#kpopscape

someone like u | n.jm

↳ na jaemin x fem!reader

synopsis:you’ve been waiting for someone like jaemin.

genre:fluff(but like sappy fluff ¿)

word count: 975

a/n:happy bday to the boy with the heartiest heart :[ this was not proof read and was rushed bc i started school already so yeah… and this is quite personal since it’s literally just me projecting all my insecurities in my love life lmfao so enjoy !!

someone like u - ariana grande

falling for a person like jaemin isn’t difficult. definitely not when he’s just so easy to love. it makes you wonder if it’s too easy, as if there’s a catch to it all. though, with the way his tired eyes light up instantly when he sees you walking toward him in the courtyard, anyone could recognize how in love he truly is. jaemin, the boy who wakes up early just so he can give you your morning coffee before your first class even though he doesn’t have class until noon.

the way your heart flutters when he immediately takes a seat next to you in the booth of your favorite diner just so he can hold your hand while eating, and the close proximity promises that he doesn’t miss a single (boring) word you say. still, jaemin makes it known that he’s listening by nodding his head, humming, and maintaining eye contact that is nearly impossible for you to hold.

the worries you once had of not being able to attain that undying love that lasts until you and your partner are wrinkly and weak, crumbles down when jaemin rests his chin on your head as he secures his embrace around you as you both lay on the bed. there are still nights where you assume that he’s just staying with you for pity. but you are proven wrong the next morning when you’re awoken alone in his bed as he got up extra early to make you breakfast, making sure to be quiet the entire time so he doesn’t disrupt your rest. throughout your time together, jaemin observes your expression when eating to see if the food satisfies you, then mentally takes note of the stuff you like and dislike.

all the bad experiences you’ve had with past lovers, moments that almost made you give up on trying to find “the one,” have all been replaced with the fondest memories made with jaemin. one of which is right this moment. the view of the sky from on top of jaemin’s rooftop beats any hill in this small town.

you lean against his chest, his knees act as arm rests for your comfort. jaemin’s toned arms have a strong hold around your waist while his chin is delicately placed on your shoulder.

no words are being exchanged, just deep breaths and the rhythmic beating of your hearts. fingers playing with one another. stepping on each other’s shoes teasingly like what middle schoolers do.

stars are scattered on its dark canvas. “that one is the prettiest,” he whispers, his warm breath hitting your neck. you can see a finger of his point from the corner of your eyes but you didn’t need to know which star he was referring to know which he thinks is the prettiest star of them all.

it’s the biggest one, twinkling in intervals of five seconds, you’ve been observing that one even before jaemin pointed it out. “i think so too.”

moments like these where comfortable silence and calm breathing with jaemin are so valuable. you aren’t sure where else you can find silence that lasts so long and still find it tolerable and enjoyable. jaemin is contradictory to your love life, or the love life that you used to have. the partners you used to date; the attention you used to attract; the treatment you used to deal with.

with jaemin, everything has been completely foreign to you, almost shocking as fiction you’ve read in your sappy romance books is becoming a reality for you. it boggles you. you’re guilty of wanting it to be too good to be true at times when things are suspiciously too calm. almost if calmness terrifies you as you expect it to be the “calm before the storm,” and you have no choice but to sit still and wait for that storm to hit.

“avoir elle est avoir les étoilés,” the voice behind you interrupts your thoughts. he pauses to place a kiss behind your ear, sending shivers down your spine. “to have her is to have the stars.”

heat spreads all through your face and neck. once again, your partner proves your worries false. as his ways of showing love continue and become more prevalent every passing day, those worries crumble down. when he cooks you dinner after a long day at school, that’s when you know it’s genuine. when he nags you to take care of yourself constantly, you know it’s because he cares for you. and when he maintains eye contact and nods while you ramble on about your boring day, you just know.

