—> Library 📚

—> About me ? 😽

—> Summer vacation series☀️⛱️

—> Chan’s series 💋💔

Ivy thought she'd found love with a capital L. A three-year relationship, plans, promises, shared laughter... until it all fell apart. Betrayed by the man she loved and her own best friend, she finds herself facing an immense emptiness, with only a broken heart and shattered confidence to keep her company.

Her two other best friends, devastated to see her sinking, try their best to take her mind off things, to get her to move on, to convince her to go out, to meet someone new. But Ivy refuses. She doesn't want a Band-Aid on an open wound. She wants to take the time to heal. In her own way. At her own pace. Without pressure.

So she slowly, silently rebuilds herself. She continues her studies, pretends she's fine, smiles when she has to. But when evening comes, she puts on her headphones, ties up her hair and heads for the gym. It's become her refuge. Her place. It's where she tries to regain possession of her body, battered by her ex's insidious remarks and the complexes she can no longer ignore.

This is where she sees him for the first time. A discreet guy. Always in his corner, focused. She doesn't notice him right away. And even when their eyes meet, she doesn't linger. But as the days go by, habits set in, and the face becomes familiar. Then reassuring. A routine within her routine.

Gradually, a connection develops. Subtle. Natural. They talk a little. They bump into each other more and more often. He never rushes her. Doesn't ask questions. Doesn't try to save her. And maybe that's exactly what touches her. A gentle, almost fragile friendship develops. And something else, too, that she doesn't yet dare name.

Ivy doesn't yet know that this meeting was no accident. That sometimes, the most beautiful stories are born in the shadow of the greatest wounds. And that secrets, even those carried with the best of intentions, always come out in the end.

—> Prologue

—> Chapter one

—> Chapter two

—> Chapter three

—> Chapter four

—> Chapter five

—> Chapter six

—> Chapter seven

—> Chapter eight

—> Chapter nine

—> Chapter ten

── .✦ Summer coffee

Masterlist

Pairing : no¡idol!Kim Seungmin x oc

Word : 1k

Genre : fluff

Warning : none

The last weeks of summer are slowly slipping by, with that slowness typical of moments you don't want to end.

Sohane spends more and more time at Seungmin's house. At first, it was just evenings after work, then mornings when she didn't even need to go home. A toothbrush in her bathroom. A sweater left on her chair. Her perfume mixed with his in the sheets. Nothing official, but it's all there.

They never put into words what they were, any more than necessary. It just happened naturally. And the more the days go by, the more obvious it becomes.

One afternoon, as they lay on the living-room carpet, the windows open to the tepid late-August heat, Sohane absent-mindedly draws on Seungmin's arm with her finger. His eyes are closed, a half-smile on his lips.

- Are you going to sleep?

- No, I'm just enjoying myself.

- Enjoying what?

- Of you, here, like this. You're calm. You don't grumble. You don't have your apron full of coffee. That's rare.

She laughs softly, her gaze lost in the shadows on the ceiling.

- We'll have to go back to school soon.

He opens one eye, sighs.

- I don't feel like it.

- I don't feel like it.

- I don't feel like it either.

Quiet. Not heavy. Just there. Like a suspended bubble.

- Do you think it'll be different?" she asks after a moment.

- Different how?

- Us. With the classes. The stress. Less time.

He turns to her, rests his cheek on the carpet to get a better look.

- Maybe we will. But we'll deal with it. The schedule's not going to change my mind.

She raises an eyebrow, amused.

- Do you have an opinion about me now?

- I do. And it's pretty excellent.

She raises her eyebrows, but he can see she's smiling.

- You're not very romantic, Seungmin.

- I'm just romantic in my own way. I make you pasta at 2 a.m., I let you steal my socks, I put up with you when you have your drama days. Isn't that what love's all about?

She lifts her head and kisses him softly, without warning.

- Yes, it is. That's what it is.

The next few days are filled with evenings on the balcony, ice cream eaten on a sidewalk corner and long walks with no specific destination. They don't do anything extraordinary, but everything takes on a special value. Because they know. Because soon, things will get faster, and blurrier.

And they want to hold on to every minute, every stolen moment at the end of summer, as if it were the last time they could experience this kind of simplicity.

One evening, when the night has fallen cooler than expected, they're both in bed, wrapped in the same blanket. Sohane traces invisible circles on Seungmin's chest.

- Are you scared? That it'll fade with time?

He thinks, then blows against her hair:

- No, I'm not. Because even if it changes, even if we see each other less... I'll always know where to find you.

She closes her eyes. And she believes him.

Waking up gets harder every morning. The air is still warm, but you can feel that summer is drawing to a close. The laughter becomes a little more melancholy, the evenings a little quieter. And even though they try not to think about it, the end approaches, lurking behind every stolen moment.

One evening, after a busy day at the café, they return to Seungmin's house. Sohane collapses on the sofa, her hair a mess, her cheeks still flushed from the heat.

- We survived August," she sighs. Give or take two days.

Seungmin places two glasses of water on the coffee table before sitting down next to her, his eyes still full of fatigue.

- My legs are gone. I think I'll have to be rolled in class like sushi.

She bursts out laughing, slumps against him.

- I'll buy you a little plastic box. You'll make a very believable maki.

He smiles, tired but sincere. Then, in a moment of calm, he slips his fingers between hers.

- I'm going to miss you.

Sohane turns her head towards him, a little caught off guard.

- We'll be in the same town, Min.

- Yeah, we will. But not like this. Not every night. Not waking up together. Not living in this kind of quiet bubble.

She looks down, her fingers tighten on his.

- Are you ready to see that bubble burst?

- Not a bit. But I'm ready to get back to it as soon as we can. Even smaller. Even a weekend version.

She looks up at him. He's serious, not worried. Just... determined. He really cares about her. And she feels it in every word.

- We're going to make it," she whispers, more to herself than to him.

- Of course we will. We're not the type to forget ourselves, Sohane.

She smiles, leans her head against his shoulder.

- And if you miss me too much, you write me letters. Just like in the movies.

- Or I show up with burnt cookies and a crappy playlist, the Seungmin version. Much more realistic.

- Much more you, yeah.

They stand there for a while, entwined in the silence of the living room, listening to the city slow down beneath their windows. The world around them is changing, slowly. But they're just trying to hold on to what they've built.

And despite the shorter days, the new schedules and the seven o'clock wake-up calls... this bond remains solid.

Like a thread stretched between two daily lives.

And for now, that's enough.

It took Seungmin a whole summer to understand. To realize that what he felt for Sohane wasn't just comfort or quiet affection - it was bigger, deeper. He could have ruined it all, with a curt word or a misplaced silence. He almost did, sometimes. But she let him learn, she let him love her in his own way. And now they're here. Together. Solid.

The tumult of the early days has subsided. The awkwardness has given way to a gentle routine, with projects taking shape without them really realizing it. They don't say it out loud, not yet, but in their silences, in the muffled laughter between the sheets, in the improvised Sunday morning plans... there's the future. There's them.

And they're good. They really are.

THE END

── .✦ Summer coffee

Masterlist

Pairing : no¡idol!Kim Seungmin x oc

Word : 3k

Genre : fluff

Warning : none

Second week of August.

The sun is beating down hard, even at the end of the day. The air is heavy and sticky, and the ice cubes are melting in the glasses they're preparing at the counter. The café idles, customers preferring the air-conditioning of their homes to the scorching streets.

Sohane ties her hair into a quick bun, strands stuck to the nape of her neck. Seungmin watches her secretly, a discreet smile on his lips. He's gotten used to this little silent game between them: the glances they exchange when no one's looking, the hands that brush against each other just a little too long, the silences that mean everything.

They haven't made anything official. They haven't even talked about it. But since that night, everything has been different. She leans on him a little more. He looks for her without even thinking about it. They're not together, not really, but there's something palpable. Real.

That day, Minji and Daeho took the afternoon off. The café is almost empty. Two customers remain in a corner, one with a laptop, the other with a book.

- Are you hot?" he asks in a low voice, approaching the counter where she is wiping a glass.

She bellows, fanning herself with an order pad.

- I feel like I'm melting. Literally.

- Come on," he says, giving her a knowing look. I've got an idea.

A few minutes later, the two of them are at the back of the café, where the fan is strongest, sitting on two small stools with a large bottle of iced water between them. They don't say much at first. Just sighs, shared breaths.

Then she turns her head to him.

- Are you still thinking about that night?

He turns his eyes slowly towards her. His gaze is frank, honest, almost tranquil.

- All the time," he replies. And not just that night. About you. To us. To what it could become... if we gave it time.

She stares at him for a long moment, then looks down, smiling a little, almost sadly.

- I'm afraid," she admits. That it'll blow up in our faces if we go too fast.

- Then we won't go fast," he says simply. We'll take it slow. One day at a time.

She nods, then puts her hand on his, there on his knee, in a tender, almost shy gesture.

- You're patient, Seungmin.

- Only with you.

She laughs softly, raises her eyes to his. Their eyes meet, and for a moment he thinks she's going to kiss him. But she simply moves closer, her shoulder against his, and whispers:

- Stay like that, okay? Steady. Gentle. Unhurried.

He gently clasps his fingers around hers.

- I promise.

And at that very moment, as the fan creaks a little above them and the heat seems to pause just to give them a moment's respite, Seungmin knows they're building something. Slowly, but solidly.

Sunday, August 17th. Day of rest.

Seungmin hadn't planned anything. It was supposed to be a classic day: lie in, listen to music, maybe take a walk around town with Chan if he called. But when he saw Sohane's message on his phone, everything took a different turn.

Simple. No frills. It takes him exactly thirty seconds to answer.

And that's how he found himself with Sohane clinging to his arm, in Hongdae, where the alleyways are still a little lively despite the heat.

- You're making an effort with your clothes, aren't you," she teases as she joins him.

- You too," he replies, his eyes gliding over her light summer dress. I like it, it's a change from the apron.

She nudges him, then leads him through the streets.

They do nothing out of the ordinary. They eat ice cream as they walk. They stop at a bookshop where she spends too much time in the empty notebook aisle. He buys her a ridiculous fan with pandas on it, saying "it'll go well with your personality". She replies that he's lucky she doesn't leave him alone with his dubious tastes.

But despite the teasing, everything is simple. Smooth.

Later, they sit on a quiet terrace, a little out of the way, with two fresh lemonades between them.

- You know this is the first time we've spent a whole day together without coffee," she remarks.

- And you haven't run away yet," he replies, falsely impressed. You're braver than I thought.

She smiles, then adds more softly:

- I like it. Being with you... like this.

He watches her for a moment, then leans back a little more on the table.

- I like it too. You're like... the break in my chaos. When I'm with you, I don't have to think about the image, the rhythm, what people expect.

She lowers her eyes a little, touched. Then raises them again, serious.

- And what are you going to do when your vacation's over?

He understands what she means. He knows that this moment out of time, this fragile "we", won't always fit into a daily routine filled with lights, fans and responsibilities.

But he answers simply:

- I'm trying to deserve a sequel.

She looks at him for a long moment, then steps forward slightly. Her shoulder brushes against his under the small wooden table. And in an almost imperceptible breath, she murmurs:

- I just hope we can keep up. Because I don't want it to be just a summer.

He nods gently. He's not promising anything. But his hand reaches for hers under the table, and she doesn't let go.

The sun slowly declines, casting an orange light on the brick facades. The streets begin to empty, leaving a strange calm hovering over the neighborhood. They walk side by side, in no real hurry, their shadows lengthening on the sidewalk.

Sohane finally stops in front of a small closed store, the blinds already down.

- Do you realize that we haven't done anything "special" today, but that this might be my favorite day of the summer?

Seungmin smiles gently, slipping her hands into her pockets.

- Maybe that's what's special. That it's simple.

She looks at him for a moment, then looks down slightly, as if hesitating. But finally she says:

- Do you want to come up? I don't want the day to end just yet.

He stares at her for a second. Not to read between the lines. Just to make sure she really means it.

- I don't mind," he replies simply.

By midday the next day, Sohane was already regretting her outfit as soon as she set foot on the street. It's a hot day, and her white pleated skirt with long-sleeved grey crop top doesn't look that out of place on the street... but on the job, she feels every glance.

Beside her, Seungmin reassures her with a simple glance, saying nothing. He sees her unease. He senses how small she makes herself out to be. And even though she tries to pretend everything's fine, she's squeezing her purse strap a little too tightly.

When they arrive at the café, Minji is already leaning against the counter, Daeho bent over the coffee machine, concentrating.

- Hi latecomers," Minji says in her usual mocking tone.

- It's lunchtime, not late," replies Seungmin.

Sohane gives them a shy smile, but her hands betray her discomfort. She runs a hand over her skirt as if to make sure it's firmly in place. She hates this feeling of being "too much".

Just then, the manager arrives, his badge barely attached, coffee in hand.

He stares at her for barely two seconds before blurting out, loudly, as if speaking into an imaginary microphone:

- Sohane, this isn't a fashion show. Don't you want to work in a bar or a nightclub while we're at it?

An awkward silence falls. Daeho looks away, Minji frowns and Seungmin freezes.

Sohane doesn't answer. She remains frozen, her heart pounding against her ribs. She takes it in. But barely a minute later, as she goes to retrieve her apron from the back, the tears come suddenly, without warning. She doesn't know if it's the humiliation, the stress, or the feeling of being exposed. But it's there.

She hides in a corner, her back to the others, wipes her eyes with her fingertips, hoping no one will see her.

But Seungmin is already there. He followed, silent.

- Sohane...

She shakes her head, eyes shining, without turning around.

- I'm too sensitive, I know. It's ridiculous.

- No. What's ridiculous is that you have to hear this kind of stuff for a bloody outfit.

He approaches gently, puts his hand against her back, gently, as if he didn't want to break her further.

- You were beautiful. Elegant. And you've got nothing to justify it.

She inhales slowly, trying to recompose herself, lips pursed.

- I just don't want everyone to think I'm trying to make a point...

- Anyone who thinks that doesn't know you. I know who you are.

Silence. Then she finally turns back to him, her eyes red.

- I just want to have a nice day. Without having to apologize for existing.

He nods.

- Then we'll make it a good day. And next time, I'll answer him.

A shy corner of a smile appears on his face despite the tears.

She wipes her cheeks and blows:

- Okay. But you're buying me dessert tonight.

- It's a deal.

The rest of the day seems a little lighter after their conversation, even if the morning's humiliation remains in the background, like a discreet shadow. Sohane concentrates on her tasks, finding a form of comfort in routine, while keeping a furtive eye on Seungmin from time to time. He's there, always by her side, watching out for her well-being, and she's beginning to feel that this friendship, stronger than she thought, could really sustain her.

At the end of the day, as they close the café, Seungmin gives her a knowing look.

- Dessert, right?

Sohane nods, smiling more naturally this time, a little mischievously. They pass the counter, where Minji and Daeho greet them with a cheerful "See you tomorrow".

Outside, evening has fallen. The warm light of the street lamp illuminates the streets, and the air is fresher. Seungmin leads her to a quiet café a few blocks away. The place is quiet, with just a few customers, but the atmosphere is pleasant.

They sit down at a table by the window. Sohane takes a moment to look out, his gaze lost in the streets, before returning his attention to Seungmin. He offers her a small smile as he waits for her to choose her dessert.

- So, what do you want? It's all on me.

She nods and thinks for a moment, then points to a melting chocolate cake.

- It looks perfect, thank you.

Seungmin orders with a smile, then, once the waiter has left, stares back at her, a more serious look on his face.

- You know, I've been... thinking about what the manager said this morning. It wasn't fair to you, not at all. But it hurts me to see you like this. You deserve better.

Sohane looks down, touched by his sincerity. She gives him a shy smile.

- Thank you, Seungmin. I really do.

The conversation between Sohane and Seungmin drags on, light-hearted at first. They talk about everything and nothing, the little anecdotes of their day, their strangest customers, Minji's zany comments. Seungmin does an exaggerated imitation of the manager, trying to reproduce his deep, authoritative voice, which makes Sohane burst out laughing. The atmosphere becomes increasingly relaxed, giving way to a soothing silence.

Then, at one point, as Seungmin takes a bite of her dessert, he looks at her over the cup of coffee he's holding.

- You know, you're really the kind of person who doesn't say anything when things aren't going well, aren't you?

Sohane stares at him, slightly taken aback.

- I don't mind keeping it to myself. I can handle it, you know. It's just... sometimes I don't want to make it complicated.

- Yeah, I can see that, but... it's not really the best way. One day, you're going to lose it and it's going to be a mess, do you really want that?

She rolls her eyes, amused by his tone.

- Don't worry, I can handle it. Besides... it's not like I'm on my own, is it?

Seungmin frowns, feigning puzzlement.

- Oh, so you recognize that I'm here for you, eh? Not just a passing "friend".

She laughs softly, shaking her head.

- Of course you're here. Even if you are sometimes a little too insistent.

- Insistent? Me? Never," he replied with a look of mock shock. I'm just... a thoughtful friend. That's all I am.

She raises her eyebrows, smirking.

- A "thoughtful friend", eh? You mean a "friend who wants me to confide in you, even when I'm not ready"?

- Exactly, but then... that's the nature of friends, isn't it? They're there for the good times and the bad.

Sohane sighs, an amused look in her eyes.

