the sweetener you are

hyunjae x reader (idea from the anon who requested childhood friends to lovers!)

summary: when a mysterious man moves into the apartment next door, you realize that he’s your childhood best friend who’s disappeared for years. he changed, his life seeming to have soured. but you could just be his sweetener, the one to make him smile again

we overlap.

☆ lee hyunjae x fem!reader — warnings: fluff; fem!reader who wears makeup, more feminine clothing, and has implied long hair that can have fingers run through it; mild miscommunication; drinking; cursing; unspecified small age gap; use of sunbae, hyung (sorry); hyunjae (deserves a warning of his own); flirting; kissing; a lil cringe ☆ 16.6k words, not proofread — author's note: writing style probably changes a lot, this took me a while to write and i am writing academically once more so that affects my writing. it also just took three months, i'm very slow. this is a stand alone work and the only expansion i'm willing to do is what i choose to write and publish, or small asks about their dynamic! thank you so much to my icon and savior @heedeungism for hyping me up and beta-reading. and also obligatory shout out to @cloudykyu sorry i sent you the draft and posted before you replied i love u so bad

You’d always known of Lee Hyunjae.

Not personally. He was popular, a distant figure you’d heard about via whispers in the comms department, a cool upperclassman that people looked up to. Smart. Handsome. You’d heard some people call him friendly and sweet. (Namely, your own friend, Sangyeon, who shared a friend group with the man. You’d never run into Hyunjae yourself despite this, preferring one-on-one hangouts with your, self-proclaimed, older brother.)

Most commonly, you heard that he was unapproachable. He didn’t go out much.

Which is why it was so surprising to see him walk into the math lab, holding a huge box of materials. It must’ve been heavy, his forearm muscles clearly straining as he maneuvered it on top of one of the linoleum tables against the wall. 

lee hyunjae — are we friends? by @haeiheart!!

No big deal right? You've survived these before. The excruciatingly long group projects. You've dealt with all sorts of people, the ghosters, the overachievers, the underachievers… yikes let's not get there. Those people somehow manage to contribute nothing and still get the credit you worked your ass off for. At this point, nothing should faze you.

Or so you thought.

Because the second your professor reads out the group pairings, your entire life flash before your eyes. Hyunjae. Sure, you weren't in the same field but you both were still connected as both your majors fall under arts. Anyways, this is bad. Probably worse than getting caught stalking someone by liking their post all the way in 2015.

Your feelings reciprocated, Hyunjae, who is sitting across the room looked absolutely horrified. You cant lie that you didn't have abit of joy from that reaction but you didnt have time to sit and laugh the moment he raised his head, locking eyes with you from across the room as you both feel a soul-crushing moment. You knew this was going to be a long project.

The professor is still talking, listing off other groups which you couldnt bother paying attention to as it slowly turns into white noise at that point. So you take a breath, accepting your reality that you're stuck with Hyunjae.

Stealing small glances at him, you suddenly feel all five-stages of grief kicking in:

As you’re spacing out, a sharp nudge snaps you back to reality.

“Hey are you good?” Your only friend in this god awful class, Eric, whispers, with an amused smirk.

“What do you think.” Still shooting daggers at Hyunjae as you let out a heavy sigh. “This might actually set off a mild heart attack. On second thought, might not even make it”

Eric follows your line of sight to see what was up with you and snickers when he spots Hyunjae still looking as constipated as ever. “Wow i never thought i would see you two together, this should be interesting, congrats” He laughs.

“Oh fuck off, interesting is one word for it” you mutter “honestly i think the word catastrophe matches more” pouting as if it was the end of your world

“Oh cmon he isnt that bad, like sure he could be a handful but he got some qualities” Eric says half teasing and half serious. You knew he could possibly contribute to something, maybe he wasnt completely useless considering he is one of the notable students in his major. But still, you and hyunjae is not meant to co-exist within the same radar. So you will never admit it.

You finally turned around to glare at eric. “Not that bad? Do you even remember last time. We nearly committed arson.

Eric raises a brow, intrigued. “Committed arson? Is this a crime and fight duo or what?”

“Really depends if you consider lighting a backdrop on fire makes us the duo of the year.”

Eric almost chokes on air as he lets out an exaggerated laugh. “You what now”

“Shut up it was a mistake” Giving eric a nasty slap on his arm before side eyeing Hyunjae again. “It was not my fault. It was his. Like who even brings a bunch of scattered unlabeled candles on set where everything is as fragile as glass”

Eric grins “Hey maybe this is fated. Like school has been way too boring for you, so maybe this will be the kind of chaos you need in your life, am i right?” As he is holding back a laugh.

“You just want me to suffer and die.” Rolling your eyes for the 10th time that period. Let’s just suck it up and get it over with. Maybe by any luck he wont be as insufferable as last year.

It was a wednesday. Probably one of the longest days of your week and its about to feel even longer considering who you are meeting today. As you steped inside the cafe you noticed how nice the place actually is in comparison to the chaos thats about to happen in here. The warm glow of the hanging lights, the soft calming low-fi music, the scent of overpriced espresso, the chatter from distant customers about their ongoing relationship drama. All of it feels deceptively peaceful. But nothing about this situation is peaceful for you at least.

As your eyes scan the room, you notice sitting by the window, looking obnoxiously relaxed, is Hyunjae.

He’s slouched in his chair, one arm draped over the backrest like he owns the place, the other lazily scrolling through his laptop. His hair somehow effortlessly messy yet perfectly styled falls over his forehead just enough to be distracting.The sleeves of his sweater are pushed up to his elbows, exposing his ridiculously nice forearms, which is simply just unfair. All of that is combined with the sharp cut of his jawline and that signature lazy smirk, it’s almost infuriating how good he looks without even trying.

Sure, he’s smoking hot, as everybody and their moms would say, but that doesn’t change the fact that he can be a pain in the ass at times. Apparently, being attractive and being a pain can go hand in hand.

You keep your expression neutral as you walk over, adjusting your bag strap before stopping at the table. He barely looks up, just glancing at you before tapping on his screen.

“You’re late,” he says.

You blink. Then check your phone. “It’s literally 2:02.”

“Exactly.”

Your eye twitches.

“Oh my god, I hate you,” you mutter, loud enough that he would hear it despite the low volume of your words, dropping your bag onto the table with a little too much force before sliding into the chair across from him.

Hyunjae leans forward slightly, resting his chin on his palm, and smirks. “And yet, here we are.”

You inhale slowly, mentally counting to three before you start swinging and flipping tables. Before you can form a proper retort, a barista approaches, setting down two drinks on the table.

You glance at them, confused. “Uh… I didn’t order yet.”

Without glancing up from his laptop, Hyunjae lazily slides one of the cups toward you, his fingers still lingering on the lid. “Yeah, I got you something,” he says, voice as nonchalant as ever. “You give off an iced vanilla latte kind of person.” There’s the slightest smirk tugging at the corner of his lips, like he knows he’s right.

Your suspicion is immediate. You squint your eyes at the cup like it might explode in your hands. “What’s in it?”

He finally looks up, amusement flickering in his dark eyes as his lips curl into a slow grin. “Poison.”

“You stare at him, unimpressed.

“Relax,” he chuckles, nudging the cup closer. “Just an iced vanilla latte. Thought it suited your whole… aesthetic.”

You don’t even know what that means, but you take a sip anyway—only to hate how good it actually is.

“Okay, so, ideas.” You pull out your notebook, flipping to a blank page. “Our project is about—”

“Fashion in film,” Hyunjae finishes, already typing something on his laptop. “I was thinking we could do a visual breakdown of how costume design affects storytelling. Maybe pick a few iconic films and analyze the fashion choices, how they reflect character arcs, enhance themes, or even influence trends in the real world.”

You tap your pen against your notebook, considering. “That’s actually… not terrible.” He snorts, but you ignore him. “We could break it down by genre. Like, how historical dramas prioritize period accuracy, while sci-fi leans into experimental designs that shape future trends. Or how rom-coms use wardrobe shifts to mirror character development.”

