[1:54 a.m]

the tiny fan blowing air towards the two of you somehow cannot beat the heat that gathers all around in your shared bedroom. blankets were tossed off of each other’s practically stripped-down-naked bodies in futile attempts to regulate body temperatures, yet your boyfriend thought the best solution was to snuggle closer to your sweaty body.

“please woo, spare me from this scorching prison,” you whine from between his arms.

“don’t be dramatic,” jungwoo mumbles into your shoulder, seemingly unaffected by the heat that is practically causing your room to steam in the hot summer night.

“if this is being dramatic then you’re a broadway actor,” you scoff, releasing yourself from his inferno of a grip to get up and turn the fan onto the highest setting. clambering back over towards the bed and flipping your pillow for the millionth time, you turn over and mumble another ‘goodnight’.

it’s when you feel a hand crawling across your stomach and hot lips pressing themselves once again between your shoulder blades that you give up on your cool-down ministrations and fact reality that you will never have any personal space with jungwooaround.

[18:26]jungwoo zones out as he watches you gather ingredients together, his thoughts filled with future scenarios of you preparing dinner for a bigger family than just the two of you. 

request open!

okay so i closed request because i was backed up. Also sorry if I hadn’t done your request yet, sometimes certain request just dont inspire me but i will try to get to it!

ANYWAYS! you guys can start requesting now again i would appreciate if you guys requested more johnny bc i wanna write for him! But yeah get requesting! love ya!

dream in a dream - na jaemin

soulmate!jaemin

genre - fluff with a little angst

pairing - jaemin x reader (i try to make all my imagines gener neutral unless requested otherwise)

a/n - im back i love jaemin sm bye! i hope you all enjoy

lowercase intended! *not proofread*

jeno version        haechan version

——

- everyone always has a different way of finding their soulmate.

- one of your friends was stuck in a loop until they found their soulmate haechan and another one of your friends had their soulmate voice in their head.

- out of all of your mini friend group you have it just a little harder.

- you know what your soulmate looks like and their personality, the problem was just you didn’t know where your soulmate was.

- you only know his name starts with a j and that he was really adorable.

- you were able to communicate in your dreams, almost every night you guys would sit in some unrecognizable area and talk.

- today you were extra tired, you and your soulmate agreed to go to sleep around 10 pm every night so you would get to spend time together but you couldn’t help it.

- after two ap test and your friends being constantly lovey dovey with their soulmates at lunch you couldn’t help but want to take a i’m lowkey bitter about not knowing my soulmate nap.

- you were in dreamland for almost two hours when jaemin finally popped up.

- “baby, how long have you been waiting for me?” he smiled going to kiss your cheek.

- “i’m not sure, it’s been a while though. i couldn’t help it though my test and friends were stressing me out.” you whined slightly as he pulled you into his chest.

- you laugh when he tickles your sides trying to brighten your mood.

- “what did your friends do?”

- “oh it’s nothing they can help, i just get a little sad and jealous when i see them with their soulmates at lunch. it’s stupid” you murmur the last part looking down.

- he lifts your chin up smiling down at you, “it’s okay baby because soon we will meet. plus we must be the coolest couple who else gets to meet their soulmate in their dream every night?”

- you couldn’t help the smile that blossomed on your face. he always knew how to make everything better and make you smile even when you don’t want to.

- you guys just sit holding each other for a while and you can feel the sort of melancholic atmosphere.

- you knew both of you were thinking, what if dreams were all you were gonna have for a long time.

- you know its time to go when you can feel yourself slightly stirring in your sleep.

- he gives you a sad smile, a smile nonetheless, kissing your cheek before you wake up.

- you still feel kinda sad but with a more determination to find your soulmate, wanting to prove dreams would not be the only thing you have.

- you ask your friends if they or their soulmates know a boy with golden brown hair and name starts with a j.

- they all say they know nothing and you feel slightly defeated but you promised yourself you wouldn’t give up!

- you started to go later and later into your dreams (which was bad because you guys only had a limited amount of time starting) because you would spend most of your time after school exploring new areas in hopes of finding your love.

- one night your mom requested you come straight home and you took a nice loooongggggg nap and you saw jaemin waiting there for you with an expression that is a mixture of annoyance and worry.

- you wrapped your arms around him but he didn’t return the hug and you looked up at him confused.

- “what’s wrong, honey?”

- “why do you keep coming into your dreams later? you know our time is limited already. i haven’t even seen you properly for a month.”

- well you didn’t really wanna tell him you were looking for him because he told you before he thinks you will meet when the time is right and that spending time together in your dreams was worth the wait.

- “i’ve just been busy is all.” you said softly trying not to upset him. unfortunately that didn’t seem to work.

- “you must mistake me for a fool. i’m your soulmate, you think i don’t know that you’ve been wandering around everywhere trying to find me again?”

- you kinda gasped a little but you knew jaemin had always been very perceptive and you aren’t exactly an expert in hiding things.

- he could see the sad look on your face so he tried to calm down but he couldn’t help the clear annoyance in his voice.

- “baby, you were too busy worrying about me that you didn’t even stop to think about yourself. what if your wandering lead you into a bad area, did you even think about the possibility of us not being close to each other?“

- before you even got the chance to respond you woke up because your mom was calling you for dinner and told you the next day you would be visiting your cousins for the weekend.

- so the next day, you guys pull up to your cousins house and shes like “omg i’m sorry if i knew you were coming I wouldn’t have invited friends over.”

- and you tell her it’s okay you’ll just chill in the living room and catch up with the babies and everyone else.

- so an hour later your cousins friends are walking through the living room and you look up and your heart drops.

- it’s him.

- you look down because you start to get nervous because i mean your meeting the love of your life.

- but its too late because he’s already tackling you into a hug.

- “i’m so happy we finally met baby.”

- “honey, can you tell me your name.” you try to say with your normal voice but he’s hugging you too tight.

- “oh yeah i forgot we don’t know that about each other.” he laughs.

- “i’m na jaemin and i’m your soulmate.”

hiiii

so i uh posted three new imagines one soulmate!au with haechan, one doyoung fluff and one taeyong fluff. I will be getting to the request i have in my inbox and I’ve also reopened my request. Next should be cuddling with chenle, morning after with ten and coffee shop au with ten. thanks for all the support! send me in more request here or dm it to me on my Twitter on @/heavenlyjaehyun

xoxo

shay

“do you love me?”

jungwoo’s voice echoed through your head. those words never left your brain. it was like a worst case of ear worm, the type that would linger in your mind for days. 

of course you love him. you really do. 

you love him when his hair’s a tattered mop in his face in the wee hours of the morning. you love him whenever he tries to cook you both breakfast only to turn around with a sheepish smile on his face as he tells you that he burnt the pancakes. you love him whenever he presses his cold lips to the apples of your cheeks, just to “warm them up” (you hated it, but could never bring yourself to tell him off). you love him when he begs to be to the smaller spoon, claiming that he sleeps better in your arms. 

if you love him like this, why couldn’t you bring yourself to say the words?

Meant To Be Series

Very loosely based off of the song Meant to be, in the musical Heathers. Also very loosely based off of the tiktoks I’ve seen of said song.

Authors Note: I am not in any way trying to romanticize the behavior portrayed in these stories, it’s purely for entertainment purposes. Also Idek when any of these stories are gonna be written. Hugs and kisses to anyone reading <333

I can’t make this alone! Finish what we’ve begun!

Johnny x Reader

Warnings: Mature themes, abusive relationship, toxic behavior,

Word Count:TBD

Synopsis: You and Johnny had been together for years, basically growing up together. The two of you grew very dependent on each other. Neither of you knew who you were without the other person. However, now you want to explore this. To be your own person, to be independent. To be someone without Johnny by your side. You wanted to try being single for a little while. Johnny didn’t like this though, threatening you with everything he had against you.

Release Date:TBD



You were meant to be mine! I am all that you need!

Jaemin X Reader

Warnings: Mature themes, abusive relationship, toxic behavior,

Word Count: TBD

Synopsis: Jaemin was confident, borderline cocky, but you could understand why. A guy that pretty, that charming, that good in bed, there wasn’t really any reason for him to be insecure. Jaemin was a complete package, and he knew it. He always used it against you, saying that he was all you ever needed. Even when you told him that you just wanted to have a girls night out, he said you didn’t need them. “I’m all you need,” was his words.

Release Date:TBD

You carved open my heart! Can’t just leave me to bleed!

Jungwoo X Reader

Warnings: Mature themes, abusive relationship, toxic behavior, mentions of suicide, mentions of self harm,

Word Count:TBD

Synopsis: Jungwoo was always considered a nice guy. He was kind, charming, sweet, and purely just the most sensitive person you had ever met. In the beginning it was very nice, Jungwoo wasn’t one of those toxic masculine guys. However now, it felt like you couldn’t even leave him alone for more than two minutes. He clung to you, never allowing you to go out alone. Even now when you tried to leave, Jungwoo wouldn’t allow it, threatening to hurt himself if you did.

Release Date:TBD

Can we not fight anymore’ Please, can we not fight anymore’

Jisung X Reader

Warnings:Mature themes, abusive relationship, toxic behavior,

Word Count: TBD

Synopsis: You and Jisung fell in love fast, so fast that it had to be destiny. It was written in the stars that you and Jisung were meant to be. You guys were made for each other. Jisung was made for you, so you could write the little things off. Like how he ignores all of your pleas for affection. Or how he chose to spend time with his friends over you. Or how he would never argue with you, just instead telling you to let it go. You could write all of those little things off, because Jisung was made for you. It’s written in the stars.

