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We lost the Summer

⚝fic type: Y/A (coming-of-age)

⚝genre/contains: huening kai x reader, fluff, angst, gn!reader, non-idol!au, friends2lovers if you wish on your lucky stars haha

⚝warnings: quite a few mentions of food (mostly ice-cream), one mention of alcohol (beer), brief mention of bullying (unspecified)

⚝word count: 2.5k, pt 1/2 (part 2)

⚝A/N: To help combat the lack of stand-alone hyuka fics on here ꒰⁠⑅⁠ᵕ⁠༚⁠ᵕ⁠꒱⁠˖⁠♡ As the title suggests, this is inspired by the song of the same name by txt! Hope that helps explain why I'm posting a winter-themed fic on the onset of summer lol.

You always seemed to be missing a piece of stationery in 5th grade. Every time a lost pencil was replaced by your exasperated mother, there went your ruler the following week. It wasn’t until halfway into the term that you realized it was your plushie-loving deskmate, Kai. His speciality was pickpocketing your array of coloured glitter pens. Those were his favourite. It boiled your blood immensely but your teacher refused to change the seating plan, no matter how much you pleaded.

Between this and his penchant for tearing up pieces of paper to bits, you don’t even know how you and Huening Kai became friends.

It perhaps started as a result of one of his hushed comments about another classmate. He reminded you a lot of one of your aunts who loved to gossip. He even eagerly leaned in just like she did whenever you quickly whispered the latest playground drama into his awaiting ear. Kai would be stifling snorts as you exchanged notes under your shared table while your unsuspecting teacher jotted endless notes onto the whiteboard.

Sometimes, you thought he did this to make you feel better about the bullying you went through. If Kai ever found you sitting alone in class, sad after someone taunted you, he’d immediately crack a joke to make you feel better. All the kids were a little mean to each other, you’d try reason to yourself that way in a bid to keep what you thought was self-pity at bay. You just never really learned the art of sticking up for yourself. Kai took your mind off it. It was the best he could do as he hated confrontations of any kind.

Eventually, your friendship grew firm enough to bloom outside the confines of your school’s walls. It was a surprise to find out you lived on the same street. You’d never seen him while playing outside, but he explained his family would go visit his grandparents in another part of town on most weekends.

To add to that, Kai was quite the homebody and preferred to hole up in his room playing video games (while being surrounded by a hoard of stuffed animals) during his down time. This gradually changed the longer you two were friends. You lured him out of his den to be your dance buddy with promises of mint-chocolate ice cream and skittles as a reward.

You’d spend your weekends in each other’s company, bouncing between each other’s houses. You had been formally introduced to all his plushies, and your mom always served Kai extra helpings of whatever she was cooking when he came over.

The memory makes you sigh as you stand outside an ice-cream shop deciding what to order. The cool November breeze feels delicious as you stretch your legs after a long morning of studying in your university’s stuffy library. Your habit of eating ice-cream no matter the season had extended to your adult life. Other customers– bundled in their winter coats– eye you weirdly as you determinedly go over the shop’s ice-cream menu. Exam season was around the corner and the hours you had been putting in were starting to catch up with you. It showed through the eye bags sagging underneath your tired eyes and the yawns you barely manage to stifle under a gloved palm.

You’d moved to a different city after high school following your acceptance into a university there. The institution had been your second option– you’d narrowly missed your first and that fact had left you sour for months. Nevertheless, the classes were going good and the people you had met so far were nice enough… but when it came to finding a place that suited your niche for some much needed ‘me time’, you weren’t in luck. You missed your happy place, the record shop back home. No place in the city had offered you that comforting familiarity so far. It was quite a daunting experience to have to find new spots outside of your dorm to unwind.

You’d sometimes pop into that corner store even when you didn’t have the money to buy new music– just to look at what albums were up. The owner who’d come to know you well had gifted you an album when you graduated. You’d been saving up for the vinyl version so you could listen to it on the record player Kai got you for your thirteenth birthday.

He bought it for himself, really– because within a few months your shelves were filled with more of his albums than your own. He claimed he was tired of using the old gramophone his grandmother had given them, and would stumble into your room on a Saturday afternoon with his arms stacked with albums.

Sometimes, they were so many he’d have to cage the top of the hoard in with his chin. He’d be leaning back from the weight, his long black bangs obscuring his eyesight, and by the time he got to your doorstep the stack was teetering so precariously your mother had to relieve him of nearly half the collection as the two of them lugged the heap into the house.

Almost all your childhood memories contained Kai.

It made you dimly think that it wasn’t the places back home you missed. Rather, the memories they held. And if so many of these memories were about Kai then you should probably stop beating around the bush, and admit that you indeed missed him. You'd catch yourself checking your calendar more often than you cared to admit, having randomly remembered a date that was important to the two of you.

Every lunar eclipse, the Wednesday specials at your favourite restaurant, all his plushies’ birthdays, rock collectors’ day… all these silly little events that brought you two joy in between your harrowing school life. At the end of a long week- no matter what any of your classmates had said or the tests Kai had flunked– the two of you would still be able to scramble to his or your dining table with smiles, eagerly waiting for dinner.