- Well, you're right. You're... not that insufferable.

- Not "so" insufferable, I'm downright irresistible.

She bursts out laughing, shaking her head.

- Your self-confidence is incredible.

Seungmin smiles, her eyes shining with a mischievousness that doesn't escape Sohane.

- Well, that's what makes me the best friend you could ever have.

A short silence falls between them. Sohane hesitates for a moment, then takes a deep breath.

- You're not like the others, you know. It's not easy to let myself go like that, but... with you, I feel a little less... guarded.

Seungmin looks at her, serious now, but without pressure.

- You know, you don't have to keep everything to yourself. I'm not here to judge you.

She looks down, touched. Then, a little more shyly:

- I know... it's just... I find it complicated sometimes. But you... you're... you always know what to say to make me smile.

Seungmin smiled gently, a little more sincerely this time.

- You're not so hard to understand, you know. And I like it when you smile. It makes everything seem simpler.

She looks at him, her eyes a little softer now.

- So, what do we do? Are we just friends, or...?

Seungmin stares at her for a moment, as if thinking. Then he shrugs, with a falsely detached air.

- Well, we can always try not to be just friends. I mean... if you feel like it.

She looks at him, a smile gently emerging on her lips, a gleam of amusement in her eyes.

- Really? Are you serious?

He looks at her, a little more serious, a corner of a smile that never leaves him.

- Yeah, I'm serious. Because frankly... I feel like we'd have fucked each other up by now if we were just friends. No ?

Sohane laughs, shaking her head, before answering with a knowing smile.

- All right, all right. But if we do this, you're in charge of desserts for the rest of the year.

Seungmin bursts out laughing, raising her hands in victory.

- It's a deal.

And, with a slight sigh of relief, she lets go of the simplicity of the moment, their relationship taking a natural turn, as if it had all been obvious all along, but they just needed to admit it.

A few days later, daily life had returned to normal, but something had changed. It's not obvious to others, but it's there between them. Glances that last a little longer. Smiles that are a little softer. A hand brushed against, like a habit beginning to form.

Sohane and Seungmin didn't say anything at work. They didn't have to. They savor this fragile beginning, this something new they don't want to spoil with too many words.

That morning, they arrived at the café almost at the same time. Minji sees them pass through the door a few seconds apart and squints.

- You haven't moved in together yet, have you?

Seungmin chuckles.

- Wow, Minji, you skipped three chapters there.

- Hm. Weird timing, though... she sighs, watching them out of the corner of her eye.

Sohane doesn't answer, but a discreet smile creeps across her face as she slips on her apron. She still feels her heart lighten every time he's around. It's different, but it's sweet. Simple.

In a corner of the café, during a quiet moment, Seungmin approaches her as she cleans a table. He helps her without saying anything at first, then, in a breath:

- You know I've been wanting to kiss you all day?

She flinches slightly, surprised by his deep voice nearby, then slowly turns her head towards him, a smile emerging despite herself.

- We're at work, Min.

- I didn't say I was going to do it. I just said I wanted to.

He steps back with a satisfied look, leaving her blushing in her corner.

The rest of the day passes between orders, exchanging smiles and discreet gestures. But in the evening, as the café closes, Seungmin hands her his jacket without a word as she looks for hers.

- It's cold, and you always forget yours.

She slips it on silently, touched, then, as they come out together, she naturally slips against him.

- I like it like this," she whispers.

- How do you like it?

- You. I like it like this. Like this. It doesn't have to be a big deal. Just... existing next to you is good.

He looks at her, a tender smile at the corner of his lips.

- Are you coming to my place tonight?

She nods without hesitation.

- Only if you've got hot chocolate.

- I do. And marshmallows.

She laughs, and he puts his arm around her shoulders, pulling her gently against him as they walk into the cool night. Nothing is rushed. Nothing is perfect. But it's sweet. And for once, it's enough.

—> Next part

── .✦ Summer Coffee

Masterlist

Pairing : no¡idol!Kim Seungmin x oc

Word : 2.6k

Genre : fluff

Warning : none

He screwed up. Really screwed up.

From the counter, he watches Sohane walk back and forth, smiling, taking orders as if nothing had happened.

He sees her approach, and for a moment, he hopes she'll say something. But she simply grabs the order he's prepared and sets it down at a table, without even giving him a glance.

Since the episode in the car, everything has happened very quickly. They arrived at her place, and in the morning, when she woke up, the bed next to her was empty. Cold. Proof that he'd been gone for a while.

And since then? Radio silence. She doesn't talk to him, doesn't look at him. She doesn't look at him. Nothing. As if he didn't exist anymore.

And in the face of this, he hasn't even tried to explain. He was scared. Even more scared than that night.

The truth is, when he woke up, he panicked. Thinking back to the night before, to what he'd said, to that sort of confession he'd blurted out without realizing it... it terrified him.

So he left. Like a coward. Like a thief. And now he's paying the ultimate price.

He hates himself for it.

Every move she makes without him, every silence she imposes on him, is like a well-deserved punishment. And he takes it without flinching, because he knows he's asked for it.

He could have stayed. He could have talked to her. But he walked away, as he always did when things got too real, too intense.

And the worst part is, she doesn't even seem angry. She's just... distant. Indifferent. As if it never mattered.

He'd rather she'd scream. Slapped him. Throw everything at him.

But instead, she ignores him. And that's even more violent.

So he stands there, behind the damn counter, watching her pretend not to see him, wondering if he'll ever have the courage to tell her the truth to her face.

That he was scared. That she freaks him out. That he can't even name what he's feeling, because it's completely beyond him.

And maybe it's already too late.

But maybe... there's still a chance.

Noon approaches. The café begins to empty, giving way to a welcome lull. He mechanically wipes a glass, more to keep his hands busy than out of necessity. His gaze returns once more to her.

Still no word.

Then the bell on the front door tinkles, and Minji barges in, closely followed by Daeho. Glued together as always. Of course they are.

- Where are we going to eat today?" Minji says as she takes off her jacket, already rummaging through her bag.

Daeho steps up to the counter with her quiet smile and asks, looking at him:

- Are you coming with us, or are you planning to stay here and brood?

He half-smiles, a little embarrassed, a little taken aback.

- I don't know... I think I'll stay here.

- You're a pain, man," growls Daeho, patting him on the shoulder. You stay locked up here like a ghost.

Sohane passes by them without a word, without a glance, with her water bottle and notebook under her arm. She pretends to be attending to something in the room, but they all see that she's moving away so as not to have to get involved in the conversation.

Minji doesn't miss a thing. She exchanges a quick glance with Daeho.

- What about you, Sohane? Are you coming? We were thinking of going to the little Italian restaurant behind the street.

Silence. Then she answers, without turning around:

- No thanks. Not hungry.

There's a pause. Minji raises an eyebrow, then rests her bag on a chair.

- Well, well... looks like it's just the two of us today," she says, smiling at Daeho.

They walk away, chatting softly, but not enough for him not to pick up a little "they're going to have to talk at some point" whispered between them.

He lets out a long sigh and puts the glass back on the shelf.

He knows he has to go and see her. That he can't stay like this.

But if he approaches... will she listen?

He hesitates for a moment, his eyes still riveted on Sohane, then grabs his phone. He opens the group with the guys.

"8 idiots, 1 shared brain" - their sanctuary to say anything... but also sometimes to confide in.

I think I've made a huge mistake.

Almost immediately, the notifs explode.

you broke your mic? again?

is it something to do with Sohane?

because you've had a weird look on your face for two days.

Seungmin sighs and leans against the wall, tapping his fingers nervously.

yeah... I slept with her

and ran away the next morning.

I freaked out, I said things I never thought I'd say like that

and she hasn't spoken to me since. Not even a glance.

Silence in the chat room. A long moment. Then:

man...

why'd you do that?

was it serious to you or was it just in the moment?

serious. way too much. that's what freaked me out.

Then go talk to her.

you were scared, okay. but if you leave her in silence, she'll make up her own answers. and believe me, they'll be worse than the truth.

+1.

tell her. now. or it's dead.

He freezes for a moment, the screen in his hand. The words echo. He reads them again. once, twice.

Then he locks his phone, takes a deep breath.

Okay. This is it.

Seungmin straightens up, a flicker of determination in his eyes. He tucks his phone away in his pocket, then takes one last look at Sohane. She's still there, fiddling with a detail in the corner, as if she were somewhere else entirely.

He takes a deep breath and moves towards the room she's in. Each step seems heavier than the last, but he can't go back. It's like a weight getting heavier by the second. When he enters the room, she doesn't even look up. The room is silent, but he senses that everything is tense between them, even in this silence.

- Sohane," he begins, a little hesitantly, his voice lower than he'd like it to be.

She doesn't react immediately. She continues to sort the cups with intense concentration. He moves closer still, then stops just close enough for his words to reach her without his having to shout.

- Look, I'm... I'm sorry. I really am. I behaved like an idiot," he says, his voice almost breaking. I got scared, and it's nothing to do with you, it's just... me. The whole thing's completely thrown me.

She finally looks at him, but doesn't answer right away. The silence is heavier than he could have imagined. But he continues, unable to remain silent.

- I left you alone after that night, and I panicked. I thought I could run away from how I felt, but I realize that was stupid. I'm sorry if it hurt you.

She stares at him, her eyes showing neither anger nor sadness, just... an emptiness, a distance that seems to grow between them.

- Why did you leave?" she finally asks, her voice calm but firm.

He hesitates for a moment, the weight of truth on his shoulders.

- Because I was afraid of how I felt. Because I was afraid of losing you, of giving you the impression that I wanted to force you into... I don't know, into all this. I made the mistake of thinking that if I left, I'd be less confused. But I realize I was just being cowardly.

She looks at him, without saying a word. Then, after what seems like an eternity, she gently shakes her head.

- You behaved like a child, Seungmin.

He looks down in shame.

- I know I did. But I don't know how to fix it. If you don't want to talk to me anymore, if you want us to stop, I'll understand. But I didn't want it to end like this.

She stares at him for a long time, as if she's trying to read the depths of his words, to fathom his sincerity. Then she sighs, taking a moment before answering.

- You've got a chance. But it's up to you. I don't want any more lies.

Seungmin feels both relieved and even more nervous.

- I promise there'll be no more.

She nods slowly. That's all, but for him it's a start.

stands there, a little shocked by Sohane's answer, his words still floating in the air. A breath of relief creeps into him, but he knows it won't be enough. He won't be able to erase what he's done so easily.

Sohane looks at him a moment longer, then slowly turns away to put away the last cup. The sound of washing up seems to echo louder than before, each movement like a wave pulling them further apart. He hesitates, but he doesn't want to spoil everything. He makes a decision, straightens up, and crosses the distance between them again.

- If you like, after work we could... talk. No pressure. Just, you know, get it all out in the open. Whatever you want.

She pauses, then looks at him one last time, her eyes in his, clear and straightforward. She nods slightly, but there's no smile on her lips. It's a start, but not yet a reconciliation.

- We'll see.

She leaves for the service room without adding anything more. He watches her walk away, a knot in his throat. It's better than nothing. But he knows it won't be easy to regain her trust.

The next day, everything looks almost identical. The café opens at the same time, the customers come and go with their well-established habits, and the machines hum along as usual. But for Seungmin, something has changed. He feels lighter, as if the simple act of putting his feelings into words has lifted a weight off his shoulders.

He sees her arrive a few minutes after him, as always, hair still a little damp, bag slung over her shoulder. She greets him with a simple glance and a barely audible "Hi", but there's a new gentleness in her voice. And it's enough to make him smile like an idiot.

Their day begins like any other, except that their movements are better coordinated. They pass each other without brushing awkwardly, exchange quick glances instead of avoiding each other's eyes. It's not much, but it's there. Present.

Around noon, Minji crosses the counter, tapping his watch:

- Hey, unofficial lovebirds, where are we eating today? Daeho wants ramyeon and I want something fresher, so make up your mind before we get bogged down in a salad.

Sohane raises her head, looking a little embarrassed. Seungmin glances at Minji, one eyebrow raised.

- You mean we're eating together?

Minji stares at him with a smirk.

- Well, yeah, it's a habit now, isn't it? You're always the last ones out, so we might as well meet somewhere.

Daeho adds, taking out his apron:

- As long as it's not the restaurant where you almost cried because your tofu was too spicy, I'm with you.

Sohane lets out a little laugh, almost imperceptible, but which slips right into Seungmin's chest. He turns to her with a smile.

- How about lunch for the four of us? I promise, no existential discussions today.

She looks at him for a moment, then nods gently.

- Yeah, sure. Sounds good.

They leave the café together, in a much lighter mood than the day before. Nothing is defined yet, everything is still fragile, but in the glances, in the gestures and silences that no longer hurt, there's a quiet promise.

But not yet. But maybe soon.

—> Next part

── .✦ I love you, I’m sorry

Pairing : ¡Dad!idol¡Christopher Bahng x reader

Word : 1.2k

Genre : fluff, angst

Warning : none

The living room was bathed in a soft glow, the TV broadcasting cartoons at low volume. Their daughter was playing on her stomach on the carpet, her fingers clutching a stuffed panda.

Chan was slumped on the sofa, phone in hand, while Yn cleared the table, tidied up the kitchen, folded a plaid, picked up a spilt cup of water...

She stopped suddenly, as if something had just given way inside.

- Are you going to move, or do you just want to be part of the scenery?

Chan looked up, surprised.

- What's the matter? What's the matter with you?

- What's wrong with me? It's that I'm wearing myself out day in, day out while Monsieur looks at his phone and waits for the day to pass.

- I'm not waiting for anything. And you could talk to me differently, especially in front of the kid.

- That's right, Chan. In front of the girl. She's looking at you. She calls to you. She shows you her toys. She's waiting for you. What are you doing? Not a thing. You don't even look up.

He straightened up, arms outstretched.

- I've got a whole day on my back, I'm exhausted, Yn. You've got your days too, OK, but I can't stand having to walk on eggshells with you!

She laughed, bitter.

- You think I don't want to explode sometimes? You think I complain for the sake of it? I'm tired too. But the difference is that I stay on my feet. I keep going. Even when you're not there, even when you're not with me. Even when I feel like I'm sleeping alone every night and you're right next door.

He lowered his voice, but it vibrated with anger.

- Do you think I want it like this? Do you think I'm happy with what we've become?

- What we've become? Chan, you've given up. I just stopped begging.

And then he cracked. His voice went off the rails.

- You know something? If that's really how you feel... then maybe we'd better call it a day.

Silence shattered between them.

Yn froze. She stared at him for a few seconds, her eyes filled with immense disappointment. But she said nothing. She didn't say a word.

She simply looked away, walked past him without even brushing against him, and headed for the living room.

Their daughter looked up at her with a big smile.

- Mama! Look, Panda's sleeping.

Yn knelt down, stroked her daughter's hair, then took her gently in her arms.

Chan just stood there, unable to take a step and with a lump in his throat. He didn't know how to put back together what he'd just broken.

The days that followed were a desert.

Yn said nothing. She didn't look at him. She'd answer questions about their daughter, medical appointments, nursery schedules... but that was it. It was cold. Surgical. Every word was mechanical.

When Chan went into a room, she came out.

When he tried to help her, she'd let him without a word, then take it all back.

He'd leave notes for her on the table. She'd throw them in the trash without even opening them.

One morning, he made her coffee exactly the way she liked it. She let it get cold.

In the evening, he'd come home with his arms full. Flowers. Pastries. Pajamas for their daughter. Objects that were useless but full of purpose.

She'd place them on the hall cupboard, without a word. Not a smile. Not a thank you. Not even a glance.

Once, he'd even left her a box with a photo of them, from before. With a scribbled note: "I still want us."

She hadn't opened it.

Chan was losing his footing. He lived with her without existing in her eyes. Their daughter was the only light in this mute house.

And then, one evening, he couldn't stand it any longer. Their daughter had just fallen asleep, exhausted after a hectic day. Yn was sitting on the bed, her back to the door, holding something between her fingers.

The ring.

He entered, slowly. His throat tightened.

- Yn...

She didn't turn around.

- Yn, I can't go on like this. I can't stand your silence. I screwed up. I know you did. But you can't make me disappear like this... You can't punish me like this. Not when I regret it so much.

She sighed, shook her head slightly.

- You said it, Chan. You meant it. And I... I heard. I can't pretend anymore that it didn't destroy me.

She finally turned her face towards him. He saw her eyes, reddened but dry.

- I've tried. I gritted my teeth. I held out for her. But your "maybe we'd better stop now" opened a wound I don't know if I can close.

She began to slowly remove the ring. Chan stepped forward hurriedly.

- Don't do it. Not this. Not this again.

She insisted, he held her back gently. Then a second time, more firmly.

- Even if you put it on the table... even if you throw it across the room... I'll ask you to marry me again tomorrow. And the day after that. And the day after that. With another ring. And another. And another. Until you accept again.

His voice trembled. His eyes were misty, but he held on. Because he knew he still loved her. That he'd love her again tomorrow. And every day after that.

Yn didn't move this time. She clutched the ring in her fingers. And stood there.

Silent. But not indifferent.

She never left the room when he came in. She'd let him change their daughter, feed her. She watched him from a distance. Silently. But she was watching. And Chan could feel it.