Release Date:TBD

Sure, you’re scared, I’ve been there. I can set you free!

Jaehyun X Reader

Warnings:Mature themes, abusive relationship, toxic behavior, gaslighting

Word Count:TBD

Synopsis: Jaehyun would chip away at your sanity little by little. Telling you that what happened, didn’t actually happen. Telling you all the sweet little lies that you wanted to hear. Jaehyun always did make promises, but then turned around and claimed he never agreed to that. He would always claim that you must’ve been talking to someone else. He was even doing it now, when you told him that he promised to take you out tonight.

Release Date:TBD

Don’t make me come in there! I’m gonna count to three!

Jeno X Reader

Warnings:Mature themes, abusive relationship, toxic behavior, mentions of domestic of violence

Word Count: TBD

Synopsis: Jeno always did have a bad temper. He always told you that he would work on his temper. That he would try better. That it was the last time, that he would be better. And it was, or at least it seemed like it was. He was being nicer, sweeter, he was being Jeno. But it seemed as this time he was really on edge. Locking yourself in the bedroom away from him didn’t seem to help either.

Release Date:TBD

☆ [nostalgic] summer romance!au jungwoo
another late birthday au….but happy snoopy day <3
find others here: johnny|haechan|taeil|taeyong|mark|jaemin|yangyang|yuta|sicheng|chenle|kun|yukhei|doyoung|jaehyun

• “congratulations and welcome to the team!”
• the overly peppy voice that comes out of the body of the middle-aged man somehow doesn’t match the soulless look in his eyes
• he hands you a whistle and a t-shirt, which when you unfold greets you with the name of the water park you’ve been cursed to work at all summer
• the font is big and bubbly and very, very, veryyellow - it’s almost nauseating
• you turn the shirt around and on the back, in that same childish font, is the word staff
• “jungwoo, glad to see you here again!”
• you turn your head to see the man, who is your shift manager, patting a rather thin and tall looking boy on the back
• he makes a gagging noise which the manager just laughs heartily at before dropping the same shirt and whistle in jungwoo’s palm
• “hey wait - which ride am i on this year?”
• “um let me see - you’re on …….. ah, the log flume with the new employee.”
• you motion to yourself because it seems like you’re the only new face at the orientation
• everyone else has cliqued up and is already mumbling about how much this is going to suck with each other
• jungwoo slinks over and throws the shirt over his shoulder
• “log flume kinda sucks, just so you know.”
• “really? i can’t imagine getting sprayed by residual dirty water isn’t a thrilling experience - especially when it happens a hundred times a day.”
• there’s a pause and then a large grin forms of jungwoo’s features
• “oh - i like you.”
• you affirm the notion with a little bit of a prideful shrug and smile yourself
• good, i think i like you too.
• of course - when you and jungwoo first exchange these sentiments, it’s nothing more than an employee-to-employee relationship
• jungwoo has a sense of humor that either tends to fly over peoples heads or offend them (sometimes both)
• but you catch on quickly and sometimes even beat him in a game of his own wits
• during an opening shift where you two are testing the ride and cleaning up the waiting area, jungwoo confides that when he was in middle school someone had pointed out that he’s “eccentric”
• you scrunch your nose up as you tie a knot around the garbage bag in your hand
• “eccentric is a polite way of saying fucking weird, you know that right jungwoo?”
• “do you think im ‘fucking weird’ then?”
• he does a pose and you shake your head with a little laugh
• “no i think you’re just….you.”
• he relaxes his limbs and tilts his head to the side, without a verbal answer you somehow sense that that was the one thing jungwoo really wanted to hear
• working the log flume though - is as hellish as expected
• most of your days are spent standing in those hot, cheap plastic ponchos and waving at families with screaming children or rowdy teenagers who barely fit in the ride with their bony knees
• despite your efforts to keep dry, you and jungwoo always end up soaked
• he’s forgetful and clumsy so half the time you have to share the towel you bring with him, not to mention your lunch gets gobbled up by him too
• you ask at some point why jungwoo just doesn’t bring his own stuff - you are not a one-stop 7/11 shop
• he laughs and takes a bite into the huge soft pretzel sold in the water park
• “why should i bring anything, you’ve always got everything we need!”
• a pang like the toll of a bell vibrates through the cavity of your chest
• we - what about “we”, there’s no “we”, there’s just…….“friends”
• a sour taste in your mouth accompanies the thought and so you push it to the back of your mind
• “still - at least start bringing your own change of clothes, you’re too tall for any of my shirts.”
• “crop-tops are in though!”
• you stare down at the switchboard that operates the log flume - the buttons with scraping labels, the emergency stop button, the little cubbies below where people leave their phones
• the park is closing in thirty minutes and jungwoo has scampered off to hand in your ticket collection to the manager
• the summer evening is hovering between the last beams of light and suddenly - alone at the top of the ride - something shifts
• you unfile the thought you had before, the idea of what 'we’ means to you and jungwoo
• and you come to a daunting realization that, after only a couple of weeks of laughter and grueling minimum wage work, the statement “i think i like you too” is starting to take a new shape in your heart
• “hey - did you drown up there?”
• you lean over the side and see jungwoo below waving
• even with the distance the essence of his warm shine floats up and tickles at your cheeks.
• you swat it away, but it doesn’t work.
• “no - the log flume ghost caught me, i can’t come down.”
• you joke back and he salutes
• “wait there, i will come save you - i have fought that ghost once before!”
• he’s joking, but something flutters its wings when you hear him rush up the steps with all the seriousness of coming to get you. to save you.
• when he reaches you - you mask the weird flush climbing up your spine - and pretend to be flailing
• jungwoo gives you a kindergarten laugh as he joins in on the fun - a fake punch to the face of a fake ghost
• he grabs you around the waist and tugs you toward him, and inches from his face, you see something behind the childish glint in the brown of his eyes.
• he’s so handsome.
• “saved you! let’s get out of here or the manager will accuse us of trying to sneak in overtime.”
• the weight of his hands on you is only described as comforting, easy. so very easy.
• so even when he lets go and you are trailing behind him and the rest of the park employees after closing you miss it, you miss the touch of a friend who is becoming a lot more than just that.
• “jungwoo’s being switched to the lazy river starting today, that place is such a cease pool of idiocy that i need more coverage on it.”
• a groan escapes jungwoo before you can even process what the manager is saying
• “what? but i hate that place most of all - do you know how many random dads get into fights on that thing?”
• “am i going to be on log flume alone?”
• your voice is way calmer than you expect it to be and the manager makes a passive motion with his hand, “yep - and i trust you’ll handle it fine.”
• jungwoo’s look is apologetic and slightly bitter, you reach out to give him a pat on the shoulder, but your palm hovers above the fabric of his shirt before pulling embarrassingly back to your side
• either he doesn’t notice or he chooses not to say anything because jungwoo turns and trudges over to the other three people assigned to the river
• without jungwoo, the weird gnawing feeling of a summer crush only gets stronger, because now that he’s not glued to your side
• you miss him so terribly it almost makes you feel sick
• coupled with the boredom of being alone the entire day with strangers seems to just worsen the symptoms
• a week into the switch, you make the choice to visit jungwoo on your lunch break
• you arrive just in time to see the aftermath of one of those dad fights he had mentioned
• jungwoo is waist-deep in the water with two of those inflatable tubes on either side. he looks like he’s negotiating a war truce between two disgruntled generals and he hands the tubes back as the men disperse to their respective families with scowls on their faces
• jungwoo is also not wearing a shirt
• “lazy river is much more hands-on then log flume”
• the line of his back is lean and there are some healing bruises under his ribs which you can only assume are from his rather clumsy nature, the other thought of what could have caused them makes your head spin
• “hey - i see you’re literally in the trenches”
• jungwoo turns and runs a hand through his wet bangs to get a better look at you. the action shouldn’t make your knees feel like jelly.
• “i hate this place, come over here and dunk my head underwater please.”
• you squat down near the edge and jungwoo wades closer to you
• you place a brown paper bag beside you and motion to it
• “im assuming you still aren’t bringing your own lunches and are surviving off scraps from everyone else?”
• he grins, “you know me so well”
• i know i do - you think to say, but keep the words in your throat - i know i do, which is weird because we’ve been friends for a little over a month.
• “hows log flume?”
• “boring without you.”
• jungwoo whistles and you catch the way the sun makes every little drop of water on him glisten
• “ill stop by on my break since you stopped by on yours”
• a second of comfortable silence passes and jungwoo jumps up and out of the river with an ease
• he grabs the lunch you’ve brought and is about to say something when a whistle from the other side of the river catches your attentions
• “ugh this place is supposed to be lazy.”
• he complains and before he turns to the direction of the sound, he touches your cheek with the slightly wet palm of his hand
• “thanks for lunch, see you later.”
• the gesture haunts you.
• you even ask someone in the line for log flume what it means and she gives you a side glare that can only be conjured by a specific breed of mom.
• you try to google it, but nearly drop your phone into the water.
• jungwoo doesn’t come by that day - he actually only manages to visit you the next day.
• he shows up in his trunks, no shirt, and the towel he never gave back to you after he borrowed it over his shoulder
• “sorry, do you know how many kids get food poisoning and decide the riv-”
• you put up a hand to stop him from divulging details and jungwoo leans against the post that controls the ride as you wave off the next bunch of people
• you feel him watch you before he joins you and helps start lowering the bar for the next log that splashes its way into the starting point
• as you two go through the rows with practiced repetition
• you meet in the middle
• your hands both reach out to touch the bar, bringing it down over the laps of two young-looking middle schoolers who are pretending not to be holding hands
• one of them giggles as you and jungwoo’s fingers brush
• the slight pass of skin on skin feels like a burst of electricity
• stepping back to wave the group off - jungwoo slips in beside you and asks with a kind of strained sarcasm
• “who takes their date on the log flume?”
• “i think it’s cute.”
• jungwoo doesn’t miss a beat and that’s what nearly knocks you backwards
• “wanna go with me on our day off?”
• jungwoo asks you on a date.
• that you’re sure off. but why - that’s the part that does not click for you.
• so is it a friend thing - are the 'we’ on this 'date’ just two friends running around the water park they work at with the freedom of having to not do their jobs? are the 'we’ on this 'date’ something completely different?
• the nervousness makes you jump when jungwoo meets up with you at the bust stop and he doesn’t look or feel any different than usual
• you start to accept that your first thought is correct - this is a platonic date - nothing more
• until you get to the waterpark and put your things away and jungwoo pulls a small container from his bag
• “what’s that?”
• “you’re always taking care of me, i want to take care of you for once too.”
• he opens it and inside are some lopsided looking cookies
• “did you- jungwoo did you bake this?”
• he poke his tongue out, but nods
• “well, a friend who is a better cook than me helped.”
• they taste better than you could have imagined, you take a bite and understand that no something is definitely
• different
• friends don’t hold their other friends hand the entire day
• friends don’t lean into their other friends shoulder while waiting in the line for one of the rides and then biting softly down on the skin, kissing it after like an apologetic kitten
• and friends don’t kiss their other friends in the dark, shady corner where a line of vending machines have been abandoned behind the pretzel stand
• the infamous makeout spot that every water park employee buzzes about
• when your date comes to an end and you and jungwoo are waiting for the bus back, you keep touching your lips.
• jungwoo tastes like citrus when he kisses
• there are some things i don’t know about him
• you smile to yourself when his pinkie brushes yours and hooks up with it as the bus approaches
• i can’t wait to learn all of them
• it takes the manager exactly forty-eight hours to figure out you and jungwoo are dating.
• everyone else in the park gets the memo the minute you two step into the staff room.
• there’s a little pushback against it, just because there is some stupid company policy, but the manager claps you both on your backs and whispers that whatever - it is summer - kids should have fun during the summer.
• maybe the fun means sneaking kisses on lunch breaks, visiting each other on your off days, swapping shifts so you two can arrive and leave together
• the fun of having jungwoo nuzzle his wet face into the back of your neck as he complains about work
• the fun of having you trace patterns on his arm as you two wait for the bus home
• the fun of seeing each other outside of work, sprawling across his bedroom floor and talking about nonsense
• the fun of jungwoo’s features shifting from languid and sleepy to acute as you shift your weight ontop of him and let your hands flirt with the hem of his shirt
• “cover those up jungwoo, we are a family-friendly establishment”
• the manager mumbles, motioning to jungwoo’s neck with his pen
• you thin your lips and jungwoo huffs, slapping a bandage or two on the slightly puffed skin
• when the days get a little colder and the droves of families dwindle slowly, you know that your summer job is coming to an end
• on your last days, you have back your uniforms and whistles and the manager makes a speech about how much good work has been done and how he’s holding back his tears, but he’s sure he’ll see you next year
• jungwoo mutters that you two can’t come back here next year - you two should look into summer jobs at the mall or something
• your last walk from the park gates to the bus stop home is calm, even a little chilly. jungwoo drapes a hand around your shoulder and pulls you into him for the warmth.
• “we never got to go on the log flume together”
• you suddenly muse and jungwoo coaxes his mouth into a frown
• “you really want to go together on that contraption? it’s not even fun.”
• “it’s sentimental to us.”
• “that’s a weird thing to say.”
• he looks at you and you poke his cheek
• “it’s an eccentric thing to say.”
• a number of summers pass until you and jungwoo ever follow up on the notion
• actually, the one summer you two end up sitting together on the log flume, is not even at the water park from your memories
• it’s somewhere abroad
• you’re on vacation together and jungwoo claims you dragged him onto this thing
• but you see the little smile he tries to hide when the bar comes down
• the two teenagers working the ride brush their fingers as they do so, catching the look of shyness that passes from one to the other you giggle and take jungwoo’s hand in your own
• “what’s funny?”
• he asks and you tell him oh, nothing.
• the ride starts and just as the log reaches the end of the dip - you let out a small shout of excitement
• jungwoo joins you, but he doesn’t just make a sound. he says something.
• “i love you!”
• oh, i think i like you too - the sweet taste comes back.
• “i thin- i know i love you too!”