“Exactly,” he nods, spinning his laptop to face you. “Like, you know, the whole power-dressing thing in The Devil Wears Prada versus the whole ‘I have nothing to lose so I dress like this’ vibe in Fight Club. Or how movies like La La Land and Black Swan go crazy with colors to make you feel things.”

You pause.

Okay. That was… actually good.

Which is annoying.

Because now you have to pretend like you weren’t expecting him to be completely useless.

“Wow,” you say, setting down your pen. “You actually know some stuff.”

Hyunjae snorts. “I can be smart, you know.”

You roll your eyes but can’t help the small smile that tugs at your lips. Maybe, just maybe, this project won’t be a total disaster.

“Yeah, yeah.” You wave him off. “Anyway, we should split the workload—”

“I’ll handle the video editing,” he says immediately, leaning back in his chair.

You nod slowly. “Right. And I’ll do the research and visuals. We’ll meet in the middle for scriptwriting and actual filming.”

For a moment, it almost feels… civil.

And then Hyunjae grins.

“So, should we use Google Docs or Notion?”

You freeze.

Then, a second later— “No.” Your head snaps up way too fast, like you’ve just been personally attacked.

His brows furrow. “No…?”

“I am not using Notion.”

Hyunjae gasps dramatically, hand flying to his chest as if you just said something personally offensive. “You’re one of those Google Docs purists?” As he watches as you pull up Google Docs, his expression somewhere between annoyance and disbelief. “I don’t get it. You seem like a Notion girl.”

You shrug, typing out the project title. “I am.”

He blinks. “Then?”

“I like Notion for planning and cute notes whatsoever, but Google Docs is easier to read. It’s straightforward, no weird sidebars or widgets. Just a blank page, like actual paper.”

Hyunjae scoffs. “So you’re saying you like being boring.”

You narrow your eyes. “I’m saying I like being efficient.”

He leans back, swirling his straw in his drink. “Right. Efficient. That’s definitely the word.”

You glare at him before pointedly typing Google Docs into the document.

Hyunjae mutters something under his breath, but ultimately, he doesn’t argue.

One battle won.

Scoreboard, y/n 1: hyunjae 0.

But there's many more to go.

Okay. Maybe this wasn’t going to be as hard as you expected. Maybe Hyunjae wasn’t the absolute worst partner in existence. Maybe you can get through this project smoothly. Maybe—

“Absolutely not.”

You blink at him, fingers hovering over your laptop keyboard. “What?” Like literally. What is the problem now.

Hyunjae gestures vaguely at the screen, looking disgusted. “That font. Change it.”

You glance at the document. “What’s wrong with Times New Roman?”

He scoffs. “Everything?”

Your eye twitches. “It’s literally the default font for a reason.”

“Yeah, for people who have no taste.”

You stare at him, half-expecting him to say he’s joking. He does not. “Okay, design boy, what do you suggest?”

“Literally anything else,” he says. “Arial, Garamond—hell, even Verdana.”

You gasp. “Verdana is hideous.”

“Times New Roman is worse.”

“No, it’s classic.”

“It’s depressing.”

You narrow your eyes at him. “Do you argue with your professors about this when they make you submit papers in times new roman?”

He leans back with a smirk. “No, because I actually care about my grades.”

You scoff, fingers tightening on the laptop as you are quite literally at the brink of breaking it. He’s insufferable. Just because he’s stupidly attractive doesn’t mean he gets to be stupidly annoying.

“Fine,” you huff. “We’ll compromise.”

Hyunjae raises an eyebrow. “Compromise?”

You swiftly change the font to Comic Sans. Maybe it was to piss him off, maybe it wasn't.

His eyes widen in horror. “WHAT—”

“That’s what you get,” you say sweetly, closing your laptop.

You half expect him to argue more, but instead, he just shakes his head with a sigh. “This is going to be a nightmare.”

Maybe this project was going to be frustrating. Maybe you were going to bicker over every minor, ridiculous detail. Maybe Hyunjae was going to test every ounce of your patience until you actually lost it.

But, as you watch the slight furrow of his brows while he works, the way he chews on his lip in concentration, which was admittedly kind of cute, you have a horrifying realization.

This might actually be… kind of fun.

But to burst your own bubble, it was still dominantly irritating to work with him. Over the past few weeks, the afternoon meetings paired with your ice vanilla lattes and horrendous workload, the only progress that seemed evident was the tiny, stupid disagreements you both have.

seriously, it seems like he finds every reason to fight with you, whether it is the theme because he wants something more “pop” to how long a study break should be.

And honestly? It’s ridiculous. Because who in their right mind thinks neon yellow text on a black background is a good idea?

“It’s eye-catching,” Hyunjae argues, arms crossed as he leans back in his chair like he’s already won.

“It’s an assault on the eyes,” you counter, clicking aggressively on the theme settings. “We are not making our project look like a nightclub flyer and if i need to remind you our target audience is not rave and club addicts who goes weekly.”

He scoffs. “Fine. What do you suggest, then? Something painfully minimalist? Let me guess, black serif font on a white background, very aesthetic, very clean, very boring.”

Your eye twitches. “It’s called being readable, you menace. It works the best when its a written project.

It goes on like this. Every. Single. Time.

The study break argument? A disaster.

“Twenty minutes is enough,” you say, stretching your arms over your head. “Any longer, and we’ll lose momentum.”

Hyunjae slams his laptop shut, scandalized. “Are you kidding? You barely have time to breathe in twenty minutes. Thirty is the bare minimum for brain recovery.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, do you need a whole vacation to recover from looking at a Google Doc?”

“At least I know how to pace myself instead of burning out like a washed-up child star on their third comeback attempt.”

And don’t even start on the seating arrangements.

““Why do you always take the chair facing the window?” Hyunjae complains, flopping into his usual seat with an exaggerated sigh, like sitting anywhere else is a personal injustice.

You barely glance up from your laptop as you take a sip of your iced latte. “Because I like the natural lighting.”

“I like the natural lighting,” he mimics, rolling his eyes. “You just don’t want me to have it.” God you need to get a self care day after interacting with this manchild because you are gonna lose it.

“Yes, Hyunjae,” you deadpan. “Stealing sunlight from you is my ultimate goal in life.”

Despite all the minor battles, time keeps slipping away. At first, it’s a few pushed-back deadlines. Then, it’s the realization that you have way more left to do than you thought. And before you know it—

Panic sets in.

You stare at your shared Google Doc, scrolling through the half-finished outline with growing dread. “Tell me why we’ve spent weeks arguing over fonts and break times instead of actually finishing this project?”

Hyunjae groans, rubbing his hands over his face. “Because somebody refuses to admit they’re wrong.”

“You are literally the problem—”

“We don’t have time for this,” he cuts in, suddenly serious. “We need to lock in, or we’re screwed.”

You exhale sharply, pressing your fingers to your temples, willing away the stress headache that’s been brewing for the past hour. “Okay. Then we need to meet more often. We’re running out of time.”

Hyunjae groans, leaning back in his chair like the weight of the world just dropped onto his shoulders. “More often? We already see each other, like, every other day. Any more and we might as well get friendship bracelets.” He pauses and leans back, thinking. Then, he looks at you, a little hesitant. “Maybe… we do a late-night session? At my place.”

You blink, processing his words a second too late. “Your place?”

Hyunjae shrugs, leaning back into his chair like this is the most casual suggestion to give to a girl you supposedly “hate” in the world. “Unless you want to host.”

You hesitate for a lot of reasons considering your apartment is… not exactly in the best state right now. Fabric scraps from your last project are still draped over the couch, your desk is a graveyard of half-finished sketches, and you’re pretty sure there’s at least one coffee cup on your nightstand that’s been there long enough to be considered a disease.

The second and other reason is studying together in public was one thing, but in his space? Late at night? That feels dangerously close to… something else.

But then you look at the looming deadline.

Ugh. Fine.

