Leehan Fluff - Tumblr Posts

Let's go to the beach-each (nicki minaje - starships) Let's go get a wave

ᨓ 。kim donghyun x fem reader ꒰🌊꒱ ﹕fluff ﹕+8.5k contains: surfer!leehan and lifeguard!fem reader, slight enemies to lovers and slight slowburn, mention of the rest of BND members THIS IS FOR THE #SWY EVENT COMING 2 U BY @onedoornet ┈─★

The sun blazed overhead as you stood at your lifeguard post, scanning the ocean for any signs of trouble. Busan’s beach was packed, as always, with tourists and locals soaking up the summer heat. You squinted against the sunlight, and there he was—again.

Leehan, the surfer who consistently defined the rules.

Leehan was the type of surfer who thrived on teasing and stirring up playful trouble, especially with anyone who dared to challenge him. He had a natural, effortless charm, the kind that made people—especially girls—think they had his attention when, in reality, he was always a step ahead, never letting anyone get too close.

His laid-back attitude, paired with his sharp wit, made him irresistible to most, and they often mistook his flirtatious smirks and lighthearted jabs for something more. But Leehan wasn’t one to be tied down or caught up in romantic expectations. To him, the fun lay in the game, not in the commitment, and he enjoyed keeping people guessing, always in control, never truly letting anyone see past the surface.

He rode a wave effortlessly, his form sharp and perfect as he carved through the water. It would’ve been impressive if it weren’t for the fact that he always surfed in the restricted areas, despite your repeated warnings. You huffed, standing up and blowing your whistle loud enough for him to hear, waving your arm to signal him back to the safe zone.

But instead of acknowledging you, he threw you a cocky smirk while waving his hand, returning the gesture, and kept riding the wave. Your blood boiled. This was the third time this week.

After what felt like an eternity of him ignoring you, he finally paddled back to shore, dripping wet and grinning as if nothing was wrong. He sauntered up to where you stood, his surfboard tucked under his arm.

"Something wrong, lifeguard?" he asked, raising an eyebrow, feigning innocence.

"Yeah, there is," you snapped, crossing your arms over your chest. "That area is off-limits. You know that."

Leehan shrugged, flicking his wet hair back, and your eyes couldn't lose the opportunity to see his neckbone stretch out, his Adam's apple on full display. "I wasn’t causing any trouble. Just catching a wave."

"You’re going to cause an accident," you retorted, standing your ground. "If you don’t follow the rules, I’ll have to ban you from the beach."

He grinned wider, clearly not taking you seriously. "You think you can handle that?"

Your irritation flared. "Don’t test me, Leehan. I’m here to keep people safe, not babysit rebellious surfers."

"Whatever you say, lifeguard," he said, mocking with his tone, turning away as if the conversation was over. "Just try not to get too worked up over little things."

His winked at you as he left; you watched him walk off, fuming. You sighed and sank back into your chair, the familiar sound of waves crashing against the shore doing little to calm your nerves.

Busan Beach was supposed to be a peaceful escape, a break from the chaos of Seoul, where you could spend the summer doing something productive, just like your grandfather had encouraged. Instead, it felt like you had signed up for a full-time job babysitting an unruly, reckless surfer.

Mingyu, the head lifeguard, had warned you about Leehan the first day you showed up in your red lifeguard suit, excited and ready to take on the challenge of keeping the beach safe. He’d pulled you aside and told you in no uncertain terms, “Watch out for Leehan. He’s… persistent.”

You’d laughed it off back then, thinking it couldn’t be that bad. But after a few encounters with him pushing every boundary, you finally understood the exhausted look Mingyu had given you. Leehan wasn’t just persistent—he was relentless.

This rivalry had been building for weeks, and no matter how much you enforced the rules, Leehan never seemed to care. He was infuriating—arrogant, reckless, and completely unaware of how much he got under your skin.

The next day, it was the same routine. You on the tower, keeping an eye on everyone, and him in the water, pushing every boundary he could. By noon, you’d had enough and stormed over to where he was setting up his board.

"Do you enjoy making my job harder?" you asked, voice sharp.

He looked up at you, clearly amused by your frustration. "Maybe I just enjoy getting a rise out of you."

You opened your mouth to fire back, but before you could, a sudden scream cut through the air. You both turned toward the water, where a young boy was struggling in the strong current.

Without hesitation, you dropped everything and sprinted toward the water, adrenaline surging through your veins. You dove in, swimming as fast as you could to reach him, your training kicking in automatically.

Just as you reached the boy and grabbed him, you saw Leehan beside you, his strong arms helping to keep the boy afloat. You exchanged a brief, surprised glance before focusing on getting the boy back to shore.

Once on land, you both worked together to make sure the boy was okay, adrenaline still pumping through your veins. As soon as the boy’s parents arrived, you finally allowed yourself to breathe.

"Oh my God, I told you to not go there without dad! Thank you so much, darling." The mother of the boy hugged you so tight that you thought you were about to have a lack of oxygen anytime soon. You heard claps from the people that saw everything, and you blushed, bowing at them and returning to your tower, not noticing that Leehan was behind you.

You climbed back up to your lifeguard tower, your heart still racing from the rescue. The adrenaline had yet to leave your system, and you were trying to calm yourself when you felt someone’s presence behind you. You didn’t need to turn around to know it was Leehan; his familiar energy was unmistakable.

"What now?" you asked, not bothering to look at him as you plopped down into your chair, hoping the waves could drown out your lingering frustration.

Leehan’s voice came from closer than you expected. "That was impressive."

You blinked, surprised by the compliment. Turning slightly, you saw him standing there, no cocky smirk, no playful teasing. Just genuine respect in his eyes. It threw you off.

"You helped," you said, slightly begrudgingly but acknowledging the fact that he had been right there in the water with you, making sure the boy was safe. It was the first time you’d seen him take something seriously.

He shrugged, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Guess I’m not always causing trouble, huh?"

You huffed, leaning back in your chair. "Don’t get used to it. You’re still on thin ice with me, surfer."

Leehan chuckled, the sound softer than usual. "I can live with that." He tilted his head, looking at you with curiosity. "You ever think maybe you’re a little too uptight? Not everything has to be a battle."

Your jaw clenched. "Not everything is a joke, Leehan. Some of us have responsibilities."

"And some of us know how to enjoy life while still being responsible," he countered, that familiar teasing edge slipping back into his tone. "Maybe you should try it sometime."

"Go to hell," you said, and he laughed at you. Well, at your answer. "Thankfully, I will only deal with you for the next two months."

"Two months?" you nodded, answering him while looking at the horizon, seeing how the majority of people were already leaving as a cool breeze started to feel.

"I'm going back to Seoul. Only coming here for my summer vacations and my grandpa." You look to your left, his body leaning against the balcony through which you could see everything, his gaze fixed on you.

