T.E.M.P.O

on the edge of more; choi seunghyun

pairing co-star!choi seunghyun (t.o.p) x f!reader

contains pining for older co-star!choi seunghyun, reader is in her mid twenties or smt, age gap, slowburn, not-so unrequited love, smoking n drinking, YEARNINGGG, reader being down bad (understandably)

word count 2.6k

note PART 2 IS HERE rly appreciate all the love the first part got thank u <3 this was longer than i thought i had the biggest writer's block but finally managed through it

part 1 part 2

—

THE WORK DINNER WAS meant to be a celebration—a small, intimate gathering to mark the successful completion of the project. Only the staff, cast, and a few select crew members had been invited. It wasn’t a night for grand speeches, but rather a simple appreciation for everyone’s hard work.

There had been a few exchanges of words before your arrival about the gathering among your colleagues, but it wasn’t until you stepped foot into the restaurant that you realized it had been carefully curated. The venue was beautifully decorated, with candlelit tables and a cozy, inviting atmosphere that made you feel like part of something intimate, something special.

𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭 𝐀𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐭.1 - choi seung hyun

Summary | You have a secret admirer, and you don't know it's the most troubled but richest boy in school, Choi Seung-hyun.

Pairing | Bully! Choi Seung-hyun x Fem! Reader.

Genre | 2000s school era.

Warnings | Fluff, romantic.

Author's note | English isn't my first language, so I apologize for any spelling mistakes.

Saying you were nervous was an understatement.

You could feel the heat rising to the tips of your ears, and you were sure that if anyone saw you, they would notice how red you were. Your chest rose and fell rapidly, and in a desperate attempt to calm yourself, you began fanning your face with your hands. But it was useless.

Ever since you found that letter with no sender, your whole world had been reduced to a single thought: Who left it?

It had all started with an envelope carefully placed in your locker. Alongside it, a small yet elegant box of chocolates and, to your surprise, a pendant that seemed far too luxurious to be just a simple gift. Diamonds? You didn’t even want to imagine how much it could cost.

The curious thing was that, although those gifts were striking, they weren’t what truly occupied your mind. It was the letter. The words written inside carried a different weight, an echo in your heart that refused to fade.

"For you,

I don’t know how to write this. I’m not good with words, but there’s something about you that won’t leave me alone.

Every time I see you, my mind goes blank, and my heart does things I don’t understand. I wish I could tell you everything I admire about you, every little detail, but I can’t seem to find the right way.

I don’t expect anything with this letter—I just wanted you to know.

—Someone who admires you more than you imagine."

It wasn’t a passionate declaration, nor was it overflowing with cliché romance, but there was something about it that made you feel a whirlwind in your chest. Not just the words, but the fact that someone, somewhere, had taken the time to write them for you.

And now, here you were, your mind spinning in circles, distracted, unable to focus on what you really should be doing—your homework for tomorrow.

When the bell rang, marking the end of classes, you sighed in relief. You had spent the entire day lost in thought, barely paying attention to the lessons. Now, at least, you could go home and focus on your assignments.

As you walked through the crowded hallways, you tried to shake off the anxiety pressing on your chest. It was just a letter. A simple gesture. Nothing more. But no matter how much you tried to downplay it, the uncertainty was eating you up inside.

Before leaving, you made a necessary stop at the lockers. You had to grab your shoes, change them, and finally head home. However, as you opened the metal door, your heart skipped a beat.

There, among your things, rested another envelope.

Your fingers trembled slightly as you picked it up. The paper was the same ivory tone as the previous one, and the subtle scent of fresh ink told you it hadn’t been there long. You swallowed hard.

Should you open it right there, in the middle of the crowded hallway? Or wait until you got home?

Curiosity won. With slightly clumsy hands, you slid your finger along the edge of the envelope and carefully unfolded the letter inside.

"For you, always for you,

I hadn’t planned on writing again, but my heart has betrayed me once more. Or perhaps it was never a betrayal, just the truth I’m too afraid to say out loud.

I don’t know how you do it, but every day, I find something new in you that takes my breath away. A gesture, a smile, a fleeting glance… and suddenly, the whole world feels a little less gray.