“Your place it is,” you say, stuffing your laptop into your bag with a dramatic sigh. “But if you try to make me use Notion again, I’m leaving. And I’m taking all the good ideas with me.”

Hyunjae grins, leaning back in his chair like he’s already won. “No promises. But if you mysteriously find a Notion link in your inbox later, just know it wasn’t me.”

If you had told yourself three months ago that you’d be standing in front of Lee Hyunjae’s door, waiting for him to open it, all for the sake of your academics, you would have literally lost your mind.

But here you are, and you have to admit you’re really nervous. You barely ever go over to people’s houses, let alone a guys, and in this case, he’s actually a really cute guy.

The door swings open, and there stands Hyunjae, leaning against the frame with a lazy smirk. His hair is slightly tousled, like he’s just run his hands through it, and he’s dressed in an oversized hoodie and sweatpants, far from his usual put-together look. Can’t say you hate it though.

“Took you long enough,” he says, stepping aside to let you in.

You roll your eyes, brushing past him. “Maybe if you actually responded to texts on time, I wouldn’t have had to wait outside like a lost child.” As your eye scan his surprisingly neat apartment. You expected something closer to a frat house disaster, but everything is in its place, and it even smells nice.

Hyunjae flops onto the couch, stretching his arms over his head before reaching for his laptop. “Alright, let’s get this over with.”

You drop your bag onto the floor and sit cross-legged on the other end of the couch maintaining your distance, opening your own laptop. “For once, we actually need to focus. We’ve spent way too much time arguing over dumb things and it was getting ridiculous.”

Hyunjae snorts. “First of all, those were very necessary discussions. Second, you’re acting like we only argued and got nothing done.”

You deadpan at him. “We argued for twenty minutes about what font to use.”

“And? That was an important decision,” he says, typing something on his screen. “You wanted Arial. Arial is boring. Arial is the ‘I give up’ of fonts.”

You groan, already feeling a headache forming. “Not this again.” You were not in the mood for another disagreement.

But to your surprise, he doesn’t push it further. Instead, he nods toward your laptop. “Come on, let’s actually work.”

And you do. For the first time since this project started, you both actually find a rhythm that works. The usual petty bickering is still there, but it’s more playful than frustrating. You throw ideas back and forth, clean up your outline, and finally get around to finishing the visual breakdown you had been avoiding. You even caught yourself smiling at something he said, but hopefully he didn’t catch that.

At some point, exhaustion starts creeping in. You rest your head against the table for just a second, letting your eyes flutter shut. You tell yourself it’s just a quick break, but the warmth of the room and the quiet hum of Hyunjae typing make it tempting to just stay there.

Before you can drift off completely, you feel something soft brushing against your arm. You blink your eyes open to see Hyunjae draping his hoodie over you, his expression unreadable as he focuses on his screen like he didn’t just do something weirdly thoughtful.

“You looked like you were about to pass out,” he says casually, still typing. “And I don’t need you blaming me if you wake up with a stiff neck.”

You lift your head slightly, glancing down at the hoodie before looking at him. “Didn’t take you for the considerate type,” you murmur, fingers absentmindedly playing with the edge of the sleeve.

“Yeah, well,” he shrugs, not looking at you. “Try not to make a big deal out of it.”

You hum in response, but your mind lingers on it longer than it probably should. It’s weird, Hyunjae doesn’t exactly scream thoughtful. He’s annoying, he’s stubborn, he argues with you over the dumbest things. But then he does stuff like this, offering you his hoodie without hesitation, like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

You shake off the thought and tug the hoodie closer around you, pretending it’s just because you’re cold and not because it’s weirdly comforting.

While you’re deep in thought, what you don’t know is that Hyunjae is also having a minor crisis of his own.

He hadn’t even thought twice when he gave you his hoodie, just saw you looking exhausted and curled up against the table and figured you might be cold. But now that you’re actually wearing it, tugging it closer like it belongs to you, he kind of wants to rip it off and pretend it never happened.

It’s distracting. You’re distracting. Which is insane, because you’ve spent the past few weeks arguing over fonts and study breaks and the ethics of using Google Docs over Notion. He should not be finding this cute.

He tries to focus on his laptop, he really does, but his eyes keep darting back to you like they have a mind of their own. You’re absentmindedly doodling in the margins of your notes, completely in your own world, and for some reason, it’s stupidly adorable. Your lips are pursed in concentration, your brows furrowing just the tiniest bit, and oh god, why is that kind of cute?

And then there’s the hoodie, his hoodie, draped over you like it belongs there. You tug the sleeves over your fingers, sinking further into the fabric, completely unaware that you’re wearing something of his, and wow okay his brain is short-circuiting. His ears feel hot. His heartbeat is doing something weird.

No. No no no. This is just sleep deprivation. A normal, logical reaction to being up too late. Nothing else.

…Right?

The past few days had been surprisingly… peaceful. Ever since that night, working with Hyunjae had become way easier. The usual back-and-forth was still there, but it wasn’t as sharp. You had actual conversations. You laughed a little more. And dare you say it, you almost started looking forward to your meetings. Almost.

Now, with the final touches of your project coming together, there’s a weird sort of peace. A calm before the storm. But, of course, nothing ever stays peaceful for long.

Because the moment you step onto campus, you see him. And her. Whoever the hell she is.

Hyunjae is leaning against a pillar outside the lecture hall, talking to some girl. You don’t recognize her, but that’s not the point. The point is the way he’s looking at her, relaxed, smiling, like she just told the funniest joke in the world. And worse? He’s actually being nice. No smug teasing, no exasperated sighs, just effortless conversation, like he’s known her forever.

Your stomach does something weird.

Since when did he have that kind of smile? The kind that looks straight out of a cheesy romance movie, all soft and easy, like he doesn’t have a single sarcastic bone in his body? Since when was he capable of tilting his head so attentively, like he actually cared about what someone was saying?

And why do you feel like bursting right now. Oh god.

You shouldn’t care. You don’t care. But for some reason, you suddenly can’t stop thinking about how he never acted like that with you. Not at the beginning, anyway. Why did it take weeks of bickering and late-night study sessions for him to finally treat you like a normal person? Why was it so easy for him to be like this with her?

As your head gets even more clouded, you had to snap yourself out of it.

What are you even doing? Why does this even matter?

You don’t care. You don’t.

“Hey.”

Your entire body tenses.

Of course he chooses now to walk up to you, looking completely unbothered, hands shoved into his pockets like he didn’t just turn your entire morning upside down. You school your face into something more civil, something that doesn’t scream I just had a crisis over you talking to some girl.

“Hey,” you say, forcing a casual tone.

Hyunjae eyes you, then tilts his head. “Why do you look pissed?”

You blink. “I don’t.”

“You do.”

“I don’t.”

He shrugs. “If you say so.”

There’s nothing mocking in his tone, no teasing glint in his eyes, just him being his usual self. And for some reason, that annoys you more. Because why wouldn’t he be unbothered? It’s not like anything is different for him.

You let out a slow breath, trying to shake whatever this is. “We’re finishing up the last project details today, right?”

“Yeah.” He stretches his arms over his head, then lets them drop back down. “Same time, same place.”

“Cool.”

He nods, seemingly waiting for you to say something else, but you don’t. Because what else is there to say? Hey, next time, can you not turn on the whole charming act for someone that isn’t me?

Yeah. No. You actually sound crazy.

Hyunjae blinks at you, then gestures toward the lecture hall. “Well, let’s go before someone takes our seats.”

You nod, falling into step beside him, and you try, really try, to ignore the way his presence makes your chest feel weirdly heavy.

You know he noticed how awkward you are right now, you aren’t exactly known as the best person in the world to keep a face.

Hyunjae tilts his head, eyeing you with that infuriatingly amused expression, like he’s trying to figure out what your problem is but also enjoying the fact that you clearly have one. You can tell he’s holding back a smirk, which only makes you more irritated.

“What’s up with you?” he finally asks, nudging your arm lightly as he adjusts his bag, his tone almost teasing but with a hint of curiosity.