“you mean so much to me,” you whisper, it’s barely audible. “truly,” said with more power but still requires good hearing to comprehend what you said.

jaemin smiles, and his neck and the tip of his ears become hot. although he hasn’t said the three words in respect for your request to take things slowly, he knows the words you had just said hold the same weight. and to be real, jaemin will cherish anything you give and say to him despite how little it may seem to you — how effortless it looks to you — he will accept and love anything, because, well, he loves you and everything that deals with you.

you’re aware that there is no rush in your relationship, but sometimes, you want nothing more than these thoughts and second guesses to disappear suddenly so you can fully take in jaemin’s love. so you can dive into the ocean of his affection.

but for now, you’ll just remain in his tight hold, embracing the comfort and security he brings along with his endless love — reserved just for you. because a person like jaemin deserves to be reciprocated with the same amount of love he willingly gives to others with no hesitation.

sun&moon

pairings:biker!donghyuck x rich!femreader

genre/s: romance, suggestive

warnings:suggestive content

word count:0.6k

a/n: a bit short and random but hope you like it!

unedited/not proofread

—

Your body is seated on the black motorbike, legs hanging on both sides of the seat as your lips vehemently move against his. Bodies pressed together as your breaths come in contact with each other’s faces, your ambrosial smell mixing with his malodorous one.

He knows what he wants to say, but he doesn’t know how to word it.

You see, Lee Donghyuck is an enigmatic man. He is cryptic, arcane, precariously intoxicating. And yet; he doesn’t know how to express himself, doesn’t have enough confidence to pour out his feelings.

Though, he most certainly does have the confidence to recklessly risk his life on a simple motorbike.

He always leaves you hanging, leaves you craving more of him romantically every time you two meet. He does know that, which always makes him wonder when you are going to leave him.

He is never certain with you. Or at least, he acts like he isn’t.

He is insecure. Insecure that you will leave him once you find better. Because he is- indeed- very sure that you deserve way better.

You originate from pearls and silk pajamas. Having to have been surrounded by successful businessmen and women, actors and models all your life; Lee Donghyuck isn’t exactly someone inside your circle.

Your circle, for instance, consists of acquaintances from your private school who are where they are today thanks to the privilege coming from their parents. Whether it is because of the connections they have or the companies they hand down.

As fucked up as it sounds, he doesn’t want to ruin that. He doesn’t want to ruin you.

Though, he already feels like he did.

“I think I like you.”

Those words, whispered into his lips by you make him stop all his actions; frozen at the sudden confession. They leave your lips so easily, so effortlessly. Everything that escapes away from your lips sounds so pretty to his ears.

Of course, he likes you too. So much more than he would ever admit to anyone. There is no doubt in that. But he is scared, scared of losing you when he never even had you in the first place.

You have been there for him the whole time. Even when he leaves you without any certainty, when he backs off from a simple hug just because he is afraid.

And at that moment, after putting in so much thought into you and his feelings; he decides to be selfish for once.

Well, maybe he has always been selfish. In order to not have his own heart falling apart, he messed with yours. He broke your heart, to not have his own broken.

“I think i like you too.” He whispers back, allowing your breath to hitch at the confession. A burning feeling captivating you as you try your hardest to recollect yourself.

After gathering yourself back together, you give the Lee the prettiest smile he has seen in this life. Your smile is enough to light up his whole world, and it does brighten up his world whenever he has the privilege of witnessing it. You give him a soft laughter, which comes off as harmonious melodies to his ears. It is enough for anyone to find the slightest delight in. And Donghyuck finds so much more delight in it than he probably should.

When he properly thinks about it, he orbits around you. Lee Donghyuck’s entire life, his well being revolves around you and your happiness. So maybe, just maybe, you really are his sun.

And he thinks; perhaps, he will always hold a candle for you. Even if it burns his hand.

pairings: lee donghyuck x street racer!reader

details:fem!reader, strangers to enemies to lovers??, fake dating!au, rich!reader, some reader x lee jeno + reader x kang seulgi, the reader is anything but straight lmao

genre/s:romance, angst, suggestive

warnings:explicit language, suggestive content, mentions of sex, suggestive humor, mental health struggles, usage of drugs, alcohol consumption, smoking, illegal doings

word count: tba

synopsis:in a world where you thought money gave you permission to walk away from everything that wasn’t perfect, you try finding your way out of an imperfect love story

a/n:i dont have my laptop with me to add links to my bio so here’snavigation

► SEND AN ASK TO BE ADDED TO THE TAGLIST

—

The night is dark, noxious; though, it’s nowhere near dull. Brightly colored city lights, many people sauntering all around; eager to arrive wherever are heavily present. Myeongdong is usually hectic and dynamic whether it’s 3 pm under the sunlight, or 3 am past midnight.