You started to take your things, cleaning in the process some of the food you had eaten and writing a report for Mingyu—all of that in the presence of Leehan, who was giving you space.

Both of you left the tower; you left Leehan there, not thinking that he would only take his surfboard and run to you, catching you up.

"Where are you going?" Your eyes narrowed, feeling weird out for his drastic change of behavior.

"My grandpa's house." You pointed at the colorful house; you knew your dad was in the neighbor's house playing cards, so he won't embarrass you with a comment in the presence of Leehan.

The boy next to you let out a sigh. "I only have two months to bother you."

"You already bothered me for a month; I think I can handle two months, sadly."

"Oh, please, you love nagging me. You love me." He sang the "love" word, and you pushed him; he laughed as you once again left him behind. You reached the door of the house, your key opening it easily. Leehan left his surfboard on the sand and putted a hand on your door as you were about to close it. "I'm sorry."

"You wanna know something, Leehan? I love making memories at the beach, but right now you're causing me stress. Please, let me have a peaceful two months," he put a thinking face, looking at you short after.

"I will help you with that," your eyes shinned.

"You're not coming to the beach?" He scoffed at your answer.

"No, but I will help you make memories. Ones that you won't forget." You both stood there, his hand coming to your vision as he put a string of your hair to the back of your right ear. "Only if you let me."

"Good night, Leehan."

As the door clicked shut, you leaned your back against it, your heart still racing. Leehan's words echoed in your mind, that teasing tone now laced with something deeper, something unfamiliar. He'd always been a thorn in your side, a source of frustration, but tonight, something had shifted. His offer—no, his promise—lingered in the air.

"Only if you let me."

You shook your head, trying to shake off the warmth blooming in your chest.

The next few days went by in a blur of routine—keeping an eye on beachgoers, making sure everything was running smoothly. Leehan acted like nothing happened, and so did you. He wasn’t causing trouble like before. In fact, he stayed in the safe zones, and whenever you crossed paths, he’d flash you a soft grin. Keyword, soft.

If he wasn't in the safe zones, he was relaxing under the umbrella; even sometimes he would come to talk to you; no bickering and no fighting. You even got to know more about him; he was applying to an university in Seoul with his best friends; he had a dog; he got his first surfboard at the solid age of six; knowing small things makes you see him less insoferable.

This was one of those days, a small lunch break as he talked to you.

"Hey, can you not go at the same time as always?" You cleaned your mouth with a napkin, your eyebrows frowning.

"Why would I not do that? My shift is over by that." He put a finger between your brows, and you relaxed them.

"You said you want to make memories. Right?"

"Hey, Leehan!" You both heard a male scream. Looking from the balcony, there were five boys, all of them waving at the boy, and for the first time, you could see a big smile on his face.

"Sungho!" He looked at you as he stood up. "Meet me outside the tower. My friends came to surf." You didn't even have time to answer; he left, and you could see through the balcony how he jumped to his friends, making you smile at the brotherly view.

Time flew really slowly, watching the people and Leehan with his friends. You wouldn't admit it, but his friends were as handsome as him, but there was something about Leehan that simply made you look at him more. Just like he said, as you were going down the mini stairs the tower had, you could look at him in the distance with not one surfboard but with two. A few minutes past when he stood in front of you, the surfboards in both of his sizes.

"What are you doing?"

"More like, what are we doing?" He gently gave you a surfboard with a smile. "We are surfing."

"Yeah, there's no way I would do that." You pointed the surfboard, and he opened his eyes.

"Come on! It would be fun; what's stopping? Because, as far as I know, you are on vacation." You gulped, looking down at the sand.

"I don't know how to surf."

Leehan's lips curled into a teasing grin, his eyes lighting up. "You don't know how to surf? You’ve been a lifeguard this whole time and never tried."

You felt your cheeks flush with embarrassment, but you held your ground. "It's not like I haven’t thought about it. I just never had the chance, and I didn’t want to."

"Embarrass yourself?" He finished, stepping closer; the surfboard balanced easily under his arm. You looked away, feeling the warmth of his presence. "Don't worry. I’ll teach you."

You rolled your eyes, crossing your arms. "I don't need a cocky surfer trying to teach me something I’ll probably fail at."

Leehan tilted his head, his expression softening. "I'm not that bad of a teacher, you know. And I won't let you fail. Besides," he added with a wink, "you can’t leave here without making at least one memory that you’ll actually want to keep, right?"

You hesitated, watching as his teasing demeanor slowly faded into something more sincere. The offer was genuine. And there was something in his eyes—something that made you believe, for just a moment, that this wasn’t a game to him anymore. He was serious about making a memory with you.

"Fine," you sighed, taking the surfboard from his hand, the weight of it heavier than you expected. "But if I wipe out, it's on you."

Leehan laughed; the sound was warm and carefree. "Deal."

He guided you toward the water, explaining the basics as you walked side by side along the shore. His usual teasing was gone, replaced by patient instructions as he showed you how to balance, how to paddle, and how to read the waves. For the first time, you saw him differently—not as the rebellious, rule-breaking surfer who drove you crazy, but as someone who was genuinely passionate about the ocean and everything that came with it.

The sun was starting to set, casting a golden glow over the beach as you finally paddled out together. The waves were gentle, and Leehan stayed close, his eyes on you the entire time. "You ready?" he called out over the sound of the surf.

You nodded, heart pounding in your chest as you focused on staying steady.

"Okay, when the next wave comes, I want you to pop up and keep your knees bent. Don’t overthink it, just feel it," he said, his voice calm and reassuring.

You waited, your breath catching in your throat as the wave approached. Leehan gave you a nod, and with all the courage you could muster, you popped up, your legs shaky but holding. For a brief, glorious moment, you were riding the wave, your heart soaring.

Then, just as quickly, you lost your balance and tumbled into the water with a splash.

When you resurfaced, sputtering and laughing despite yourself, Leehan was right there, grinning at you like he’d just witnessed the most impressive feat in the world. "Not bad for your first try!"

You playfully splashed water at him. "I wiped out."

He shrugged, still grinning. "You got up. That’s what counts."

You couldn’t help but smile, your earlier frustration melting away. There was something about the way he looked at you in that moment—like he was genuinely proud of you—that made your heart skip a beat.

As the sun dipped lower on the horizon, painting the sky in hues of pink and orange, you paddled back to shore, the soft sand welcoming your tired feet. Leehan walked beside you, the atmosphere between you lighter, more relaxed. For once, there was no teasing, no arguments—just an unspoken understanding.

"You did good today," he said, his voice softer than usual as he set his surfboard down.

"Thanks," you replied, brushing some sand off your arms. "I guess you’re not such a terrible teacher after all."