He stopped talking to her to make amends. He acted.

He prepared meals. He got up at night. He put toys away after every game. He never took his eyes off their daughter. And sometimes, he would talk to Yn even if she didn't answer.

One day, he entered the kitchen while she was washing vegetables. He approached her gently.

- Do you need any help?

She didn't answer. But she pushed herself slightly to make room for him.

That evening, for the first time in a long time, they prepared dinner side by side. Silently, but together. And when their daughter burst out laughing as she ate, they looked at each other in spite of themselves.

A tiny glance.

But it was enough to rekindle a spark.

And then, another evening, after putting the little one to bed, Chan lay down on the sofa, as he did every night. He didn't want to return to their bed without her offering.

Yn entered, softly and quietly. She stopped beside him.

- I don't feel like forgiving you yet.

He sat up, surprised, his eyes fixed on her.

- I don't feel like kissing you yet. Or sleep against you. I don't feel like telling you it's going to be all right.

He lowered his head and nodded.

- I understand.

She took another step closer, then added:

- But I don't want you to sleep here tonight either.

He looked up at her. She wasn't smiling. But her words were clear.

She simply held out her hand. And he took it, gently. Without saying a word.

It wasn't forgiveness. It wasn't a return. It was a silent promise. A beginning. A hand stretched out on the edge of a precipice.

And that night, they slept in the same bed. At first, apart. Then, slowly... his fingers sought hers in the dark.

And Chan knew.

He still had a lot to prove. But she was still there.

Masterlist

── .✦ Baby Cat

Masterlist

Pairing : Lee Minho x reader

Word : 3.2k

Genre : fluff

Warning : none

Minho was just leaving the vet's after taking his three cats in for a routine check-up. He was used to coming here, but this time he stopped when he saw a young girl in front of the clinic. She was holding a small kitten in her arms, her face bathed in tears. The kitten looked in pain, one of its little legs clearly broken.

Minho approached, seeing her trembling as she tried to calm the animal. He noticed that she seemed to be looking at him a little strangely, as if she'd recognized him, but he paid her no mind. She was too preoccupied with the kitten.

"Hey, you okay?" he said softly, drawing her attention.

The girl gasped slightly, and her tear-reddened eyes fell on him, as if she'd only just realized he was there. Then she rushed towards him, tears flowing even harder.

"I... I found him on the street... He's got a broken leg... and I... I don't have the money to look after him... I... I don't know what to do..."

Minho, while recognizing the distress of the situation, leaned a little closer to observe the kitten. He felt instantly concerned. His own cats were like members of his family, and seeing this little animal suffer touched him deeply.

"Don't worry, we'll handle this," he said, trying to reassure her. "I'll help you."

The girl shook her head, obviously confused. "But... I... I really can't... I..."

Minho laid a soothing hand on her shoulder. He wasn't one to let emotion overwhelm him, but he understood the panic she was feeling.

"It's nothing. I'll pay for the expenses. You've already done the right thing by bringing him here."

She looked at him for a moment, seeming to hesitate. She seemed to recognize something in his face, but the kitten's pain was far more important to her. She looked down at the animal in her arms, and Minho understood that she was too preoccupied to pay attention to his identity.

"Thank you... thank you so much..." she murmured, almost sobbing, as she hugged the kitten even tighter to her.

Minho, a slight smile on his lips.

Minho entered the clinic again without a word, glancing quickly over his shoulder to make sure the girl was following him. She froze for a moment, as if she didn't dare go through the door, then, driven by the urgency of the situation, she entered in her turn, still clutching the kitten to her.

At the reception desk, Minho calmly addressed the veterinary assistant.

"We need to take care of this kitten right away. He probably has a fracture. I'll take care of the costs."

The assistant nodded, used to seeing Minho in the clinic but rarely this serious.

"Very well, we'll take him to the emergency room. Can you leave him with me?"

The girl hesitated, her fingers tightening around the little fur ball. Minho approached gently.

"He's going to get better, okay? They'll take good care of him."

She nodded silently and held out the kitten, her lips trembling. Once the vet had disappeared with the animal, she stood as if drained, her arms suddenly empty and her gaze lost.

Minho approached and handed her a chair. She dropped into it without a word.

"Would you like some water?"

She shook her head, then looked up at him. This time, she really looked at him. Her gaze was troubled, between recognition, fatigue... and that recurring hint of doubt.

"Aren't you...?" She paused, then shook her head. "Sorry. It's not important."

Minho pursed his lips, a discreet smile on his face.

"Yes, it does. I'm who you think I am."

A nervous chuckle escaped from the girl's throat, mingled with a sniffle.

He sat beside her in silence. The calm of the waiting room contrasted with the emotion still in the air. She wiped her cheeks with the back of her sleeve, her gaze still a little lost in the void.

"You know... I don't even have a cat," she breathed after a moment. "I was just walking down the street. There he was, all alone, meowing like he was calling for help."

Minho turned his head towards her, a little surprised.

"You did all this for a cat you don't even know?"

She shrugged one shoulder, her gaze fixed on the ground.

"I couldn't leave him. He looked at me like he trusted me. And I couldn't stand thinking that I was going to have to abandon him just because I didn't have any money."

Minho watched him for a moment. There was a brutal sincerity in her words, an instinctive gentleness he recognized. He thought back to the first time he'd brought one of his cats home. He hadn't expected that either. Sometimes bonds formed in a second, and it was irreversible.

"You did the right thing. It's not for everyone to do, but you did."

She rubbed her eyes, a little calmer.

"I don't think I can leave him now, anyway."

A corner of Minho's mouth lifted.

"That, that's often how it starts."

She sketched a shy smile, the first since he'd seen her.

"Do you think he'll pull through?"

Minho nodded, sure of himself.

"He's in good hands. And with you in his life, he's going to be lucky."

She sighed deeply, as if finally releasing the pressure of the last few hours.

"I don't even know what his name is."

Minho smiled frankly this time.

"You'll have plenty of time to think about it."

And in her eyes, as in his, there was this gentle certainty: that cat would never return to the street.

She nodded gently, her gaze still moist but visibly lighter.

"I think... I'm already attached to him," she murmured, almost to herself.

Minho smiled.

"It's amazing how they impose themselves on our lives, isn't it? Even when you're not expecting it."

She lowered her eyes, blowing out a nervous little laugh.

"Yeah... and here I thought I was having a normal day."

A silence settled in, a little more comfortable this time. Then she looked up at him, a hint of hesitation in her voice.

"I'm sorry, by the way. I burst into your day like a hurricane, and you were probably in a hurry or busy..."

Minho shook his head gently.

"I've got nothing more important to do than help someone who needs it."

She stared at him for a few seconds, genuinely touched. A real silence settled between them, the kind of silence that's no longer heavy but full of things you don't say right away.

Just then, the veterinary assistant returned to the waiting room, a slight smile on her lips.

"He's stable. We took an X-ray and the leg is broken, but it's fixable. We'll have to operate, but it can be done quickly."

The girl leapt to her feet.

"Is he going to be all right?"

"Yes. He'll have to stay here for a few days, but he'll be fine."

She placed a hand on her chest, as if to calm her heart, then turned to Minho. He could clearly see what her gaze meant, even if she couldn't formulate the words.

So he spoke for her.

"We're going to give her a good start. And you, you've already started doing the right thing."

She nodded, moved.

"Thank you, Minho. I really do. I don't think I'll ever forget this."

A month later, Minho pushed open the door of the same veterinary clinic again. This time, it wasn't for one of his cats - they were all fine - but he had used the excuse of a routine check-up, as if he needed a reason to come back here.

In truth, he'd thought about her more often than he'd care to admit. It wasn't just because of the kitten, or that touching moment in the waiting room. It was this girl he didn't know, but whose gaze had haunted him for weeks. This girl who hadn't looked at him like an idol, but like a simple human being. And then there had been her courage, her panic, her gentleness... the way she held that wounded little being as if it were the only thing in the world that mattered.

He didn't even know her first name.

So yes, coming back here, part of him hoped he'd run into her. Maybe by chance. Maybe she'd be there to pick up the kitten. Maybe she'd just drop by to give some news. He'd caught himself several times imagining the scene - her walking in, him pretending to be surprised, as if this wasn't what he'd been hoping for since he'd left the clinic that day.

He approached the counter, exchanged a few words with the assistant. And then, without giving it much thought, he asked the question in a tone he tried to make detached:

"The kitten with the broken leg... The one a girl brought in last month. Do you know if he's all right?"

The assistant smiled, obviously touched by his interest.

"Oh, him? He's just fine. He had a worry-free operation, he's made a great recovery. And the girl... she's adopted him. She comes every week for his check-ups and to buy his special food. She's completely gaga over him."

Minho's heart tightened slightly, but in a pleasant way. He nodded, a discreet smile at the corner of his lips.

"So much the better..."

He turned on his heels, slowly, his mind a little lighter. She wasn't there today, but deep down, he wasn't disappointed. Because now he knew she hadn't disappeared.

And maybe the next time he came, he wouldn't need an excuse.

The door closed softly behind him as he left the clinic, his hands in his pockets, his gaze a little vague. He'd caught himself smiling across the parking lot. She'd really adopted him, this little cat. He wasn't surprised. From the very first glance, he'd sensed something about her - this instinctive tenderness, this kind of silent attention you can't really explain.

Minho got back into his car, but didn't start it immediately. He sat there for a moment, engine off, fingers tapping absentmindedly on the steering wheel. He could have asked for her first name. He could have left a note, a message, anything. But at that moment, he hadn't dared. Because what he'd experienced that day, he wasn't sure he could explain without spoiling it.

He sighed, almost amused with himself.

"You're really ridiculous, Hyung..." he murmured.

But just as he was about to turn the ignition key, a movement caught his eye in the rearview mirror. A figure emerged from the clinic, a bag of kibble in one hand, a transport crate in the other. Minho frowned, his heart beating a little faster without knowing why.

It was her.

It was her.

She was wearing a baggy sweater, her hair hastily tied back, and yet... he recognized her at once. She put the crate down for a moment to pull up the strap of her bag, and he could see, through the small grilles, the muzzle of a cat pressing against the wall.

He got out of the car without thinking. She hadn't looked up yet.

"Hey."

She turned abruptly, eyes wide. Then, recognizing him, a surprised smile slowly spread across her face.

"Oh... it's you."

Minho stopped a few steps away, his hands still in his pockets.

"I was just passing by again... I was wondering how the boy was doing."

"She's fine. Very well indeed."

Minho squinted slightly.

"She?"

"Yeah, she's a little girl. I found out about it a week later, at the clinic."

He nodded, smiling gently.

"Does she have a name now?"

"Harriet."

He blinked, surprised. "Harriet?"

She nodded with a serious but tender air.

"It's a tribute. She has a dark brown coat, and... I don't know, she reminded me of Harriet Tubman. A little fighter."

Minho remained silent for a second, his smile wider this time.

"It's not banal. I like it."

She shrugged, a little embarrassed.

"She deserved a strong name. She fought, she held her own."

They exchanged a long, quiet glance. Then she resumed softly, lowering her voice a little:

"I've often thought about that day. About you. Without you, I don't even know if she'd still be here."

Minho looked away slightly, almost shyly.

"I'm glad I was there. She came across the right person that day."

"Me too."

There was a knowing silence. Then he cleared his throat gently.

"I was thinking... if you've got some time, could I buy you a coffee?"

She smiled, her eyes shining.

"And Harriet, do you think she'll agree?"

Minho leaned over to the crate and solemnly announced:

"Harriet? If you're okay, meow once."

A tiny meow was heard, as if perfectly timed.

They both burst out laughing.

"I think she approves," she said, nodding.

And Minho, his eyes shining with something a little new, a little fragile, opened the car door for her with a little smile:

"Then let's go celebrate her first check-up."

They left the clinic side by side, the fading sun casting a golden light on the sidewalk. Minho opened the car door for her, and after sitting down, she settled the crate on her lap, gently stroking the bars to reassure Harriet, still a little shaken by the visit.

"She doesn't much like the crate," she breathed, her voice soft.

"None of mine do either," Minho replied, starting up. "There's one, just when I touch the closet door where it's stored, it disappears."

She laughed, her hand still resting on the crate.

"How many do you have?"

"Three. And I thought it was a lot... but you, you adopt one in total panic, you take care of everything, and bam, you're already a better mom than me."

She turned her head toward him, a smirk on her face.

"I'm not sure I'm a 'mom'. I'm like... a roommate, a little overwhelmed."

Minho looked at her briefly, then shook his head, smiling.

"That's what all the best ones say."

He led her to a small café a little out of the way, discreet, quiet, where he knew they'd have peace. He took a table near the bay window while she went to put the crate in a quiet corner, a plaid supplied by the café laid on top to soften the space. Harriet curled up in a ball, peaceful at last.

They settled face to face, two steaming coffees between them. She blew on them gently before looking up at him.

"I was sure I recognized you that day. But I didn't dare ask."

Minho raised an eyebrow, amused.

"And why not?"

"I was in the middle of a breakdown... And you, you had this calm energy, like... you were there, without asking questions, without playing the star. I just needed someone, not a picture with an idol."

He nodded slowly, touched by her sincerity.

"You did the right thing. That day, I wasn't an idol. I was just a guy with a little money and three cats."

She smiled, then breathed:

"And you're still thinking about that day?"

Minho fixed his eyes on hers. He didn't smile this time. He simply told the truth.

"All the time."

The silence that followed was soft, dense, charged with a new tension. Something had changed. This moment was no longer a coincidence.

She lowered her eyes, her fingers around her cup.

"I've been thinking about you too. I thought... maybe I'd never see you again. That it was one of those magical, once-in-a-lifetime coincidences."

He smiled softly.

"Or maybe... it was just the beginning."

Harriet, as if sensing the intensity of the moment, gave a hoarse little mewl into the crate. They burst out laughing.

"She approves again," said Minho.

"She's clearly faster than me."

They stood there for a long time, talking about everything and nothing, cats and dreams, life in general, and the kind of encounters you only make once... or choose never to let slip away again.

A year later, time had passed with an almost imperceptible gentleness, marked by many shared coffees, afternoons playing with Harriet, laughter, moments of comfortable silence where words were unnecessary. Minho and Yn had gotten to know each other in all their nuances, to be there for each other every step of the way, without pressure, without urgency. Their relationship had grown slowly, like a self-evident, self-written story.

They'd had their ups and downs, like all couples, but they'd grown together. And everything had become a little easier with each passing day, each new gesture, each shared laugh.

That morning, Minho was standing in the lobby of JYPE, looking a little distracted, a stack of papers in his hands. He was about to leave for the studio when his phone vibrated in his pocket. He quickly pulled it out and read the message.

I brought you back what you forgot.

He frowned, confused. What had he forgotten? He hadn't left anything, or at least he couldn't remember... He didn't have time to think any longer, because barely a few seconds after reading the message, the front door opened and he saw Yn entering the hall. She was carrying a small bag over her shoulder and looked slightly embarrassed.

Minho looked at her, surprised.

"Yn? What are you doing here?"

She approached him, a little hesitantly, then held out her arm to give him a small package wrapped in kraft paper.

"You forgot your notebook in the car." She shrugged slightly. "I've come to bring it back to you."

Minho looked at her, dumbfounded. "Ah... that's right, thank you."

He turned to the reception desk for a moment, a little embarrassed, and that's when the members of Stray Kids arrived, bursting into the lobby. They were all more or less in relaxation mode, ready to set off again. They stopped when they saw Yn standing there, facing Minho.

Bang Chan, with a curious look on his face, asked the first, totally unexpected question.

"Hey, who's Minho?"

The other members began to watch the scene. Seungmin raised an eyebrow, scrutinizing the exchange.

Minho suddenly felt taken aback. He shrugged his hands a little, looking a little awkward. He hadn't planned to introduce them to Yn under these conditions. He would have liked to do it differently, in a more relaxed moment. But the situation was what it was.

He cleared his throat, cheeks slightly red.

"Well... that's... that's my girl."

The members exchanged stunned glances. Hyunjin turned to Minho, eyes wide, as if he'd just heard something incredible.

"Wait... what?!" he gasped, both shocked and amused. "Since when, Minho?!"

Minho scratched the back of his neck, a little embarrassed by his friends' enthusiasm.

"Uh, it's been several months now..." He glanced quickly at Yn, who was smiling sweetly, though obviously a little nervous under the members' gaze. "We... we took our time."

Bang Chan stepped forward, a smirk on his face.

"Minho, I must admit you fooled us." He turned to Yn. "But seriously, welcome. We're glad to meet you!"

The other members, slowly recovering from their shock, approached in turn. Felix, still a little more extroverted, remarked with his broad smile.

"Wow, I'm shocked... Minho, you were the last one to accept a serious relationship!"

Yn blushed a little but replied with a charming smile.

"Well, he changed my mind."

Seungmin moved closer in turn and smiled warmly.

"We're glad to know you, Yn. It's good to see Minho so... happy."

Minho slowly relaxed, and the tension he'd felt at first gradually vanished. He realized that the presentation didn't have to be perfect, nor did it have to follow a well-defined script. After all, what really mattered was that the two of them were together.

Yn, seeing the members' welcome, felt a little more at ease. She glanced at Minho, who seemed less stressed now, and smiled.

