in and day out, she chose that. She chose you.
Above everything else – beyond any hidden desires of her heart or selfish vies for personal gain – she wanted you to be happy and cared for. Truly, she loved you more than words could explain.
“I want this, too,” you said quietly, gazing out across the street in front of you. “I want to try,” you affirmed, and turned to look at her. “But I just need some more time. Being back here after all this time and seeing her again has me a little scattered.”
A pensive expression of contemplation befell her features as she took the news in and processed it. She didn’t bother to rush. Instead, she took her time and tried to put herself in your shoes to better understand you.
After a moment, she nodded and squeezed your hand.
“I’ll wait however long you need me to, Y/N.”
You released a breath of relief that you didn’t even know you had been holding in.
“You’re worth every second,” she added simply, and smiled at you.
God, that smile. You were convinced it could end wars with just how pure it was.
When she turned shy under your gaze and tilted her head down, you noticed a bit of chocolate icing still remained on her cheek. You leaned in and pressed your lips to it, kissing just beside one of her small dimples.
She blushed heavily when you uprighted yourself and swiped your tongue across your lips, tasting it.
The action was simple, but you used it as a means of insuring the promise you were making. With time, she’d have full access to you with every single flaw and messy string attached. But in the meantime, slow and steady would surely win the race. You wanted to do things right.
You lifted the side of her jacket and motioned her closer so that the two of you could share it. When she scooted up next to you and settled against your side, you wrapped it around her and pulled it shut, holding the cold atmosphere around you at bay. Her head found its way to your shoulder, right where it belonged, and you rested yours atop it.
“Thank you,” you uttered softly, so as to not disturb the peace you’d created together.
“For what?”
“Everything.”
Black Magic
Pairing: Witch!Yoohyeon x Fem!Witch!Reader
AU: Wizard / Magical
Warnings / Misc. -- Fluff, Mild Angst, Use of Potions, Smut
Word Count: ~ 9,921
Disclaimer: This writing is a work of fiction and no disrespect is meant for those mentioned herein.
A/N: Happy October, everyone! I’m back again with another writing. I hope you enjoy it :) Take care of yourselves, you lovely people.
P.S. ~ It gets better as it goes on.
💖 Happy Reading 🌹
◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚ ▸◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚ ▸◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚ ▸◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚
The day was dreary. A melancholic sort of fog had come to settle over the academy’s grounds, tinting everything with a grey hue that inspired nothing but lethargy. Rain clouds loomed overhead, holding within their dark wisps the promise of a stormy evening.
Just the same as the students were miserable and affected by it all, so too were the faculty. That shared trait meant the day would be a lazy one, given that no one had it in themselves to offer much more than the bare minimum. Work would still be assigned, of course, and deadlines were still in place, but the insipidity of the outside world had already seeped in and begun to take over.
With everyone at its mercy, they did their best to just push through it.
And you, sipping on your third energy potion of the day and hiding away in the back of the library, were making some progress on that mission.
A hefty textbook laid open beside your notebook on the table in front of you, full of sketches and drawings to accompany the paragraphs of mind-numbing information in between. It was for your anatomy class, and you were studying for the exam you had coming up next week.
To the left of you, windows arched high into the air, soaring until they reached the roof. A mural sprawled its way across the ceiling, picking up where the windows left off and stretching to the other sides of the room. It depicted a beautiful night sky, full of lone stars, constellations, and other celestial bodies. Paired with the wooden interior of the room – a rich brown that exuded pristine excellence – it looked wonderful.
Only once you came to that conclusion did you realize that your eyes had drifted away from your book again.
You rubbed them, hoping to ease the ache they felt and gear yourself up for another hour or two of study. The words in front of you had begun to blur together, though, and you knew you needed to take a break if you hoped to actually retain any information at all.
The chair beneath you made a hushed squeak as you stood up and pushed it in. You didn’t bother to pack your things up before leaving; you were coming back soon, after all, and it was incredibly unlikely that anyone would want to steal any of it. If the worn pages and poorly done annotations enticed them that much, then more power to them.
Endless shelves stood tall as you wound your way around them on your journey to the hall outside. The sea of books that resided on all of them, meticulously organized and not a hair out of place, painted the air of the room with a richness unlike anything else. The ink, the aged pages – it all intermingled, blending their every story into an amalgamated masterpiece. It was comforting, in a lot of ways, but a little overwhelming, too.
The sheer amount of history that these four walls held was enough to make your head spin if you thought about it long enough.
The library's glass doors swung open easily as you pushed them, revealing an unusually calm main hall. Activity was sparse, with merely a handful of students walking to class or digging through their lockers. A few pockets of people glanced your way upon hearing the door, but they went back to minding their own business a few seconds later.
Along the walls, mounted torches burned brightly. Just like in the library, multiple arching windows gave a wide view of the academy’s grounds. Together, the two sources offered plenty of light to the hall. It still attempted to brood, though, with its dark corners and shady sections that vied to be different.
As you passed by a set of lockers, a new poster caught your eye.
Fall Formal served as its title, big and bold at the top of the page. Below it were the specifics, like where it was being held and how much tickets were. Ophelia Square and thirty dollars, respectively.
You simply shook your head at it and continued on. Brighton Academy had never once in its many years of existence pulled off a dance worth going to – formal or otherwise. And it was a pity, too, because the aesthetic and facilities were all there at its disposal.
Could you have put any faith in it, you might have even considered going.
But you learned your lesson long ago, during your first year here. Now it was your third; you were practically a natural at seeing through the many façades that the school tried to put up.
At Brighton, a healthy dose of reality never hurt, anyways. Being surrounded by magic and other unthinkable things on the daily could cause people to get a little… out of touch, after all.
Clearly you valued your wit and cynicism more than most.
For the most part, though, it seemed rather harmless. Perhaps you were judging too hard. Maybe this would be the year that they finally turned things around.
“Yubin, I can’t do that!”
Suddenly, a hushed voice grabbed your attention.
You stopped and looked behind yourself, doing a little spin as you searched for its source. When you spotted an empty classroom with its door slightly ajar and soft lamplight peeking out into the hall, you knew you had found it. Curiously, you moved a little closer to investigate.
A reply came, unintelligible and masked by the static of a phone.
“That’s wrong on so many levels.” The first voice returned, pleading for the person on the other end to have some sense. It was feminine, and sounded incredibly familiar…
“Yah, pabo–”
Holy shit. It was Kim Yoohyeon. Resident keeper of your heart.
You pressed yourself against the rough surface of the wall in hopes of remaining unseen. Movement came from inside; pacing, from what you could make of it. Her footsteps were light but full of restrained tension.
She twirled her wand in her hand, turning it over and absentmindedly fidgeting with its textured surface as she listened to Yubin. When she crossed between two of the lab tables in the room, you noticed her adamantly shaking her head.
“Of course I like her, but I can’t take advantage like that. Did Mrs. Perlow teach you nothing in potions?! That’s more than dangerous.”
Yubin continued with her point, knowing she was capable of selling it if Yoohyeon would give her the opportunity. She was merely trying to convince her to practice a spell of enchantment… which she could then use on the person she’d been admiring from afar since the start of the year. Yubin was tired of seeing her best friend so lovesick – especially when, technically, something could be done to remedy the situation.
“Fine. I’ll practice it, but only because I want to make sure I remember the spell. I’m not going to use it on her.”
Yubin sighed victoriously in their shared dorm across campus, raising a triumphant fist into the air.
They shared a word of goodbye before Yoohyeon hung up and made a noise of annoyance at her phone in retaliation.
You couldn’t help but smile.
“I can’t believe I’m really going to do this,” she muttered to herself, turning around.
You ducked further behind the wall at the last possible second before being spotted. That was close.
When she began to cast the spell, her voice was as soft and sweet as ever. Unlike some of the other students, she didn’t need to be loud for her spells to work; her power went deeper than that. Truly, she was one of the academy’s most talented witches. A twitch of her finger could conjure a flame larger than even some of your professors’. The stomp of her foot could disarm other wizards within a ten foot radius. One glance from her could send people to their knees.
From the moment she had arrived on campus at the start of the year, so charming and bubbly, she'd had you enraptured.
She was a force to be reckoned with in every sense of the phrase, and you couldn’t deny your excitement at being so close to such a skilled woman.
You held your breath when she circled her wand into the air, pointing it towards the ceiling and subtly twisting it about. Her movements were simple yet graceful, and full of a practiced ease that she’d spent years of her life perfecting.
A red and purple stream of haze began to form around her wand, circling on its way upwards like billowing smoke. It shimmered in the light of the room, almost like glitter. It was one of the most beautiful things you’d ever seen.
It made sense to you then why she was so reluctant to practice the spell; in just a matter of seconds, you were already being lured in by the simple sight of it.
That could only mean that it was incredibly potent.
She repeated the incantation like a mantra, invoking more and more power by the second.
You blinked a few times and looked away, snapping yourself out of your daze.
As you straightened your posture some and attempted to regain the rest of your senses, a loud shout echoed from somewhere further down the hallway. The noise grew louder as more voices joined in, creating a thundering murmur of excitement. Footsteps were added to the mix; it sounded like a stampede of people were coming your way.
That, you quickly learned, was the understatement of the century.
As you peered down the hall, members of the academy’s rugby team rounded the corner with an entire crew of supporters in tow. They whooped and cheered for them, celebrating what you could only assume was a recent success. Their mussed uniforms and sweaty appearances supported that theory, too.
One of them – a second year student that you’d recently tutored – raised his head and locked eyes with you. A smile grew on his lips, and he cupped his hands on either side of his mouth as he shouted your name. You panicked and shook your head at him, frantically waving your hands to get him to stop.
But he didn’t. His calling drew the attention of some of the other people around him, leaving you with only one chance of escape.
Before more of them could notice you, you quickly darted inside the classroom with Yoohyeon and shut the door behind yourself. Your back pressed against the surface of it, and you sent out a silent prayer for them to stay away.
But your unexpected intrusion came with consequences that you never saw coming.
Ever the scaredy cat that she is, Yoohyeon was caught off guard by the suddenness of it all. She spun around to face you with a poorly muffled scream of terror; in the process, her jarred movement inadvertently cast her spell.
Just like in the movies, time seemed to slow down.
It shot across the room in a flash of red and hit you in the center of your chest, stealing away every bit of breath you had left in your body.
As you helplessly gasped for air and fell to your knees, her eyes went wide. Panic set in immediately as she pocketed her wand and ran to you, letting out a slew of apologies.
She crouched down beside you and took your face in her hands, raising your head so that she could assess you.
With a brush of her thumb across your lips, she cast a recovery spell that allowed you to finally inhale a deep breath.
Warmth spread throughout your entire body, radiating from where you were hit.
"Y/N?!"
The poor girl was terrified that she might’ve killed you. When she lost control of the spell, it was no longer a simple one of enchantment. It became unstable before it hit you, shifting into something else entirely. There was no telling how powerful it was at the time of impact, or even what exactly it was.
You put a hand on her forearm and sat up, leaning your back against the wall as you recovered.
She kept your face cradled as your breathing began to return to normal, and she moved to sit cross-legged in front of you.
"Are you okay?"
A shiver ran through your body at the sound of her voice. When her sentence stopped, it subsided.
What the hell?
"I… I'm not sure."
She shook her head and dropped her hands, absentmindedly allowing them to fall to your thighs.
"I'm so sorry," she uttered regretfully. "I never meant for this to happen."
The hair on the back of your neck stood up, keenly aware of the softness and sincerity in her tone. Her hands on you, attempting to provide comfort, felt better than they should have. The only thing that stood between her fingertips and your overly-sensitive skin was the material of your pants.
"It's okay," you soothed, though you were trying to convince yourself just as much as you were her. "I know you didn't."
When her eyes met yours for a fleeting second, your heart fluttered.
As she attempted to gauge your status, she couldn't help but notice the flush of your cheeks and the way you squirmed under her touch. When her fingers edged up your thigh the slightest bit, she could feel your body trembling.
"I should take you to the infirmary."
You blushed at the idea of people seeing you like this.
"That's not necessary; I'm fine."
She quirked a brow and leaned in a little closer. Her floral perfume washed over you, overriding your senses. "Are you sure? You don't seem like it."
You simply nodded, not trusting yourself to speak in that moment. Her proximity was making your head fuzzy.
"Y/N, don't lie to me…" she warned, voice stern and a little deeper than before.
You swallowed nervously, feeling as though she could see right through you. Your heart was racing faster than before, and the room was about ten hundred degrees too hot for your liking. Surely you looked a mess.
"I'm–"
"Look at me," she interrupted, hooking two fingers beneath your chin to lift your head up.
Her touch was electric.
Something changed as she peered into your eyes. Her rampant concern shifted – slowly, at first – as realization began to dawn on her. Your behavior was beginning to make sense now.
Though you tried your hardest, you couldn’t pry your gaze away from her lips. They shined in what measly amount of daylight the window permitted to enter, looking so kissable you almost couldn’t stand it. Your hands were at your sides, grasping the material of your pants in an attempt to stay busy.
It took every ounce of self control you possessed to keep from pouncing on her.
Some indescribable desire was overtaking you, leaving you bewitched in a miserable way. It coursed through your body like the very blood in your veins and clouded your mind. All you could think about was Yoohyeon.
Whatever you were fighting was carnal.
Tense silence befell the room – tangible, yet as fragile as glass – as she unconsciously glanced down at your mouth. Curiosity burned in her, too, unbeknownst to you. She shifted a little closer without even trying.
Your impulsive mind was begging you to take that as a sign and give in, but you fought it. Surely you were just imagining things.
“What does it feel like?” She asked softly, breaking the quiet. She was still studying you intently.
“I can’t explain it with words.”
You noticed the subtle way she bit the inside of her cheek when her gaze dropped down again. It filled you with foolish hope.
“Is there another way? I want to know how to fix this, Y/N.”
Why did she have to be so kind? It would have been better for her to just leave you and let the spell run its course.
“There… might be,” you answered hesitantly, avoiding eye contact. Having her attention like this made you feel small.
“Show me. Please.” A slight undertone of desperation was present in her voice, but it was obvious that she was trying to hide it.
You were taken aback by that fact, and it showed when you looked at her again.
You raised a hand to her cheek and cupped it, smiling a little despite yourself when she leaned into it. Your heart pounded like never before. You were beyond nervous in every way possible, but you knew you could only fight your desire for so long; it was taxing.
Especially when she was looking at you like that.
“Don’t hate me,” you mumbled apologetically.
Before she could utter a response, you were leaning forward and capturing her lips in a kiss.