You and Kai had unfortunately drifted apart towards the end of high school and over the course of the months spent in a new city you’d been convincing yourself that it didn’t bother you as much as you knew it did– deep down. You reckoned that even when you went back home at the end of the semester, the two of you wouldn’t have much in common. You had matured over time and you were sure Kai had too.

A big part of your moving away was about becoming a better version of yourself– away from the influences you grew up with. Initially, it had been a real struggle to find your footing; you subconsciously felt that you had something to prove to the kids you went to school with. They were always putting you down and you had ended up changing so many aspects of yourself at the time and sucking up to them to be more likeable.

You’d started hanging out with a different crowd around your senior year, ironically containing some of the people who would bully you. It was easier to ignore that fact than the spurts of serotonin you got every time you said something witty enough to make them laugh. Your school didn’t have much of a social hierarchy, so you wouldn’t necessarily call them the ‘cool kids’. That was far too cliché. They were just… different. Wholly unlike your small group of friends that you’d had previously.

It irked Kai, seeing you put up some type of façade. Granted, he had begun to change too, becoming more temperamental in his late teenage years. To you, he was far too moody and snapped too often. So many of your little arguments turned into big fights and eventually there was an ice wall between the two of you.

The tension had really stressed you out at first, but your mother had told you to give things time to cool down. Your family was still wholesomely pleasant to Kai, even though his visits became few and far in between. She’d said that the two of you would still be friends in the end, that if it was ‘meant to be’ it would work itself out. You had been sceptical about that take, and even more so when her advice didn’t work.

He stopped coming over, the few albums he’d left on your shelf abandoned and gradually gathering dust as you couldn’t bring yourself to listen to them without him. The two of you were exchanging nothing more than rushed pleasantries in the hallways by that point.

Wandering through the city alone reminded you strongly of those lonely lunch time hours following your fallout with Kai. You would usually run all your plans through him and the two of you would figure out what to do together. Nevertheless, the loneliness taught you to have some individuality, and there were no ‘if’s or ‘but’s about that. It was the trait you admired most in Kai. His ability to block out all the noise and do whatever the heck he wanted.

Kai never succumbed to peer pressure, even at a young age. More so during the onslaught of crush culture, when he simply laughed (unnecessarily loud) at the antics your classmates pulled to impress their desired guy or girl. Huening Kai would be caught dead sacrificing his lunch money to woo someone with a gift he bought instead. When he was on the receiving end of such bestowals, however, his boisterous laughter would be replaced with a bashful giggle as he amicably thanked whoever gifted him.

You’d caught yourself gazing at him rather too fondly yourself… noticing little attributes that endeared him to you in a way that sparked a foreign sensation in your gut. The way his lips puckered when he had his cheeks stuffed with a cupcake, the faint smell of his mother’s favourite detergent that lingered on your pillow long after a sleepover had ended… the teasing lilt his voice would adopt as he called out your name while messily tying his soccer cleats’ laces...

Some days you would run ahead of him just to hear it, leaving him to struggle as he hunkered down in a corner of the grassy soccer pitch. However, your older sister had advised you against making any kind of move. Having been the victim of unsuccessful confessions herself, she’d warned that you would be ruining a good friendship. And so your budding infatuation simmered to an eventual halt.

—

Walking the familiar path back to the university, you were drawn out of your reverie by a dog running up to you and wagging its tail at your feet. The poor thing barely reached your shin and your heart swelled at the sight of its tiny brown frame. Its owner smiled at you cordially as you reached down to pat it, its fluffy fur comforting you even through your gloves as you hold your ice-cream at arm’s length with your other hand. The best part about winter-time ice-cream sprees was that you didn’t need to worry much about it melting and dripping onto the pup.

As it merrily trotted back to its owner you took a short lick of your treat with a smile on your face, marvelling at how such a small encounter could change the course of your day for the better. It was these little excitements that reminded you of why you’d taken the chance and moved.

The city isn't all bad, you muse, looking into the buildings you pass that are buzzing with activity as the day wears on. As you’d previously established, the people around here were nice. You’d made at least one good friend this semester. A lanky, fluffy haired boy named Soobin. Oh, how you wish you could stuff him in your pocket! Sure, you had to crane your neck up to look him in the eye and his hands were so big that your face could fit in one alone, but his soft disposition absolved your initial intimidation.

Soobin was in your economics class and had approached you in the cafeteria two weeks into the term, offering you a seat at his lunch table with a few of his friends. The space was so huge and it was jarring trying to find a place to sit. You remember shyly agreeing; silently kicking yourself for managing to give off a ‘lost puppy’ kind of vibe when you were supposed to be making a shot at being independent. By now, however, you had gotten sufficient time to practice– there were so many decisions you had to make for yourself now... socially, mentally and especially financially.

Hacking this new chapter of your life solo had been a tempting plan, but Soobin was fun to be around. Between your shared love for gaming and his seemingly aloof personality that complemented your over-analysing one, the two of you made quite the pair. On top of that he was a great wingman on the rare occasion you met someone you found cute at a fair or convention.