celeritas - kim jungwoo x gender neutral reader

masterlist

⇢   synopsis: celeritas; speed, swiftness. windswept hair and ripped jeans. kim jungwoo, mysterious neighbour and alleged street racer. just what secrets lie within this man? and can you match his speed?

⇢   word count: 7.3k

⇢   trigger warnings: car accident, blood, non-serious injury, swearing, implied sex but no explicit scenes.

⇢   a/n: this is my piece for adrenaline rush, the nct racer au collab! please make sure to check out the other pieces in the collab:)

When your boss moved you to the graveyard shift, you were certain it was nothing short of a curse. The lack of sunlight you witnessed, the subsequent cost of vitamin D supplements, the inherent loneliness of living your whole life while the majority of your city slept.

There were certain benefits, however, once you gave yourself the time to adjust. Laundry, for example. On your days off, you were perfectly free to saunter down to the completely empty laundry room in your apartment building, which was a rare sight. In days long past, you’d had to fight tooth and nail for an opportunity to run a load of laundry, although you had found that the room was mostly empty come 3 in the morning. Key word: mostly.

There was a certain gentleman, who apparently lived in your apartment building, although you hadn’t ever seen him before your late-night laundry escapades. Now, however, he seemed to be a regular fixture in your life. You hadn’t yet figured out whether this was a benefit or drawback. In fact, you were having trouble figuring him out in general.

Soft brown hair, a little overgrown but he wore it well. Warm eyes, dark and shining, the kind you’d expect to see on a puppy. An air of confidence, the sense that he knew exactly who he was and what he was worth. Something about him… you just had to know more. He was a particularly interesting synopsis on the back of a novel, and you wanted to stay up all night reading him, cover to cover. You’d begun sharing smiles with the man, glances across the laundry room. Not that night, though.

That night, his rosy lips were pointed decidedly downwards in a frustrated pout, his eyebrows furrowed in a worried knot. There was something on his mind, that much was clear, and your mind ran wild, creating stories about what might be troubling him. He’d missed his stop on the bus home and ended up in a strange neighbourhood, and he was attempting to comprehend the oddities he’d witnessed. He was an undefeated chess master, and an upcoming champion was threatening his spot on the throne. His pet turtle hadn’t been eating her greens and he just couldn’t figure out why. None of those things, or perhaps all of those things.

“Fuck! For the love of god!”

The man’s cursing startled you from your daydreams, the impact of his shout causing you to drop the shirt you were holding. Even through your alarm, you found yourself thinking that he had a nice voice - even when he was yelling obscenities. You wondered how it would sound when he paid compliments, when he rambled about something he cared about, when poetry tumbled from his lips.

“Hey,” you called to him across the room, with all the bravery you could muster. “Everything alright?”

“Yeah,” he confirmed, although this clearly wasn’t the case. “I just can’t get this damn stain out.”

“Hm. What’s the stain?”

He lifted the shirt higher so that you could see it. A white t-shirt - well, you assumed it was once white. The condition of the fabric, when he pulled it from the washing machine, was a little less than ideal. A rusty stain covered the expanse of the material, red and brown. The man was far from happy - you could tell this wasn’t his first time battling this particular stain.

“Would you believe me if I said it’s ketchup?” he asked with a wry smirk. You couldn’t help but smile back at him - his sarcastic amusement was contagious, and you couldn’t help but feel that this was a frequent exchange for him. Not so much the laundry situation, but the smirk, making warmth blossom in the heart of a complete stranger.

You nodded. “Got it, no questions asked. Have you tried running a cold cycle? And do you wanna borrow some stain remover?”

“You’re a lifesaver,” he praised you. “Or at the very least, a shirt-saver.” You laughed at this; you wouldn’t have expected him to be so dorky. Or, upon reconsideration, maybe it was obvious. From the way his eyes glinted in the light. You swiftly closed your own machine, setting off the cycle, before gathering your equipment, your clothes-washing tools, and taking them over to the man.

“Here,” you said, taking the shirt from him and squirting the remover onto it. You walked him through the steps, rubbing the substance into the material before tossing it back into the machine and running a cold cycle.

“I’m Jungwoo, by the way. Apartment 127.” He held his hand out, and you shook it. Jungwoo, you thought, running his name through your mind. You wondered how it might taste, through laughter or in the dark.

“[Name]. Apartment 129.”

“No way,” he remarked. “We’re so close together - how haven’t we bumped into each other? Before recently, I mean.” It made you feel strangely special, the way he acknowledged your recent encounters with each other. Though you’d never spoken, he recognised you. He’d noticedyou.

You shrugged nonchalantly. “I don’t know. Well, actually - I just moved to the night shift.”

“That’ll be it,” he confirmed. “I’m a creature of the night, mainly.”

“Well, I’m gonna go. I have… stuff to do.” His pause intrigued you, but you let it slip. Jungwoo tapped the sign on the wall beside him, reading DO NOT LEAVE LAUNDRY UNATTENDED. “I won’t tell if you won’t. See you around, [Name].” With a wink, and a smile, he was gone.