For a brief second, she tensed up. Her breath caught in her throat, and she made a little noise of surprise. But once you pressed your body closer to hers and ran the pad of your thumb across her cheek, she relaxed into you.
Her lips were soft against yours, and the gloss that adorned them transferred to your own with your shared movement. It was her signature; you’d seen it on her so many times, both in class and at events that the academy put on. Its color was so distinct – so… her – and you’d always wondered what it tasted like.
Tropical fruit, you quickly discovered, as its flavor made its way to your tongue. It was warm and smooth – addictive – and you could feel yourself slipping further under when she pulled you in closer with a hand on your shoulder.
Her gentle breaths fanned out across your cheeks as she deepened the kiss, taking you by surprise.
She let out a poorly-muffled sound of pleasure when your hands grasped at her waist a little restlessly, and the noise spurred you on. It reignited something in you, flipping a risky switch. You were quickly getting overwhelmed by it all, and what little composure you had left was slipping away.
“Yoohyeon,” you said against her lips, half-whining and half-warning.
Why hadn’t she pushed you away yet?
“Shhh,” she pacified, her voice like velvet. “Let me help.”
Her hands fell to your thighs again as she replaced her lips on yours, effectively silencing you.
Thunder boomed outside, mirroring the intensity you felt inside. The grey sky swirled, too, refusing to be still – just the same as your untamed heart. The lamp in the corner flickered a little as the academy’s electricity surged, fighting hard to remain on.
Heavy droplets of rain pattered against the window in droves – unruly sheets carried by the unpredictable winds.
But Yoohyeon seemed oblivious to the chaos around her. Or, at least, she didn’t mind it. All she cared about was the soft way you sighed into her mouth, and how you held her so desperately. It was a bit possessive, and she couldn’t stop the blush from rising to her cheeks because of it.
Your wanting hands buried themselves in the material of her skirt, gripping her hips.
That’s precisely when the ache between her legs refused to be suppressed any longer.
She guided your hand beneath the material with one of her own and led it to her inner thigh. All she needed in that moment was more of your touch. Something – anything. She didn’t care. Just more of you, in any way you’d allow.
When you began to massage her skin in slow, teasing strokes, a breathy whine slipped out of her mouth.
“Y/N, please,” she nearly begged. Her forehead pressed to yours as she rocked her hips a little in search of some sort of relief. Your eyes briefly fell to her lap, and you watched as your hand disappeared further and further under her skirt. The way she trembled for you was intoxicating.
The collar of her uniform top dug into her throat, too tight for comfort as her ragged breathing only got worse by the second.
You reached up with your free hand and undid the button of it, hoping to ease her strain. She tilted her head back and moaned when your fingers lazily rubbed the newly-exposed skin to soothe it. The muscles there were taut and enticing, begging to be admired.
Her brows knitted together and her teeth sunk into her lip when you toyed with the waistband of her lace panties, debating on whether or not to take things further. Her head spun with the stimulation she was receiving simultaneously; she didn’t know what sensation to focus on more. Even the smallest of touches from you had her wanting more.
“P-please, jagi.”
Unable to help herself, she grinded against your hand when you slid her panties to the side. Your lips kissed a path from her shoulder to her pulsepoint, leaving a few lovebites in their wake as she writhed pitifully in your arms. Your name fell from her lips like a mantra as she pulled you flush against herself.
“Y/N.”
“Y/N,” strangely, her voice began to fade away…
“Y/N! Please wake up!”
Your eyes shot open and you sat up with a start, dazed and confused. The classroom around you was the same, and Yoohyeon was next to you. You looked around, attempting to piece together what the hell had happened.
Your head had been her lap, you discovered, as you brought a hand up to the back of it to awkwardly scratch it. You turned to face her, finding her phone in her hand with Yubin’s name and contact image displayed on the screen. She had dialed her up the second you fell unconscious.
The genuine look of concern on her face tugged at your heart strings.
“What happened?”
“You passed out when my spell hit you. I’ve been trying to wake you up ever since.”
You swallowed thickly and brought a hand up to your chest, rubbing the area of impact again. It was growing warm just like before, and the sound of her voice only made the ache you felt earlier return.
Had that really all been a dream? It felt so real…
She reached a hand out to you and moved to come closer, but you evaded her touch and backed away. You closed your eyes tightly, refusing to look at her; whenever you did, flashbacks of the dream (or whatever it was) came back in a rush.
You missed the way her face fell in response to your rejection.
“I-I’m better now,” you stuttered out, fumbling a bit as you stood up. Your knees were weak, and a bitter part of you wanted to laugh at that. Your body was acting as though your fantasy had really happened.
“Y/N, wait,” she requested, standing as well.
But you were already twisting the doorknob and slipping out into the hall before she could get another word in. Your form disappeared in a flash of embarrassment, and you did your best to hide your face as you began your hurried retreat to your dorm.
“...did she leave?” Yubin’s curious voice asked, sounding a little staticky over the phone line.
Yoohyeon sighed, shaking her head at your actions. All she wanted to do was help.
“Yeah,” she answered.
Yubin tutted before going quiet for a moment. Only the faint sounds of pages turning could be heard. Yoohyeon paced in the meantime.
Before too long, the slightly younger witch spoke again. “I think I have an idea of what went wrong,” she said, as her eyes zeroed in on a certain spell in her book. The symptoms that Yoohyeon had informed her of, paired with your immediate reaction, all lead her to believe that it was what you were struck by.
“It’s a variant of Amore,” she continued, “...and it’s really potent. We’ll need to whip up an antidote to ease her symptoms.”
“What will she experience?”
“Hallucinations, fever, and lust like never before," she listed, upon reading from the page. "Since this strain is only produced by a corruption of the original spell of love, it’ll heighten her existing desires tenfold or more.”
Yoohyeon’s eyebrows furrowed. “Existing desires? For who?”
“Whoever cast the spell, of course,” she replied. “You.”
That didn’t make any sense. Yubin had to be mistaken; you obviously didn’t have any pre-established feelings for her.
“There’s no way that’s right, Yubin.”
“Why do you say that?”
She thought back to the way you had avoided her like the plague once you woke up.
“She wouldn’t even look at me when she came to. That doesn’t really add up with your prediction.”
Yubin studied the page a little more before replying. She was humble enough to admit that the chance of her being wrong existed, but she highly doubted that that was the case now. Everything just aligned too well for it.
“Just come back to the dorm. We can sort it out together here.”
“Alright,” Yoohyeon agreed. “See you soon.”
She pocketed her phone with a tense sigh before running her hands over her face a few times.
Put lightly, she felt uneasy about the entire situation. It all felt… wrong. She shouldered any and all responsibility when it came to your predicament, and because of that, she regretted not putting up more of a fight when you left. Guilt made its inevitable, insolent journey to her heart in the wake of her failure to act.
It made the classroom feel even more vacant and cold, as she stood alone in the middle of it.
Judging by the noises you had made when you were unconscious – helpless, distant mumbles and calls of her name – she knew you were battling something stronger than either one of you had ever been up against.
And although it should have, her skill in the arts did next to nothing in easing her worries.
She knew she was gifted, but her imposter syndrome invoked her deepest fears of inadequacy when faced with a serious matter like this.
And – as selfish as it sounded – she couldn’t help but think that she might not have been so ashamed if anyone else had been her victim. She knew that nearly killing you wasn’t likely to score her any points, nor was it particularly advantageous in helping her gain your favor in the long run.
She lamented over all of her wasted efforts thus far, fully aware that that single strike from her wand had surely eradicated all of the fruits of her labor from your heart and mind.
Every study session that the two of you had shared before.
Every late night escape to the outskirts of the academy, where you and your shared group of friends rendezvoused with hers to sneak around and do things you probably shouldn't have.
Every clumsily flirtatious line that she ever tried on you, with the excuse of alcohol floating nearby as a scapegoat.
If Yubin was correct, the spell's power would eclipse all of those genuine moments and twist any true feelings you might’ve potentially had for her into something unmanageable. At her hands, you would suffer; and she expected to lose you because of it.
Once the enchantment was lifted, you'd certainly be exhausted by the mere sight of her. So, then, how could she expect you to still find any fondness for her in your heart?
It was impossible at best, and it disheartened her to say the least. She doubted you'd even want to be in the same room as her after it was all said and done.
Alas, all she could do now was hope to find the correct solution to heal you. She could settle for your full recovery, if nothing else.
—---
Your Dorm
After arriving, you quickly sent a text to your roommate – who was hidden away in one of the private study rooms of the library – and asked her to retrieve your abandoned belongings.
She answered almost immediately and sent you a picture, confirming that she had collected it all safe and sound. She told you she still needed to study, though, and that she wouldn’t be back for a little while.
You assured her that that was fine before throwing your phone onto the bed haphazardly.
More than fine, you thought to yourself, as less-than-innocent thoughts of Yoohyeon returned to haunt you. You were miserable, completely and utterly, so it was a welcome thing to have the room to yourself in the meantime.
For a very real, very serious second, you contemplated smothering yourself with your pillow.
You buried your face in the loose folds of its silky case as you collapsed onto the bed, and you did all you could to put your racing mind to rest. Your entire body felt like it was on fire and you had no idea of how to stop it.
A thin sheen of sweat appeared on your forehead before long; this spell took being hot and bothered to a whole new level.
You felt the back of your shirt being lifted, inch by inch, until soft lips left open mouth kisses up your spine. Manicured nails ghosted over your skin, creating goosebumps wherever they went.
“So beautiful,” Yoohyeon’s alluring voice whispered, only to you.
Her hand slid down the front of your body, heading for your center when you unconsciously lifted your hips for her. She admired your every curve and line along the way, promising to worship them properly if you were patient for her.
You groaned loudly and shook your head, willing the fantasy away.
This had to be some sort of cosmic torture. Karma coming back to bite you for some unspeakable atrocity you committed in a past life.
Even the paintings on your walls judged you. They were poised above your turmoil and boasted cheerful people with smiles that you couldn’t mirror even if you tried.
The rest of the room was full of a certain tranquility, too, that brought out the deepest parts of your envy. From your roommate's perfectly made bed to the two desks that sat beneath your window, not a thing was out of place.
And yet there you were. An epicenter of chaos.
Fearing for your own sanity, you wracked your brain for a temporary fix for your problems.
Should you cast a sleeping spell on yourself? No, that wouldn’t do. It would allow your body to recuperate, sure, but you’d also be trapped in your deepest dreams of Yoohyeon with no way out. There was no way of telling how that would end.
Your next idea was to prepare a potion to combat your symptoms, but deep down you knew that you were incapable of producing one strong enough to do the trick. The spell was simply too powerful, and given your state, you were just too weak. Thinking clearly and rationally had long ago gone out the window, after all, and the very lines between reality and fiction were blurred irreparably.
So, back to the drawing board you went. You ruminated, searching each and every corner of your mind for an avenue of assistance. Thankfully, before long, the universe graced you with a glorious eureka moment.
A cold shower! You brightened as the solution crossed your mind.
That would do the trick, you promised yourself, as you hastily entered the bathroom. You stripped and set the water just shy of hypothermia-inducing temperatures.
When you stepped in, your initial reaction was to evade the stream of frigid water that bore down unsympathetically. But as you eased yourself into it, you discovered how welcome the feeling was. The droplets combatted the pervasive heat, and you finally felt capable of taking in a breath.
You cherished the sensation for a while by running your hands up and down your body and turning to face the shower head. When you were satisfied, you reached for your shampoo to begin your routine.
Everything went smoothly until you began to wash your body.
You had just applied a generous amount of soap onto your loofah and began to work it into the textured material when it slipped from your hands.
“You have got to be kidding me,” you lamented.
Soapy water cascaded down your body as you bent at the waist to retrieve it; once it grazed your fingertips, you were quick to grab it.
Before you could upright yourself again, a dominant hand pressed to your back, keeping you bent over. You reached out to steady yourself on the wall as a pair of bare hips brushed against your ass, rutting subtly.
"Why do you keep fighting your feelings, Y/N? I can make you feel so good, if you'll just let me."
Your eyes fluttered closed at the familiar voice. It dripped with a confidence strong enough to ruin you.
The warmth that radiated from her stood in stark contrast with the chilly water beating down on you. It felt too good for words.
Yoohyeon’s hands tracked their way to your hips, paying no mind to how crazy they drove you. She eased you further back against herself as she teasingly rutted again. A smirk tugged at her lips when she felt how wet you already were.
"Stop," you weakly said.
But she didn't.
Her right hand simply dropped lower, and her fingertips circled your clit in response.
Obscenities fell from her lips as you shuddered beneath her. She was bringing your body to life in such a wonderfully cruel way.
"Say it with a little more conviction if you really want me to," she instructed, as she raised you up into a standing position again. Her naked body was flush against yours in an instant, clouding your judgement.
She kissed your neck gently, allowing the action to be a full 180 from everything else she was subjecting you to. It was her version of a peace offering, as her hand still worked between your aching thighs.
A little treat to soothe your insatiability.
"Please,” you begged. Had you had the energy to care, you might’ve been embarrassed at how pitiful you sounded.
"Alright, my love."
When you opened your eyes again, you were alone. Every trace of her had vanished, just the same as the water swirling down the drain.
You used the wall to steady yourself again, feeling humiliated. Your legs were untrustworthy.
–
Yubin & Yoohyeon’s Dorm
The two skilled witches stood side by side, reading from the same page of Yubin’s spellbook. The latter pulled on the adjustable arm of her desk lamp, bringing it closer until it hovered over the words and showered the annotations and sketches in warm light.
They had been going back and forth for the past few minutes on whether or not her initial prediction was correct.
Yoohyeon’s arms were crossed at her chest, and the look on her face screamed skepticism.
“Look,” Yubin pointed at one of the formulas. “It had to have been a cross between the Amore variant and a spell of temptation.” She reasoned. “You were thinking about her right before you cast it, right?”
The younger girl already knew the answer, but she wanted to check all of the boxes.
Yoohyeon bit the inside of her cheek, becoming a little flustered. She felt called out. “Yes.”
The look in Yubin’s eye softened. When Yoohyeon had first started catching feelings for you – those incessant, fluttering butterflies that were annoyingly endearing – Yubin was the first and only person she told. She’d watched her pine for months on end, and that’s precisely why she encouraged her to practice the spell in the first place.
But had she known that this would happen, she never would’ve pushed her to.
“I figured.” She nodded lightly. “That’s why I’m so certain I’m right.”
Yoohyeon sighed, though she kept the noise to herself as best she could. She didn't want to believe it.