You hadn’t yet been swept up by the notorious college night life (not with the workload your major came with), but Soobin was still with you the few times you’d actually attend a party. He’s the one who would get you invited anyway; you didn’t know how he did it since he was such a homebody. Him sticking with you had more to do with keeping you from escaping than anything else, though.

“You really need to enjoy this time while you’re at it,” he had tried persuading you on one such occasion, switching your mocktail for a beer. You’d been quick to shove it back in his retreating hand, spilling a little of your drink on your shorts in the process. He’d laughed at you rumbustiously for what felt like forever until you nagged him, calling him by his full name and ordering him to go get you a napkin.

“You’ll miss these opportunities sorely when you’re like, forty and have kids to feed.” He’d called back ominously as he disappeared into the crowd. He was still rambling on about how these were the ‘prime years’ of your life while being swept up into the sea of swaying bodies and you struggled to hear him over the bass of the pop song blaring through the speakers. You vaguely recalled that it was your sister’s favourite and raised a glass in her honour. Somehow, you managed to spill even more of your drink in the process. Soobin just happened to return at that moment, and your dimpled friend could barely contain his amusement even when shot with the deadliest glare you could muster.

The pleasure Soobin derived from your misfortunes strongly reminded you of Kai, who’s favourite misgiving of yours was your clumsiness. You vividly remember a day when you were rushing from math to P.E., attempting to tie your shoelaces while standing. As you tumbled to the ground in a hazardous heap, his laugh echoed down the hallways, causing teachers in the nearby classrooms to peep through their respective doors and glare at you two disapprovingly.

⚝A/N: I've been working on this story for quite a while and I'm happy with the way it's turning out :) I'd love to hear your thoughts xx

We lost the Summer

⚝fic type: Y/A (coming-of-age)

⚝genre/contains: huening kai x reader, fluff, angst, gn!reader, non-idol!au with a dash of friends2lovers

⚝warnings: mentions of food (sweets & ice-cream)

⚝word count: 3.5k, pt 2/2 (part 1)

⚝A/N: Yes, I'm finally releasing this two months later. It's taken me so long to be happy with it 😭✌ but here we are! Dedicated to blonde hyuka who I've loved since forever💙

Spring break was fast approaching… and with it came that insufferable exam fever, punctuated by short bursts of the euphoric feeling of finally understanding the subject material. Much like the sun was now trying to peak its way down to you. Soft and tentative and brimming with the hope of a new season.

Your life in the city had taken an upturn. You started going out more often, and made good friends– some of whom you knew would be sticking around for the long run. It didn’t feel lonely anymore, and the uncertainty you had previously lugged around with every step had begun to unthaw like everything else as the seasons changed.

Mid-term exams came and went in a fleeting moment of perilous pressure, characterised by Soobin bursting into the library (earning himself a very dirty look from the librarian) and declaring that he actually hadn’t failed calculus. The exam season had been rough for you as well, but you tried to not worry about it too much. In any case, your mind was preoccupied with thoughts of flying home and all the things you’d do when you got there. You wondered if everything would be just as you’d left it, or if there had been significant change. It had only been nine months, sure, but that had been a lot of growing time on your end. Mentally, you were leaps and bounds ahead of where you’d been when you first moved out here.

A slight drizzle had kicked up by the time you got home, but you didn’t mind it one bit, immediately indulging yourself in all the familiar pleasures you had so dearly missed. The restaurant you used to frequent had been closed down, but your mother didn’t give you any time to grieve it with all the dishes she was whipping up. Your parents had always let you find your own way, and hadn’t tried convincing you to stay in your hometown when you decided to move away. Nevertheless, they had missed you all the same, and made up for the lost time with filling dinners and family outings.

As much as you tried not to think about him, Kai had been lingering at the back of your mind since you booked your flight home. The two of you had not talked in over nine months. Was he still living there? Maybe he’d taken a chance, like you, and moved away. You knew he’d always wanted to be a perfumer– as crazy as that sounds– and was now probably majoring in Chemistry.

Kai was sometimes your last thought before you slept, and your drowsy mind would annoyingly draw up scenarios of meeting him again. You had subtly asked your older sister about him and she’d confirmed that he still lived in your hometown. You would have to make a great effort to not ‘accidentally’ walk by his house as you strolled around the neighbourhood. You had spotted him around a few times; at the gas station once– the baseball cap obscuring his features doing nothing to stop you from recognizing your ex-best friend. You flush at the memory of how your heart had hammered as you rolled down your seat in order not to be seen by him. Your sister had given you a very curious look at that.

The first time you bumped into each other, you had quite literally halted in your tracks. You’d been hurrying off to a reunion party with a few of your family members and had rushed into the convenience store to get some snacks for the road. Kai was in the confectioneries isle, stacking up on skittles, marshmallows and gummy bears. You couldn’t help the chuckle that bubbled in your throat at the sight of his face taut with concentration. Kai detested shopping, yet never trusted anyone else to do his candy shopping for him. That was a sacred matter.