*

Now that you had a name to the face, a voice to the man, a sliver of personality to the otherwise unknown figure, Jungwoo seemed to occupy your thoughts a lot more in the coming week. Hard as you tried to curb these thoughts - you barely knew the man, after all - but whenever you left your apartment, particularly when it was any later than 11pm, you found yourself looking for him. You scanned the hallways, crossed your fingers when the elevator doors opened, kept an eye on the door of apartment 127. It was all to no avail, however. You didn’t see Jungwoo once in the week following.

You’d almost given up hope entirely, or perhaps you were so weary and exhausted from your shift that even Jungwoo was far from your thoughts, which were solely focused on your warm, comfortable bed that you couldn’t wait to fall into. Birds were chattering away to one another, and you sincerely believed you’d never get used to falling asleep at seven in the morning. As you were scanning your way into the building, passing your key fob over the sensor, you noticed a figure behind you, in your reflection. The person was tall, though their identity was hidden by their hood, and fear flashed through you.

You really hoped this wasn’t one of those horror stories - where a strange man gains entry to an apartment building where he doesn’t belong, only to murder its inhabitants. You glanced backwards before you pulled the door open, only for your fear to lessen and your concern-slash-confusion to raise.

“Jungwoo?” you asked, peering at him. He was clearly trying to hide himself, but you knew it was him. You unrecognised his lips, and hoped that wasn’t creepy, but what deterred you was the swelling around the left side of his jaw. “Are you okay?”

“Hey, [Name]. I’m fine.” He tried to give you a reassuring smile, but winced as the action twinged his swollen features.

“You don’t seem too fine,” you commented, trying to peer at the rest of his face, under his hood.

“I’ve had worse,” he shrugged, wincing again. “Look, can we go inside?”

You frowned, pulling open your apartment door before ushering him inside and pulling down his hood, acting fast and catching him unaware, only to gasp at the state of his face. Along with his swollen jaw was a black eye, and a gash across his forehead that had recently ceased its bleeding, judging by the dark, dried blood around the site of injury

“Oh my god, Jungwoo, what happened?”

“Listen, I said it’s fine-”

“Come on, let me patch you up.” You grasped his arm, marching him towards the elevator, and he got the message that his protesting was worthless and you wouldn’t be taking no for an answer. Once in your apartment, you pulled a chair out from your kitchen table and pushed Jungwoo firmly down onto it, before digging the first aid kit out of your cupboard.

Jungwoo was silent through the whole affair, and you sensed that some of this was surprise. It didn’t seem like he was used to this - being taken charge of, that was. He seemed like the type of guy who took charge of everything and everyone he encountered. Well, you supposed, he had met his match.

He was a good patient, and only flinched once, when you brushed his wounds with an antibacterial wipe. Finished your cleaning and bandaging, you leaned back against your kitchen counter, eyeing the man up. He said nothing, simply looking back at you with an undetectable look on his face. His lips were set in a straight line, though his eyes were soft.

“Do you want a drink?” you asked him eventually, breaking the silence. “I have decaf coffee, tea, hot cocoa-”

“Hot cocoa, please!” Jungwoo interrupted, looking excited all of a sudden, despite his injuries. You nodded, and went to prepare two hot cocoas. Silence fell again, and it was a strangely comfortable silence considering you were near-strangers.

“So,” you spoke after a few moments, “I know I said I wouldn’t ask questions. But I did just fix your face, so I think you kinda owe me a little explanation.”

“Hey, hey. This face? Could neverneed fixing. You can’t fix perfection.”

You gave him a look. “You’re avoiding the subject, Jungwoo.”

“Alright, alright,” he raised his hands in surrender. “I’m a street racer.”

You paused for a few beats, looking at him. Searching his face for any sign of amusement, waiting for a gotcha!

It didn’t come. “A street racer?”

“You don’t believe me?” he asked. He sounded genuine. You were left wondering whether he was, in fact, a street racer… or a pathological liar.

“You don’t look like a street racer,” was all you said, as you handed him his cocoa. He took a sip.

“Then, what do I look like?” he questioned. A model, you thought. Outwardly, however, you simply shrugged, and tried to hide your blush by taking a sip of your drink. “You can come see me in action if you want, baby. I’m racing again tomorrow night, midnight.”

You raised a skeptical eyebrow at him. “Follow a mysterious man, who I’ve found covered in blood on twoseparate occasions? Come on. Even to you, that must sound a little shifty.”

Jungwoo shrugged. “You’re the one who invited me into your home, baby.”

You sighed -  you couldn’t really fight him on that one. You wrapped your hands around your mug tightly. “I don’t know anything about you, Jungwoo. I don’t even know your last name-”

“Kim,” he interrupted. “Kim Jungwoo.”

You roll your eyes. “Fine. Well I know your last name, now. But still. How do I know you’re even telling the truth?”

Jungwoo smiled, his lips twisting upwards in the corners in the most endearing way possible. He looked into your eyes. “[Name]. Darling. Why would I lie?”

You give him a cynical look. “Really, Jungwoo? There are some serious creeps out there. Creeps who tell many different lies for many different reasons. And none of them are good reasons.”

“Just trust me, okay? Take a leap of faith.” You raised an eyebrow at him. Most creeps weren’t thispretty. “A leap right into my arms,” he continued, stretching his arms wide as an invitation.

Snorting out a laugh, you delivered a shove to his shoulder. Gently - you didn’t know the extent of his injuries. “I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt. Midnight, right?”

“Midnight,” he confirmed. He smiled at you, in a way that you couldn’t help but smile back. “See you then.”

With that, he was gone, leaving you alone in your kitchen once more. Jungwoo always seemed to come and go, much like a tornado, leaving you shell-shocked and windswept in his wake. Street racing, hm? You shook your head to yourself. Just what were you getting yourself into?

*

As you didn’t have a car, you didn’t tend to visit your building’s underground parking lot often. If you did, you were sure you would’ve noticed Jungwoo’s car before. Cars didn’t typically stand out to you - you weren’t a car person. But even you had to admit, there was something impressive about the vehicle.

It sat low to the ground, vintage-looking, stark black with two contrasting white stripes running across the middle. You didn’t know they still made cars like that; maybe they didn’t, you considered. You found yourself wondering how it sounded when the engine ran, how it looked when Jungwoo sped down city streets inside it. You noted the sizable dent on the front bumper, and wondered just how bad his crash had been the previous night. Apparently not big enough to deter him, seeing that he got right back into the game, but perhaps that said more about Jungwoo than the size of the crash.

“What do you think?” Jungwoo asked, his smirk audible in his voice. This thing was clearly his pride and joy.

“I like it,” you admitted honestly. It’s cute, you tacked on, mentally. Though it was an honest compliment, you weren’t sure it would go down well if you voiced it.

You smiled when Jungwoo opened the passenger-side door for you. It was nice learning things about him - he was a gentleman, you noted, someone who believed in chivalry.

“You aren’t gonna speed with me in the car, right?” you asked as he settled into the driver’s seat, only half joking.

He shook his head. “I put myself at risk when I drive. I wouldn’t do the same to you, [Name].” You said nothing, but felt your heart swell.

“It’s just a twenty-minute drive, baby. This kinda stuff has to take place on the outskirts of the city.”

“Hey,” you remarked, your tone surprised, curious, but not hostile. “Why do you keep calling me baby?”

Jungwoo paused for a moment. He didn’t seem to have the answer any more than you did. “I don’t call everyone ‘baby’ y’know. I’m not one of thoseguys,” he noted your sceptical look, “Really.” He trained his gaze back towards the road, eyes pointed forwards. “Something about you… I don’t know, [Name]. I just have to call you baby.”

You’d be lying if you said your heart didn’t flutter wildly at that. You pulled your scarf up to hide the blush that flooded your cheeks. You’d spent far longer than you’d like to admit picking out your outfit. You weren’t entirely sure what type of person he was yet, nor the crowd he raced with. Not that you were trying to impress anybody - that wasn’t you, that wasn’t what you did. You just didn’t want to stand out too much.

The weather was warming but the nights were still cool. You’d gone for a light jacket, paired with your favourite scarf. Enough to keep you warm, but not so much that you were completely bundled up.

“This isn’t a big race, by the way,” Jungwoo shared. “I’m sorry I can’t show you something more impressive.”

“That’s okay,” you told him, and it was the truth. You were happy to be invited here regardless. “I’ve never seen street racing before, so I guess I’ll be impressed by anything.”

Jungwoo snickered. “You’re cute.”

The city lights passed by in red and white streaks, and you felt dazzled. Before long, Jungwoo was pulling into a parking lot on the outskirts of the city. It had a strange feel to it; you knew that, by day, this place was probably rather abandoned, seeing activity levels of zero, most days. But now, just after midnight, there was a thrum of energy, small as it were.

Streetlights shone onto the lot, revealing one other car, its door open. One figure stood beside the car, another sitting in the passenger’s seat.

Jungwoo put the car in park, but paused and turned to you before getting out. “Hey, if you wanna go home at any point, just let me know. I’m your ride ‘n stuff, so…”

You nodded. “Thanks.”

“And, by the way, if you get scared, you can always hold your hand.”

You scoffed. “Sure. You wish.”

Jungwoo winked at you, and opened his door to climb out. “Maybe I do wish that,” he murmured before swiftly moving on, not giving you enough time to react. “The door sticks, I’ll come open it for you.”

Jungwoo was flirty. But you didn’t know what he was after. You didn’t know how genuine he was. Sure, he’d invited you out here to watch him race with his friends, but how did you know he wasn’t just doing it to get laid? Were you the first person he’d brought here? The second? The tenth?

