Nct U Fanfic - Tumblr Posts

STARLIT; NAKAMOTO YUTA

neighbor!nakamoto yuta x reader

On your way to work, you had encountered a man moving in to your apartment building, on the same floor as your apartment. There was something about him that attracted you in first glance. Was it because of the stars in his eyes?

genre: neighbors to lovers, kind of a slow burn?, romance, oneshot, fluff

warnings: might have some errors :( sorry about that ><

words: 9.7k+

tags: @iwonzzi @sunbokie @angel-hyuckie @joker0705 @bbjisungg @spectracully @mmarrie @jwoos-colored @deysii @trashlord-007 @jeonqquk @neotechhsworld @kjpmin @yellowsbuttercup @je4nsv @whatsa-bi-as @gu-nil

Stargazing. One interest that eventually became a big part of your life. It fascinated you. It never fails to give you such astonishment.

It's one of your favourite hobbies. Looking at the celestial bodies through the lens of a telescope made you wonder how much more magnificent will they be up close. Maybe not too close where it endangers your life but you get the point. Your curiosity over the twinkling stars and sometimes the visible planets from the atmosphere of the earth are the reason why you picked up this hobby. Since you were little you always wondered, what were those things in the sky? What would they look like if you take a closer look?

This interest of yours was clearly evident. The stars were always present in your past school activities where you know you can include them. You were always ten times more attentive when the topic in your science class enters the chapter for astronomy or the outer space. You did research about them in your free time because you always wanted to learn more. Soon, people started to associate the heavenly bodies with you; giving you the nickname "stargazer". You can bet that most of the people in your life thinks of you when they hear terms related to the subject and they found it quite adorable.

Your parents were supportive with your interest. On your fifteenth birthday, they bought you your first ever telescope and you remember the moment vividly. Right when you tore the gift wrapper of the big and tall box that your parents said contained your present inside, it left your mouth hanging open in disbelief. You were so happy that you teared up before giving your parents a hug, saying thank you over and over again like a broken record player. Until you reached college and after you graduated, the first telescope you ever had was still with you; even when you bought a new one. It was both displayed in your living room near the window of your apartment. Luckily you had a good view as you were twenty-five floors above the ground. Although moving in was hell because of how high the floor was, it was worth it for you when you have a beautiful view of the night sky and the city lights as well. When you go home stressed from your work at a local library or just stressed from life in general, just one look outside your window and your tiredness instantly wiped out; replaced by your childlike excitement.

Like any normal day in your life, you woke up at six in the morning and did your daily routine— from freshening up to drinking a cup of coffee. You're not a morning person so there's a chance that you still might take five minute naps that turns into a whole hour. As a result, you're usually tardy at work.

But today was unlike those days. There was something in the way you woke up that you could tell you were in a good mood. Kind of like the world's way of saying that today will go smoothly for you. The morning was bright and lively and so were you. After getting dressed, you made sure your valuables were with you— phone, keys, and wallet, leaving once you made sure everything was set; locking the door of your apartment once you stepped out. You noticed that there were boxes stacked four doors away from yours. Hm, looks like I'll have a new neighbor. You thought before walking down the hall to reach the elevator at the end of the corridor, standing patiently as you wait for it to arrive.

A soft ding resonated through the quiet floor and the lift's door slid open, more stacks of boxes greeted you while you heard a faint grunt from behind the cardboard materials. You stepped aside in respect, muttering a quiet 'sorry' just as the person stepped out. "Can I help?" You asked politely, wanting to lend a hand with the man who was struggling with the boxes he was carrying. "No it's fine, I appreciate your offer." He replied, looking at you when he whipped his head from the other side to the side where you were. He had a small smile on his face and immediately, you were captivated. His smile was gorgeous, he was gorgeous. However only one thing stood out to you the most, and it was his eyes. They were magnificent, they look like they were filled with stars as they glistened from reflecting light. You were hypnotized. "Are you sure?" You asked once more to which he answered with a nod. "It's nothing don't worry." The man spoke. "Alright. Have a great day." You uttered before pressing the down button again because you missed the elevator that had just arrived. "You too." He said before walking away.

Finally you managed to step inside the elevator and go down to the lobby. But as the doors were about to close, the same man from earlier peeked towards your direction before flashing the smile that seemed to heal anything and waving his hand in this manner that made him look adorable to you. Even though you kind of waved back last minute when the doors were about to close, he managed to see it.

Somehow this man managed to charm you in one glance. Is this love at first sight? You shook your head at the thought. It's impossible that you fell in love right away after one interaction, especially a short one; in all your past relationships, you made sure you got to know them more before even saying that you love them. How come you feel like this now? It was bizarre yet you didn't particularly dislike this feeling on your chest. Even while you were on your way to the library you were working at, there was this tingle throughout your whole body every time the image of the man you interacted with earlier suddenly crosses your mind.

"You're all smiley today." Your co-worker and best friend, Taeil, pointed out as soon as you entered the place. "You're not like this in the morning. Are you buying a new telescope again? Or did you find something exquisite last night?" He asked in a whisper-like manner— the two of you are working at a library after all. His first statement slightly took you aback. You were smiling the whole time? You slightly felt embarrassed, nervous that your cheeks might be turning rosy. That's why you tried to shake it off and just play it cool. "No I think I just woke up on the right side of the bed." Taeil stopped abruptly with whatever he was doing before giving you this smile a dad would give their child when they're about to tease them. "Are you blushing?" "What? No— no why would I even." You chuckled before clocking in and getting behind the counter, placing your bag on one of the shelves underneath it. "We've been working together for almost three years now. I've seen how you act when someone catches your eye."

Sometimes you forget how he can easily read you. Taeil was three years older than you and he turned into this father figure of yours that you can always turn to and ask for advice. He became your best friend as well and you're always thankful for this man that always has your back. Even if he acts like an actual dad to you sometimes, at least his jokes are better than the one's your biological father makes (ps. don't admit that to Taeil or else he'll grow an ego and keep on making more dad jokes).

"I'm— no one caught my eye." "Yeah you're lying I just know it. The lies you say right in front of me." He jokingly stated.

You are a bit scared about this newly felt notion. Perhaps you can tell him and he'll be able to help you find an answer to why this shiver of a compelling emotion seeped in your heart rapidly. "Alright fine you win maybe someone did." You admitted.

"Who?" "To be honest, I don't know him." You looked at Taeil with pursed lips. "So you, the great 'it takes a long time for me to have feelings' (Y/N), had your attention caught by a stranger?" He was bewildered. In the three years of the two of you being friends and all, this never happened. At all. It's understandable that he's surprised by this; even you are surprised. "Technically he's going to be my neighbor. Or he's like my neighbor, I guess. He's moving in today and I had a small encounter with him that's all."

Taeil's mouth was wide open, gaping at the words you told him. "A small encounter and he already caught your eye?! Damn he must be a god or something then—" unexpectedly, he exclaimed in amusement. "Shh— be quiet, Taeil." You hushed the older boy and he immediately covered his mouth with his hand. "I don't know what's so special about him. It can't be love at first sight, right? Because that's not a real thing." You said, asking for reassurance.

"Honey, it's real and that's what you're experiencing right now. You've been in three relationships and none of them had you caught up like this in just a short period of time." He put the same hand he used to cover his mouth on his hip. Making him look like that one sassy friend you'll always have or encounter in your life.

You're in denial. The whole day while you were working you kept asking yourself— Why? How? What? Other than those type of thoughts, your friend has been pestering you with questions.

"What does he look like?" "He looks decent I guess." "YOU GUESS? HE MADE YOU FALL IN LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT AND YOU'RE TELLING ME HE LOOKS DECENT AND IT'S FOLLOWED BY 'I GUESS'?!" "Shush shush shush stay quiet or else we'll get in trouble!" You scolded him and he only pouted as a response.

"What if I walk you to your apartment until your actual apartment door just so I can personally see this man." "Taeil, no." "Taeil, yes." A sigh escaped your lips. "I am practically your second father, I have the righ— hey where are you going." He cut himself off when he saw you walking away, heading towards the aisles of bookshelves to which he supposed you were going to stock some of them.

Day became night and your shift will be over in just a few more minutes. The library is open for twenty-four hours and as expected, there are moderately more people at night than in the day. But you don't blame the people who go at night though; because you do think the ambiance of reading, studying, writing, and researching at night is much better. It feels more calm and quiet. Well in your opinion anyway. You hope that Taeyong and Seulgi who work the night shift will be able to stay up until the day.

You closed your eyes while you were reclining on the chair, thinking that maybe just maybe it'll make time pass by faster. What seemed and felt like a good ten minutes have passed, you clicked your tongue disappointedly when the clock on your phone read 8:13 PM. "What it's only been two minutes?" You groaned softly. "(Y/N)." "Hm?" You tilted your head at Taeil's direction. "Very genuine question but do you feel like you're hoping to see that stranger-slash-neighbor of yours again?" He said after he leaned from the other side of counter.

Now that he asked about it, the familiar tingle made its way into your heart again and it made you breathe a deep breath. You want to say no just because you're in denial, however you do want to see his marvelous smile and his twinkling eyes once more. You do hope that you'll see or cross paths with him again.

"Kind of..." You quietly confirmed. "Look it's not bad to fancy someone right away. Besides, that might just be a short fling or a small crush. Don't worry too much." He patted your head then chuckled. He has a point. You just had this pride over not being the first person to like someone that sometimes, you forget there is nothing bad with it at all. Yet again, it's this small trauma you had when you confessed first and got rejected badly back in highschool. But Taeil is right. He's always right (in some occasions). It may just be a short term thing that you shouldn't worry about. "Thank you." You smiled at your friend.

At last, you can finally go home. You bid your goodbyes with Taeil before proceeding to walk to the bus stop about nine minutes away. You stopped at the sidewalk to look at the sky for a moment and you saw that there were more stars tonight than yesterday. It looked beautiful; the scene filled with what seems to be hundreds of stars displayed at the night sky, with constellations waiting to be spotted. You admired it for a while before walking once again.

Eventually, you finally reached the bus stop and after an estimated waiting time of fifteen minutes, you finally got on one and all you were waiting for was to arrive at your destination. You scrolled through your phone to occupy and entertain yourself during the ride, casually looking out the window from time to time because yes, you managed to sit next to the window. The bus wasn't that crowded anyways. When you hopped, in you saw that there were only about seven passengers; you being the eighth one. Although you were stuck in traffic for almost an hour, you still got home before the clock strikes ten.

You entered your apartment building, quickly walking towards the elevator and pressing the up button. The small led screen just above it read that it was coming down from your floor. Someone from there is probably going down to the lobby. You waited for a few minutes to which made you zone out before coming back to reality after the soft ding the elevator made. The doors opened and behold, you saw the face you were hoping to see. "Oh my bad—" you stepped aside to give him room. It was the same situation, the only difference was it was night and he had no boxes on his hands.