“There’s no reasonable explanation for why her reaction was so strong. Corrupted variant or not.”
Yubin pondered for a moment. Her pencil twirled in her hand, and she rhythmically tapped its eraser against the surface of her desk as her mind worked its magic.
“Are you sure she doesn’t like you back? Even budding feelings can heighten the effects of these spells under the right circumstances.”
Her gaze fell to the floor, and her head shook, just a little. “I don't know."
You'd always acted so different around her than everybody else. She could never properly read you.
A frown formed on Yubin’s lips, full of pity. She had to be mistaken; any sane person would be head over heels for her.
“Well, there’s still good news,” she mitigated, looking at the bright side of things. “The antidote for this won’t harm her even if the enchantment she’s under really is a different one. Either it stops her symptoms or it does nothing at all.”
“That’s comforting.”
Yubin nodded. She drew in a deep breath and raised her head towards the work station of their room. It was complete with a cauldron, beakers, tools, and every ingredient that they would need. Thankfully the antidote didn’t require any outlandish or rare components.
“If we work together, we can have it done before the end of the night.”
Yoohyeon’s lips pursed briefly in thought as she set her jaw. Her determination was as strong as ever.
“Then let’s get started.”
–
Your Dorm
At some point between your disastrous shower and less-than-dignified retreat to bed, the raging storms outside had ceased. The skies were clearer than before, although the velvet cover of night was ridding them of any and all remaining daylight. Stars were picking up their twinkling again, and the moon was poised high above everything else.
A wet washcloth was folded across your eyes to ensure that your body temperature didn’t exceed an acceptable limit. It eased your headache some, too, although it wasn’t enough to put you out of your misery entirely.
Every fiber of your being still hummed and your stomach was full of butterflies. Your chest tingled, taunting you. The constant, neverending urge to writhe and squirm was challenging to hold at bay. Your body begged for friction – for release – but no matter what, nothing was ever enough.
The inseam of your shorts teased your sensitive bud with every hopeless sway of your hips. The material of your shirt ghosted across your skin, flitting over the peaks of your breasts that begged for attention.
Every added sensation left you breathless, but it failed to push you over the edge.
You whined and flattened the cloth out across your entire face, praying that the cold material would be enough to offer a short reprieve.
The scent of Yoohyeon’s perfume permeated the air, almost as if she was really there. You'd never experienced such a visceral sense of neediness before in your life. You'd wanted things, sure – lusted after them, even, and with conviction – but nothing compared to this.
The version of her that resided in your mind commanded your psyche in a torturously beautiful way. It was exhausting, to say the least, and oh so humiliating. But something about being so wholly at her mercy did things to you. And for some twisted reason, your mind decided to use that against you, over and over.
She returned in waves.
Any hope of release was continuously pushed farther with every visit she paid; she dangled it proudly, like a prize, just out of reach.
Like an unbeatable race, she extended the finish line mere seconds before you reached it. A never ending saga, trapping you between the Heaven and Hell that the spell crafted into existence.
If you were the powder, she was the fuse. And oh, how brightly you burned.
—
Later, Across Campus
Yoohyeon did her best to tread lightly, but the faint clicking of her shoes still echoed out across the expansive corridors of the academy. They were void of activity, given the late hour, and she appreciated that. With no interruptions or distractions, she could make it to you faster.
Her conscience had been twisting itself into knots relentlessly for the better part of the evening anytime she stopped to imagine what you must’ve been going through. Tall tales and readings were the only means by which she had attained any information on the side effects of such a spell, and none of them eased her mind in the slightest. She was worried sick, and the only thing capable of consoling her was seeing you alright again.
The crystal bottle of antidote was cradled in her hands, shimmering with a slight green hue.
She passed by more arching windows, finding streaky stains marring their typically spotless surfaces. The rain may have stopped, but it left traces like that everywhere, ensuring it wasn’t forgotten. Puddles of stagnant water reflected moonbeams all across the yard, pooling in various sizes.
She felt bad for the groundskeepers that would be tasked with prettying it up in the morning.
The towering ceilings of the grand hall greeted her as she stealthily continued on her journey. They loomed high above, keeping watch.
She remained vigilant to avoid getting caught by any passing faculty or patrolling guards there. It was past curfew, which meant they’d be more apt to question her if she got caught without a valid excuse for being away from her dorm.
So she made a promise to do whatever it took to remain inconspicuous. If the need presented itself, she was prepared to cast a spell of invisibility; the simple words of the incantation remained on standby, resting on the tip of her tongue.
For you, she was set on making things right, no matter what it took.
—-
Your Dorm
A knocking resounded from the door, causing you to peek at the time on your phone. A couple of hours had passed since your conversation with your roommate, so you’d been expecting her to arrive any moment. You knew her arms would be full of both your and her own belongings, and so you dragged yourself out of bed to assist her.
The steps you took were weary and a bit unstable, but you disregarded all of that. You swung the door open and leaned against it, grateful for its sturdiness.
When you made eye contact with the bane of your existence instead of your roommate, your shoulders sank defeatedly. She had the nerve to smile at you, acting as though she hadn't been encouraging your demise all evening.
You paused and drew in a deep breath, fed up. This was getting ridiculous.
What did you have to do to put an end to it all? Would giving into the fantasy stop it?
She looked you up and down, studying the state you were in. When she noticed how mussed your clothes were and how ruinous you looked – completely and utterly fucked out – an expression of pity naturally pulled at her features.
You mistook it as teasing arrogance.
“Fuck it,” you muttered. Your exasperated voice was harsh against the quiet that had fallen over the academy.
Yoohyeon’s eyes went wide as you put a hand on the back of her neck and pulled her in close, all in one swift movement. Before she could even get a sound out, your lips were on hers and kissing her like your life depended on it.
A vibrant, crimson blush sprawled its way across her cheeks and neck, even reaching the top of her ears as you unabashedly gave into your desire. The hallway was empty, but even still… did you have no shame? No fear of being caught?
She found her answer when your hand trekked down to the hem of her shirt and lifted it, revealing her toned stomach. Instead of using your words to admire it, your fingertips took their place; they caressed the sculpted lines and curves there, offering their own kind of praise.
Her back arched involuntarily, searching for more of your touch.
She pulled her lips away from yours and turned her head, shying away as she attempted to catch her breath. Your free arm came to encircle her waist, and your head ducked down to her neck to kiss there instead.
She sighed softly and allowed you to have your way with her.
“Y-Y/N, what are you doing?” Her voice was airy, and she fought every urge imaginable to keep from moaning when your tongue swirled over her pulsepoint.
“Don’t play dumb now,” you said. “I’m just finishing what you’ve started.”
Her fingers gripped the material of your shirt at your shoulders in an effort to ground herself. She trembled, unable to process everything she was feeling.
She tried to remind herself that you were simply at the mercy of the spell – that you wouldn't be doing any of this without its compulsion.
But having you on her in such a way made it easy to forget that.
Your teeth grazed her sensitive skin, pulling a pretty whimper from her. Her eyes nearly rolled back at the rush of warmth it sent to her core.
“I don’t know what you mean,” she struggled out.
You halted your movements long enough to pull back slightly and look into her eyes. When you did, you were mortified.
This Yoohyeon wasn’t the one from your fever dreams at all.
No; this Yoohyeon – the real Yoohyeon – was peering back at you with a dazed look in her innocent eyes. Her pupils were blown wide, and her lips were kiss-bitten and red. Her chest rose and fell quicker than normal, and you could feel how rapid her heart rate was from how close you still stood.
Perhaps you had gotten a little ahead of yourself…
You detached yourself and stumbled backwards at once, embarrassingly bumping your head into the door. You reached up to rub the pain away and avoided meeting her eye again, wishing the ground would swallow you up and save you from such a humiliating fate.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to–”
“It’s alright. I know what you’re dealing with,” she soothed, with labored breathing.
Your head raised at that. How could she possibly know?
“Yubin and I finished a potion for you,” she informed, ensuring that the coast was clear as her hands reached into her pocket to retrieve it. It shimmered in the light of the hall when she held it up for you to see.
“It should get you back to normal in no time.”
“Thank you,” you said, beaming with gratitude. “...so much,” you added.
A deep look of contemplation showed on her face; she was clearly debating on something. What it was, you had no idea. But the only thing on your mind was getting a taste of that enchantment.
Fate had other plans, it seemed.
When you went to take it from her, she pulled it away. Your brows furrowed in an instant, riddled with confusion.
But her explanation didn’t come in words. Instead, she reached behind you and pushed the door open wide before shoving you inside. You almost tripped over your own feet; but she tugged you by the shirt and pressed you into the door, ensuring that it shut fully behind you. Her fingers locked it as she quickly kissed you again.
“Yooh, what–” you mumbled against her lips.
“Shhh,” she pacified. “Let me help.”
The parallel between your first fantasy and the current moment threw you for a loop. Those words – the exact ones you’d heard before – were a million times more effective now, as she kissed you. What felt real in that fantasy paled in comparison to having her like this now, molding herself to you and chasing her own pleasure alongside you.
She really was a dream come true.
“Here,” she offered, as she pulled away just enough to pop the cork out of the potion’s bottle. The liquid made quiet glug glug sounds as she took it all into her mouth, completely upturning the glass. You watched in awe as it disappeared in shimmery ripples.
She beckoned you closer with a simple touch, and you understood then what she had planned. Carefully, you pressed your lips to hers and lowered yourself down, allowing the antidote to flow freely from her mouth to your own. You swallowed it eagerly, pulling her soft body flush against yours to ensure that you received every last drop.
You used your tongue to greedily lap up what remained on her lips and in her mouth, and she moaned deeply at the sensation. Her blush had returned, too, and in full bloom – but that was the last thing on her mind.
“Fuck, you taste so good,” you breathed. Your voice was huskier than usual, and full of awe.
Her thighs pressed together instinctually as she let out a broken whine. Your simple praise, so raw and undeniable, made her grow even hotter than she already was.
The magic in the antidote was quickly taking the edge off of the misery that you had been in and enabling your natural desire and passion to come through. Power was finally returning to you, placing your fate in your own hands once again.
Part of Yoohyeon was still holding out in the chance that you would come to your senses in a rush and push her away, rejecting her.
But that never happened. If anything, the opposite did. And precisely because of that, every resulting movement of your body against hers – so wanton and needy – made her realize just how wrong she had been before.
Even in the absence of the spell's compulsion, you yearned for her. She could feel it all; each impatient touch sold you out a little more.
Clearly the attraction was a mutual thing… So why had you hidden it away until now? Had you really doubted how much she longed for you, too? Your oblivion truly knew no bounds.
But, in the end, it simply made her all the more determined to prove just how badly she needed you. Then and always.
“Don’t stop,” she pleaded, when your hands began to roam her body in time with your kisses. “I want this, Y/N,” she whimpered, feeling you hike her skirt up to her waist in one fluid motion.
“Me, too, jagi.” You assured her, pulling her ruined panties to the side just as she slipped her tongue into your mouth again. Your fingers slid easily between her folds, discovering just how wet she was for you already.
Her uneven breaths fanned out across your skin in response, warming every bit of it that they touched. This time, that heat was a welcome feeling.
“Take me to bed,” she mewled weakly. Her hair cascaded over her shoulders, messy with want.
She wrapped her legs around your waist when you obediently hoisted her up into your arms; you carried her over and laid her down, pressing her down into the soft comforter with your body. She tugged impatiently on the bottom of your shirt until you decided to appease her and take it off.
With your upper half now clad only in your bra, she openly ogled you. Somehow, her shyness had disappeared along the way.
“I want you to show me everything we did in those fantasies of yours, okay?”
You nodded dutifully, allowing her to soak in the sight of you a little longer.
“We’re only stopping once we’ve done it all.”
A shiver ran up your spine at her assuredness. Could she get any more perfect? This side of her was sparking up your imagination equally as well as the spell had.
Perhaps she herself could count as an enchantment. Surely a drug, if nothing else.
You hovered above her again the second she beckoned you closer, and ghosted your lips across her rosy ones. They chased after yours, falling for your tricks every time you pulled away at the last second. It was only fair to give her a taste of what you’d spent the day going through, after all.
But she wasn’t in the mood for your games. She wasted no time in rolling over and pinning you to the bed instead, with her hands pressing yours into the mattress above your head. Your fingers intertwined when she reconnected your lips, picking right back up where you left off.
Now that your shorts had ridden up and exposed more of your legs, she took advantage of the opportunity that presented itself. Her thighs came to straddle one of your own, and she eagerly lowered herself down to brush her bare pussy against it. Your brain short circuited initially, unaccustomed to such a feeling in the world of the conscious; but the sensual roll of her hips and the moans that slipped out of her grounded you.
Her slick dripped down the sides of your thigh as she began to work herself up more and more, using your body like a plaything. You flexed your leg beneath her in time with her rutting, wanting to watch her come undone above you.
Her appreciative whines resounded around your room, filling the space with their beautiful sounds. As her sensitivity became more apparent, the noises she made grew higher in pitch. They were precious displays intended solely for you to hear; each one a little breathier than the last as she chased her high more freely.
And, lacking any sense of hesitation anymore, you offered yourself readily. In any way she wanted you, you were hers.
The corners of her lips tweaked up into a smirk when you fully submitted beneath her. The tension in your muscles dissipated, and your strain subsided. Your hands no longer squirmed underneath hers; they gave up their fruitless pursuit of freedom.
You surrendered yourself to her, prepared to lose control once and for all. Now, the elusive release that you’d been searching for was promised. No more tricks.
“Are you ready, jagi?” She asked, trailing her lips down your jawline. They lazily painted your skin with a few marks, taking their time. She reveled in the feel of your embrace and the reactions that you had such trouble containing.
Everything about her was full of restrained desire and tension as she waited on your answer. Controlling herself was always hard when it came to you.
Then and always.
“Yes.” You whispered, as the last remnants of her spell faded completely from your system.
Now, she had you entirely at her mercy. Un-bewitched, maybe, but more enamored than ever.
-- Bonus --
A Considerable Amount Of Time Later
The sound of Yoohyeon’s phone ringing disrupted the post-sex haze that you had found yourselves in, and she rushed out a slew of apologies as she begrudgingly untangled herself from you. She pressed a long kiss to your lips before getting out of bed, and her shaky legs nearly buckled completely when she first used them.
You fought hard to hold back your laughter as she searched through her discarded clothes on the floor for the phone, aided only by what bits of moonlight flitted in through the window.
