Mystery Caller

mystery caller

ethan landry x fem!reader

req by @l5byrinth: so i was thinking about yk the intro of scream 1996? where ghostface calls the girl and they get to talk and he suddenly asks if she has a boyfriend and she's like why you wanna ask me out on a date? so something like that with than be basically he has liked her for a very long time but never really had the courage to ask her out yk? you can decide how you want it to go or end!! this idea has just been in my mind for soooo long a i hope you like this idea.

words: 1.4k

notes: ghostface, mentions of death, mentions of blood, a knife is mentioned once or twice, kissing. i don’t really like this 😭 i’ve realized i’m more of a fluff fic writer

with the news on as background noise, you were fully focused on making dinner as your roommate, anika, made her way back home from a date with mindy, just like she had texted. the buzzing of your phone caught your attention, as it seemed the group chat with your friends was getting filled with messages. chad had texted a couple of times, telling everyone to check the news with a few panicked emojis, and it seemed that everybody else in the chat was just as freaked out as him.

turning up the volume still holding onto the spatula, your brain took a beat to process the words on the screen saying that sam was a prime suspect for a murder near your apartment. just as you picked up your phone to text the group chat that had now over 50 unread messages, an unrecognized number appeared at the top of your screen. you let it ring for a few seconds, wondering if it could be tara’s sister calling since you hadn’t really ever talked

“hello?” you put it on speaker and left it on the counter as you flipped the two burgers on the pan, one for you and one for your roommate. “y/n” the voice definitely wasn’t sam’s. it was deep, almost robotic, and it sounded like it was mocking her “who is this?”

“poor thing, your friends haven’t told you anything. have they?” there was a chuckle on the other end of the line and you felt yourself tense up a bit once the news reporter held up a mask that had been found at the crime scene “is this a prank?”

“you’d think, wouldn’t you?”

sighing, you moved to where your phone sat and hesitated for a moment before hanging up on the unknown caller. the second you texted mindy, the horror movie expert, about a mystery call from a weird voice she went crazy. mindy spammed the group chat saying he had called you, and you quickly covered by saying it was probably a prank. it was almost halloween after all.

the number lot up your screen again and just as you picked up, you could hear a grunt in the back “bad choice, y/n. hanging up on me”

“who are you?”

“let’s play a game”

you rolled your eyes and decided to keep the call going, your evening had been very boring without anika around “sure”

“what’s your favorite scary movie?” the voice asked. you pretended to think for a minute, getting the plates ready “i’m not really a horror person”

“that’s too bad. do you have a boyfriend?” you let out a laugh “sorry?” the voice stayed quiet, as if challenging you to laugh at whoever it was at the other end of the line one more time “do you?”

“no, why? i won’t go on a date with a stranger, you know?” the person hummed, the like getting clearer by the second “you wouldn’t?” you felt a knot form in your throat once you heard a door shut all the way down the hallway “who is this?” your voice quivered a bit and you quickly opened the messaging app to tell your friends you definitely weren’t home alone. but as soon as you typed out the words, a black gloved hand snatched the phone away

“nah-uh” the masked man shook his head, and you recognized the mask from the news. you could feel your entire body shaking as he took a step closer “please- my roommate is about to get home” you begged, but he only titled his head before reaching out to turn on a voice changer on the side of the mask “i won’t hurt you, y/n”

the knife on his hand pressed gently against your chin and for a second you felt like you were about to die, he titled your head back, making you keep eye contact with the masks’s black eyes “you wouldn’t go on a date with a stranger, huh?”

“you’re wearing the mask from the news” he nodded “you’re going to kill me?”

“i could never, baby”

you made a face at the nickname, but when he didn’t make a move to use the knife that was now covered by his robe you glanced away. the masked man nodded at you “i’ll let you take it off if you keep me a secret. hm?” feeling helpless, you nodded. he took a moment to study your face as if wanting to confirm you truly wouldn’t snitch on him.

he nodded once and you felt yourself get goosebumps as you reached up to the mask’s chin, swiftly taking it off of his head. at the sight of your close friend, you felt your heart drop to the very pit of your stomach “ethan-“

“- you’re a killer” your voice sounded so breathy that ethan felt like revealing himself to you had been a mistake. you were clearly scared of him “no. no, baby. i haven’t killed anyone” it felt as though that robe and mask gave ethan some kind of confidence you had never seen in him. baby?

“not yet, at least” he finished his sentence. okay now you felt your whole body was about to give out, he sensed the change in your demeanor “not you, y/n. never you” he reached to caress your cheek with his still gloved hand and he gave you a small smile. which slowly melted into a smirk as he felt your fear go away for a second “why would you scare me like that” you smacked his chest and he let out a chuckle “oh, please!” he said

his curls had stuck to his forehead from the heat of the mask and you wondered why you weren’t more freaked out by the fact that he had sneaked into your house with the keys you gave him months before. “you wouldn’t go on a date with me?” he asked, voice a little deep as he moved closer. you kept silent, watching him leave the knife on the table, right next to the two plates of food, and he stepped closer to where you stood “can i kiss you, baby? just once”

at loss for words, you felt your body move by itself as you nodded your head yes. his eyes trailed down at your hands, no longer shaking, and he had that smirk on his face again. you had never seen such a confident ethan in the months you had known each other. at the buzzing of your phone, indicating that the group chat was still talking, ethan flipped the screen, stopping you from distracting yourself.

he had taken his right hand’s glove, you realized. ethan used his thumb to split your lips apart as he closed any kind of distance between you, his body now fully flushed against yours. lips still not touching.

“oh, y/n. i can’t believe you hate scary movies, i’m standing here right now and you’re not scared of me”

a small gasp came out from your thoat as he cupped your face, one hand still covered in the black cloth and the other soft against your cheek. he closed his eyes first, or maybe you did. but the second his lips covered yours he let out a grunt from his throat in relief and he was kissing you like his life depended on it. only pulling back to breathe for a second or two before going back in for a kiss. your hands had messed his curls up by then and the spatula you had been holding all that time was somewhere in the floor, you were sure he kicked it away once you dropped it to kiss him back.

pulling away from you, ethan licked his lips. and with the same smirk you’d witnessed for the third time that night, he made his way to the balcony, putting on his mask again before muttering a goodnight and managing to go away unnoticed by any neighbors. anika got back worried, you had heard her keys jiggle on the lock about four times before she actually managed to open the door, she ran in worried and held your face to inspect you before sighing in relief.