Leehan chuckled, but then his smile faded slightly as he looked at you, his gaze lingering longer than usual. "You know, I wasn’t kidding about what I said before."

You tilted your head, curious. "About what?"

"About making memories." He stepped closer, his expression more serious now, the playful, carefree surfer gone. "I want you to remember this summer… with me."

The sincerity in his voice caught you off guard. This wasn’t the cocky surfer who loved pushing your buttons. This was Leehan, standing in front of you, vulnerable for the first time. You could feel the weight of his words, the way they hung in the air between you.

"I…" you started, unsure of how to respond. Your heart was racing again, but this time, it wasn’t because of the adrenaline from the waves.

He reached out, gently tucking a loose strand of your hair behind your ear, his fingers brushing against your skin. "I think I’ve been spending so much time trying to get a rise out of you because…" He trailed off, his gaze dropping for a moment before meeting yours again. "I like being around you, lifeguard."

You blinked, the confession catching you completely off guard. "Leehan…"

He gave you a small, nervous smile—something you’d never seen from him before. "I know I can be a pain, but… I think we’re past that now, don’t you?"

For once, you didn’t have a sharp comeback. Instead, you found yourself nodding, your heart pounding in your chest as you took in the sight of him standing there, more open and vulnerable than you’d ever seen him.

"Yeah," you whispered, your voice barely audible over the sound of the waves. "We are."

Leehan’s eyes softened as he stepped closer, the teasing smile replaced by something warmer, more genuine. "Good," he said quietly, his hand lingering on your arm for just a moment longer than necessary before he pulled away, his eyes still locked on yours. "Then let’s make this a summer to remember."

— : ☆

Another month and a half has passed, and you can’t count how many times you’ve gone out with Leehan. Each time surprises you—once, you were at an aquarium where he wouldn’t stop talking about fish (which was a pretty big surprise, considering how much he loved marine life), and another time you were decorating cookies at his house with his lovely grandma, who adored you.

Leehan had invited you to a quiet café hidden on the outskirts of the beach town, one with a view of the ocean but far away from the usual crowd of surfers and tourists. It was intimate and cozy, with soft music playing in the background and large windows that let in the golden light of the setting sun.

“So, this is one of my favorite spots,” Leehan said as you both settled into your seats. He smiled, but there was a nervousness behind it, like he was waiting for your reaction.

“It’s beautiful,” you said, gazing out at the waves. “I didn’t even know this place existed.”

He grinned, leaning back in his chair. “Told you I had good taste.”

You spent the next hour talking about everything and nothing—about university, future plans, the places you’d want to visit. Leehan opened up more than usual, telling you about his worries about moving and not being accepted for university, about missing the place that made him grow, and about how he wasn’t sure if he was ready to leave behind this part of his life.

“I mean, I love surfing, but it’s not just that, you know?” he said, his voice softer than usual. “It’s… everything. The people. The memories. This summer.”

You glanced up at him, your chest tightening at the way his eyes softened when he looked at you. "You’ll miss it, won’t you?"

“Yeah.” He smiled faintly, his gaze lingering on yours for a moment before looking out at the ocean. “But I’ll miss you more. I like your personality, lifeguard.”

The words hung in the air between you, heavier than they should have been, making your pulse quicken. He wasn’t teasing. There was no playful glint in his eyes, no mischievous grin on his lips. It was just… him. Honest. Vulnerable.

You opened your mouth to respond, but the words didn’t come. Instead, you smiled softly, reaching across the table to lightly tap his arm. “I’ll miss you too, Leehan. I like your personality too, surfer.”

He looked down at your hand on his arm, his expression unreadable for a moment before he turned back to you. His hand slid over yours, gentle and warm, sending a shiver down your spine. “This summer,” he began, his voice trailing off as he searched for the right words. “It’s been different. Because of you.”

Your heart raced, the air between you thick with unspoken feelings. You wanted to say something—anything—to fill the silence, to break the tension, but you couldn’t. Instead, you stayed there, your hand still under his, the weight of his touch grounding you in the moment.

Before you could fully process what was happening, the waiter came by with your drinks, breaking the spell. Leehan pulled his hand away slowly, almost reluctantly, and you both shifted back into the comfortable rhythm of your conversation.

But the atmosphere had changed. There was a tension now, a soft, electric current running between you that neither of you could ignore.

As the evening went on, you wandered down to the beach together, the cool sand beneath your feet and the sound of the waves lapping against the shore. The sky was a blend of purples and oranges, the last remnants of the sunset painting everything in a dreamy haze.

Leehan walked beside you in silence for a while, his hands tucked into his pockets. You glanced over at him, noticing the way his brow was furrowed slightly, like he was deep in thought.

“Are you okay?” you asked softly, nudging him with your elbow.

He blinked, looking over at you with a small smile. “Yeah. Just thinking.”

“About what?”

He hesitated for a moment before turning to face you fully, his gaze intense. “About creating your next memory”

You looked up at Leehan, your heart fluttering at the sincerity in his eyes. The evening had been perfect, filled with quiet moments and laughter, and now, as you stood together on the beach with the ocean breeze swirling around you, his words felt like a promise.

“Creating my next memory?” You asked, your voice barely above a whisper.

Leehan nodded, his smile softening. “Yeah. I want us to have more moments like this, you know? I want us to remember this summer not just as a time when we were friends but as something more.”

You took a deep breath, trying to steady the rush of emotions that were flooding over you. The way he spoke made it clear that this wasn’t just about summer or surfing; it was about something deeper, something real.

“What do you have in mind?” you asked, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness.

Leehan’s eyes sparkled with a mixture of mischief and affection. “It's a secret. And it will take time.”

"Really?" Leehan nodded as he took the stairs to your house along with you.

"Yeah, so you'll be free from me," you said, making a small pout.

"I started to get used to your annoying ass." You opened your door quietly; it was pretty late, and you knew your grandpa was sleeping.

Leehan put his palms on the door frame once I was inside, his face stretched to match mine. "Once again, you prove to me that you…"

"Don't do-"

"Love me." Like the first time, he sang the first word, but on the contrary, one month ago, this time you rolled your eyes with a smirk on your face, pushing him out as he gave you a smile.

"Goodnight, Leehan." You gave him your back to go to the kitchen, but his hand caught your waist and made you spin. Now you were face to face, your hands on his chest for support due to the sudden movement.

The moonlight bathed Leehan in a soft glow, casting a halo around him that made your heart skip a beat. His fingers lingered on your waist, his touch warm and gentle, as if he were testing the boundaries of the moment, unsure if he should take it further or let it fade.

You held your breath, feeling the weight of the unspoken tension between you. The electric current that had been building all evening was finally reaching its peak. His eyes searched yours, dark and intense, as though he was trying to find the courage to say what had been left unsaid for weeks.