If you ever wonder if someone thinks about you more than they should, if you ever question whether you inspire someone without knowing it… the answer is yes.

—Someone who has surrendered to you."

You felt like the air had been knocked out of your lungs.

This wasn’t just some random message left on a whim.

This person… was watching you.

And now, it was up to you to decide what to do about it.

The next day, you were late to class.

Why? The answer was simple: you had spent the entire night thinking about the second letter, going over every word, imagining all the possibilities. Who could it be? Why had they chosen to write to you?

You tried to find clues. You analyzed the handwriting, searching for a distinctive trait. You sniffed the paper, hoping to recognize a particular scent. You examined every stroke, every curve of the letters, hoping to uncover something that would give your mysterious admirer away.

But there was nothing. No clue, no hint—just a carefully written message that left you with more questions than answers.

Still, you weren’t going to give up. Not now. You just… had to postpone your investigation for a little while because there was a much bigger problem to deal with.

Choi Seung-hyun.

The bastard.

That spoiled brat who seemed to have been born with the sole mission of making your life miserable.

Seung-hyun and his little group of friends—four guys in total, including that insufferable leader—found great amusement at your expense, teasing you whenever they got the chance. It didn’t matter if you were in class, in the hallways, or even during break; they always found a way to bother you.

And today, after barely sleeping a couple of hours and with your nerves wrecked because of the letter, you were in no mood to deal with their nonsense.

"Well, look who’s here," one of the guys’ mocking voice broke the classroom’s silence, followed by the chuckles of his group. It was the one with straight hair—the most annoying of them all after his leader. "Still studying for something you’re never going to achieve?"

You rolled your eyes in exasperation, not even bothering to look at him.

"And I see you’re still as insufferable as ever," you replied calmly, giving him a brief glance before returning to your exercises. It wasn’t worth wasting time on his stupidity.

But, as expected, they didn’t give up so easily.

Seung-hyun, who had remained silent until then, was watching you with a mix of expectation and barely disguised nervousness. His friends glanced at him, waiting for him to say or do something. Come on, man, this is your chance.

They knew the truth. They knew he was the one who had been sending you the letters. That, no matter how hard he tried to hide it behind his arrogant attitude and constant teasing, he was completely in love with you. And even though they had tried to convince him to confess, his pride and enormous ego always got in the way.

Now, however, it was different. They had planned something—he was supposed to throw in a clever remark, something that hinted at the truth without exposing himself too much. But the moment he opened his mouth, everything they had rehearsed vanished from his mind.

"I…" he stammered.

A murmur of surprise rippled through the classroom. They had never seen him hesitate before

Intrigued, you lifted your gaze and raised an eyebrow.

"Yes…?"

Shit.

His heart was racing. He needed to say something—anything—before making a complete fool of himself. So, without thinking too much, he improvised.

"W-wouldn’t it be better to marry a millionaire instead of studying all that?" he blurted out, looking away as if feigning disinterest. "I mean, with a rich guy, you’d get things for free. It’s better than studying just to end up in a mediocre job."

Dead silence.

One of his friends covered his face with a hand, another muttered, "God, this is a disaster," and the rest simply watched in resignation. He had screwed up.

You, on the other hand, let out a dry laugh, unable to believe the nonsense you had just heard.

"Marry a millionaire?" you repeated mockingly. "Like who?"

And then, he cut you off before you could even finish.

"Me."

The classroom fell into such an intense silence that even the ticking of the clock on the wall became noticeable.

Had he just said… himself?

You stared at him, blinking a couple of times, trying to process what he had just blurted out. His friends, on the other hand, were on the verge of burying themselves alive at that very moment. Did he really just confess like that?

Seung-hyun, for his part, stood completely still. His own brain was also trying to understand why the hell he had said that. It wasn’t what he had planned, not even close to what he had in mind. But it was already said. There was no turning back.

You narrowed your eyes.

"Wait… are you telling me you’d be that millionaire?"

Seung-hyun cleared his throat, regaining some composure. He wasn’t backing down now.

"I’m just saying that... it wouldn’t be bad. I mean, I’m attractive, I’ve got money, and you wouldn’t have to worry about boring stuff like studying."

