What's Your Favorite Request That You've Written?

What's your favorite request that you've written? 😌

DON'T MAKE ME CHOOSE! It's like picking a favorite child 😭

I'll narrow it down to a few of my favorites:

1.) Rivalries Of The High Seas (I'm genuinely proud of my writing in this one. I was really inspired when I wrote it)

2.) Handle With Care (I wrote this as a comfort fic for one of my friends, so this is special because of that. I'm glad it can help)

3.) Empress Of The Heart (Again, I was inspired af and wrote this all in one go. Proud of it)

4.) Dancing In The Dark (This one wasn't requested, but I enjoy it. It's one of the main ones that I've found myself rereading, which is saying something lol. Sometimes my past writings make me cringe, but I enjoy this one)

Runner-Ups:

Conflicted Connections (A classic, what can I say?)

The Finer Things (The true OG)

Thank you for asking. Tell me what your fav writings of mine are and why :) I'm curious 💜

Bite

Pairing: Vamp!Lisa x Human!Fem!Reader

AU: Vampire

Word Count: ~ 5,564

Warnings / Misc. -- Mentions of Blood

Disclaimer: This writing is a work of fiction, and no disrespect is meant for those mentioned herein.

A/N: Hey everyone! I'm alive! School has kept me crazy busy and I've had my hands full with other things as well, but I finished writing this one and I wanted to share with you lovely peeps. To everyone who stopped by to check in, and to those of you who’ve been patiently waiting, thank you endlessly. I love having you as my readers 💜

PS ~ I hope this isn't too bad for my first one shot in forever! Also, happy Lisa era. I’m so proud of our girl!

🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

Saturday, October 31st

You look like an idiot. 

The nurse uniform you have on is obnoxiously cliché; short and tattered in various places to really sell the "sexy" aspect of it, little is left to the imagination. Fake blood stains dot the flimsy material in random patterns and mat some strands of the tacky blonde wig atop your head, making you look like something out of a B-movie at best. 

A bonafide, absolute idiot. 

When you express that sentiment to your best friend, she just rolls her eyes and holds out one last costume for you to try on. She had a few lined up in case you didn't like her other options, and clearly that's come in handy; you've already worked through the previous picks, so she crosses her fingers as your eyes skim over this one.

"Humor me, will you?" She asks, hoping that you'll give in and at least check this last one out. 

"Fine, but this is your last chance. It had better be good." You raise a pointed finger at her in warning. 

"I have a good feeling about this one," she says, smiling as you take the bag from her and slip into the dressing room one final time. 

Her phone chimes soon after, and she's quick to retrieve it from her pocket.

Willow: Are you guys almost here?? Jackson's been asking about you.

Your best friend bites her lip at that, nervously nibbling on it as she rereads the message to make sure she didn't imagine the last part. She's liked Jackson since middle school, and he'll be swinging by the party that you've all been invited to; that's one of the main reasons she begged you to come with her tonight. 

Y/BFFs/N: Still getting ready. We'll be there ASAP tho!

Willow: Alright, we'll see you soon. Don't take all night, or else👩🤛

Y/BFFs/N: Yah, cut the violence!

The sound of your best friend's soft giggling fills the air just as you manage to fasten the costume's last zipper and pull its hood over your head.

Surprise etches its way into your features as you do a spin, taking in the sight of yourself through the full length mirror of the dressing room. The outfit's red and black color schemes complement each other beautifully, giving you a powerful and sensual appeal that the other costumes didn't even stand a chance of doing. You look alluring in every sense of the word. 

"Holy shit," your best friend says when you emerge, striking a pose. "You look hot!" She squeals, clapping a few times in quick succession. 

There's no way you think this one looks bad. 

"I think Wanda would be proud," you grin, tilting your head up and wrapping the cape around your neck. 

"One hundred percent," Y/BFFs/N nods adamantly, in total agreement. The Scarlet Witch getup really compliments your features. 

"Now," she starts, changing topics as she looks in the reflection of her phone's dark screen to adjust some of her hair that's gone astray. "Let's pay and then go. Willow's looking for us, and my future man's wondering where I am, too." 

"Hell yeah!" You chuckle, patting her on the back. "I'll help you finally land him so you can stop pining."

You watch as she takes a moment to decide between coming up with a decent rebuttal to defend herself or agreeing with you, and you smile when she goes for the latter. 

"I'd accept nothing less," she says, holding her head high like a princess. "You are my wingwoman, after all." 

"And the best one in town," you add, tugging her towards the register. She reaches into her purse and pulls out the money to pay before politely handing it to the cashier. 

The teenage boy takes it with a small smile, though the action looks a little comical as his upper lip gets caught on the cheap, plastic fangs he's sporting. His knock-off version of Dracula is definitely…. something… and you can tell that his managers forced him to wear it for the holiday. 

"Come back and s-shhee us," he says, handing your change back. Your best friend takes it, failing to contain her laughter at his messy speech. He blushes crimson, likely cursing the plastic teeth for making him look a fool. 

"We surely will," you respond, giving him a comforting smile to keep his embarrassment at bay. He nods gratefully, and you're quickly pulled out of the store by your best friend. 

"Happy Halloween!" You shout over your shoulder, accompanied by the chime of the bell over the door. 

"You too," he calls back, letting out a soft sigh. 

---

20 Minutes Later -- The Party

Upon rounding the front of your car and stepping up onto the sidewalk outside of Willow's house, your attention is immediately caught by the numerous decorations that she put up last week. 

"Huh," you mumble, gazing up at the skeleton that towers above you, standing 12 feet tall. "I think it's safe to say that this is her favorite holiday…" 

"What makes you think that?" Your best friend plays, feigning ignorance as she pops up from behind a life-sized, animatronic Jason Voorhees. 

"I don't know," you tut, admiring Willow's hard work a little longer. "Just a feeling." 

Y/BFFs/N giggles in her unique way, making you smile at the sound as the two of you make your way up the path towards the house. You gaze down at your feet, careful to step on the stones of the walkway and avoid the motion-activated hands that scramble out of the weeds to grab unsuspecting guests. 

Having known Willow your entire childhood, you've grown used to her ways. 