You found yourself flustered as you looked up at him, climbing out of the car. You really had to stop overthinking every interaction between you two. You left the car and approached the other, sticking close to Jungwoo’s side.

“Jungwoo,” greeted the standing man with an inclination of his head, a happy grin on his face.

“Hey guys,” Jungwoo grinned at the boys. “This is [Name], like I said.”

“Hi,” you waved politely.

“This is Yukhei and Sicheng,” he indicated to his friends. You found yourself wondering, Are all street racers this beautiful?

Yukhei was tall, an overgrown golden retriever of a man, with kind eyes and tousled hair. His beauty was a warm and welcoming one, and you couldn’t help but feel favourably towards him right away. Sicheng, sitting in the car, had a more elegant, delicate beauty, a slight smile and a curious gaze; something about him intrigued you. You weren’t sure what you’d expected of a group of street racers, but this wasn’t it.

“Let’s get into it,” Jungwoo declared, sounding fired up. His excitement was electric, you felt it in the air.

“Move it, babe,” Yukhei instructed Sicheng, who left the car with a roll of his eyes.

“Look after [Name] for me, Sicheng,” Jungwoo called out before getting back in his car.

“I’m sure [Name] can look after themselves,” Sicheng responded, before turning to you. “You might want to step back for this, though.”

You complied wordlessly, taking a few steps backwards. Jungwoo and Yukhei lined up their respective cars, revving their engines a little more ferocity than necessary. Sicheng stood in front of them, a piece of fabric in his hand that looked like a bandana. He raised it in the air. The tension was thick, anticipation weighing on your shoulders. Sicheng lowered the bandana, and in an instant the cars were gone, leaving behind a cloud of dust which you braced yourself against.

And then… silence. It felt a little anticlimactic, but it made sense when you thought about it; the boys were racing through a concrete jungle, obviously you couldn’t observe the whole course. Sicheng let out a huge breath, a cathartic sigh. You realised that your own adrenaline was running high, and imagined that Sicheng’s must be even higher, since the cars had rushed right past him, impossibly close.

“That’s that,” he commented, smiling at you. He came to stand beside you, and you watched as he reached into the inside pocket of his jacket, pulling out a flask. “Cocoa,” he said, before taking a swig. “Want some?”

You took it happily, enjoying the warmth that the sip instilled deep inside you. The night was a bit colder than you expected.

“So, you’re Yukhei’s-” the word boyfriendwas on the tip of your tongue, but Sicheng interrupted before it could come out.

“No, no. We’re just friends - he’s my best friend. He’s like a brother to me.”

You nodded in understanding. “And you don’t race?”

“Only idiots race,” he said sagely, and you trusted his judgement; if the people he was closest to races, he would surely be an expert.

“I’ll keep that in mind.” You accepted the cocoa flask, when he offered it to you again.

“So, how do you know Jungwoo? He was very vague when he said he was bringing someone.”

Your initial response, mentally, was I don’t know him, not really. Although, you waved it away. It didn’t feel true. “He’s my neighbour. We haven’t known each other long.”

“He must like you,” Sicheng remarked offhandedly.

“Well, I don’t know about that,” you denied, skeptical.

“He wouldn’t have brought you here if you weren’t special. This whole thing, the racing, it’s all underground. You can get into a lot of trouble when you’re caught.”

You thought this over. Special. Of course, this was Sicheng’s word, not Jungwoo’s, but you wanted it to be true. It seemed more and more likely, the longer you dwelled on it; and you certainly had spent some time dwelling on it. He must’ve seen somethingin you, to invite you here. Maybe more than just bed-material. Maybe.

Minutes later, the two cars returned to the parking lot, almost side by side.

“I won that, for sure!” Yukhei yelled out of his open window.

“Yeah, for once,” Jungwoo contended. “C’mon, you’re showing me up in front of [Name]. They’re gonna think I’m a bad racer.”

“You’ll get it next time, Jungwoo,” you cheered him on with a smile.

Jungwoo and Yukhei raced a few more times, while you and Sicheng drank hot cocoa and cheered them on. You couldn’t explain why, but you felt more and more enthusiastic each time Jungwoo returned; you really got into the spirit of things. Jungwoo seemed to be the clear victor; he had won four races while Yukhei had only won one.

“Should we call it a night?” Jungwoo asked. “I’m starving.” You had to admit, you were getting pretty hungry too. Upon checking your phone, you realised that a few hours had passed. You were so consumed in the excitement, in keeping score for Jungwoo, that you’d barely realised time was passing.

“I was thinking the same thing,” Yukhei agreed. “We going to Aeja’s?”

Jungwoo turned to you. “Are you up for that, [Name]?”

“Aeja’s?”

“Aeja’s diner,” he elaborated. “The bestapple pie you’ve ever tasted. Are you hungry? I can take you home, if you want.”

Your stomach rumbled, as if answering the question for you, and you chuckled. “I’m famished.”

You found yourself smiling when you got back into the car with Jungwoo. His presence was warm, and it felt good to be sitting next to him again.

“Are you having fun tonight?” Jungwoo asked you as he pulled out of the parking lot, following Yukhei’s car. “Sorry we haven’t really got to hang out yet. It can be kinda boring, watching people race.”

“No, I’m having fun,” you told him honestly. “This is exciting, and Sicheng’s been keeping me company; he seems nice.”

“I hope we can spend some more time together, [Name],” Jungwoo said, taking his eyes off the road for a moment to look at you. “We should hang out again.”

“I’d like that,” you replied honestly.

The tinkle of the bell above the door was a light, welcoming sound when you stepped into the diner. It was a nice place, and though you’d never been there before, it somehow instilled a sense of warm nostalgia within you. Hardwood floors, neon lights, cracked red leather booths. It was like something out of a movie. It was empty, save for a bored-looking waiter behind the counter.

“You guys again? Really?” he drawled, but there was a teasing expression on his face. He had an angular jaw, chocolate-brown hair in a low ponytail, and a nametag reading Yuta.

“Hush. We keep you in business,” shot back Sicheng, as the four of you found your seats in a booth.

“You’re right,” the waiter - Yuta - conceded. “Manager’s talking about shutting this place up at 10 every night.” He came around the counter, joining you at your table.

“Don’t you dare,” threatened Yukhei, sounding deeply devastated at the prospect of new opening hours.

“It’s not up to me, bro,” Yuta raised his hands in surrender, seeming amused.

“Ineedthis place,” Yukhei iterated.

“Yeah, yeah. What do you want?” Yuta pulled a notebook and pencil from the pocket in his apron, ready to take your orders.

Jungwoo, Yukhei and Sicheng all knew what they wanted immediately, being regulars at the diner, so you just followed Jungwoo’s lead and ordered a burger and fries, with a milkshake.

Yukhei folded his arms onto the table, leaning towards you. “So. Did Jungwoo tell you about the big race?”

You looked to Jungwoo in question. “Big race?”

Jungwoo nodded in confirmation. “In a few weeks. That’s what we’re practicing for right now.”

“Million won prize,” Yukhei interjected.

Your eyes widened in surprise. “A million? Where does the money even come from?”

“Gambling, mostly,” Jungwoo explained. “A lot of people bet on the organised races.”

“Your Jungwoo’s the favourite for this upcoming race - three to one.”

You dismissed Yukhei’s remark of your Jungwoo, instead focusing on his claim of Jungwoo’s capability. “Woah, really?” He looked bashful when he met your gaze, and you had to admire the fact that he hadn’t bragged about this to you; you’d met far too many boys who boasted and gloated about their many triumphs, talking themselves up in a completely unnecessary and unlikable way. Jungwoo wasn’t one of these boys, it seemed.

“It’s not like this is a hugerace,” he explained. “I only stand out locally. Plus, I have some pretty strong competition in this guy Jaehyun.”

“This is so crazy,” you expressed. “This whole street racing thing, I mean. It’s all been happening right under my nose and I had no idea. I didn’t even know it existed, really. I kind of thought it was just a movie thing.”

“It’s very real, baby,” Jungwoo assured you. You had to admit, you weren’t at all mad about the pet name he’d assigned to you; your heart fluttered each time the word passed his lips.

Yuta returned with your food, and you all tucked in. The boys hadn’t been exaggerating about the quality of this place - the fries were heavenly, the burger not too greasy.

“You know what they say about street racing, right?” Sicheng asked you, and you looked at him inquisitively. “Street racing started when they made the second car.” You smiled at the charming proverb.

“Drive fast and leave a sexy corpse, that’s my motto,” Yukhei said, around a mouthful of burger. Jungwoo snorted out a laugh, and Sicheng rolled his eyes though he was clearly amused. You caught Jungwoo’s gaze, and your own laughter doubled. There was a certain happiness that erupted within you, whenever you made eye contact with the boy.

You had to admit, this night was the most fun you’d had in a long time. You hadn’t met up with any friends in a while, now that you were a night owl, and you appreciated the way these three boys accepted you into their circle.

*

It was almost instantaneous, the switch in your life from loner to social butterfly. You began spending your nights with Jungwoo, Yukhei, and Sicheng, either racing, hanging in the diner, or otherwise exploring the city. You and Jungwoo had grown close, faster than you would’ve expected. He set off fireworks in your heart, stars erupting whenever you closed your eyes.

“What did you do before I came along?” you asked Sicheng as he poured you a cup of hot cocoa, in the parking lot that had grown incredibly familiar. “This must be so boring on your own.”