"Thank you all."

They exchanged a few words, and eventually the discussion turned to Minho's cats, which broke the ice for good. She found herself laughing with them, discovering a little more one after the other, and Minho felt relieved. It was an awkward start, but he knew that now there was no turning back. Yn was now fully part of his world, and he was glad of it.

── .✦ Summer Coffee

Masterlist

Pairing : no¡idol!Kim Seungmin x if

Word : 4.1k

Genre : smut

Warning : protected sex, p in v, car sex

The bass resounds as soon as they enter the club. Upbeat funk and electro music pulses through the walls. Colored lights dance on the ceiling, the walls vibrate to the beat, and the already dense crowd moves to the DJ's rhythm. The place isn't too big, just enough to keep the atmosphere intimate without being stuffy.

- Okay, now I'm buying it," declares Minji, scanning the room with his eyes. It's not too kitschy, not too chic, just the right amount of fun.

She turns to Sohane, grabbing her hand as if it were vital.

- You're going to dance tonight. I'm not letting you escape.

Sohane laughs softly, her cheeks already a little rosy. Under the subdued lights, her curly blond hair catches the red and violet highlights like moving flames. She's left it loose tonight, forming a wild crown around her face.

- At least let me have a drink before you throw me in the pit," she protests, laughing.

Daeho, already at the counter, turns to them.

- I've ordered a round of mojitos. After this, no more excuses.

- Even Seungmin's going to have to go for it," adds Minji with a provocative smile.

Seungmin raises an eyebrow while leaning against the bar.

- You've all decided I'm going dancing tonight, haven't you?

- Absolutely," replies Daeho without hesitation. And you're going to have fun, man. You've got no choice.

The music suddenly changes to a groovy remix of an old disco classic. The light becomes warmer, tinged with gold and red. Sohane sways gently to the rhythm, without even realizing it. Seungmin notices her, his gaze gliding briefly over her. She's glowing. Even without saying anything, even without really moving, she has this light around her tonight.

- You look different tonight," he says, almost in spite of himself.

Sohane turns her head towards him, surprised.

- Different how?

- I don't know... more you, maybe.

She stares at him for a moment, a little unsettled, then smiles.

- So you know me that well?

- I wish I did," he murmurs.

But already Minji returns with the glasses, breaking the moment.

- Come on, let's toast to freedom and the closing of the café!

They all raise their glasses, a little awkwardly, but with light hearts. The music rises again, lively and vibrant.

And for a moment, they forget everything else. The unspoken, the escaped glances, the unanswered questions.

Just four friends in the night, carried along by the music.

[___]

- Seriously?" growls Seungmin, glancing in the rearview mirror.

In the back, Minji is half on Daeho's lap, her arms around his neck. They laugh foolishly between loud kisses, and their movements become increasingly... uninhibited. Hands wander, buttons start to give way, murmurs turn to muffled moans.

- Oh no, no no no, not in my car," Seungmin moans, reaching out to lower the volume of the music slightly, as if that would calm the mood.

- You said you weren't jealous, Seungmiiin," sings Minji, hilariously, tugging gently on Daeho's collar.

- I'm not jealous. I'm traumatized, it's not the same," he lets go, gripping the steering wheel a little tighter.

He speeds up a little, eyebrows furrowed, staring at the road as if he's going to end up in a parallel dimension to escape this situation.

- Daeho, a little dignity, please," he sighs.

- I'm in love, bro. Let me live.

- Not on MY seats, anyway.

Minji bursts out laughing, his head tilting back. His hair falls everywhere, his feet tapping lightly against the front seat.

- Pay me back for the leather shampoo if you finish what I think you're trying to start.

- You're stuck, Seungmin, you know that?" giggles Daeho, kissing Minji on the neck again.

Seungmin closes her eyes for half a second. Take a breath. Count to three.

- I'll drop you at Minji's. You can work out your... urges there.

- Oh, Seungmin making authoritarian decisions, that warms me up," exclaims Minji, sliding his hand over Daeho's shoulder as if Seungmin no longer existed.

He abruptly turns the wheel to take a faster street.

- I feel like washing my eyes out with bleach.

They arrive in front of Minji's building a few minutes later. She half dismounts on Daeho, still laughing, and pulls him by the sleeve. He follows her like a zombie in love, stumbling along the sidewalk.

Seungmin rolls down her window.

- Don't make any noise on the way up. And... put a blanket on the sofa, I beg you.

- Good night, Dad!" shouts Minji, blowing him a dramatic kiss.

Seungmin raises his eyes to the sky, then watches her disappear into the hall with Daeho half-hung over her.

He stands alone for a moment in the now silent street. Then he drops back against the back of his seat, hands on the steering wheel.

- Damn...

He laughs softly, tired. Then sighs.

And without really knowing why, it's Sohane's laughter in the car earlier that comes back to him.

- Seriously?" growls Seungmin, glancing in the rearview mirror.

Behind them, Minji is half on top of Daeho, her dress slightly hiked up, her hands in her hair, their kisses increasingly loud and... very unobtrusive. Drunken laughter, slippery whispers, clothes slowly starting to unbutton.

- They're ruining my sanity here," he adds in a low voice.

- That's what you signed up for when you took us away," Sohane comments, an amused smile on her lips, her gaze fixed straight ahead to avoid witnessing the sensual apocalypse in the back seat.

- I signed up for an outing with friends, not a mobile sex tape.

- They're in their own bubble. Let them live... well, as long as they keep their clothes on," she breathes, holding back a laugh.

Seungmin taps the steering wheel twice nervously.

- I'm dropping them off at Minji's. I don't want them to finish what they're starting in MY car.

- Reasonable," agrees Sohane.

He takes a left, a little too sharply. In the back, Minji moans, not with pleasure this time:

- Seungmin! Don't turn like that, we're in a moment of grace here!

- If you want grace, take a cab next time.

Daeho laughs stupidly.

- He's jealous, forget it...

- I'll leave you naked in a gas station if you keep this up.

- Roh, you're a killjoy," sighs Minji.

Two minutes later, they pull up in front of Minji's building. She climbs down, dragging Daeho with her. He stumbles and kisses her again, almost bumping into the entrance wall.

Seungmin rolls down her window.

- Moisturize. Get some sleep. And for heaven's sake, put a towel on your couch.

- Good night, uptight chauffeur!" swings Minji, blowing him a dramatic kiss before disappearing giggling down the hall.

Seungmin shakes his head, then drops back against the backrest. Silence descends.

Sohane slowly turns her head towards him. She looks tired, but her eyes still sparkle a little.

- You realize you're going to remember this kind of evening for years to come, don't you?

- I'll remember it as the time I had to watch two horny kids, yeah.

She laughs softly, her head resting against the back of the seat, looking out the window at the night.

- Thanks for bringing me back... and for not running off and leaving us behind.

He looks at her for a moment. Under the streetlamps, her blond curls catch the light. He thinks about what she almost said earlier. The look she gave him when she got out of the car, before changing her mind.

- Are you ready to go home?" he asks softly.

She turns to him, looks at him without smiling this time.

- Not yet, she says.

He frowns slightly, surprised. She stares at him for a few seconds. Then, calmly, she says:

- You know I could have kissed you earlier, before I went out. But I didn't want it to be drowned in alcohol, or noise... or the two of them tearing each other's clothes off out back.

He says nothing. He just listens.

She looks down, plays nervously with the hem of his sleeve.

- If you ever want to hear what I have to say... I just want it to be clear. That you're there. That you don't listen to me half-heartedly.

Seungmin keeps her eyes on her. for a long time. Then he breathes, slowly.

- I'm here now.

There's a long silence. She looks at him again, softer.

- But not tonight. You're too focused on keeping your seats clean.

He laughs in spite of himself. And so does she.

- Take me home, Seungmin.

He starts the car again, more slowly this time. And in the quiet he no longer thinks about the seats. Just her.

The rest of the journey is spent in an almost complicit calm. No music this time. Just the purr of the engine and the distant sounds of the sleeping city.

Seungmin glances quickly at Sohane, who is looking out of the window. Her profile is peaceful, but her fingers betray a certain tension - they play incessantly with a ring she wears on her index finger. He recognizes this nervousness. The kind you hide behind smiles, pirouettes and well-placed silences.

Sohane looks around, not understanding why he's stopping here.

He leans his head lightly against the steering wheel, sighing heavily.

Sohane frowns slightly, slowly turning her head towards him.

- This isn't my place.

Seungmin keeps his head down for a moment longer, his fingers tightening on the steering wheel. Then he slowly raises his eyes to hers.

- I know," he says.

Silence returns, heavier than ever. Outside, the streetlamps cast a pale light on the trees of the deserted park. Inside, the air has become warmer, denser. As if there wasn't enough oxygen left.

- So... why did you stop here?" she murmurs, her voice lower.

He finally looks at her. He really is. And in his gaze, there's no longer the professional distance, nor the usual restraint. There's just her. Her, with her hair cascading blonde curls, her cheeks still rosy from the evening, and that damn heartbeat pounding too hard in her chest.

- Because if I drop you off now, I'll spend all night wondering why I didn't do anything.

Sohane feels her breath catch. Her fingers stop playing with her ring.

- And what exactly do you want to do?" she murmurs.

Their faces are only a few centimeters apart. He hasn't moved, but his whole body is talking. His breathing, heavier. His pupils, more dilated. And that hesitation in his gaze, not for fear of wanting to - but for fear of tipping the whole thing over.

- I don't know," he murmurs.

She tilts her head slightly, almost challenging him with her gaze. And in the half-smile that flutters at the corner of her lips, he reads it all: the confusion, the contained desire, the silent invitation.

- So don't come looking for me in a deserted park in the middle of the night if you don't intend to assume what you're feeling.

He stares at her, jaws slightly clenched. A beat. Then two.

He leans toward her, slowly. Slowly, as if giving her time to push him away, to turn her head away, to say no. But she doesn't move.

But she doesn't move.

And when their breaths finally brush against each other, he murmurs, close to her lips:

- I assume.

And this time, he kisses her.

Not a hasty, hesitant kiss. A deep, contained kiss, full of weeks of waiting. Of stolen glances, of unspoken phrases. She responds immediately, his hand instinctively sliding up her neck, drawing her even closer. The heat explodes, the oxygen runs out, but neither backs away.

When they part, just barely, it's to catch their breath. With her forehead against his, Seungmin closes her eyes for a moment.

- I'm obsessed with you, Sohane.

She smiles, panting, eyes still closed.

- You didn't have to wait for me to tell you before you realized.

He stands there for another second, eyes closed, his forehead against hers. Then, without a word, he stretches out his hand to the side and gently moves his seat back.

A discreet click, a slide back.

The silence in the car is palpable. But it's a vibrant silence, full of electricity. No need for words. It's already there, in their breaths, their gestures, their glances.

Sohane looks at him, her heart drumming against her ribcage. She sees his open hands, ready to welcome her, and understands immediately.

She slowly slides one leg over to the other side of the center console. A fluid, determined movement. Then she sits astride his lap, her hands on either side of his face. She's so close that she can feel his warm breath on her skin.

Seungmin instinctively places his hands on her hips, as if to steady her, or perhaps just to make sure she's really there, against him.

- This really isn't the kind of thing I do," she murmurs, her eyes locked in his.

- Me neither," he murmurs, unable to take his eyes off her.

She approaches his face again. Their foreheads touch again, but this time she keeps her eyes open, as if daring him to blink.

- So why are we doing it?" she asks, in a breath.

He inhales deeply, slowly caressing her hips with his thumbs, his gaze burning.

- Because I've waited longer for this than I care to admit.

She doesn't answer. Not yet. She leans in, kisses him again. This time, the kiss is slower, even more charged. Her fingers slide through his hair, pressing him gently against her, as if she wanted to anchor herself there, on top of him, in that car, in that night.

Time stretches. Only their bodies, their warmth, their breaths meet and accelerate as they discover each other in a different way, beyond glances and innuendo.

Seungmin slides one hand down her back, the other anchored on her waist, holding her firmly against him. He pauses for just a moment, looking at her, his gaze veiled.

- Do you want me to stop?

Sohane shakes her head, gently. His voice is almost inaudible, but clear.

- Continue.

Then he kisses her again, his hands exploring slowly, with feverish restraint. No rush. Just this gentle urgency, this need to find each other at last, after so many silences and elusive glances.

And in this car, lulled by the distant sound of the sleeping city, they forget everything. The café, the others, the barriers. There's nothing left but this bubble, this moment.

The two of them.

At last.

Seungmin chases after her lips, and every time she tries to break away from his hold, he pushes her head further back so as not to break the contact.

And the only time he finally breaks away from her is to place his lips on her neck.

A small breath leaves the barrier of Sohane's lips, and she runs her hands through Seungmin's hair.

She presses her fingers gently into the nape of his neck, as if to anchor him a little tighter against her, as if afraid he might pull away again.

But Seungmin has no intention of leaving. He tastes her slowly, with a tenderness that contrasts with the urgency of their breaths. His nose brushes against her skin, his lips graze the curve of her shoulder, and his hands slide over her waist to draw her against him.

- Do you realize how crazy you're driving me?" he breathes against her collarbone.

Sohane closes her eyes, overcome by the warmth of his words and the shiver they trigger. She doesn't answer, but her body speaks for her - every movement, every quiver, every sigh.

And when their eyes meet again, there's no need for words.

Seungmin gently moves his hand up her back, his fingers slipping under the fabric of her top, uncovering her skin inch by inch. He wants to know her by heart, like a melody he'd repeat obsessively.

Sohane half-opens her lips, but no sound comes out. Her gaze is misty, drowned in the raw tenderness that dances in Seungmin's eyes. She lets him do it, lets herself love him as if time had frozen around them.

Then, suddenly, she pulls him slightly towards her, until their foreheads touch.

And without giving her time to catch her breath, he kisses her again, deeper this time, as if he wants to steal all her remaining air.

Her hands, still anchored in the boy's hair, move slowly down to his neck, then his torso, tracing the line of his muscles through the fabric. She draws him even closer, until there's no distance between them, no doubt either.

- Let's do that quickly...

He brings his hand down to the zipper of his jeans, and unbuttons his pants.

She slides gently off his lap, breathless, without really breaking eye contact. His gaze follows her, burning, attentive, as if he wants to engrave every movement.

Without a word, she sits down on the passenger seat. Her fingers briefly tangle with the waistband of her pants, which she undoes with a mixture of nervousness and impatience. The fabric slides down her legs, then she pushes it to the floor, next to her shoes. She keeps her T-shirt on, too focused on finding it to care.

And as soon as she's back, she settles on top of him again, astride him, resuming her position as if she'd never moved. Her thighs on either side of his, she feels his breath graze her throat.

Seungmin greets her with a barely audible sigh, his hands immediately returning to rest on her, as if that's where they'd always belonged.

- There, that's better," she murmurs against his mouth.

He smiles, his lips barely touching hers.

- You have no idea how much.

His hands move down to her hips, holding them firmly, as he regains possession of her lips, this time with less restraint - more fire.

The kiss becomes deeper, more urgent. Seungmin's fingers sink into the tender flesh of her hips, as if he needs to feel her fully there, against him, to believe this is all real.

Sohane gently tilts her pelvis, a barely perceptible movement, but enough to draw a ragged breath from him. Her arms wrap around his neck, their faces pressed together, their bodies pressed together in the tightness of the car.

Mist begins to form on the windows, like a discreet case around them. Nothing exists outside this moment. Nothing but this electric tension, this slow-burning fire that's just waiting to devour them.

Seungmin slips a hand under the T-shirt she's kept on, exploring the warmth of her skin with his fingertips, until he feels her heart beating against his palm.

- You're trembling," he murmurs.

- It's you," she replies with an almost shy smile, her lips still so close.

- It's always you.

He closes his eyes for a second, as if to hold back. But it's no use - she's already everywhere, under his fingers, against his lips, in his head. So he gives in.

He runs his fingers over her panties, slowly, following the contours of the fabric as if he wanted to make her shiver with just that. He doesn't want to rush anything. He wants to feel her melt, slowly, against him.

She bites her lip, her head tilting back slightly under the effect of his precise caresses. And just as he feels her pelvis reacting to his gestures, he slips his mouth to her ear, his voice deeper, more jerky:

- Fuck, Sohane... in the glove compartment... there's a box of condoms...

Sohane opens her eyes, a little disoriented by the surge of desire, but her eyes light up immediately. Without saying a word, she reaches blindly for the glove box, feels around for a moment, then closes her fingers around the little box. She hands it to him with a look that speaks volumes.

He grabs it with one hand, the other still resting on her warm skin, and their exchange of glances is enough to raise the temperature another notch.

- Are you sure?" he murmurs, even though everything inside her is screaming yes.

Sohane responds simply by slipping her hands under his shirt this time, removing it slowly, her gaze planted in his.

- More sure than ever.

Seungmin, tearing the condom wrapper open with his teeth, his eyes still fixed on her, as if afraid to see her disappear.

She straightens slightly on her knees to give him space, a short breath leaving her throat as their bodies brush against each other with unsettling precision. The car's cramped cabin leaves them little room, but they need nothing more than this: the closeness, the silence, the gentle urgency of this moment.

He quickly gears up, then his hands find her hips, guiding her with infinite delicacy. They don't take their eyes off each other, even as she slowly begins to descend on him, their breaths becoming more ragged, more irregular.