“you have some blood here” she wiped it off your chin “what happened? was someone in here?” anika’s eyes moved to the spatula on the floor and the phone that was still facing downwards “nothing- i just- saw the news and got a bit scared. that’s all”

“what about this?” she showed you the small bit of blood on her finger that she had wiped off of your face “i must’ve cut myself making dinner, it doesn’t even hurt. don’t worry” anika nodded, cleaning off her finger before sitting next to you to have dinner. your phone buzzed once again, ethan’s name on the screen and a short text with the words thank you for keeping my secret ;)

Echoes of You

Pairing: Ahn Su-ho X !Femreader

Requested: No

Summary: Memories of Ahn Su-ho and the others stay close after everything changes. While dealing with Su-ho’s coma and Si-eun’s move, bonds are tested and new friendships form. Even surrounded by new people, the past remains a constant, shaping every step forward.

Length: 4921

Genre: Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Drama, Friendship, Light Romance.

Warning’s: Spoilers! Weak Hero Class 2. Violence Mentions, Hospitalization, Emotional Distress, Grief/Loss Themes, Past Trauma, Mild Angst.

Status: Complete!

A/N: This is the first time I wrote something in a long time! It isnt proof read, hopefully you all enjoy<3

My feet pounded against the pavement, the world blurring at the edges. I didn’t know if I was chasing something or running from it, maybe both. Every breath burned. Every step dragged pieces of the past out of hiding, raw and stubborn.

Si-eun’s voice still echoed faintly in my ears, but everything else started to slip away. The noise around me, the ground beneath my feet, the weight of the moment. The present faded until all that was left was the past, unfolding around me.

The tires hummed beneath me as I pedaled toward Eunjang High, the path so familiar I could have ridden it blind if I truly wanted to. I was supposed to meet Su-ho, like always. As i approached the street right Infront of the school entrance the sudden buzz of an engine snapped me out of my thoughts, and I barely had time to react before a white motorbike streaked past.

I recognized it instantly, the big black box strapped to the back, covered in a mess of peeling stickers he never bothered to take off. Su-ho was in the front, his posture relaxed like he didn’t have a care in the world.

Behind him sat someone I didn’t know, a boy with a cautious grip on Su-ho’s shoulders. For a moment, I thought maybe Su-ho hadn’t seen me. Maybe he was distracted, in a hurry.

But then he turned his head just enough to catch my eye, a smirk tugging at his mouth, and kept going without slowing down. The boy riding with him glanced back at me, his expression confused. I called out for Su-ho, the words sharp and desperate but they were already too far.

My hands tightened around the handlebars, the metal digging into my palms and before I could think better of it, I pushed hard on the peddles of my bike making a quick U-turn to trail them at a distance. Something was strange. Not wrong exactly, not enough to set off alarms but it prickled at the edges of my mind stubborn and persistent. Su-ho wasn’t the type to ignore me, Not without a reason atleast.

As I followed them, it wasn’t long before they came to a sudden halt. I skidded my bike to a stop a few good feet away, just in time to see Su-ho swing off the motorbike and dart down a narrow alleyway without a word. He was obviously in a rush.

The stranger followed him, not as quick but fast enough to disappear with Su-ho into the shadows. I didn’t know what was going on down there, and honestly, I wasn’t sure I wanted to. That wasn’t my business.

So, I pulled my bike up next to his motorbike and moved to sit on it, planting myself stubbornly on the seat. The big black box on the back wobbled slightly under my weight. I settled in, watching the cars blur past on the street, counting them without really seeing them.

It didn’t take too long before I heard footsteps, slow and uneven, followed by a loud yawn. "I'm hungry after doing all that. Let's go eat. I know an awesome place we can go. Time to pay your bill..." His voice trailed off as I twisted my body to face the direction it came from.

Three boys stood in front of me all with different facial expressions. I stayed where I was, resting casually against my childhood friend's bike. The boy riding behind Su-ho earlier blinked in surprise, like he hadn’t expected anyone to be waiting.

He hung back a little, shifting awkwardly on his feet, glancing between me and Su-ho like he wasn’t sure what he was supposed to do. The other one, standing a few steps farther away, Shorter then the others, didn’t move at all. He just watched all calm and quiet, with a sharp kind of look that made it clear he was taking everything in, saying nothing. There was something different about him. something harder to read.

Su-ho didn't seem bothered at all by the way I was sitting on his bike. If anything, the grin on his face widened like he found it funny. He walked up casually, swinging his helmet off and tossing it onto the seat next to me with a careless thud.

"You know," he said, leaning a little too close like he was letting me in on a secret, "most people ask before they hijack my ride."

I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms, not moving an inch. He chuckled under his breath, like he knew I wasn’t actually mad.

Straightening up, he turned to the two boys still standing a few feet away. He jerked a thumb toward me, casual and proud.

"This little pest is mine," he said, almost affectionately. "Been stuck with me since we were kids." I moved my hand up to slap him in the arm for calling me a 'pest' before turning my glace at the new boys once again, "Y/N" I said plainly before glaring at Su-ho once more.

The boy who had been riding behind him looked even more confused now, shifting his weight like he wasn’t sure if he was supposed to introduce himself too. The shorter boy stayed quiet, still watching me with those sharp eyes.

Su-ho didn't seem to notice the awkwardness, or maybe he just didn’t care. He grinned at me again, wide and boyish as always. "Come on. If you’re gonna lurk, you might as well come with us."

At first, I try to distract myself. I pull out my textbooks, sit at my desk, and tell myself I will just study for a little while until they answer. It is fine. Everything is fine. Su-ho always takes a while to text back. Si-eun too. Beom-seok is skittish, but that is nothing new.

The words on the page blur together. I keep checking my phone every few minutes. Still no messages. Still no calls. The pit in my stomach grows heavier, gnawing at my ribs.

I text them again. Nothing. I call. Still nothing.

When Si-eun finally picks up, it is rushed and cold. "I'm busy," he mutters before hanging up without another word.

That is when the studying stops. That is when the panic really starts sinking in, slow and suffocating like someone has thrown a weighted blanket over me. I cannot sit still anymore. I pace my room. I stare at my phone. I jump every time it buzzes, even when it is just spam.

Then finally, the call comes. A number I do not recognize flashes across my screen. My heart jumps to my throat as I answer. "Hello?"

"Y/n?" a voice says, softer than I expect. It is Su-ho’s grandmother. "I just wanted to let you know... Su-ho is in the hospital, but he’s okay. Nothing to panic about, sweetheart. Just come when you can."

Her words are gentle, careful, but I can still hear the worry tucked under them, hidden like a frayed seam.

I do not even remember moving. One second I am in my room, and the next I am flying down the streets on my bike, pedaling so hard it hurts. I can barely see through the tears stinging my eyes and the panic clouding my head.