“I didn’t come to watch them race often,” Sicheng said. “I come to the big races, and we hang out a lot anyways - it’s not easy to find other people who are pretty much nocturnal. But Jungwoo asked me to come along to keep you company that first night.”

You hummed in acknowledgement. You supposed this was a new routine for more than just you.

“Oh, shit,” Sicheng muttered suddenly, looking past you. You turned to see red flashing lights, a police car cruising by silently.

“That’s bad, right?” you asked Sicheng, your heart spiking with nerves.

“It’s not good,” he confirmed, grimacing.

“What’ll happen if they’re caught?”

“They’ll probably get taken down to the station,” he explained. “After that, who knows.” Sicheng seemed worried, going by the tense look on his face, and his agitation was contagious. A sense of panic began to set in, and you chewed your lip anxiously.

“If they realise cops are patrolling before they’re caught, they should manage to get away okay,” he said, and you nodded in understanding.

After a few minutes, a few tense and painful minutes, a car rolled into a parking lot - Yukhei’s. He drove to you and Sicheng, parking up and climbing out.

“Where’s Jungwoo?” were the first words that passed your lips, urgent and hurried.

“Hiding out, I hope,” Yukhei responded, running a hand through his hair. “Fucking cop car, patrolling. We split when we saw it.”

Your worries weren’t eased in the slightest. “I’ll try texting him.” When you pulled your phone out of your pocket, you realised your hands were shaking.

Are you okay??? you tapped out, as quickly as you could. Moments passed. “He’s not replying,” you exhaled.

“Don’t worry, okay? It could mean he’s on the road, driving back here,” Yukhei said.

“It could also mean he’s been caught,” Sicheng mentioned. You saw Yukhei shoot him a look that said not helping.

Yukhei patted you on the shoulder. “Jungwoo’s survived much closer calls than this, alright? He’s tough. He’ll be fine.”

Though it felt like hours had passed, it had only been eight minutes, and you knew this precisely as you’d been checking your phone for messages the whole time. When the hum of Jungwoo’s engine neared, and he arrived at the parking lot, you audibly gasped. He jumped out of his car, and the sight of him, unscathed, brought relief that was almost overwhelming. You ran to him, hugging him tightly.

“Hey, hey, I’m alright. It’s okay,” Jungwoo reassured you with a surprised laugh, wrapping his arms around you. You pulled away, feeling shy all of a sudden, though Jungwoo kept a hold on you, arm wrapped around your waist.

“You think there was a leak?” Jungwoo asked.

“Maybe,” Yukhei responded with a shrug.

“A leak?” you asked. “What do you mean?”

“The police may have gotten word that there’s a race planned here. They don’t usually patrol this area,” Jungwoo explained, still holding you close.

“That’s what makes it a perfect racing spot,” Yukhei added. “No speed cameras, no police.”

Jungwoo sighed. “Let’s just call it quits for tonight, yeah? I’ll talk to Johnny tomorrow, see what he knows.”

“Sounds like a good idea,” Yukhei agreed. “Let me know if you hear anything.”

“C’mon, baby,” Jungwoo said, ushering you to his car.

The ride home was strangely silent. You didn’t think it had ever been this quiet between the two of you, not since your laundry room days. When Jungwoo parked up in the garage, he paused before getting out of the car, turning to you.

“Hey,” he said softly, placing a comforting hand on your knee. “You okay?” You simply nodded, eyes trained on your lap. “Look at me,” he said, and you did. His eyes were wide, genuine concern evident in his expression.

“I was really worried about you tonight,” you explained, and he smiled.

“I know,” he said gently. “That’s not something I’m used to, y’know? There usually isn’t anyone to worry about me like this.” His voice didn’t call for pity. If anything, he sounded amused by your outburst.

“I don’t know what came over me. I was terrified for you, Jungwoo.”

His smile turned into more of a smirk. “Maybe you just care about me, baby.”

“I do. I really do.” Your heart was racing, pounding at an alarming rate. Looking at Jungwoo, this hurricane of a man who had stormed his way into your life, you felt something you couldn’t explain. You wanted to be close to him, to stay close to him forever. When he slowly leaned in, you closed your eyes and waited for his lips to find yours.

They were soft - softer than you would’ve expected. His touch was light as a feather when he cupped your cheek. Your hands went to him automatically, settling on his body as though they were always supposed to be there; your left landing on his shoulder, your right flat on his chest. Jungwoo deepened the kiss without hesitation, sliding his tongue past your lips and using it expertly. A small moan emerged from within you, and Jungwoo pulled away before things got any more intense. You were left panting slightly, adrenaline coursing through you.

“I care about you too, for the record,” Jungwoo stated, and you smiled, shaking your head in amusement.

“Do you want to come to my apartment?” you invited him.

“I’d love to.”

*

You awoke as the sun was setting, golden rays filtering through your curtains. You blinked yourself awake, eyes adjusting to the room. Jungwoo was sitting at the edge of your bed, scrolling through his phone. You smiled to yourself, admiring his frame, the wide expanse of his shoulders. You noticed his eyebrows tied together, frustration etched into his features, and wondered just what he was looking at.

“Morning,” you greeted him sleepily, before amending, “Evening.”

“Hey, baby,” he replied, expression softening into a kind smile once he saw that you were awake. “You sleep well?”

You nodded. “Everything okay?”

Jungwoo laughed, a stressed chuckle, as he ran his hand through his hair. “One of our message boards was infiltrated - everything’s coded, but we can’t take any risks, especially not after last night. We’re gonna have to change the location of the race.”

“Oh no,” you said with a frown, moving to sit beside him. He lifted his arm, and you cuddled into his side, savoring his warmth. You tried hard not to smile to yourself, given Jungwoo’s unfortunate situation. You hadn’t realised just how much you’d craved his touch until you got it, and now you’d gotten a taste, you never wanted to let go.

Jungwoo groaned. “This is gonna throw me off, big-time.”

“But it’ll throw everyone else off, too. That could be a bonus,” you pointed out.

“You’re right,” he agreed, planting a kiss on the top of your head. “Plus, I have you now. My good luck charm.”

You smiled into the warm skin of his bare chest. This was a big obstacle, very close to the race. But, even with your very limited knowledge on the subject, Jungwoo seemed like a very competent racer. You knew he’d push through this.

*

The boys hadn’t been exaggerating about the sheer energy these big races brought. There was an electricity in the air, and you felt inexplicably giddy, as though all your hairs were standing on end.

Floodlights shone down on the parking lot - not the one you’d been visiting, unfortunately, but a revised location on the other side of the city. The place was swarming, a whole crowd of people packed into the lot. Around fifty, if you had to estimate. Drinking, laughing, preparing. You didn’t know what you’d expected, in terms of demographics, but you were surprised. People from all walks of life were here; punks with brightly coloured mohawks, men who wouldn’t look out of place as lawyers or accountants, some of the most beautiful women you’d ever seen. It seemed that the art of street racing was seductive to all types of people.

You clutched Jungwoo’s hand as you looked out at everyone, standing beside his trusty car. You knew he was nervous, but he didn’t show it. He smiled down at you, giving your hand a squeeze.

“You’re gonna do amazing,” you reassured him, planting a kiss on his cheek.

“I know,” he said, hints of a smirk on his lips. He looked past you suddenly, scowling. “Who let you in here?”

You turned to see a man approaching, a smug look plastered on his face. He was tall, as tall as Jungwoo, and handsome. Though his charm was different to Jungwoo’s; where Jungwoo was pretty, puppy-dog eyes and a bright smile, Jaehyun was angular, cocky grin and dark eyes.

“Could ask the same about you,” he shot back. “You ready to get your ass kicked?”

Jungwoo sighed, shaking his head with a smile. “Don’t try to trash talk me, Jaehyun. It’s embarrassing.”

“I’m not gonna be the one who’s embarrassed, Kim,” Jaehyun denied. “See you out there.”

“You won’t see me, man,” Jungwoo called out to him as he walked away. “You’ll be left behind in my dust.” Jaehyun failed to reply, only shooting Jungwoo the middle finger behind his back. Jungwoo snorted in laughter.

“So, that’s Jaehyun?” you asked. You’d heard about him, from Jungwoo and the others. He was one of the only racers who was on Jungwoo’s level, his biggest competitor. He’d won the last race, and Jungwoo was determined to take back the crown.

“Yeah, that’s him,” Jungwoo nodded. “Nasty piece of work, right?”

“Yeah, awful,” you agreed with a laugh - it wasn’t serious. The two of them were rivals, that much was evident, but you sensed a great deal of respect between them, without a doubt. They challenged each other, pushed each other to be better, and it seemed that they appreciated each other for that.

An air horn sounded suddenly, and you grasped Jungwoo’s hand a little tighter in surprise. He grinned at you, and you laughed as your cheeks heated. You were just so excited, so worked up, that it made you jumpy. “That’s the signal, babe,” Jungwoo explained. “Kiss for good luck?” You complied, giving him one last lingering kiss.

You reconvened with Sicheng, watching as Jungwoo and Yukhei got in their cars and drove towards the starting line. There were six cars, in total, with Jungwoo, Yukhei, and Jaehyun accounting for three of them. Yukhei’s nimble red car stood out among the bunch; Jaehyun’s was a deep blue, bigger than Yukhei or Jungwoo’s; however Jungwoo’s was certainly the most impressive of the bunch, with her stark white stripes. You could have been biased, though.

Your heart was pounding. With nerves, with excitement, possibly even a bit of fear. This was racing - realracing. You knew how dangerous it could get. After all, you’d fixed up Jungwoo’s injuries yourself. And, really, he was lucky to get away that lightly.