“Nothing,” you say way too fast. You clear your throat and force out a more even, totally normal response. “Nothing. Just… surprised you can actually hold a normal conversation without annoying someone to death.”

He snorts. “Didn’t know you cared so much about my social skills.”

You roll your eyes, clutching your notebook tighter. “I don’t. It was just… new information.”

“Right.” He stretches the word out, clearly unconvinced. His lips twitch like he wants to push further, but after a moment, he just shrugs. “Well, if you’re done analyzing me, we have a presentation to finalize.”

And just like that, the moment passes. He starts walking, fully expecting you to follow. You hesitate, staring after him, feeling strangely off-balance.

Because if there’s one thing you do know, it’s that you’re not analyzing him. That would imply detachment, logic, something rational.

And there is absolutely no logical reason for the way your stomach just did a full-on gymnastics routine.

Hyunjae isn’t stupid. He knows when something’s off, and right now, you’re practically radiating something, annoyance? Frustration? He can’t tell. But it’s there, sitting between you like an invisible wall.

You’re avoiding his eyes, fidgeting in a way that isn’t normal for you. Usually, when you’re irritated with him, you let him know. A sarcastic remark, an exaggerated eye roll, a playful shove. Something. But this? This is different.

His mind races through the last few minutes, trying to pinpoint what could’ve set you off. Was it the girl he was talking to? That wouldn’t make sense. You don’t care about things like that. Right?

But then again, you’ve never looked at him like this before. Like you’re trying not to look at him at all.

That realization makes his stomach twist in a way he doesn’t understand. And he is not a fan of this feeling.

The day drags on, but you can’t seem to shake it off. No matter how hard you try to focus, your mind keeps circling back to the same stupid scene. Over and over again, like a broken record.

Hyunjae leaning against that pillar. That effortless smile. The way he looked at her, like she was the most interesting person in the world. God who is she.

It’s ridiculous. You don’t care. You shouldn’t care. And yet, every time the image flashes in your mind, something inside you twists uncomfortably.

Even during class, your pen barely moves across the page. Instead of taking notes, you find yourself aggressively scribbling in the margins, only to scratch them out a second later. The frustration bubbles under your skin, refusing to settle.

By the time the afternoon rolls around, you’re officially over it. You just need to get through the rest of the day without thinking about Hyunjae or his stupid soft smile or how warm he looked talking to her.

Easier said than done. Considering his face lighting up to bring you for another afternoon study hangout.

But you were done with today. The project was basically finished, well kind of. All that was left was overlooking spelling mistakes and formatting, and that was something you could easily do on your own. No more meetings, no more late-night brainstorming, no more Hyunjae.

So when he lights up and swings his bag over his shoulder, clearly about to suggest another study hangout, you shut it down before he even gets the chance.

“Nah, I’m good,” you say, shoving your notebook into your bag as if your in a rush for a life and death appointment.

Hyunjae blinks. “Huh?”

“I said I’m good. I don’t need help fixing typos.”

His face scrunches up in confusion. “Since when do you turn down free labor?”

You roll your eyes, standing up. “Since now.”

He tilts his head, studying you like you’re a puzzle missing a few pieces. “Okay, what’s up with you?”

“Nothing.”

“Yeah, no. Try again.”

You huff, crossing your arms. “Why do you care?”

Hyunjae scoffs. “Because you’re acting weird.”

“Well, maybe I just don’t feel like hanging out today.”

“Since when do you not feel like—” He stops, narrowing his eyes. “Wait. Is this about earlier?”

Your stomach flips, and you immediately scoff. “What? No. Don’t be ridiculous.”

A slow, knowing smirk tugs at his lips. “Oh my god. It is.”

“No, it’s not.”

He steps closer, all amused and too smug for his own good. “You’re mad.”

“I’m not mad.”

“You’re totally mad.”

“Hyunjae—”

His grin widens. “You’re jealous.”

Your eye twitches. “I am not jealous.”

He leans in slightly, voice dropping into something almost teasing. “You so are.”

That does it.

“Hyunjae,” you hiss, jabbing a finger at his chest. “Not everything is about you. Maybe I’m just exhausted from spending weeks bickering with you over the stupidest things. Oh, I don’t know, like fonts and sentence structure and maybe, just maybe, I would like one single day where I don’t have to deal with your dumb smug face.”

Hyunjae raises an eyebrow, clearly amused, but you’re too annoyed to care. You huff, shifting your bag higher on your shoulder.

“And, by the way, since I apparently have to explain myself to you, I already have plans today,” you add, voice sharp.

His smirk falters just slightly. “Oh yeah?”

“Yeah,” you say, crossing your arms. “I’m catching up with Eric. Haven’t seen him in a while.”

It’s such an offhanded statement, so casual, so harmless. At least, that’s how you mean it. But the moment the words leave your mouth, Hyunjae’s entire demeanor shifts. It’s subtle, barely even noticeable if you weren’t standing this close. His jaw ticks, and there’s something unreadable in his eyes before he blinks it away, schooling his face into something neutral.

“That so?” he says, voice carefully even.

You nod, still feeling stubborn. “Yep.”

For a second, he doesn’t say anything. He just watches you, his expression unreadable. And then, with a small scoff, he steps back, running a hand through his hair.

“Well,” he says, forcing a smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “Don’t let me keep you.”

It’s weird. The sudden shift in his energy. The way his usual teasing lilt is gone, replaced with something else, something off. You don’t know why it bothers you. You don’t know why you feel like you just touched a nerve without meaning to.

But before you can figure it out, Hyunjae slings his bag over his shoulder and turns on his heel, walking off without another word.

Fuck. Whatever.

“So, are you gonna tell me what’s up with you, or do I have to guess?”

You blink, straw still in your mouth, cheeks slightly puffed from sipping your drink. “Huh?”

Eric sighs, shaking his head with an exaggerated amount of disappointment. “Tragic. You drag me out here, barely touch your coffee, and stare into space like you’re in a movie. Should I start playing those really sad editing audios? Is this my cue?”

You huff, sinking further into your seat. “I’m not acting like anything.”

“You so are,” he grins, pointing a finger at you. “You’ve been acting all mopey since we sat down. Which, honestly? Rude. I came all this way to bless you with my presence, and yet, your brain is off somewhere else.”

You roll your eyes, crossing your arms. “It’s not like that.”

“Ohhh, it’s exactly like that.” Eric leans forward, resting his elbows on the table. “What, Hyunjae ghosted you or something?”

Your cheeks puff up again, this time in annoyance. “No?”

Eric raises a brow. “Interesting. So this is about him.”

Your face immediately drops, and Eric cackles. “Busted,” he sings.

You groan, dramatically flopping your head onto the table. “I hate you.”

“Aw, I love you too, bestie,” he coos, reaching over to pat your head. “But seriously. If he walked through that door right now, would you still be sitting here with me, or would you suddenly remember you had, I don’t know, urgent business across campus?”

You scoff, peeking up at him through your arms. “Please.”

Eric just smirks, wiggling his brows. “Okay. So you would stay?”

“Obviously.”

“You wouldn’t immediately run off to go fight over punctuation marks with him?”

“Eric.”

“You definitely aren’t sad you haven’t seen him in a while?”

Your lips purse, cheeks puffing up again, and Eric lets out a victorious laugh.

“Yeah, okay,” he grins. “You don’t care at all.”

To your luck or maybe your absolute misfortune, Hyunjae actually walks in.

You know it’s him before you even look. It’s in the way Eric’s gaze flicks over your shoulder, the way his smirk sharpens like he just won the lottery. And your face? Oh you look like you wanted to slap and run eric right now.

“Ooooh,” he whispers, dragging out the sound like a villain about to watch chaos unfold. “Look who it is.”

You freeze, gripping your cup just a little too tightly. Slowly, you turn your head, and yep. There he is, stepping into the cafe like he owns the place, running a hand through his hair as he scans the menu. He looks good. Annoyingly good. And you hate that that’s your first thought.

Eric, of course, is eating this up. “Wow. What are the odds? Actually, scratch that. This is fate.”