When I get to the hospital, there are two people waiting in the chairs near the front. Si-eun is hunched forward, elbows digging into his knees, staring at the floor like he is trying to disappear. Sitting next to him is a girl I have never seen before. She has neat dark hair, simple jeans, and a jacket that looks way too big on her. Her face is pretty but serious, completely guarded.

"What happened? Where’s Beom-seok? Is he okay? What is going on with you three? Don't lie to me." My voice is raw, panting from running more then i ever have. I wanted to cut the the chance, i was done the the lying in this friend group.

Si-eun looks up slowly. He does not say anything right away. He just stares at me with that same exhausted, hollow look that makes my skin crawl. For once, he does not try to dodge the truth. He tells me everything. About the fights. About Yeong-bin. About Beom-seok’s fear. About Su-ho trying to fix things himself before it all went wrong.

It is too much. I stand there for a long minute, feeling like I have stepped into someone else’s nightmare. My eyes snap toward the girl next to him. "And who are you?" I demand, sharper than I mean to be.

She stands, calm and steady, like she is ready for me to ask. "I’m Yeong-i," she says quietly. "I am... part of it."

I do not have time to unpack what that means. My focus is already on the hallway leading to Su-ho. As I start walking, Si-eun's voice follows after me. "He threatened us if we involved you in this." He says it so plainly, like he knew he didn't mind the earful he was going to get from his bestfriend.

I do not answer. I just keep moving, following the sterile scent of the hospital until I find the right room. Inside, lying still beneath the white hospital sheets, is Su-ho. He looks so small, his breathing steady and slow. He looks fragile in a way I have never seen before, so unlike the boy who used to grin at me like he had the world in his hands.

I stand in the doorway for a moment, just staring at him. His face is relaxed, the lines of tension gone, but it doesn’t comfort me. I wish I could hear him talk, see his smile again. But instead, I just watch him sleep, my chest tight with worry I can't shake.

Su-ho looked a little beaten up, but he was okay. His face had a few bruises, his cheek was bandaged, but there was no mistaking the relief I felt seeing him awake. As I stood there, staring at him, he stirred slightly and blinked his eyes open. When his gaze met mine, my chest tightened, the tears I had been holding back threatening to spill over.

I couldn’t help it. I sighed in relief, watching his eyes, knowing he was alright. But the worry didn’t leave me yet. It lingered, heavy in the pit of my stomach.

Su-ho’s lips curved into a small smile, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Well, well, if it isn’t my personal stalker," he teased, his voice rough from sleep. "Didn’t think you’d be the type to break into hospitals just to check on me."

I rolled my eyes and made my way to his bed. Sitting down next to his legs, I reached out without thinking, gently touching the bandage on his cheek. He winced slightly but kept up his usual cocky attitude.

"Seriously, you’re unbelievable," I muttered, my fingers brushing the bandage carefully. "You really worried me, you know that?" My voice softened as I looked at him, feeling the weight of everything that had happened the unknowns, the fears, the secrets.

He just smirked, his usual charm somehow intact even after everything. "Hey, I’m fine. Nothing you need to worry about," he said with a shrug. "It’s all just a scratch. It’s nothing."

Frustration built up inside me. "Cut the crap, Su-ho," I snapped, my voice rising slightly. "I know everything. Don’t pretend like this is all nothing. I’m not stupid."

His smile faltered. His eyes grew more serious as he leaned back, clearly trying to find the right words. "You don’t get it," he said, his voice quieter now. "I just didn’t want you getting involved. It’s too dangerous for you."

I blinked, caught off guard. "What do you mean? We aren’t kids anymore. I’m not some helpless little—" "I know we aren’t kids anymore," he cut in, his tone soft but firm. "That’s not what I mean."

He hesitated, like he was gathering courage. Slowly, a smug smile started to pull at his lips. I frowned, confused. "Come on," he said, teasing again but with something deeper behind it. "You really didn’t know? I’m in love with you."

The words hit me hard. My face heated instantly, my heart racing so fast it made my head spin. I stuttered, unable to form a coherent sentence. "Y-you... what?"

His smile only grew wider as he leaned in a little closer, his hand reaching out to gently touch mine. "Yeah," he said, his voice low and almost playful. "Thought maybe you would've figured it out by now—you being the smart one and all."

I was too flustered to respond. Before I could even think, he was pulling me toward him. His lips met mine, soft at first, then deepening as he held me close. For a second, I froze, completely overwhelmed, before I melted into him, my hands finding their way to grip his shirt.

The world slowed, everything else fading away...until a throat clearing broke the moment.

I jerked back, my face burning hotter than ever, and looked over to see Si-eun standing awkwardly in the doorway, clearly trying not to laugh. The girl next to him, Yeong-i, was grinning like she had just witnessed the cutest thing in the world.

I shot her a look, but even that couldn’t erase the warm, fluttering feeling in my chest.

Su-ho just chuckled and pulled me back against him casually, like he didn’t have a care in the world. "Guess we have an audience," he said, smirking.

When I pushed the door open, the first thing I noticed was how quiet it was. The room still carried the faint smell of pizza and frosting. The table was filled with a few boxes of half-eaten pizza, some plates stacked neatly nearby. Sodas sat opened but unfinished. Balloons floated lazily near the ceiling, and a "Happy Birthday" banner hung across the wall, a little crooked but still holding strong.

And there on the couch, Su-ho was fast asleep. He was sprawled out comfortably, one arm draped over his stomach, his head resting against the couch cushion. His breathing was slow and even, the quiet room making it sound louder than usual.

I stepped inside carefully, closing the door behind me without a sound. For a moment, I just stood there watching him. The sight of him like this relaxed and safe made my chest ache a little.

Quietly, I made my way over and crouched beside the couch, resting my arms on the cushion and my chin on top of them. I stayed like that for a while, just studying his face. Without the teasing grin he always wore, he looked softer, almost boyish.

Without thinking, I reached out and brushed a bit of hair from his forehead. The slight touch made him stir. His eyes fluttered open, confused and sleepy at first, until they landed on me.

When he saw me, a slow, lazy smile spread across his face.

"Hey," he mumbled, voice rough with sleep.

"Hey, birthday boy," I said softly, smiling back.

Still heavy with sleep, he reached out and tugged at my arm, pulling me gently onto the couch with him. I let out a breathy laugh as I shifted, ending up half lying against his chest, fitting easily into the space beside him. His arm wrapped around me securely, his chin resting lightly against the top of my head.

"You came," he whispered, sounding happy.

"Of course I did," I said quietly, settling into him. "Like I'd ever miss your birthday."

We stayed like that, tangled together on the couch, the world outside the room feeling miles away. His hand moved slowly up and down my arm in a soothing motion, and after a few moments, he spoke again, his voice even softer this time.