*knock knock*

A strong, iconic synth bassline sounds off from inside, filling the otherwise quiet night around you with its catchy beat as you wait to be let in. Its sound is well known, and you almost instantly recognize it as "Sweet Dreams" by the Eurythmics.

A few seconds later, you hear clambering from inside, followed by concerning groans and shouted apologies. 

Y/BFFs/N arches a skeptical brow at you, perfectly mirroring your thoughts.

Directly after, the door swings open in a flash, and you're nearly tackled by a whizz of curly hair. 

"There you guys are!" Willow shrieks, pulling the two of you close as she nuzzles her face against your cheeks. 

"Yep, here we are," you struggle out, nearly being strangled in her tight grip. She responds by squeezing you even tighter, blinded by her joy at seeing you again. 

After all, it's been a while since all three of you have had the opportunity to spend the night partying together like this. 

"Can't… breathe," Y/BFFs/N squeaks, successfully getting Willow to release you. 

"Sorry," she apologizes, stepping back. "I'm just so happy you're here." 

The freckles that spread across the bridge of her nose look especially adorable with the blush she's sporting, and her shy grin makes you forget about the near-fatality you just encountered moments before. 

"We're happy to be here," you reassure her, returning her smile. 

Your best friend agrees from beside you, nodding her head with a happy look of her own. "Believe it or not, we've missed your weirdness." She adds, cocking her head to the side. 

Willow giggles again, and her eyes crinkle up into those half crescents that could surely melt even the iciest of hearts. She's practically sunshine in human form, and you have to resist the urge to shield your eyes. 

"Yo, Willow! Who's at the door?" 

Jackson.

You feel your best friend tense beside you, and you subtly pat her leg to calm her down. 

Willow falls silent, though her lips go through the beginning stages of answering him; they open and purse, but she quickly halts her reply and shuts her mouth. She knows of Y/BFFs/N's crush on him, and she doesn't want to say the wrong thing. 

Plus, if the lovesick girl wants to run and hide in the bushes, Willow's silence could buy her some time to slip away. 

But alas, she doesn't. 

Jackson appears in the doorway a mere 5 seconds after asking his question with a beer clutched in his hand. He moves to lean against the wooden frame as his pearly smile beams at you, and Y/BFFs/N audibly swallows at the sight. 

For someone who's usually so confident, she can really be shy sometimes. 

"Lovely to see you, ladies," he greets, putting his free hand in front of him as he bows. His accent is modeled after that of Jack Sparrow, as is his surprisingly well designed costume.

You nod back at him. "Hey, Jackson. Long time no see." 

You elbow your best friend when she remains silent for a beat too long, and the action snaps her back to reality. 

"Yeah, hey Jackson." Her voice is quiet -- she doesn't trust it to refrain from cracking.

He smiles, not failing to notice the nervous aura that's quickly taken over the girl beside you. Her eyes nearly pop out of her head when he gives her a curious once-over, and you take that as your cue to save her from the impending embarrassment that's lurking just around the corner. 

"Alright, guys!" You clap, stepping forward. "Let's get to partying." 

Her shoulders relax, and you feel her slip her hand into yours as you enter the house, squeezing twice as a silent thank you. 

15 Minutes Later

Willow stands beside you in the kitchen, mixing a few things together in one of the millions of red solo cups that she bought for tonight. You sneak a peek over her shoulder at the concoction, seeing its light blue color turn purple-ish as she adds a new liquor into the equation. 

In comparison to typical house parties, this one is relatively small; most of the rooms are filled with people, but it's a comfortable amount. Maneuvering around the place is fairly easy, which is always a plus when you're coexisting with sweaty, drunk people. 

"Willow, love, why did you buy so many cups?" You ask, toying with the ripped plastic packaging of one of the stacks. 

"You know I like to be prepared," she laughs, brushing off her major miscalculation. "Plus I can just use the rest of them at my next party." 

You nod, knowing she's right. "Are you having another soon?" 

"I think so. Jiu and her crew are coming back in a couple weeks, so I thought I'd surprise them with one." 

You scoff, humor laced in the sound. "What, they didn't get enough partying done at their university already?" 

Willow turns around, grinning at you as she hands you your drink. "Evidently campus police keep a close eye on them. Siyeon whined about that a lot when she called me." 

"Sounds like her," you chuckle into your cup as you take a sip. 

PFFT

"Eww, Willow! What did you put in this?!" 

Your spit take didn't land on anyone, thankfully, but it did capture the attention of some people nearby. You wave a hand at them as a silent apology, and they go back to their previous tasks. 

The curly headed prankster covers her mouth, though the action does a terrible job of quieting her maniacal laughter. 

"You're lucky Y/BFFs/N isn't over here," you say, wiping your lips with the back of your hand. "She'd avenge me." 

Willow uses a napkin to dab the tears of laughter from her eyes. "Why else do you think I waited until she was busy with Jackson?" She asks, motioning to her lounge room across the foyer. 

You look inside, spotting Y/BFFs/N holding a pool cue in her hand as Jackson sinks another shot into one of the corner pockets. 

The sight reminds you of the pep talk and 2 shots of liquid courage you gave her earlier, and how she disappeared with the promise to make a move and actually talk to him. Now, she looks completely absorbed in whatever banter they're sharing, and although your violated taste buds still ache from the sickly-sweet mixture that Willow made, you wouldn't want her to be anywhere else. 

You can get your own revenge. 

Sneaking a glance around the kitchen, you search for something to help with your retaliation. A small package of streamers lays abandoned on the island, forgotten to be put up earlier, and you slyly grin. Their ribbons sparkle with glitter, shimmering as the multicolored party lights stream in from the living room and land on them. 

It's as if the universe is putting a spotlight on them, just for you. 

After side eyeing Willow one final time to ensure that she isn't catching onto your plan, you act quickly. She stands beside the counter, right where you left her, and you dart to the island to grab the streamers. Your fingertips soon gain purchase on the packaging, and you tear it open in one swift motion. 

Her gaze locks onto yours just as you near her, but it's far too late for her to get away. 

"Take this!" You declare, upending the baggie atop her head. She shrieks as they cascade down her body, getting caught in the creases and wrinkles of her costume as they go. A small wave of glitter tumbles out of the bag as well, coating her hair and clothes. 