A moan escapes him - discreet, muffled against his lips - and Seungmin closes his eyes for a moment, unable to say a word as the moment consumes him.

Sohane clings to his shoulders, taking her time. Every movement is precise, measured, like an intimate dance whose steps only they know. Their foreheads touch, their bodies slide against each other in imperfect harmony, made beautiful precisely by their gentle awkwardness and raw desire to be one.

- Look at me... he murmurs in a breath, almost pleading.

She obeys. And in her eyes, he finds everything he was looking for.

She continues to move on him, who has his hands on her hips.

- Keep going, don't stop, Sohane...

She simply moans at him, moving a little faster.

He's got his hands and lips all over her, making her feel like she's melting.

- You're so perfect..fuck...

- Seungmin..sh-shit..

- Hm ? You like that Sohane ? Fuck!

He grips her hands so tightly on her hips that she's bound to get a bruise tomorrow.

He guides her movements, making her go faster and faster.

Someone outside the car must surely suspect what's going on inside.

The car moves with them, and is fogged up and filled with Sohane's moans, and she can't contain herself.

- Fuck..I think I'm..

- Coming ? Please, come all over my cock.

- Fuck!

Her thrusts come faster and faster, we hear the sound of their skin slapping, Seungmin's panting breath and Sohane's moans.

Maybe a minute later, Sohane is trembling slightly, and her orgasm fills the car.

She clenches around the cock of Seungmin, who moans slightly, but continues to thrust into Sohane, who moans louder from the overstimulation, and it doesn't take much for Seungmin to cum into the condom.

Both remain panting in the car, saying nothing.

Both remain panting in the car, saying nothing.

The silence is not heavy. It's dense, full of everything they've just said to each other without speaking. Their breaths still mingle, jerky, and the mist on the windows hides the outside world, like a temporary cocoon.

Sohane hasn't moved. She lies against him, her chest pressed against his, her fingers absent-mindedly playing with a lock of his hair. Her heart is still beating a little too fast.

Seungmin runs his hand slowly over her bare thigh, his fingers sliding gently, almost distracted, but filled with this new, almost fragile tenderness.

He finally breaks the silence, in a husky, low voice:

- I don't think I'll ever get over this.

A small laugh escapes her, discreet but sincere. She lifts her head, looks at him with that blurred smile, still fogged by what they've just been through.

- Was it that good?

He tilts his head, looking falsely serious.

- You've got to be kidding me. I'll be dreaming about you like this for years to come.

She raises an eyebrow playfully.

- Years, just like that?

He kisses her on the forehead, his gaze losing some of its malice for something truer.

- I don't care about time. As long as you're still here afterwards.

She doesn't answer right away, just rests her head against him again, her arms around his waist. And in the silence, calmer this time, she murmurs:

- So...let's continue at my place.

—> Next Part

── .✦ Summer coffee

Pairing : no¡idol!Kim Seungmin x oc

Word : 3.3k

Genre : fluff

Warning : none

Second week of summer. The rhythm is there, the gestures are honed, the jokes between colleagues are refined. The café is still going strong, with rich families, glamour-seeking couples and influencers looking for the perfect light for their latte.

Sohane has found her fragile equilibrium in this chaos. She weaves her way between tables with exhausted grace, responding to demanding customers with that slightly ironic tone that verges on insolence without ever reaching it. Her bracelets are always clinking, and by now, even the regulars have gotten used to it. It's her sound. Her signature.

Seungmin, for his part, is more present than before. He's no longer content to observe. He's there, really there. He lightens her trays when she's overloaded, throws out sarcastic remarks to wring a smile out of her when the manager passes too close, and sometimes, when she comes down the stairs at the end of shift, she's already finding her favorite drink on the counter. Without her having to ask.

The rest of the team starts to notice.

- Are you going to slow dance for us at some point?" asks Minji one morning, as she puts the pastries away.

- What?" says Seungmin without looking up.

- You make her coffee before she even breathes, and you look at her as if she's going to disappear as soon as she moves three meters away.

- I just have good reflexes.

- Yeah, you do. That's what we call love now.

Sohane, who hears the conversation from the counter, lets out a little laugh without turning around. But her heart beats a little faster. That kind of phrase floats in the air. It soaks in.

And then that evening, as we closed up, the heat dropped. The air is more breathable, almost pleasant.

The rest of the team left. Minji left a half-eaten muffin on the counter with a hastily tossed "see you tomorrow", and Daeho disappeared just after picking up his cap. The café is calm, almost peaceful, now that the day is over.

Sohane wipes the last cups at the bar while Seungmin takes a mechanical sweep. They've worked together dozens of times, shared breaks, silent confidences, and yet there are still things about her he doesn't quite understand.

It was this week that he began to see things differently.

It all started one morning. A customer had raised his voice a little too loudly, criticizing her service for a minor error. She'd kept her cool, smiled to protect herself. Then, in the storeroom, he found her back to him, shoulders shaking, discreetly wiping her cheeks with her shirt sleeve. She'd murmured "I'm fine" without turning around.

Since then, something had changed in his gaze. Not pity, no. More like a silent gentleness. A new respect. He understood that she was not only bright and shiny, but also fragile beneath the surface, ready to crack at the slightest misplaced blow.

She, the girl with the bracelets, the lilting accent, the scathing repartee... she cried easily. For nothing, yet for everything.

And that evening, as she put the last cup on the shelf, he looked at her a little longer. Not with surprise. With attention.

- Are you really planning to leave again at the end of the summer?

She smiles gently, as if she already knows the answer he's hoping for.

- Did I say that? I'm still studying here. I'm not going anywhere anytime soon.

He nods, his relief discreet.

- I'm glad.

She pauses for a moment, her hands resting on the counter. She senses he's looking at her differently. Less like a colleague. More like... someone he's learning to really see.

- Would you like to go for a walk?

- With you?

- Yes, with you.

And when she follows him outside, he keeps just one thing in mind: from now on, he knows that behind her smiles and her jokes, there's a heart on the edge.

And he doesn't want to miss any more details like that.

After escorting Sohane back to her building, Seungmin watched her walk up the stairs without saying a word. Just a nod, a half-smile, and she disappeared behind the door. No final words, no need.

He went back to his car, parked near the café, and drove through town again, hands on the wheel, head a little elsewhere. Everything in the night seemed to have slowed down, as if the whole town knew something had changed. Nothing spectacular. Just a little slip in the air.

Arriving home, he took a quick shower, the lukewarm water washing away the day's fatigue. Then he dropped into bed, towel still on his hair, gym shorts hastily pulled on. His phone lay beside him, the screen as black as the room.

Then he sighed. A long sigh. Not because he was unwell. Just... because it was stirring in there.

He unlocked his phone, opened the group he shared with his 6 friends, and wrote a message without thinking too hard.

He rereads the message, hesitates to delete it. But no, never mind. He presses "send", puts the phone back on the bedside table. A few seconds pass. The screen remains black. No one answers.

He closes his eyes, turns on his side, tries to calm the tumult. In his head, the image of Sohane, her eyes shining a little too brightly when she talks about simple things. Her nervous laugh. The way she hides her emotions like a fragile secret.

Her phone suddenly vibrates.

A small smile stretches across Seungmin's lips. He doesn't answer immediately.

Seungmin shakes his head, blows out his nose. He types an answer.

Now there's silence. Real silence.

And somewhere, he tells himself that this may be the first time he's said this. That he himself is admitting it out loud. Not to laugh, not to avoid, just... to be sincere.

He puts the phone down. Puts himself back on his back. There's a slight smile at the corner of his lips now. Nothing spectacular.

Just a little slip in the air.

Sleep doesn't come right away. Seungmin stands there, eyes open in the dark, listening to the silence of his apartment. He hears the faint hum of the fridge in the kitchen, the distant traffic outside, a dog barking somewhere. Normal, ordinary noises. But tonight, everything seems a little sharper, a little busier.

He grabs his phone again, unable to stand still. He hesitates a second, looks at the time - 00:37. Too late to call. But not to send a message.

He opens his conversation with Sohane. She's right at the top of his list. No wonder. He rereads the last exchanges, the little messages sent during the evening. Nothing special. Nothing that makes clear how he feels.

He writes, then deletes. Rewrites, hesitates again. Then finally:

He rereads the message one last time before sending it. Not too direct, but clear enough for her to understand. He puts the phone to his chest and closes his eyes, this time for good.

The next morning, he's awakened by the sun streaming through the curtains. 7.45am. Too early for a day without obligations. But the idea of maybe seeing her, there, outside work, in a place of his own, gets him out of bed with rare ease.

He grabs a coffee, puts on his uniform, grabs his bat. In the field locker room, the team is already there, noisy as ever. He smiles at their jokes without really listening.

Outside, the sky is clear. He warms up a little on the sidelines, his eyes sliding steadily towards the entrance. He doesn't even know if she's coming.

8h57. No one's home.

9h05. Still nothing.

He thinks maybe he screwed up. Maybe she saw the message, shrugged her shoulders and went back to sleep.

Then at 9.12 a.m., a figure appears at the edge of the field, a little hesitant, sunglasses on his nose, large coffee cup in hand. She looks for him, then meets his eyes.

And Seungmin, without even thinking about it, starts to smile. The kind of smile that requires no explanation.

She raises her cup to him in greeting.

He comes running over, bat at shoulder.

- "I thought this wasn't a date?" she says, smiling.

- "It's not a date. It's just... I was really hoping you'd come."

She blushes a little, lowers her eyes, then raises them again.

- "Well, there you go. I'm here now. So show me how good you are."

And Seungmin, without saying a word, runs to join the others.

But in his eyes, it's clear. He's not quite playing to win anymore.

He's playing to be seen. By her.

... She stands up when she sees him coming, an awkward little smile on her lips. He notices that she hastily puts her glasses back on, as if to regain a serious air, but she nearly knocks them off.

- "First time I've seen you without your uniform," he chuckles, slipping his hands into the pockets of his hoodie.

She pauses, blushing slightly.

- "Ah... yes, that's right." She looks down a little before looking up again, a little hesitant. "I hope it's not too weird?"

- "Weird?" He looks at her from head to toe, amused. "No. Just... different. You seem more... I don't know. You."

She opens her mouth, as if to answer, but no words come out right away. She starts to laugh nervously, then looks away. Her cheeks take on a little more color.

- "I'm not very good at these kinds of compliments, sorry..."

- "It's not a compliment, it's an observation." He stares at her a little more seriously. "But I can make one if you want."

She laughs again, this time a little more frankly, but he senses something vibrating just behind that laugh. Like a slightly fragile beat. He knows that look. That brief worry in her eyes, as if she's afraid of doing the wrong thing, saying the wrong thing.

- "Gotta get going, right? What time do we start again?"

- Two o'clock. Are you afraid you'll be late?"

- "I'm always afraid of being late... especially when Minji's around."

He bursts out laughing, and together they make their way to the café. Two floors, soft light, the smell of ground beans and warm pastries. Minji greets them with a curious look, already settled behind the counter. Daeho is cleaning the tables upstairs.

Sohane hesitates for a moment in front of the coat rack where the aprons hang, then glances up at the stairs leading to the upper floor. Seungmin catches the hesitation in her gaze, the kind of doubt she tries to mask with a too-quick smile.

- "I'm going to change," she murmurs before slipping away discreetly towards the changing rooms.

He stares at her for a moment, intrigued. Minji, behind the counter, barely looks up, already absorbed in calibrating the espresso machine.

A few minutes later, Sohane comes back down in her uniform: that tight gray top, the too-short white skirt, and those long boots she hates wearing. She moves forward with her chin up, but he can see that something has changed in her gaze. More tense. Less confident.

She hates this outfit. And now he knows it.

- "Why didn't you put on the apron?" he asks, approaching her gently.

She shrugs her shoulders.

- "The manager insists..." she murmurs, without looking at him. "He says it's 'the image of the café'."

Seungmin frowns.

- "And what do you think?"

She purses her lips. Then, in an almost inaudible voice:

- "I don't have much say in it, I guess."

He remains silent for a second. Then, in a softer tone, a little closer:

- "It's not normal."

She looks away, but he can see it's affecting her. She inhales deeply, as if holding something back. A tear, perhaps. She blinks quickly.

- "I'm sorry, I'm just a little..." She doesn't finish her sentence.

- "Sensitive?" he completes in a breath, almost complicit.

She nods, saying nothing. Her eyes glisten, but a grateful smile tugs at the corner of her lips.

He adds, softly:

- "I think you're brave, really."

And even though she quickly turns to go and tend to a table, he guesses she's still smiling. One of those little smiles you keep to yourself, like a precious secret.

Minji exchanges a glance with Daeho, who gives her a nod, before moving towards Seungmin who is behind the counter cashing in a customer.

When the customer leaves, Minji leans against the counter and looks at Seungmin, who isn't even paying attention to her.

- Seungmin?

- Hm?

- what are you going to do?

He finally looks up at her, a look of incomprehension on his face.

- About what?

- About what you know," Minji replies, speaking more softly. About Sohane.

He frowns as he looks up at her, who is heading for a table of customers who have just arrived.

- And why should I do anything about Sohane?

Minji returns to the counter, more direct this time. She stares at him, arms crossed.

- Are you going to carry on like you've seen nothing?

Seungmin arches an eyebrow, but remains silent.

- You know very well she feels something for you, Seungmin. So either you're really blind, or you're running away.

He shakes his head slightly, giving a mirthless chuckle.

- Minji...

- No," she insists. She's not as good at hiding her feelings as you are. And you're not as detached as you'd like us to believe.

There's a silence. Seungmin looks at his hands on the counter, then looks up at Minji, more serious than ever.

- You're talking nonsense. We have a good working relationship, that's all.

He glances down at the countertop, which displays a new order.

He grabs a tray and starts to shape it.

Minji doesn't take his eyes off him, even as he begins to place cups on the tray with an over-controlled calm.

- You can be as stubborn as you like, Seungmin, but it shows. In the way you look at her when she laughs. In the silence you maintain when she leaves. Even Daeho has noticed.

He pauses briefly, his hand suspended over a saucer, then resumes his gesture without a word.

- You're entitled to be scared, you know. But if you don't feel anything, then say so. Say it to her. She doesn't deserve to stay in this kind of gray area where you pretend... and then you come back, as if you can't help yourself.

He clenches his jaw, visibly affected despite his efforts to remain neutral. He closes the tray with a discreet sigh.

- What I feel or don't feel is my own business.

- That's not true," Minji murmurs. It's Sohane's business too, because she's paying for it instead of you.

Seungmin slowly looks up at her. This time, there's no mask. Just a mixture of confusion, doubt and something deeper, which he struggles to contain.

- What if I'm not ready?" he murmurs, almost to himself.

- Then be honest. Not with me. With her.

Minji slowly steps back from the counter, giving him one last look before heading back to Daeho.

Seungmin stands there transfixed, the tray in his hands. He slowly turns his head towards the back of the room. Sohane is there, writing in her notebook, her half-empty cup in front of her. She looks up at that precise moment, meeting his gaze.

And he looks away, his heart too noisy for such a quiet café.

[__]

The bell above the door rings one last time, then falls back into the silence of the café. It's almost 10pm. Everything is clean, the dimmed lights give the place a soft air. The smell of coffee has subsided, replaced by that of soap and damp wood.

Seungmin lets out a sigh and collapses onto a chair by the window, wiping her forehead with the inside of her arm.

- My legs are gone," he mumbles.

- That's because you haven't stopped moving for six hours," replies Minji, sitting down opposite him, just as slumped.

Daeho arrives in turn, dragging her feet, and sits down on the seat next to Minji, throwing her cap on the table.

- We could almost sleep here.

Sohane emerges from the storeroom with a tea towel still in her hand, the tie of her apron undone at her side. She looks at them, a tired smile on her face.

- You all look like you've been to war.

- I kind of have," comments Seungmin, her eyes closed.

A short silence ensued. Then, without warning, Minji straightens up a little, her eyes shining.

- Shall we go out tonight?

They all look up at her, bewildered.

- Like... right now?" asks Daeho, skeptically.

- Yeah. The café's closed tomorrow. And right now we're all on the verge of burn-out. We need a break. A real one. I'm not saying we have to party until morning, but... dance a little, laugh, clear our heads. That's what we need.

- A club?" asks Sohane, surprised.

- Or a dance bar. Something lively. Not a seedy karaoke bar like last time," she squeaks, glancing at Seungmin.

He raises his hands in defense.

- This wasn't my idea.

- It doesn't matter," Minji continues. Tonight, we're having fun. Forget the coffee, the schedules, the... complications.

She glances discreetly at Seungmin, who looks down.

A hesitant silence follows, then Daeho nods slowly.

- I'm in.

- Me too," says Sohane after a second. It might... do some good.

They all turn to Seungmin.

He looks at them one by one, then stares at Sohane for a moment. She holds his gaze without saying anything, her expression neutral, but her fingers clutching the tea towel reveal some stage fright.

- Okay, he finally says. I don't see why not.

Minji raises her arms in the air, victorious.

- Then it's decided! Go and get ready, I know the perfect place.