You’ve always preferred nighttime over daytime. You’ve cried more under the moonlight than sunlight. You’ve laughed more, loved more.

And Lee Donghyuck is no different as he’s present near you, body pressed onto the windows as his head slightly hangs outside. A single cigarette is in between his fingers, occasionally making its way towards his parted lips.

“Let’s date.” Is what slips in between his lips after putting down the cigarette which previously sat between his lips, taking you by surprise.

“What?” You reply, a slight chuckle following along as your head tilts towards his direction.

“I mean, let’s pretend to date. Didn’t Jeno just dump you?” He asks, not exactly expecting a proper response.

“Couldn’t you find a better word?” You reply, referring to the word “dump”.

“Even if i accept, what will you gain?” You continue.

“Let’s just say you intrigue me.”

You laugh once again.

“Deal.”

our last farewell

pairings: huang renjun x fem!reader

genre/s:angst

details/warnings:royal au; death, heavy angst

word count:0.6k

a/n:first renjun fic? yeah wow

—

The weather is dull, though smells petrichor since it had stopped raining not much prior. The sky comes off shallow, dressed in an overwhelming gloom. The stars appear bewitching as representatives of every lie whispered in the ballroom.

The violin’s notes jump up and down, allowing a melody out of agony to rhyme. There is something indignant and anguished behind the way the musicians play. From how they move the violins’ bow to the way their fingers delicately dance on the piano’s keys.

Though it seems, something else lays beneath that. You’re not exactly sure what, but there is an unfamiliar tension. Almost too unfamiliar that it somehow gives out a feeling of familiarity.

You stand well executed between the many faces who surround your figure. A burgundy gown is what you’re wrapped in. The top stays fitted as the skirt falls loose. The puffy sleeves sit exquisite on your shoulders, showing off the minimal tattoo inked on your collarbone.

Your eyes fall onto a familiar man as it seems as though he is making his way towards you.

“One more dance?” You mildly ask, extending your hand for the servant to refill the wine glass standing in between your fingers.

“One last dance.” Renjun corrects, rather humorless in comparison to your silky manner as his hand grabs yours. You drop the glass onto a stand, ignoring the not-so-mellifluous sound it creates.

“Ah, how fun to be a liar.” You respond, not allowing the smile displaying on your features to disappear.

“I guess that makes the two of us.” He states, tone breathy as you pretend to not comprehend; tilting your head slightly.

The Huang’s fingers gently touch the naked skin of your waist, where the dress parts in a sensual curve. Your bodies sway accordingly, exactly on rhythm with the violins. Renjun spins you around gently, but you might as well have been whipped around the room.

You feel your heart beat faster. Thunder, even. But, of course, you will never admit to that.

“Why so crucial, my love?” Is what slips past your lips minutes after. Gently, tanunteringly, maddeningly.

Renjun takes a second. Then two, then three, and then-

Shoot.

A loud shot is heard crystal clear by everyone inside that ballroom. Everyone- no. At that moment, everything stops. Not exactly coherent whether the world stops for everyone, or if it’s just the heart of your world that stops functioning.

Renjun’s body instantly attempts to fall onto the ground. Though, your hands wrap around him, preventing his figure from coming in contact with the floor.

Your body feels denser, your heart feels heavier as you drop onto your knees. Tears commence to escape your eyes, though you fail to realize.

It starts with a single drop, then just seconds after, you have a whole river falling from your eyes.

Continuations of multiple “no’s” and “forgive me’s” are the only sets of letters you find yourself being able to put together as Renjun’s brittle body stays unconscious on your lap.

The ballroom becomes filled with distressing sirens, high pitched screams and sounds of footsteps belonging to bodies eager to leave. Everything sounds so loud, so obnoxious.

But you hear nothing. Nothing until you feel his body getting taken away from your lap. You cry, scream, shout. None works. Nothing works and before you know, you’re back on your knees. Left with nothing but tears and bittersweet memories.