Boy, that'll be fun to try and get out later. 

Her head slowly raises once you finish your assault and place the baggie on the countertop beside you, but the look in her eye is unlike anything you've ever seen. 

"You're dead," she warns. Just as the smile drops from your face, an even larger, more sinister one begins forming on hers. 

The floor creaks beneath your feet slightly as you take a step back, and you know you have to high tail it out of there if you want to evade her. 

"Catch me if you can!" You shout, springing into action. You turn around and dart out of the room, gliding past numerous partygoers in the hall. 

Willow's choice of footwear works in your favor, you soon realize; the sharp rapping sound of her heels pierces the air behind you, serving as a tell of how much distance is between you.

Her unstable platforms buy you a little time, and you thank the universe as you rush through the living room and back towards the foyer. You plan to cut across it and hide out in one of the bathrooms until she drops her plan for revenge. 

A grin pulls at your cheeks as you skid into one of the walls, looking like a character from Scooby-Doo as you will your feet to work correctly again and get you to safety. Willow laughs behind you, joining in on the fun. 

"Perfect," you mutter under your breath, spotting a clear path through the foyer. It leads under the stairs, and you can see the open door of the bathroom from where you are. 

Your feet take you past a handful of drunk people, bobbing and weaving through them with ease, before you're racing towards the restroom to take cover. 

Before you can make it there, though, you collide with someone rather abruptly as they step straight into your path. 

Your eyes shut tightly as you brace yourself for impact with the ground, but it never comes. The person reaches out and catches you before you can hit the floor, and a soft apology slips past their lips as they scoop you up. 

Upon hearing that uniquely feminine voice speak its regret again, you peek your eyes open. What you see nearly makes the woman's effort to keep you upright moot; she's so gorgeous that your legs almost give out from underneath you. 

Dirty blonde locks cascade over her shoulders in soft waves, half-mussed, half-pristine from your run-in. Her doe eyes are a velvety chocolate color, and you find yourself getting lost in them. Flickers of red show in them, illuminating almost rhythmically the longer she admires you. 

Are those contacts? You ask yourself. They have to be. 

She seems to be just as affected by your presence as you are of hers. 

"Y/N, I'm coming to get you!" 

Willow does her best to sound like a villain from a 90s horror film as she clambers her way closer to you, bumping into a few people on the way. You're brought out of your stupor by her rapidly approaching footsteps, and you take a step away from the woman. Her hands fall from your waist, where they had previously been resting. 

Stealing a quick look at the bathroom, you feel your stomach turn.

Damnit. Someone's in there now. 

Screw this sexy stranger for distracting you. Now you'll have to deal with Willow's wrath. 

"What's wrong?" 

There's that voice again. 

Part of you wants to brush it off and slip away quietly, but an even bigger part of you is determined to stay where you are and tell her. Something about her pulls you in, and you're having a hard time denying it. 

"I need to hide. I glitter-fied my friend and now she's coming after me." 

The woman's plump lips pull back in a humored smile, and she nods as a chuckle leaves her. "Right," she says, like that's a common occurrence. "I can help, if you'd like." 

"How?" You ask, your brows momentarily knitting together in confusion. When she unties and opens the black cloak that's wrapped around her body, your breath catches. 

"You in?" She asks, side eyeing the foyer as Willow nearly careens into the Egyptian vase that her mother bought her last year for Christmas. 

You take a deep breath and hold your hand out to her just as Willow rounds the corner, and she swiftly pulls you in close before you can be spotted. She winds the cloak around both of your bodies, concealing your faces as the fur-lined hood falls atop your heads. 

Unconsciously, you wrap your arms around her waist and pull her flush up against you to further ensure your safety. She quietly grunts when she stumbles over her own feet, falling into you a little. 

"Sorry," she whispers, though her third apology of the night is unnecessary. You almost want to thank her for what happened.

Especially when her warm breath fans across your right cheek, where her head is angled. 

Every breath you take pushes you closer to each other, and the satin shirt she's wearing slides against your heated skin. She swallows thickly as one of your hands falls to the small of her back, testing the waters. 

When she shifts a little to encourage you, you're acutely aware of the thigh that's worked its way between your legs. 

When did that happen? 

You bite back a sigh as she just smirks, quietly shushing you. 

Willow thunders by, shouting your name and threatening to throw you into the pool when she tracks you down. You want to laugh at that, but you'd honestly welcome it right now. Some cold water would surely bring you to your senses after being led astray by this goddess in front of you. 

Her footsteps grow distant as she makes her way outside, still searching.

The two of you remain as you are for a couple more minutes until you're certain that the coast is clear, and then you part. When she lowers the cloak, you look away; a deep blush has worked its way up your neck and across your cheeks, and letting her see it would surely make you die of embarrassment. 

She keeps her eyes on you as she reties the cover around herself, attempting to get a read on you. The bashful aura that's befallen you is cute, no doubt, but she can sense your arousal. She can smell it on you, and the scent is beginning to drive her crazy. 

You fiddle with the sleeves of your costume, readjusting them nervously.

"So, um… thanks," you say, sneaking a glance up at her. 

The red hues in her eyes are even more pronounced now, and the sight makes you press further into the wall behind you -- the one that you were previously pushed up against. 

"No problem," she smiles, showing off her pearly white teeth. Two of them catch your attention; a set of fangs now shine, looking alluring and threatening all at the same time. 

There's only one issue: you're certain that they weren't there when you first bumped into her. When did she put them in? And why do they look so real?

The feeling of her hand landing on your forearm pulls you away from the millions of questions that're firing off in your head right now. 

"May I ask your name?" She politely requests, dipping her head down sweetly. 

"Y/N," you breathe out, quickly realizing that you'd do just about anything she asked you to. 

"Y/N." She repeats, allowing the letters to blend in her mouth as they roll off her tongue. She looks satisfied for some reason as she says it again, trying it out. 

"I'm Lisa." 

"It's nice to officially meet you," you smile, reaching a hand out. Her touch is gentle but firm as she takes it, shaking it with ease. 

"Likewise, beautiful." 