The parking lot was near silent as the cars lined up. You and Sicheng stood, a few metres away from the line of cars. You looked at Jungwoo, through his windshield. There was a look on his face, determined and excited, that made your heart flutter.

You’d never felt a silence so heavy, never heard a silence so loud. It was as though every single person was holding their breath. The tension sunk its sharp, jagged teeth into your skin, and you dug your nails into your palm.

“On your marks,” boomed a voice, amplified by a megaphone.

“Get set.” Engines revved.

“Go!”

Almost the instant the word had been uttered, the cars had sped off, leaving no trace behind. The crowd erupted, whooping and cheering. Sicheng pulled you into a hug, and you laughed as you held him close. There was a certain high that came from this, an adrenaline rush. You could barely even imagine how Jungwoo must be feeling, flying down the streets at lightning speed.

“You look nervous,” Sicheng commented, the corner of his mouth lifting. You gave him a small smile in response. “Jungwoo knows what he’s doing,” he reassured you, and you nodded. This felt so reminiscent of the times you’d spent with Sicheng, waiting for Jungwoo and Yukhei to finish racing, drinking hot cocoa and laughing together. Though it also felt wildly different. There was something riding on this race; Jungwoo’s pride and a lot of money. Your heart was pounding. A month ago you’d never spared a thought for street racing, and now? You’d give anythingfor one man to win this race.

The race was a little longer than what Jungwoo and Yukhei had been practicing - or maybe it only felt that way because you were sitting on the edge of your metaphorical seat. You could hear them, in the distance. An unmistakable low rumbling, thrumming through the asphalt. It grew louder, the cars drew nearer. You reached for Sicheng’s hand, clutching it tightly as butterflies raged in your stomach. You stepped forwards, peering down the street. You saw the headlights in the distance, as they turned onto the stretch of road. Sicheng gripped your shoulder, pulling you back gently from harm’s way, and you chuckled, a little embarrassed at your anxious enthusiasm.

You didn’t think you’d ever seen cars move that fast - in fact, you didn’t think you’d ever seen anythingmove that fast. You barely had time to blink, as Jungwoo and Jaehyun’s vehicles, a blur of black and navy, raced ahead of the others, appearing in front of you within an instant.

A screech, a deafening crashing sound, and a hoard of gasps met your ears all at once. If it weren’t for Sicheng’s grasp on your hand, you would’ve ran directly into the line of oncoming cars. “Jungwoo!” you heard yourself cry out, and although it was your voice, it sounded distant, far away.

“Hey, hey, [Name],” Sicheng said, pulling you closer to him. “He’s okay, Jungwoo’s okay.” His words were meant to soothe you, but his voice was still tinged with worry. You blinked, looking out at the scene in front of you.

The other cars whizzed by, driving past the wreck that Jaehyun’s car had become. Jungwoo had been the clear winner, as Jaehyun’s car had skidded off-course just a short distance from the finish line. The bumper had been dented, the metal crumpling as though it were paper. You watched as Jaehyun stumbled out of the driver’s side, mostly unscathed. A group of people ran to him, now that the cars had stopped flying by, carrying first aid kits, but you paid them no attention. You shrugged free of Sicheng’s grasp, running to where Jungwoo had stopped.

You caught sight of his car, dented along one side, and tears sprang to your eyes. Jungwoo climbed out when he saw you coming, and you held him at arm’s length, looking over him frantically. “Are you okay?” you asked, your voice barely rising above a whisper.

“Baby, baby, I’m fine,” Jungwoo breathed, pulling you into a hug.

“Jaehyun,” you uttered. “He-”

Jungwoo pulled back, kissing your forehead. “He’s okay,” he assured you. You followed his gaze to Jaehyun, whose forehead was being wiped by a makeshift medic. He gave the two of you a thumbs up, and Jungwoo waved back.

“You won,” you stated, looking back to Jungwoo.

“Yeah,” Jungwoo laughed. “I guess I did.”

“You don’t sound very happy,” you pointed out, caressing his cheek lightly.

“It doesn’t feel right - I feel like I’ve won unlawfully, y’know? I only won cause Jaehyun crashed-”

“Maybe, but you don’t know that for sure,” you told him. “You won, and that’s that.” Jungwoo sighed, and you kissed him.

An air horn sounded, and you jumped yet again. Jungwoo laughed. “That’s for me, babe.”

“And the winner is Kim Jungwoo,” called out the voice, crackly through the megaphone. Jungwoo raised his hands in victory, as a scatter of applause rang out for him.

“A million won, huh?” you said. “What you gonna spend it on?”

“Fixing up my car, probably,” he sighed, looking back at the dent in his vehicle. “And I might take my baby on vacation.”

You giggled, kissing him once more. This street racing thing was slightly terrifying, you had found. But it had its plus sides too.

celeritas - kim jungwoo x gender neutral reader(teaser)

masterlist

⇢   synopsis: celeritas; speed, swiftness. windswept hair and ripped jeans. kim jungwoo, mysterious neighbour and alleged street racer. just what secrets lie within this man? and can you match his speed?

⇢   release date: some time in april, exact date tbc

⇢   expected word count: 4k-8k

⇢   teaser word count: 0.9k

⇢   trigger warnings for full fic: car accident, blood, non-serious injury, swearing.

⇢   trigger warnings for teaser: blood, non-serious injury

⇢   a/n: this is my piece for the racer au collab, originally hosted by the lovely anie

send me an ask or message to be added to the taglist!

“Jungwoo?” you asked, peering at him. He was clearly trying to hide himself, but you knew it was him. You unrecognised his lips, and hoped that wasn’t creepy, but what deterred you was the swelling around the left side of his jaw. “Are you okay?”

“Hey, Y/N. I’m fine.” He tried to give you a reassuring smile, but winced as the action twinged his swollen features. 

“You don’t seem too fine,” you commented, trying to peer at the rest of his face, under his hood. 

“I’ve had worse,” he shrugged, wincing again. “Look, can we go inside?”

You frowned, pulling open your apartment door before ushering him inside and pulling down his hood, acting fast and catching him unaware, only to gasp at the state of his face. Along with his swollen jaw was a black eye, and a gash across his forehead that had recently ceased its bleeding, judging by the dark, dried blood around the site of injury 

“Oh my god, Jungwoo, what happened?”

“Listen, I said it’s fine-”

“Come on, let me patch you up.” You grasped his arm, marching him towards the elevator, and he got the message that his protesting was worthless and you wouldn’t be taking no for an answer. Once in your apartment, you pulled a chair out from your kitchen table and pushed Jungwoo firmly down onto it, before digging the first aid kit out of your cupboard. 

Jungwoo was silent through the whole affair, and you sensed that some of this was surprise. It didn’t seem like he was used to this - being taken charge of, that was. He seemed like the type of guy who took charge of everything and everyone he encountered. Well, you supposed, he had met his match.

He was a good patient, and only flinched once, when you brushed his wounds with an antibacterial wipe. Finished your cleaning and bandaging, you leaned back against your kitchen counter, eyeing the man up. He said nothing, simply looking back at you with an undetectable look on his face. His lips were set in a straight line, though his eyes were soft.

“Do you want a drink?” you asked him eventually, breaking the silence. “I have decaf coffee, tea, hot cocoa-”

“Hot cocoa, please!” Jungwoo interrupted, looking excited all of a sudden, despite his injuries. You nodded, and went to prepare two hot cocoas. Silence fell again, and it was a strangely comfortable silence considering you were near-strangers.

“So,” you spoke after a few moments, “I know I said I wouldn’t ask questions. But I did just fix your face, so I think you kinda owe me a little explanation.”

“Hey, hey. This face? Could never need fixing. You can’t fix perfection.”

You gave him a look. “You’re avoiding the subject, Jungwoo.”

“Alright, alright,” he raised his hands in surrender. “I’m a street racer.”

You paused for a few beats, looking at him. Searching his face for any sign of amusement, waiting for a gotcha! 

It didn’t come. “A street racer?”

“You don’t believe me?” he asked. He sounded genuine enough. You were left wondering whether he was, in fact, a street racer… or a pathological liar.

“You don’t look like a street racer,” was all you said, as you handed him his cocoa. He took a sip.

“Then, what do I look like?” he questioned. A model, you thought. Outwardly, however, you simply shrugged, and tried to hide your blush by taking a sip of your drink, which was far too hot. “You can come see me in action if you want, baby. I’m racing again tomorrow night, midnight.”

You raised a skeptical eyebrow at him. “Follow a mysterious man, who I’ve found covered in blood on two separate occasions? Come on. Even to you, that must sound a little shifty.”

Jungwoo shrugged. “You’re the one who invited me into your home, babe.“

You sighed -  you couldn’t really fight him on that one. You wrapped your hands around your mug tightly. “I don’t know anything about you, Jungwoo. I don’t even know your last name-”

“Kim,” he interrupted. “Kim Jungwoo.”

You roll your eyes. “Fine. Well I know your last name, now. But still. How do I know you’re even telling the truth?”

Jungwoo smiled, his lips twisting upwards in the corners in the most endearing way possible. He looked into your eyes. “Y/N. Darling. Why would I lie?”

You give him a cynical look. “Really, Jungwoo? There are some serious creeps out there. Creeps who tell many different lies for many different reasons. And none of them are good reasons.”

“Just trust me, okay? Take a leap of faith.” You raised an eyebrow at him. Most creeps weren’t this pretty. “A leap right into my arms,” he continued, stretching his arms wide as an invitation.