—> Next part

── .✦ Summer Coffee

Pairing : no¡idol!Kim Seungmin x oc

Word : 2.1k

Genre : fluff

Warning : none

Sohane loves absolutely everyone. She's uncomplicated, whether as a student or just as a person.

But there are three things she hates - in this exact order:

1. Being away from her family

2. Her manager

3. Her job

Despite it all, she keeps smiling. Because deep down, Sohane has this uncanny ability to always find an ounce of light, even on the worst of days. Maybe it's because she knows that her family is waiting for her somewhere, or maybe she's secretly hoping that her manager will eventually change (spoiler: no).

In the meantime, she goes from class to class, low-paid shifts to pointless meetings with an almost suspicious patience. All, of course, with a cold cup of coffee in hand and dark circles that tell the story of her life better than any diary.

Every morning, Sohane puts on her uniform - white skirt too short, tight top and white boots like a shop-window doll - wondering whether she's a waitress or an extra in a dubious music video. The bright, chic café smells more of overpriced perfume and hypocrisy than roasted coffee.

Two floors of demanding customers, meticulous orders, and above all, two floors to escape the heavy gaze of her manager. Always "passing by" as she climbs the stairs, "checking to see if everything's all right" by staring a little too low. A look she knows by heart, and ignores with the icy elegance she's built into her armor.

But sometimes, between two frothy cappuccinos and an order of oatmeal latte, she finds herself dreaming. Of another life, another job, a place where uniforms are a choice, not a marketing strategy. In the meantime, she smiles. Because she's learned that in this café, smiles earn more than tips.

And then there's Seungmin, who has always worked in this café, at least since he started his sports scholarship at university. He's been there long enough to know all the customers' habits, the weaknesses of the cash register system, and above all, to have seen more than one employee come and go... including Sohane.

At first, he didn't like her. Perhaps because of her overly clean British accent, her right wrist full of bracelets that jingled with every gesture, or the way she took a customer's order as if she were presenting a play. Too flashy, too self-assured, too different.

But the days went by. He noticed how she discreetly stroked his wrist when the manager got too close. How she took sexist remarks in stride with a smile too polite to be sincere. And how she always left a hint of sweet perfume in the air when she passed by him.

He never said he understood her. But he stopped judging her. And one evening, while cleaning the espresso machine beside her, he said a simple:

- You've got a lot of bracelets.

She smiled, a little surprised.

- One for each city I've left. There'll be one for here soon, I suppose.

He nodded, and has been looking at her a little differently ever since. Maybe not with tenderness... but with a discreet, almost imperceptible respect. A kind of fragile peace between two worlds that weren't meant to meet.

Summer has arrived like a cardboard promise. Customers linger on the terrace, ice creams melt faster than tips, and the sun beats down on the café's large windows as if to remind everyone that there is life outside - except for those who work there.

Sohane and Seungmin are stuck here, in this luxury two-storey café that smells of artificial vanilla and postponed dreams. Along with a few other colleagues on short-term contracts or vacation hardship, they form a strange team, a little shaky, but functional. There's Minji, the fastest to serve but the slowest to get a joke; Daeho, who pretends not to understand French whenever a customer is unpleasant; and then there's them, the unlikely duo.

They don't talk much, Seungmin and Sohane. But they understand each other with their glances, silent gestures, and little phrases uttered half-voiced in quiet moments. And over the weeks, there have been details they can no longer ignore: the way he always keeps a fresh bottle of water next to the cash register, or how she brings him a coffee just the way he likes it before he even asks for it.

One evening, after closing, as they wipe the tables in soothing silence, Sohane says softly:

- You don't seem to hate bracelets after all.

Seungmin looks up, a little taken aback, before shrugging.

- I never said I hated bracelets. Just... what they hide.

She stares at him for a moment, then lets out a little laugh. That kind of discreet, tired but sincere laugh. And for the first time, he doesn't look away.

It's a long summer. It's hot. The work is repetitive. But there are these moments, stolen, suspended. And little by little, between orders, capricious customers and too-short uniforms, something unexpected is being born.

-----

First day of summer vacation. The kind of day when the sun is beating down at 9 a.m. and the streets are full of overexcited tourists and exhausted locals. At the café, the blinds are half down, but that's not enough: the air is heavy, almost sticky, and the coffee machine makes more noise than usual, as if it too were grumbling about having to work during the vacations.

Sohane arrives ten minutes early, as always. Her bracelets click gently as she ties her apron. Her hair is done in a hurry, but she keeps that pink lipstick that gives the illusion that she's slept more than four hours. She says nothing, but her eyes scan the room as if assessing the battlefield.

Seungmin, on the other hand, arrives right on time, with his slightly nonchalant look, his T-shirt peeking out from under his shirt and his half-frowned, half-asleep gaze. He gives her a simple "Hi" as he passes her to grab a tray. She responds with a slightly amused nod.

- How much do you want to bet we've got a bunch of English tourists asking for a "flat white like back home" before noon?

- Five bracelets," he replies without looking up.

The day gets off to a slow start, but it doesn't last. The café fills up too quickly, orders come in, and the manager is already prowling up the stairs to "supervise service". Sohane dodges his glances, changing rooms three times to avoid him, while Seungmin keeps a discreet but constant eye on her movements. He says nothing, but she feels his presence. And that's enough for her.

At break time, they sit on the fire escape at the back, where no one comes. She removes her boots to let her legs breathe, he sips his soda in silence. The sun is beating down, but the air is milder here.

- What were you planning to do this summer, if you hadn't gotten this job?

He thinks for a moment.

- Sleep. Train. Maybe travel. But what about you?

- Back to London. See my brother. Eat a real fish & chip.

- At least you'll get that," he says, pulling a puny punnet of French fries out of the bag.

She laughs.

- You're silly.

They eat in silence, in this fragile bubble they've built in spite of themselves. First day of summer. There's still plenty left. And although neither of them admits it yet, deep down they're beginning to think that maybe it won't be so bad.

The break ends too quickly, as always. They go back inside, back to the hustle and bustle, the shouted orders, the clinking cups, and the increasingly stifling heat. The manager, sunglasses resting on his skull like an accessory of power, stands at the bottom of the stairs, arms crossed, waiting... or spying.

Sohane raises her head, meets his gaze and immediately looks away. Her professional smile returns, more mechanical than sincere. She goes up to the second floor to wait on a table, her bracelets clinking against the tray. Behind her, she feels the manager's gaze slide down her legs. Again.

Seungmin sees the scene from the cash register. He says nothing, but his jaws tighten. This isn't the first time. It won't be the last. But today, perhaps because of the heat, or the fact that it's finally summer, he's had enough.

Later, when she comes back downstairs, she finds him behind the counter, obviously arguing with the manager in a low voice. She doesn't understand everything, but she picks up bits and pieces:

- ...not a zoo here...

- ...she's doing her job, let her breathe...

- ...you're going too far, seriously...

As she approaches, the manager strides away without a word. Seungmin says nothing either. He wipes the worktop a little too insistently. She stands there for a moment, unsure whether to thank him or pretend she hadn't seen anything.

Finally, she whispers:

- Are you going to be my bodyguard now?

- You didn't sign up to be a showman," he murmurs, his eyes still downcast.

- No, I didn't. I signed up for a lousy salary and tips in red coins. Not for this.

The silence that follows is heavy, but not unpleasant. It has a kind of necessary weight. Like taking a stand, turning a corner. And when their eyes meet, there's something new in the air. An affirmed respect. A more open complicity.

And maybe, just maybe, the start of something else.

The sun has been down for a while, but the warmth remains trapped between the café walls like a last gasp of the day. The customers have left, the chairs have been returned to the tables, and a jazz playlist is looped at discreet volume, just enough to mask the sound of mops and tired sighs.

Sohane is crouched behind the bar, sorting tea bags and towels, while Minji swirls the mop and sings off-key. Daeho is bent over the till with Seungmin, one hand on the back of his neck, the other recounting for the third time.

- It's still 7,000 won short," he grumbles.

- It's probably a customer who left without paying.

- Or Seungmin who stole a cookie," says Minji from across the room.

- I wouldn't steal them. They're as dry as your repartee.

A general laugh erupts, finally breaking the tension built up all day. Even Sohane laughs softly, her forehead still beaded with sweat, her hair a mess.

She gets up and joins Seungmin by the cash register. She holds out a 10,000 won bill from her pocket.

- It fell out of a tip earlier, I was sure I'd put it in the jar.

- Are you serious?

- Let's just say I have a professional conscience. Or just want to go home.

He stares at her for a moment, then takes the ticket without a word. Their fingers brush briefly. He puts the money in the till, closes the drawer, and blows:

- Shitty day.

- But we survived," she retorts, stretching.

The others continue to tidy up, but all around them, the café is almost quiet. Almost peaceful. Sohane sits on the counter, legs crossed, bracelets sliding down her arm. She looks at him, tired but light.

- Thanks for earlier. With the manager.

- Someone has to say what everyone else is thinking.

- You know you almost look cool when you defend me?

- I always look cool. You're just realizing it now.

She raises her eyes to the sky, but a smile hangs on her lips. It's no longer just complicity: it's the beginning of comfort. Something more intimate, softer, despite the fatigue, the hours on their feet and the sticky ground beneath them.

Minji slams a drawer to the back and says, yawning:

- If anyone wants to adopt me so I can live a real life this summer, I'm available.

- Too late," says Daeho. It's hell, we're already in it.

They all laugh a little. And in this half-weary, half-tender atmosphere, Sohane slips gently, almost to herself:

- Hell isn't so bad after all. Especially when you've got a team like that.

She doesn't look at him as she says this. But Seungmin doesn't take his eyes off his bracelets.

Masterlist

—> Next part

── .✦ Daily routine

Pairing : Seo Changbin x reader

Word : 320

Genre : fluff

Warning : none

Yn wasn't a morning person. But she had made the decision, a little crazy according to her friends, to join a gym to regain control of her life. New job, new routine, new her.

The only problem? All the machines were often taken. And that morning, in particular, there was only one bench available. She ran towards it... at the same time as another guy.

They stopped dead in their tracks. They stared at each other. And she immediately recognized who it was.

- Changbin?" she said, surprised.

He raised an eyebrow, a little breathless. Black sweatshirt, towel around his neck, arms swollen from training. Clearly in his element.

- Is it me or are you trying to steal my bench?

- Is it just me, or are you trying to steal my motivation?

He laughed. Loudly. True.

- Shall we share?" he proposed, wiping his brow.

That day, they trained side by side. First in silence. Then they took up stupid challenges, like "who can hold the plank the longest", or "who can do the most squats without wincing".

The next day, she came back. And so did he. Not a word exchanged by message. Just a glance and a wry smile as they met in front of the treadmills.

It had become their ritual.

And then one morning, as they stretched their arms in the mirror, he said without looking at her:

- I didn't see you yesterday. Have you been well?

She nodded, touched by the attention.

- I needed a breather. But I missed you a bit, I must admit.

He finally turned his head towards her. His gaze was soft, almost vulnerable.

- Do you want to blow together next time?

She smiled. This time, she laughed.

- Are you asking me out on a date with the vocabulary of a sports coach?

He shrugged, teasing.

- I'm working with what I've got. But you didn't say no.

And indeed, she hadn't said no.

Masterlist

── .✦ Baby fever

Masterlist

Pairing : Hwang Hyunjin x reader

Word : 1.9k

Genre : smut

Warning : breeding kink, p in v, oral (f.reveived), unprotected sex, crampie, Hyunjin is a little bit…obsessed ? Maybe I forgot something..

It was supposed to be a simple day. No schedule, no obligations. Just the two of them, snuggled together on the sofa, curtains drawn, the world left outside for a few hours. Hyunjin had his head resting on Yn's thighs, eyes half-closed as she gently stroked his hair, tracing lazy little circles on his skull.

He'd been waiting for this moment all week. He just wanted to rest, breathe a little, feel her fingers and hear her voice without having to think about what was waiting for him next.

But of course, reality never completely pauses. Yn's phone vibrated. Once. Twice. She sighed, Hyunjin grunted softly without moving her head, as if to say "forget it, it's not important."

But she looked at the screen. It was her sister. And she picked up.

A few sentences exchanged, little "yes", "ok", "I can come"... Then she hung up.

"My sister can't have her son babysat today," she said softly, sliding a hand over Hyunjin's cheek. "She asked me if I could take him for a while."

He didn't answer right away. Just a slight sigh, a glance at her, then a tired smile.

"Come on, let's go together."

A few hours later, the three of them were sitting in Yn's sister's living room. The boy had turned everything upside down - toys strewn about, cushions on the floor, half-done drawings on the coffee table - but Hyunjin hadn't said a word. He simply watched, a little to one side, while Yn laughed, knelt to do puzzles or lifted him in the air like a superheroine.

There was this natural tenderness in her every gesture, this patience, this warmth that made the room softer just by her presence.

As the boy's excitement began to subside, Yn sat down on the sofa, a blanket on her lap. The boy climbed right up against her, burying his face in her neck, little body shaking with tired sighs.

"Are you tired, sweetheart?" she murmured, kissing his hair. He nodded, his arms around her neck.

Hyunjin approached slowly, sat down beside them, and the scene hit him hard. Yn, sitting there, her gaze tender, her arms protective, her face serene... with this little human stuck to her as if it were his world.

He felt something tighten in his chest.

It wasn't just cute. It was visceral. He could already see her with their child. Their home. Their life together.

She looked up at him then, catching his gaze.

"Do you want to lie down for a bit too?" she asked softly.

He nodded, slid to the other side of her, and as he lay down, he couldn't help whispering:

"You're too beautiful like this... I think I'm going to fall even more in love with you if you keep this up."

She blushed slightly, smirking.

"Because of what?"

He put his hand on the little boy's head, then his on Yn's belly, almost as a reflex.

"Because of this. Because of you."

She had no time to reply. Hyunjin had already moved closer, resting his head close to her hip, as if he just wanted to be glued to her, even in the silence. He closed his eyes, a deep sigh leaving his lips.

She remained there, caressing the two heads resting against her - her nephew's, already asleep, and Hyunjin's, slowly slipping into that calm, soothed half-sleep. And even though she said nothing, her heart beat a little faster. Because she'd understood. And because she was thinking about it too.

By evening, they were finally home. The day had washed them away. Not a word too many, just looks, simple gestures. Hyunjin had spent most of the journey staring at the road, lost in thought. Not worried. Just... inhabited.

The room was bathed in subdued light. Yn was already settled on the bed, lying on her stomach with her phone in her hands. She scrolled softly, looking peaceful, a small comforter tucked against her chest like an unconscious reflex. Her hair cascaded over the pillow, and from time to time, she tapped the screen without paying too much attention.

Hyunjin came out of the bathroom in silence, a loose T-shirt on his back, his hair still a little damp. He stared at her for a moment, leaning against the doorframe. Then he gently broke the silence:

"Are you working tomorrow?"

She turned her head towards him, her face half-hidden by the comforter.

"Mh, yeah. Why?" she asked, her voice a little drawl, curious.

He didn't answer right away. He approached her slowly, climbed onto the bed and slid down to her. Then, without warning, he kissed her softly at the corner of her lips, his hand sliding down her back.

"Because in this case..." he murmured against her skin, "...I'll have to be quick."

She arched an eyebrow, a quiet laugh slipping between her lips.

"Have to make it quick for what?"

He leaned a little closer, his lips brushing her ear.

His voice dropped a tone, low, almost whispered:

"Put a baby in your belly."

She felt her breath catch for a second, her phone slipping gently from her hand.

She turned slowly onto her back, her eyes planted in his, torn between surprise, envy, and that intense warmth he knew how to ignite in her without even forcing.

"Hyunjin..."

But he was already kissing her again, this time more firmly, as if he'd been waiting all day for this. His hand sought hers, intertwining their fingers above her head.

And in the reassuring silence of the night, there was no tomorrow, no job, no doubt - just the two of them, and that burning idea he'd just planted in the air.

His lips lingered against hers, warm, slow, a kiss that said more than his words. Yn felt her heart beat faster, her fingers still knotted to his above her head, trapped between the gentleness of his gestures and the intensity of what he'd just said.

Hyunjin straightened up a little to look at her. His gaze shone, a mixture of desire, pure love and something deeper, almost visceral.

"You should get some sleep," he breathed, tracing her jaw line with his fingertips.

"You're literally telling me you want to put a baby in my belly and then you tell me to sleep?" she murmured with a nervous smile.

He laughed softly, his forehead coming to rest against hers.

"I'm telling you to sleep because otherwise I'm really not going to be able to hold myself back."

But he didn't move. He stayed there, against her, his body pressed to hers, his breathing mingling with hers. He kissed her cheek, slowly, then her neck, then her collarbone. Each kiss seemed to ask the question he was no longer saying aloud.

His hands slipped under the fabric of her T-shirt. He caressed her with all-consuming tenderness, as if learning every inch of her skin for the hundredth time.

"I've never wanted anything so badly," he breathed softly, almost like a secret.

Yn looked up at him, her free hand coming to rest against his cheek.

"Do you want it now?"

He closed his eyes for a moment, his jaw contracting slightly. He leaned in again, placed a kiss just at the hollow of her belly, where his hand then lingered, flat against her.

"I want you now. And if a baby comes with it... I'll be overjoyed."