You glare at him, but it’s hard to be intimidating when your face is betraying you with a very obvious oh no! expression. “Shut up.”

“Hey, I’m just saying. The universe clearly wants you two to reunite.”

The worst part? Hyunjae hasn’t even noticed you yet. He’s too busy ordering his coffee, looking way too relaxed while you sit there overthinking every little thing.

Eric leans in, voice hushed but mischievous. “Okay, so what’s the plan? Ignore him? Be cool? Run away dramatically?”

You groan, sinking lower into your seat. “I’m not doing anything.”

“Oh, so you’re just gonna sit there and stew in your feelings?”

“I don’t have feelings.”

Eric raises a brow. “Mhm. Tell that to your face.”

Before you can argue, the inevitable happens, Hyunjae turns, coffee in hand, eyes scanning the café. Then, his gaze lands on you.

And just like that, your heart does a very stupid, very unnecessary flip.

But his heart? Oh, he wanted to be an idiot about this.

Because the moment his eyes locked onto you, sitting there with Eric of all people, something in his chest twisted in a way he didn’t like.

Hyunjae wasn’t jealous. That would be ridiculous. That would mean he cared, and obviously, he didn’t. You were just his project partner. A temporary coworker in the academic hellscape. So what if he hadn’t seen you in a while? So what if you’d been avoiding him? So what if you were sitting there, so comfortable with another man's presence and here he thought he was special before,even worse you were looking all relaxed and content without him?

Whatever.

He forces himself to walk over, keeping his expression neutral, like he hadn’t just spent the last few days overthinking every conversation you’d had.

“Wow,” he says as he reaches your table, setting his cup down with an easy smirk. “This is what you’ve been so busy with?”

You blink up at him, and for a split second, something unreadable flashes across your face. But it’s gone as fast as it came, replaced by an unimpressed stare. “And this is what you interrupted my day for?”

Eric hums, stirring his drink. “Oh, don’t mind me. I’m just an innocent bystander in whatever this is.”

Hyunjae ignores him, his eyes staying on you. “So, what? You’re replacing me already?”

You scoff, crossing your arms. “As if you were irreplaceable in the first place.”

His smirk falters, but he masks it quickly. “Harsh.”

“Honest.”

For some reason, that word stings more than it should.

Hyunjae clicks his tongue, scanning your expression. “Well, that’s a shame.”

You narrow your eyes. “What is?”

He shrugs, way too casual. “I was going to ask if you wanted to do one final check on the project before we submit it, but if you’re too busy…”

Your lips part, and for a second, you actually look like you’re considering it. But then, you huff. “We already double checked everything.”

“Triple checking never hurts.” He says with hope.

Eric snickers. “Dude, you just want an excuse to hang out with her.”

Hyunjae glares at him. “You are absolutely not part of this conversation.”

You roll your eyes. “Nice try. I can proofread on my own.”

He sighs, dramatic and put-upon. “Okay, fine. But if you find a mistake—”

“I won’t.”

“you owe me coffee.”

Your jaw drops. “How does that even make sense?”

“It just does.” He smirks, already backing away. “See you soon, partner.”

And just like that, he’s gone, leaving you with a very amused Eric and a feeling in your chest you really don’t want to acknowledge.

Okay, so you caved in. But so what?

That doesn’t mean anything. It’s not like you wanted to see Hyunjae again. It was just… convenience. Yeah, convenience. You figured it’d be easier to do one last review in person instead of sending a bunch of messages back and forth. That’s all.

But now, here you are, in Hyunjae’s apartment, because of course you caved at the last minute, and of course, it’s late at night.

“This feels suspiciously like a setup,” you mutter, dropping your bag onto the floor and taking your steps inside his apartment.

Hyunjae doesn’t react right away, his attention flickering between his laptop and his phone, like he’s only half-listening. His hair is still damp from a shower, a few strands falling over his forehead, and the sleeves of his hoodie are pushed up just enough to show the veins in his forearms. It’s annoying how effortlessly put-together he looks, especially this late at night.

“You always think I have some ulterior motive,” he says, finally glancing at you with an amused tilt of his head.

You huff, crossing your arms. “Because you always do.”

His lips twitch, but he just leans back in his chair, stretching his arms over his head like he has all the time in the world. “If you’re so suspicious, why are you here?”

You scoff, tilting your chin up slightly. “Because someone has to make sure the final report isn’t a disaster.” In your defense you weren’t lying, you just weren't saying the whole truth.

Hyunjae hums, leaning forward with his elbows on the table. “Uh-huh. So you came all the way here, late at night, just for a little report check-up?” His tone is dripping with amusement, and the way he’s watching you, like he’s caught onto something you don’t want him to and it makes your stomach twist.

You huff, flipping open your laptop with more force than necessary. “Yes. That’s exactly why I’m here.” You keep your eyes locked on the screen, determined to ignore the heat creeping up your neck, your ears, your checks, at this point it’s your whole face.

He lets out a low chuckle, and you know he’s grinning without even looking. “You sure? Because you’ve been avoiding me all week, and now, suddenly, here you are. At my place. At night.”

You clear your throat, fingers typing nonsense just to look busy. “It’s called being responsible.”

Hyunjae tilts his head. “Mmm. Sounds like an excuse.”

Your fingers falter over the keyboard. You finally glance up at him, only to regret it instantly. He’s smirking, fully enjoying the way you’re scrambling to hold your ground.

“It’s not,” you stutter, inwardly cursing yourself for the slight crack in your voice.

Hyunjae leans closer, just enough to make your breath hitch. “If you say so,” he murmurs, eyes flickering over your face like he’s waiting for you to slip up.

You swallow hard and look away, pressing your lips together. You will not let him win.

“Can we just…” You gesture toward the screen, trying to regain some composure. “Focus?”

He chuckles but finally leans back, stretching like he has all the time in the world. “Fine, fine. I’ll let you pretend a little longer.”

You glare at him, but the rapid beating of your heart betrays you.

Hours of pure awkward silence passes by. Well at least one your end it was.

Hyunjae pushes his laptop aside with a sigh, stretching his arms over his head. “Alright, I’m starving. Let’s take a break.”

You don’t argue, closing your own laptop with a relieved sigh. Your brain feels fried from staring at the screen for so long.

“I could order something,” you mumble, reaching for your phone.

Hyunjae tuts, snatching it from your hands before you can even unlock it. “No need for that. I’ll cook.”

You blink. “You cook?”

He raises an eyebrow. “What, you think I survive off instant ramen and convenience store snacks?”

“…Yes.”

Hyunjae scoffs, pushing himself up from his chair. “Wow. No faith in me at all.”

You shrug, following him toward the kitchen. “I’m just saying, I’ve never seen you do anything remotely domestic.”

“Well, prepare to be amazed,” he says, rolling up his sleeves like he’s about to perform a miracle.

You rest your arms on the counter, suddenly feeling the weight of exhaustion settle into your bones. Now that you’ve stopped working, it’s like your body finally realizes just how drained you are. You don’t have the energy to tease him anymore, so instead, you just watch as he moves around the kitchen with surprising ease.

Hyunjae notices. He doesn’t say anything at first, just glances at you between chopping and stirring, his usual smirk replaced with something quieter. Then, without a word, he grabs a glass, fills it with water, and sets it in front of you.

“Drink,” he says simply.

You blink up at him, but there’s no teasing in his voice, no smug expression like he’s waiting for you to argue. Just an easy kind of care.

You sigh, wrapping your fingers around the glass. “Bossy.”

“Hydrated,” he corrects.

A small smile tugs at your lips despite your exhaustion. It’s nice, no bickering, no arguing. Just the sound of something sizzling on the stove and the occasional clink of utensils as Hyunjae moves around the kitchen.

At some point, he nudges a chair out with his foot. “Sit before you pass out on my counter.”

You don’t even protest, just sink into the chair with another sigh. He glances at you again, shaking his head before reaching for something in the cabinet.

“You like eggs, right?”