"No worries." The man chuckled softly. "Long day from work?" He asked after stepping out of the lift. "Yeah, kind of tired." You replied. "Hope you get a nice rest." "Thank you." You smiled at him before stepping in the elevator, only to realize he was holding it from the side to stop it from closing, only letting go when you were already inside. So that's why it seemed like the doors were open way longer than it should've?

You were left in awe, surprised that he did that for you. Good thing the door already closed when your mouth was low-key hanging open. It was a small gesture yet so thoughtful. Maybe Taeil is right about him being a god as well or that maybe he's an angel who was granted the chance to live on Earth. Because oh my god, you've never encountered anyone like this. Your heart was racing and you bit your lower lip out of realization; you do in fact, have a crush on him.

Hurriedly, you speed-walked your way to your apartment as soon as you got out the elevator and you opened the door of your apartment. "Oh my god." You said to yourself before going to your room and plopping on top of your bed. It felt like you were back to your teenage years, the nostalgic feeling of butterflies swarming your stomach over a crush came back and it felt like greeting and welcoming an old friend. It really has been a while. It felt new even if you have already experienced it before. You know absolutely nothing about him, he was mysterious to you and it makes you dizzy. You were bewitched by his smile, his eyes, and even his manners.

Dang, is this why you woke up in a good mood?

"He held the elevator door for you?! I swear, if you don't ask for his name or his number I will personally do that for you—" that was Taeil's reaction when you told him what happened last night the next morning. "Yeah but what if he's really just kind to other people." "That's just another reason for you to ask his name and his number." Taeil sassed as he was typing in some of the newly delivered books in the library's database. "I don't want to make the first move, Taeil. You know why..." You sighed as you were stapling a few paperwork. "I know I know. I'm sorry if that came out as ignorant over your small trauma." He sincerely apologized. "It's alright. Although I want to, you know? I'm just scared." You huffed sadly, placing the stapler and the papers down on the counter. Taeil went ahead and patted your back comfortingly, "You don't have to force yourself. Even I won't make any comments that sounds like I'm forcing you, anymore. Just take your time or let fate do it for you instead. Who knows." He consoled you and you thanked him for it.

"Do you want coffee? I'll go and grab us some." You asked as you placed the stuff you used back to it's respective places, putting the papers you just stapled in a folder. "An iced americano would be nice, but I'll just have cola." Taeil laughed slightly at his own words. "Of course you'll have cola instead." You shook your head at him jokingly. "Alright I'll be back." And with that, you left to go to the nearby convenience store instead.

Entering the store, you immediately went to the where the beverages were. You opened the door of the beverage cooler, grabbing Taeil's beloved cola before closing it and scooting a bit to the side to get your bottle of coffee. For some reason you decided to get a snack as well, a candy to be specific, so you have something to chew on while working; and you decided to go for chewy candy. So you went to the aisles designated for sweets and saw the one you were just looking for. However when you reached for it, another one did as well and it made you retract your hand at the speed of light. "Ah you can have it, I apologize—" you turned to face the person. Your eyes widened when you saw the face of your neighbor.

"Looks like we didn't meet with the presence of an elevator this time." He laughed and boy, did his laugh sound like music to your ears. A short chuckle escaped your lips and you nodded in agreement "Yeah. I bet we'll see eachother again at the elevator later." You joked. "I'll look forward to that." He responded and it made you blush, but it was unnoticeable so thank god. "I'm Yuta by the way. Can't believe we've encountered eachother twice, well three times now, and I still haven't introduced myself." "It's alright, my name's (Y/N)." You smiled.

The both of you headed to the cashier. He walked up first so you decided to queue behind him but he insisted that you can ring up your items with his. You pulled out your wallet from your pocket only to be stopped by Yuta. "Hey it's fine, it's on me." "But—" "Please?" He looked at you with puppy eyes before laughing. He paid for the things you got and again, the butterflies were there. "Thank you, Yuta. I really appreciate it." You uttered shyly. "My pleasure." Yuta replied, flashing that pretty smile of his. "I'll head back to my work, it was nice bumping into you. Thank you again." "Mhm, take care! I'll see you later." He chuckled once more. This man sure does chuckle and laugh a lot.

You left the store but you took one last peek inside. You saw that his eyes were on you and it made your heart flutter. With one last wave of goodbye, you started to walk back to the library. The smile that was plastered on Yuta's face just grew wider.

Taeil had his eyebrows furrowed at the sight of the reddish tint on your cheeks while you handed him his cola. He squinted his eyes and gazed on you suspiciously. "So..." He moved his chair to be able to interrogate you properly. "Hm?" You hummed. "Are you planning to share... Why you're as red as this coca-cola can?" He raised an eyebrow. "His name is Yuta." You said with zero hesitation. "WHAT, HOW?" Taeil asked rather loudly, making you shove one piece of the chewy candy in his mouth gently to quiet him down. "I met him at the convenience store." You admitted, taking a sip from your coffee to conceal the involuntary smile forming on your lips. "Wow that's just..." He clapped his hands quietly while chewing.

Maybe Taeil is right (once again) that fate will do it for you instead as it seems that the world is in favor of your crush on your neighbor; it's literally making the two of you coincidentally bump into one another.

Him paying for the stuff you got and giving you puppy eyes (even if it was in a jokingly manner) when you said no made you wonder if he truly is just too kind and friendly to anyone else. You try to remind yourself that it's not impossible that he is simply that type of person; convincing yourself to stop being delusional that maybe he likes you too. You wanted to avoid thinking foolishly— because that's what caused your embarrassing confession years ago with your past crush in highschool.

You didn't want to experience all of that again just because of hope that you only made for yourself.

But yet again you thought, did he mean it when he said he'll see you later? Though the two of you were only joking about it, a part of you hoped that he meant it.

With him occupying your head, it was unbeknownst to you that time had already passed by pretty quickly. You swore when you checked the time on your phone a few seconds back, it only read 5:26 PM. How is it already the end of your shift? Although you weren't complaining, in fact you were happy about it.

After exchanging farewells with Taeil, you immediately went to the bus stop as if your life was depending on it. You wanted to go home as fast as you could. Hoping that maybe the two of you would indeed meet.

Eventually you came into the realization that you are hopelessly whipped for Yuta. It took him only three encounters and you're already gone, deeply infatuated with him whom you only knew as the man moving in at first. When on the other hand, the guys that came in your life and left took months, even years, as opposed to him. Is he even human? Is he a wizard or something? Did he just cast a spell on you?

A hint of anxiety flowed throughout your entire body when you have reached your apartment building, already standing in front of its doors. Disappointment enveloped your emotions when you entered the building and didn't see him; even when you already got to your floor. You brought out your keys and opened the door of your apartment, closing it afterwards and then huffing at your own silly hope as you removed your earphones plugged in your ears. You went to your room to change into your pajamas before heading back out to the living room. Sitting down at your two-seater couch, you gazed out of the window. You needed to do something in order to clear your head and have your focus on something else other than him.

You walked towards the window where your telescopes were near. You opened the window and a fresh cold breeze greeted you as it entered and circulated your apartment, making the atmosphere just a little bit colder than usual. It's been a while since you had used the first telescope you had, so you decided that it'll be the one who'll guide you for tonight's discoveries. You set everything up and it was all ready. A small grin showed up on your face before you proceeded to take a peek through the scope. The notebook and pencil you brought out when you fixed your set up, were propped on top of a nearby drawer; you took note of the things you saw as much as possible. Other than noting them, you also sketched the stars and other celestial bodies that you have managed to gaze upon by the help of your telescope.

A knock on your door broke the focus you had. Your heart was thumping while you were slowly approaching your door with quiet footsteps. Scared of who or what it might be. By raising the flap of your door's peep hole, you peered outside, the loud drumbeat sound your heart was making softened and became more tamer at the sight of who it was. You opened the door halfway, peeking your head outside with one fourth of your body hidden behind the wooden door.

"Good evening, Yuta." You greeted quietly but audible enough for him to hear. "Good evening." He greeted back, showing his enchanting pearly whites albeit shyly. "I made too much popcorn." He chuckled. You only noticed the large bowl in his hands when he mentioned it and you agreed, it was a lot. "I didn't want them to go to waste and they won't taste good anymore if I save them for later. But you're the only person I know here so far—" He explained sheepishly. "It's alright. Come in." You invited with a grin.

"How did you know this was my door?" "Oh I saw you enter when I went out to grab some butter at the mini grocery across the street. I wanted to say hello but you looked very exhausted. Didn't want to bother you, you know? I just had to now because of all this popcorn." Yuta said as he stepped in your apartment after you let him in. "Really?" You asked while closing the door and guiding him towards your one and only couch. Yuta hummed in response.

"Did I interrupt something? You seem busy, I'm so sorry" "No no, it's nothing." You assured him.

"I was just stargazing for fun, that's all." You sat down, motioning for him that it's okay to take a seat. "It does sound fun." He remarked.

"I've always wanted to try it to be honest. I was always curious what the things from afar would look like up close. It's the same thing with looking through microscopes but I already tried that in seventh grade." Yuta chuckled before sitting down the couch and placing the bowl of popcorn on your coffee table. "I love how you placed the couch where you're able to view the cityscape." He complimented randomly, making you feel flustered. "Mhm. Sitting down here at night is when this decision of mine is the best." You laughed. "Well I mean it's true." Yuta laughed along with you and the sound was harmonious.

Because of the size of your couch, the distance between your figures were just inches away; to the point where with one slight movement, your bodies would brush against eachother and it sent shivers down your spine.

"Do you want to try?" You offered, clearly referring to him trying out stargazing and he perked up with this sudden excitement. "If it's okay with you of course." He said, waiting for a confirmation even when you already hinted that you're giving him permission. You swore you saw millions of stars twinkle in his eyes when you nodded. It was the exact same twinkle that you saw when you first bumped into him and it was beautiful. You helped him with how he should move the telescope to his liking, to further wander his eyes through the night sky. "This is amazing!" He exclaimed with the evident enjoyment in his tone. You reached for the bowl of popcorn and decided to eat some while you watched how he gleefully and curiously looked through the scope.

A conversation started while he stargazed. The both of you talked whil you were munching on the popcorn beside him. You shared that growing up, the celestials have been a big part of your life, and that you actually thought of wanting to be an astronomer, but you knew you couldn't. You shared that you were working at a local library and you even told stories about the things that would happen during your work hours. Yuta listened attentively, eventually halting from what he was doing to look at you; his interest shifted from the heavenly bodies to the things you were sharing about yourself.

He was beaming at the way you talked about your hobbies, your likes, and your interests. You looked happy as you shared those things about yourself with him. Despite only knowing him for a short while, you were treating Yuta as if the two of you have known eachother for years and it warmed his heart. Yuta didn't know that he was slowly being fond of you. You left an intriguing impression on him; the first time he met you he immediately had this thought that he wants to get to know you. That urge of him only grew more with all the coincidental encounters and he got that chance now, all because he accidentally put too many kernels in the pot.

"I'm sorry did I overshare?" You anxiously asked, afraid that he stopped enjoying because of your too much blabbering. "No. You didn't, don't worry." "I think it's my time to say some things about me. You know, to be fair." Yuta continued with a smile, wanting to give you the same amount of trust you gave him with your personal life.