It was incredible how his tongue could betray him like that. That wasn’t what he meant to say. He didn’t want to sound like an arrogant idiot (although, honestly, he did so effortlessly).

The whole class was watching the scene closely. Some were trying to hold back laughter, others were waiting to see how you’d respond.

And you, instead of getting upset, just let out a dry laugh.

"My God, how egocentric."

Seung-hyun felt his dignity crumbling in real-time.

"Hey, I’m just saying it’s a good option."

"For you." You cut him off, crossing your arms. "But I’m sorry to inform you that I’m not the type to be dazzled by money. I’d rather earn my things through effort, not have them handed to me."

His friends didn’t even know how to react. One of them even muttered:

"This is worse than we imagined."

Seung-hyun pressed his lips together. He couldn’t lose like this. He had to regain control.

"What I meant is… there are easier ways to live."

"Sure, and marrying you would be one of them, right?" You rolled your eyes. "What’s next? Are you going to start leaving anonymous letters in my locker to impress me?"

And then, Seung-hyun’s expression changed.

It was subtle. A slight blink, a tension in his jaw, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

And you knew then.

You knew even before he tried to respond with another of his usual excuses.

Seung-hyun was the one sending you the letters…

The silence fell over the class again. This time, it was denser, more uncomfortable.

Seung-hyun stared at you, and though he tried to hide it, the slight hardening of his expression, the way his lips tightened for a second, gave him away.

You didn’t need him to answer out loud. You already knew.

"Oh…" You murmured, lowering your voice slightly. You felt the air leave your lungs for a moment.

Some of his friends shifted in their seats, exchanging glances, as if they were witnessing an accident about to happen. This wasn’t what they had planned.

Seung-hyun, for his part, blinked several times. His mind was racing, looking for an escape. But there was none.

He had two options:

1. Deny everything and act like it was an absurd idea.

2. Admit it.

A part of him wanted to laugh dismissively and say, "You think? Don’t dream so much." But... he couldn’t. Because it was true.

He had written those letters to you.

He had spent entire nights thinking about what to say, fighting against his own pride to put into words what he felt for you. And now, it had all gotten out of hand.

Finally, he let out a small laugh, though it sounded a bit forced.

"What are you talking about? Me? Please, don’t say nonsense."

But the slight tremor in his voice betrayed him.

"No?" You crossed your arms, looking at him suspiciously. "Then tell me… if it wasn’t you, why did you make that face when I mentioned it?"

Seung-hyun diverted his gaze for a second. His friends covered their faces with their hands.

"It was your imagination."

"Sure?" You took a step closer, leaning slightly toward him.

Seung-hyun swallowed.

This wasn’t going the way he had planned.

"Listen, I don’t know what you imagine, but…" He paused, trying to compose himself. "If someone like me were interested in someone like you, you’d know."

Oh, wow. Now he was counterattacking.

"Oh, really?" You raised an eyebrow, pretending indifference. "Well, that’s too bad. Because the sender of those letters seemed a lot more sincere than arrogant Seung-hyun."

That came out naturally. And it was a clean hit.

His friends reacted with a muffled "Ooooh."

He, on the other hand, just stared at you, unsure whether to feel flattered or insulted.

But before he could respond, the teacher entered the classroom.

"Alright, alright, enough with the conversations. Take your seats."

And just like that, you walked away from him, leaving him in a state of total confusion.

Seung-hyun barely heard what the teacher said. He could only think of one thing.

You had said that the sender of the letters seemed sincere.

That meant that...

Did you like his words?

IT WAS A SCHOOL TRIP - masterlist

P1 ༊࿔

P2 ༊࿔

P3 ༊࿔

P4 ༊࿔

P5 ༊࿔ (final part) coming soon!!

IT WAS A SCHOOL TRIP - p4

　♪　♩　♫　♬　

pairing : choi seunghyun x reader 

genre : romance - 2000s

warnings : fluff! (this is my first time writing for him, English isn’t my native language T - T)

note : [please if u saw any weird stuff just lmk]

The bus ride felt both long and short at the same time. Mina spent most of it staring out the window, but every so often, her phone would vibrate in her lap.  