The grin on your face only widens at the name, and you pull your hand away out of fear of what she might do next. She's already putting you under her spell, and you're sure that another touch would have you fully entranced. 

She studies you with pursed lips for a moment, clearly debating on something. Her eyes flicker over the dips and curves of your body as a smirk grows on her lips. 

"What are you thinking?" You question, curious but teasing. 

"That I'd love to have your body on mine again." 

She's bold, and she says it like the fact it is. No shame, no bashfulness. Just true, honest desire. 

You bite the inside of your cheek at her bravery, silently thanking the universe for it. The likelihood of you gaining the courage to make a move is slim to none even in the best cases, and this was no exception. She already has your heart skipping beats and you've only known her a few minutes. 

"How about a dance?" She suggests, quirking a brow. The look on her face disarms your defenses, and you take a deep breath before agreeing to your demise. 

"That sounds wonderful." 

She dips her head again, hiding her face away momentarily, and you think it's the cutest thing ever. 

She's shy all of a sudden as her cool demeanor slips up a bit, and that never happens. You might just be her downfall, too.

She holds an elbow out and steps forward, allowing you to link your arm with hers and cuddle in close. 

Her eyes scan across the living room as she studies it, but she's unimpressed. 

Sweaty, winding bodies thrash around to some upbeat pop song that's been overplayed on every radio station in town for weeks now, and the idea of taking you there puts her off. 

When a drunk boy comes into view with a dildo strapped to his forehead, her mind is officially made up. 

"Let's go outside," she says, leading you through the patio doors. 

A quaint gazebo sits on one side of the yard, and the dance floor that Willow's family installed a couple years ago occupies the other. Both are decorated with string lights in combinations of gold, purple, black, and orange. Other ornaments adorn the surfaces as well, and you smile when you spot a comically large spider sat atop the gazebo's roof. 

"Where would you like to go?" Lisa asks, keeping her voice low. It's calm and deep, running a chill through you. 

Softer music plays out here, offering a totally different vibe than inside. Some couples -- many of them introverted, assumably -- sway on the dancefloor as the DJ that Willow hired takes a sip of her drink on the raised stage. She adjusts a few switches slowly, not rushing for a second.

"Let's try the gazebo," you decide, glancing over your shoulder at Lisa. She's looking away, but you don't think anything of it as the two of you fall in step with one another on your way over. 

Shit, Lisa thinks to herself. 

Her plans to come to this party, feed, and make a quick getaway are totally derailed. She'd hoped to find a victim that she was attracted to but didn't like, if that even makes sense, and feed like the animal she is. Then she would leave them like all the rest, drained but still alive, and slip away. 

But now she's met you, and any desire for those plans have been thrown out the window. 

You interest her, and that doesn't happen often. She hasn't met someone who's been capable of doing that in years, and she's intrigued. Something about you just pulls her in, inexplicably, and she knows her feelings would be glaringly obvious if you saw her face right now. 

"Woah, look at this," you sigh, stepping out of her hold to check the place out. A bench runs the perimeter of the gazebo, only stopping at the doorway, and the lights look even prettier from inside. They shimmer, looking like star showers as their strings hang down in the windowless openings of the building. 

Lisa quickly learns that she loves seeing you like this. Your eyes are alight, and your sweet smile of wonder warms her heart. Her hands slip into her pockets as she eventually manages to take her eyes off you, following your lead as she admires the decorations. 

She does a twirl, looking around. 

"It's gorgeous." 

"I know, right? This is totally up Willow's alley," you say, grinning at the mental image that you can conjure up of her giddily spiffing the scene up. 

"I'll have to thank her for making it look so special, then," Lisa says, smiling. The place really makes you feel like you're in your own little world; everything about it is just right. The ambience, the decor, the company… it’s perfect, and Lisa's content with how the evening is playing out. 

Her fingers skate down your arm as she nears you, trekking their way down to your palm. She takes your hand and spins you, watching with admiration as your hair flows in the breeze. Now facing her, you thread your fingers together around the back of her neck as she encircles your waist with her arms. 

"Why have I never seen you around?" You ask sincerely, looking up at her. 

She hesitates briefly. "My university is a few towns over. I just come here to visit my family every few months." 

Not a total lie, she thinks to herself. 

"And stop by terrible parties like this, of course." You add, smirking. 

She shakes her head at that. "No, I can't say I do. I just decided to check this one out on my way to my friend's house." She explains. 

Underneath your cloak, her hands find their way to the small of your back. One stays put while the other dips a little lower, testing the waters. 

"And besides," she starts again, feeling you pull her closer. "Meeting you here automatically makes this an awesome party. Not terrible."

"Cheeeesy!" You scrunch your face up and groan, making her laugh. 

"Maybe, but it's the truth." 

"Sure, Lisa." 

She shakes her head and you laugh lightly together, still swaying about. You hold her close enough to rest your head on her shoulder, and the pads of your thumbs rub small circles on the sensitive skin of her neck. She hums at the feeling, and you take note of the way she relaxes in your arms. 

The night breeze appears again, performing a flowing dance of its own as it lulls past you in waves. A slight chill resides in it, mixed with a generous amount of the day's sweet, fading heat, and you're at peace. 

The slow song that had been playing across the yard ends delicately, parting with some melodic feature that resembles a warm embrace, and it blends seamlessly into the next song. 

Turning Page, you recognize it as.  

Huh, how ironic. One of your favorites. 

Lisa's lips brush against your cheek as she turns her head slightly, whispering, "I like this one, too." 

How did she know? You ask yourself. You hadn't said it out loud… 

Maybe she's just a good guesser. Yeah, that's gotta be it. 

You feel yourself melt as she begins singing the words to you. It's hushed and sentimental -- meant only for your ears to hear, and that makes it even more special to you. 

"If I had only felt the warmth within your touch"

She croons, pressing her cheek against your warm skin. You blush, catching yourself when you remember what the next line of the song is. 

"If I had only seen how you smile when you blush" 

She brings a hand up to cup your cheek in her palm, and her other arm remains around you, holding you tenderly. 

"Or how you curl your lip when you concentrate enough"

Now, her thumb runs across your bottom lip. You look into her eyes and find them an even deeper shade of red than they had been before, but it doesn't frighten you for some reason. She glances down at your mouth again, fighting her impatience as she waits for permission from you. 