"I moved here from Japan because I wanted to pursue a career in interior design and I got an offer here." Yuta said as the two of you ended up sitting back on your two-seater couch. "Is that why you complimented the placing of my couch?" A slight chuckle came out of your lips. "Kind of, yeah." He admitted, trying not to laugh at himself.

Yuta shared the same things you said about yourself a while ago; he shared his hobbies, his likes, and his interests.

You found out that he used to play soccer and was in the path of becoming a professional player. However due to an accident before he graduated senior high, he had fractured his leg wherein they needed to place metal implants, resulting to him being no longer able to do the things he used to do. He was heartbroken about it, it left him depressed for months. He said those words with a sad smile and you felt your heart sink. You guess it's true when they say that people with the brightest smiles truly have the saddest experiences.

He said he started liking interior design because of a game he played to keep him sane, and that's when he decided to pursue this second interest of his instead. Initially, he didn't expect that he'll enjoy it. It was too out of the ordinary for him but he found it fun and a new passion of his bloomed.

More and more stories have been exchanged between the both of you as the night goes on. Along with some laughs and maybe some tears when the desolate anecdotes came. The large bowl that was once filled to the brim with popcorn is now empty, and the clock that read somewhere along 10 PM is now showing that it's midnight— bringing the conversation you were both having into an end.

"It was nice talking to you, (Y/N)... It felt lovely. You're a fun person to talk to. Thank you for helping me with the popcorn too—" He chuckled, the two of you were at your door, bidding goodbyes to have a good night's rest. "Anytime, Yuta... It was nice talking to you too." You smiled softly.

"Goodnight, hope you sleep well." "Goodnight, Yuta." You closed the door and you felt your cheeks become sore from grinning too widely.

You got to know him better and vice versa. You've already fallen too hard, but it's okay.

He was worth it.

"Taeil." "Yeah? What's up?" The man helping you fix the shelves before the library opens replied. "I feel like we got closer." "What do you mean, we were always close—" "Not not you and me." You responded. "I meant me and..." "Your neighbor turned love interest? That's great news!" You playfully hit him with a book because of his comment. "OW— WAS I WRONG?"

He wasn't wrong of course.

The day went on as always but today was particularly more exhausting because of a new book release almost everyone was fighting to have. Yes, the library you were working at also doubles as a bookstore, that's why you know once you get home you'll shut down for that long awaited rest. Thank god it's Friday, you internally celebrated.

"I'll see you next week, (Y/N)." Taeil waved goodbye before parting ways with you at the library's entrance. Tonight was particularly colder, it probably has something to do with the rainy days that'll approach according to the news. You hugged yourself, scolding yourself internally for not wearing or bringing a coat.

As usual, you headed towards the bus stop and waited. The wait wasn't that long; only a few seconds have passed when the vehicle arrived. It was empty with the exception of a single passenger and the driver. You hopped in, paying the fare before looking at the rows of seats. The face of the other passenger was unknown to you until you turned to face the rows of seats. A chuckle of disbelief was all you managed to do.

"Looks like we're destined, huh?" The passenger, who turned out to be Yuta, jokingly claimed.

Hurriedly, you walked and sat down at the left side of the bus as he was in the right side. With that, Yuta looked at you with a slight pout. "You don't want to sit beside me?" He sulked jokingly and it made you laugh. "Alright alright I'll be there." You responded, successfully moving from your current seat to the one beside his once you found the perfect timing as the bus has already started moving. "Better?" "Yeah that's better." The both of you chuckled.

"At this point I think we shouldn't be surprised if we just keep seeing eachother." Yuta giggled and you agreed. "Long day at work?" You hummed as a response, no words managed to come out of your mouth due to you being very exhausted. "You can take a nap. Judging from what I'm seeing, we may be stuck in traffic. I'll wake you up once we're there." He offered with a smile and you felt your cheeks become warm. Despite wanting to stay awake for him to have someone to talk to, the fatigue took over and you mumbled a soft 'thank you', falling asleep in a matter of minutes from being worn out because of the people who flocked the library earlier.

Yuta watched over you, making sure that you weren't in an uncomfortable position that would put a strain to your muscles once you wake up from your nap. A soft smile was displayed on his face; for some reason his mood shifted. The monotonous feeling that surrounded him was uplifted by this faint exhilaration when, for what seemed to be like a hundred times already, the two of you met again in an unexpected time.

Your head ended up resting on top of his shoulder, the sudden movement made Yuta whip his head to the side. You were sleeping soundly. Seeing you like this made him want to take care of you and give you this sense of security. He wants to keep you close.

He wants to hold your hand, he wants to keep you safe.

After being stuck in traffic for two hours, Yuta woke you up as the vehicle got closer to the bus stop near your apartment building. You woke up groggily, raising your head from his shoulder. You didn't even notice it at first— that you had rested your head on his shoulder that he willingly sacrificed in spite of the faint pains he felt. The two of you hopped out of the bus then walked towards the building.

It was quiet. Yuta knew that you're still sleepy so he kept the calming silence that embraced you both while entering the apartment building.

You expected that he'd say goodnight and enter his apartment first since it comes before yours, but to your surprise, he walked you to yours instead. He even waited until you opened the door. It's a small gesture but it means a lot; he really is a gentleman, huh?

"Thank you so much, Yuta." You smiled a bit tiredly as you faced him. "It's nothing. Sleep well, alright? You deserve it." He beamed, waving goodbye as he walked to his door.

As you were lying down your bed, that was when you suddenly realized.

Oh my god did I fall asleep on his shoulder?

Embarrassed by that thought, your eyes widened. He was probably uncomfortable the whole time and he probably hates you for it now. You were ashamed. Blaming yourself even though it was out of your control since you were asleep. You kept on overthinking while you stared at your ceiling; afraid that he'll start avoiding you just because of that one thing. Your heart was thumping but eventually, it calmed down once sleep was returning to you.

Yuta woke up early in the morning, being the early bird he is, and made himself breakfast (if you consider opening three packs of onigiri from 7/11 making breakfast). He's done with decorating his new home, it was what he was doing for the past few days, and now he's finally done. After eating, he went ahead and sat down on his couch, realizing that he absolutely has nothing else to do today. If he went out, where would he go? If he stayed at home, what will he do?

He sighed silently as he ended up scrolling through his phone. A thought crossed his mind, out of nowhere he wondered if you're free today. He doesn't know how he would approach you. Make too much popcorn again? No, it would be an obvious excuse already. Yuta spent a good thirteen minutes trying to come up with something. Why can't he just knock on your door and say hello you may ask? Well... Even he doesn't know. He definitely wants to talk to you again but he can't bring himself to make the first move. Though the popcorn thing was accidental, he'll do it again as a last resort if can't think of anything else.

And what a surprise, he did.

He cooked popcorn. Again. Because he has zero courage as of now to just walk to your door, knock, and say hi. So yeah he cooked too much popcorn again.

He was nervously standing in front of your door with the bowl in his hands, pacing back and forth as he tried to calm down and gather all the confidence in this world. He halted his pacing, returning to his initial position. He inhaled deeply, exhaling the air he just breathed in slowly. Finally raising his hand to knock on your door.

"Hey." "Hi, so uh—" "Yes I can help you with the popcorn." You laughed and he smiled widely. You invited him inside the two of you plopped down on your couch. "Popcorn at 10 AM?" You questioned. "I wanted a snack..." He laughed sheepishly and it was adorable. "Do you want to watch a movie?" You suggested. Yuta nodded before giving a response. "If you don't mind, sure."

"What do you wanna watch?" "Cartoons?" "That's sounds great." You chuckled before grabbing the remote that was resting on top of your coffee table, turning the television on as you switched through channels until it landed on cartoon network. He'd be lying if he said he didn't enjoy your company. Everything just instantly clicked between the both of you; none of you were uncomfortable. It was just like two best friends hanging out with eachother.

With your eyes fixated on the television that was playing a re-run of adventure time, you reached for the bowl that Yuta placed on a pillow between the two of you. Instead of feeling the texture of popcorn under your touch, you felt something softer— it wasn't popcorn, it was a hand. Your eyes darted immediately on the bowl, involuntarily moving your gaze to the man beside you. It was cliche, very cliche. He was already looking at you. Both of your eyes locked gazes, everything in the background faded— the sound coming from the television gradually became inaudible, the whole room seemed to be blurred out; your focus was on him as his focus was on you. His eyes, they truly were enchanting. They were beautiful. Very beautiful. They glimmered as if millions of galaxies were inside them; a twinkle that was composed of gazillions of stars and celestial bodies.

Is this why you like him? Is it all because of his eyes that appear to be made out of stardust? His smile? His character? All of the above?

Your heart was racing, you could clearly hear your heartbeat and it sounded like someone was speed running their drum practice. "I'm sorry." You apologized quietly as you retracted your hand, averting your gaze to the other side of the room. The heat from your cheeks is probably hot enough to be able to fry an egg.

Awkwardness clouded the room and the both of you didn't like it. Both were trying to find a way to try and lighten up the atmosphere, wanting to sweep the scene earlier under the carpet. "So... If you don't mind me asking, where will you work?" You asked with the only topic you managed to think of. "Oh I'll be working on the building in front of the convenience store where we met once. I actually came there for an interview that day." Yuta calmly spoke, internally thanking you that you changed the focus of the moment. "It's not that far from the library I work at then." You chuckled.

"Well then we'll might see eachother more often." He stated with a small smile. "That wouldn't be a surprise anymore." The two of you laughed. The show on the television slowly became nothing but a background noise as you and Yuta talked comfortably with eachother. Evaporating the once present awkwardness once you both managed to shift the topic.

As time continued to pass by, you checked your phone and saw that it was almost past lunch time— around two in the afternoon. Yet the two of you were still talking and joking around. The bowl that was filled with popcorn was now empty and the television was now turned off. You have spent almost half of the day hanging out with him.

"Are you hungry? I can cook lunch if you want even if it's already past lunch." You asked. "Ah isn't that too much? You did a lot of things for me already." "Yuta, it's you who did a lot if things for me already. Come on, you can help if you want." You smiled before heading to the kitchen with Yuta following behind you. "What do you want to eat?" You leaned forward on the kitchen counter, waiting for his answer. "You can decide." He replied. "Yeah that's the problem I have no idea—" He laughed at your response. "Adorable." He mumbled under his breath unnoticeably and inaudibly. "Pancakes?" He suggested. "Sounds great!" You went ahead and opened the kitchen cupboard to grab the pancake mix.

Yuta volunteered on cooking the pancakes after you made the batter. The first batch wasn't perfect, with half of them almost burnt. But the two of you laughed it off and the latter batches were better— still not perfect, but in the bright side, they're better. You sat down with him on your small dining table where Yuta sat across you. "Oh wait let me get the butter and syrup." You stood up again and approached the fridge, grabbing the stuff that was essential for eating pancakes, then sitting back down. "Here let me have the failed ones—" "No no no, let's share them."