“I’m serious,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. “I'm going to make this last week with you memorable. I'll give you my word.” Your heart hammered in your chest, and you felt yourself leaning in, pulled toward him like the tide to the shore. His face was so close now, close enough that you could see the way his breath hitched. His lips went to your cheek in the softest way possible.

He took his hands off your body, now a soft smile in his face as he watched you. So ethereal, so beautiful, so unique.

"Good night, lifeguard."

— : ☆

It wasn’t like him to go radio silent, especially after what had happened that night at your house. You found yourself constantly checking your phone, hoping for a text, a call—anything that would explain why he was gone so suddenly. But there was nothing. The beach felt different without him—quieter, lonelier. Even the familiar sounds of the waves crashing against the shore weren’t enough to drown out the thoughts swirling in your mind.

Had something changed between you? Had you crossed a line that couldn’t be undone?

Your grandpa had noticed your distraction, but as always, he kept his words to himself, only offering the occasional knowing smile whenever you seemed particularly lost in thought. It was a week later, though, when he came to you, holding a package wrapped in delicate, sea-blue paper.

“This arrived for you,” he said, his eyes twinkling with a quiet amusement.

You blinked, looking between him and the package. “For me?”

He nodded, handing it over. “From Leehan. He said you’d know when to wear it.”

Your heart fluttered at the sound of his name, and with trembling fingers, you carefully unwrapped the package, noticing something written in the wrap paper.

"Tonight. Be ready at 7. I’ll be waiting on the beach."

Inside was a dress—a beautiful, flowing white dress, simple yet elegant, with delicate lace details around the neckline. It was the kind of dress that felt timeless, like something out of a fairytale.

"How does he know my size?" you whispered.

"I called your mother, and she gave it to me." Your grandpa surprised you, and he simply winked, leaving your room as you admired the dress.

By the time the sun began to set, you were standing at the edge of the beach, your toes sinking into the cool sand. The dress flowed softly with the breeze, and for a moment, you felt like you were in a dream, like you had stepped into one of those romantic movies where the ending was bittersweet but beautiful.

Ahead, you saw it—the soft glow of string lights hanging between two palm trees, illuminating a small table set for two. The sound of distant laughter carried through the wind, and as you got closer, you spotted Leehan’s friends: Woonhak, Taesan, Jaehyun, Sungho, and Riwoo. They were busy setting up the final touches, but the moment they noticed you, they gave you a wave before retreating, leaving the scene just for the two of you.

Leehan stood by the water’s edge, his back turned toward you, his hair ruffled by the wind. He was wearing a white shirt that matched the dress he had chosen for you, and as he turned to face you, his eyes softened. The moon had begun to rise behind him, casting a silver light over the beach, making the whole scene feel like something out of a storybook.

“You look…” His voice trailed off, his gaze lingering on you as if words weren’t enough to capture what he wanted to say. “…perfect.”

You smiled softly, stepping closer. “This is beautiful, Leehan. I can’t believe you did all this.”

He scratched the back of his neck, looking a little sheepish. “I had some help,” he admitted, nodding toward the group of friends who were now disappearing down the beach. “But I wanted tonight to be special.”

You glanced around at the lights, the candles flickering on the table, and the waves gently lapping at the shore. It was special—more than you could have ever imagined. But beneath the beauty of it all, there was a bittersweet undercurrent, a silent understanding that this summer, this moment, was coming to an end.

As you both sat down at the table, the conversation flowed easily at first—lighthearted, filled with laughter, stories of the past few weeks, and jokes about the lengths he went to keep the evening a surprise. But as the night deepened and the stars began to dot the sky, the mood shifted.

There was a heaviness now, a shared sadness that neither of you could ignore.

Leehan's eyes lingered on yours longer than usual, the weight of everything unsaid pressing down on the both of you. The breeze carried the scent of saltwater, the distant hum of the ocean a constant reminder of the fleeting nature of this moment. You took a deep breath, feeling a lump form in your throat as the reality of the situation settled in. Two days. You had two days left together.

“I still haven’t heard back from the university,” Leehan said softly, breaking the silence. His voice was quieter now, vulnerable in a way you hadn’t seen before. “I keep checking my email, waiting for something, but nothing yet.”

Your heart clenched. You knew how much he wanted this, how hard he had worked to get to this point, and yet here he was—stuck in limbo, waiting for a future that still seemed so uncertain.

“I’m sure it’ll come,” you said, your voice gentle. “Maybe they’re just taking longer than usual.”

He gave a small, tight smile, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Yeah. Maybe.”

You both fell into silence again, the weight of the situation settling heavily between you. The string lights above flickered softly, casting warm, golden hues over the table, but they couldn’t chase away the growing ache in your chest.

Leehan leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair, his gaze fixed on the ocean. “You’re leaving in two days.”

It wasn’t a question, just a statement—a fact that hung in the air like a cloud over the evening. You swallowed hard, nodding.

“I know,” you whispered, your chest tightening. “It feels like this summer went by too fast.”

He nodded, still not meeting your eyes. “I didn’t want it to end like this. I didn’t want… us to end like this.”

The words hit you like a wave, crashing over you with a force you hadn’t expected. Us. He had said it—acknowledging what had been growing between you all summer, the connection that neither of you had dared to put a name to.

“You know,” you began, your voice trembling slightly. “I don’t want this to end either.”

Leehan’s eyes finally met yours, and in that moment, the vulnerability in his gaze mirrored your own. The emotions you had both been holding back all summer—fear, excitement, longing—were laid bare, unspoken but undeniable.

“Then why does it feel like we’re both saying goodbye?” His voice was barely above a whisper, the sadness in his tone echoing the ache in your own heart.

You didn’t have an answer. You didn’t know how to explain that sometimes things were too perfect to last. Sometimes, no matter how much you wanted to hold on, life had other plans. You reached across the table, your hand finding his, the warmth of his touch grounding you, even as everything else felt like it was slipping away.

“I’m going to miss you, surfer.” You whispered, your voice thick with emotion. “More than you know.”

Leehan squeezed your hand, his eyes never leaving yours. “I’m going to miss you too, lifeguard.”

The silence that followed was heavy with the weight of all the things you couldn’t say—how much you had come to care for him, how much this summer had changed you. But there was no need for words anymore. You both knew. The feelings were there, just beneath the surface, waiting to be acknowledged.

But you wouldn’t say it. Not tonight. Not when the thought of saying goodbye was already too much to bear.

Instead, Leehan stood up, offering you his hand. “Come on,” he said softly. “I have one last surprise.”

You let him lead you down to the water’s edge, the cool waves lapping at your feet. The moon was high in the sky now, casting a silvery glow over the ocean, and for a moment, it felt like you were the only two people in the world.