The noxious night stays silent and the moon wraps itselfin immorality. Unspoken feelings, unanswered questions and an incomplete journey is what lies beneath your heart as you ask yourself who will flourish the dreams he left behind…

[10:44pm] mark lee; fluff, tw alcohol. 0.5k words.

mark lee was a lightweight. this was a fact you knew well. and so, when you went out for a few late-night drinks with your boyfriend, you should’ve known it was going to end this way. while you were only tipsy, mark was passing into full-on drunk.

the walk home was only fifteen minutes normally, but you were taking it slowly, mark’s hand tightly grasping yours.

“hey,” mark murmured. “the park.”

you walked past the playground every day on your way to work, but it was eerily quiet and empty - as expected at this late hour. the roundabout sat motionless, the climbing frame empty.

mark looked at you, a scarily mischievous grin on his face. “should we…”

“the gate’s locked, mark,” you pointed out. “c'mon, let’s get home.”

he scoffed. “the fence is, what, a foot high?”

before you had the opportunity to respond, mark had let go of your hand, crossed the street, and hopped the fence. you blinked. and followed his steps.

mark was sitting on the swingset, beaming as he waited for you to join him. you took a seat on the second swing, and looked over at your boyfriend. you couldn’t help but smile back at him. his eyes were sparkling in the light of the streetlamps, and he looked positively angelic.

with a laugh, mark began to swing, pushing his legs through the air to boost his height. his giggles were music to your ears, and you followed suit.

“look how high i can go,” mark panted, and you chuckled at him.

“hey, watch this!” he said suddenly, and before you knew what was happening, he jumped off the seat, flying through the air and (miraculously) landing neatly on the cushioned rubber floor.

“oh my god, be careful!” you gasped at him.

“i’m a professional, baby,” he waved away your worries, looking very proud of his maneuver. you slowed your swinging down gradually, watching as mark shrugged out of his coat, discarding it on the floor and stretching his arms wide.

“you’ll catch a cold, mark lee,” you tutted, though he failed to listen.

“come here,” he said, extending his hand out to you. “come dance with me.”

you smiled, standing up. “there’s no music, markie.”

“we don’t need any,” he said, taking you into his arms. his hands went to your waist, and you rested yours on his shoulders. you let him move you, swaying together to an imaginary beat under the light of the moon.

“you’re so beautiful,” mark complimented you, gazing at you with pure adoration in his eyes. you leaned in, wrapping your arms around the back of his neck and kissing his lips.

“you’re so warm,” you said, pulling his body closer to yours and absorbing his body heat, combating the cool temperatures of the night. mark squeezed you tightly, picking you up and spinning you around.

“mark!” you giggled, and he put you down, kissing you again.

“let’s go home,” you suggested, and he nodded. “don’t forget your coat!”

“okay, baby,” he said, picking his coat up from the ground and taking your hand in his once more.

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.

loving moments with the members of enhypen. in this case, late night convenience store runs with jay.

word count: 1.7k words

genres: fluff, bestfriends!au, female reader

main masterlist.

ethereal moments masterlist.

The university should have known that it’d be a bad idea to keep the library open for twenty-four hours. It’s not even exam week or anything, Jay Park’s just not the smartest of students - specifically when it comes to writing.

Why did all students have to take English 102 anyways? He chose computer science as his major for a reason. Sure, he isn’t illiterate or anything, but the amount of analysis and depth that schools expected from students was way too much, especially from a text such as One Thousand and One Nights. Half-way through Night 146 in the novel, and already into stage 1 of non-REM sleep, Jay had just about drooled into the pages of his eighty dollar text when a hand begins to aggressively ruffle his hair. Snapping up from his bare nap, he sighs in defeat when he sees you - bright-eyed and smiling down at him.

“Ew, get away,” he frowns, turning away from you and towards the wall in an attempt to fall back into a nap.

“Are you gonna just nap here?” Snorting, he nods into his arm, trying to shield his eyes from the fluorescent lighting. “Maybe just go home dude.”

He shakes his head no. “But the vibes here are so much better for naps.”

“Well, you could at least study with me.”

“Does it look like I study, Blue?”

Rolling your eyes, you scoff at him. “You should be. What if you fail a class this sem? What then?”