"I love you," he murmured, the words barely above a whisper.

My heart skipped, then raced, but I didn’t pull away. I tightened my arms around him instead, closing my eyes and letting the warmth of him sink into me.

A few seconds later, I felt him smile against my hair. "Best birthday," he mumbled, sounding completely content.

I let out a small, quiet laugh and lifted my head just enough to look up at him. "You’re so dramatic," I whispered back, but my voice was thick with emotion.

Everything had been weird lately. Si-eun barely talked to us anymore. Beom-seok was hanging out with the wrong people, and Su-ho... he just seemed off. It was worrying. He’d still tell me everything was okay, kiss me like nothing was wrong, but I could see it in his eyes — he was planning something. I knew it. But deep down, I believed that if it was truly bad, he would tell me.

I tried texting Si-eun, but he only ever insisted he was fine, just busy. Beom-seok didn’t talk to me at all. Once, he sent me a message asking to meet somewhere, but I had a horrible feeling about it and didn’t go. That pit in my chest was back — like something bad was happening, and I was the only one still in the dark.

I pushed the feeling away and forced myself back into studying. That was until my phone rang. It was Si-eun. His contact photo popped up — a picture of him and Su-ho smiling together.

I answered quickly. “Is Su-ho with you?” was the first thing he said, his voice tight, panicked.

“No... he hasn’t answered my calls either. Si-eun, what’s going on?" Beep. Beep. Beep. The call ended.

My heart dropped. I immediately started freaking out, calling him back, then calling Su-ho, then anyone I could think of — no one picked up. Desperate, I scrolled to Beom-seok’s contact and called. It rang once. Twice. Three times. Finally, someone picked up.

"Beom-seok?... I’m really worried about Su-ho, is he with you?" I asked, my voice trembling.

All I heard was a loud "Hey! Eat shit!" from somewhere in the background. That pit in my stomach grew bigger, swallowing everything else.

"Where are you... Beom-seok, where are you, you son of a— WHERE IS SU-HO?!"

He tried to say something, but I wasn’t listening. He must’ve realized, because he hung up. I called Si-eun again, my heart pounding in my chest, before running out of the house without even thinking. My feet carried me blindly down the streets, to anywhere I thought they might be. Anywhere Su-ho might be.

No answer. No answers anywhere. Everything was hurting by the time I finally couldn’t run anymore. I collapsed onto a bench, trying to catch my breath, when my phone buzzed. A text.

It was from Su-ho’s number. "Working out." That made it worse. It was late. What could he be "working out" at this hour?

I didn’t sleep that night And the next day at school, just as I tried to keep my mind from spiraling, I got a call.

Yeong-i. Confused, I answered. The moment I heard her sobbing voice, I knew it was about Su-ho. it didnt take long for her to tell me, Told me what Beom-seok and his gang had done. That Su-ho was in the hospital.

I didn’t think. I just stood up from my desk and quickly left my class, ignoring the calls of my teacher.

By the time I got there, Yeong-i was sitting outside the hospital room, crying into her hands. I sprinted up to her, panic exploding in my chest.

“Is he— Is he okay?” I asked desperately. She couldn’t answer. She just looked up at me with those tearful, broken eyes.

I moved to the hospital door in a panic. my legs moving on their own. Inside the room, I saw Si-eun first, he was crying, shoulders shaking. Su-ho’s grandmother was sitting next to the hospital bed, her face buried in her hands.

And there he was. Su-ho. Lying on the bed, a breathing mask over his face. Still. So still. His eyes weren’t opening like last time.

I covered my mouth with my hand, a muffled sob breaking free from my chest. I heard Si-eun cry, My eyes burned with tears as I forced myself forward, my hand instinctively resting on Si-eun’s shaking shoulder in hopes to comfort my friend.

Su-ho’s grandmother looked up at me, her face pale and worn. She shook her head slowly and explained through broken words he was in a coma.

My breath hitched violently as the reality hit me, slamming into my heart. He wasn’t just hurt this time. He was gone somewhere I couldn’t reach.

Without thinking, I stepped forward, taking my hand off Si-eun. My knees hit the cold hospital floor as I collapsed beside Su-ho’s bed. Grabbing his hand tightly in both of mine, I lowered my forehead onto it, whispering his name, willing him to wake up as cry's escaped my lips.

One afternoon, after another brutal day where everything felt too loud, too heavy, I found myself at the hospital again. The hallways smelled like bleach and cold air, but it was the only place that felt even remotely right anymore.

Si-eun was already there, sitting quietly next to Su-ho’s bed, his shoulders hunched forward like the weight of everything was pressing down on him too. He didn’t even look up when I walked in.

I quietly slid into the chair beside him, the scrape of metal legs against the floor the only sound between us. For a while, neither of us said anything.We didn’t need to.

The low beep of the heart monitor filled the room, steady and soft, a cruel reminder that Su-ho was alive... but not really here. My throat tightened as I stared at Su-ho's peaceful face. I hugged my arms around myself, feeling so small, so helpless.

"I miss him too," I whispered, the words breaking free before I could stop them. Si-eun stiffened slightly beside me, like he hadn’t expected me to say it out loud. I bit my lip hard, trying to keep the tears from falling, but it was no use. They slid down my cheeks, warm and painful.

"I don’t know how to do this without him," I said, voice cracking, eyes never leaving Su-ho. "You’re doing it," Si-eun said quietly, almost like he didn’t believe it himself. "You’re still here."

"But I’m not me anymore," I choked out. "I feel like I’m just... surviving. Like I'm stuck in some nightmare and everything’s wrong." Si-eun finally turned his head to look at me. His eyes were glossy too, raw from the same grief I was drowning in. "That's all any of us are doing," he said quietly.

The room felt heavier than ever. The weight of everything we were too young to carry sinking deeper into our bones. Unable to hold it in anymore, I leaned forward, pressing my forehead gently against Su-ho’s hand. His skin was warm under mine, but it wasn’t the same.

For a long moment, there was only the sound of the heart monitor, and my own broken breathing. Then I felt a hand on my shoulder, Si-eun’s. Steady and grounding.

I let myself cry, Really cry. Not just quiet tears, but the kind that shook my whole body And Si-eun stayed right there. Silent, Hurting too.

We sat there like that for what felt like forever. Two people who loved him so much, just trying to survive the wreckage he left behind.

Months had slipped by. I was getting better at surviving the days not really happy, not really sad. Just... waiting.

I still visited Su-ho every chance I could, sitting by his side, telling him about everything and nothing, even when the room felt too big and too quiet.

Si-eun and I had gotten closer too, finding time for each other even after he moved. It wasn’t perfect, but it helped.