He pulled you into a slow dance, the sound of the ocean and the distant music from a small speaker he installed, blending together into a soft, romantic melody. You rested your head against his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath your cheek. His arms wrapped around you, holding you close, as if he were trying to memorize the feel of you in his arms.

“Thank you for this,” you whispered, your voice barely audible over the sound of the waves.

He didn’t respond with words. Instead, he pressed a soft kiss to the top of your head, his arms tightening around you. And in that moment, you knew. You both knew.

You were in love.

But it was a love you couldn’t hold on to, not right now. Not when the summer was ending and life was pulling you in different directions.

So, for tonight, you danced. You held on to each other as the waves whispered their goodbyes, as the stars blinked down from the sky, and as the world around you faded away. Because in this moment, you didn’t need to say anything.

— : ☆

You stood in the doorway, phone in hand, staring at the screen longer than you should have. The familiar weight in your chest grew heavier, pressing against your ribs as you swallowed down the lump in your throat. The house felt quieter now, the warmth of last night’s memory still lingering in the air. It was hard to believe that just hours ago, everything felt timeless, like your summer would never end. But now… it was real. You were leaving.

Taking a deep breath, you pressed the voice message icon and tried to keep your voice steady.

"Hey, Leehan. Sorry for bothering you. I know you're probably still sleeping, but my mom came earlier than expected, and…" Your voice wavered, but you forced yourself to continue. "I'm leaving right now for Seoul."

A wave of sadness washed over you as you spoke, each word feeling heavier than the last. You paused, trying to collect your thoughts, to say something meaningful, something that could capture the bittersweet emotions flooding your heart. You wanted to thank him for everything—for all the memories, for the way he made this summer feel like something out of a dream.

"Thank you for everything, Leehan. For the beach, for the laughter, for… for making this summer unforgettable." You hesitated, unsure of how to end it. "I’ll miss you."

The words hung in the air, final and inevitable. You released the button, watching the message send with a soft whoosh. It felt like letting go of something precious, something you weren’t quite ready to part with.

You pocketed your phone and turned to face your grandpa, who stood in the doorway watching you with a sad but understanding smile. His arms opened, and without a word, you wrapped yours around him, squeezing tightly. The scent of the sea, the warmth of his flannel shirt—everything about him reminded you of this place, of home.

“I’ll miss you so much, grandpa,” you whispered, your voice breaking just a little. Tears pricked your eyes, but you blinked them away, not wanting this moment to end in sadness.

He patted your back softly, his voice steady. "I’ll miss you too, kiddo. But you’ve got your whole life ahead of you. Don’t forget that."

Pulling back, you offered him a watery smile, nodding as you wiped at your eyes. He glanced over at your mom, who was waiting in the car, then back at you.

"You can always come back, you know. This town… it’ll always be here. And so will I."

You nodded, but the heaviness in your heart remained. It was never just about the town. It was about everything that had happened here, the memories you were leaving behind—memories you weren’t ready to let go of, not yet.

With one last look at the house, the beach in the distance, and the path you had walked so many times with Leehan, you climbed into the car. Your mom smiled softly as you buckled in, but you couldn’t return it. Not yet.

The engine started, and as the car pulled away, you found yourself turning back, looking through the rearview mirror at the small beach town fading in the distance.

Leehan stood by your grandpa, chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath, the bouquet of flowers cradled protectively in his arms. His eyes darted to the road where the car had just disappeared, his face pale with the weight of realization—he was too late. He gripped the flowers tighter, his knuckles white against the delicate petals.

Your grandpa placed a hand on Leehan’s shoulder, his expression soft, filled with the kind of understanding that only comes with age. “You didn’t miss her by much, son. She just left.”

Leehan nodded, but the words didn’t bring him comfort. The ache in his chest only grew as he looked down at the flowers, the card tucked neatly between them, filled with all the words he hadn’t been able to say to you. Five pages, front and back, confessing everything he had felt all summer—everything he had been too afraid to voice.

“I wanted to tell her,” Leehan murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. “I thought I had time.”

Your grandpa sighed, his hand still resting gently on Leehan’s shoulder. “Sometimes, we think we have all the time in the world. But life… it doesn’t always wait for us.”

Leehan’s gaze lingered on the empty road, his heart heavy with regret. He had planned everything so carefully—every detail of the beach date, every moment leading up to his confession. But now, it felt like it had slipped through his fingers like sand.

"Leehan!" he heard the familiar scream of Jaehyun; actually, all of his friends were running to him with smiles on their faces. Jaehyun was faster than the rest, a paper in his hand shoving in his face.

"God, MyungJae, what is that?"

"Read it!" He took the paper and read it, his energy below zero slowly going up. He could feel the relief when he read, "We are glad to have you, Kim Dong Hyun, at our university."

"I got in," he said, a small smile on his face.

"We all did! We're going to Seoul, baby!" Woonhak screamed, and that's when a bulb turned on Leehan's head. A soft touch on his shoulder made him look at the old man.

"I think you actually have a chance to give her the flowers."

Leehan’s heart raced as the realization hit him. Seoul. He was going to Seoul. The very place you were headed. He had a chance—maybe not to stop you from leaving, but to find you again, to tell you everything he had kept bottled up all summer.

He looked at his friends, who were all celebrating, but his mind was already somewhere else. Turning to your grandpa, who still had that knowing smile on his face, Leehan felt a surge of determination.

“I need to go after her,” he said, voice shaky but full of resolve.

Your grandpa chuckled softly, nodding. “I figured as much. Go on, son. She’ll be glad to see you.”

— : ☆

A month. That’s how long it had been since you last saw Leehan. No messages, no updates from your grandfather—just an aching silence that grew heavier with each passing day. And now, here you were, standing on the familiar beach in Seoul, the same place you came to clear your head. The sky was a fading blend of soft orange and pink, slowly surrendering to the approaching night.

The dress you wore felt like a relic from a time that felt both distant and painfully close—the same dress from that unforgettable beach date with Leehan. Nostalgia coursed through your veins, memories of that night replaying in your mind as the sound of the waves whispered around you.

You sighed, kicking at the sand as you walked closer to the water, unsure why you had returned here tonight. It was as if some invisible thread had pulled you back to this place, as if the universe wasn’t quite done with the story between you and him.

The soft crash of waves filled the silence, and for a moment, you let yourself get lost in the rhythm of the ocean, your thoughts drifting like the tide.

"That area is off-limits, young lady."

Your heart skipped, your breath catching in your throat as you whipped around at the familiar voice. And there he was, standing a few feet away, wearing that same teasing, lopsided smile that had made you fall for him in the first place. Leehan.

He looked a little different now—more mature, like the month apart had shifted something in him. But his eyes still held that spark, that mischievous glint you had come to adore.

“Leehan?” You breathed, your heart pounding so hard you thought it might burst from your chest.