She stumbled to the bathroom after finally locating it, as clumsy as ever. The darkness didn’t help anything either, but she eventually managed to make it there without breaking anything.
“What, Yubin?” She whispered, a little harsher than intended, once the door was closed.
“Hello to you, too, sunshine,” Yubin mocked.
Deciding to check your phone as well, you blindly reached out towards the bedside table for it. Once its smooth, chilly screen made contact with your fingertips, you snatched it up.
You kept an eye shut as you unlocked it to prevent yourself from going completely blind. An unread message pulsated, asking to be clicked on.
-- Y/Roomie’s/N --
Cramming late tonight with my study group. I think I’ll just crash at their dorm. Lmk if you want me to run your things over!
Huh. Somewhere along the way, you had completely forgotten about your roommate. Oops…
But knowing that you had the night to yourself – that it was free to share with Yoohyeon – made you inexplicably giddy. You smiled and put your phone down again before returning to your initial position. A content sigh left you as you nuzzled further into your blanket.
Despite Yooh’s very obvious effort to keep her conversation inaudible, the opposite occurred. And although her voice was hushed, it wasn’t hard for you to make out everything she was saying.
“How did it go? Did you ask her to–” Yubin asked curiously, before being cut off.
“No, I haven’t asked her to Formal yet. We got a little… sidetracked.”
You smiled against your pillow at that. So she wanted to take you, huh?
“I’ll ask her when I ask her,” she resolved, attempting to quiet her best friend’s nagging. All she wanted was to be back at your side. “And I’ll tell you about everything later.”
“I’m counting on that, Yooh. I want to know if my potion worked,” she pouted a little, despite the fact that Yoohyeon couldn’t see it.
“Patience,” was all the older witch said before she abruptly hung the call up without another thought.
Yubin muttered an annoyed “Aigoo” to herself, all tucked away in bed. She took a sip of her tea and picked her book back up, ready to wind down by reading until she fell asleep.
Yoohyeon emerged from the bathroom to find you still on your side, just as she left you. The curve of your face looked so pretty that she took a second to simply admire you. You were more beautiful to her than words could ever describe.
She climbed back in beside you and pulled the covers over herself before snuggling up. She cuddled close and leaned up enough to press a sweet kiss to your neck, right above one of the darker marks that she had left earlier.
“You’ll have to help me find something to wear for Formal,” you uttered, no longer feigning sleep.
She jumped a little, not expecting your voice to suddenly break the quiet. When she recovered, she laughed lightly. Such a pleasant sound.
Her arm draped across your side when you shifted further back against her. It provided comfort and security in a beautiful way.
“You heard that?”
"Mhm," you lazily mumbled, covering her hand with your own. It came to rest against your stomach.
"I'm kind of glad you did."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah," she smiled against your back. You could feel it through your shirt. "I've been wanting to ask you for a few weeks now."
"No way."
"Yes way. You know, you've had me hooked since our first project in alchemy."
Your brows furrowed briefly as you worked to recollect it.
"When I singed half of my eyebrow off?"
"Ding ding ding. How could I have resisted?" She teased, pretending to swoon.
You clicked your tongue and moved to jokingly push her away, but she simply laughed and wrapped herself around you before you could.
Her giggles bubbled up within her chest, allowing you to feel just how happy she was as her body shook against yours. You knew you could never get tired of that sound – not in a million years.
"Yah," you said fondly, no longer fighting the smile on your lips. "You're lucky you're cute."
The hint of warning in your voice, paired with the compliment, only made her grin harder.
"I know."
Perhaps this year, for once, Brighton Academy found a way to turn things around after all.
Yoohyeon – and a little bit of happenstance – were just what it needed.
In Your Dreams
Pairing: Yoohyeon x Fem!Reader
Warnings / Misc. -- Smut
Word Count: 2,273
Summary: When a 2AM knock came at your door during one of the season’s most torrential downpours, you never expected to find her, of all people, standing on your porch and looking so desperate.
Disclaimer: This writing is a work of fiction, and no disrespect is meant for those mentioned herein.
A/N: Hey everyone! Sorry for the wait, but here’s the Yooh smut I promised :) Siyeon is next, so keep an eye out for that <3
◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚ ▸◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚ ▸◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚ ▸◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚
“Yoohyeon?” You gaped, shock evident in your tone as you lowered the television remote in your hand (which you had been fully prepared to use as a weapon, had she been anyone else). You quickly sat it down on the table by the door and peered at her, full of concern.
Her clothes were completely sodden – every fiber of them packed full of chilly rainwater as they clung tightly to her – and you had to make a conscious effort to not stare at the expanse of skin that her partially unbuttoned shirt exposed.
The dark cover of night behind her was disrupted by the house lights of the neighborhood – all switched on, acting as little beacons of hope through the raging storm. A large flash of lightning came, too, streaking sharply against the brooding clouds above.
“What are you doing here?” Your wide eyes darted across her features, searching for an explanation, but she shied away for some reason and failed to utter more than a quiet word here or there.
When a clap of thunder rang out mere seconds later, she tensed slightly, still shivering from the cold.
You shook your head at her odd behavior but reached out, nonetheless, and pulled her inside.
Perhaps a little shelter from the elements would open her up.
Water cascaded freely off of her, dripping down onto your floors and filling your foyer with its quiet sounds as you quickly shut and locked the door. You approached her again and moved her closer to the nearby vent that blew wondrous, warm air into the open space, silently hoping that it could work some magic.
But even once you gave her time to acclimate and returned your gaze to hers, she continued to avoid it.
Curious, you took it upon yourself to reach up and cup her cheeks, coaxing her into letting you see her.
When you did, something clicked. Only then did you really take in the full sight of her.
A vibrant blush painted her cheeks, and her pupils were blown wide as she peered back at you. Beneath the mussed, white, now practically see-through button up she had on, a set of dark lingerie showed, complimenting her tanned skin beautifully. One of the lacy straps of it had long ago fallen off of her shoulder, and her breast was close to showing because of that. The lines of her abs were visible as well, and every movement she made was full of some kind of alluring, restrained tension.
Like it was killing her not to reach out and touch you.
Her bottom lip was rosy and swollen, due to her habit of biting it when she gets aroused.
“I had a dream about you,” she admitted, like she couldn’t hold it in anymore. Her breathing was a bit quicker than normal – less stable.
You were her best friend; she couldn’t believe she was about to do something like this.
Her drenched clothes, paired with the warm air that felt its way up her body, created a tantalizing mix of sensations that caused goosebumps to arise; and your hands on her only multiplied them even more. She almost couldn’t stand it.
“And you drove all the way here because of it?” You wondered aloud, quirking a brow.
Though you weren’t totally oblivious to the implication behind her words, incredulity overtook your mind and tone. Even if she had had a wet dream about you, you were sure she would just laugh it off like everything else. Like every other charged interaction you’d ever shared, that danced precariously along the border of platonicity and attraction.
There was no way she planned to do something about it.
…right?
She swallowed, taking a second to decide if she was prepared to cross this boundary with you. You’d both tested the limits of your “friendship” before, playing with fire, toying with the line and pushing things to get a rise out of one another – but neither of you had had the courage to follow through completely.
At least not until now.
Her head nodded sheepishly, sealing your fate.
“I tried to take care of it myself, Y/N/N, but nothing felt as good as you did in that dream. Will you help me?” The soft plea in her voice bordered on a whine, and it ignited something in you that you had never fully considered with her before.
Drip, drip, drip
Water pooled at your feet now, resembling the mess that you had inadvertently made in her panties.
She wanted to take you right here on the floor, or up against the wall that stood behind you. She wanted to rip your clothes off and hear the beautiful timbre of your voice as you came undone, moaning her name.
But she didn’t. She waited, doing her best to ignore the throbbing of her center and the curious way your eyes kept returning to her body, dropping lower and lower. She waited on you to make the next move, needing to know you wanted her just as badly as she did you.
“Kiss me, Yooh.”
That simple request set her in motion, and she had you in her arms in a second. The subsequent gasp that resounded in your throat at the coldness of her clothes was muffled by her lips before it really had a chance to escape.
Desperation took on human form as she backed you up against the wall, stripping out of her shirt and slipping her shoes off all the while.
You moaned into her mouth when she hastily unzipped your pants, nearly breaking your zipper in the process.
Her frigid fingers slid past your panties with no further warning, and she whimpered quietly when she felt how wet you already were.
“Y/N…”
If there was any chance left of her restraining herself, it would have to be now. She was teetering on the edge of no control, and each second that she spent with you loosened her grip on the reins more and more.
“Keep going,” you breathily instructed, allowing your head to loll back against the wall. “I’m all yours.”
She shuddered, both out of excitement and chill. A new kind of darkness eclipsed the usual innocence of your eyes, and she didn’t quite know what to do with herself because of it.
“Please tell me this is real…”
You chuckled at her earnesty. Even now, in a moment like this, she was capable of making you laugh.
When you leaned forward and pressed an open mouthed kiss to her neck, she melted into you. You reached down into her pants to cup her with one hand, feeling the warmth that radiated from her cunt even through the lingerie, while the other wrapped around her, tenderly kneading the supple skin of her ass.
She rocked against you out of instinct, vying for any bit of relief you would possibly award her; the needy movements pushed her own palm harder against your clit, causing you to moan softly.
Her heart skipped a beat at the sound.
“Does this feel real enough, baby?” You asked against her pulsepoint, just as your teeth lightly trailed across her sensitive skin. The taut muscles of her neck jumped as she strained helplessly in response.
“Fuck,” she whined, embarrassed by how much of a mess you’d turned her into. She could feel your smile grow, and it made her walls pitifully flutter and clench around nothing.
“I know you can answer me better than that,” you teased.
You pushed her lace to the side and easily slid two fingers inside of her dripping heat, resolving to get your answer that way instead.
“Ah!” She moaned at the intrusion, high pitched and broken as she was caught off guard. She looked down between your bodies, watching your fingers rhythmically disappear and reappear at her entrance as you fucked her. A new rise of blush made its way up to her ears at the sounds that she produced – none of which she had any semblance of control over.
“Yoohyeon…” you warned, still waiting.
“Yes, Y/N,” she replied, aware of her mistake – though, truthfully, she would make it again a million times over if it got you to touch her like this every time. “It feels so good. Please,” she stressed, fully aware that she wouldn’t survive if you left her without release now, “...don’t stop.”
Her wish was your command.
Encouraged by her words, you hiked one of her legs up around your waist and settled closer to her. The new position enabled you to easily reach her g-spot, and her resulting, guttural moan confirmed it.
You wasted no time in exploiting that in the best possible kind of way.
The ache between her thighs mingled with pleasure, both in equal, overwhelming doses. A tingling sensation was creeping its way up her spine, and the butterflies in her stomach only grew more untamed.
“Just like that, jagiya,” she begged into your ear.
Her hips stuttered, jerking messily as she bucked into you over and over.
“You’re doing so good, baby,” you praised, admiring the flush of her skin and the way she trembled in your arms. Her weak legs squirmed, shaking as she used what strength she had left to hump a little faster.
You added another finger as a silent way of rewarding her, and the resulting rush of warmth you felt around them made you smile. Her walls pulsed, eagerly stretching to accommodate the change, and beckoned you back inside with every pump you delivered.
Even her pussy was greedy for you.
Both of her hands went to the back of your neck as she pulled you forward and sealed her lips against yours in the dark. She didn’t waste much time with demurity; her kisses were messy and full of need as she tangled her fingers in your hair and roughly tugged on it.
She swallowed up the subsequent sound of shock that you let out and used the opportunity to slip her tongue into your mouth.
It was warm and inviting, just like the rest of her – so eager to please you. She stole your breath away when her kisses grew harsher – more possessive; the tell-tale clenching of her walls around your fingers told you she was getting dangerously close to release, and the small, staccato breaths she let out through her nose made you smile lightly.
She was so precious, like that. Such a slut for you that she drove all the way to your house in the pouring rain at 2AM, and yet she still clung to her habitual shyness in a few small, undeniable ways.
Knowing that she had it so bad for you boosted your ego majorly.
Lightning flashed close by outside, and the bright pulse of it highlighted your combined, desperate movements against one another. She pressed further into you, and you knew she couldn't hold out any longer.
Her pitiful shaking brought out the more merciful side of you.
“Show me what you can do, Yooh. Cum on my fingers,” you commanded, pulling away just enough to rest your forehead against hers. Her arms tightened around your neck, tethering you impossibly closer.
The snap of her hips grew messy and rough – more primal as they worked to match the rhythm of your hand – and with a succession of filthy moans and whines, she hit her high. Her raised leg tightened around your waist, flexing to keep you in place. She cried your name out and clung to you, digging her nails into your shoulders hard enough to leave marks.
You grimaced at the sting, but knowing you’d been the one to make her feel so good made the pain insignificant.
She buried her face in your neck, peppering slow, grateful kisses there, and you held her close until her breathing began to even out again.
When she eventually pulled away, you expected her to take a break. You gently lowered her leg and smiled at her, prepared to help her over to the couch so she could recover.
But her release merely seemed to reenergize her, somehow, and she had no plans of stopping anytime soon.
She dropped to her knees in front of you and slid your pants down your legs in one motion, taking you by surprise.
“It’s your turn now, baby,” she smirked up at you, tilting her head as a mischievous gleam showed in her eyes. Yet another flash of lightning came, outlining her striking features amid the darkness; she was a vision to behold in every way.
Her lips easily found your v-line and felt their way across it, leaving kisses and little nips in their wake. Your head lolled back again as the promise of what was to come sank in.
Along the backs of your calves her hands skimmed, trailing upwards and paying attention to every inch of you that they could touch. Desire led them – a fact evident in the wanton way they groped you.
“God, I can’t wait to taste you.” She sighed the admission against your skin as if she’d been starved for a year and you were the first bit of food she had laid eyes on since.
The conviction in her behavior made you blush, wondering how you’d ever survive whatever it was that she had in store.
How you'd managed to survive so long without it stumped you just as much.
Your body hummed in silent, aching anticipation. Like a band pulled tight, ready to snap at any moment.
It seemed to set something off within her.
“You’d better choose a safe word now, Y/N,” she warned.
Dreamcatcher Reaction To Having A Really Affectionate S/O
Pairing: Dreamcatcher x GN!Reader
Requested By Anon: "hii can i request dreamcatcher reacting to having a really affectionate s/o (their love language is physical touch)?"
A/N: Hello hello, my lovely readers! I'm back again with some Dreamcatcher fluff, just for you. I hope you like all of these! Don't forget to like, comment, and reblog; it keeps me motivated :)
Info: Each member has a reaction, a story snippet / oneshot, and their love languages ranked. It's loooong, so enjoy!