One day, we were supposed to hang out, but he canceled last minute, claiming he was busy. I didn’t believe him. Not this time.

So I went to his mom’s apartment, where she casually mentioned he was volunteering at a youth cultural center for the weekend. I asked for the address and went straight there.

The building was huge older, with tall windows and the kind of floors that echoed your footsteps no matter how quietly you walked. Kids’ voices bounced around the halls, laughter and shouting bleeding through the open doors.

It smelled faintly like cafeteria food and something cleaner, more sterile. I wandered for about fifteen minutes before I heard it: a loud burst of muffled laughter coming from deeper inside. I followed the noise until I found the cafeteria.

It wasn’t packed, just scattered groups here and there. The light overhead flickered slightly, and the tables were old, the kind you could still find gum stuck underneath if you checked.

Near the back, four boys sat gathered around a table.

One had messy black hair and sharp, narrow eyes that flickered up as soon as I got close. Next to him was a lankier boy with glasses, his frame thin and awkward. Across from them sat a broader guy, shoulders hunched slightly as he focused on his food. And finally, there was Si-eun sitting quietly among them, not laughing, not talking, just eating with that same stoic expression he always wore lately.

I stepped closer until I was standing right beside the boy with the messy hair — the one who had noticed me first.

He looked up at me properly now, giving me a bold once-over before flashing a cheeky grin. "Lost, pretty girl?" he said, voice teasing but not unkind. "Or were you looking for someone?"

He leaned back casually in his seat, one arm draped over the back of his chair, looking way too pleased with himself. I give him a unamused look.

Across the table, Si-eun finally glanced up at me, his eyes meeting mine. He didn’t say anything, just stared, frozen mid-bite, his face impossible to read. "Since when do you volunteer?" My question was directed towards Si-eun, the three strangers around him looked surprised that I knew him, or that I actually spoke to him. "Y/N...What are you doing here?" His voice was calm as he set his chopsticks down. I shrugged walking past the other boys to lean on the table next to him. "I came all the way here to hang out with you this day, as always and you say 'I'm busy" I mock his calm tone, trying my best to make a bored expression like he does. That caused a snicker from the loud boy at the end of the table.

"I am." is the only thing he says before taking another bit of his food. I roll my eyes looking around before grabbing another chair and pulling it up sitting next to him. "well then I'll be busy with you. Y/N. Nice to meet you all" i give a kind smile to the three boys who look utterly confused.

The world blurred around me as I ran, my feet pounding against the pavement and my lungs burning with every desperate breath. I didn’t know exactly what I was running toward only that I had to get there. Had to see it for myself.

I stumbled onto the hospital property, my heart racing faster than my legs could carry me. Just ahead, standing outside the entrance, were four figures. Park Hu-Min, Go Hyun-Tak, Seo Jun-Tae, and Si-eun. I didn’t even think. I just kept moving, the ground beneath me almost nonexistent.

The three of them stood with their backs to me, facing something or... someone that I couldn’t see. I pushed my way between Hu-Min and Hyun-Tak, desperate to get through. As I brushed past Hu-Min, I caught a glimpse of his face, and for the briefest moment, I saw the sadness lingering in his eyes.

My eyes locked forward. There, just beyond them, was a wheelchair. And Si-eun, speaking softly to someone I couldn’t quite see yet.

My ears were ringing from the adrenaline, the noise of the world around me dulled to almost nothing. My heartbeat drowned everything else out. Each step closer felt like I was moving through thick water, like time had slowed just for this moment.

"Si-eun..." I whispered, my voice cracking under the weight of my fear. "Is that...?"

He turned at the sound of my voice, and when he moved, I finally saw him. Su-ho. There he was, awake.

His hair was a little longer, and he looked thinner, paler than I remembered, but none of that mattered. Nothing mattered except that it was him. My childhood best friend. My boyfriend, The person I thought I had lost forever.

When his eyes met mine, I saw the light return a tired but unmistakable smile slowly growing across his face, the same crooked grin that had once made me fall so hopelessly in love.

I stumbled forward, tears already spilling over. My hand lifted, shaking, reaching out to him like I needed proof that he was really there, that this wasn’t another cruel dream I would wake up from.

Before I could touch him, he reached up first, his hand finding mine and holding it tightly, like he was grounding me back to the earth.

"There you are, stalker." Su-ho said, his voice rough but teasing, full of more life than I could have ever hoped for. "I thought you gave up."

Taglist: @kn1fes0b

Header’s Creator: @firefly-graphics

525 notes View Post

l5byrinth

1 month ago

𝑭𝒂𝒊𝒓 𝑭𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕‧₊˚✧ . ˚

𝐒𝐮-𝐇𝐲𝐞𝐨𝐤 𝐱 𝐅𝐞𝐦! 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 | 𝟏.𝟗𝐤 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 | 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠, 𝐨𝐫 𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭, 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐮-𝐇𝐲𝐞𝐨𝐤 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭.

𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫’𝐬 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞: 𝐀𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐚𝐩𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐩𝐬𝐞 𝐀𝐔 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬—𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐨 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐚. 𝐌𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝟓 + 𝟏 𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐜𝐞 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐨 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡. 𝐀𝐥𝐬𝐨, 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐎𝐕 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐜 ♡

When Dae-Su invites the whole gang to visit his uncle’s gym for “fun,” it never crossed anyone’s mind that they would be learning fighting skills. Perhaps Nam-Ra was smart to decline even before hearing the entirety of the planned itinerary, opting to study instead. To put it courteously, Dae-Su’s uncle was as eccentric as he was, maybe even more so.

Though you have to admit you could get behind his reasoning for pairing everyone up the way he did, regardless of whether it was truly effective in terms of honing techniques or just based on skill level, there’s no doubt it’s now your new form of entertainment:

1) On-Jo was kicking Cheong-San back and forth on their mat, expressionless. Poor guy looked like he was in a pinball machine, but he truly didn’t seem to mind even though you knew he was agile enough to avoid it. You can’t lie; they’re absolutely adorable even when they fight. Seeing I-Sak coming over occasionally to tease them only confirmed that you weren’t the only one who thought so. Huh, who would’ve thought self-defense training between two people could be this cute.

2) Animatedly, Gyeong-Su gestures “ladies first” to I-Sak, but she mimics his motions, repeating for him to “man up.” From your point of view, it looked almost comical, like one of those silent movies you could never understand. Neither of the two seemed to take it seriously; they were simply just having fun yielding to one another, taking nothing to heart.

3) Ji-Min and Hyo-Ryung were in some kind of mutual stand-off, neither one of them daring to move, their stance reminding you of two cats with a ball of yarn in the middle. They were too far away for you to listen in, but from the former’s expression, you could tell she was complaining endlessly. Is it worth it to bet on who would make the first attack rather than who would win between them?