You hum in response, already half-lost in the warmth of the kitchen and the unexpected comfort of just being here.

“Good,” he says, flipping something expertly in the pan. “Then you’re gonna love this.”

You rest your cheek against your palm, watching him move around the kitchen with practiced ease. It’s funny if you think about it, if someone had told you a few months ago that Hyunjae would be cooking for you, you would’ve laughed in their face. But here you are, exhaustion making your limbs heavy, while he stands at the stove, casually making you food like he does it every other day.

And now that you think about it, this isn’t the first time he’s done something like this.

The hoodie he gave you that night when you almost fell asleep at his table. The way he always buys your iced vanilla latte without asking. How he never lets your arguments get too serious, always steering them toward something ridiculous just to get you to roll your eyes instead of actually being mad.

It’s all so subtle, so Hyunjae, that you didn’t even realize it until now.

Your bickering still happens, of course. He still drives you insane with his smug attitude and stubborn opinions. But in between all of that, there are moments like this. Moments where he quietly takes care of you in his own way.

And maybe, just maybe, that’s why you keep showing up.

“Alright, missy.” Hyunjae sets a plate in front of you, nudging it closer with a satisfied smirk. “Made with my own two hands, so you better appreciate it.”

You blink at the food, then at him. “You act like I should be honored.”

“You should be honored,” he says, grabbing his own plate before sitting across from you. “This is a rare act of service. Usually, people have to beg me for this kind of treatment.”

You snort, but the second you take a bite, you nearly melt into your seat. It’s warm, comforting and exactly what you needed. You don’t say anything, just continue eating, but Hyunjae must catch something in your expression because his smirk softens.

“See?” He props his chin on his hand, watching you in amusement. “I knew you’d like it.”

You’re too tired to argue, so you just hum in response, taking another bite.

Hyunjae, of course, takes this as an opportunity to push his luck. “Wow. No snarky comment? No insults? Who are you and what have you done with the real you?”

You shoot him a half-hearted glare but don’t bother wasting energy on a comeback. He grins, clearly enjoying himself, then reaches over to push your hair out of your face.

Your chewing slows.

“Eat properly,” he says, voice lower than before, before leaning back like nothing just happened.

You stare at him for a moment, then shake your head, deciding you’re too exhausted to process whatever that was. Instead, you let yourself relax, let yourself enjoy this rare, stupidly nice version of Hyunjae.

Just for tonight.

You aren’t sure if the world is against you or not today.

Hyunjae checks the time on his phone before glancing outside, where rain is practically hammering against the windows. “Yeah, no way you’re going home in this.”

You huff, pulling out your own phone to check for any available taxis, only to be met with zero results. “I’ll just wait for it to slow down—”

“It’s not slowing down,” he interrupts, nodding toward the downpour. “You’ll get drenched before you even make it halfway.”

You groan, rubbing your face. You weren’t exactly thrilled about this. Sleeping over at Hyunjae’s place? Hyunjae’s place? The same guy who had spent weeks driving you up the wall?

Hyunjae chuckles, clearly enjoying your frustration way too much. “Relax, it’s not like I’m gonna make you sleep on the floor or something. I’m not that heartless.”

You peek at him through your fingers, skeptical. “Debatable.”

He tuts, stepping closer until he can nudge your shoulder with his own. “Come on, it’s not the worst thing in the world. I have extra blankets, you can steal my bed if you want—”

You snort. “And where would you sleep?”

“I’ll figure it out.” His voice is softer now, less teasing. “Seriously, it’s late. Just get comfortable. You don’t have to act like I’m holding you hostage.”

You sigh, finally dropping your hands. The way he’s watching you. Patient but still a little smug, makes you feel ridiculous for overthinking this so much.

“…Fine,” you mumble, crossing your arms.

Hyunjae’s grin spreads instantly, all cocky and triumphant. “Knew you’d cave. Alright, first things first, do you need clothes? A toothbrush? A bedtime story?”

You glare at him, but he just laughs, already heading toward his dresser. “Seriously, I’ve got extra hoodies, sweatpants, whatever you need.”

You huff but don’t argue. The idea of changing into something more comfortable is tempting.

“Oh, and since we’re stuck here,” he continues, turning back to you with a raised brow, “what do you wanna do? Movie? Cards? Stare at each other awkwardly until we fall asleep?”

You roll your eyes, but you can’t help the small twitch of your lips. “Anything that doesn’t involve your dumb face.”

Hyunjae smirks, tossing a hoodie at you. “Sounds like a you problem.”

Later on, you both settle on watching a movie in his room, sprawled out on his bed while his smart TV plays some random film neither of you really care about. The rain outside hasn’t let up, the steady sounds against the window making the whole atmosphere feel strangely cozy.

Hyunjae, for once, isn’t being insufferable. He’s lying on his side, propped up on one elbow, occasionally making some dumb comment about the movie, but his voice is softer than usual. Less teasing, more comfortable.

You’re curled up with the hoodie he gave you, the fabric warm and soft against your skin. It smells like him, fresh laundry and something subtly familiar you can’t quite place. Not that you’re paying attention to that. Obviously.

A yawn escapes you before you can stop it, and from the corner of your eye, you see Hyunjae glance over.

“Tired?” he asks, voice lower than before.

You shake your head, but your eyelids are definitely getting heavier. “No.”

Hyunjae snorts. “Yeah, okay.” He shifts slightly, adjusting the pillows behind him. “Go to sleep if you want. I won’t judge.”

You hesitate, fingers tightening slightly around the fabric of his hoodie. “It’s just…” You trail off, feeling a little stupid for what you’re about to say.

Hyunjae raises a brow. “Just what?”

You exhale, avoiding his eyes. “It feels weird if I’m the only one sleeping.”

There’s a beat of silence, then a soft chuckle. “Oh? You need me by your side that bad?”

You huff, shoving his arm. “Forget it.”

“No, no, I got it,” he says, still grinning but shifting to get comfortable. “Wouldn’t want you losing sleep because of me.”

The teasing lingers, but then he actually lies down properly, facing you, head propped on his arm. The room is dim, the movie’s soft glow flickering over his face. Now that you’re both lying down, the air feels different, quieter, heavier in a way you can’t name.

Hyunjae studies you for a moment before speaking. “You ever think about how we ended up here?”

You blink. “Where? Your bed?”

He huffs a laugh. “I meant more like… us. From wanting to kill each other over fonts to, well…” He gestures vaguely between you two.

You purse your lips, thinking. “Yeah. It’s weird.”

“Weird how?”

You roll onto your side fully, mirroring his position. “We spent so much time arguing, and now… it’s not so bad. You’re not so bad.” For the first time in your “friendship” you were being honest, transparent.

Hyunjae pretends to clutch his chest. “Wow. A compliment? From you? Do I need to frame this moment?”

You roll your eyes, but there’s no real bite to it. A comfortable silence settles between you, the sounds of rain and the low hum of the movie filling the gaps.

And then, quieter, Hyunjae says, “I like this.”

Your breath catches slightly. “Like what?”

“This. When we’re not fighting.”

You don’t know why, but that makes your heart do something weird. You swallow, shifting against the pillow. “Me too,” you admit, voice softer than before.

Hyunjae shifts a little closer, the space between you shrinking until you can feel the warmth radiating off him. He props his head up on his hand, looking at you with that unreadable expression he gets sometimes, like he’s studying you, like he’s trying to figure something out.

He exhales, gaze drifting toward the ceiling for a moment before settling back on you. “You know, I used to be the absolute worst at sleeping early,” he says, absentmindedly reaching for a stray strand of your hair that’s fallen onto his side of the bed. He twirls it between his fingers, barely even noticing he’s doing it.

You glance at him, skeptical. “Used to?”

“Okay, fine. Still am.” He smirks, tugging lightly on the strand before letting it go. “But back in high school, it was bad. I’d stay up until like 4 a.m. doing dumb stuff—watching conspiracy videos, learning magic tricks, trying to see if I could actually teach myself how to juggle.”

You snort. “Juggle?”