You took a bite right after spreading a light amount of butter and drizzling syrup on top of the pancakes the two of you made. "It's not that bad." You commented. "Hey hey, don't speak when your mouth is full." Yuta scolded you albeit in a playful way. The room was filled by this sweet and comforting aroma and just like the pancakes, the whole moment with Yuta was warm and soft. The two of you were eating while chatting with one another; not running out of different things to talk about. And you like it. As you always told yourself, you like talking to Yuta. It was like finally being able to lie down on your bed after a long day. That's exactly what it feels like.

"I've been here the whole day, I'm sorry you didn't get to rest properly..." He said apologetically, scratching the back of his neck. "I enjoyed it, Yuta. It's alright." You assured him as the both of you were standing outside your apartment's door, exchanging goodbyes as it was 5 PM already and he insisted he'll leave to give you some more rest. "If you don't mind, is it ok if I ask you for something?" Yuta wished that his voice didn't display the nervousness he was feeling. "Sure go on." You smiled.

"Can I have your number?" He blushed unnoticeably. He didn't know where the sudden courage came from. Was it from the pancakes or was it from the way you always looked so invested to whatever he was saying? Who knows. But he did. He asked for your number. It wasn't what you were expecting so it was given that you would be shocked. "Yeah sure no problem." You said calmly when your inner self is literally freaking out this very moment.

After successfully exchanging phone numbers, the two of you went inside your respective apartments. Both were looking on the newly added contact in your phones with a wide smile.

"YOU GOT HIS NUMBER NOW?!" You quickly covered Taeil's mouth with your hand. Apologizing to the people who were disturbed with your friend's sudden exclaim. Although you and Yuta weren't together yesterday, that didn't mean you would stop talking to eachother. You became textmates and it was funny because you still talked with him for almost the whole day. "Taeil we work at a library be quiet." You scolded him in a low voice, slowly removing your hand on top of his mouth. He cleared his throat and fixed his posture before fanboying silently.

"So when's the wedding." He teased. "We're probably just friends." "Just friends? Girl, it's clear you're both into eachother." "What if he's just friendly?" "And what if he likes you?" Taeil raised an eyebrow at you, somehow confident about his stand. "That's impossible." Was all you manage to say before walking away and disappearing in the aisles of shelves. It took you thirty minutes to returne the books left somewhere by some customers back to their respective places.

You felt your phone vibrate in your pocket. You took it out and the first thing that greeted you was the message displayed on your lockscreen. "Hello~ how are you?" A grin formed on your lips when you read the message and saw who it was from. You replied that you were alright before returning the question to him. You walked back to the front desk with your eyes glued on the screen of your phone, Taeil looked at you suspiciously once he saw the expression on your face. As you sat down on your chair, your dear friend was sneakily peeking over your shoulder, reading the messages that were being exchanged. Taeil knows he shouldn't do that. It's bad to be nosy yes but he can't help it. He's curious as to what or who made you all smiles and rainbows.

"Just date already." You jumped from your seat, startled by the comment of your friend who you didn't even know was right behind you, peering over your shoulder. Slapping the man softly on his shoulder as you turned your phone off before placing it on the counter. "He likes you. He definitely does." Taeil stated with confidence. "You don't know that—" "Why did he put a heart when he said he's alright too then?" You couldn't say anything, mainly because you don't know what else do you say with his point. Your phone lit up, a new message was received. You grabbed your phone then read what it said: "Can I stop by later at lunch?"

"Say yes—" "Shh, yes I will don't worry." "Omg I'm finally going to meet him." Taeil covered his mouth dramatically at the realization while you replied to Yuta's text, saying yes and giving the details of your location. "Don't you dare say anything weird." You looked him in the eyes and all he did was flash you this stupidly wide smile. He's definitely going to say something weird to your neighbor.

The more you look at the time, the more nervous you feel. This is not the first time you saw him (obviously), but there was something about the setting that makes your heart thump as if you just ran a marathon. Other than that, you're nervous over what Taeil is going to do or say. You know, just like those times where you're going to introduce your significant other to your parents, more specifically your father. Taeil is your second dad anyways, so it's valid for you to feel this way— right? But just to be clear, you're not thinking that Yuta is your significant other; at least not yet.

Wait what am I even thinking? You questioned yourself internally.

Checking the time for the hundredth time already, a notification popped up. "I'm almost there ♡ " You got flustered at the sight of the heart, what Taeil said earlier echoed in your mind. Why would he put a heart? It means nothing. It's just his style of texting that's all. You convinced yourself, not wanting to assume things. You looked at your left side to see Taeil practicing different facial expressions, furrowing your eyebrows at the sight, what is he doing? "Taeil, what are you—" "I'm practicing how stern should I look when I talk to him." He said as if he was your actual father. "He's not even my boyfriend." "Yet. He's not your boyfriend yet."

Yep, he really does sound like a dad.

The entrance door opened and it caught both of your attentions. Instantly looking at the door simultaneously to see if it was him, and it was. You didn't see him earlier on your way to work, so this is the first time you'll see him today, leaving you in awe. In contrast to the casual Yuta you kept on seeing, he was wearing this semi formal attire. The fabric of his black button up shirt slightly hugged his upper body, his hair was swept to the side neatly. He looked insanely handsome and you felt butterflies fluttering their wings in your stomach. Once he saw you, he flashed his infamous smile and it was contagious. He approached the front desk, saying a quiet and shy greeting.

You greeted back of course, internally swooning over this look of his that you only saw today, trying to contain yourself from being too obvious that you were wonderstruck. "Oh and Yuta, this is my friend, Ta—" "Hi I'm Taeil it's nice to finally meet you. She talks about you a lot." He shaked his hands and you stared at Taeil with wide eyes. Damn he really just throw you under the bus that fast. A brief chuckle escaped Yuta's lips while the tips of his ears were having this pinkish hue; clearly showing that he got flustered. "It's nice to meet you too." He grinned at Taeil.

"I brought food by the way! Although I'm so sorry because I didn't get an extra sandwich." Yuta stated, apologizing to your friend as he handed you a paper bag. Taeil said that he shouldn't worry about it, let's be honest here, that's not what your friend wants with your neighbor.

"So where do you work?" Uh oh, he's starting question and answer segment now. "I work at Lovera. It's pretty close. A ten minute walk if I'm not wrong." Yuta answered. Minutes have passed and Taeil was just bombarding him with questions yet Yuta answered them as if he didn't mind. You did scold Taeil here and there for some of the questions but Yuta just laughed them all off. The three of you had a great time, even though you just listened to the two boys talking. You could tell that he's leaving a good impression on Taeil.

Yuta had to leave and go back to work after staying there for a while. "If you're not going to date him, I will." Taeil joked and you laughed loudly, apologizing later on for the sudden outburst.

Just like that, it was already time for you to clock out; time seemingly got faster everyday. You were fixing your things when your phone lit up. Another message from Yuta was displayed. "Let's go home together!♡ " You smiled uncontrollably at the sight. "I'll see you tomorrow, (Y/N)." Taeil waved goodbye and you nodded as a response before he exited the building. It didn't take that long for Yuta to text you again, saying that he's already there, cutely waving at you from outside once you glanced at him. You bet he bumped into Taeil on his way here. "How was your first day?" You asked as soon as you left the building, starting to walk with him with to your destination which was of course, the bus stop. "I had fun. Though it was only training, I enjoyed it." He enthusiastically shared. "Yours?" "Oh it's just the same." You chuckled.

As you sauntered with Yuta peacefully, you looked up, gazing at the sky. The scenery was extraordinary, it had a magical feeling. He glanced at you, adoration was written all over his face when he saw the reflection of the stars on the night sky twinkling in your eyes.

"The moon looks beautiful tonight, don't you think?" He said softly. "It does. Everything does." You replied. "Mhm, you're right. Even you are beautiful." It made you freeze on the spot, making you look at him with wonder and as did he. Yuta exhaled shakily, he suddenly became nervous because of what he impulsively said. But since it has already come into this situation, he thought now is the time that it'll be worth the try.

"I'm sorry that just..." He breathed in, hesitating to say it but he still did. "Can I take you out for dinner some time?" He licked his lips as an act of nervousness, the anticipation over your answer was nerve-wracking for him. It was a simple question but it had a strong impact on you. You blinked repeatedly, making sure that none of this was a dream.

"I'd love that." You finally spoke, your voice was quiet but it was loud enough for him to hear. Yuta was relieved, the fear he had disappeared once he heard your answer. "Thank you." He smiled. The cold night wind blew and it made everything— the moment, the experience, the feeling, much more breathtaking.

A total of five weeks have passed and the relationship between you and Yuta was unlike any other. It felt more warm, it felt more like home.

Today, he took you out on a cute little picnic date near a river. He told you to bring one of your telescopes and you did. The sky was already transitioning from the bright orange hues to a dark blue, the stars started to become visible as each second passes, and the moon was already rising in the east. "Do you like it? This little treat of mine?" Yuta asked as he was laying down on your lap, soothingly combing his hair with your fingers. "I do. Thank you. I appreciate the efforts you put into this." You smiled warmly. "Oh look, the moon is so pretty." He pointed at the sky and you glanced at what he was referring to.

"Yuta." "Hm?" "I have a question." "Why do you always say that? Like do you just like the moon in general or—?" You laughed softly.

"Well... In Japan, if you say that to someone." He sat up from his position earlier. Turning around to face you and hold your hand.

"It's something like a poetic and subtle way to confess or say you love someone." He continued looking down to hide that he was blushing. His statement made you feel this romantic exhilaration, amused at what it meant.

"If that's the case then I love you too."

Yuta raised his head and his eyes met yours. Just like the first day you saw him, his eyes still had the same twinkle. You love him. You really do. And he loves you too. There was just something that pulled the two of you together as if you're soulmates. As if the stars aligned themselves for two people to eventually become eachother's universe.

There are billions of stars and gazillions of galaxies in this neverending universe. But if you were to choose, he is your favourite. He is the one you adore the most.

Culture Things. [M]

Genre: Dystopian, AU, SMUT, non-idol, angst, fluff

Pairing: NCT x OC 

Warnings: None for this chapter <3 

Word count: 2.4k

Summary: Zennie’s dreams of entering the walls are finally coming true. But she is about to also inherit a group of men who all have one common goal in mind. 

A/N: Okayyyyy so I’ve been working on my ideas for this fic for a long time. My inspirations for this were this book called The Giver as well as the concept for NCT’s Universe. I think it was just so well thought out…. But anyways….. you all should know that this story will be pretty long. I’ll be updating whenever I can and the story could start a little slow~ Pls bare with me. Thank you so much to everyone who takes the time to read my stories and please don’t hesitate to leave comments and show love! <3 

Keep reading

I Will Follow You Into The Dark

Here’s another piece I’ve written during depressing times, and I hope you’ll like it as much as you like my fluffy and sometimes sexually awkward stories. 

Get ready to see guitar-playing Mark Lee again here, so here’s a photo of that for you. 