Jiu
Adores it. She’s mentioned before that she feels the safest when she’s in your arms, so it’s really a no-brainer that she’s happiest whenever you’re loving on her
Just as much as she loves to take care of you and the girls, she secretly loves to get taken care of, too
Especially by you
You just know all the right ways to hold her and help her relax. Your back rubs are elite, according to her. She lowkey thinks you were a professional masseuse in your past life
You’re her personal heater
And pillow
On particularly rough days, she’ll just fall into your waiting arms and let you work your magic. She vents about her stressors, gradually releasing all of the pent-up tension that she’d been unable to get rid of on her own, until her complaints eventually subside and dissolve into quiet, sulky mumbles as she teeters on the edge of sleep
When you see her so cuddly and relaxed like that, you just…*heart clutch*
Likewise, Jiu regards you with those exact same, astronomically high levels of adoration
You’re literally the most precious and pure thing in the world to her. When you peer up at her with those bright eyes of yours, so starry and full of love for her, she always ends up blushing. She wants to protect you and your cuteness from the world
“My sweet Y/N… what did I ever do to deserve you?”
Without even trying, the two of you naturally gravitate towards one another whenever you’re together. You never have to ask for her attention or affection because she gives it just as readily as you do
When you’re out in public, she never lets you stray too far from her. Both because she’ll inevitably be holding some article of clothing up to you to see if it would fit, or pointing some piece of nature out to you, or discussing what you should grab for lunch….and also because she just wants you nearby.
Though she doesn’t mind admiring the view she gets when you walk away, too ;)
She loves to play with your hands while you cuddle, and she also loves when you put your head in her lap
She sings to you
Whenever her schedule gets busy or the girls go on tour, she leaves some of her hoodies behind for you and makes sure to spray her perfume on them. She also presets a weekly reminder in your phone to display a sweet message for you, aware that you’ll be missing her a lot. She programs it to sound off around the time you typically wake up in the mornings because she wants it to be the first thing you see. If she can’t be there with you physically, she’ll gladly do that to make up for it
Video calls whenever you’re apart. She doesn’t feel fully at ease unless she knows you’re safe and happy
Seeing you never fails to brighten her day
Overall just a total ball of sunshine who is super super soft for you
Story Snippet
7:32 PM
About an hour and a half had passed since your last check-in on her, and you decided it was time to peek in again.
Quietly, so as to not disturb the rare bout of calmness that had befallen the dorm, you approached her bedroom door and turned the knob, opening it gently. A sliver of light from the hall rushed in, cutting through the relative dark.
Her bedside lamp was still on – dimmed to the lowest setting, just like you left it before. The bottle of water on her nightstand was a little closer to being empty than you remember, and the headache pills you had set out were gone.
Your eyes tracked over to her soft form on the bed, finding her tucked in but awake. A sleepy, exhausted smile showed on her face when she realized it was you at the door, just barely visible in the low light. Like always, though, it had a way of shining and brightening up everything around her.
Even when she was feeling under the weather, she couldn’t help but be radiant.
“Hi, baby,” her gentle voice greeted, sounding a bit strained.
The overexertion that she'd subjected herself to over the past few days was rearing its ugly head.
“Hi, my love.” You smiled pitifully, stepping inside. You shut the door behind yourself and approached the bed, standing at the foot of it. “How are you feeling now?”
“Drained,” she admitted. “I’m still tired; I haven’t been able to wind down.”
You nodded. “You’ve worked hard this week, so that makes sense. Can I get you anything to help?”
“Yeah, actually.” She pepped up the slightest bit.
“Name it and it’s yours.”
A grin pulled at her lips of the irony of that.
“You,” she answered. “Come here, I want to hold you.”
She opened the fluffy covers and waved you in, patting the space next to her. The smile on your face widened shyly at that, but you didn’t hesitate to do as she asked. You climbed in and settled close to her, letting her arms wind around you in the special way they always do.
Her lips pressed to yours, once… twice… three times, before she regained control of herself and opted to keep things PG. It was a bit difficult, with how soft and warm you were, sliding up against her and oh so tempting, but her better judgment managed to prevail in the end.
“I’ve been worried about you today,” you confessed, the words slightly mumbled as your cheek pressed to her chest, “...and I’ve missed you.”
You pouted, and she could feel it. Though she couldn’t see it, she knew it looked adorable.
“I’ve missed you, too, baby,” she chuckled quietly, easing your worries a little in the process. “The bed feels so empty without you in it… I think that’s why I haven't been able to rest very well.”
You melted at her words, feeling so loved. How did she always manage to do that so easily?
“You mean it?”
She nodded, running one of her hands down your back as she scooted a little closer to you. “Absolutely, I do. So you’re not allowed to leave, okay? No slipping away.”
“Okay. I promise,” you assured her.
You smiled when she released a sigh and relaxed into you, letting herself succumb to the exhaustion she felt. She knew you’d keep an eye on her – that she was safe and cared for – and that seemed to be the missing puzzle piece for her.
After just a couple of minutes of being in your presence, she was finally able to fully wind down; you felt it in the way that her breathing evened out and the tension in her muscles dissipated.
The throbbing of her head mellowed, no longer unbearable. You were comfortable and easy to melt into, serving as the perfect distraction from the pain. With every gentle kiss you pressed to her skin and every pass your fingers made through her hair, she took another step towards the edge of sleep.
A little later, as you went to ask her if the pills had helped any, you were halted by the sound of her soft snores. They filled the air of the bedroom around you, making it impossible to hide your grin.
So precious.
Her “Giving” Love Languages Ranked:
1.) Physical Touch
2.) Quality Time
3.) Acts of Service
4.) Words of Affirmation
5.) Gifts
Honestly she's pretty much the human embodiment of all five of them put together. She will quite literally do anything to make you happy. Always, always, always watching out for you.
◤─────•~❉᯽❉~•─────◥
Sua
LOVES IT, ARE YOU KIDDING??
She never gets tired of your touch, and she really enjoys being with someone as clingy as she is
When you both get excited about something, it gets so loud and wild
High pitched laughing, yelling, jumping around, squealing… the whole nine yards
On the rare occasion that she’s busy doing something and not actively seeking affection or already clinging to you, you’ll initiate things. It goes straight to her head and she doesn’t shut up about it for the rest of the day. Gloats and brags about how cute and cuddly you are for her
But it also tends to make her blushy and flustered, and you're the only person capable of doing that.
She says you’re the only one who really understands her and her ways of showing love
Although she hides it well, sometimes she’s afraid that she does too much and annoys other people with her affection. But you’re always there to reassure her of the opposite (because you’re just like her)
Squishes your cheeks a lot and gushes about how cute you are
She protects you and your cuteness with her life.
If anyone ever brushes you off or rejects your affection, she'll sweep you up in her arms and hold you close while yelling at them for it
Sometimes she'll literally just lay on you. She's a firm believer that being "too close" is simply impossible
Plays with your hair when you're cuddling
When you’re walking together she usually slips a hand into your back pocket and keeps it there because she loves your ass so much
She loves it when you show affection in public, whether that’s by holding her close, pressing sweet kisses to her lips, holding hands, etc. Knowing that you’re proud of your love for her and you aren’t afraid to own it or show it makes her happy
She also really enjoys it when you show her off
Play fighting is basically a daily occurrence for you. She chooses violence at least once a day
Despite the fact that she can be super aggressive and loud with her affection, she’s also equally as soft for you
Like when you’re all snuggled up in bed and waiting on her, she’ll just admire you from the doorway and smile to herself
Morning cuddles are a must for her. She never wants to get up when you’re at her side because you’re just so soft and warm and holding you is so comforting
She loves the way the two of you fit together
You’re her assistant chef whenever she cooks for everyone. She trusts you to try all of her creations and help her fix everything
That also definitely includes back hugs and a few kiss breaks because the sight of you in an apron drives her a little crazy
“Can you be on my menu tonight?” *wiggles eyebrows*
You’ve always made her feel safe, and she’s never afraid to be herself around you. You appreciate and accept all of her – every insecurity and perfect imperfection included
Story Snippet
The day’s taping of Show Champion was coming to an end as you snuck your way into the girls’ dressing room, aided by one of the backstage workers that was privy to your plans. She helped you hide within one of the closets and wished you luck before leaving just as inconspicuously as she had arrived.
-
10 Minutes Later
You nearly cracked your head on the back wall when the seven of them burst into the room, loudly conversing and joking with one another. The stems of the flowers in your hand squeaked together quietly, almost as a silent plea for release as you unconsciously tightened your hold on them.
From what sliver of the room you could see through the doors, all of the girls still had wide smiles on their faces. They were exhausted, sure, but happy and content with how the evening was going.
Well, all but one.
Garbled bits and pieces of their conversations made their way over to you as you watched Sua sit down at one of the mirrored stations, putting some distance between herself and the other girls. She took out her phone and began scrolling soon after, most likely as a means of distraction.
Your heart ached a little at the sight. You knew she was feeling down – the girls had told you as much, through texts – but seeing it happen right in front of you made it all the more real.
For the past week and a half, your busy schedules had combined to form the most awful amalgamation of missed opportunities; anytime one of you happened to be free, even for a short while, the other was booked for some important task that was incapable of being canceled or otherwise wormed out of.
All of the girls had missed you, but Sua was the one most affected by your absence – and everyone knew it.
Her spirits had been low, and her normal vibrancy was diminished; it was strange, frankly – a little dystopian – for her to be so unlike herself. The girls depended on her chaotic energy to keep things running smoothly; their dynamic was simply thrown off without it.
But Sua couldn’t even find it in herself to bother entertaining their banter, let alone join in. She didn’t have it in her to keep up with them today.
Although the sight of her so dejected was upsetting, it made a small smile show on your lips; you would be able to cheer her up in no time, and the 180 that she would undergo would undoubtedly make all of the waiting she’d done be worth it.
You counted down silently, wanting to time your entrance perfectly.
3…2…1-
Just as your free hand went to push the door open and kick off your big reveal, your cell phone began to ring in your pocket.
You faltered, fumbling quickly to retrieve it. Sua’s contact image shined brightly, cutting through the dark around you.
The outside world went silent – everyone quickly hushing up at the sudden noise.
You shut your eyes in defeat, sliding up on the green button, while simultaneously opening the door with your foot.
“Surprise.” You said into the phone, locking eyes with her from across the room.
Silence prevailed… one beat, two…. Until the earlier chaos returned with even more spirit than before.
Shouts of your name rang out from the girls, staccato and shocked as they attempted to figure out how you had managed to get there. Sua, on the other hand, didn’t bother with that; she ran up to you, her face lighting up like an eager child’s as you emerged from the closet and turned your phone off. You slipped the device into your pocket and extended the flowers to her.
“Hi, baby,” you grinned, “I finally convinced my boss to let me have a day off, and now I’m he—”
She cut you off at once, wrapping her arms around you at the speed of light and pulling you into the tightest hug you’d ever experienced. What remained of your explanation fizzled out in an instant, knocked from your lungs right along with all the air you had left.
The bouquet fell from your hands when she picked you up and wiggled you around in the air. Your shoes slightly brushed the ground between sways, and you groaned.
“Can’t…breathe…” You struggled out, constricted as she squeezed the life out of you.
Her arms only further tightened around you in response, full of days and days worth of pent up affection with no other place to go.
“Unnie, let go!” Dami scolded, coming up to slap her shoulder. “Y/N/N isn't going anywhere.”
Mere seconds before you went fully limp in her arms, your assailant – AKA the love of your life – put you back down on your feet and took a small step back to look at you.
Glorious, glorious air returned to your lungs in a rush, and you heaved for a brief moment or two. Once your vision returned and the floating spots that had been clouding it retreated, you blinked a few times and turned your attention to Sua.
A cute pout rested on her lips. “I’m sorry, jagi,” she muttered, the words partially aegyo-fied, but the glint in her eye told you that she wasn’t all that sorry at all. “I’ve just missed you so much.”
Wordlessly, you pulled her in close and hugged her again. She could feel the happy upturn of your lips against her neck as you buried your face there, just as relieved as she was to be reunited.
“I’ve missed you, too.” You whispered to her, pressing a kiss to her pulsepoint, and then her jaw, and finally her cheek.
She blushed wildly, growing increasingly more red by the second; the girls noticed, and their exaggerated coos and whoops soon filled the dressing room. When she turned to glare at them, hoping to scare them into silence, she quickly discovered that her typical method of intimidation wasn’t going to work in bringing their teasing to an end this time.
In the name of retribution, she delivered a retaliatory shove to your shoulder instead.
“Yah! We’re finally back together and you have to go embarrassing me right off the bat?” She scolded, voice shrill. “Pabo–”
You placed your lips against hers swiftly, kissing away her anger before it could accrue anymore firepower. Your arms wrapped around her waist, tugging her flush against the front of your body.
She still attempted to mumble an annoyed protest against your lips, but when you grinned and pinched her side, she gave in and melted into your embrace, scoffing quietly.
…
Dami grimaced as she stood in front of the girls, witnessing you kiss again. Sua shamelessly pushed you up against the closet, acting as though they all weren’t a matter of steps away from the both of you.
The bouquet rested in Dami’s hands, courtesy of her earlier retrieval of it from the floor.
“Should I…”
“Just leave it,” Yoohyeon answered abruptly, sharing a similar expression.
Dami nodded and placed it down on the couch before they all backed away and made a bee-line out of the dressing room, pretending to gag.
Her “Giving” Love Languages Ranked:
1.) Physical Touch
2.) Acts of Service
3.) Quality Time
4.) Words of Affirmation
5.) Gifts
Obviously, she’s first and foremost the best at demonstrating her love physically. Like the universal master of it. But aside from that, her strong suit is taking care of you. It comes naturally, and she can almost always be found doing something to make life that much easier on you. Cooking your favorite dishes when you’re hungry, nursing you back to health when you’re sick, being your shoulder to cry on, pulling your hair up when your hands are occupied, etc.
◤─────•~❉᯽❉~•─────◥
Siyeon
Couldn’t be happier. She absolutely loooooves being close to you
She could cuddle you for hours on end
Maybe even forever
She rubs your back when she's holding you, tracing mindless patterns against your skin. Having you close is so special to her
Sings to you, sometimes coming up with new material on the fly. You’re her muse, after all, so it’s easy with you around
When things get too hectic and hard for her to deal with, you’re always by her side in a heartbeat
You can read her like a book, and she’s so grateful for that
She thanks her lucky stars on the daily for the fact that she found you in this great big world
When you seek comfort from her and retreat into the safety of her arms, she gets so protective of you. You could simply be evading the wind on a chilly day and she’ll lowkey yell at it to leave you alone while she holds you against her.