“But I haven’t,” Jay smiles and you want nothing more than to wipe it off his smug little face. Looking around the library, you notice that there are a few other students that seem to have a long night ahead; a couple giggling together in the opposite corner, a group of friends throwing crumpled papers around at each other, and a few other individuals freaking out over a laptop and/or a stack of books.

Jay had chosen a table far enough from the other groups for the area to feel private, but close enough to still hear the white noise of the public space. With the corner of the space all to yourselves, and with Jay drifting off into whatever dream he’s beginning to have, you take out your own homework and begin working on it. You were comfortable enough with one another that this was natural. It felt like home.

It’s almost funny. You’d both gone to the same school since elementary, but were never close enough to establish a friendship until the first day of university. It was orientation day, and you were randomly placed in the same tour group together, and with your introversion and his first-day nerves, you drifted towards familiarity.

Towards each other.

So as Jay began to snore, to your amusing dismay, you worked for a little over an hour, pumping out answers to math equations you barely understood. From your perspective, his blonde hair is just a mess of a mop, covering his open novel, now used as a pillow. It’s a little past midnight when you decide it’s about time for him to wake up.

Reaching over the desk, you smile to yourself, his half hanging half-open just like his eyes (a terrifying habit that you’ve gotten used to by now). You shake him awake, and again he snaps up, rubbing his eyes and looking around. “Wakey wakey.”

He frowns, stretching and then falling into the back of his chair. “What time is it?”

“12:24,” you reply, having glanced at your phone screen.

“Then why’d you wake me, Blue?” he pouts, pouting like the one emoji with the sparkles in its eyes.

You blink. “I’m hungry.”

Jay sighs. He should be used to this by now, considering you bothering him for food was an almost daily occurrence. Regardless, he is amused to your antics enough to get up and pat his back pocket to check for his wallet. “Let’s go then.”

After packing your stuff, you and Jay make your way through the university halls towards the convenience store just a few blocks away. You, energized by the crisp evening air, skip along happily as he trails behind you at a slow and exasperated pace. Little do you know, the thoughtless song you’re humming and the dimples gracing your cheeks as you do so captivate your dear friend the way you’ve been captivating him since early on in university.

You might be a little afraid to discuss it, much less admit it to one another, but one too many late nights out and one too many classes skipped together just kind of led up to the inevitable thing that can happen with most close friendships. Whatever happens happens, but for now, you’re here and he’s here and you’re both happy.

And from across the street from the library building, you spot the neon lights of the convenience store. There’s an array of plastic tables and chairs just outside by the sidewalk too where you and Jay have made a habit of eating your midnight snacks at. But just before you step onto the street, you feel a soft hand wrap around your wrist. “It’s still a green light, Blue,” Jay deadpans, pulling back to his side.

Blood rushing to your cheeks, you smile at him sheepishly. “There are literally no cars out.” Hence, the empty streets right in front of you.

“But if there were?”

Rolling your eyes, you cross the road once the lights allow for you to walk and into the convenience store you both go. Having visited the place several times a week for a little while now, both you and Jay already know the layout of the aisles and so you don’t hesitate to smile brightly at the tired clerk behind the counter before heading straight towards the back. You argue a little over snack choices but in general, it doesn’t take you both over ten minutes to make your purchases and preparations of cup ramens, chips, and tonight’s soda of choices.

And just like any other night, you and Jay make your way outside and sit at the table farthest away from the front doors of the store. With only the slight breeze of the late autumn air, Jay and you are alone in the night with your food in a world that feels timeless. There’s a full moon, and it looks pretty from where you sit.

“Blue, are you cold?”

Looking up, you shake your head no while continuing to mix the noodles with your chopsticks. “Every night, you ask me that without fail, and every night, I have never said yes.”

“And every night, I give you my jacket anyways,” Jay smiles, scrunching his nose before shrugging the sleeves of his bomber jacket off and despite your protests, you allow him to walk over to your side of the table anyways as he hangs the jacket over your shoulders.

“You’re so annoying, you know that?”

“You’re the one who woke me up from a nap twice in under an hour,” Jay retorts with a smirk on his face before shoving noodles into his mouth.