**T.O.P – The Best Partner in Hiding:**  

*Bored yet?*  

She smiled, shaking her head as she typed back.  

**Mina:**  

*Not really. The view is nice.*  

A few seconds later, another vibration.  

**T.O.P – The Best Partner in Hiding:**  

*Liar. You’ve checked your phone at least five times in the last ten minutes.*  

Mina bit her lip, caught. She turned her head slightly and, sure enough, through the bus windows, she could see T.O.P’s bus riding parallel to hers on the highway. He was in a window seat, his head resting lazily against the glass, phone in hand, smirking as if he knew exactly what she was thinking.  

She quickly typed back.  

**Mina:**  

*Stop watching me, creep.*  

He sent back a single laughing emoji.  

For the next hour, they kept messaging back and forth—random jokes, complaints about the bus food, dumb observations about their classmates. It was easy. Natural.  

By the time they arrived at their final destination—a scenic, historic village nestled between rolling hills—the sun was already beginning to set. Students poured out of the buses, stretching and yawning, while teachers shouted instructions about where to gather.  

Mina stepped off the bus, inhaling the crisp evening air, when—  

“Secret agent.”  

She turned to find T.O.P standing there, hands in his hoodie pockets, looking effortlessly cool as always.  

“You’re fast,” she said, raising an eyebrow. “Did you run here?”  

He shrugged. “Had to make sure you didn’t escape before our next mission.”  

She rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide her smile. “And what mission is that?”  

He nodded toward a small cobblestone path leading away from the main square, where all the students were gathering. “Taking a walk before they trap us with a boring group tour.”  

Mina hesitated, glancing around. “We’ll get caught.”  

“Not if we don’t take too long.”  

She bit her lip. It was a terrible idea. They could get in trouble. But when she looked at him—standing there with that playful challenge in his eyes—something inside her told her to take the risk.  

“Fine,” she said. “But if we get caught, I’m blaming you.”  

T.O.P grinned. “Deal.”  

They walked side by side through the quiet village streets, the cobblestone warm beneath their steps. The setting sun bathed everything in golden light, and the air smelled of fresh bread from a nearby bakery.  

For a while, they didn’t talk much—just took in the atmosphere, the peacefulness of it all.  

Then, T.O.P suddenly spoke.  

“This trip turned out to be way better than I expected.”  

Mina glanced at him. “Yeah?”  

He nodded, looking straight ahead. “Didn’t think I’d meet someone like you.”  

Her breath caught slightly, but she forced herself to play it cool. “What’s that supposed to mean?”  

He smirked, but this time, there was something softer in his expression. “Just that… I didn’t expect to have this much fun.”  

Mina looked down, feeling her heart race. The confidence in his voice, the way he said it so casually—it made her feel like she was standing on the edge of something unknown.  

After a moment, she nudged him lightly with her elbow. “Well, I guess you’re not so bad either.”  

He chuckled, but then, after a beat of silence, he did something unexpected.  

He reached out, gently brushing his fingers against hers.  

It wasn’t a full hand-hold. Just a light touch. A question, not a statement.  

Mina felt her pulse quicken. She could have pulled away. But she didn’t.  

Instead, she let her fingers linger there, barely touching his.  

They walked like that for a few more minutes, neither of them saying anything about it.  

No teasing. No jokes. Just quiet, unspoken understanding.  

As they neared the main square again, the sound of their classmates’ voices growing louder, T.O.P finally broke the silence.  

“So… after this trip, you’re not gonna pretend we don’t know each other, right?”  

Mina smiled. “Depends.”  

He raised an eyebrow. “On?”  

She turned to face him fully, stepping back toward the group. “How good you are at keeping in touch.”  

His smirk returned, but this time, it was softer.  

“Challenge accepted.”  

As they rejoined the rest of the students, blending back into the crowd, Mina knew one thing for sure—this trip was only the beginning.

BUZZCUT & BUTTERFLIES

summary : Vivienne is a perfect student with a perfect life—until she meets Seunghyun, the reckless outcast everyone avoids.