She bought you matching rings for your anniversary one year, and when she zones out she always has a habit of toying with yours and playing with your fingers.
Sometimes you all even zone out together (#CoupleGoals)
She pinches your elbow and the back of your hands a lot
When you go full koala mode and just latch onto her and refuse to let go, she gets so happy. It makes her slow down and just revel in the simplicity of your touch, appreciating every second she gets to spend with you (because your schedules don’t always align, and sometimes it can be difficult to have free time like that)
You’re basically her stress reliever. When you’re holding her, nothing else matters
And once you start cuddling, don’t expect her to let you get away without a fight. If you say you want a snack, she’s not afraid to pick you up and carry you into the kitchen just so she can be with you that much longer
“Baby, I’m not gonna drop you. I promise. Have some faith in your wolfie.”
Like Sua, she enjoys PDA. Not anything extreme, of course, but she likes it when you let people know that she’s yours and you’re hers. It helps prevent her from getting jealous (which happens sometimes, but a kiss from you usually solves that)
She’s seriously down bad for you and whipped in a major way. A single touch is powerful enough to make her weak in the knees
Our wolfie is totally *heart eyes* for you
Story Snippet
Siyeon's legs intertwined with yours as you laid down on top of her, pressing her into the couch. She tugged you in, urging you ever-closer as her warm hands settled against your hips. Her thumbs rubbed circles there, soft through the material of your shirt.
The musky scent of her perfume wafted into the air with her movements; it comforted you, putting you even more at ease. Your brain had long ago associated and equated that smell with home.
She smiled brightly, peering up at you with her dark eyes as she giggled at some random joke you had just made. You always knew just what to say to make her laugh.
"You're so beautiful, jagi," you praised, brushing a strand of hair out of her face.
"You think so?" She played, batting her lashes.
"More than you'll ever know. I'm the luckiest person alive," you mused.
The blush on her cheeks spread, becoming more prominent as it flitted its way across the bridge of her nose. She turned her head slightly to the side, briefly glancing away; she felt small beneath your gaze. You always looked at her like she was the most valuable thing in the universe; it made her shy.
"You're such a smooth talker," she groaned.
You chuckled and leaned down, kissing her cheek. Your lips trailed over to hers, ghosting softly across her flawless skin as they pressed a few stray kisses here and there along the way.
Her eyes fluttered shut the moment your lips met, fitting together as if they were created for that sole purpose. The vanilla balm smoothed across hers was partially smudged and wiped off – a result of the earlier kisses you couldn’t refrain from stealing, when the two of you had first lost interest in the movie you were watching. Its flavor remained, though, just as enticing as always.
Inconspicuously slipped beneath your shirt, her fingers curled slightly along the small of your back – where her hands had now come to settle. She drew you closer, comforted by the way you felt against her. Your subsequent hum of gratitude made her melt.
The pad of your thumb made a pass over her cheek, rubbing it gently as you deepened the kiss. It stole her breath away, but she used what little she had left to gasp lightly into your mouth.
You smiled, unable to help yourself.
Stomp, stomp, stomp
Heavy, authoritarian footfalls resounded in the hallway outside of the dorm's door, gaining your attention. You curiously raised your head, and Siyeon lifted her chin to peek back at it.
A mere second later, Sua came blasting in.
"Yah! Y/N L/N!"
Shit.
"Yoohyeon told me everything," she said, striding into the middle of the room. Yoohyeon trailed after, staying at a distance as she shut the door behind herself. She was wincing, appearing to heavily regret her earlier slip up.
You raised up, pushing yourself off of Siyeon and up onto your knees. She propped herself up on an elbow, clearly intrigued and confused.
"How could you take my hoodie without telling me?" Sua shrieked, approaching you with her hands out. They gripped your collar, shaking with purpose.
"A-ah," you laughed nervously, dryly, "I was going to ask first, but I was running late this morning and had to just throw something on. My things were in the wash."
"What if something stained it? You know how much I love it."
"I would've bought you another," you promised, voice slightly strained as she tightened her grip, thus preventing you from breathing normally.
"You can't just 'buy another'! That line is discontinued now!"
"Nothing happened, though–" you sputtered. "You're worrying for nothing; I already put it back.”
Disbelief gleamed in Sua’s eyes, and when Siyeon caught a glimpse of it she sat up at once.
She knew then that your demise was imminent.
“THAT’S NOT THE POINT!” Sua bellowed, yanking you around. As she prepared to shove you backwards onto the couch and pounce, Siyeon selflessly put herself in front of you. She held her arms out, blocking you from all of the unnie’s methods of attack.
“Save yourself, Y/N! I’ll hold her off!”
“No…” you said, voice dropping dramatically as your head vehemently swayed left to right.
Amidst a slew of shoves and jabs from Sua, she nodded sadly, remaining strong. “Just go,” she begged.
Her soft cheek nuzzled against your palm as you reached forward to briefly cup it, sharing one final embrace.
“Remember me.”
“Always,” you whispered, holding back a grin at how dramatic the two of you were being.
Following a subtle signal from her, you stumbled off of the coach as she turned and tackled Sua away from you, landing on the opposite end of it. Your sock clad feet slipped and slid on the wood flooring, providing you no sense of control as you scrambled to escape with your life.
When you careened into the hallway wall, you shot a look over your shoulder; it was a horrific mistake, however, as it only awarded you the image of Sua slapping her elbow and jumping into the air before landing on Siyeon with it. A loud groan resounded around the living room, followed by Yoohyeon’s fading plea of “Unnie, no!” as you snapped your head forward again and set your sights on Jiu’s door at the end of the hall.
Your legs gave out from how quickly you attempted to kick off again, sending you to the floor.
Sua chuckled from somewhere behind you, far enough away to not pose an immediate threat, but still far too close for comfort. You pushed yourself off of the ground and sped off again, using the walls to propel yourself forward even faster.
The knob of Jiu’s door slid into your hand and twisted smoothly, pulling a sigh of relief from you – thank God it wasn’t locked. Without wasting time on knocking, you blasted in and slammed it behind yourself, void of any and all grace whatsoever.
You heaved, pressing your back to it and reaching down to lock it just as Sua’s frame collided with its other side. She had nearly gotten you – you’d made it just in the nick of time.
Jiu perked up on her bed, eyebrows raised and eyes open wide. The glow of her phone screen cast across her face and chest.
“Sua.” You explained, without having to elaborate. Her name alone validated your behavior a million times over.
The shock on Jiu’s face dissipated at once, turning to understanding.
“Sua,” she repeated, nodding.
Her “Receiving” Love Languages Ranked:
1.) Quality Time
2.) Physical Touch
3.) Words of Affirmation
4.) Acts of Service
5.) Gifts
Our big bad wolfie might have a good poker face sometimes, but we all know she isn’t all that big or bad. She’s definitely a softie at heart and loves to hear every sweet thing you have to tell her when you’re spending time together.
◤─────•~❉᯽❉~•─────◥
Handong
Very soft about it
She adores the attention you give her, and she always enjoys having you by her side. It makes her feel important and highkey boosts her ego
Also, having you nearby makes it easy for the two of you to be (playfully) judgy together and whisper jokes without other people interfering or overhearing
Aside from that, you genuinely comfort her in a lot of ways, and when you're apart she always finds herself missing you
“You know, now I get homesick twice as much, Y/N. Half for my country, and half for you.”
Sometimes she teases you, cheekily saying that you just can't keep your hands off of her
But tbh she can’t keep her hands off you either
She’s a fan of more subtle touches, like a simple hand on the thigh beneath the table or an arm around the waist
Honestly though she also loves it when you surprise her with a spontaneous kiss (on the cheek or lips), or hug her and spin her around. It makes her blush like a madwoman, but she enjoys it – despite the playful nagging she does afterwards
You're one of the only people who can make her blush, and when you really get her good she’s out of commission for a couple minutes, unable to piece together any witty comebacks in her love-dazed mind
Once she’s regained her bearings, though, she amps up her charm in retaliation, aware that her flirting is basically your kryptonite
And it works. Practically 100% of the time.
Her bold confidence gets you just as flustered as she had been, and you typically end up hiding your face in her neck or shoving her shoulder and running away.
Enjoys PDA in the form of cuddling and kissing. Nothing too wild, but she definitely wants it to happen when you go out together. She wants people to know that you’re hers, and vice versa
Hand holding is the usual go to, or linking your arms together. Kisses, too, depending on the mood and vibe of wherever you are
You jokingly touch her muscles and brag about how strong she is, especially when she gets back from a workout
She's fond of the praise, and though she wouldn’t admit it without a fight, it makes her work a little harder to keep up her physique. Staying fit is already important to her, but the fact that you enjoy her body so much is just added encouragement. She also likes to feel powerful and like she can protect you, so it’s truly a win-win
(Though she knows you’d love her no matter what she looked like, muscles or no muscles)
She puts her head in your lap a lot as a silent way of asking you to play with her hair. It relaxes her, and she usually falls asleep in the process
When she’s feeling clingy herself, you’re the first person she goes to. You’re the only one capable of melting this ice princess
Story Snippet
(I don’t know the actual layout of the mall, so excuse any errors)
Starfield Mall – Seoul, SK
Forever Yours.
Handong peered into a glass display case, rereading the words over and over to herself. Two ruby pendants hung side by side on a rack, magnetically joined together in the middle to spell out the words.
Only when they were connected did the short message come together.
A sentimental smile made its way to her face the longer she looked at it. It would be the perfect gift for you, she decided, as she snuck a glance at you from across the store. You were occupied in the ring section, browsing through the different rows of them. The wondrous expression on your face warmed her heart.
"Sir," she called to a nearby worker quietly, so as to avoid drawing your attention. "I'd like to buy these." She motioned down to them.
He nodded and grabbed the key for the case before making his way over.
-
Childish, bubbly laughter carried over to your ears as you exited the store and entered the mall’s spacious third floor, where numerous kids chased one another around. Beanies rested atop many of their heads, and the fuzzy sweaters they wore engulfed their tiny frames in such an endearing way that you couldn’t help but smile.
Holiday lights gleamed all around you, strung up and wound around decorative tinsel on the storefronts and windows. They shimmered, some set on timers to flicker every now and then.
A gentle smile played on Handong’s lips when she felt the careful tug you applied to the end of her sleeve, silently asking for her hand.
She wordlessly shifted her shopping bags into her other one in order to free it up for you to hold.
Her fingers interlaced with your own immediately, assuming their rightful position for the millionth time today. She gently stroked the back of your hand with her thumb, allowing it to make a few gentle passes over your smooth skin.
Something about the way your hands fit together, so snug and perfectly balanced, made her truly believe they were created just for one another. No one else's – not a single one of the other billions in existence out there – could've ever compared to yours.
She was sure of it.
“Where should we go now?” You asked, still letting your eyes wander across the expanse of holiday decorations.
The steps you took together were relaxed, void of any rushing.
Handong pondered for a moment, racking her mind for a place nearby that would award you some much-needed privacy and quiet.
"How about that place downtown we've been wanting to try?" She suggested. "You know, close to the square?"
“Oh," you gasped lightly, remembering the quaint little restaurant that she was referring to. "That'll be perfect, jagi."
"I'm glad you agree," she quipped, leaning over to press a kiss to your temple. Your smile deepened, and when she pulled away you watched her fondly.
What glimmers of love showed on her face were soon eclipsed by something else entirely, though.
Mischief, you realized, a mere second too late.
The apples of her cheeks became prominent as her lips tugged up into a pretty smile. The kind that’s soft enough to turn you to putty, yet striking enough to light a fire in your heart. Your kryptonite – a fact she used to her advantage.
"Race you to the car!" She shrieked, already speeding off.
You didn’t even have ample time to pick up your stumbling heart, or to catch your breath.
"Dongie–"
Her bags jostled in her hands, swaying with every thundering step she took. The tread of her shoes against the linoleum echoed out, broken by a squeak when she made a turn up ahead.
You pursued her at once, bobbing and weaving through numerous people – some bewildered, others cheering you on.
Her hair whipped around as she ran, flowing in the breeze with an elegance you would never understand.
"Last one there has to pay for dinner!" She teased, glancing over her shoulder at you.
"You're going down!" You fired back, finally gaining on her.
“In your dreams!”
—-
Harvest House - Bar & Grille
“Stop sulking,” you playfully chided from across the table, not even looking up from your menu. It wasn't necessary, after all.
You could practically feel her pouting.
Handong rolled her eyes and sighed, fighting the smile that tried to work its way onto her face at the fact that you knew her so well.
She picked up her own menu and began to peruse it, comforted in a strange way by the gentle clanking of silverware and dishes that flowed throughout the restaurant. Much like your own, clusters of conversation hummed – little pockets of stories and adventures, softly recounted so as to not disrupt the others around them.
Your eyes eventually wandered back to her, simply unable to stay away for too long. They peered at her curiously, watching with adoration as she concentrated on choosing the perfect meal.
She felt you staring, and yet she stubbornly refused to look at you. It was her way of continuing to pout, and you knew it all too well.
“Dongie…”
“Hmm?” She hummed, not budging.
“Jagi…”
“Yes?” Her brow raised, and her head tilted up slightly. Not enough for her gaze to meet your own, though.
“I love you.”
There it was. That phrase that she could never not react to.
Your heart warmed as you witnessed an embarrassed tint of blush appear on her face, and the achingly sweet way her features softened as your words sunk in.
“I love you, too,” she murmured, finally peering over the top of her menu at you.
You smiled and placed a finger at the top of it, carefully tipping it down towards the table so you could see her better.
Outside lights fought one another for the chance to shine on her through the large front window that the two of you were seated beside. Every color of the rainbow gleamed, emitted from star-shaped bulbs strung up across the square.
In your peripheral, you could see the town's recently-placed Christmas tree standing tall on the other side of the street. People were taking pictures in front of it; some were large families, complete with a teen or two angstily brooding as they squeezed into the frame, and others were paired up or alone.
You turned your head briefly, glancing at them.
Their interactions were so adorably human that it brought you comfort. The patient way they waited in line for their turn in front of the tree was endearing – reminiscent of childhood as they peered up at its lights, growing excited at the sight. Parents readjusted their children's beanies and mittens, ensuring that they were well protected from the cold.