"I would have known what I was living for all along"

You nod and lace your fingers in her locks, and she doesn't waste another second. 

She leans in, humming against your lips when they meet hers for the first time. Her lipgloss spreads across them upon contact, smudging its precise application, but she doesn't seem to care in the slightest. She draws you in closer, and you bring both of your hands around to cup her face as you deepen the kiss. 

Her mouth is welcoming against yours, and it moves languidly as you get adjusted to one another. Every move makes you feel dizzier than the one before it, and swarms of butterflies take flight in your stomach with no signs of stopping. 

She nips at your bottom lip as her hands dip far lower than before, now kneading your ass as your kisses continue to work her up. 

"Fuck," you curse, breaking away from her lips to catch your breath. She's stolen it all from you, and yet she's still not ready to give you a rest; her mouth drops to your jaw, embracing your skin there before moving down to your neck. 

She doesn't realize how dangerous the game she's playing truly is until it's almost too late. 

Her lips press to the area just above your pulsepoint, where she's learned over the years that blood pumps the hardest and tastes the sweetest. She draws it into her mouth, swirling her tongue over the area as her ears perk up at the breathless sound of your moans. They spur her on, and she nips at the skin, surely leaving a hickey. 

Her senses become even more clouded when you say her name, the title caught somewhere between a whine and command, and she feels the strong impulse to claim you. The sensation is overwhelming, and she knows you can feel it too. 

Your hands tug on the collar of her shirt as she lets her fangs fully extend, no longer suppressing them. They rake across your pulsepoint, making you shiver against her. 

"Please…" 

That's all you manage to get out before they pierce your skin, eliciting a whimper from you. Blood fills her mouth instantly, sliding across her taste buds in velvety waves and calming her constant craving. Your hands tighten in her hair, and the delicious twinge of pain that it provides only encourages her more. 

Your blood is different than anything she's ever tasted; it's richer -- sweeter. A throaty groan leaves her as she savors it, and you shut your eyes in pleasure. It's addicting, but she knows she has to stop herself before she hurts you. If she continues like this much longer, she won't have the willpower to let go. 

She retracts her fangs as she licks your taste from them, and then you feel her warm tongue clean the wound she made. It stings a bit, but in all the right ways.

When she pulls back to look at you, she finds your eyes half-lidded and a pleased smile on your face. It nearly kills her, then and there. 

Her gaze flickers back to your neck to admire the hickie she made earlier, but what she sees surprises her. Below it is a darker, more prominent marking that she's only seen other vampires leave behind before. 

Definitely not a hickie.

Your brows furrow as you look at her neck as well, noticing a faint outline of something growing darker by the second. Blinking a few times to ensure that you aren't hallucinating, you find that it's really there. 

"Lisa, what's on your neck?" You ask. 

"A soulmate mark." She responds, feeling a sense of belonging settle over her as she looks at you again. You just confirmed her suspicions by asking that.

"Same as yours," she smiles.

Any friends you've made recently?

@ssamssamu

@alanzz

@invczn

@posies4rosie

@bangchanieeee

@bptw

@poulengp

@writingblackpink

@its-a-me-mario-hihi

@all of my readers and fans

Also: @solarkid2 , @marvelbanan , and @heyziggy are always so sweet with their messages and asks. Thank you :)

Some of these peeps are OGs and others are new friends, but I just had to include them all. If I missed anyone, just know I still love you. You know who you are 😌💜

If you'd like to be friends, don't hesitate to reach out 😁 My inbox is always open

BP Headcanon / One Shot: Raising A Kid With Lisa

Requested By Anon: Lisa / Reader while they're raising a kid

Quote Requested By @ssamssamu: "I knew I did from that first moment we met. It was… not love at first sight exactly, but- familiarity. Like: oh, hello, it’s you. It’s going to be you."

Pairing: Lisa x Fem!Reader

Warnings / Misc. -- Fluff, Slight Angst, Happy Ending

Disclaimer: This writing is a work of fiction, and no disrespect is meant for those mentioned herein.

A/N: This one's kinda long, guys 😳 I hope you enjoy, though. Thank you for the requests!

PS ~ Your child is female in this

♡ Happy Reading ♡

🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

Dear lord... 🛐🤰

Let's get started

First off: milf

Second off: you'd either come home to find her, your child, and your 5 cats passed out, or chaotically playing with one another

WHEN YOU'RE NEW PARENTS:

If you give birth, she's literally the most supportive wife ever

Getting you any and everything you need, no matter the time of day or night

"Lis?" You ask into the darkness, voice coming out rough as it slips past your sleepy lips. Her soft snoring is cut off in an instant as she wakes up, ready to help.

"I'm here, my love." She yawns, quickly stretching before reaching forward to take your hand into her own.

"Can you get me some ice chips?" You wince, hating to make her trek all the way down the hall when she was comfortable and sleeping so well.

"On it, baby." She stands and brushes her lips against your forehead, reassuring you that she doesn't mind the task.

"Thank you; I love you," you call after her as she walks towards the door. She turns to you just as she reaches it, pressing a kiss to her fingers before holding a finger heart up for you.

"I love you more."

----

"Here you go," she says, helping you sit up in the hospital bed. "I got you a little water with it, just like you like." She raises the cup for you, tilting it so that the cool liquid can slide towards your lips, soothing your dry mouth. The styrofoam squeaks lightly, momentarily accompanying the sound of the beeping monitor that's keeping track of your vitals.

You gently push the cup away after you're satisfied, wrapping your arms around her waist as she puts it on the bedside table. She cuddles you back, kissing the top of your head.

"Thanks again, babe. I don't know what I'd do without you." You mumble against her, still exhausted from all that you went through earlier today. She crouches down beside you, taking your hands within her own as she looks up into your eyes.

"You've made me the happiest woman in the world, Y/N/N; I have you and our cute little baby girl now. I think that's more than a fair trade for getting ice chips at 3 in the morning."

You laugh, leaning forward to rest your forehead against hers.

"We did pretty good, didn't we?" You ask after a moment, gazing over at the clear bin your daughter is laying in, resting peacefully.