4) In a corner, Wu-Jin and Joon-Yeong were ganging up on Dae-Su, except the biggest hurdle was that they clearly needed an actual gang to make Dae-Su budge. Apparently, his position as the so-called mediator—since it was deemed no one could win in a fight against Dae-Su if he simply laid down—didn’t matter to the other two; it was purely an opportunity for them to use him as a stress ball. You laugh at the idea that as a referee, one is supposed to keep a close eye on matches to ensure all rules are adhered to, but here, Wu-Jin and Joon-Yeong definitely found a loophole: if you take out the official, anything goes.

5) Now, that left you and Su-Hyeok, mainly because according to Dae-Su, he wanted to see you guys fight to the death, leaving you wondering if he meant that in the literal sense. “Bare-Su doesn’t know what giving up is, and Y/N would never accept defeat,” was his reasoning, pestering his uncle to pit the boys and girls against one another. Originally you and On-Jo were supposed to practice together, but for some reason, it just ended up like this. You were going to question Dae-Su as to why only the four of you were in a mixed pair, but decided against it. Knowing him, it’s probably better if you didn’t ask.

As you’re watching the hilarious matches—if they could even be called that—Su-Hyeok’s voice draws you back to your own mat and sparring partner for the day.

“Out of all supernatural beings, what are you most afraid of?” “Zombies,” you say without hesitation. “Alright, then go ahead and imagine me as a zombie in a sudden apocalypse.” “Please, when would zombies show up? At a high school of all places—I don’t think so,” you reason, giving him a pointed look. “Just for mock situational purposes, I’ll be a zombie; a handsome one.”

“You?” “Yeah, you can’t picture me as a zombie?” “No, I can, but not as a handsome one,” you tease, even though it was far opposite from the truth. Rolling his eyes, he gives up. “Fine. Let’s just say I’m a regular zombie.” Su-Hyeok begins to move behind you as he says, “In the instance that I—a zombie—were to come around and do this…” He wraps an arm around your shoulders, placing your neck in the crook of his elbow in a squeezing motion that would choke you in a real-life situation with more aggression involved. Surprising him, you quickly remove his arm, spin around, and pin it behind his back in a matter of seconds. Technically, he never asked if you had any prior experience, which you did; a black belt to be exact, but he doesn’t have to know that.

“How are you this strong?” Su-Hyeok asks, genuinely shocked. Though he groans at the pressure you applied, he reverses the disadvantageous position by drawing your arm out and back up over you, untangling himself first before flinging you down on the mat. Despite that, he still throws an arm out for you, cradling your neck to lessen the impact you would’ve received otherwise. You would never tell Su-Hyeok, but his absolute care for you—leagues even above others—was your heart’s kryptonite.

“You don’t think I can handle a fair fight, huh?” Without faltering, you wrap your legs around his waist and flip yourself back on top, not quite registering that you were presently straddling him. Too competitive to pay it any mind, you miss the slight smile Su-Hyeok tries to suppress—that always meant trouble. Decisively, you shift into putting him into an arm bar, one leg across his throat while you twist his arm tightly, disabling him from moving. “I never said that you couldn’t!” He taps the floor, seemingly signaling that he wanted out. “I give up!” He exhales tiredly.

“Oh sorry!” You apologize hurriedly, truly worried. Knowing that you had an unfair advantage to begin with, you loosen your grip altogether, already beginning to check if you went too far in the spirit of competition when Su Hyeok unceremoniously flips you back around, pinning you down. Y/H/C splays out beneath you, a stark contrast against the blue mat as his hands hold your wrists above your head, pressing it firmly to the floor while his knees lock outside of yours, restricting all movement. “Oof,” you gasp, not expecting the force or the motion’s speed, struggling against the added weight on you.

You look up, seeing Su-Hyeok chuckling openly at you having fell for his trick. His face ends up unbelievably close to yours, so close that you can see drops of sweat dotting his hairline. Every time he exhales, you can feel his breath ghost over your face, and you wonder if he could hear how fast your heart was beating or whether he could feel it from the radial pulse in your wrists through his hands due to the compromising position he currently had you locked in. His eyes sweep from your face down to your lips for a split second before looking back up, though it goes unnoticed by you.

Your feelings aside, you were never one to lose—Dae-Su was spot-on about that—and you definitely could get yourself out of the position if you just knee him where it’s known to hurt the most. Even those without training would know that oldest trick in the book, but instead, you figure that messing with him is a thousand times more satisfying. “Do you know your place now?” He taunts, repositioning his hands in a more comfortable position so that it wouldn’t put too much force on your wrists; far too considerate for the situation at hand. “You mean underneath you?” You gaze up at him, defiantly, challenging him to make another move. Clearly flustered at your suggestive tone, his smile falters, causing you to burst into laughter. Dae-Su’s uncle walks around the dojo, gauging the progress of every duo when you see him stopping by your area, scratching his head in confusion. “Oh, geez this is…different. What do we have here?” His eyes widen as he mutters to himself, before he goes back to his usual neutral expression you’ve seen all day. “So…uh, who won?” He raises his eyebrows at you and Su-Hyeok. “I’ve never had to determine who is the victor in this—" he gestures at the air, “—kind of a match before.” You scoot your head a little bit to the side so you could make eye contact with Dae-Su’s uncle out of respect. How ironic, considering what he was seeing in front of him. Clearly, Su-Hyeok was still too stunned to think properly, but hasn’t let you go. “Me!” You reply without shame, even adding in a smile for good measure. Skeptical, Dae-Su’s uncle nods anyway. “Well…good going? Keep it up?” he compliments, or rather, questions awkwardly, before going on his way to the other end of the room. You have half a mind to wonder what kind of first impressions you and your friends were making, thinking about what Dae Su’s uncle would encounter on the other mats to follow. When you turn your head back, Su-Hyeok is still looking at you. He shakes his head in amusement as you nudge his knee with yours. “Where’s the sportsmanship? You just declared victory with a lie. All my hard work went down the drain.” “Well, should have spoken up earlier then, you fool.” He scoffs at you, before narrowing his eyes. “Hey! Don’t try to distract me! Is your solution in an unexpected situation to seduce your way out of it?” You blush but hold it together. “Depends, did it work?” Su-Hyeok splutters. “I told you to imagine me as a zombie. How would the undead fall victim to human charm?” “So, you’re saying my charming nature is distracting.” “Now you’re just twisting my words.” “You didn’t answer my question,” you press. “Was my method successful or not?” “Again, Y/N, let me remind you that I’m a zombie—" “I’m not asking Zombie Su-Hyeok, I’m asking Human Su-Hyeok what he thinks.” There’s a dangerous glint in his eyes, which should have been warning enough for you. He moves to lace his fingers with yours, and leans in even further, his face barely an inch away. He smirks. “Maybe if you do it more often.” Not knowing what to say and abruptly much too shy to retaliate, you quickly throw him off of you and move back into a sitting position, your cheeks red. Su-Hyeok falls to the mat on his back, laughing so hard he’s shaking. You kick him with your foot in childish revenge to no avail, glaring all the while. He finally sits up, leaning back onto his arms to continue staring at you, smiling cheekily at the expression on your face. “After that, I think I clearly won.” Dae-Su comes by and squats between the two of you, looking back and forth pensively. “As the designated referee and the one who suggested this activity in the first place, I’m saying this for the benefit of the whole and all the single people in this room: Next time, a little less flirting and a lot more fighting, please.”