It was like a movie playing out right in front of you, reminding you of the true magic of the season. That's what it's all about.
Handong must've noticed the dreamy expression on your face, because her next words took you by surprise, making you blush.
"You're so beautiful it hurts, Y/N."
Your eyes widened in time with the upturn of your lips, and you shyly dipped your head down, avoiding her gaze.
She reached out for your hand across the table, taking it into her own with ease.
"Can I kiss you?"
A question once asked with trembling lips, during the youth of your relationship, now spoken with a sweet confidence and nonchalance that made you fall for her all over again.
It was a redundant question at best, when you so clearly would permit her to do anything she pleased. But, even still, it sent butterflies to your stomach.
You nodded, leaning forward enough to meet her halfway. She did the same without missing a beat, and before you knew it her lips were on yours.
Both of her hands came up to cup your cheeks, and she felt you grin at the change.
She didn't understand why, in that moment, but she would soon.
Inconspicuously, you retrieved something from your pocket.
As you kissed her again, making it count in the name of keeping her distracted, she felt something being wrapped and fastened around her left wrist. It was small and thin, lightweight against her skin.
Her brows furrowed lightly.
You pulled back after a moment with a knowing, anticipatory look on your face. The way it lit your features up made Handong’s heart skip a beat.
Curious, she peered down to catch a glimpse of what it was.
Polaris. A sterling silver, beautiful little bracelet with Polaris shimmering in the center.
"Turn it over," you instructed, still grinning.
She did as you said and found a personalized message engraved into the material.
"Everlasting Love", it read, written in Chinese characters.
Her lips parted in shock. "When did you…"
"A few days ago, when you went out with Gahyeon. She offered to help keep you distracted so you wouldn't find out."
"Y/N…" she sighed blissfully, shaking her head in disbelief. "How do you keep getting even more perfect?"
You smiled again, rolling your eyes.
"Shush," you tutted. "I'm just glad you like it."
"Jagi, I don't like it. I love it. This means the world to me; especially coming from you. Thank you."
She leaned forward to kiss you again, but this time her lips pressed to your cheek instead. She felt the heat there, exposing your shyness at her praise.
So precious.
Her own gift for you was practically burning a hole in the pocket of her coat by now, and she decided at once that it was time for you to receive it.
As she sat back and reached towards where the material hung across the back of her chair, you simply watched her with sweet curiosity.
You weren't expecting anything in return for the present.
You were clueless to her plan, and yet, that made it all the more special.
As she retrieved the box and held it out between you, finally opening it, you gasped quietly. A small treasure, discovered at last.
Her side of it peeked from beneath the cover of her shirt, daring to shimmer.
She carefully took it out of the box and held it up, watching it catch the lights around you.
"Now we'll always have a piece of each other, no matter where we are," she mused, linking it with her side.
As it clicked into place, her eyes met your own.
Her “Giving” Love Languages Ranked:
1.) Gifts
2.) Physical Touch
3.) Quality Time
4.) Acts of Service
5.) Words of Affirmation
She spoils you every time the opportunity presents itself. CEO of Rich GF™ vibes. According to her, you deserve every single good thing that the world has to offer; so it’s really a no-brainer to her that you should be able to find something new wrapped up and waiting to be opened when you visit her. Anytime you mention needing or wanting something – even just offhandedly – she makes sure that it eventually ends up being yours.
◤─────•~❉᯽❉~•─────◥
Yoohyeon
She loves it. There’s absolutely no doubt about it
We see how she is during interviews (always holding onto the members in some way and wanting to be near one of them), and that trait is no different when it comes to you
She always wants to be connected in some way, whether that's holding hands, linking pinkies or arms when you're walking together, piggyback rides, back hugs, etc.
Honestly she’s just as affectionate as you
She hates being away from you. She lives for your touches and kisses
And just your presence in general, really. She’s totally whipped for you
Being held by you always comforts her
And anytime you kiss her forehead or cheek? *earth-shattering squeal*
Hides her face in the crook of your neck when she gets shy
Despite her tendency to get embarrassed, she never turns down PDA from you. She enjoys the sentiment behind you letting everyone know that she’s yours (as if they had any doubts, with the way she was practically tethered to you at all times)
She sneaks into your bed when she can’t sleep
If that’s not an option, she’ll call you on the phone to hear your voice (and she ends up falling asleep with you still on the other end like 99% of the time)
“No, baby, I’m still awake."
{...}
*snoring*
You're her partner in crime. The girls lowkey tease you for it and say you're joined at the hip
Whenever Sua ends up chasing her around she always runs to you, seeking safety in your arms. You take your duties as a human shield very serious
Sometimes you team up with her enemy, though, and the three of you end up fighting and wrestling like a bunch of five year olds. She acts betrayed, but once a truce is called she’s in your arms again in less than a second
Tours are honestly difficult for both of you, for a multitude of reasons. But in particular, Yoohyeon gets grumpy when she goes an extended amount of time without proper cuddling from you. The members offer themselves up to fill in and keep WWIII from breaking out, but she swears up and down that they simply can’t compare
So, anytime you’re reunited after time apart, expect to be tackled to the ground or go careening into the nearest piece of furniture as she clumsily flings herself at you
She loves lazy days with you. Laying around and just relaxing together is one of her favorite pastimes
She usually acts childish and whines whenever you pull away, even if it’s just to go to the restroom or something
Anytime she decides to start gaming, you wait on standby…
…and when she eventually loses a match, you're there to hug her and make it all better
She swears up and down that you're her good luck charm. So most of the time you end up sitting at her side and watching as she plays
You’re her number one fan
And she’s yours, always and forever
Story Snippet
DC Dorm – 11:49 PM
A brochure suddenly smacked against your face, opened to a glossy middle page as Yoohyeon's body collapsed onto yours in a heap.
She had run from her bed to the living room, unable to keep her recent discovery to herself.
"Can I help you?" You asked sarcastically, cradling your sore nose.
She pushed herself up into a sitting position and apologized for her clumsiness at once.
After you forgave her, she flipped back to the announcement she'd seen in the booklet.
It read:
"Thundering Heights Amusement Park – Grand Opening: July 7th"
An address was listed at the bottom of the page, and you realized it was just outside of the city. Maybe a twenty minute drive or so at most.
"Will you go with me?" She asked, hope shining in her dark eyes. They almost twinkled, like a kid's on Christmas. "It looks like so much fun."
You pretended to debate for a moment, enjoying the tease. She tugged at your shirt, pouting as you made her wait.
"Sure, jagi. I'd love to–”
She tackled you down onto the loveseat and peppered hundreds of kisses across your face, her hands cupping your cheeks to keep you in place for her onslaught.
"Thank…" kiss, "you," kiss kiss, "baby." Kiss kiss kiss.
You giggled and squirmed a little beneath her, taking the affection as it came.
—----
Opening Day
As usual, she was right.
The day was off to a great start by all accounts, and you were convinced you had never smiled as much in your entire life as you had that morning.
The sun was out, providing plenty of pretty views for you to admire together as you walked your way through the park. It livened up everything that it touched – made the trees’ green leaves a little more vibrant, the flowers a little brighter. The warmth of it wrapped around you like a hug, settling into the fibers of your clothes and staying put.
An occasional breeze blew in, mild yet so necessary as it balanced out that heat. It lifted the ends of Yoohyeon's hair, caressing them gently as she took in all of the sights around her. You walked beside her in tandem, simply admiring her. Admittedly, nothing else managed to capture your attention in the way that she did.
She caught you staring on more than one occasion and shyly scolded you each and every time, but you simply couldn’t help yourself. If there was one thing you’re sure of in life, it’s that she was created to be adored. Plain and simple.
-
Later
“Let’s go again!” She bellowed, jumping around on her sneaker-clad feet. Adrenaline coursed through her, making her jittery from residual excitement.
Much the opposite, you were bent over the nearest railing, just outside of the exit for the ride. Your stomach churned, deciding on whether or not it wanted to upturn itself.
“I can’t,” you groaned, holding your head. “I need something to drink first. And an hour long break.”
She tsked at you disappointedly, but appeared at your side a few seconds later nonetheless. Her hand rubbed the small of your back in soothing circles, easing you through your queasy-ness.
Once it subsided, you uprighted yourself and looked at her. Something behind you caught her eye, and when she met your gaze again a small smile tugged at her lips.
“I know just the thing to make you feel better.” She booped your nose lovingly, reaching down to grab your hand and tug you along for the millionth time today.
-
15 Minutes Later
A sunhat rested atop your head, its brim droopy to block out the now-harsh rays that the Sun had to offer. The strap beneath your chin was pulled tight to ensure it didn’t fall off or blow away. You felt like you looked ridiculous, but she had insisted that you wear it.
…so you did.
You held a mini handheld fan up in front of your face, listening to the quiet brrr of its motor as it worked hard to cool you down.
Yoohyeon stood in front of a slushy stand in the middle of the park’s food court, where she had just ordered and paid for your drinks. Two workers were inside, doing their best to keep things running smoothly.
After another minute or so, one of them handed the refreshments over to her, smiling kindly and thanking her once more. She reciprocated and left, quickly returning to your side.
“Here you go,” she chirped, handing over your favorite flavor. “They’re nice and cold.”
“Phew,” you sighed, relieved. “I was worried they might’ve gotten hot on the way over. You know, since they’re made of ice.”
She smacked your shoulder in retaliation to your sarcasm.
“Yah! Don’t act like I won’t eat yours, too.” She pointed a finger at you, jabbing you in the chest a couple times to solidify her point.
“Ouch, tough crowd,” you feigned hurt, putting a hand atop the impact zones and rubbing the ache away.
Though she fought hard, she couldn’t entirely conceal the grin on her face. So instead she busied her lips with her straw, drawing it between them to take a long sip.
You mirrored her actions, appreciating the fact that she knew and remembered your favorite order. It made you fall for her a little more, though you didn’t see how that was humanly possible.
Content and now more energized, the two of you fell in step again. Yoohyeon began to discuss the next section of rides for you to conquer, and what the quickest route to get there was. She babbled rapidly – far too fast for you to keep up – so you opted to just smile and nod, still sipping on your drink.
You both knew you’d follow her wherever she went and do whatever she asked of you regardlessly, and you were aware that her ranting kept her happy.
So you threw in the occasional “Oh, really?” and “No way!” to keep her going. It worked; eagerly, she continued.
The happy moment was soon cut short, however, as life suddenly took on a cinematic, almost slow-motion haze right before your very eyes.
Yoohyeon turned to look over at you, meaning to tell you that the trolley was your best bet at making it across the park in a timely manner, when you both rounded an ill-fated corner.
A welcome sign was propped in front of a shop's side door, directly in her path.
Before you had ample time to react and stop her, she ran into it, tripping and being sent through the air before subsequently landing on top of the now-toppled sign with a harsh clack. The puppy-ear headband she had on jolted, its two brightly colored springs bouncing in opposite directions after colliding with one another. Her cup fell from her hand, too, getting crushed in the process.
You winced, tensing up instinctively. Oh no. She'd surely die of embarrassment. You could see the beginning stages of it unfolding as she hid her face, already blushing profusely.
So, thinking on your feet, you knew you had to act fast to prevent her demise. If you could stand in the way of her arrival at an early grave, you planned to do it. One rule that you live by played in your head: you're in it together. Where she goes, you go.
Including the ground, apparently.
Without hesitation, you rocketed yourself forward, tripping yourself over your own foot and sending yourself crashing to the pavement that waited below.
The slushie in your hand exploded upon impact, erupting into a fruity blitz that shot off in a hundred different directions. Some got on you as well, immediately trying its hand at staining the fabric of your shirt. Your fan dinked off the ground, too, getting scuffed up as its motor came to a sputtering stop.
Your hat jostled, no longer sitting in its proper place.
"Oww!" You shouted, both a little over-dramatic and real. Though the cause itself may have been intentional, the fall definitely didn't get the memo. The front of your body ached, having absorbed the shock first and taken the brunt of the damage.
"Who puts a sign in a place like that?!" You lamented.
You rolled over, squinting as the blazing sun shined down on you. You squirmed a little, still suffering from having the wind knocked out of you.
Yoohyeon groaned and pushed herself up into a sitting position at your side. She peered over at you, concerned, but your antics told her that you would be okay. After all, if you had hurt yourself too badly you wouldn't have been able to yell like that.
But making such a spectacle of yourself had clearly worked, because the people passing by all looked at you, rather than her. Their attention was successfully drawn away, and you smiled. At least the pain wasn't for nothing.
"Are you alright, jagi?" You asked her, turning your head to gaze up at her.
She scooted forward and put a hand up, shielding your eyes from the Sun in lieu of your hat. The shadow she created held the light at bay, allowing you to stop squinting.
"My ego's dead, but other than that, yes."
“Good.” You said, relieved. “Wait– not good about the ego thing! I- You know what I mean.”
She chuckled at that, though the sound eventually morphed into a soft grunt of pain. Happy pain, though. The kind that you feel later on down the road and recall the memories of.
“And you?” She asked. “Is my knight in shining armor going to live?”
You nodded, winking at her. “I think I’ll pull through.”
“Good,” she reused your word. “Because if we’re gonna make it through the rest of the park today, we need to get a move on.” She glanced down at her watch quickly. “We should have enough time to get a replacement slushie…” she eyed both of your previous ones, where they laid nearby. With haste, she leaned over to grab their trashed containers, “...and then catch the trolley. But we’ve got to hurry.”
You sighed defeatedly as she sprang up and dusted herself off, like nothing had happened. It was a good quality to have, though, for someone as clumsy as her. She balanced herself out. Uncoordinated yet resilient. It was almost poetic.
What wasn’t poetic, though, was the unceremonious way she hauled you up to your feet, all in one motion.
You barely had a second to catch your breath, or wheeze, or curse into the afternoon air before she was pulling you along at the speed of light again, all of her embarrassment forgotten and instead replaced with excitement once more.
Her “Receiving” Love Languages Ranked:
1.) Physical Touch
2.) Words of Affirmation
3.) Quality Time
4.) Acts of Service
5.) Gifts
Yoohyeon is prone to embarrass herself, and her insecurities sometimes tend to show themselves as a result. She also has an unfortunate habit of overthinking; but a simple and easy way to remedy that at any given moment is through physical touch and sweet words of reassurance. They never fail to comfort her and restore that confidence that you love so much.