Mahal ko kayong lahat! :)

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Summary: Although I’m not her biggest fan, I never thought that Sulli’s death would leave an impact on me. This piece was inspired by her passing last year, and my favorite comfort song whenever someone precious to me dies. 

POV: 3rd person this time. 

Word count: 1,300 + words 

Warning: There are mentions of self-harm here since Essie hasn’t been cured of it yet. 

Recommended listening: The title of the piece should already be a giveaway, but as always, I’ll put it down below so you can listen to it repeatedly while you read this. 

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Essie couldn’t believe it. One of her close friends, Yuki, committed suicide. There wasn’t any alarm or warning. She didn’t notice that her friend was struggling. Yuki was always smiling, comforting her every time she ranted about her life. Although they didn’t always meet, their phone conversations made up for it.

Whenever she was left alone in the house, one of the people she would always call was her. Pretty, timid, and kind Yuki. She looked delicate on the outside, but it turns out she was even more on the inside.

Essie learned the news from Aoi, a common friend of theirs. The girl was crying over the phone, and it took a couple of tries for Essie to understand the situation.

“Yuki’s dead, Essie. She hanged herself.”

The phone slipped out of her hand first before her body came next, hitting the cold floor with a hard thud. They were of the same age.

As she picked up the phone again, Aoi had already dropped the line. She sighed in frustration and wept at the sofa.

Good thing she was alone – she screamed at the top of her lungs first before bursting into tears once more.

\\\

Essie was a horrible mess the day after. She didn’t talk to Johnny or Mark. She was staying at their apartment for now since hers was under repair.

At first, the two guys chalked it up to PMS. But when they found out from Nini what happened, Johnny was the first to bang on Essie’s door.

“Baby, please open up,” he pleaded, close to tears at how his best friend had suddenly shut him off.

Essie wasn’t responding. She was curled up in a ball on her bed, still in her pajamas. Her mind was clouded with all the bad thoughts she had been repressing.

When someone takes their own life, she always had the itch to do the same.

She had a new pair of scissors on her desk. She also had a sharp letter opener inside one of her drawers. There were many objects that she could draw blood from.

She tuned out the world to listen to her diabolical yet devastating thoughts until it bored her to sleep.

\\\

When she did get out of her room, she saw Mark on the couch with his guitar. Her mouth was itching to say something, but it never came.

She did her best to move silently so he wouldn’t bother her. She just wanted to be alone, but at the same time, she couldn’t be left alone.

Both guys didn’t know of her suicidal tendencies, and if they do, they would never leave her side.

As Essie rummaged through the fridge (it was a bit far from the couch so she didn’t mind if Mark could hear the clinking of glass against plastic), she heard him strum the introduction of one of her favorite songs.

Love of mine, someday you will die                    

But I'll be close behind and I'll follow you into the dark

He always surprised her with the songs he sang with his guitar as of late. She couldn’t help but get teary-eyed again as he sang the melancholic song.  

Yuki was one of the people she truly cherished. They were childhood friends, just like with Nini. Although the latter was her forever classmate, Yuki became her close friend when they always joined the same clubs. They joined the choir, the dance club, and even the bookworm one. They kept in touch even if they went to different high schools and colleges. Now that they were both working, they still called each other almost daily.

However, all of that is gone as she took her own life yesterday.

If heaven and hell decide that they both are satisfied

And illuminate the no's on their vacancy signs

If there's no one beside you when your soul embarks

Then I'll follow you into the dark

She got a pitcher of water from the fridge and closed it gently, still wanting not to be heard by Mark. On the contrary, the younger guy knew she was out of her room. He had a keen sense of listening, and he was familiar with how her footsteps sounded.

To sympathize with her situation, he decided to play a song that he thought fit the situation. He found one in her playlist, and it took him an hour to learn it.

And the soles of your shoes

Are all worn down

The time for sleep is now

But it's nothing to cry about

'Cause we'll hold each other soon in the blackest of rooms

He heard her sniffle, but he had to finish the song. He closed his eyes to concentrate, hoping he did justice to one of Death Cab for Cutie’s masterpieces.

As he strummed the last chord, he waited in silence if she would go to him or not. He was shocked that she did, holding a glass of water.

“Thanks for playing that, Mark. That was beautiful,” she started, her voice hoarse from crying.

He patted the space beside him, and she sat. She put the glass on the table first before she got a pillow to cover her rumpled pajamas.

“I’ve heard about Yuki…” he said, rubbing the back of his neck out of nervousness. He didn’t want to make her cry with his words. “And I thought of singing this song because I’m also empathizing with you…” He looked at his guitar as he ended his statement, afraid of her reaction.

“Thank you again, Mark. That’s sweet of you,” he heard her say gently, and he also heard the rustling of fabric. He suddenly felt warm, and he saw that her hand was on top of his.

“M-May I?” He asked, looking at her hand and his. She nodded, and he clasped it in his clammy hand. She didn’t mind it at all – it was the thought that mattered.

They held each other’s hand for a moment, feeling each other’s warmth. Eventually, he had to place the guitar on the floor as they faced each other. He saw how depressed she looked – her eyes were puffy and red, and there were tear stains on her clothes.

He wanted to hug her right then and there, which took him a lot of courage to do. It took him a few minutes before he pulled her closer to him and wrapped his arms around her. He cradled her to his chest, and she buried her face on his shoulder.

Their embrace comforted her, and he even gently rocked their bodies together. “I’m here, Essie noona…I’ll always be here for you,” Mark said softly, one of his hands combing through her curly locks.

The older girl continued to cry, her face still on his shoulder. Her arms were loosely wrapped around his neck, which he had to adjust from time to time as he could feel them getting limp.

This was the closest they have ever been, and deep inside, he wished this moment would never end.

Alas, all good things come to an end – Johnny texted him that tomorrow morning was Yuki’s funeral. He texted Mark because it was futile to talk to his best friend, even though the information he was sharing was for her.

If only his hyung knew that he and Essie were having a moment right now…

As he told her of this information, the girl could only nod her head and broke off from his hold. She trudged towards her bedroom, and he helped her, one arm looped around her shoulder.

Once she was settled on her bed, he tucked her in and planted a kiss on her temple. “We’ll go there with you if you want,” he said as one of his hands found its way into her hair again. He loved combing through her hair and seeing how satisfied she is whenever he took out some difficult knots.

“Yes, please. I need you two,” she murmured. Mark continued to play with her hair until she fell asleep.

“Sweet dreams, my dear Essie noona,” he whispered before closing the door to her room.

–––

FIN

MK (Part I)

As promised, here’s another Mark post to make up for that brief birthday piece that didn’t get to highlight him that much.

I’ll try my best to post a lot of Mark content since it’s his birthday month, so stay tuned. 

Let the GIF below remind you of that. By the way, this is one of my favorite looks on him! Don’t you all agree?

Mahal ko kayong lahat! :)

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Summary: This piece was inspired by one of the prompts in @neoculturedrabbles​ list: 

Prompt #20: “What did you do this time?”

POV: 2nd person since I wrote this late last year. 

Word count: 749 words

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“Essie noonaaaaa!” It was the first thing you heard from Mark when he called you up late in the afternoon.

You just woke up from your nap and was about to start a relaxing day doing nothing, but the younger guy had to call you after drinking a glass of lukewarm lemon water.

“Yes, Mark? What can I do for you?” Your voice sounded hoarse, and you cleared your throat, so you sound better.

“I need your help, like, right now. Please. I really need you.” You sensed the fear in his voice, and you held onto your comforter tighter.

“What did you do this time?” Your voice could not hide the exasperation you felt at his call.

You should know by now that when he calls you with a whiny voice, he is up to no good.

“I forgot my wallet at home. I’m with Haechan, and you know how he is, he doesn’t bring a wallet when he’s with his hyungs,” you heard a sharp objection from his dongsaeng, “so can you please bring it here? You know how it looks like, right?”

You sighed, remembering his beat-up leather wallet that could’ve belonged to your uncle. “Yes, Mark. I know what your wallet looks like. Because I’m delivering it to wherever you and Donghyuck are eating, you have to treat me.”

It was his turn to sigh now but in defeat. “Okay, Essie noona. I got you. I’m really sorry I had to disturb you…”

“It’s fine, Mark. As long as you treat me to my fave cake and coffee, we’re good.”

The next thing you heard was Haechan laughing diabolically in the background before you hung up.

///

An hour after he called, you were on your way to the restaurant with his wallet. It felt heavy, and you wondered what it contained.

As you opened the door to the restaurant, you saw Haechan waving at you excitedly. You returned his wave in the same manner, making Mark sink deeper into his seat.

“Here you go, Mark Lee,” you said, handing his wallet before sitting down beside him. “Please don’t forget this every time you step out of the house, okay?”

He bowed in apology after getting the wallet, his face almost hitting the floor. “I’m really sorry, Essie noona,” he then looked at the guy across him, “but this one’s nagging me to hurry up a while ago, and I forgot to bring this in return!”

Haechan looked away, whistling a particular tune. You laughed at their interaction before you patted Mark on his shoulder.

“You should already expect that when you’re with him, okay?” You glanced at the blond boy, who gave you his trademark wink-and-hand-check pose.

Mark could only grumble in response, carefully fishing out bills out of his wallet.

///

After he paid for the meal he and Haechan ate, it was your turn to be treated.

You walked alongside the hyperactive boy, who you did a secret handshake with when he stood up from his seat. It took a minute and a lot of hype sounds (e.g., a lot of ‘hey’s’ and ‘get it’), making Mark embarrassed and amused at your thing.

“Hey, how come I don’t have like that with any of you?” He asked, raising an eyebrow at both of you.

“’Cause you’re not cool enough?” Haechan replied in his usual sassy way, eliciting giggles out of you. “And you’re always out, dude. How can we have a special handshake when you’re not here?” You added, planting your hands on your hips.

Your housemate pouted, defeated again with your ‘teamwork.’ “Haechan and I have become close over the past few months too,” you said softly, glancing at the guy beside you who responded with a bashful smile.

“I’m sorry that I’m always out, you know I don’t have much control with my schedule,” Mark mumbled, digging his hands deeper into his pockets. “But anyway, let’s have cake and coffee. My treat.”

You and Haechan exchanged your special high fives and screeched in delight. “Oh yeah! Mark’s treating us!”

“Guys, please. Stop doing that. It’s embarrassing,” your housemate whispered as he walked faster and farther from you.

Haechan, who was taller than you, hooked an arm around your shoulder and walked animatedly beside you. His energy was infectious, and you followed suit, later on singing a Queen song as you trailed the person who was going to treat you to dessert.

–––

FIN

JH (Part I)

So, I’m a bit behind my posting schedule. I’m sorry about that; you know how life can get in the way of things. But here we are again, focusing on my NCT 127 bias wrecker – Jeong Jaehyun.

Since he never looks terrible in his outfits and hair color, here’s a pink-haired GIF of Jay for your pleasure. It’s one of my favorite looks on him, and this era started wrecking me towards him. Oops!

Mahal ko kayong lahat! :)

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Summary: Like the previous post, the pieces here were inspired by a prompt list by @neoculturedrabbles​.