Kai had grown so much over your time apart. His long black locks had been cut short, his hair now a glowing blonde. It suited him well; the short pale strands accentuated his features that had begun to sharpen with time. You hadn’t been as adventurous, barely changing your hairstyle in your time away. However, you didn’t feel conscious about it– you were learning how to live life at your own pace. Before, such an inconsequential difference would have made you feel left behind. Everything had been a competition when you were in high school– and you used to feel like you were on the losing end half of the time.

Kai’s smile was as sweet as ever when he turned around at the sound of footsteps to be met by your own small smile. His cheeky grin lit up his face as his eyes danced under the fluorescent lights. The way the corners of his mouth quirked upwards always made him look like he was up to mischief– which he was, most of the time. Your friendship growing up had been greatly characterised by you bailing the two of you out of trouble after he’d convinced you to join him in doing something dumb (and mildly dangerous).

The two of you awkwardly fumbled between a hug and a handshake, all the more as you settled for a shaky version of the latter. Even though it was evident that you were both excited to meet each other again, your attempt at small talk did not venture beyond surface-level conversations. The hesitance that characterized all your meetings, hanging over them like a fog, reminded you of the gap breached between the two of you in high school. Just like back then, there were a few times in the present when you sensed that he might make a shot at truly reconnecting… but the moment would pass without any new development. Something kept getting in the way. Fear, pride… you couldn’t pin point exactly what it was. Another holiday was quickly coming to an end without the two of you making up, just like the way you’d lost the summer.

—

Eventually, about a fortnight before you were scheduled to travel back to college, you bump into Kai at your music store. This store had housed some of the best memories of your childhood; to find everything exactly as you had left it was a comfort words could not describe. You remember how sorely you had missed strolling through these isles at the beginning of your college year. Meeting Kai here only fuelled the nostalgia as you were the one who introduced him to this little slice of paradise on one of your innumerable walks home from school, back when you were children. It surprises you that Kai’s taste in music hasn’t changed much. Yours, on the other hand, had undergone a transformation of sorts within the time you’ve been away. It’s crazy how much music contributes to your mood; now that you’re listening to what you want (rather than going along with other people’s persuasions), you’ve found yourself far happier than you were during your high school years.

The two of you stumble over pleasantries as usual, sneaking glances at each other as you browse the shelves. At times your eyes would meet and you would be the one to look away, for Kai would only hold your gaze and venture no further. In your periphery you could spot the store’s owner, Namjoon, eyeing the two of you curiously. For all he knew, all he’d ever known, you and Kai were the best of friends– simply inseparable. He had never questioned you when you stopped bringing Kai to get new music with you in your final year of high school, simply assuming that the need to study was keeping Kai cooped up at home.

In the end, growing restless from this silent game, Kai broke the ice first and approached you, cracking an inside joke that he knew you could never resist laughing at. Within a matter of minutes it became apparent how foolish both of you were being by trying to avoid one another.

It’s amazing how conversation flows so naturally; anybody watching you two wouldn’t be able to tell that there had been radio silence from both ends for so long. Too long… but that void was rapidly closing with each laugh he managed to pull out of you.

The two of you agree to hit up your old ice cream parlour and Namjoon waves you goodbye on your way out, delight lighting up his features now that his favourite pair of troublemakers were back in business.

—

What you didn’t know was that Kai had missed you so much he couldn’t bear it. He would often catch himself wandering aimlessly on his walks alone after the two of you fell out. To see you again had given him a sliver of hope that he could make everything go back to the way it once was.

But Kai knew you well, and figured that the stubbornness in you– that he had over time grown to love– wouldn’t let you reach out first. Nevertheless, when he saw you at the music store he was determined to get you back. Somehow, he was going to make this work.

It had taken him so much time to stop eyeing his calendar after you left for college without coming to say goodbye. He was constantly reminded of you by the important dates you had marked onto it. Movie releases, when your favourite albums dropped, exams that you had to study for… you’d jot them down with the coloured glitter pens you would find scattered around his room. Your pens, actually- because Kai had an uncanny ability to nick them without you noticing a thing. You still scolded him for it now, almost a decade later.

—

You and Kai had spent countless Friday afternoons peering outside this parlour’s large windows, kneeling on your chairs to watch passers-by and cook up stories about what you two thought their lives were like. Kai would be reduced to fits of giggles as you pointed out random people with your ice-cream cone and invented incredibly detailed (and slightly unrealistic) tales about them. Your all-time favourite was a burly man who frequented the office building adjacent to the parlour. The two of you had convinced yourselves that guy was part of some mafia syndicate. He was always in dark sunglasses, had a comically twisted moustache, and on warmer days would rest against the hood of his car and smoke a cigar.

You find out Kai did really well in his high school exams; you hadn’t really followed up at the time. Your family was big on sending success cards, but when they sent one to Kai, the two of you were still distant. You remember writing a generic ‘good luck’ message that didn’t feel personal, didn’t feel like it was written by a friend he’d had for years. You feel a twinge of sadness at that. It’s crazy to think nearly all the ‘friendships’ that you had basically dumped Kai for had died out by the end of the summer following high school. It seemed the minute they left those school gates, those friends seemed to be ‘too busy’ for you. And yet, the boy who’d stuck by your side for so long was here with you now.