COMING SOON !!

i think abt this man all day. is this mental illness

IT WAS A SCHOOL TRIP - p3

pairing : choi seunghyun x reader 

genre : romance - 2000s

warnings : fluff! (this is my first time writing for him, English isn’t my native language T - T)

note : [please if u saw any weird stuff just lmk]

　♪　♩　♫　♬　 The next morning, the hotel lobby buzzed with half-asleep students dragging their suitcases anyawning as they waited for the buses to be ready. Mina stood with her friends, sipping on a can of coffee, barely listening to their conversation.  

She was distracted.  

Her thoughts kept drifting back to last night—the small, dimly lit restaurant, the easy laughter, the way T.O.P had tugged her sleeve before they parted ways.  

“I hope we run into each other again tomorrow.”  

His voice played in her mind on a loop, making her heart race all over again.  

She hadn’t seen him since they returned to the hotel. Had he woken up already? Did he feel the same lingering warmth from last night?  

“Earth to Mina.”  

She blinked as her friend waved a hand in front of her face.  

“Huh?”  

Her friend smirked. “You’ve been zoning out all morning. Something you wanna share?”  

Mina rolled her eyes. “Nothing. Just tired.”  

“Mhm, sure.”  

Before Mina could protest, a group of students from the other school walked past them toward the bus, and her breath hitched.  

There he was.  

T.O.P strolled casually, hands in his hoodie pockets, looking effortlessly cool despite the early hour. His dark hair was still slightly tousled from sleep, and he had an iced coffee dangling from his fingers. He didn’t seem to be in a rush, as if he had all the time in the world.  

And then, as if he could sense her staring, he looked up.  

Their eyes met.  

For a second, it felt like the entire hotel lobby faded into the background. The tired students, the noisy teachers, the rolling suitcases—none of it existed.  

T.O.P smirked.  

Mina swallowed.  

He changed directions, heading straight for her.  

Her friends, who had definitely noticed by now, exchanged excited glances but wisely stepped aside as he approached.  

“Morning, secret agent,” he greeted smoothly.  

Mina fought the ridiculous smile threatening to form. “Morning, partner.”  

He took a sip of his coffee, eyeing her lazily. “Did you sleep well?”  

“Not really,” she admitted.  

He raised an eyebrow. “Why not?”  

She hesitated. She wasn’t about to admit that she had stayed up thinking about him.  

“Just… too much excitement for the trip,” she said instead.  

T.O.P hummed, like he didn’t quite believe her but wasn’t going to call her out on it.  

“Looks like we’re back to being strangers on separate buses,” he said, glancing toward his group.  

Mina felt a strange disappointment settle in her chest.  

“Guess so,” she murmured.  

But before the moment could slip away, he leaned in slightly, lowering his voice.  

“Wanna change that?”  

Her heart skipped a beat.  

“How?”  

He pulled out his phone, tilting it toward her. “BBM.”  

Mina blinked before letting out a laugh. Of course. It was 2009, and Blackberry Messenger was the height of communication.  

She quickly pulled out her own phone, exchanged their PINs, and within seconds, a new contact appeared on her screen:  

**T.O.P – The Best Partner in Hiding**  

She rolled her eyes at the name but smiled nonetheless.  

“Now we’re officially not strangers,” he said, slipping his phone back into his pocket. “Text me when you get bored on the bus.”  

Mina bit her lip, pretending to think. “Hmm… we’ll see.”  

T.O.P chuckled, stepping back as his group called for him. “See you at the next stop, secret agent.”  

And just like that, he walked off, leaving Mina staring at her phone, her heart pounding.  

She had a feeling this trip was about to become a lot more interesting.  

IT WAS A SCHOOL TRIP - p2

pairing: choi seunghyun x reader 

genre: romance - 2000s

warnings: fluff! (this is my first time writing for him, English isn’t my native language T - T)

note: [please if u saw any weird stuff just lmk]

The sun was beginning to set as Mina and T.O.P stepped out of the supermarket, blending back into the crowd of students making their way to their respective buses. The air smelled of gasoline and fried snacks from a nearby food stall, but Mina’s mind was still stuck on the bizarre yet amusing encounter she had just had with him.  