┈┈┈┈┈𖥸┈┈┈┈┈

© 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭 𝐠𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐱’𝐬 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐔𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐛𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞. 𝐈 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨, 𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞, 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫-𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐭. 𝐀𝐥𝐬𝐨, 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐳𝐞, 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞, 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐞, 𝐨𝐫 𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦 𝐢𝐭 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞.

815 notes View Post

l5byrinth

1 year ago

crying why did he forget he was holding a mic mid-interview 😭

598 notes View Post

l5byrinth

6 months ago

how it feels scrolling through the “x reader” tags during october as someone who doesn’t read smut

1K notes View Post

l5byrinth

3 months ago

DOES ANYONE ON THIS APP WRITE FOR HWANG JUN HO AND ALSO TAKE REQUESTS CUS BOY I WANNA READ FICS ABOUT HIM . Sorry for yelling.

***OR please tag me in pre existing Jun Ho fics. I am desperate for anything

25 notes View Post

l5byrinth

2 years ago

AHH i'm so glad u love my writing!! you are so so kind as well :) and i love this request like????

dating jack champion

✷ where do i start with this outgoing boy

✷ let's go back to when you first met: it was the first day of filming for way of the water, and you had been cast as one of the sully children. and you were just chilling, going over your lines until you see jack walk past you.

✷ you immediately think he's cute. and it doesn't help that you two have a lot of scenes together since his character (spider) is closely tied with the sully family.

✷ the more scenes you film, the more time together, the more chances you get to know each other...and you know the rest.

✷ jack is such a simp for you. like full puppy-dog eyed head over heels for you type shit.

✷ you know that one tik tok song that's like 'walk him like a dog sis, walk him like a dog' yeah that's literally you and him.

✷ can literally stare at you for hours and not get bored. getting ready for an event? he's staring at you. doing normal daily activities? he's staring at you. it gets a little creepy sometimes, ngl.

✷ as seen in my first jack drabble, butters is your bestie lol. sometimes, you think she loves you more than she loves jack. she's always up for your cuddles and head scratches.

✷i dk maybe you just have this certain charm when it comes to his family (butters included) because they all love you!! will literally beg jack to bring you over during the weekend or smth lol

✷ you like doing his makeup a lot. you're sitting on his lap, music playing in the background while you do his lashes. jack likes mascara and eyeliner the best, and makes you take soso many pictures.

✷ speaking of pictures, u guys are definitely that couple who goes to hundreds of photobooth and come out with so many picture strips. you keep some in the back of your phone and he has some in his wallet.

✷ he calls you babe & baby a lot, and honey too. sometimes he'll call you something stupid like 'my little snookums' in his high-pitched voice to make you laugh.

✷ is a cuddler 10000%. he doesn't really care whether he's the big spoon or not. but he loves it when you sleep on his chest, or when he sleeps in your lap so you can play with his hair and face.

✷ also, you love his hair!! sometimes you really be wondering wtf he be doing for it to be so fluffy. like what products do you use sir??? sometimes he'll be talking to you but you're just zoned out twirling his curls around

✷ his favorite dates with you are the ones that aren’t planned. you two of just sitting around and then one of you is just like “hey, wanna go do ___” and then it goes from there.

✷ love love loves hugs. jack will take a hug from you any chance he gets.

✷ in a way, jacks like the best friend you never had.

329 notes View Post

l5byrinth

1 month ago

REMINISCE - 박 후민

genre sorta angst (w happy ending) , park humin x reader

cw spoilers for whc2 (takes place after ep8)

word count 1.9k

note i hope u like it and if u do, say thank you jiya because she took the burden of proofreading this

YOU FOUND YOURSELF HERE OFTEN. You stared longingly at the flower shop as you sat on the curb across the shop. You sat there, foolishly expecting for him to walk by the shop coincidentally. And perhaps, when he does, you’d share a glance from a distance and you’d be satisfied. It’s blissful to imagine it, but its fruition still scares you.

“Are you fucking depressed or something?”

You look up to see Seongje’s contemptuous smirk as he blocked the light from the streetlight, “No. It would take a lot more for me to be depressed.” You moved aside by habit, despite the fact that there was plenty of space.

“Our only source of money is gone, that can’t be good for you.” He said as he sat down next to you on the curb. He was right, of course, but there was an underlying sense of relief you felt when you recalled that Na Baekjin was finally defeated.

“Fuck that shit, dude. I’ll get a scholarship and get the hell out of this shithole.”

Seongje blinked as he took in your words. He lit up a cigarette silently, as if in thought before turning towards you speaking again, “Don’t tell me you’ve been waiting for the union to collapse.”

“Not really.” You said at first but one pointed look from him and you sighed and spilled your true feelings, “I wasn’t particularly fond of or dependent on the union. Since Seowon joined the union, I had to join if I wanted to survive school.”

“So, what now? You’re gonna study hard?” He said as he offered you his cig which you graciously took.

As the smoke clouded your vision, you spoke, “Yeah. And you?”

“I got the offer to lead the union.”

You paused and stared at him before looking away, “Don’t accept the offer. Choi is gonna fuck you up at the slightest slip up.”

“Relax. I am not going to.” He took the cigarette from you and brought it to his lips, “I am going to Jeju.”

“For what?” You asked almost immediately, curious as to why he would suddenly leave for Jeju.

He shrugged, “It’s a romantic place.”

“Shut the fuck up.”

Seongje chuckled as he exhaled, smoke enveloping the two of you. A small smile slipped onto your face as serenity hung in the air. You relished in the knowledge that there will be no more bloody knuckles or late night visits to the pharmacy. You could simply be a teenager like you’d hoped to be.

You found yourself staring at the shop once again, hoping you’ll catch a glimpse of him.

“Isn’t this Park Humin’s neighbourhood? I thought you were over him.”