POV: 2nd person for the first, 3rd person for the second. 

Word count: 1,400+ words

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Prompt #13: “Is that my towel?”

“…”

“Never mind, I’ll get it later.”

Aside from placing his dirty launder in your hamper, Jaehyun tends to use your stuff too. At first, it didn’t sit well with you, considering your other housemates did that as well. (Johnny and Mark loved using your bath products, especially your sandalwood soap.)

Eventually, after the first week of your stay in his apartment, you got used to it. However, it bothered you (a bit) when you spotted him using your towel.

When he emerged from the bathroom, you saw that your white and blue striped towel was wrapped around his torso. He didn’t mind showing you his abs, erm, torso, and you tried your best to avert your gaze at it. You focused on his face instead – it was a bit obscured from his damp hair. At least that was less distracting than his upper body.

“Is that my towel?” You started, your eyes focused on his face. You couldn’t tell what his reaction was since he shook his head to cover his face more (probably from shame).

He didn’t respond and stood still on his spot.

“Never mind, I’ll get it later. Please dry it off well,” you mumbled, walking away and heading straight to the balcony.

\\\

As you smoked your fourth stick for the day, you heard the balcony door slide open to reveal a fully-clothed Jaehyun about to dry the towel he used.

You immediately put out the cigarette and looked at him place it carefully over the drying rack. “What gives, and you had to use my towel, Jay?” You asked, making yourself comfortable on the patio chair.

“Sorry about that, Essie,” he turned to look at you with an apologetic smile, “but I tend to use the first towel that I see.”

You sighed at his response and stood up. “Next time, I’ll place your towel inside your bedroom, so you don’t use mine.” You patted his shoulder before leaving, but he held your hand to stop you.

“I’m really sorry, dear,” he whispered, looking at you with puppy eyes. You sighed again because you knew what would happen next. “I’ll make it up to you, okay? I’ll treat you to coffee.”

“Okay, fine. You know my usual, right?”

“Yeah, do I need to say it out loud?”

“Nope, I’m confident that you know it by heart.”

Your response got a giggle out of him, and he let go of your hand so you could return inside.

Why must he always bribe you with your favorite things so you can forgive him for his forgetfulness? You thought, wrinkling your nose at the thought of just going along with his plans.

But you like it anyway; you like it when he spoils you like that.

“Shut up, brain,” you mumbled to yourself before settling on the couch with your phone.

///

Prompt #16: “My ex is over there. Can you kiss me?” 

Tonight was a cliché waiting to unfold: Essie was in a house party where she’s bound to see her ex from centuries ago.

The host of the said party was a common friend of theirs but also a friend of her new buddies Johnny, Jaehyun, and Mark to name a few.

The party was to celebrate this friend’s milestone of moving abroad for a job opportunity of a lifetime.

Although the presence of Essie’s ex has not yet been confirmed, there is always a possibility that he will be there.

As she wove her way through the crowd, she noticed that Jaehyun was waving enthusiastically at her from a corner. She spotted that he had a drink on one hand, making her wonder where the hell the drinks could be.

The party wasn’t jam-packed, yet there was already a considerable crowd inside. She rushed through the brunette’s side, who was drinking a glass of red wine.

“Hey Jay,” she greeted, exchanging bisous with him. That was how they always greeted each other, anytime and anywhere. He returned it, his free hand squeezing hers.

“Glad you could come to this party,” he started, before taking a sip from his wine, “I thought I was the only one coming here.”

“Where’s John?” She asked, eyes scanning the room for the tall guy. As her eyes roamed for a moment, she didn’t notice that Jaehyun’s eyes darkened at the mention of his friend.

“He might not come; he had important errands to run,” he said, throwing his head back to disguise the fact that he was miffed with her question.

“Okay then…so let’s try to have fun here then?” Essie held out her other hand to him, which he took, and both of them went to the kitchen to get more drinks.

They chatted over wine and beer before they busted their dance moves with the rest of the crowd near the pool. People cheered for them when they did a spicy couple dance (bordering on dirty dancing) and howled even more when they recreated a pop idol’s famous choreography.

Essie’s carefree attitude didn’t last long after they were done dancing – she spotted her ex from afar talking to a girl in a skimpy outfit.

This prompted her to look at her clothing – a long-sleeved crop top, a pair of harem pants, and combat boots – and groaned when she realized what she was doing. So what if she wasn’t showing off her assets? He wouldn’t come back to her anymore, nor should she let him back in her life.

But before she could turn her eyes away from her ex, he spotted her. Panic was written all over her face as she turned to Jaehyun, who sensed her agitation. The guy wasn’t able to say anything as the words that came out of her mouth surprised him.

“My ex is over there. Can you kiss me?”

He was hesitant to grant her request at first but then realized that it was time to hit two birds with one stone – do what she was told and subtly let her know that he was into her.

So he did and pecked her on the lips.

The girl was surprised at his action but went along with it when he pressed his lips further. The peck didn’t even last a minute, but she hoped that her ex saw it so he wouldn’t dare confront her anymore.

After all, it was she who broke up with him. He had no right to claim her back for the things he did. He should understand that she was moving on just fine.

However, Jaehyun heard her wrong. Since they were in a crowded place where the music was about to ruin their eardrums, what she actually said was: “My ex is over there. Can you hide me?”

Add to that her small and soft voice – it was shocking that most of her friends don’t misunderstand her words…until now.

Essie was expecting that Jaehyun will lead her out of the area and resume their drinking session inside, but life likes to throw curveballs sometimes.

The two were left dumbfounded at what happened. “Jay…why did you kiss me?” The girl asked cautiously.

“You told me to?”

Her eyes widened, and her mouth hung open with his statement.

“No, Jay! I didn’t tell you that! What I said was, can you hide me?”

Ah, he heard all right now. His face warmed up at the realization that he misheard her, and suddenly, he couldn’t look her in the eyes. He covered his face with his hands, mumbling what an idiot he is.

“Oh no, Jay! Please don’t do this to yourself,” Essie whispered, holding him by the shoulders. “You misheard me, it’s fine. I’m not mad with what you did…”

“You liked it?” His answer shocked her again, making her clutch her chest.

“Jeong Jaehyun!” She shook both of his shoulders vigorously, which didn’t bother him at all as he chuckled at her reaction.

“I could do that again if you like.”

It took the girl a moment to respond. “Maybe when I see him near me again, I’ll let you.”

“That’s my girl,” Jaehyun closed the small distance between them by wrapping his arms around her and kissing her forehead. “We can pretend to be together; there’s no one aside from our common friend who knows us here.”

Essie raised an eyebrow at him, wondering where he got his bravado. “You’re awfully bold tonight, sir.”

“It must be the alcohol,” he glanced at the empty beer bottles on top of a nearby table, “shall we get another round, dear?”

“I never thought you’d ask,” she giggled, taking his hand in hers, and together they walked back to the house holding hands.

–––

FIN

Dangerous, B-side

Listening to the same song repeatedly can give you different outputs, but this was my initial draft to Dangerous.

I still wanted to share this since I like the tension between Essie and Jaehyun here, so I hope you enjoy this one.

Mahal ko kayong lahat! :)

POV: 2nd person

Word count: 1,040 words (Wow, it's longer than what I've been writing lately lol)

Additional notes: Like with the previous post, I'll be linking some writing that connects to this one.

Warning: Suggestive themes ahead!

---

You knew it would be dangerous to be near Jeong Jaehyun.

You knew the power he held – he was one of the most handsome men you’ve met, and you knew you could give in to anything he asked you to do.

At first, you didn’t really mind him. You were focused on turning down the flirtatious attempts of his best friend, Johnny Suh, who decided to let you know how memorable you were to him when he saw you in Starbucks.

But when you and Johnny decided to become friends, Jaehyun was the first person in his circle of friends that you got to know better.

He was the perfect gentleman, and you appreciated that. You thought he would be a cocky bastard who would use his handsome privileges.

As you got to know more of Johnny’s friends, you didn’t get to hang around Jaehyun that much. But when you did, you started to feel weird around him. Were his looks and gestures getting to you?

You were conflicted since you were also starting to develop feelings for Johnny, despite the not-so-ideal start of your friendship.

You never thought you would feel like this again – falling for two people at the same time. It was bad, but in the end, it was your choice on who you wanted to get together with.

One of the most unforgettable moments you had with Jaehyun was when he kissed you at a party. Your ex was one of the attendees, and you asked him to hide you. He misheard you and pecked you on the lips.

You couldn’t remember what happened after – were you too drunk to recall if you two have already done it? You shut your eyes, trying to recall as much as you could. No, your body didn’t ache when you got home, and you had a good night’s rest.

As you watched Jaehyun grill meat with Taeyong, you couldn’t help but think if you ended up with him instead.

You had shared interests – you loved vinyl records, and you loved drinking wine. You liked his music selection better than Johnny’s, and he was very chill to talk to. He seemed such a calm person who would perfectly complement your feisty personality.

“Penny for your thoughts, Essie?” He asked, flashing you his trademark dimpled smile. “Oh, it’s nothing,” you mumbled, looking away to recover from the embarrassment you felt at looking at him for too long.

“Hey baby, can you help me with this?” You heard Johnny ask from across the room, and you crossed over to where he was. You were thankful he asked you for help because you needed to distract yourself from such tempting thoughts.

You had dinner with Johnny and his friends in your apartment since it’s been a while since all of them got together. Almost everyone had solo projects, and most of them got back to the country recently.

“If someone deserves a solo, it’s you,” Johnny said to Jaehyun, pointing his chopsticks for emphasis.

“Yeah, we agree,” Taeyong and Doyoung chimed in. Everyone else in the room nodded in approval, even you.

Oh, the thought of Jaehyun singing sexy R’n’B songs excited you so much that you felt the familiar wetness on your underwear.

You cursed yourself at this thought and decided to eat more kimchi to forget that sensation.

“Thanks, guys. Maybe soon, I’ll get that project,” Jaehyun said, ears red with embarrassment. Since he was sitting beside you, you were tempted to stroke his red ear and feel how hot it was.

“I’m sure you will; we just have to wait,” you squeaked, slowly looking up from the bowl you have been focusing your attention on.

“Aw, thanks. That means a lot to me, Essie,” his voice was so soft that you thought you were the only one who heard it. Maybe it was really meant for you.

When you looked up from your bowl, he gave you a heartwarming smile. You smiled back, and he touched your wrist. “I look forward to your support, dear,” he whispered.

You could only nod at his response, your body heating up from his touch. You looked away again to see if anyone was observing your interaction but saw that everyone else was involved in their conversations.

It was as if the world stopped, and only you and Jaehyun were having this intimate conversation.

“You keep on looking away from me tonight; is there something on my face that you don’t want to tell me?”

You didn’t expect his words, and when you looked back at him, he tightened the grip on your wrist.

“No, there isn’t anything wrong with your face, Jay! What makes you think there is?” You were beyond flustered, and you could feel your breathing become ragged.

“You aren’t usually like this when we talk,” he loosened his grip now, “and I like it better when the people I talk to can look at me directly on the face.”