"We sure did." Lisa says, feeling tears prick at her eyes. She raises a hand to your cheek, cupping the soft skin as she looks at you tenderly.

If she gives birth, you'd do everything for her as well and take good care of her as she recovers

She'd try to be a bit more independent, though, just because that's how she is

She secretly loves when you surprise her with just what she wanted, but was too shy / stubborn to ask for

You come back into the bedroom with a pint of ice cream and two spoons in hand, clad in one of her oversized shirts.

"I got your favorite," you smile, saddling up next to her on the bed. She sits up with a shy grin, feeling beyond lucky to have someone like you.

"Thank you baby," she says, taking a scoop of the sweet treat as you stick it out to her. She sighs as the flavor coats her tongue, reminding her of all the reasons it's her favorite.

"You know," she starts after a minute, grabbing your attention mid-bite. "You taste even better than this."

She smirks as you nearly choke on the ice cream, coughing a bit as it trails an icy path down your throat.

"Yah, jagi! Are you trying to kill me?"

She doesn't want to feel like a nuisance

You reassure her that she isn't at all, and eventually she listens to you

Lets you help her more and cater to her needs

Repays you in the form of cuddles and millions of sweet kisses

As soon as she can safely take care of herself, she's back to normal (aka, being a crackhead)

If you adopt or have a donor, oh boy

That child is spoiled the moment you lay eyes on it

Raising her as your own

You agree to tell her about her past when she's older, if she wants that

Constant reassurance of your love for her

Telling her how proud you are of her

---

She'd be teaching your kid dance moves before she could even walk

"Lis, baby, she literally just bent her knee."

"I don't know what you're talking about. She was definitely practicing the move I taught her last night."

Almost always making a mess when she feeds her (though that's not entirely Lisa's fault... babies are messy)

Seriously, both of them completely covered in baby food and milk when you walk in

Lisa asking if she can buy a hazmat suit for when it's her time on diaper duty

Pouting when you say no

She decides to wear goggles, gloves, and a face mask instead

--

Singing softly to your daughter as she rocks her to sleep

Sometimes falling asleep in your rocking chair with your baby in her arms

And you find them and just 🥺

WHEN YOUR DAUGHTER IS A TODDLER & UP:

Visiting Lisa's family and your own when you can

Very wholesome memories being made with them

Food fights

She is 110% down to act silly and do anything your kid wants

You unlock the front door of your shared home, tiredly rubbing your neck after a long day of work. The sound of one of your daughter's favorite movies playing on the living room TV brings a smile to your face, and you quickly set your things on the kitchen table before joining them.

Upon stepping foot into the room, you comically narrow your eyes.

"What are you wearing?" You ask both of them as an amused smile grows on your lips.

Lisa turns to you now, appearing to have been so invested in the movie that she hadn't even heard you come home. You start to wonder if maybe she was the one who wanted to watch the movie all along.

A tin foil hat rests atop her head, matching the adorable, mini-sized version that your daughter is modeling. Lisa's grin widens cutely as she looks you up and down, happy to finally have you back home.

"Here mama, we made one for you, too!" Your daughter says excitedly, giggling as she hops up and runs towards you, cap in hand. You crouch down so she can put it on you, feeling your heart melt at the happy look in her eyes; she's proud of herself, and so are you.

"Thank you baby, it fits just right." You praise, lifting her into your arms as Lisa stands up and approaches you.

"We missed you, lovey." She presses her lips to yours, humming against them when you bring a hand to her hip to pull her even closer. You pull away before you can get too invested and scar your child for life, opting instead to cuddle into the cozy embrace that Lisa offers to the two of you.

The warm material of her sweater brushes against your skin as she brings her arms around both of you, protecting you from the slightly chilly air of the room.

"You know, I still have no idea what the hat's for..." you smirk, feeling your daughter raise her head from where it previously came to rest against your shoulder. She scoffs, sounding offended that you don't know the answer.

"It's to protect us from aliens. Duh," she rolls her eyes, making you and Lisa chuckle. Clearly Jennie has been giving her some sass lessons lately.

"My most sincere apologizes, princess," you bow your head in mock shame, doing your best to conceal your smile.

"Let's go sit back down. I wanna hold my girls," Lisa declares softly, kissing your temple as you go to agree.

The three of you make your way back to the couch, snuggling up close as Lisa presses play.

Very affectionate

Constantly squishing your cheeks and gushing about how cute you are (she does the same thing to your daughter too)

Spoils her (and you) rotten

Matching onesies

Matching outfits, totally coordinated (usually Celine or some other designer brand)

Pillow / blanket forts

"Queen Y/N, requesting entrance." You announce with a smile, hands full of snacks for the three of you as you sit back on your knees in waiting.

From inside, you hear Lisa say, "Your Highness, there's a guest at the door. Would you like to see her?"

Your daughter's faux royal voice almost makes you crack up. "Oh, alright. Open up." She commands, sounding British.

Lisa parts the front two blankets, doing her best to conceal her grin as she locks eyes with you.

"SNACKS!" Your daughter shrieks, completely breaking character.

"No no no! Wait--" She eagerly rushes over to you, knocking you over in the heat of the moment. Your mom skills kick in and allow you to angle the bowls correctly and keep most of the food in, though a few stray pieces of popcorn fall out and land in your hair.

"Oops... sorry mommy," your daughter says, snickering softly.

Lisa leans over you, peering down at where you now lay on your back. She smirks as she picks some of the popcorn out of your hair.

If you're preparing a meal for the three of you, they'd turn on some music and come hang in the kitchen with you

Dance battles everywhere

Lisa doesn't always let your daughter win, either, and it makes your little girl all the more competitive

Taking your daughter to street markets to introduce her to new foods and develop her palate

Betting on what foods she'll like more

Lisa getting sulky when she loses, and never shutting up about it when she wins

PICTURES PICTURES PICTURES

Lisa's always taking pictures of you all to add to your family photo book

More like photo books

Seriously so many pictures. She just can't get enough of how cute her little unit is

Taking trips to local cat cafés to let the gang play

Lisa convincing you to let her get another cat

"Pleaaaase?" She draws the word out, wrapping her arms around your waist. You glance over to where your daughter is surrounded by a sea of fluff balls, almost unable to be seen. She's laughing her head off, filling the room with her cute giggles as the kitties brush against her.