Snorting out a laugh, you delivered a shove to his shoulder. Gently - you didn’t know the extent of his injuries. “I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt. Midnight, right?”

“Midnight,” he confirmed. He smiled at you, in a way that you couldn’t help but smile back. “See you then.” 

With that, he was gone, leaving you alone in your kitchen once more. Jungwoo always seemed to come and go, much like a tornado, leaving you shell-shocked and windswept in his wake. Street racing, hm? You shook your head to yourself. Just what were you getting yourself into?

Today I don’t feel like doing anything – KJW

P: Jungwoo x gender neutral reader | G: fluff, oneshot | Inc: having breakfast together, head chef reader, doing nothing together, laying together on the sofa | Wc: 511 | W: cw food| R:G

Waking up that morning with a bleary headache, Jungwoo groaned as he hauled himself out of bed, throwing his legs over the edge despite the lead coating his muscles. Waking up feeling like a cement block was notthe best way to wake up. The drag in each step sapped whatever strength the idol had left from yesterday’s long day of practice, photo shoots and workouts. Thanking whoever in the sky gave him the weekend off, he pushed through his morning routine and somehow managed to make it to the kitchen withouttripping up. All was forgotten, however, as his face lit up at the sight of y/n sitting at the kitchen island, a coffee and book in hand as they kept themselves occupied.

“Hmm…g’morning,” rubbing his nose against y/n’s hair in an attempt at affection before making himself something to eat, Jungwoo hummed in surprise when a set of arms snuck their way around his waist.

“Morning Woo~” bending to meet their fatigued boyfriend’s eyes with a loving smile, y/n pressed a kiss to his lips before pulling Jungwoo away from the counter and to the island stool, “let me make breakfast today, hmm? You look exhausted; busy day yesterday?”

“Mhm…when did you get back?” Rubbing the rest of his sleep out of his eyes, Jungwoo watched as y/n wrapped an apron around their waist and made a start on making breakfast, a pleased smile on their face that only appeared on the head chef’s face once they were in their element. Answering Jungwoo’s question with a hum of ‘one a.m.’ and finishing off the rest of the cooking, y/n went about plating the food, the breakfast Instagram-worthy.

“Woo, get the plates?” Pleased with his task, Jungwoo set the table, accepting the kiss to his cheek with a bashful smile.

“Let’s eat~”

Draped over the living room sofa with the TV turned onto some programme he didn’t have the energy to pay attention to, Jungwoo laid his head in y/n’s lap and gladly accepted the head scratches sent his way. His limbs were nothing more than lead bars and unless there happened to be a natural disaster outside of his door, the idol had no plans to get up whatsoever.

It was his off day. Nothingwas going to get him to do anything.

Equally as relaxed and exhausted, y/n kept themselves occupied with the ends of their boyfriend’s hair, gentle hums as they turned the ends of Jungwoo’s hair into mini braids. The chef had luckily taken a day off, and chances to spend quality time with the man in their arms without interruption were few and far between. Any and every opportunity to cuddle, was more than worth it.

“Y/n, baby?”

“Yeah? What is it love?”

“I missed doing this with you,” tilting his head back to meet y/n’s eyes, he grinned, a lazy smile that reached the corners of his eyes. He really didmiss laying around on the sofa with y/n. “should we order take-out later?”

“Take-out sounds good. It sounds reallygood.”

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After a bad break up you are finally moving into your new place. As you’re moving into your new place you are reflecting on the past month and mostly on how your friendship with Jungwoo has grown and started to change.

Part of the long term couple series. 

             Looking at all the boxes that filled your new apartment a giant smile spread across your face. You were finally free! Never again would you have to worry about walking into your place and seeing your ex and his new girlfriend sitting on the couch making out. You wouldn’t have to sneak out of your room and cautiously make your way towards the bathroom and pray that she wasn’t in there. And best of all you no longer had to keep all your anger in and pretend to be nice. That had to be the worst part of living the last month with your ex. Acting like it didn’t hurt to have his new relationship flaunted in front of you and that it didn’t make your heart ache at times.

           The only thing that had made the last month even slightly bearable was your new friendship with Jungwoo. You weren’t sure at first if you and Jungwoo were going to work as friends. For starters Jungwoo was a lot touchier than you and he liked to communicate, a lot. When you had called him a day later after seeing him at the bakery, he instantly started in on you and how it had taken you to long to reach out to him. Then when you two had hung out in person he was always touching you in someway be it his foot touching your, his arm around your shoulders, he had somehow managed to make sure there was some form of contact between the two of you.

           This had been nice when the two of you were at your shared apartment. When your ex had come in with his girlfriend you had instantly stiffened and Jungwoo had noticed it right away. The arm the was resting casually around your shoulders wrapped tighter around you and pulled you in closer to him. When you looked up at him Jungwoo’s kind eyes were looking down at you.

           “Don’t give him that power,” he whispered, you nodded your head in agreement and gave him a hesitant smile. “Remember he’s not worth your tears.”

           After that things had started to get easier between you and Jungwoo and he had become an important part of your life. Jungwoo was the person that you texted when you were having a bad day or found a funny meme. He was the one who had come with you to all of your showings and helped you decide on the place you were currently standing in. He was also the person who had helped you move and was staying to help you unpack.

           “I think we gained more boxes somehow. Because I do not remember carrying this many boxes out of your old place,” Jungwoo huffed as he dropped the last of your boxes onto the floor without a care in the world. You would have yelled at him if the box wasn’t clearly labeled clothes.

           “I don’t know what to tell you. The number of boxes has not changed. Maybe you’re just getting weak.” You tease Jungwoo as you start to open boxes.

           “No, that is definitely not it,” Jungwoo shook his head as he made his way towards you and peered into the box you had open. Jungwoo didn’t hesitate to wrap his arms around your middle and rest his chin on your shoulder. Like you had said Jungwoo was someone who liked contact.

           “Can we please eat first before we continue to unpack. Everyone else got to eat but you and me!” Jungwoo wasn’t wrong when he had brought over his friends to help you unpack you had ordered food for everyone as a thank you, but you hadn’t had a chance to eat. You were to focused on getting everything out of your apartment and Jungwoo had helped you with that. While everyone else waited for you at your new place to unload and carry everything up. Giving them all time to eat. At the mention of food your stomach gave a loud grumbled.

           “Let’s get food.” You laugh as Jungwoo giggles beside you. Before he lets you go, he gives your neck a quick peck and moves away from you to grab his phone. You stare after him as he goes. Jungwoo has never kissed you before and you’re not sure what to make of it.

           “Where do you want to order from?” Jungwoo calls as he scrolls through his phone unfazed but what he just did.

           “Um,” you start causing Jungwoo to look up at you and you feel a blush creep across your face.

           “Why are you blushing?” The question is innocent but there is no way that you are telling Jungwoo that his lips are the reason for your blush.

           “Am I?” You play dumb, “It must just be from all the work we have done. Just ignore it. Order from wherever you’d like you know my order.”

           You go back to the box you were unpacking and listen to Jungwoo as he places your order. He then rejoins you in the living room. Glancing over at him you take in all that his Jungwoo. When you had first met him, you had found him cute but were too heartbroken to really take him in. Then as your friendship started to grow you guess you never really focused on anything but that and mending your broken heart and ego. Now though, as you looked over at Jungwoo you were suddenly very aware of him. And not just in his looks which were suddenly very noticeable to you. Had Jungwoo’s lips always been so soft and plump looking and why did he suddenly seem taller and to move with a gracefulness you hadn’t noticed before.

           “Y/n are you feeling, okay? You’re staring and you look a little flushed?” Jungwoo breaks you out of your trance and your eyes fly to his that are watching you with concern.

           “All good. I think I’m just more tired than I realized, and it’s suddenly hit me,” you tell him.

           “Let’s take a break than. It’s not like you have to get everything unpacked today and I don’t have anything going on tomorrow I can help you then as well.” Jungwoo grabs your hand and pulls you towards the couch. Of course, your tv was set up. The guys had claimed that was something that had to be taken care of right away. Although why it took almost five them to get it set up, you’ll never know.

           Jungwoo pulls you into his side and turns on the tv. He soon finds a mindless show for the two of you to watch. Knowing that right now you are not going to be able to focus on anything new and you like how he knows that without you having to even say it. Halfway through your show your food arrives and it’s exactly what you like. Jungwoo hands you your food with a smile before he returns his attention to the tv.

           “Jungwoo,” you call. He gives you a distracted hm and continues to eat and watch the show.

           “Thank you for all of this.” You tell him as you scoot a little closer to him. Jungwoo looks over at you and studies you for a moment.

           “Why do I feel like you aren’t just thanking me for the food?”

           “Because I’m not.” You admit. “I’m thanking you for everything. For letting me cry at your place the first time we met. For coming to the bakery to check on me and for everything after it. I don’t know what I would have done this past month without you, and I just wanted you to know that I’m thankful for it all.”

           Jungwoo’s face softens at that. He sets down his food and takes yours out of your hands so he can pull you into a hug. You wrap your arms around him and breathe in the scent that is Jungwoo. You don’t know how you had gone on so long without knowing him but you’re glad that you know him now.

           “You don’t have to thank me for being there for you. I’ll always be here for you.” Jungwoo says it with such seriousness that you don’t question it or make a joke. Instead, you just squeeze him a little tighter before pulling away and return to your food and the tv. Jungwoo does the same and for the first time in your friendship you’re the one to initiate contact. You slide closer so you and Jungwoo are touching from hip down. Jungwoo doesn’t say anything, but he does tangle his one leg with yours and you notice the side of his mouth twitch up.