You sat up straight and stared at his face. You saw the bags on his under eyes becoming darker and the pimple patches around his nose. When he smiled, you saw there was one more pimple patch underneath his lip.

“Well, fine. You look stressed. I believe you don’t get pimples, yet here you are, wearing pimple patches to a dinner.” You deadpanned, pointing at the patches around his face.

He laughed at your words and swatted your hand away. “It’s normal to have pimples, but I never thought I’d start breaking out now.”

“Don’t be too stressed. You know it’s bad for the health,” you said before going back to eating. “You should take your advice too, honey,” Jaehyun chuckled and mimicked what you were doing.

You rolled your eyes as he also reached for the plate of meat you were holding. “Yeah, you don’t have to remind me of that. Now please, can I have some meat?”

“Jaehyun! Are you teasing Essie?” You heard Johnny comment, probably because he saw how irked you were. Jaehyun let go of the plate of meat and watched you take it for yourself.

No one answered Johnny’s question, and the night continued with everyone catching up on their endeavors.

---

FIN

P.S. That was a lame-ass ending, but my mind stopped working after that. I had to get the tension out of the way hehe.

Midnight Sky

The thought of Mark Lee playing the song this piece is titled after will never leave my mind.

I am confident he can do it, and it suits his voice. A girl can dream, right?

I hope you enjoy this rejection fic featuring Mark and my main OC Essie.

Mahal ko kayong lahat! :)

POV: 2nd person

Word count: ~1,000 words

Additional notes: This is part of the Main Timeline pre-Essie and Johnny. Please refer to the Masterlist, which I will update shortly with this one. I'll get to writing the other missing pieces of Mark's story, even Jaehyun's. Some things might not make sense now, but it will in the future. We'll get there, okay?

Recommended listening: I will now associate the title of this fic (also mentioned in the story) as a song Mark should sing to us. You have to agree with me.

---

You never wanted to be in this situation, but sometimes, life hands it to you. It was never easy to break someone’s heart. 

Mark Lee was kneeling in front of you after serenading you in a bar he rented for this purpose. 

This was a more intimate affair than his confession in front of Johnny and Key because he thought you didn't take that seriously. Hopefully, this moment will get through you.

He sang a couple of your favorite songs, but when he sang ‘Midnight Sky,’ you figured out what would come next. 

“Noona, please say something,” he said softly, his doe eyes looking at you with anticipation. 

It has been a couple of minutes since you remained silent after his grand confession. Your mind kept replaying the words he told you – I have been in love with you for some time, Essie noona. I hope you’ll give me a chance to be the partner you’ve always wanted and deserved. 

Those were some big claims, and deep inside, you were curious about what he could give you. But it would be best if he knew the real story of why you were afraid of being in a relationship again. 

“Mark…” you started, holding both of his hands so he could stand up, “I think you have to know something first.” 

You led him to the edge of the stage he performed on and told him to sit beside you there. After a couple of deep breaths, you started to share some of your past. 

As you told him your reasons, your mind was also wondering about the possibility of being with Johnny, the guy who made you love again. 

If you could just go straight to the point that you weren’t expecting his confession and that you were in love with his hyung, then this would be all over. 

“But noona, I am not like your ex. I’m a different person, and I’m not one to ignore and ghost,” Mark replied, his tone a bit on the edge. You could tell he was becoming impatient with the way your conversation shifted. 

“I know, Mark. But…” You busied your hands by clenching and unclenching them on your jeans, still delaying the inevitable. “I’m really sorry; I didn’t expect this at all.” 

The silence that enveloped you both felt suffocating, but you knew that if you said the wrong words, things would never be the same again. 

“So, I guess that’s a no then?” Mark’s voice was barely a whisper, and you felt that he was on the verge of crying. 

You diverted your eyes away from your lap to look at him, and your suspicion was correct. Your heart ached at the tears forming in the corners of his eyes, but you knew what your heart wanted the most. 

“I’m sorry, Marky. Maybe in another lifetime or parallel universe, we could be.”

“Why not now? Is there someone you like more?” He hesitated to ask you, but he knew that he wouldn’t be able to sleep if he didn’t take this chance.

“Yes, Mark. I think you know who that is, right?” The tears that pooled in the younger guy’s eyes slipped, and he had to look away from you to wipe them. 

“I think I know who that is,” he said in between sniffles, “but you know what?” He faced you with slightly red eyes. “I’m glad I took the risk to tell you how I feel. If I keep this bottled up for too long, I might resent everyone.” 

You didn’t know what else to say, so your tears decided to speak for themselves. You never thought of the depth of his feelings for you. You always saw him as an affectionate little brother that you wanted to shower your love and praises. He deserved everything he was getting, but unfortunately, not the love he wanted from you. 

“Don’t cry, noona. It’s alright; I can take this.” He smiled at you to reassure you he’ll be fine, but you knew he wouldn’t be after going home to your respective apartments. 

“I’m really sorry, Marky…” More tears spilled on your face, and despite the rejection he got from you, he wiped them with his handkerchief. 

“Don’t be sorry. I can’t make you do something you haven’t set your heart on,” You noticed his small smile can break any moment now. You had to give it to him for being strong after being turned down, but at the same time, you wanted to console him. 

“Can I request something?” His ears perked up at your question, and you saw his beautiful eyes glimmering in the dark. “Come here,” you motioned to your lap, and slowly, he crawled to you. 

You pulled him into your embrace, which was something not uncommon between you two. Mark buried his face in the crook of your neck, taking in your scent. You nuzzled on one side of his head, with one of your hands ruffling and playing with his hair. 

“Do you think I led you on, Marky?” You asked softly, not breaking away from your intimate position. 

“To be honest, yes. We always have moments like this, noona. I could lose myself in your hugs, and you’re one of the people I don’t mind playing with my hair.” 

That got a chuckle out of you and pecked his head afterward. “Are we too close for your liking?” 

“Yeah, and I wish we could be something else,” he mumbled before pecking your neck. “Can I request something this time?” 

Mark broke away from your hug and looked at you intently. God, his eyes were making you feel weird and fuzzy inside. 

“Can I get a…” Before he finished what he was saying, he looked at the floor. You glanced at what he was looking at, but you became distracted by his red ears. 

You already know what he wanted to request, but it would better if it came from him. 

“Can I get a kiss from you?” 

---

FIN

P.S. My brain stopped with that ending, and I don't know if I should proceed lol.

Guilty

Dear. M made me do this. I'm posting the Jaehyun content I have written so far, and I will continue to write more.

For context, this brain fart is part of the main timeline.

There's something about an angry and heartbroken Jay that makes me want to write more...

Anyway, mahal ko kayong lahat! :)

POV: 3rd person

Word count: 890 approx.

Additional notes: I'm glad I could write the other 127 members in, especially Yuta. I'll make it a goal to include the rest of NCT in my stories when applicable.

---

Yuta felt sorry about how Jaehyun turned out after Essie called off their affair.

When Jaehyun came home from his solo project, he smoked and drank consistently after his schedule. Sometimes he drank whiskey in the mornings and decided to have a pack of cigarettes for breakfast. It was unfortunate that he coped in this way. Although it’s one of the many ways people do so, it is destructive in the long run. Yuta had to intervene; hence, he knew everything there was to know about this week-long rendezvous.

While he took it all in stride, he felt uneasy in knowing what would be one of the dirty open secrets the group now has.

As he watched Jaehyun singing his feelings out in the karaoke booth, he glanced at Taeil. The eldest in the group seemed unaffected by the situation as he flipped through the songbook, looking for another song to sing. It was just the three of them this time – Mark was busy as always, and Jungwoo had more hosting gigs these days.

“Fuck this shit,” Jaehyun growled, yanking the collar of his shirt angrily, “why can’t I still get over her?”

“Let it all out, bro,” Taeil said calmly, scanning intently for the number of the song he wanted to sing. “You’ll get over her eventually.”

“You know, Jay,” Yuta started, “Things are going to be different now, especially if Johnny figures out what you did with his girl.”

“I don’t care,” the youngest groaned, throwing himself on the sofa. “This fucking sucks.”

“Both of you are adults who made this choice, so you’ve got to live with it,” Yuta’s tone was firmer this time. “But that was very dumb of you, Jeong Yoonoh. Why did you even propose that idea to Essie?”

The sound of glass shattering on the floor startled the two older guys, and they saw Jaehyun had just flung the glass of water on the wall. He covered his face afterward, hiding the angry tears flowing on his face.

“You little shit,” Taeil grumbled, looking at the mess he made. “You have to pay for that.”

Jaehyun’s actions were getting on Yuta’s nerves, but he didn’t want to make a commotion. He took deep breaths to calm himself down, not wanting to engage in his friend’s bullshit.

A moment of awkward silence ensued before the heartbroken man spoke. “I thought she liked me. I thought she would choose me. I thought once I have her, I’d stop fooling around.”

Taeil and Yuta looked at each other, loss for words on what to say. They weren’t involved, nor would they like to be involved, in Jaehyun’s affairs. Each had their own lives once the cameras were off, and they tried their best not to get entangled in another’s business.

“You know what, Jay?” The eldest said, sporting a wicked grin on his face. “To make up for your shitty behavior tonight, I’d like you to sing this song with all the emotion you have.”

Like an obedient younger brother, Jaehyun stood beside his hyung and put in the numbers of the requested song. Yuta raised an eyebrow at them both, with Taeil holding his laughter.

“What are you up to?” the Japanese guy mouthed to his former roommate as the singer immersed himself in the song he was about to sing.

“As I’ve said earlier, he has to let it all out.”

When the iconic saxophone intro of George Michael’s (formerly of Wham!) infamous song played from the speakers, Yuta rolled his eyes at Taeil’s suggestion.

Jaehyun gave a memorable performance of the song despite his vocals sounding a bit strained due to all the crying and screaming he did for the past few weeks.

It was during the bridge part that he almost lost it.

“We could have been so good together; we could have lived this dance forever. But now who’s gonna dance with me? Please stay,” the tears pooled once again in his eyes.

The memories were still too fresh for him to forget. Fucking Essie felt so good, and he never wanted to be apart from her. They had intimate dances under the stars and by the shore. It felt surreal, but alas, all good things come to an end. It might be good for him, but it shouldn’t be.

Once he was done singing, he kept to himself on the sofa. His hyungs took their turns singing, and he watched them enjoy what they were doing.

From time to time, Yuta checked in on Jaehyun. It was always the same when they went out to karaoke bars: he would stay still, his eyes looking at nothing until the booze hit him and made him fall asleep.

Every so often, he would wake up and not speak a word until they go off in their respective rooms, or they would have to haul his ass back to his apartment.

This was getting tiring, seeing his downward spiral into depression. Yuta, known for his wise words, knew what they did was wrong. They should be held accountable for their actions. He bet both parties are hot messes right now, but he’s more concerned about Johnny. The tall guy might not take it if he learns about this rendezvous.

Everyone knows no one wants to mess with an angry Johnny Suh.