"Just one more. Last one." Lisa says, gathering your attention again.

"You said that last time," you quip.

"I mean it this time."

"I feel like that's a lie..."

"If you let me get this cat, there'll be a reward for you later." She husks the last part out, letting her fingers trail to the back of your neck to rest there. She leans forward to press a kiss to your cheek, then your jawline, smiling against your skin when she feels your heart beat a little faster.

"Fine, Lisa. But this is the last one," you point a finger at her, pushing her back slightly.

"Thank you, my love. You won't regret it." She smirks, head held high as she slaps your butt and goes to the crate to pick her cat of choice.

Roadtrips

Sightseeing and exploring

Teaching your daughter how to take good pictures, too

"My little prodigy" - Lisa (🥺🥲)

You and your daughter go to Lisa's performances anytime you're able

Cheering the girls on, fully decked out in BP merch

"BLACKPINK IS THE REVOLUTION!" Your daughter screams, bonking her light stick against her head wildly. From the vantage point of your front row seat, you lock eyes with Lisa before glancing down at the little human with an amused smile. Lisa laughs when she notices her, leaving only the backing track to play for a second. She giggles again and points to you before picking back up with the song, a wide smile on her lips.

The other members look down and laugh, too, clapping for her.

Your baby has too much energy for her own good -- something she definitely got from your wife.

Visiting the girls often

They always love to see both of you

Jennie makes food for her and spoils her with lazy days, Jisoo teaches her how to play video games and be more of a crackhead, and Rosé teaches her to paint and sing (and also speak with an Australian accent)

"Nœř"

They all have a secret handshake with her, different for each member

Which you think is absolutely adorable

They always take such good care of her

Always showing up for her school recitals and performances

When you pack your daughter's lunch, Lisa will usually sneak extra sweets into her bag, thinking you don't notice. You do, but you'd never tell her that. Seeing her think she's actually being sneaky is cute

Your Relationship With Lisa

Playful banter

She still makes time for you

Likes to be connected in some way as often as possible. Holding hands or pinkies, back hugs, kisses, gentle caresses, cuddling, etc. -- anything she can do to constantly remind you of her love.

You both always look forward to date nights

You drop your daughter off so the girls can watch her, or you call a sitter

Lisa takes you wherever you wanna go

Some past places: the park (to stargaze), the roller rink, fancy restaurants, art museums / galleries, couples dance classes (when you want to practice a new style and have an excuse to dance the night away together), or even just the couch

Sometimes both of you are too exhausted to go out, so you opt to stay in instead

Other times she wants to get all fancied up and see how gorgeous you look in your outfit of choice

She loves to show you off

"Damn, baby. How do you get hotter every time I see you?"

You look over at her with an incredulous expression, still clad in your oversized shirt with you hair pulled back.

"I haven't even gotten ready yet..."

"Still sexy," she coos, coming up behind you to give you a hug. You settle back into her arms, sighing softly when she trails soft kisses along your shoulder, towards your neck.

"I have to shower," you inform her, releasing the words gently. Part of you knows you'll be late for your reservation if you let her continue, but you can't find it in yourself to care. You've been aching for her touch lately, both of you caught up with the stressors of life. But she's here now, letting her hands roam to the places she knows they shouldn't be.

"Lis..."

"You know," she pecks the mark she just finished making on your neck, feeling satisfied as it darkens before her eyes, "I'm in need of a shower, too." Her fingertips flirt with the waistband of your panties, dipping underneath the material to caress your skin.

"Didn't you get in a couple hours ago?" You ask, furrowing your brows in genuine curiosity.

She laughs at that, letting her head fall against your shoulder as she stills her movements.

"Y/N, can't you just go along with it? Jeez, let me flirt with you."

Both of you chuckle together now, giggles mixing together as they fill the air of the room.

"Alright, alright. Go ahead."

"You look-- No, you know what? Let's just get in. I'll show you instead."

One of the best showers of your life ;)

You somehow managed to make it to your reservation on time

Lisa had to help you walk, though

Cause, ya know

Wöbbĺý łəğ§

Flirted like crazy at dinner

But was also very romantic

As a plane blinks by in the distance, merely a speck on its journey across the dusky sky, Lisa ponders on what her life would've been like, had she not met you. That lonely looking plane symbolizes what she'd probably be doing right now: flying somewhere for tour or brand deals. Every flash of its lights is like a call out to the universe, searching for something it doesn't yet have. It reminds her of how she felt before she met you -- like something was missing.

"I love you, Y/N/N, so much," she says out of the blue, looking over to you. "I'm lucky to call you mine." She says sincerely, gazing into your eyes with a big smile. You turn her into a lovesick, giddy teenager just by being yourself. One look from you is capable of sending her falling all over again.

Her fingers intertwine with your own, hands resting on the table.

"I'm so proud of us. There's no one I'd rather grow old with." You bring her wrist to your lips, kissing it tenderly. Her heart melts at the action, and she cups your cheek in her palm.

She takes you to the park after dinner, right back to the place you met

It leads to a big sentimental talk about when you fell for one another and realized you were in love

You take a bite of the froyo you got as desert on the way here, looking over to her as she begins explaining.

"I knew I did from that first moment we met. It was… not love at first sight exactly, but- familiarity. Like: oh, hello, it’s you. It’s going to be you."

She looks so sweet after she says it that you almost melt right then and there. You put the container down on the bench beside you before turning back to her. Curiosity shines in her doe eyes as she waits on your answer.

"Oddly enough, it was the same for me," you start, feeling your cheeks tug up into a smile as the memories come flooding back. "As soon as I made you laugh that first time -- when I saw your face light up after I told that stupid joke -- I knew it was you. I never knew what I was missing until I met you."

She cups your cheek, rubbing the pad of her thumb across it as tears begin to well up in her eyes. Years ago, when both of you happened to be in this very spot at the same time, you had no idea what life had in store for you. She had no idea that when she accidently bumped into a complete stranger, that that person would become her world.

She wouldn't feel complete without you, and neither would you without her. The life you've created has taken sacrifices and courage, but you know you'll always have one another no matter what. She makes the hard days bearable, and the good days unforgettable. She's your reason, just as you're hers.