After getting your order you sit on the sidewalk outside the parlour sharing earphones. You two laugh as you remember getting into trouble together for doing this during a lesson when you were deskmates. Kai had been a quiet kid before befriending you… but that changed drastically once he came out of his shell. Kai was constantly getting himself into trouble, both at school and at home. You’ll always loved the image of a then tiny Kai being scolded and pinched on his chubby cheek for coming home all muddy after an electrifying football match. It had been around the world cup and all the kids on your street would spend the whole day outside, mimicking the matches they had watched on TV. Kai had been trying to run into the kitchen with filthy shoes all because he’d smelled his favourite food. As you shared your current mishaps and gossiped about the students in your respective courses, you were starting to feel like you’d gotten your confidant back. Kai was so easy to talk to. He was never judgemental and, after years of friendship, understood what you were saying before you even completed your sentences. It only occurred to you now, in the tentative afternoon sun, how handsome Kai was becoming as he grew older. Had he really always looked like this?

When you looked at him for too long, however, all you could see was that mischievous boy who’d been stealing all your glitter pens since fifth grade– and you told him as much.

“What do you mean by that?” He gasped, then raised an eyebrow. “You don’t find me breath-taking?”

“Absolutely not-”

“Simply just dazzling?” He posed, pouting his lips.

“Nope,” you laughed. “You’re a thief. A criminal, Kai.”

“Then you must be Britney Spears.” He teased with a wink, causing you to throw your bag at him with mock disgust.

—

On the eve of your departure, Kai agreed to come over and help you pack. It was the last time you would have any time together before you left as only your family was taking you to the airport for your short flight back. You had spent the better part of your last two weeks at home in each other’s company.

But despite of your plans, the day stretched on with no sign of Huening Kai.

You called him to no avail, because his phone was off. You’d tried waiting for him… tried to delay your inevitable separation, but it was no use. Packing your things alone, you bit back your worry and slight disappointment, hoping that Kai was alright and figuring that something urgent must’ve come up.

Kai showed up the next day, about half an hour before you were scheduled to leave for the airport. By that time you had written off any hope of seeing him before you left, so it surprised you when he came hurtling into your room.

“I’m so sorry I’m late I-”

“Are you alright? What happened?” You took note of the way he was panting as if he’d just ran a marathon.

“My dog,” he explained, trying to catch his breath. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t make it. She got sick, and the vet was out of town. My phone died on me-”

“Hey,” you softly stopped his rambling, motioning for him to take a seat on your bed. “Take it easy, it’s fine.”

Any disappointment that you previously held dissipated at the genuine remorse in his eyes. You knew that dog was getting really old, and how Kai would do anything not to lose her just yet… even if, like the two of you now, the separation would eventually be inevitable. Kai had always been bad at handling goodbyes of any nature, and for the first time you wondered how he coped when you left last August.

“It’s not fine, I know-” his breath got caught in his chest and he took a moment to steady his breathing. “I know you’ll be leaving for even longer this time and I…”

He trailed off, eyes trained on your shelf full of his music albums. His eyebrows furrowed as if he was in pain.

What he was saying was true, you had planned to stay in your college’s city till the end of year. Your life in the new city had started to look up; you were starting to really enjoy your time there.

“I know you won’t be coming back for the summer,” he continued, standing up and walking towards you. “And we’ve both been pretty stupid but I honestly wish I hadn’t wasted so much time.”

His mind was racing with the slight panic of losing you again. A nightmarish week, another month, a year…

He couldn’t bear to live in limbo for any longer, not when you’d just managed to reconcile. He felt bad you two spent nearly the whole holiday avoiding each other. Being with you this summer had evoked feelings within him that he had previously dismissed. Kai wondered if, given the chance, your friendship could eventually have led to something bigger.

“I should’ve looked for you earlier, maybe if I had-”

“There’s no point in dwelling on that now,” you tried reasoning with him.

You were caught between a rock and a hard place. On one hand, you didn’t see a real reason to keep flying back home- it costed money, and was really rather unnecessary considering your parents weren’t nagging you to keep visiting; you’d been lucky in that department, unlike so many of your classmates. On the other hand, here was your best friend of so many years who you doubt you could live without again.

Your thoughts are interrupted by your sister calling for you from downstairs, announcing that it was time to leave.

Kai felt like he was losing his grip. He racked his brain for a convincing argument but his conscience knew that making you come back just for him would be selfish considering how happy you were in your new city.

He pulled you into an unexpected hug, trying to convey all that he struggled to put into words into it. You noticed that he’d changed his cologne since high school. This one was mature compared to the crazy experiments he used to pull… mixing different scents into one bottle and beaming when it smelled half decent.