---

FIN

P.S. Did you expect I was going to let him sing Careless Whisper? Feel free to listen to it below! I think Jaehyun can pull this off flawlessly.

He.

Before I disappear again for a while, it's about time Burnout got some update.

I feel so crushed I won't be able to watch my boys this weekend to the point I might forget all my feelings for them. Yeah, I'm a dramatic bitch.

Maybe I need a break from them and other things in life. But for now, enjoy this Jaehyun-centered piece.

Mahal ko kayong lahat! :)

POV: 2nd person

Word count: 2,290 approx.

Additional notes: Italics are Y/N's thoughts.

---

Maybe it’s time to fall in love again. 

It has been what, two or three years? You couldn’t remember exactly how long your last (and probably greatest) relationship was. It felt like an eternity ago. 

You felt you changed so much, but at the same time you also felt like the same old person. Did that make sense to anyone?  

As Mark Lee pushed you toward his bandmates, you couldn’t help but feel both annoyed and nervous. He was adamant that you meet his crew since you’ll be hanging around them more often, but he kept slapping your back like an excited seal. You tried your best not to wince at his slaps and keep smiling for the sake of not leaving a bad first impression. 

The main point of Mark wanting you to meet his bandmates was for you to be in a relationship again. He knew his friends were good-looking – he is too, but he won’t admit that straight out – and maybe you’ll want to stay in this place longer. 

“Mark, that’s enough. She’ll have a sore back with what you’re doing,” a black-haired guy with a baritone voice said, and when you looked at him, you felt more nervous than annoyed. 

He was handsome. You knew your eyes would be on him all night. Your heart fluttered when he smiled at you, and you bowed your head in response. 

“Sorry about that. You know how I am when I’m excited,” Mark giggled, before he tilted you to face his friends. “Hey guys, this is Y/N. She’s my childhood best friend, and we reconnected last year when she moved here.” 

You waved and introduced yourself, and everyone seemed delighted to meet you. Mark’s bandmates consisted of Hendery, their drummer and standup comic in the making, Jeno, their bassist and veterinarian, and Jaehyun, that guy whose looks have already captivated you. 

He shares guitar duties with Mark, but he also serves as the main vocalist of the group. He works in marketing, which isn’t far from the industry you were in. Mark used to work in the same team as him, but your best friend quit when he realized he wanted to focus on his music and other artistic pursuits. 

“Y/N. That’s a beautiful name,” Jaehyun said, smiling at you again. Your eyes focused on his dimples and how his eyes almost turned into crescents. 

“Thank you, Jaehyun. Yours too,” you mumbled, looking at the floor to hide how flustered you were. 

“Call me Jay instead.” When you looked back at him, he held his hand out for you to shake. You took it, and he gripped your hand tightly. “I look forward to getting to know you more.”

///

“Is he really like that, dude?” You asked Mark when you watched Jaehyun converse with a couple of girls after their performance. 

“What do you mean?” Your best friend raised an eyebrow at you, not sure what you were getting at. 

“Does he flirt with every female in the planet?” Your eyes were drawn again to the girls who were giggling at whatever he said, and he was smiling all throughout.

“He’s very friendly, I must say…” Mark also observed the scene across him. “But you know that friendliness can be misunderstood as flirting. Especially to the ladies. Which you are telling me right now.”

You slapped his arm in response. “I was just curious! It seems like every girl would fall in love with him in an instant.” 

“Are you jealous that you’re not the one he’s talking to?” You didn’t expect the guy beside you to be that frank. He was usually the one that kept the conversation going in circles. 

You slapped his arm again. “Bold of you to assume that, Mark Lee.” 

“Well, I did see how you looked at him though! So, will he be the one who’s going to make you fall in love again?” Your best friend nudged you repeatedly and made silly hooting sounds. 

You pinched his sides this time. “Why are you so hung up on me having a relationship with someone? You know that I’m not looking for anyone right now.” 

Mark’s answer stuck with you: “Because you deserve it. You deserve to be loved. Your heart deserves to be healed from its trauma, and aside from yourself, maybe someone else can teach you how to love again.” 

You let the chatter inside the bar drown the thoughts you didn’t want to think about now. 

///

You were getting along with Mark’s band mates just fine. No one made a move at you, and you were hoping your best friend didn’t tell them about his plan for you. 

All of them were gorgeous, but there was something about Jaehyun that your eyes kept gravitating to. You liked to observe him in your mind: his ears turn red when he is shy or embarrassed, he has pronounced canines, and he has a deep, hearty laugh that Mark liked to copy. 

You weren’t in love yet. Maybe you have a silly, harmless crush on him now. He hasn’t done anything to you that will top the things your ex has done for you. 

Speaking of the devil, your mind wondered about that asshole briefly. Where could he be right now? 

“Hey daydreamer,” an angel whispered next to you, and next thing you know a bottle of beer was placed on your hands by Jaehyun. “Care to share your thoughts?”

“Oh. Sorry, I was out of it,” you chuckled, readjusting the bottle about to slip from your hand, “I tend to do that often when I’m left alone. I’m sure most of us do that?” 

“Here, let me help you,” he took the beer bottle from your hands and placed one of his hands over yours. Your mind noted his hand felt warm. It made your insides feel warm as well. The hand on top of yours adjusted your fingers to hold the cold bottle, and you can now hold your beverage properly. 

You whispered your thanks, and he smiled in return. “And you already know what I drink!” You checked the bottle again in your hands to see that it was your usual lager. 

“I might not look like it, but I’m observant,” Jaehyun toasted his bottle with yours before you two drank in unison. “It’s been a few weeks since we got acquainted, and I noticed that you always order that.” 

“Great catch then,” you giggled, taking another swig of your beer. He was now seated beside you as you watched other bands perform in the bar. You didn’t have a moment like this yet, and you were a bit afraid of what might happen next. 

“Isn’t that you?” You heard him say, but when you asked him to repeat what he said, he just laughed. “Forget it. I was making a joke.” 

He might be flirting with you, but you might also be overthinking what he said. The night is still young, and there are still many things that could happen. 

///

That fateful evening, as your mind liked to call it, was the start of your blossoming friendship with Jaehyun. 

After he handed you that beer and sat beside you while watching bands in the bar, it has become a part of his routine to do so. He would talk to you about anything and everything when the show was over. 

“There are other girls you could sit with. I won’t mind,” you told him after finishing your second bottle of beer. You eyed the girls in a nearby table who weren’t shy looking at your seatmate. 

“I’m not interested, and I feel comfortable here. These are nice seats to watch the bands, you know?” He gestured to the stage, where a man was playing a saxophone. 

“That’s fair,” you grabbed another beer bottle from the bucket in the middle of the table, “and darn it if I don’t get good seats to watch the bands.” 

You beamed at him for your minor accomplishment, which he returned by squeezing your hand. This was unexpected. You shook your head to clear your head from assumptive thoughts. 

“Are you okay?” He squeezed your hand again. You nodded, trying to relax from his grip. “We can get out of here if you don’t feel well.” 

You might be hearing things, or you might be misunderstanding them again. Why are you so opposed to liking someone else? The rational part of your mind questioned, which you ignored. 

“I’m fine, Jay. No need to worry about me,” you smiled, hoping that reassured him. “Can you let go of my hand now?”

But when he didn’t respond and stared at your face intently, you gulped. Maybe your thoughts were headed in the right direction, only you stopped them from forming inside your mind. You can’t fall in love just yet. 

“What if I don’t want to?” 

You swore his voice became deeper. You could only stare at your hand in his grasp. He tightened his hold before letting go and running his fingers over yours. 

“What do you want from me?” 

Your voice sounded small and afraid, which was opposite to your intentions. Being the observant person he is, he sensed that you were uncomfortable. He took his hand off yours hesitantly and placed it on his lap. 

“I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable with that. It’s just…” he scratched behind his neck, a sign of nervousness, “I like you. There, I said it.”

His ears were red with his sudden confession, and you felt your cheeks have turned in the same hue. This was too good to be true, right? 

“I like being around you. I enjoy our conversations after the shows, and I learn a lot from you,” he continued when you didn’t say anything, “And I hope we can continue that not just here, but elsewhere.”

The rest of the world has become blurred to you except Jaehyun. You watched him tell you more about what he liked about you at this point, and the way he shyly looked up at you made you feel fuzzy inside. 

Go for it. Let him in. Maybe it’s time to fall in love again. 

The rational part of your mind – are you sure it’s the rational side? – told you, and it felt like it was déjà vu. You’ve heard that line somewhere already. 

You took a deep breath, hoping that moment helped collect your thoughts. You faced him confidently, saying: “I like you too, Jay. I would want to go beyond what we’re having now.” 

\\\

Have you found love again for real this time? 

You asked yourself this while embracing Jaehyun.

You were still in disbelief that things between the two of you flowed wonderfully. You agreed to see each other exclusively, and before you knew it, it had been more than six months since you got together. 

You buried your head on the crook of his neck, inhaling his scent. You always felt comforted with his presence, and you couldn’t imagine life without him now. 

You had a hard day at work, and when you went home to the apartment you shared, you searched for him immediately. 

He was in your bedroom, listening to one of your favorite LPs while he scrolled through his phone. But when he saw how distressed you were, he stood up to engulf you in a hug. 

It had been a couple of minutes since you embraced, and none of you wanted to pull apart. 

“Baby, what’s wrong?” He asked, his deep voice sending shivers down your spine. God, his voice was something you couldn’t imagine not hearing. 

“Work,” you croaked, tightening your hold on him. “Will it make you feel better if you tell me about it?” He carried you to the bed and placed you gently beside him. 

Was it all too fast? Are you sure you’re in love? 

Your mind bothered you again with another silly question. You were enjoying the warmth from Jaehyun’s body as both of you cuddled on the bed. 

It was another horrible day at work, and he listened to your woes. He held you in his arms as you whined and cried. 

Deep inside, you felt horrible. Things are going to become a terrible routine for you two if you keep doing this. He can’t always solve everything. 

You shook your head at your thoughts and noticed that his sleeve was damp. Crap, you cried again. 

“Baby, what’s wrong?” His voice was gentle even though he was worried. You looked up to see sincerity etched on his face. You cried even more, feeling like a mess that could not get fixed. 

You should be happy that you’re with someone again. He might be The One, you know?

Another voice in your head made itself known, and it sounded chipper. You wiped your tears on the back of your hand to look at your boyfriend. 

Many girls would kill to be in your position. You had already written a novel on all his great qualities in the recesses of your mind. But maybe, it will help if you could re-read that to remind yourself you were a damn lucky bitch. 

“I’m sorry I keep on crying, Jay…” you mumbled, burying your face into his shoulder. “Maybe I’m about to have my period,” you reasoned, chuckling at the absurdity of your reason. 

“I understand,” he kissed the top of your head. “What do you want for dinner?” 

His question sparked joy inside you, and the mopey girl from minutes ago disappeared. Food is the way to anyone’s heart. Any partner should know that by now. 

How could you be uncontended with this? 

---

FIN

P.S. There's a part of me that finds the progression of their love story a bit fast, but please let me know what you think.