“I got pretty good, actually,” he says, defending himself. “I’ll have you know, I could juggle three apples at once. I just had to retire early because one of them exploded all over my bedroom wall.”

You laugh, muffling the sound into your sleeve. “And let me guess, you never cleaned it properly?”

“I tried,” he says, grinning. “But there was this weird stain for months. My mom thought it was some kind of artistic choice.”

The mental image makes you laugh even harder, and for a second, Hyunjae just watches you, lips quirking up in something softer.

There’s a comfortable pause before he speaks again, voice quieter. “What about you? What kind of dumb stuff did you do as a kid?”

You hum, thinking. “I used to give random strangers backstories in my head. Like, if I saw someone waiting at a bus stop, I’d convince myself they were a runaway royal or a secret double agent.”

Hyunjae huffs a quiet laugh, shaking his head. “Of course you did.”

But then he just… looks at you.

His amusement fades into something quieter, something softer. His eyes trace over your features like he’s memorizing them, lingering on the curve of your nose, the way your lashes flutter when you blink. He doesn’t even realize he’s doing it, doesn’t realize how gentle his gaze has become, how his fingers have stilled where they were playing with your hair.

For a moment, it’s like he forgets about everything else. It’s just you.

Hyunjae exhales through his nose, a small smile tugging at his lips. “You know…” He twirls the strand of your hair between his fingers, eyes flickering between it and your face. “You do this thing when you talk about stuff you like.”

You blink. “What thing?”

His smile deepens, almost like he’s debating whether to say it. “You get really into it. Your voice gets all animated, and you start using your hands a lot like you can’t get the words out fast enough.” He pauses, then glances away for a second before adding, “It’s kinda cute.”

Your breath catches. It’s such a simple statement, thrown out so casually, but the way he says it like it’s just a fact, like it’s not even something he has to think about and it makes your heart do something stupid.

You manage to compose yourself, tilting your head with a smirk. “Oh? So you think I’m cute?”

Hyunjae doesn’t even flinch. Instead, he just shrugs, still twirling your hair between his fingers. “Yeah.” His voice is easy, unbothered. “I do.”

Your smirk falters. You were expecting him to get flustered, maybe stumble over his words—but no. He just admitted it like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Hyunjae watches your reaction, the corners of his lips twitching. “What, you thought I was gonna take it back?”

You stay silent for a moment, your fingers idly tracing patterns against the blanket. The air between you feels heavier now, charged with something unspoken.

Then, before you can overthink it, you ask, “How do you see me?”

Hyunjae stills. His fingers stop playing with your hair, his expression unreadable. He doesn’t look away, though if anything, his gaze lingers, as if he’s carefully choosing his words.

“What do you mean?” he asks, voice quieter now.

You swallow. “I mean… what do you think of me? Or—” You hesitate, then force it out. “What are we?”

Hyunjae watches you carefully, his usual teasing nowhere to be found. He’s reading the situation, the unspoken tension that’s been lingering between you both for weeks now. Maybe even longer.

He exhales softly, eyes flickering between yours. Then, in a voice quieter than before, he says, “Please tell me I’m not misunderstanding.”

His fingers graze yours on the blanket, deliberate and slow. He shifts even closer, so close you can feel his breath against your skin. His gaze searches yours, waiting, hoping.

Your breath catches.

He’s too close, and you should say something, should make some kind of snarky remark to defuse the tension, but your mind is blank. All you can focus on is the warmth of his touch, the way his eyes flicker down to your lips for just a second before meeting yours again.

You swallow. “You’re not misunderstanding.”

Something shifts in his expression, relief, maybe, or something softer, something you’ve never seen on him before. His hand reaching up slightly against your cheeks, testing the waters. “Good,” he murmurs.

You barely have time to process it before he closes the distance between you. It’s hesitant at first, like he’s giving you the chance to pull away, but when you don’t, when you lean in just the slightest bit, he presses in deeper.

His lips move slowly against yours, careful yet deliberate, like he’s savoring the moment, like he’s been wanting to do this for a while. His hand cradles your jaw, fingers slipping into your hair as he tilts his head to deepen the kiss.

You feel yourself sinking, warmth spreading through your chest as your fingers curl into the fabric of his hoodie. He tastes faintly of the coffee he had earlier, and the way he kisses you, soft but intent, teasing yet undeniably sweet, making your stomach flip.

He exhales through his nose, shifting even closer until there’s no space left between you. One of his hands drops to your waist, fingers pressing lightly against your side as if testing how close he can pull you without scaring you away.

The room feels smaller, quieter, like nothing exists outside of this moment. You let out a small sigh, and the sound makes him hum in approval, his lips parting just slightly against yours. It’s all too much and not enough at the same time, and when he nips lightly at your bottom lip, your grip on his hoodie tightens.

Hyunjae smirks against your lips, clearly pleased with your reaction. “Didn’t take you for the type to melt so easily,” he murmurs, voice low and teasing.

You huff, barely able to compose yourself when he leans in again, stealing another slow, lingering kiss that leaves you breathless.

The morning comes slow and quiet, the soft patter of rain still lingering outside. You’re warm. Warmer than you should be, and it takes a moment to realize why.

Hyunjae is still close, impossibly close, his arm draped loosely over your waist. His breathing is steady, slow, his face relaxed in sleep. At some point in the night, you must have shifted toward him because your head is resting against his chest, and his hoodie smells faintly of coffee and something undeniably him.

For a second, you debate moving. But then he stirs, his arm tightening around you just slightly, like he’s holding onto you even in his sleep. You freeze.

“You’re awake,” his voice is hoarse with sleep, barely above a mumble.

“…No,” you whisper.

Hyunjae huffs out a lazy laugh, his chest vibrating beneath your cheek. He stretches a little but doesn’t pull away, just burrows deeper into the pillow. “Guess that means I don’t have to move either.”

You scoff, shifting slightly. Big mistake. His grip on your waist adjusts, fingers pressing against your side as he tugs you just a little closer.

“You’re comfy,” he murmurs, voice still heavy with sleep.

Your face heats up. “That’s—”

“You can stay like this,” he interrupts, cracking one eye open to look at you. His gaze is soft, the usual teasing glint replaced with something quieter. Something fond.

Your heart stumbles over itself.

“…Fine,” you mumble, hiding your face against his hoodie.

He chuckles again, and just as you’re about to fall back asleep, you feel it. The press of his lips against the top of your head. Soft. Gentle.

You exhale, fingers idly tracing patterns against the fabric of his hoodie. “You know we need to talk about this, right?”

Hyunjae hums, not even opening his eyes. “Talk about what?”

You pull back just enough to give him a look. “Us. This. Whatever this is.”

That finally gets him to open his eyes, lidded with sleep but still playful. He shifts, his hand moving to lazily toy with the hem of your sleeve. “What’s there to talk about?”

You blink. “Seriously?”

He grins, tilting his head slightly. “You kissed me back.”

Your face heats up. “Okay, and?”

“And,” he drags out, tightening his grip just slightly, “that means you’re mine now.”

You stare at him, stunned. “That’s not how it works.”

Hyunjae just smirks. “Too bad. Already decided.”

You groan, burying your face against his chest again, but your lips betray you, curling into a small smile.

Hyunjae hums, running a lazy hand down your back. “Guess I’ll have to be on my best behavior in class from now on. Gotta thank the professor for bringing you to me.”

You lift your head just enough to glare at him. “That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.”

He grins. “And yet, here you are.”

Before you can fire back, he steals another kiss, soft, slow, filled with nothing but warmth. You barely have time to process it before laughter bubbles up between you, light and easy, like this was always meant to happen.