You found yourself melting into the embrace, drawing him impossibly closer. You had missed this for so long when the two of you were apart. Kai placed a soft kiss to your temple and the action made your breath catch for a moment. You remembered all those months ago when your mother told you that if it was meant to be it would work out in the end.

He mustered a faint smile when you pull away to face him again.

“I’m not losing you again.” You promised determinedly, ruffling his blonde hair that you’d steadily become obsessed with.  

“We’ll find a way.” He promised back simply with a wink, returning to his usual playful nature.

The two of you make your way downstairs, Kai offering to help you with your luggage. Your mother, who’d not seen Kai come in, beams at him when you two get to the landing. She’d been ecstatic when you dragged him over for dinner last week, seeing that he hadn’t been over in almost a year.

The very last goodbyes are the hardest ones of all, you conclude, when you pull Kai into a final hug. You didn’t want to think about how difficult it would be to walk away from your family once it was time to board the plane.

You find yourself muttering his name with the air that it was the last time you’d have it on your lips; slightly pained and breathless with defeat. He pulls you in tighter, whispering reassurances in your ear. If anything, the fact that you had him back in your life would be enough comfort to get you through your flight.

—

The plane ride is uneventful and you can already feel the jetlag knocking on your door when you get to your dorm room. It’s a comfortable feeling, though, walking through the campus. This place has become a second home to you in its own way.

You glimpse Soobin on your way to the hostels but barely have enough energy to engage him in conversation. In any case he was busy play-fighting with a friend of his; Soobin was tearing down the corridor, the other boy hot on his heels and aiming a water gun at him, laughing wildly. You recognized Beomgyu from your Business class, and Soobin had been ranting to you over the phone about the long-haired boy since they’d met at a gaming convention over spring break. It seems as if your friend group would be expanding soon.

In spite of your exhaustion, you’d hate to have the task of unpacking looming over you tomorrow morning, so you sigh and get down to it. Your roommate, Yeonjun, isn’t back yet, so you can’t ask him for help. When you unzip the front pocket of your suitcase where you’d packed your toiletries, you find a note stuck onto a brand new pack of glitter pens. You recognize the neat scrawl as Kai’s handwriting. When on earth did he have the time to slip this into your suitcase?

You stare at the note incredulously, letting out a breathless laugh.

“I’ve been in and out of my uni’s admissions office for the past few days. Looks like I’ll be transferring! Surprise!

Insane, I know, but long story short… I’ll be over this summer. This paper is too tiny for details anyway.

Anyways, I thought it was about time I bought you some of these ;) I’ll probably steal them all back when I get there but oh well.

Enjoy! ~Kai.”

Huening Kai was crazy, you thought, grinning to yourself as you made a mental note to contact him first thing in the morning. You suppose there’s just about enough room for one more person at your lunch table.

⚝A/N: As always, I'd really love to hear your thoughts :) Thank you for reading❣

⚝taglist: @bluebearybeom

warnings: none!

author’s note: based on a draft I made in 2021 that says “I want to go apple picking with Soobin.” It's only short but I hope you enjoy.

☆ gender neutral reader

Standing on your tiptoes, you're still just shy of reaching the high ones. You hear his chuckle before his chest is pressed against your back, long arm stretching over your head and grabbing the fruit with ease. You turn and see his grin, eyes smiling too as he drops the apple into your basket.

On the tractor ride back from the orchard, the sun is starting to set, the sky blazing golden orange. Soobin wraps an arm around you, holding your waist as you drop your head to his shoulder. It's been the perfect day, and as you drive home, a good amount of apples in a bag in the back seat of the car, your hand entwined with his, the two of you chatter excitedly about what you will make with the apples. Muffins, apple pie, apple crumble, apple bread. There's enough to make a few things, and you can't wait to start, but tomorrow, Soobin promises, looking over at you with adoring eyes. He loves when you get excited about things.

The next morning, you're up before Soobin, letting him sleep later since he sleeps so well. When he does wake, he emerges from the dark bedroom to find you in the kitchen, one of the sinks full of apples that you've just washed and are almost done drying. He smiles with amusement and a little laugh, plodding over to wrap his arms around you and rest his chin over your shoulder.

"Have you even eaten breakfast?" he inquires, voice all rumbly.

"Of course," you reply brightly, setting the last apple down carefully atop the others in the dry sink. Wouldn't want to bruise them now that you're going to use them.

Soobin snickers. "What did you have, an apple?"

You swipe at him with the towel, but he's already moved, knowing you well enough to see it coming. He's over at the sink, washing his hands before you can say anything more.

And so, the day is spent slicing, peeling, and measuring, enjoying each other's company. Smiling to yourself as Soobin hums happily as he works the whisk. Soon, the whole kitchen smells like cinnamon and baked goods, so excited that you both want to start eating it already. The two of you can't help but excitedly stand together, peering into the oven as it works its magic.