He gave you a small shrug, his hands tucked casually in his pockets as he took a step closer. “What? You didn’t think I’d just disappear, did you? Especially after all the trouble I went through for that beach date.”

You couldn’t help the smile that tugged at your lips, your chest filling with warmth. “I thought you might’ve forgotten about me.”

His eyebrows shot up, a look of mock offense crossing his face. “Forgotten? You, lifeguard?” He stepped even closer, until he was standing right in front of you, his voice dropping to a soft murmur. “Impossible.”

Your heart swelled at his words, and for a moment, all the hurt and uncertainty from the past month seemed to melt away. But there was still one question you couldn’t shake.

“What are you doing here, Leehan?” You asked, your voice barely above a whisper.

He smiled, that teasing grin never leaving his face as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small bouquet of flowers. “Well, your grandpa might’ve told me a little secret. Something about how you always come here when you need to think.”

You blinked, your chest tightening at the thought of your grandpa playing matchmaker. “He told you where to find me?”

Leehan chuckled, shaking his head as he handed you the flowers. “Yeah, he’s pretty sneaky for an old guy.”

You took the bouquet, feeling the softness of the petals between your fingers, your heart racing at the thought that he had come all this way just for you. But before you could say anything, Leehan stepped closer, his expression softening, his voice turning serious.

“I’m so sorry,” he blurted out, his voice rough with regret. “For not calling, for not texting… for disappearing. I—I wanted to. Every single day, I wanted to reach out, but I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know if you’d even want to hear from me after I let you down.”

Your heart clenched at the sincerity in his voice. You had been angry at first, hurt by his silence, but now, seeing him like this, so vulnerable and broken by his own mistakes, you couldn’t hold on to that anger.

“I missed you,” you said softly, the truth of it spilling from your lips before you could stop it. “I missed you so much, Leehan.”

His eyes softened at your words, but the guilt in his expression remained. “I missed you too. Every day. And I hated myself for not telling you, for letting my own fear keep me from you.”

He took a step closer, his hand reaching out to gently cup your cheek. His touch was warm, familiar, and it sent a shiver down your spine.

"I messed up," he started, his voice quiet but heavy with emotion. "I should have called you the moment you left. Every day, I wanted to text you, to hear your voice, to know how you were doing… but I didn’t. I thought giving you space was the right thing. I thought I was being respectful, but honestly, I was just scared."

His thumb grazed over your knuckles, his touch soft, almost hesitant. "I was scared that maybe you'd moved on. Maybe I was just some summer fling to you and that the second you left for Seoul, I’d be forgotten. But I never forgot you. Not for a single second."

His voice cracked, and he paused, his eyes brimming with unshed tears. "Every time I looked at the ocean, I thought of you. I thought about the way you used to look at it, like it was a part of you, and all I could think was how much I missed you. How much I miss us."

You felt your heart tighten at his words, the weight of his confession sinking deep into your chest. He let out a shaky breath, stepping closer, his hands still holding yours as if he were afraid to let go.

"You have no idea how much I regret not picking up the phone and telling you how I felt. Because, God, I am so in love with you. I love the way you laugh when you think no one’s listening, the way you get lost in your thoughts when you're staring at the waves, the way you make everything feel right. I’ve loved you for so long, and I can’t keep pretending that I don’t."

His gaze softened, and his voice grew even quieter. "I’m sorry for making you think I didn’t care, for being such a coward. But I can’t let you walk away again without telling you how much you mean to me."

He took a deep breath, his grip tightening just a little as he leaned in, his voice steady but filled with an overwhelming tenderness.

"I love you, lifeguard."

The world seemed to fall away in that moment, the weight of his words settling over you like a gentle breeze. Your heart pounded in your chest, a mix of emotions swirling inside you—joy, relief, and love. You had waited so long to hear those words, and now that they were here, everything felt right.

A slow smile spread across your lips as you looked up at him, your hand tightening in his. “I love you too, Leehan.”

His eyes sparkled with happiness, and before you could say anything else, he closed the distance between you, his lips brushing softly against yours. The kiss was gentle at first, filled with the sweetness of first love, but as the moments passed, it deepened, filled with all the emotions you had both kept hidden for so long.

When you finally pulled away, Leehan rested his forehead against yours, a playful grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. “You know, I’ve been waiting a long time to do that.”

You laughed softly, your heart feeling lighter than it had in weeks. “I’m glad you finally did.”

He chuckled, his arms wrapping around you as he pulled you close. “Get used to it, lifeguard. I’m not going anywhere this time.”

"What do you mean?" He cleared his throat and looked at you.

"Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you. I got in, to the university."

Leehan laughed as you wrapped your arms around him, your excitement evident as you squeezed him tightly. The bouquet of flowers had tumbled onto the sand, their petals scattered around as you held him close.

“You got in?” You asked, your voice muffled against his chest.

He nodded, a bright smile on his face. “Yep. Me, Jaehyun, Woonhak… all six of us got in. Last month was moving everything and paper work. So, it looks like we’re both headed in the same direction.”

You pulled back slightly to look up at him, your eyes wide with surprise and joy. “You’re really here.”

Leehan’s grin widened as he nodded again. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

A wave of happiness washed over you, the feeling of his presence comforting and reassuring. “I’m so glad you’re here, Leehan.”

"And you know why?" You had a feeling of what was about to come. "Because you love me," he said, doing a small dance in front of you. This time, you laughed, your heart jumping in joy.

"Yeah, I do love you, surfer." He kept on dancing, so you took him by the collar of the shirt and kissed him once more.

Leehan’s laughter mingled with the rhythmic sound of the waves, filling the evening air with a playful melody. He stopped dancing when you pulled him closer, your lips meeting his in a kiss that spoke volumes. His lips were warm, and the kiss was both tender and teasing, full of the longing you both had felt over the past month.

As you broke away, he looked at you with a smirk. “You know, I’ve been practicing my dance moves just for this moment.”

You laughed, your eyes sparkling. “And here I thought you were just trying to impress me.”

Leehan’s grin widened, his fingers tracing light patterns on your arm. “Oh, trust me, impressing you is just the beginning. I’ve got a whole repertoire of moves I’ve been saving for our next date.”

Your heart skipped a beat at the thought of future moments with him. Hand in hand, you both walked along the shore, the waves gently lapping at your feet. The night was filled with laughter, flirtatious glances, and the promise of a future together. The summer might be ending, but with Leehan by your side, every moment felt like the beginning of a beautiful adventure.