“See you around, secret agent,” T.O.P had teased before heading to his bus, leaving Mina standing there with a lingering smile.  

As soon as she climbed onto her own bus, her friends bombarded her with questions.  

“Where were you?”  

“Did you get snacks?”  

“Wait… why do you look like you’re blushing?”  

Mina waved them off, trying to focus on her seat by the window. She wasn’t blushing. Not really. Right?  

The journey continued, but an hour into the trip, the teachers made an announcement:  

**“The trip is longer than expected, and to make sure everyone is well-rested, we’ll be stopping at a hotel for the night.”**  

Excited whispers filled the bus. A hotel meant freedom—at least for a few hours.  

By the time they arrived, the sky was painted in hues of deep blue and violet. The hotel wasn’t fancy, but it was decent enough, with a cozy lobby and warm lighting. Mina shared a room with two of her classmates, who were already planning what to do before curfew.  

“You wanna come with us? We’re thinking of checking out the convenience store next door,” one of them asked.  

Mina thought about it but shook her head. “Nah, I think I just want to walk around for a bit.”  

She wasn’t sure what she was looking for, but something about the quiet evening air called to her. She slipped on a hoodie, grabbed her phone, and snuck out of the hotel, her steps light against the pavement. She had no particular destination—just the thrill of being somewhere unfamiliar.  

That’s when she spotted the small, dimly lit restaurant across the street. It wasn’t anything fancy—just a cozy, family-owned place with a few tables inside. Her stomach rumbled slightly. Maybe she could grab a quick bite before heading back.  

She pushed open the glass door, and the little bell above it chimed. The warm scent of sizzling food hit her instantly. She was just about to look for a seat when—  

“Are you following me?”  

That deep, familiar voice.  

Mina turned her head and saw him—T.O.P—sitting alone at a table near the window. He had a half-finished plate of food in front of him and a cup of soda he was lazily swirling with his straw.  

Her heart skipped a beat.  

“You wish,” she said, rolling her eyes, but she couldn’t help the smile tugging at her lips.  

T.O.P grinned, kicking the chair across from him lightly. “Well, since fate keeps throwing us together, might as well sit.”  

Mina hesitated for a second before sliding into the seat.  

“What are you even doing here alone?” she asked.  

He shrugged. “I don’t like crowded hotel rooms. And I figured I’d get some decent food before they trap us with cafeteria meals tomorrow.”  

She laughed. “Smart move.”  

They ordered a few dishes to share, and as they ate, their conversation flowed naturally. They talked about school, music, the most embarrassing things they had done in class. Mina found out that despite his laid-back and cool demeanor, T.O.P was actually hilariously awkward at times—especially when he talked about getting caught sleeping through an exam once.  

The restaurant was nearly empty by the time they realized how late it was. The only sound left was the soft hum of an old radio playing some ballad in the background.  

Mina leaned back in her chair, sipping the last of her drink. “You know, this is kind of weird.”  

“What is?” T.O.P asked, tilting his head.  

“That we just met today… but it doesn’t feel like it.”  

He studied her for a moment before a small, almost secretive smile played on his lips.  

“Maybe we were meant to meet,” he said casually, but there was something in his voice—something deeper.  

Mina felt her face grow warm, and she quickly looked away, pretending to check her phone.  

“We should probably head back before the teachers catch us,” she mumbled.  

T.O.P chuckled but stood up, grabbing his jacket. “Yeah, wouldn’t want to get detention before the trip even starts.”  

As they walked back to the hotel, the air between them felt different—warmer, charged with something unspoken. Their steps slowed as they reached the entrance, neither of them really wanting to say goodnight just yet.  

Mina hesitated before finally looking up at him. “Thanks… for earlier. At the supermarket.”  

He gave her a lazy smirk. “Anytime.”  

And just as she turned to leave, she felt a gentle tug on her hoodie sleeve.  

“Hey.”  

She turned back, and for the first time, his usual teasing expression softened.  

“I hope we run into each other again tomorrow,” he said, his voice quieter.  

Mina felt her heart flutter, but instead of answering, she simply smiled—because something told her that they would.

tysm for supporting my first ff >_<

hands.

Iris — Vick

storing this in my brain forever