A perfect weekend.

written by mapofthemazeinthemirror - do not repost my work in any form

For some reason I keep thinking about this, so i did it. (This has been in the drafts too long but I finished it, yay)

Soobin doesn't get to the hospital in time while you're delivering the baby because he was at a music show shoot, and you went into labour earlier than planned. He walks in all out of breath from the dash up to your room, and you're alone with the little bundle in your arms. He can't believe he missed it. He was meant to be there for you, and he wasn't. He's babbling apologies as he approaches the bed, a kiss ready to be given, a hand on your shoulder—but the kiss never comes because his eyes fall on his baby girl for the first time.

This is the child he's felt so much love for all this time, and to finally see her is overwhelming. Soobin’s eyes well up with the rush of emotions he feels; love, pride, joy. Soobin lowers to his knees beside the bed to be closer to her, eyes taking in every detail of her face. His hand finds yours blindly, squeezing it with tenderness, tears threatening to spill over as he spares you short, loving glances, not able to look away from her for long.

"I'll never miss anything else," he promises. He reaches out to place a hand over the warm bundle of blankets, wishing he'd been here to see her before she'd been swaddled. "I'll be here. I swear." His fingers fold into a fist, leaving only his pinky extended in promise.

𝐓𝐗𝐓 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐍 —> 𝐅𝐀𝐕𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐄 𝐓𝐎 𝐊𝐈𝐒𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐈𝐑 𝐒/𝐎

Genre —> Fluff

—> places they prefer kissing you.

　   ꒰ ͟͡ 𖣁 ͟͡ ꒱　

YEONJUN - Lips / Neck

• obviously the lips and neck

• not only bc he's so flirty but too he just thinks it's cute if you get shy over it lol

• especially catching you off guard, but he loves kissing your pretty lips no matter the size. They're always so soft to him

• and your neck? He lovessss kissing your neck while cuddling you with his head snuggling into your shoulder / neck. It's just so cute and domestic.

SOOBIN - Forehead / Nose

• idk Soob just gives me the vibes that he loves giving you little forehead kisses

• like, not only cause he's tall enough, but also because it's an easy place to quickly show you his affection

• yeah, he is shy

• but he just can't help himself sometimes, especially nose kisses

• he loves giving your cute little nose a kiss and more preferably after he's done kissing you.

BEOMGYU - Corner of your lips / Cheek

• this is guy, ofc he likes to kiss the corner of your lips just to tease you playfully

• he means well ofc

• but he loves seeing you trying to get him to actually kiss you on the lips

• you're just too cute😭

• I also think the cheek bc like

• idk

• guy just giving you kisses on your cheekies then running away just to get you to run after him

• then acts like he didn't do anything?😭 I love him ur honor.

TAEHYUN - Hand / Forehead

• him just gently taking your hand and kissing it

• AND HIM MAKING EYE CONTACT WHILE DOING IT ARUGH OTL

• he's so yummy and sweet

• he thinks it's cute if you get shy or flustered when he kisses your hand out of nowhere

• the forehead kisses? It's so tae core like

• he definitely loves kissing your forehead, but also bc he knows you love it too

• it's just a simple yet an affectionate gesture he can do so yk he still cares for you.

HYUKA - Cheek / Jaw

• he's also a soft giant so cheekies kisses are a must

• easy n quick n cute

• *smooch* hehe and gets shy

• the jaw bc if y'all are cuddling he can just kiss your jaw

• and also it's close to your cheekies so he can do a double kill with those kisses

• idk guys he's just a sweet cutie patootie who loves you, he's a sweetheart.

𝐏𝐎𝐋𝐘!𝐓𝐗𝐓 𝐱 𝐅!𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐑 —> 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐍𝐒

𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞 —> 𝐅𝐥𝐮𝐟𝐟, 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐭, 𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤

𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 —> 𝐭𝐱𝐭 (𝐎𝐓5) 𝐱 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠(𝐬) —> 𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐞? 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐠𝐚𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐟𝐟, 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩, 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐟𝐟 𝐧 𝐰𝐭𝐯𝐫 𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞, 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 (𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞).

𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬 —> 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐰/ 𝐭𝐱𝐭.

﹒.₊˚Ꮚ✦

𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐒𝐅𝐖

Starting off strong

They're all protective of you

Each other too ofc but especially if you're a female, yeah very protective

Most protective to least would be Yeonjun, Soobin, Taehyun, Beomgyu, Hueningkai

Yeonjun is more protective, not in a toxic way he just doesn't want anything happening to you or hurting you and will have at least an arm around your waist or shoulders in public. Needs you to be safe. Wants to take care of you and will never forgive himself if you got hurt, especially while he was with you.

Soobin is overprotective only because he cares, he wants you to be comfortable at all times even in public and especially with him, he doesn't want you to feel uncomfortable or like he's not a safe place because he wants you to come to him for things. It may not seem like it but he's most ig obvious with it, people will know y'all are dating.

Taehyun is probably a little less obvious and more so less overprotective, but he's a good balance of possessiveness rather than protectiveness. He needs people to know you're his but not in a desperate way. He's okay just holding hands with you in public but if someone tries making a move very obviously or you're clearly uncomfortable he's going to step in and verbally let em know he's yours. But he's not the type to get jealous quickly or too easily or make a big deal out of sum.