↷ 𝚑𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚢'𝚜 note: After contasntly debating into wi¿hich one to put out to the world, here I am giving not only to the network but to the onedoorblr/bndblr my second work! I promise I will post more of my boys, I truly will (and pls the song in the intro has NOTHING to do with it LMAO, I forgot the song I chose before)💗

barista leehan x art student reader is in the works! let me know if you want to be tagged <3

members: leehan x gender neutral reader

genre: fluff, neighbors au

wc: 0.7k (blurb for an incoming oneshot!)

tw: insects

imagine leehan as your next-door neighbor when you move in your new unit. a month passes by and you develop a amicable relationship with him. your first, distant impression of him as the guy with a fish tank in his apartment slowly evolves into a positive one. while you wouldn't exactly say you trust him with your life, you can definitely rely on him for spare ingredients.

except the former gets put to the test pretty early—which leads to your current predicament. you've pressed yourself against the corner of your apartment, heart beating a mile a minute. you can feel a headache gradually growing as you attempt to figure out your next move. you have two choices:

plan a: you hunt down the wicked creature and dispatch of it as it casts its final breath, or

plan b: you pack up everything you own and move to the next city.

of course, you know deep down inside you would never carry out plan a—because cockroaches are your biggest fear. butterflies? their wings are pretty. millipedes? watching them slowly crawl their way from point a to b is cute. bees? even more adorable, and you're in awe of their power to sustain the ecosystem. but cockroaches? for the love of all that is holy, no. you would rather skydive than be in the same room as one. you've resolved to believe that, truly, not all insects are created equal (and roaches belong in hell).

but before you can even start shoving all your belongings into your luggage to make a run for it, a knock sounds at your door. not knowing who it is, you slowly creep towards the entrance, keeping your back to the wall in case the vile creature decides to make a run for you. once you're there, you call out, "who's there?" you try to sound unaffected, but the waver in your voice is obvious.

"it's me," the person on the other side of the door responds in a low, melodious voice. leehan! you thrust the door open and without thinking, you quickly circle him and use him as your shield. your neighbor makes a questioning hum, and you realize how rude you're being. still, you can't find it in yourself to face him like normal.

"what's this?" leehan asks amusedly, referring to your abrupt, awkward position. as he makes a move to turn around, you grip the back of his shirt with both hands.

"no!" at this, he pauses. instead, he tilts his head to look back at you, and you start rambling. "there's. a cockroach in my apartment. it's actually huge, monstrous even, like the size of my palm. i didn't know they could grow to be that big. or maybe it's an anomaly and it's actually evil and is strategizing to take me out for good. can you kill it please leehan. please, oh god."

at the end of your tirade, leehan is making a pensive sound. "so... you're scared of cockroaches?"

"was it not obvious enough!? yes, yes, yes a thousand times. please, leehan, this is literally so embarrassing and we aren't even close like that but please kill it for me."

close like what, leehan wants to ask, but he chooses not to comment on that. "alright," he sighs, "i'll kill it for you." as he tries to disentangle himself from you, you panic, taking it as a sign that your neighbor's about to abandon you for good. squealing, you wrap your arms around leehan's middle, squeezing him tight as you shake.

"leehan please don't go." as if this situation couldn't get any more humiliating, tears start dripping down your cheeks as you bury your face in leehan's back. hearing your sniffles, leehan finally understands the severity of your fear and how much his presence means to you.

in the midst of your bawling, you feel a warm hand pat your entwined arms. "it's okay," leehan soothes you, "i promise i won't leave you alone." he finally extricates himself from you as you stare fixedly at the floor, hands clutching at his. "come on, won't you look at me?" with your tear-blurred vision, you look up at your potential savior, who looks as gentle as ever. he's got a warm, comforting gaze and a steady grip on you. "i got you. do you believe in me?'

when you slowly nod, leehan steels his resolve and steps into your apartment. "now let's go exterminate this creature."

like, rb, and let me know what you think of my writing!

taglist 𓉞⋆｡˚☁︎｡⋆ @loserlvrss @lionhanie @myungjaesgf @sunnyhaki @woorcve @dorislitterbox @dearly-somber

but i like you! | leehan x female reader , childhood friends to lovers, college au

── warnings: kissing, cursing | wc: 2.07k

words from wam 🗯️ first written !

back to masterlist

“So what’s with you and Leehan?” Minji didn’t even give you a chance to rebut before adding on “You know everyone thinks you two are dating.” 

“Hello to you too Minji-” you sighed out before closing your phone to give your full attention to your friend “As I said, numerous times before- nothing is going on between us. We’re friends, I mean I knew the guy since I was 14, god forbid I have childhood friends..” 

“So you two are nothing?” Minji asks, still prodding curiously for an answer from you only to be met with a sigh and an annoyed nod for the millionth time

“Soo you wouldn’t mind setting me up with him?” she inquires which immediately makes you turn to face her eyes staring up at you like a desperate little puppy 

“If you wanted me to help you get with him you should’ve just started with that” you sigh out in a bit of a half chuckle. Taking a sip of your boba you glance over to see how she was still staring at you with those same pleading eyes, only to lead you to continue with “that’s a yes by the way.” which undoubtedly made her gleam on the spot 

“It’s just, you know you two are like always together and half the campus think you guys are a thing so I just was making sure-” rambling on Minji feels the need to defend herself for even asking to have you play as faux cupid for her, but is only met with a hand on her shoulder and a reassuring nod from you before saying “Minji seriously, it’s fine. I mean Donghyun doesn’t really have too much going on in his life so, he kinda needs this.” 

Minji wants to refute but instead is cut off by said conversation topic heading right your way

“Yah YN, give me back my hoodie, it's freezing in here!” Leehan shouts out despite being only a few feet away, leading you to strip off his hoodie from your body to throw it at his face before muttering “How can you be cold after practice, I can still see the sweat on your forehead.” 

Only garnering an eye roll from Leehan before biting back with “The court is always cold.” 

You were about to counter but then you remembered the task at hand, and matches weren’t going to be made themselves. “Hey Minji, do you want to come to lunch with us!” you ask before promptly turning around to be met with a very flustered face. 

“Oh you sure I won’t be intruding? It’s totally fine if I am, I really don’t mind-” 

“You’re not, trust.” you didn’t really give her nor Leehan time to answer before dragging the two of them to the dining hall making sure you subtly pushed Minji a bit to the side every so often so that her and Leehans hands could ‘coincidentally’ brush past each other. To your dismay, the dining hall seemed to be closer than you assumed, meaning you had moments to spare to find an excuse to dip. 

“Oh hey I just realised, I have a class project due like super soon and I promised yeji I would meet up with her to do it!” honestly you weren’t really buying your own lame excuse but that didn’t really matter as you rushed off immediately before calling out “You two have fun!” 

“You’re kidding” you couldn’t believe what you were hearing, I mean after your years of match making successes how was Kim Minji dropping this bomb on you right now “What do you mean it didn’t go well, I thought you guys started texting?” 