Rolling your eyes, you lean back in your chair and cross your arms. “Because if you’re going to sleep in public, you might as well just go home.”

“But the vibes at the library are much better for napping.”

“And if I never came, you could have been robbed,” you answer with an amused look on your face as you see the realization hit Jay’s face.

But when you see a smile creep back on his face as Jay leans over the table closer to you, you know he has the perfect retort. “But you came right?”

“But what if I didn’t?”

“But you did. And I trusted that you would.”

As much as you’d love to roll your eyes at his comment, you can’t help but smile back, blood rushing to your cheeks and your heart beating just a little faster than it was earlier. Whenever Jay says something silly like that, something that blurs the line between your friendship and something a little more, it’s never affected you too much. Sharing his jacket with you and spending late nights talking about whatever with you was your normal.

But that trust - that mutual trust that defines everything about your relationship with Jay Park is everything is exactly what makes your heart melt in the moment.

God only knows that if you didn’t love him before, you certainly do now.

And after an hour of snacking, gossiping, and sharing this late night, or early morning, together, you and Jay decide it’s time to relocate back to the library. And of course, on your way back across the street, you once again neglect to notice that the light is still red. You don’t realize Jay has intertwined your fingers together until he tugs you right back to his side, keeping his eyes away from looking at you as you look up to him sheepishly once again.

“What did we say earlier about crossing the road?”

“There are no cars! It is one in the morning Jay,” you insist, pouting up at him and trying to get him to face you. When he doesn’t respond, you huff and look back out into the street. And in a joking fashion, you say, “Stop acting like you actually care about whether or not I would die. If you really loved me, you’d let me break the law.”

“But what if I did?”

“Huh?”

“Not the law-breaking part, Blue,” Jay clarifies, tugging your hand when the lights turn green. “What if I did love you? What then?”

And in your flusteredness, you pull your hand away from the warmth of his and both of you stop to look at one another in the middle of the empty street with the full moon in the sky. “I love you too,” you share.

“Gross,” Jay sticks his tongue out, once again taking you by the hand and together, you walk back into the library for the rest of your night, and maybe (just maybe), the rest of your lives together.

send and ASK to be added to the permanent taglist!

@enhy9ens​@hoonsiceprincess​@leneswrld​ @taerjin​@jungwons-knuckles​@gyeraniee​@ncityy04​@enfinity​@nishimochas​@cha-raena​@miffythoughts​@disco-funk-and-soul09​ @softforjungwoo​@sailor–yoon​@stayzenniesstuff​@thenoceurgirl​@coco-riki​@enhypen-w3b​@honeyju​@reallysmolrenjun​@leefullsun​@rosiexq​@stxrryemxlys​@lvnarjj​ 

all rights reserved © stargirlstories

NEVER FAR FROM YOU.

• Non idol! Hwang Hyunjin X fem! Reader
• Part of the Heart wants what it wants Anthology
• Prompt #31. “I didn’t know where else to go.”
• 1k words, College AU, platonic, kINDA Soulmate AU, FLUFF FLUFF FLUFF.
• Inspired by Kingdom dance from the Tangled Movie ! Do listen to it while you read <3

This was all your fault. 

Having no sense of time permanence and the need to get every detail perfect had driven you to shut yourself up in one of the many dance studios in the Arts building, huffing and puffing and cursing at yourself for being a lazy perfectionist. 

It was almost 2 a.m, but here you were, fixing the light skirt around your leotard and leggings as you took the short break your knees were begging you for. 

This project was one you had begged your department’s Dean for- the opportunity to choreograph and lead the annual showcase. You needed it to be perfect, exquisite, unforgettable. 

So you would suck up the pain and sleeplessness, you would bug that gorgeous senior Yunho into giving you tutorials on how to choreograph for groups, you would spend all your time thinking and visualizing and planning and dancing and perfecting until it was just right- 

“Oh. Hey.” 

Your train of thought sputtered to a stop when you heard the sound, turning to see Hyunjin standing at the door, dark hair and dark clothes. 

“What are you doing here?” 

The question ( albeit slightly rude) escaped your mouth before you could control it.

“I didn’t know where else to go.” 