Beomgyu seems less possessive and more protective but only out of concern. He feels like your friend(s) are mistreating you? He's gonna ask you about it because he wants the best for you. Someone seems to be getting aggressive with you and especially a strange man? Hell no he's stepping in and telling them off. He seems like someone who'll try to avoid conflict but won't be too scared to make a scene if he has too. He just wants you to be safe and happy more than anything.

Idk I just don't see Kai as someone who would be overly protective or possessive. He's the last one who would be getting into conflict in public about something and probably re-direct you somewhere else if someone is making you uncomfortable to get you away and forget about it while the other boyfriends deal with it lol. He'd prefer to distract you and let you know that you're safe. It's easier to protect you that way.

PDA with them is different

Yeonjun likes PDA, just not sucking faces and groping ofc. Things like hand holding, cheek kissing or little pecks on lips, hugging, simple things.

Soobin is more on the low with it, physical affection in general. Mostly hand holding or hand around waist. Prefers it private.

Beomgyu likes to hold hands and have his arm around you in some way, hand on thigh, he's okay with some PDA.

Taehyun mostly prefers hand holding and hand on your thigh, not too big on PDA. Prefers to be private like Soobin.

Hueningkai likes having an arm around your shoulders, linking his arm around yours or having your ankles touch under a table while sitting down somewhere. Doesn't mind PDA.

If you're an introvert and like to be alone for a few hours in the day, they're fine with giving you the space you need!

If you're an extrovert and like to be with someone most of the day then that's fine too!

I def think they all fondly look at whoever is kissing / being cute and lovey dovey

Like yeonjun and beomgyu being cuties and kissing? Everyone is fondly smiling and gazing at them

You're all very comfortable with each other, no TMI in this group tbh

Very respectful and educated when it comes to your period, lots of cuddles and stuff that you'll need

Kai for sure gives you belly rubs even if you're not on your period

He gives everyone belly rubes and loves when someone does it in return

KAI LOVES TUMMY KISSES!!!! And I truly believe @beomslover is correct when they said he loves tummy kisses and yes, his giggles are def adorable !! (Go check em out !)

The clingiest would prob be Kai and beomgyu, occasionally Soobin and Taehyun

Junnie is in between, just enough

When youre feeling the most cuddly or clingy, go hang with Kai n Gyu n you'll get your needs fulfilled with them

Yeonjun loves when you come to him n be clingy to him, he'll let you or any of the boys cling to him anytime!

Beomgyu has no shame in flirting with any of y'all, even in public or front of each other

He WILL flirt with all of y'all if it meant he got to see your cute blush, embarrassed look on your faces and get all shy

Tbh he just wants a reaction so give him one and let him tease you a little, just let him

No one wants a sulky and whiny gyu

These mfs are ppl who will get a full plate of food and ends up feeding you / giving you half the food on the plate or almost all of it😭

"but baby! You need to eat :((" like yeah, thank you for caring but like...you also do??😭

So in order for all of them to eat and know you're also eating, you've made an agreement to eat at least 2 meals all together

But they still try and sneak some extra food onto your plate LMAO

I think Junie and Soob would love to hand feed you food or snacks the most bc they think you're the cutest n enjoy taking care of you

THEY ALL LOVE CUDDLE PILES !!

y'all have one big cuddle pile at least once a week, either Friday, Saturday or Sunday

Doesn't matter, it just needs to happen so everyone can relax and enjoy each other's company and affection.

Just forgetting about responsibilities for a few hours and loving each other.

It's v common to take pictures of each other that are angled from their forehead down their face, yk?

They think it's so funny

Def good at comforting but in different ways

Yeonjun is a little too calming, me thinks. like, he's too good but he's great for times you wanna forget reality, be pampered and adored and cared for n not really have to worry about anything but also not feel like a child or baby. Lots of cuddles and kisses.

Soobin is the perfect amount of calming, very gentle and a soothing voice while talking to you. Lots of cuddles and affection and offers you food, drinks, anything you need he'll get you. intertwines your hands together and does the thumb thing while giving you comforting words.

Beomgyu has such a comforting presence, me thinks. Gets you your favorite snacks, foods, drinks, lets you in his comfortable clothes with his cologne on it, probably try and make you crack a smile. But he'll let you lay on him and lean on him for support and he's a good listener too ! Will hold you for as long as you need.

Taehyun is also a great listener and doesn't mind listening to your problems if you have anything to say, he wants you to trust him and be comfortable with him. A little quieter but doesn't leave your side and if he's getting something for you, you're coming with him. Watched your favorite movies and comfort shows, etc. he's just really good at making the situation and environment comfortable for you and safe. Also soft spoken n looks at you so fondly.

Hueningkai wants to see you smile again, hates seeing you sad or cry, his heart aches. He'll try and lighten the mood and make you giggle or smile. Cuddles the sadness out of you, smothers you in affection and lets you do whatever you want if it makes you feel better. Dress him up, put makeup on him, watch a show you love and he hates but he won't complain, spend his money on food, doesn't matter! If it makes you happy, he's happy.

This is already far too long maybe I'll write a part two ?