Eric was gonna make fun of you, screaming “i told you so” but that doesn’t matter to you anymore as you look at the boy in front of your eyes. Your boy, Hyunjae.

that’s 𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 love ───── 🏷️. 𝓱yunjae best bf agenda. dedicated to @yudaies @from-izzy 📋🦦

⌞ tbz ⌝ 𝓕.ᐟrea. 4HUNDREDNINETY ⌗ hurt-comfort tw──slight angst, language 𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘣blished 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢tionship 𖹭ARCHIVE

⋆ ˚｡⋆౨ৎ˚ SOFT MORNINGS W HYUNJAE 🧸ྀི — ( wc 251 )

@kstrucknet ˙ . ꒷ 🧺 . 𖦹˙— @deoboyznet

the golden sunlight gently shone through the window, covering you and your sleeping boyfriend in a warm embrace. 

you slurred awake, nuzzling closer into jaehyun’s side. soft snores escaped his parted lips, brown locks covering his forehead lazily. 

you loved moments like these: peace and quiet, the comfort of your own home. blankets and pillows surrounding you like a heavenly cloud, jaehyun’s scent filling your nose. 

with a small sigh, you couldn’t help but stare at him. long lashes almost casting a shadow, his bare honey colored skin looking softer than ever. 

before you could realize, your finger reached out to trace the bridge of his nose. it was just too perfect. you slowly, feather lightly traced down the small mole. stopping at the tip eventually, you hesitated. you didn’t want to wake him up but the need to feel him underneath your fingertips was stronger. 

his breath tickled your fingers as you slid down, your finger travelling to his cupid bow. then, gently lining through his upper lip– 

“morning to you too” jaehyun’s deep morning voice startled you a little, movements halting.”that tickles”

“sorry” you mumbled, taking your hand away. 

but he stopped you, grabbing your wrist tenderly.

“but when you traced my nose like that… do that again, please?” he asked, eyes shining. you smiled and nodded, moving your hand to do that again.

you noticed it worked like a charm, lulling him back to sleep. 

soft snores once again filled the room, your heart overflowing with love.

taglist. @bbangbies ,, @slytherinshua ,, @jvkeslvr ,, @loserlvrss

ugly crying ft. gentle purring...

...the one where you're doubling over with sobs but minho's there. and so are your three fur babies.

warnings: ugly ass crying, mental breakdown, mention of hospitals

a total vent fucking fic that is incoherent tbh. reader just has a terrible fucking breakdown. if you need comfort for that from minho, feel free to read. happy fucking monday.

you wish mental breakdowns came with a goddamn warning sign.

you’re simply sitting on the chair, staring blankly at the tv, your hands limp against your lap. you feel off, like something’s wrong, but you can’t really place it. you knew something's coming but you didn't really predict that it's gonna be this bad.

then it crashes down.

the sob that rips out of you is violent, like something being torn from deep inside your chest. you don’t even have the presence of mind to slap a hand over your mouth to muffle it, it comes out, loud and raw, and the force of it sends you doubling over, choking.

"oh, fuck-"

minho is there. he always somehow is.

you didn’t even hear him come into the room, but suddenly he’s crouching in front of you, hands braced on your arms, his big , brown eyes wide and alert.

"hey, hey, what the- what’s wrong jagi?"

you can’t answer. you can’t even breathe properly. your chest heaves, but it feels like no air is getting in, and the crying just gets uglier, gasping, wailing, shaking so hard your knees knock together.

minho barely hesitates.

he’s pulling you forward before you can fully collapse, guiding you off the couch before you slide off of it. your legs fold uselessly beneath you as he brings you to the floor, your whole body slumping forward until your forehead presses against his shoulder.

sohn eric boyfriend headcanons

bf!eric, who will treat you like a princess and like you’re the only one he has eyes for.

bf!eric, who cares about what his members think about you so he often invites you over for dinner with everyone.

bf!eric, who wrote honey for you and convinced sunwoo to sing it with him because he wanted you to hear it.

bf!eric, who spends a lot of money on you saying “i want you to be happy”, but all you need is just him and nothing else.

bf!eric, who cuddles with your hoodie whenever you’re away or he’s on tour so he misses you less, at least he hopes it works.

bf!eric, who invites you to every music show or award show just to keep you close.

bf!eric, who accidentally used your moisturiser so he felt guilty and ordered you a whole skin care set.

bf!eric, who has you saved as “ most important person” in his phone.

bf!eric, who keeps talking about you to his mother, praising you and telling her how much he loves you and wants to marry you one day.

bf!eric, who calls you when he sees a bug in his room because he’s scared of them.

bf!eric, who sends you voice messages each day so you don’t forget his voice when he’s on tour.

bf!eric, who has you as his wallpaper.

bf!eric, who attends every concert with you so you don’t have to go alone.

bf!eric, who got you a spare key for his dorm so you can come and leave every time you want.

bf!eric, who keeps all “ootds” of you in a folder called ‘fashion inspiration’.

bf!eric, who got matching tattoos with you.

bf!eric, who always tells you how beautiful you are, even right after you woke up.

bf!eric, who often sends one of his members to help you cause he knows he can trust them more than anyone else when it comes to you and he knows they will keep you safe as well.

bf!eric, who cooks for you a lot.

bf!eric, who has a playlist just for you two to listen to.

bf!eric, who wouldn’t know what he would do without you, because you’re his whole life.

Like Honey

ʚ・ ୨୧・ ɞ ʚ・ ୨୧・ ɞ ʚ・ ୨୧・ ɞ ʚ・ ୨୧・ ɞ ʚ・ ୨୧・ ɞ

ʚ・ ୨୧・ ɞ ʚ・ ୨୧・ ɞ ʚ・ ୨୧・ ɞ ʚ・ ୨୧・ ɞ ʚ・ ୨୧・ ɞ

✧ pairing: bf! sunwoo x gf! reader

✦ genre: smut

✧ warnings: 18+ (minors DNI), smut, p!rn without plot, cursing, oral— female receiving, p!ssy drunk sunwoo, filthy sunwoo, fingering, dirty talk, squirting, praising, pet names, kissing, aftercare, sunwoo is in freaking love with you

✦ word count: 5k words

✧ synopsis: you and your boyfriend are getting ready for bed, and he can’t help but want a midnight snack.

✰ ∴ :: ∴ ✰ ✰ ∴ :: ∴ ✰ ✰ ∴ :: ∴ ✰ ✰ ∴ :: ∴ ✰ ✰ ∴ :: ∴ ✰

hyunjae ++ eric // 241102

˖﹙💌﹚DARLIN'

P ─  mark lee x m!rdr. G ─ fluff, university au, sleepover, hurt/comfort, friends to lovers, self indulgent. W ─ swearing, mentions of drinking, depressive nightmares. WC ─ 2.1k.

(𐙚) ─── boyfriend texts with yunho

𐀔𓂃 kais note: ive been on a yunho kick recently.. i need him

back to library | req? yes / no

© strrykais ⋅

reblogs, likes and replies are appreciated! feel free to send constructive feedback/thoughts in my asks!

𝐅𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞

( 𝓙 ). 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐇𝐔𝐒𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐃!𝐉𝐀𝐄𝐇𝐘𝐔𝐍 𝐃𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐃𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐍 𝐀𝐑𝐆𝐔𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 //

──drabble. gif fic. drama. ; tags. stern!jaehyun. ; w.c. 263 ╱ check out my library .ᐟ

(☘︎) ─── different sides of the internet

gamer!yunho x camgirl!reader

𐀔𓂃 kais note: this is most definitely gonna have another part .. i wrote too much to fit it in here .. but don’t worry it will be out soon!

back to library | req: yes / no

part 1 | part 2 | part 3

© strrykais ⋅

🏷️ : @mygsis @babrieeee @thisrandombitch @cybergracie @nosungluv @i-kai @igotajuicyass @fandom-freak-geek @champagneconfetti @s4nniebe4r @apophecy @mrsminseochoi @juicyjaxxy @honeyhotteoks @urlocaltrash28 @soupyjoy @blubb0 @seomisaho @lovinjjong @woohwaholic @heelovesmeknot @nislost @kookieswithjung @arigakittyo @lilyscloud @vampwritesstuff @pansexual-and-eating-pancakes @lze325 @sparda1234

reblogs, likes and replies are appreciated! feel free to send constructive feedback/thoughts in my asks!