“We did! But that doesn’t change the fact that he already likes someone” Minji sighed out before scooping a handful of chips into her mouth. In all honesty she didn’t seem too phased by this whole thing, which was more of a reason for you to be worried. Because Minji, your boy crazy and insanely delusional friend Minji, didn’t bat an eye to her crush rejecting her. 

“Okay now why do I sound more upset than you are?” you pry, now being the one to shovel chips into your mouth

“Because,” Minji starts before promptly tying up the bag of chips and tossing it onto your nightstand “I could honestly see it coming from a mile away, I’m surprised you didn’t catch onto it.”

“No way, that dude’s a fucking liar. There is no plausible way Kim Donghyun likes someone and I don’t know about it”

“Well he’s not lying because he told me who it is, and to be honest it’s really obvious” she says with a smirk before wiping off calbee chip dust on her shorts and promptly packing away her things 

What? How could he tell Minji and not you? Aren’t you guys supposed to be best friends, what’s so secretive about it that he can tell Minji and not his friend of years? 

“Wait what? Who is it Minji? Please, I beg you. I mean the guy’s got like 7 friends. I'd probably guess it eventually so why don’t you just tell me now!” you follow her around the room like a puppy, begging for answers whilst she packs away her things not really giving you a second glance before responding with “Then I guess you’ve gotta keep guessing!”

“Minji please!” you cry out, watching her in hopelessness as she headed towards the door 

“I’ve got class.” she replies, before flashing a mischievous grin and opening the door to walk out. And as if on cue, like a trade off, she greets Leehan with a polite smile before patting him on the back before he headed in. 

“What was that all about?” he asked before plopping his bags down next to your bed and making himself comfortable on your couch

“You’re a fucking liar.”

“Oh good evening YN, it’s great to see you too! How was my day? Oh my day was great actually considering I absolutely aced my quiz. Donghyun one, physics zero-”

“Why did you lie to Minji” you cut in, now positioning yourself to face him with your arms crossed and eyes still squinting in annoyance 

“I have no clue what you’re talking about” Leehan doesn’t even bat an eye before reaching over to your nightstand before grabbing the chips Minji had previously tucked away and wrapped up shut

“Why did you lie and say that you like someone?” 

“It’s not a lie, because I do like someone” he replies, almost too nonchalantly which makes the words coming out of his mouth even more shocking 

“What? How come I never knew?” 

“Because, you don’t need to know? I wanna keep some things private” you almost can’t believe it when the words leave Leehan’s mouth. I mean you two told each other everything, you told him every one of your crushes, you couldn’t say it didn’t sting just a bit when he didn’t feel the same comfortability with you. 

“Come on I could totally fix you up with her if you just told me! Do you want to die single or something? I’ve got a clean track record for playing cupid, ask any one of my friends!” you suggest, raising your tone up one octave to try and mask the fact that you were actually pretty upset by this 

Still not sparing you a glance, Leehan only reaches into the bag of chips before quipping “Clean? Not so sure about that one…” 

“Okay well that’s your fault. If we discount your anomaly then it’s squeaky clean!” you bite back, now snatching the chips from his hand to scoop them into your mouth, which only garners a snarky glare from him.

Sighing back and adjusting himself on the couch he hesitates before finally mumbling out “Well it’s fine because she doesn’t like me anyways” his voice low and hushed, and his gaze still averted from yours 

“How do you know that, has she told you?”

“No it’s just,” Leehan pauses to finally glance up at you, but it’s only for a quick second before he drops his head down back to hands which were nervously picking at the loose threads on your couch “it’s just complicated okay?”

Complicated? How on earth could it be complicated? From your years of friendship you knew Leehan was quite the oddball at times but unlikeable? That’s far-fetched. In all honesty he was the furthest thing from it: he had good humor, was passionate in his interests, great company, a gentleman (to everyone but you), and you couldn’t deny that he was undoubtedly good looking. 

“What’s so complicated about it?” 

“She’s just-” sighing out Leehan leans back to rest his head on the wall before frustratingly running his hands through his hair “she’s her okay. She's loud, bubbly, outgoing- she’s got a personality. And I’m just Kim Donghyun, I don’t really stand a chance” 

“Trust me one moment with me and she won’t think that. I can set any girl up with you trust, unless it’s me of course” you joke, waiting for Leehan to chuckle in response

But he doesn’t. And this is where Kim Donghyun screws up. He hesitated for just a minute too long, averted his gaze far too much for your liking, and paused just long enough for you to realise who this whole conversation is about. 

Shit. 

Coming to this realisation you can’t help but immediately move yourself down to the couch so that you can stare him dead set in the eyes before muttering out “Yah, Kim Donghyun. You’re not serious are you…”

And instead Leehan doesn’t laugh, he doesn’t smile, he doesn’t crack a joke, he doesn’t even look at you. Oh so he’s serious. 

“This, this wasn’t how you were supposed to find out” he winces before finally sheepishly looking up at you; only to be met with your pupils slightly dilated, mouth agape, and a bright red hue flushing over your face. This is where Leehan screws up again. 

“Listen I know you don’t like me back, it’s fine…can we just forget about this ever happening and just move on?” he rushes to say, hoping that you could magically forget about this whole conversation happening and things could go back to the way they were, but to his surprise…

“Are you going to answer yourself for me or am I allowed to talk?”

“What?” there’s no way he’s hearing this 

“Well I don’t not like you.” you start, hoping Leehan could get the message from there to save yourself the embarrassment of having to explain yourself. But instead he just stares at you, a mirror image of how you were gazing at him earlier, except his eyes are much wider in shock, his mouth is absolutely hanging open, and his ears are burning a bright red. 

“I just- you know for years it was just always you denying that we were ever a thing. And like I’ll be honest, in highschool I had a huge crush on you so hearing that over and over again I just kinda accepted that it wasn’t gonna happen, regardless of if I wanted it or not you know? And going into college I was still trying to accept that it was never gonna happe-” 

“Why’d you set me up with Minji then?” Leehan cuts in to stop your rambling

“I guess, some stupid part of me thought it would be easier for me to get over you if you had someone already…does that make sense?” this time it’s your turn to avert his gaze. But instead of a reply you feel Leehan’s warm hands lacing between yours causing you to jolt up to face him, and the dopey grin on his face seemed to answer that question fully. 

“Is it weird if I ask to kiss you right now?”

“I think it would be weirder if you didn’t Donghyu-” but Leehan doesn’t let you finish that sentence before pressing his lips against yours. At first you’re too surprised to even reciprocate, but with his hands snaking around the nape of your neck to pull you in closer you immediately melt. As if your lips are drawn to him with a string you return the kiss, running your fingers through his hair as you get lost in this touch. 

Finally pulling away you can’t help but laugh before mumbling out “Guess my track record is pretty clean after all”