You shook your head, choosing to be honest because you knew Seongje could see right through it, “I thought so too. And I wish it were true.” You looked up at the sky, barely able to see the stars. It was a shame that they were hidden by the clouds and smoke that covered this city. You wished to be able to see them twinkle.

Seongje looked at you as if he was aware of why you were here, sitting at this curb, all alone. He flicked the cigarette bum on the ground and turned towards you, “I am scared of swimming.”

“Wait, what? Then why the fuck are you going to Jeju?”

“I’ll try to swim. I’ll either learn it, or die trying.”

You looked at him incredulously, “Are you crazy?”

“I enjoy beating people, what do you think?” He said, “besides, if I never try it, I’ll never know if I can be good at it or not.”

“And if you drown?”

“It really isn’t that bad. Someone could help me up. Or I can just save myself.”

“You’re too cocky for your own good.” You say, looking at the flower shop across you once again.

Seongje gets up and brushes the dust off of his clothes, “You just need to be cocky enough,” he stretches his hand towards you, “Go see him.”

You stare at his outstretched hand. You knew what he was talking about. ‘Go to him. Maybe it won’t be that bad.’

Except there is no hope for you, or so you believe. Maybe he will look at you with his loving gaze, but what if he looks at you in disdain? What if he walks past you, like a forgotten photograph while you’re still stuck in the frame? The ghost of what you had haunts your thoughts endlessly, and yet your feet don’t move.

The ghost takes you back to the moment when you first met Humin. You were practically dozing off behind the counter, despite the bright sunlight streaming in through the window. You rested your head on your arms over the counter.

The bell rang, indicating a customer but you were so drowsy, you barely noticed. A figure rushes inside the shop and you stay in your position, hoping for them to just leave (terrible employee behaviour). You could barely get a wink of sleep due to the sun, until you felt something blocking the rays and sighed contentedly.

Except there are no curtains on the window.

You immediately lift your head to see someone’s hand blocking the sunrays. You stare at the man in bewilderment as his eyes widen, as if he wasn’t expecting you to get up. He quickly apologizes as he stepped away from the counter, explaining that you seemed to need sleep.

You looked away as the blood rushed onto your face, telling him it was alright. Once he walked away, you practically slammed your forehead on the counter of sheer embarrassment.

You remembered when you clocked out later that day, he was waiting outside the shop. You were surprised to see him again, but he was quick to explain that he felt ‘sorry’ and wanted to make it up to you by getting some ice cream together. You were fully aware what he was playing at, and yet you played along.

‘It really isn’t that bad.’ Seongje’s words ringed in your ears once again, and the realization dawned on you. You have nothing to lose. You might as well give it a shot.

You stand in front of the flower shop, your hand resting on the cold metal of the door knob. You inhale deeply as your fingers finally curl around the knob and you push it open.

The familiar sound of the bell rang over your head as you entered the flower shop. The earthy, sweet aroma enters your nostrils as your gaze falls on the multiple bouquets in front of you. A warm yellow lights up the shop, just enough for you to be able to see. A bouquet of stargazer lilies caught your eye, reminding you of Humin once again. The way he would practically break his back to make sure he got you your favourite flowers.

He would watch you carefully so as to gauge your reaction and would feel satisfied once he saw a smile spread over your face. Humin was observant when it came to you. He observed everything about you and tried his level best to bring a smile to your face, even if it meant embarrassing himself.

That’s what you missed the most about Humin. You missed his presence, his touch and the comfort he brought you. You yearned for a glimpse of him, hoping that perhaps that would be able to calm your racing heart. But more than that, you missed the version of yourself he introduced to you. The version of you that was happy — truly happy.

You decided to buy the bouquet and picked it up, despite the lingering feeling of disappointment.

You knew he would never show up. What would change anyway? You were the one who chose to push Humin away for the union. You were the one who picked the union over him, so how could you be so shameless as to expect him to take you back?

You turned around and placed the bouquet down on the counter and reached for your wallet to pay for it. You were just taking out the bills when you heard a familiar voice, “You finally came.”

You looked up from your wallet to see Humin standing behind the counter. You felt as if your heart had stopped within your ribcage as you held onto the edge of the counter for support. He stood behind the counter, a small smile gracing his face as you stood in front of him. You suddenly felt self conscious, as if you felt he could see through your deepest fears.

His eyes were still as beautiful as ever. He was just as starry eyed as you had remembered him to be. Yet, you were still reminded of the moment you watched tears spill out of his doe eyes. The moment when you caressed his face as he cried and when time froze for you.

Humin smiled, “I could see you sitting on that curb from here. But, I never had the guts to come out and see you.” He sighed as he continued, “I am not sure if it matters, but I missed you.”

Before you realised, your own eyes had started brimming up, “Humin..” Your words died on your tongue as you looked at him. Your tears blinded your view and you felt as if everything had come crumbling down on you. You had dreamt of this moment countless times, you had wondered what you would say to him when you finally saw him and now that he was in front of you, you could barely look at him.

Humin walked out from behind the counter and hesitantly cupped your cheek, “Don’t cry.”

His words only made you cry harder. You selfishly wanted to lean into his touch, to relish into this feeling of having him close once again.

Humin gently wrapped an arm around and before you knew it, you found yourself pulling him closer. You embraced him like your life depended on it. His scent clouded your mind, and you realised just how much you had missed the comfort within his arms. Your tears stained the fabric of his shirt, your sniffles muffled against his shoulder as you finally spoke, “I am sorry. I should’ve never- I should’ve never let you go,” you sniffled, “I missed you so much.”

You felt his hand gently rub your back as you finally pulled away and looked into his eyes. Humin smiled again, wiping away the tears with his thumb, “It’s okay.”

You shook your head, “It’s not. What I did wasn’t-”

“-okay.” He finished for you, “Except it doesn’t matter.”

“You can’t say that. It does matter. I made a mistake.”

“You’ve punished yourself a lot over this.” He tucked a piece of your hair behind your ear, “Isn’t that enough? I have no plans to let you go now that you’re here.”

“I should make it up to you.” You said as you shook your head, the tears drying up on your face.

Humin chuckled, “Sure. You have all the time in the world to do that.”

As you walked out from the shop with him after closing, you looked up at the sky one more time. The clouds seemed to have drifted away, revealing the moon and a few stars in the sky.

Humin watched as you looked up at the sky, his fingers entangling with yours, “The moon is so beautiful tonight, isn’t it?” His gaze turns to you while yours is still fixed on the night sky.

“Yeah, it’s beautiful.” Your eyes met and a grin creeped onto your face.

The clouds had drifted away. The moon illuminates the once dark sky, and something about it feels so familiar to you.

It is a beautiful night to be in love.