He doesn't even give her time to respond as he continues to kiss her. The corners of her lips, her cheeks, her jaw, her neck, her breasts, her belly, then he reaches her panties.

He looks up at her, her face warm and her gaze burning with desire for him.

Then he breaks eye contact and slowly removes her panties, getting a direct view of her femininity.

"You're so wet, Love..." He lets out in a whisper. But Yn doesn't have time to reply, as Hyunjin's tongue is already running through her.

A moan leaves the barrier of her lip. "I will make you so fucking good tonight, babygirl" He says, putting a finger inside her and running his tongue all over her.

"Fuck...Hyune..." He doesn't respond-doesn't even slow down. He just moans into you, burying his face deeper, tongue flicking, lips sealing around your clit as he sucks with an obscene, wet sound.

"I will make you a mommy tonight. A good mommy, and when I will come home, I will see you with my child." Hyunjin's words send a shiver down Yn's spine, and she lets out a long moan as she runs her hand through Hyunjin's hair, which moans slightly at the contact. "Baby..I'm..oh my fuck..."

Hyunjin smiles against her, Yn's belly contracting and relaxing at the touch of Hyunjin's fingers and tongue. She murmurs totally incomprehensible words as she runs her hands through Hyunjin's hair. "You gonna cum babe ? Hm ? Yeah, come on my tongue, please, please."

And that's all it took for Yn to burst a ball of pleasure in her belly with a silent scream. She instinctively closed her thighs, trapping Hyunjin between them.

He already make you cum three time. And he seems to didn't done yet. He want is baby, he want your baby.

And each thrust goes deeper and deeper, pushing his sperm further and further in, he wants his baby in your belly tonight at all costs.

"Fuck" he lets out a long moan, blatantly slamming your ass against him. "You took me so well baby" you don't answer, your moans muffled by the pillow, you're almost crying from overstimulation.

Hyunjin is so proud of provoking this in you, he couldn't be less proud than to see this work on you.

At this very moment, the fact that you're both working the next day doesn't matter, all you want to do is turn off the climax.

"Fuck..gonna cum, again Jinnie!" he smiles, bringing his hands to your waist, and speeding up his movements. "Yeah? Again ? Cum all over my cock babe. My sweet cock only there for make you feel good. Only for you love of my life "

And it doesn't take much for Yn's walls to clench around is cock, a guttural moan leaving Hyunjin's lip barrier as he taps that spot of Yn again and again. And just a few seconds later, Yn's body trembles, and a long moan leaves the barrier of his lips as his groan carries him away.

Barely a moment later, Hyunjin is still cumming inside her, but doesn't stop, pushing his semen a little further out before coming to rest still inside her.

Gasps fill the room, Hyunjin slowly withdraws, eliciting a groan from Yn.

He sweeps his fingers over her folds, before pushing them inside her, and using and playing with his fingers inside her, pushing his semen even further out.

When he pulls his fingers out, they're all white with his essence.

"Wanna taste baby?" Yn sits up slowly, trembling slightly, then opens her mouth, sticking out her tongue. She doesn't feel Hyunjin's semen slowly trickling down her thigh, but she doesn't care, just moves closer to her man.

He runs his fingers over Yn's warm tongue and sucks them, aiming to catch all the white liquid. After a moment, he simply rests his head on her shoulders, breathing hard.

"Go in the bathroom. We working tomorrow..." he carries his beloved to the bathroom.

A few weeks had passed. Quickly, but not without leaving traces.

Yn had had this strange sensation in her body for a few days - as if something had changed without her really knowing what. Discrete nausea, persistent fatigue, and this constant feeling of being... inhabited.

She didn't say anything right away. She wanted to be sure. And that morning, as she watched the two little bars appear on the test, her heart stopped dead in her tracks.

Positive.

Not once. Not twice. Three times. She'd done three. All positive.

She'd struggled to breathe at first, staring at the results. Don't panic. No panic. But then, the only image that came to mind was him. Hyunjin. His smile. His hands on her belly that night. His words. "Put a baby in your belly."

So she'd called him. Without a second thought. Even though she knew he was in the middle of practice with the others, rehearsing, focused, in his own world.

He picked up on the third ring, out of breath, voice panting:

"Baby? Are you okay?"

She took a shaky breath. He heard immediately that her voice was different.

"Hyunjin... I didn't want to bother you but... I had to tell you."

A short silence.

"Tell me. What is it?"

She bit her lip, her heart on the edge of her lips. Then she dropped, like a soft bomb:

"The tests are positive."

A long silence.

For a moment she thought he wasn't breathing.

"Hyunjin?"

But when he finally spoke, his voice was barely a whisper. Broken. Loaded.

"You mean... we're having a baby?"

"Yes."

A sound of hurried footsteps through the phone. Voices he ignored around him. Then:

"I don't care. I'm leaving. I'm coming. I can't stay here."

She heard the sound of a bag being grabbed, of a door slamming. He kept talking at the same time, without hanging up, as if he wanted to stay glued to her until he was physically there.

"You swear you're okay? Are you all right? Are you shaking? Do you want me to buy something? Wait- I'll take some flowers. No, I'm not going to waste time. I'm coming."

Yn, at her wits' end, burst out laughing softly through the tears.

"Hyunjin... breathe."

"Can't. You're pregnant. You're... you're pregnant with my child. Damn. Yn."

And at that moment, she heard him laugh too. A laugh of disbelief, pure joy, like a kid in front of his Christmas present.

"Coming. I love you. And I'm coming."

── .✦ I love you, between us

Masterlist

Pairing : ¡idol!Lee Felix x reader

Word : 1.3

Genre : fluff, angst

Warning : none

For many months, Felix and Yn have lived a hidden but happy life.

Determined to protect Yn from the constraints of his idol life, Felix has naturally chosen to keep their relationship a secret - to the point of telling no one, not even his members.

Despite stolen dates and whispered conversations in the dead of night, their bond grew stronger. Every glance exchanged, every moment stolen from the hustle and bustle of fame, only confirmed what they already knew: what they shared was worth protecting.

But keeping such a precious secret is not without consequences. As time goes by, the line between public and private life becomes harder to maintain. Felix juggles his responsibilities and his feelings, while Yn, though happy, begins to feel the weight of silence.

And yet, neither of them is ready to give up. Yet.

One morning, after spending the night with his beloved, Felix quietly prepares to leave for the studio.

Yn is in the kitchen, putting the finishing touches to her housework.

- I'm going to stop by the dormitory before rehearsals... Do you have any more cookie dough?

She looks up at the fake blond who has just entered the kitchen, and gives him a small smile.

- Do you want some for yourself or for everyone?

- For the boys. I told them they'd get some.

Yn approaches him with a teasing look.

- And you said I made them?

However, his gaze is a little evasive at the end of his sentence.

- But don't worry, they'll just be happy to eat them.

She freezes for a moment. But she smiles anyway. Because she's learned to deal with it. Because she loves it. So she gets up, goes to the kitchen, and bakes the cookies. He takes them with him, gives her a quick kiss and leaves.

Much later in the afternoon, Yn calls Félix, with a view to telling him about the adventure that has just befallen him.

The latter is quick to answer.

- Hey, you're just in time, I was going to send you a message.

- Oh, yeah? I'm calling to tell you something crazy, you'll laugh.

- Go ahead, I'm listening.

She starts to tell the story, cheerful, laughing at times. Félix listens, participates, laughs with her. Then, in the middle of their exchange, she hears voices behind him.

- Dude, tell Jisoo thanks for the cookies!

- They were amazing, seriously! She's got it down pat!

A blank.

Yn says nothing more. Neither is Felix.

- Jisoo?

- Yn, it's not...

- Did you tell them your best mate made the cookies? The ones I baked while you were at my place this morning? The ones you watched get cold while you kissed me?

- I didn't mean anything by it, I just didn't want them to wonder.

- So you'd rather make me look like an invisible, average chick than have to assume that someone cares about you?

- It's not that, Yn, you know very well how I feel about you. I just wanted to protect what we have.

- By trying to protect us, you're making me disappear.

Silence. A long one. Too long.

- Yn, I'm sorry. I screwed up.

- Yeah, you did. You did. And the worst part... I'm starting to get used to it.

She hangs up.

Around him, the guys continue to chat, unsuspecting. He says nothing. He gets up, leaves the living room without a word, and locks himself in his room.

He sits on the bed, runs his hands over his face, sighs deeply.

His gaze falls on the tote bag beside his suitcase - the one Yn gave him two months ago, on the sly. He remembers her words that night:

- This way, even if nobody knows it's me, you'll know.

He clenches his jaw.

He grabs his phone. Types "Yn" into his contacts. Stays stuck on her name for long seconds, thumb hanging over the screen. Then he locks the device and leaps to his feet.

He doesn't send a message.

He puts on his jacket and hat, and leaves the dormitory without telling anyone.

Night has fallen when there's a gentle knock on the door. Yn, her eyes red and her face tired, hesitates for a moment. Then she opens the door.

Félix is there. Out of breath. His eyes shining.

- I know I should have asked if I could come.

- You shouldn't be here, Felix.

He looks down. Nods gently.

- I know you shouldn't. But I needed to see you. Not to make amends. Just to let you know I'm here. That I'm tired of being a coward. And if I have to choose between hiding what we are or losing you... I choose you.

Yn stares at him. Silent.

- I don't want to be your secret.

- Then let me show you that you're not it. That you were never that.

A moment of silence. Then she steps aside, slowly, giving way to him.

Félix enters. Closes the door behind him. Gently. As if afraid the slightest noise might change her mind.

And in the quiet of this apartment, in the midst of all the things they haven't said to each other, he understands one thing: loving someone in secret isn't bad... as long as you don't forget to make her feel loved.

The silence in the apartment is heavy, but not hostile. Just charged. Félix stands there, hands in his pockets, eyes on her as if afraid she might disappear.

Yn crosses her arms against her chest.

- You can't just barge in here and think everything's going to be all right because you said the right words.

- I know I can't. I didn't come here so you'd forgive me tonight. I'm here to prove that I deserve it. That you're not just some secret I'm hiding, you're what I'm protecting... and now I don't want to hide you anymore.

She watches him. Suspicious. But part of her wants to believe. She's always wanted to.

- And how do you plan to do that, hm? Tell your members you're in love with a girl they've never seen? That you've been lying to them for months?

- Yeah. Exactly that.

- It's not that simple, Felix.

- No. But it's necessary. You have no idea how scared I was today. Because I felt I'd really lost you. And that's when I realized that if I go on like this, I'm going to break you... and myself.

Yn looks down. She says nothing.

Then Félix moves forward slowly. He takes his phone out of his pocket. Types a message. And hands it to her.

- You can press "send" if you like. Otherwise, I'll do it myself. I don't want any backtracking.

Yn reads the message:

"I've got something to tell you. There's someone in my life. Her name is Yn. It's been months. I'm in love with her. And I'm sorry I didn't tell you before."

She looks up at him.

- Are you sure?

- À 100%. It's the only thing I've ever been so sure of.

She stares for a second. Then, slowly, she presses "send".

Félix smiles.

- Thank you, Yn.

Yn lets out a small, almost nervous laugh.

- You've just triggered the end of the world, you know.

- Or just the beginning of a slightly more honest world.

He hugs her. She clings to him as if she's been holding her breath for too long.

And this time, she finally feels visible.

── .✦ My Lady

Masterlist

—> Part one —> Part two —> Part Three

Pairing : no¡idol!Yang Jeongin x ¡Princess!oc

Word : 5k

Genre : fluff, royalty au

Warning : none

The silence around them had become almost sacred. Sabah kept her eyes closed, her lips still burning from their kiss, her breathing mingled with Jeongin's. She felt her heart pounding against her chest as if to remind her that she was still here, alive, and for once... free. She felt her heart pounding against her chest as if to remind her that she was still here, alive, and for once... free.

- You shouldn't stay," she murmured, her voice weak and unconvincing.

- I know," he replied.

But neither of them moved.

At last, she looked up at him, at once vulnerable and full of new strength. It was strange, this sensation of being on the edge of what she'd always run away from. He was no prince, no suitor chosen by the crown. He was everything she'd been taught to avoid. And yet, with him, she felt more herself than ever.

- If anyone sees us... I'm risking everything," she breathed, but without letting go of his hand.

He nodded, his gaze sliding over her like a caress.

- You don't have to let me stay.

She hesitated only a moment, then, in an almost imperceptible breath, replied:

- Stay.

She gently guided him to the little corner by the window, where the silk cushions and soft carpets gave the impression of a hidden nest. They sat there, without a word, as if to speak might break something fragile.

Jeongin gently removed his jacket and laid it beside them. Sabah curled up against him, her head on his shoulder. This kind of intimacy was new. Slow. Silent. Charged with a thousand heartbeats.

- You'll have to go back, she breathed after a long moment, her eyes fixed on the moon through the window.

- Yes. But not just yet.

She nodded gently, her fingers slipping into his, squeezing them.

- I'm afraid of what I'm becoming.

- I'm afraid of what you might be giving up," he replied, almost in a whisper.

They stayed like that for a long moment, lulled by the calm of the night. Nothing more happened - not this time. But there was a muted promise in their silence, a soft, powerful tension that continued to vibrate between them.

When Sabah finally closed her eyes, she was no longer the perfect heiress, nor the obedient child. Just a young woman who had allowed herself to feel. To choose. And for once, not to run away.

The days went by, tirelessly, between duties, silences and fool's games. Sabah had resumed her place in the palace's gilded theater, chaining together receptions, meetings and frozen smiles. She had learned to walk in the light, concealing the shadow that burned her insides.

Her role as princess was played to perfection.

But whenever she could, she became something else. She stole moments, snatches of nights, whispers escaped in corners of the palace to help Jeongin and his family. Documents stolen, timetables passed on, maps stolen from under councilors' noses. She served the rebellion without ever betraying her cover.

And in the secrecy of the walls, her bond with Jeongin had grown stronger. Ever closer. Ever more dangerous. Their relationship, unspoken yet burning hot, was expressed in prolonged glances, stolen hands, silent nights. They didn't put into words what bound them together. Perhaps because they knew it would only hasten their downfall.

That afternoon, she was still wearing her ceremonial gown - a heavy, deep-blue fabric, embroidered with gold, that descended to her feet in an imposing train. Sitting on her bed, she was talking quietly to Jeongin, who had managed to sneak in through the balcony.

They hadn't even had time to exchange a kiss when footsteps echoed down the corridor.

- Princess, the Queen requests an audience with you.

Sabah's heart leapt in her chest.

She turned to Jeongin, her eyes wide. He opened his mouth, ready to speak, but she gave him no time.

- Of course... Send her in," she said in a strained voice.

- Hide!" she hissed, leaping to her feet.

Her eyes scanned the room. There was nothing there. No wardrobe, no curtain wide enough. She turned to her dress, which cascaded around her.

- Under my dress. Quickly.

- What?! he protested in a low voice.

- Get down! She pushed him toward her, grabbing the fabric to quickly conceal him.

- I can't breathe!

- I don't care, shut up!

The door opened in menacing silence, and the queen entered. Impeccable, sovereign, her gaze as sharp as a blade.

- Are you alone?

- Of course, Mother.

She felt Jeongin barely move beneath the fabric. His breath brushed her skin. She ignored him as best she could.

- Sit down," ordered the Queen.

Sabah obeyed. She sat on the armchair by the desk, her back straight. The queen crossed her legs and gazed into her eyes.

- The wedding has been brought forward.

A shiver ran down her spine.

- Advanced?" she murmured.

- In a week, you'll be united to him. It's non-negotiable.

Sabah felt Jeongin tense up against her. He'd heard her.

- But... why so suddenly?

- Political tensions are escalating. Your union is a bulwark, not a romance.

She lowered her eyes, but didn't answer.

And that's when Jeongin moved.

A tiny gesture. His hand brushed her thigh. Then another. A slow, almost playful brush. She stiffened, trying not to react.

- Is something the matter?

- No, nothing... this news just catches me off guard.

But the torture continued. Jeongin stroked her skin with his fingertips, with calculated slowness. She felt her breathing quicken.

- You must understand that your duty comes before your emotions. You were born to serve this empire.

She didn't answer. She was already fighting herself.

Finally, the Queen stood up.

- I'll come back later. Think about what this means. You'll have no other choice.

When the door closed behind her, Sabah stood still for a second. Then she briskly pushed back the folds of her dress.

- Get out. Get out now!

But Jeongin didn't move immediately.

- You're tense, princess," he breathed, his tone mocking.

- Don't call me that," she growled.

He touched her hip, a smile playing at the corner of his lips.

- That's what she just reminded you, isn't it? That you're a princess. That you were born to serve.

She grabbed his arm through the fabric.

- Jeongin!

He laughed softly before slowly stepping out from under the dress. His gaze, when he straightened up, was burning.

- You should be thanking me. I've been very good.

- You almost got us discovered!

- No, I didn't. Admit it... you liked it.

- Get out. Now.

He headed for the window, then turned before leaving:

- A week, eh? He smile. I'll have to hurry, then.

And he disappeared into the pale afternoon light, leaving Sabah trembling, her cheeks still flushed and her thoughts on fire.

The next day, the palace corridors seemed even narrower. More oppressive.

Sabah walked at a measured pace, upright and silent as servants and ladies-in-waiting rushed around her to take her measurements, choose her fabrics, adjust her jewelry.