◤─────•~❉᯽❉~•─────◥
Dami
Dami isn't always the biggest fan of physical touch, but she makes an exception for you
She's grown quite fond of your ways of showing love
Especially because you respect her boundaries and don't overload her with it all of the time
The girls jokingly complain about the fact that your affection never gets rejected by her like theirs does sometimes
You're usually the one to initiate things, but she also surprises you sometimes by beating you to it
You l o v e when she does that because it just shows that she's willing to step outside of her comfort zone to convey her feelings for you
She usually gives you back hugs and puts her head on your shoulder
Slips in little touches throughout the day
Also loves to hold your hand
If it's chilly out and she notices your hands are cold, she'll slip one of her heating packs into them without you even having to ask
Piggy back rides
Lets you poke her cheeks and toy with them
She bought a pair of touch lamps for the both of you, so when she’s away and missing you she can touch hers and yours will light up. It’s a subtle reminder that she loves you and that you’re on her mind
Gives you her jacket when it’s cold out and holds the door for you
You've made her more comfortable with physicality, honestly, and she finds herself missing it when your schedules keep you away from each other
If you get overcome with emotion and give her a spontaneous kiss or cuddle, she ends up blushing every time, without fail
Sometimes she becomes the clingy one and wraps you up in her arms, not letting you go until she’s satisfied
“Let’s stay just like this, jagi.”
Soft hours
But any other time, when it’s you who’s being clingy, it’s really endearing to her to see you visibly waiting to touch her and attack her with a flurry of affection. You hold back long enough to get permission, but the second that she gives you the green light you’re basically pouncing on her
Whenever she reads, she invites you to snuggle up with her. She typically ends up absentmindedly toying with your hair, or stroking your arm, or pressing a few kisses to the top of your head, too
Just like her, her love is subtle and quiet most of the time. But it’s endless, and it’s always there
She loves you to the moon and back and is willing to do just about anything to see you smile
Story Snippet
DC Dorm – Dami's Room
Snowflakes fell outside in droves, heavy and thick as they added to the masses that had already accumulated on the ground over the past few hours. Biting winds blasted by occasionally, reminding everyone of just how frigid it was. They caused a branch to knock into the window of Dami’s room, scraping it lightly.
Ever since your arrival in the afternoon, it had been like this; as you spent time gathered with the girls and enjoying yourself by the fireplace, nature had been gearing up for a full-blown blizzard.
Aware of this, they all insisted that you spend the night at the dorm and just return home once the conditions were safer.
It didn't take much to convince you, truth be told. Their company was far too enjoyable to turn down, and you didn’t have any desire to head back to your empty apartment anytime soon, anyway.
So now, in the wake of a movie-marathon, multiple games of drunken charades, and escaping the tight clutch of a sleeping Sua, you stood in front of Dami's dresser, bent at the waist as you sifted through the drawer that she had directed you to.
Through the speakers of her phone, a soft piano melody ambled out, basking the room in a comfortable, easy-going ambience.
"Pick whichever one you want, baby," she called, glancing up briefly from her book as she flipped the page she had just finished. The texture of it – a little rough, unsmoothed – made a scratching sound as it rubbed against the one behind it.
"Really? Even the–"
"Yes, Y/N/N, even that one." She interrupted, amused. "I washed it yesterday because I figured you'd want to wear it." You could hear the grin in her words.
Eagerly, you continued searching through the hoodies until you finally found the one you were after. It held a title unlike any other. None of the rest even held a candle to it.
Why was it so special?
Because you bought it for her during a birthday trip last year, and it was the coziest thing in existence.
Oh, and it was also panda themed. Dami in hoodie form.
With a triumphant smile, you unfolded it and thrust it up into the air, showing it off. Dami watched from the bed, smiling softly to herself at the cute sight.
You slipped it over your head and pulled it down across your body, allowing the cozy material to engulf you. Two rounded ears sat atop the hood, and they bounced lightly when you tugged it up onto your head. The grin on your face deepened when you reached up to feel their fluffiness.
“You’re so cute,” she mused, far too interested in you to pay attention to her book anymore. Her finger rested between its pages, keeping her place marked as she openly admired you.
“Yah,” you scolded softly, lacking malice. You could feel your cheeks and ears warming up as a result of her compliment, and it made you shy.
“Thank you,” you added quietly, glancing away.
She bit her lip and shook her head, completely enamored. How could a person be so adorable?
“Come here,” she commanded, when she noticed you playing with the ends of the sleeves mindlessly. The inconspicuous (yet totally obvious) way you peeked back at her let her know that you wanted to be closer.
Hope shined in your eyes as you padded over like a puppy, and when she tossed her book to the end of the bed and filled her hands with you instead, you nearly swooned. She tugged you in by the waist, sending you sideways onto the bed.
A second later, she was hovering over top of you; her soft hair cascaded down around the two of you, blocking out the rest of the world like a privacy curtain. You met her dark eyes briefly, highlighted by the bits of lamplight that peeked through, shining on the two of you. But her gaze soon dropped lower, landing on your mouth – which she’d been dying to feel against her own all day.
“I’m so happy you’re here,” she admitted, before leaning in to press a gentle kiss to your lips. It was sweet and warm, just like her. “You made today so fun.”
“Yeah?” You grinned lazily, basking in the warmth that her body radiated. “I’d have to say that you made the day fun,” you opposed. “I mean, come on; when you saved us from losing that third round of charades with your last-second guess? That was gold.”
She nodded, pursing her lips as she recalled that victorious moment. “You do have a point there…”
“Or when you saved Jiu from getting whacked by a blindfolded Yoohyeon during our ‘What’s In The Box’ game? That deserved some kind of award.”
Her features pulled into a grimace at the memory. “I don’t know if she would’ve recovered, honestly. What do you think? Concussion? Short coma?”
Your hands trailed up to the back of her neck and gently settled there – fingers interlocking as you took a second to consider her question. She shivered slightly at the sensation, nearly tickled when you absentmindedly toyed with the baby hairs at her nape.
“Mmm, definitely a concussion,” you frowned, feigning seriousness until the sudden sound of Dami’s laughter cut through the quiet, bringing out your own.
She rested her forehead against yours as your combined giggles filled the air, completely and utterly happy. They were genuine and natural – a little sleepy, a little unpolished – and that warmed your heart.
Seeing her like that made you fall that much more in love. She shined brighter than moonlight, starlight, sunlight – all of it. You wanted to stay wrapped within the bounds of this perfect moment forever.
“I mean it, though,” she affirmed softly, like some kind of shy confession finally given voice to, once your laughter died down into quiet chuckles. "Things wouldn't have been the same without you here."
Yet another one of her ways of saying ‘I love you’ without actually uttering the words.
“I know,” you nodded, brushing the tip of your nose against hers a few times. You could feel her melt into you at the contact.
“I love you, too.”
Her “Giving” Love Languages Ranked:
1.) Acts of Service
2.) Quality Time
3.) Words of Affirmation
4.) Gifts
5.) Physical Touch
What she struggles to show physically, she makes up for in other ways. She’ll do favors, dote on you without you even having to ask, make you food if you’re hungry, leave encouraging post-it notes on your things if you’re in need of reassurance and support… the list is endless. It’s how she shows all of the love she has for you; she’s a fantastic listener and always pays close attention to you, and she thinks it’s easier and more convenient to demonstrate her love this way. The little things mean everything to her.
◤─────•~❉᯽❉~•─────◥
Gahyeon
Enjoys it a lot. Your presence alone is comforting to her, so she’s really happy to have you nearby
When you link your arm through hers and cuddle into her side, she falls a little more in love with you. She does it to you often, too
Whenever you kiss her in front of the girls, she tends to get shy. (Mainly because of their relentless teasing). But she never turns you down
She loves having your attention on her.
And she'll pout in order to get it
Like Sua, she tends to get a little loud and aggressive with her love
Will literally whine and cover her eyes when you walk into the room because she says you look too good for her to handle
She loves to sit on your lap (and have you sit on hers as well)
Puts her head on your shoulder a lot
Holds onto the end of your sleeve and tugs it when she wants your attention
She lets you play with her hair and style it however you want
One time you managed to make it defy gravity, and she still hasn't lived that down at the dorm. The girls said she looked like an alien
Whenever you’re just lounging around together and scrolling on your phones, you both still like to be connected in some way. So she’ll usually pull your legs across her lap, or even lay between them. (It makes it even easier for her to show you something interesting or funny that she stumbles across)
She knows she can get her way with you really easily because you’re a total pushover for her. All she has to do is pout or give you a kiss and you’re like putty in her hands
That’s one of her favorite traits about you. Both because she thinks it’s adorable, and also because she can exploit it (big brain Gahyeon)
“Pretty please? I promise to buy you more candy in the morning if you just let me have this last one now.”
{......}
"...or we can share it, if you'd rather."
You make her feel powerful and important, and that’s priceless to her
She loves when you get protective over her. There’s something about that side of you in particular that really does something to her
Whenever she’s busy or away on tour, expect lots of pictures and videos from her at odd hours. The time difference doesn’t stop her from messaging you when she can
Also, sleepy voice messages when she’s laying awake and having trouble sleeping
Whenever you reunite, she’s yelling and running into your waiting arms
Story Snippet
“Yah, how much longer are we going to be out here?” Gahyeon whined, her breath turning white in the chilly atmosphere that surrounded the eight of you. It floated away gently, catching her attention for a brief second as she lagged behind everyone else.
Exploring the city and shopping had gotten boring for her about two hours ago, and quite frankly she was over it at this point.
Heading the group with Jiu, you stopped and turned around to look at her. The brochure in your hands lowered, no longer your top priority.
“What’s wrong, Gah?”
She didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she scuffed the bottom of her shoe against the ground, twisting it into a rut that existed in the weathered cobblestone. Her hands flexed into fists at her sides, toying with the handles of the shopping bags that were nestled against her palms.
“I’m cold,” she finally said, voice small as a pout played on her lips. She looked away when everyone’s attention fell to her. Admittedly, she felt a little childish for making everyone stop. The weather was simply starting to get to her, and she was tired.
But being the maknae meant she had every right to be babied, after all, so she didn’t feel too guilty.
You rolled your eyes and smiled softly, shaking your head. “Jiu, will you take over? Let’s go to that restaurant I showed you earlier.”
“The historic one?” She asked, clarifying.
You nodded. “It used to be a royal building, so it’s pretty massive. And there’s a fireplace there fit to match, so…” you trailed off, glancing again at Gahyeon. Her pout deepened a little at you, exaggerating.
“Sounds great,” Jiu smiled warmly. “Let’s get going.”
The girls all resumed their walking after that, conversing with one another and taking in the surrounding sights of the city as Jiu flipped open to the brochure’s walking map and led the way. You let them pass you, waiting for Gahyeon to catch up.
Her nose was red, and the fuzzy muffs on her ears had fallen from their proper place. Her shoulders sagged dramatically, making her look truly spent.
You had to bite back a laugh.
“Here, baby,” you offered, reaching out to take the bags from her. She gave them without any further prompting, and you quickly slid them onto your arms, allowing them to rest in the crook of your elbow. You resituated her earmuffs next, and pressed a small kiss to the tip of her chilly nose.
“Better?”
Her head shook in protest, stumping you.
“Not yet.”
She stepped forward, just a breath away, and slipped her hands into the pockets of your hoodie. They balled in the material and tugged you closer, nearly making you stumble into her at the unexpected action.
“Let’s stay like this, just for a second. Let me warm up a bit,” she smiled mischievously, leaning in enough to brush her nose with yours. Her fingers wrapped around the warmers that were tucked away in your pockets, reveling in the soothing heat that they provided.
You reached in, too, covering her delicate hands so that the cold didn’t have a chance to touch them. She hummed happily, tilting her head to the side to press a thankful kiss to your lips. She giggled quietly against them, pleased to have gotten her way.
The night sky was bright above you, illuminated by the moon as it showered down its speckled starlight in a way that seemed intimate, like it was meant just for the two of you. Your own personal glimpse of the cosmos. It provided comfort, reminding you of home. Of all of those late nights in Korea, when you would sneak outside with Gahyeon for some fresh air, talking about any and everything your sleepy minds could come up with until the delirium set in and you had to amble your way back up to bed.
Even here and now, in a foreign country that seemed lightyears away from that place, shimmers of those moments could be found. They gleamed in Gahyeon’s sweet eyes – hundreds of potential experiences and conversations just waiting to happen. It was meaningful, to say the least, and you were beyond happy that fate had allowed you to be here with all of them.
You kissed her cheek before pulling away enough to look at her.
“I love you–”
“I love you–”
Both of you laughed together at the coincidence, your shoulders lifting and falling lightly. The smile on her face was precious, reminiscent of a fox’s. You studied her for a moment, just taking her in and committing everything to memory.
“We should probably get going,” she said, still grinning, though she made no move to actually leave. Her gaze dropped to your lips, lingering there for a beat before raising to your own again. You felt the subtle way her fingers tightened against the warmers, attempting to be inconspicuous.
It was almost comical how bad she was at hiding her feelings for you.
“Yeah,” you agreed, settling closer, teasing her.
She looked around, peeking over your shoulder before craning her body left and right to make sure the coast was clear. Once she was satisfied, she pulled your hood over your head and leaned in, sealing her lips against yours.
Beneath the cover that your thick hood provided, she did as she pleased. Taking her time, savoring the rare chance she got to be alone with you like this. She was a mix of sensations – from her blushing, warm cheeks, to her chilly lips that slid against your own, never wanting to part. The entirety of the embrace was perfect; you couldn’t have asked for anything better.
“We really should get going, though,” you chuckled, resting your forehead against hers once you’d parted for air. “They’ve probably already made it there by now.”
“Fine,” she sighed, feigning annoyance again. “You’re right. But I’m taking this,” she declared, stealing one of your warmers.
She pulled away, turning to stand at your side so you could walk next to one another. “We can share this one,” she resolved, keeping her other hand in your other pocket, where it was still cradled in your own.
You sighed as well, mimicking her. “Fine.”
To smooth things over in the wake of her crime, she cuddled up against your side and laid her head on your shoulder as she pulled you along. The soft crunch of your shoes against the cobblestone street resounded, announcing your journey forward.
“Thank you, babe.” She said quietly, serious now. “For everything.”
“Anything for you,” you quipped with a small smile, watching as your sweet assurance turned white in the air and surrendered itself to the universe.
Her “Giving” Love Languages Ranked:
1.) Gifts
2.) Physical Touch
3.) Quality Time
4.) Words of Affirmation
5.) Acts of Service
She feels responsible and accomplished when she can spoil you and buy you the things that you want. There’s nothing quite like watching the smile grow on your face as you open up presents from her. She’s not afraid to go all out, either.