That’s when you noticed the dark bags under your best friend’s eyes, his jet-black hair limp and falling gracelessly around his face. His shoulders were slumped under his hoodie, his normally graceful frame suddenly looking small, almost like he was folding into himself. 

It was a bad night. 

The kind of night Hyunjin liked to slip into an empty studio and dance his anxiety away, letting the precision of his movements carry his pains away. 

The sight nearly made you tear up.

How had you not noticed how tired Hyunjin had been looking lately? 

Were you seriously that focused on one of your own projects that you forgot about the people that mattered the most to you?

Nothing was more important to you than Hyunjin-  your childhood best friend, your soulmate, your partner from the beginning till forever. He was the reason you even found your love for dance- and here you were, disregarding him for god knows how long, all because you were trash at managing your time. 

What kind of a best friend were you?

Suddenly, the annual showcase didn’t matter. All you wanted was to see your best friend’s lovely smile stretch over his lips,see  his eyes scrunch in that endearing way they always did, see his dramatic reenactments and faux cringe away from him. 

The studio had settled into silence as Hyunjin slid to the floor next to a corner of the walls and mirror, presumably setting up his own playlist or stretching. 

Your feet moved to the bluetooth stereo system before your mind could catch up. Whether you realized it or not, you knew exactly what to do. The opening strains of the music instantly warmed your body- you didn’t realize you felt cold and empty until the melody filled the void in you with warm, buttery sunlight. 

Your limbs sang with the need to jump into an easy dance as you made your way to Hyunjin, who was yet to notice you or the music building around the studio.

“Dance with me!” You grinned, reaching a hand out to Hyunjin where he sat on the wood floor, fixing his shoelace.You had missed this piece, you realized, letting yourself listen to the familiar music. You and Hyunjin had spent late studio nights like this twirling each other around the hardwood floor until you were out of breath but irrevocably exhilarated. Hyunjin looked down at your outstretched hand, then at you, his head cocked as he listened to the music, feeling the energy, the familiarity- 

And you had grabbed his hand and hauled him to his feet, sweeping him into a messy hop-twirl-waltz around the studio. An incredulous laugh escaped Hyunjin as he caught his footing, barely able to keep up with you- but the only sound that escaped you was one of pure joy. 

The music swelled and wrapped around the both of you as Hyunjin twined an arm around your waist to stabilize the both of you, a grin finally breaking out across his face. The music was like joy trapped in a sound, the building, soaring rhythm and beats needing no effort to follow- it was like the tune urged the both of you to move to the music, pushing you to truly feel the glorious thrill in the notes. 

“TWIRL!” You yelled, but Hyunjin only laughed at you before releasing his grip on your waist to let you twirl out and away from him. A gleeful laugh escaped you as your skirt flew up around your body, the sheer ease and flow of every movement suddenly feeling so normal, so familiar to you. 

Not seconds later, you were twirled back to Hyunjin , but this time he was the one leading the messy waltz as the music reached its peak, the air light and bright with your joint laughter and the delightful harmony.

And for those glorious seconds, all was good with the world- it was just you and Hyunjin in each other’s arms, dancing the night away and everything felt like it was perfectly as it should be. 

As the music began, so it must end- and it did, with the both of you collapsing onto each other in a fit of giddy laughter, clinging to each other as you slid to the floor. 

As the giggles trailed off, you swatted at Hyunjin’s chest. 

“I’m sorry I spent the last few days disregarding you.” 

Hyunjin’s smile was like the sunrise after a dreary night, much like the music that the both of you had come to love. 

“Hey, we have forever together, what’s a few days?”

• Requests are open for this collection (For Stray Kids and Ateez), so do check out the Masterlist for the prompts and rules! Love, Elliana.
  
• Network Tags:@districtninewriters@inkidz@angstyskzclub@kpopscape
• Interested Parties:@popisdead@itsapapisongo@aliceu​@lavenderbexlatte​@kisskissbanggang@jl-micasea​@blueprint-han@decembermoonskz​@bythesunnotbythemoon@luminois@moonlight-hyunjae​@channieskzlove94@sungieshines​@fylithia​@bearseungmin@wingkkun-main​@http-wommy@scriptura-delirus​@dom–minnie @whiteprincessofnohr​@chogiwow​