The wedding was a week away.

One week.

And it was as if every second became a trap. A threat.

She didn't know if it was the queen's announcement, Jeongin's touch under her dress, or the weight of what she was going to have to do... but her heart hadn't been beating normally since yesterday.

Later that day, as the palace gradually fell asleep, she found Jeongin at their secret meeting place: a forgotten room in the basement, hidden behind some unused wine barrels.

He was already there, leaning against a wall, arms folded, eyes dark.

- Marriage in a hurry complicates everything," he said without preamble.

Sabah nodded, closing the massive door behind her.

- I know it does. I was supposed to send you some other documents before the end of the month... But now I've barely got a week before... She paused, unable to finish her sentence.

He gently approached her.

- To become hers?

His tone wasn't jealous. Just... dry. real.

She didn't answer.

- We'll have to move everything forward," he added. The infiltration. Stealing the plans. Sabotage the throne room. Everything. We can't wait. As soon as you're married, they'll lock the doors, isolate you, keep an eye on you. And we'll have no leverage.

- I'm ready," Sabah murmured. To do whatever it takes.

- Even if it means never coming back here again?

She looked up at him, unblinking.

- This... is not my home. They burned it down.

There was a tense silence. Jeongin ran a hand through his hair before sighing.

- We need your help with one last thing before the wedding.

- What's that?

- Access to the palace's internal security plans. We think the emperor is preparing to reinforce the guard because of political tensions. We need to know when and where to act. And you're the only one who can get close without being suspected.

Sabah nodded, her expression determined.

- I'll find a way.

Jeongin approached again, this time more gently. He put his hand on hers.

- You don't have to do this alone.

She tightened her fingers around his. And in a barely audible breath:

- I never feel alone when you're around.

He smiled faintly, his gaze softer this time.

But in the depths of his eyes, a shadow persisted: that of a silent countdown, of an uncertain future, and of a love that could perhaps never fully exist.

The weight of the decision was heavy, almost unbearable. Jeongin, usually so calm and determined, found himself torn between two worlds. On the one hand, he had his mission, justice for his people, vengeance against the emperor. On the other, there was Sabah. She was an obstacle, yes, but also a source of light and hope. But above all, she didn't belong to this world, this world of fleeing, of hiding, of constantly fighting to survive.

They were out of sight in a discreet corner of the palace, one of the rooms they used for their secret meetings. Candlelight danced against the walls, creating uncertain shadows. Sabah stood there, eyes fixed on him, waiting for him to speak.

He knew there was no turning back. The mission had to move forward. But every time he asked the question in his mind, he couldn't help thinking that chaining her to this flight, this life of perpetual escape... it wasn't fair to her.

- Jeongin... this is all going to end, isn't it?" asked Sabah, breaking the silence between them.

He stared at her for a moment, then shook his head slowly.

- Once we've got the archive, that's just the beginning. After that, we'll have to escape. War... will be the only way out for many of us. The Empire will never forgive us.

She nodded, understanding but distant. She knew nothing would be easy. But she had her place here, in the palace, her role to play. She couldn't leave everything, sacrifice everything for an uncertain promise.

But her look... that look of uncertainty he'd seen before, that doubt she hid beneath the surface of her nobility, gnawed at him. He knew that the temptation to leave, to flee her fate, was growing inside her as they drew closer.

- Jeongin, why are you telling me all this?" she asked, almost half aloud, her hands clasped in her lap.

He lowered his eyes, searching for words. Then, with a heavy slowness, he approached her.

- Because I... I don't know what's going to happen after this. We have a plan, but it's risky. There's a chance we might fail. And... I can't, I won't, drag you into this if you're not ready.

Her words hung in the air, heavy and trembling.

Sabah came closer, her eyes never leaving him. She could see the struggle in his dark eyes. He wasn't sure. But that wasn't what was troubling her. No, what disturbed her was that she was no longer sure what she wanted. She had a duty, a responsibility. But what he was proposing... it was a completely different world. No rules. Without ties. No obligations.

- What if I wanted to go away with you?" she whispered suddenly, her fragile voice like a breath in the room.

He froze for a moment, unable to believe it.

- You... you want to run away too?" he asked, his heart beating faster with every word.

She looked up at him, a glint of truth in her eyes.

- I don't want to run away, Jeongin. But I want to be free. Free of this burden. Free to be myself.

He stepped towards her, his gaze more intense than ever.

- Do you understand that if you come, there's no going back? There's no more empire. No palace. Just... us, and what's left after all this.

She nodded slowly, but the weight of the situation, of this impossible choice, overwhelmed her. She'd been born for this. Born to serve this empire. But her life, her freedom, was what it was offering her, wasn't it?

- I know, Jeongin. But I can't let you go without knowing what it means to me.

He closed his eyes for a moment, the pain of the situation hitting his heart like a hammer blow.

- I never wanted to bring you into this. But I... I don't want to lose you. Not this way.

She approached him, her hands touching his face with tenderness.

- Jeongin, I'm ready. If you want me to come with you, I'll leave everything behind.

The declaration echoed through the room, heavy with meaning. He looked at her, shaken. There was no way back. Once they'd left, he couldn't go back, and neither could she.

The tension rose, palpable. The moment when everything would change was approaching.

They were at a crossroads. A decision to be made. And the consequences would be definitive.

The week had flown by with frightening speed. A whirlwind of precious fabrics, endless fittings, preparatory ceremonies, formal speeches and oppressive stares. Sabah had run from place to place, her face frozen in a mask of serenity while inside, she was consumed.

And despite all this, despite the artificial euphoria of the preparations, she had only one question haunting her: why hasn't it happened yet?

The plans had to be completed before the wedding. That was the unspoken pact between her and Jeongin. She'd helped them, given them access, codes, times, copies of classified documents. She had taken unthinkable risks. For her. For them. For her.

And yet, each day passed, and nothing moved. Nothing. Not a word from Jeongin. Not a sign.

What if he wasn't coming?

What if it had all been in vain?

What if she was just another expendable pawn?

On the morning of the wedding, her heart was so heavy she could hardly breathe. The courtiers showered her with compliments, made her up, did her hair, dressed her like a royal doll. She smiled, but could no longer feel her body. Her gaze kept searching for a familiar silhouette. But nothing.

And then came the ceremony.

The hall was bathed in gold and heavy perfumes. The emperor sat enthroned, impassive. The queen stared at Sabah as if waiting for the slightest slip. Her future husband, on the other hand, stood tall and proud, gazing at her as if at a trophy to be acquired.

The priest began to speak. His solemn voice echoed in the absolute silence.

- Princess Sabah, do you agree to unite your destiny with that of Prince Rhean, before the Empire and the gods?

A heartbeat. Then two. Then three. Five.

Come.

His gaze remained fixed on the entrance. No sound. Not a sound. No movement.

COME, please.

She felt her stomach twist. Anguish, rage, pain.

- ... Yes," she said at last in a white, almost foreign voice.

And in that second, she knew. It was all over. All the effort, all the sacrifice... for nothing. She was theirs, forever.

The coronation took place at once. The crown was placed on her head with an almost cruel slowness. She felt nothing. Not even the weight.

Candles crackled softly around her, casting a warm glow on the boudoir walls. The air smelled of jasmine and lavender. The servants, silent, worked around her with ritual, almost sacred precision.

Sabah sat upright in her ivory silk dress, her arms resting on the armrests. Her fingers trembled imperceptibly. A young servant was delicately adjusting a jewel in her hair, while another tied a ribbon of fine lace to her wrist.

- The princess is beautiful," breathed one admiringly.

But Sabah didn't reply. Her thoughts were elsewhere. In another world. A world where she wouldn't have to do this.

Another hand sprayed a sweet perfume behind her ears, then slid a comb through her hair, which had already been carefully lifted. Every gesture was tender. Thoughtful. And yet, Sabah felt more and more alienated from herself.

- Everything's almost ready," murmured the nurse who had raised her, leaning over her with a gentle smile. Don't be afraid, sweetheart. It's only one night.

But that's just it. This was the night.

The night she would officially become the wife of a man she didn't want. The night she would be his. Where she would have to smile, play her part, open her bed, while her heart was elsewhere - far, so far away.

Her hands tightened on the armrests. She inhaled slowly, trying to ignore the panicked beating of her heart.

- Can I... can I be alone for a moment?" she breathed.

The servants exchanged silent glances, then nodded respectfully.

- Of course, Your Highness.

One by one, they left the room. The door closed softly. Silence returned.

Sabah closed her eyes.

Why hasn't he come? Why hasn't anything happened yet? Why do I feel like I'm all alone?

She stood there for a moment, frozen in her dress, her lips trembling. Then, as if awakened from a dream, she stood up.

A servant was waiting for her at the entrance to the corridor leading to the bridal chamber.

- It's time, princess.

She nodded. And began to walk.

Her steps were slow. Heavy. With every meter that brought her closer to the room, her breath became shorter. She felt as if the air was getting thicker. As if the walls themselves knew what was about to happen. As if the whole empire was pushing her towards this moment.

Why didn't anything happen?

Why didn't they come?

Her palms were sweaty. Her gaze fixed straight ahead. She could hear the murmurs behind the doors, the muffled footsteps of the guards, the whispers in the alcoves. No one was holding her back. No one to save her.

And so she walked, like a condemned woman.

In front of the bedroom door, she stopped. One last time.

Her heart was beating so fast she was afraid someone would hear her.

I don't want to do this. I don't want to do this.

She reached for the handle.

Then she pushed the door open.

The bridal chamber was bathed in golden light. Crimson velvet curtains cascaded around the four-poster bed. Rose petals dotted the floor. Lit candelabras cast a warm glow over the room. Everything had been carefully arranged to celebrate the sacred union... and her first night as his wife.

But Sabah stopped short.

Something was wrong.

The silence. It was too dense. Too deep.

Her eyes scanned the room.

And there, at the foot of the bed, she saw him.

Her husband.

Lying there.

Inert.

Arms outstretched, body slumped like a rag doll. His ceremonial dress crumpled. A dark stain on his temple. He was still breathing - she could barely see him - but he wasn't moving.

Sabah took a step back, her heart beating wildly. An icy shiver ran up her spine.

- Don't panic.

The voice came from behind her.

She jumped back.

And there was Jeongin.

Dressed in black, looking slightly out of breath, a trace of dried blood at the corner of his lip. He stood in the shadow of the closed door, his gaze fixed on hers.

- We made it.

His breath caught.

- Did what?

He moved quickly toward her and grabbed her wrists, his eyes shining with adrenaline.

- The signal's been given. Half the palace is already on fire, the uprisings have begun, the gates will fall at any moment. We've got to go now.

- But... what about him?" she says, pointing to the body still on the ground.

- Asleep. He won't remember a thing. Not yet. I promised you I'd give you a choice.

Sabah staggered slightly. Everything was happening too fast. She looked up at him, her world capsizing.

- You came.

- Of course I came," he replied bluntly. But now there's no time.

Already, the sound of distant cries could be heard. Voices. Orders. Hurried footsteps.

- Here.

Jeongin bent down and pulled a darker, practical, lightweight outfit from a canvas bag.

- Put this on. You can't run in this dress. We've got horses just beyond the service yard. Chan and the guys are already waiting for us.

He stared at her.

- It's now or never, Sabah.

She looked around the room one last time, at the cocoon that was to be the symbol of her new life. What was expected of her. What was being imposed on her.

Then she nodded.

- Help me take this off.

He approached without delay and began to undo the pins on her dress, his movements precise despite the urgency. She shivered at his touch, but said nothing. He helped her into the black pants, the thick but light top, the short cape. He tied her hair back with a dark ribbon.

When she looked up at him, she was no longer Princess Sabah.

She was someone else.

Perhaps finally herself.

- Ready?" he asked, grabbing her hand.

Shouts erupted nearby, as guards ran past outside.

She took a deep breath.

- Ready.

They opened the window.

And together they plunged into the night.

The night air whipped across their faces as soon as they crossed the window sill. Jeongin had foreseen everything: two knotted ropes ran down the façade, just above the servants' yard. Voices were already echoing in the corridors, and hurried footsteps were coming closer. But down below, hidden in the shade of an old fig tree, two horses chirped impatiently.

Sabah landed silently, her heart on the verge of exploding. Jeongin followed close behind, his bow across his back, his eyes already on the lookout.

No sooner had they touched down than Chan emerged from the darkness, followed by Lee Know, his face covered in soot, and Han, his eyes shining with adrenalin.

- What took you so long?" gasped Chan, his eyes fixed on the palace heights.

- She had to change her outfit," replied Jeongin, grabbing a horse bridle and passing it to Sabah. And... settle a detail in the bedroom.

- Detail taken care of?" asked Han, raising an eyebrow.

- He shouldn't wake up until noon tomorrow," growled Jeongin.

Sabah mounted her horse with his help. She hadn't found the words yet. Everything was going too fast. Too fast. And yet... everything was exactly as they had planned.

They were still inside the enclosure when the rumbling broke out.

An explosion.

A section of the palace's rear tower shattered in a deafening din. A cloud of fire briefly lit up the black sky. Warning bells rang shrilly as guards surged forward screaming. Panic swept through the palace.

- This is it. It's on," shouted Chan.

- Let's go!" shouted Lee Know, throwing his mount into a gallop.

The horses leaped.

Sabah clung to the mane of her horse, the wind rushing through her cape, the screams behind them already muffled by the frantic race.

All around them, chaos.

Entire districts in flames, streets filled with angry inhabitants, overwhelmed soldiers vainly trying to regain control. The people, silenced for too long, had risen up. The first sparks of war were flying, and the Empire would not hold out much longer.

And Sabah... Sabah felt that something inside her was breaking. Or rather, breaking free.

- Head for the river," Jeongin shouted over the din.

- And then?" she shouted.

Jeongin turned, his gaze fixed on hers, the wind blowing his wild hair.

- What's next? We leave this empire for good. And we'll never come back.

Sabah didn't hesitate.

She took her mount in turn, flames at her back, fear in her belly, but freedom at her fingertips.

She was no longer a princess.

She was a traitor.

She was the spark.

The hooves pounded the ground at high speed, kicking up wreaths of dust and dead leaves behind them. The palace fire lit up the horizon like a distorted, sinister moon, reminding Sabah that all she had known so far was no more.

At last, they reached the river, that natural frontier between the Empire and the forgotten lands, the uncharted, unpredictable but free zones.

- The boats are ready," Chan said in a low voice, as two hooded figures emerged from the undergrowth.

- The others?" asked Jeongin.

- Changbin, Hyunjin and Seungmin are waiting for us on the other side. We must leave now.

Sabah took one last look behind her. The palace beyond was a distant mass of flames and screams. She thought of her father, her mother, the prince who had been forced upon her, now unconscious in this empty room.

She also thought of the child she had been, and the child she had become.

She nodded and climbed into the boat. Jeongin came and sat beside her.

- Are you sure?" he asked in a whisper, almost as if he wanted to give her one last chance to back out.

She looked at him, her heart pounding.

- No, but I'd rather run away in uncertainty than stay trapped in a life that isn't mine.

The boat moved away slowly, then faster, gliding over the black surface of the river. On the other side, an unknown world awaited them.

A few days later, the palace lay in ruins.

Princess Sabah's disappearance was all the more of a shock as no one could ever explain how she had fled. Some said she'd been kidnapped, others that she'd been killed in the chaos. But a small group knew. A silent, hidden group on the run.

Their escape was difficult. The months that followed were even harder.

But the revolution had begun.

And there were whispers in the villages, towns and underground: a fallen princess had betrayed the Empire. She was living elsewhere, on the side of the insurgents. And she was preparing a comeback.

Some time later

In a small village nestled between two forgotten hills, a woman lives in a modest house with sun-bleached walls. She calls herself the Storyteller, and every evening, the children of the hamlet come to sit around her, eager to hear the tales she weaves with a soft voice and dreamy gaze.

She tells them the story of a princess.

A princess born in the gold and walls of an empire, destined to be offered like a jewel to a man she had not chosen. A princess whose eyes hid storms, and who, one night, when all seemed lost... ran off with a man with an insolent smile and haunted eyes.

She tells them that this princess betrayed her throne for a greater cause. That she escaped a forced marriage, crossed burning rivers, survived war, and that, against all odds, she loved - with a love that only comes once in a lifetime.

The children listen, fascinated, and sometimes ask:

- Did this princess really exist? Is this a real story?

The storyteller simply smiles, gazing at the flames in the fireplace.

- Maybe it is... maybe it isn't. True stories aren't always the ones you think they are.

What the children don't know is that, every night, when the house goes out, he comes back.

He enters without a word, like a shadow who knows the place by heart. He hugs her from behind as she puts away her parchments, or takes her by the hand to walk under the stars.

Jeongin is no longer a hunted insurgent. He's become a ghost of the revolution. But for her, he remains the man who tore her away from a world that wanted to break her.

They live in hiding, protected by silence, while the group - their group - continues to fight elsewhere. Chan, Hyunjin, Seungmin and the others continue the fight, sowing the seeds of a new, fairer, freer empire.

But the two of them... they've found something else.

A haven. A love built on the ashes of the old world.

And every night, in the stories she tells, Sabah revives the princess she once was. Not for glory. Not even for justice.

But to remember.