"I love you--"

"I love you--"

Both of you say the phrase at the same time, laughing when you realize it. It's a sweet moment, plucked straight out of a romcom.

She leans forward after a few seconds to kiss your lips, reclaiming them for her own.

Holding hands as you walk through the city

Not wanting the night to end

You stop in a couple other thrift shops and take some pictures together before deciding to go home

You catch up on some movies / Netflix / trashy TV that you've been wanting to watch together, finally having enough time to do so

She holds you close, snuggling up against you and not letting you go

Fights

Of course, they're inevitable

Never fun

You both communicate well, though, so they don't happen too often

But when they do, they usually start over little things, your annoyance only heightened by the stress you're constantly under

It's tough on Lisa, being an idol on top of everything else, and it's tough on you to have to raise your daughter alone sometimes

You don't fight in front of her (your child), and you don't say things to attack each other's character. Sometimes you just get loud because you're frustrated and trying to get the other to understand things from your point of view

You usually take time to cool down and then come back together later, once you've had time to think and reflect

After putting your daughter to bed, Lisa comes to your shared bedroom.

"Y/N/N, baby, I'm sorry. Please open up, I need to see you." She says quietly, resting her forehead against the door. She's beyond disappointed in herself, baffled by the fact she could treat you in such a way.

You look over to it, weighing your options as you toy with your wedding ring out of habit. This was a particularly nasty fight, and you hated every second of it; the anger in her eyes broke your heart.

She hears shuffling from inside, and she stands up straight. When you open the door and lean against it, eyes red and cheeks puffy from crying, her heart sinks. It's not surprising that her words hurt you so much, but knowing that she caused you pain in any way is almost too much to bear.

She purses her lips as she gathers her thoughts, and you momentarily look down to the floor, scuffing your foot to busy yourself.

"I never should've said any of that to you. Work has just been stressing me out lately with the comeback and all, and I took it out on you. I was wrong," she says, fresh tears spilling out of her eyes. She quickly wipes them away, not wanting the moment to be about her. She knows if she breaks down in front of you right now, you'll be forgiving her in an instant and wrapping her in the embrace that she's been in dire need of all evening.

That's exactly why she doesn't give in; now isn't the time to be selfish. She sniffles, willing the tears away as she finds the words she wants to say to you. She has to make things right.

"You're everything I've ever wanted, and I treated you like that? I'm ashamed of myself, Y/N. I'm not asking you to forget about this; I just want you to know how sorry I am."

You let a shaky breath out as you look into her eyes, deciding on what to do. You can tell she's being genuine; her fear of losing you is real, and she's doing everything she can to prove how guilty she feels.

You drop your hand from the knob and step through the threshold of the door, wrapping your arms around her neck. The second you do, her tears finally begin spilling out again. Your hair tickles her nose as she nuzzles her face into the crook of your neck, securing her arms around your waist like her life depends on it. You cry together, letting out all of your stress and frustrations while muttering out strained apologies and I love yous.

"I forgive you, Lisa." She sobs a bit harder at that, and you feel her lip tremble. You stay like that until you both calm down, your sniffles fading to hitched breaths every now and then.

"Come on, let's go take a bath."

She decides to take over, wanting to make it up to you. She has you sit down and relax while she lights some candles and fills the tub with your favorite scents and oils

She comes back out into the bedroom to get you as the tub fills up

She carries you back to the bathroom, cradling you lovingly in her arms

You get in and cuddle, massaging the pain and tension away from each others shoulders

Very soft way to end such a stressful day

She reassures you that she'll be better for you and that she never wants to lose you or jeopardize what you have

You believe her, and to this day she's never been like that again

You still argue from time to time, but you both listen more and stop things before they can escalate

When All Is Said & Done

At the end of the day, Lisa always makes sure you know how happy you make her and how much she loves her life with the both of you

Even though things get hard sometimes, you wouldn't want to do it with anyone else

One day, when your daughter is away at school, Lisa and you are snuggled up on the couch, watching some TV

"Y/N/N?"

"Yes, my love?"

"Let's make another baby."

Blackpink HC / One Shots: Enemies to Lovers, College AU (2/2)

Requested: Yes

Warnings / Misc. -- Bickering, Rivalry, Fluff

A/N: Hey everyone! This is the second half of the request, featuring Rosé and Lisa. If you want to see the first part, with Jisoo and Jennie, click the link below. I hope you enjoy!

Click for Jisoo and Jennie

♡ Happy Reading ♡

🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

Rosé

Park Chaeyoung: The girl who hung with the wrong crowd.

Your problem lied more so with the people she associated with than her herself. You couldn't wrap your head around why such a kind person like her would spend time with the class clowns and bullies, and to make matters worse, she would stick up for them as well.

She spent most of her days in either the art or music room, creating the masterpieces that her brain came up with.

But as soon as school was over, she'd be hanging out with them again and getting into trouble. For instance, because of her talents, they would invite her to go with them and graffiti various hot spots around town. She never vandalized any monuments or landmarks of importance -- she typically stuck to bridges or abandoned buildings -- but after getting caught with them multiple times, it was inevitable for her to be held accountable.

She was given a week's detention to make up for her actions

You, coincidentally, had a teacher that absolutely loathed you for no reason at all. No matter how good of a student you were for him, he didn't care; he had a vendetta against you for some reason, and he patiently waited for the opportunity to ruin your day.

You came in literally 10 seconds after the bell rang, putting the breakfast sandwich you stopped to get on the way into your mouth so you could open the door. He was standing at the front with a smug grin on his face, and you already knew what was coming.

You were also given an ungodly sentence of a week's detention.

Turning Point

"If I see you on your phones, I'm taking them." The monitor informs before sitting at the desk, reclining in the chair and putting his feet up soon after. You sigh and lean back in your seat, attempting to find a way to pass the next two hours without getting in trouble. Your eyes scan across the room, eventually landing on Rosé, where she sits a couple rows away from you. Sunlight is streaming in through the window next to her, its golden rays peeking through the breaks in the clouds above to shine on her. She looks gorgeous as she doodles away in her notebook, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear when it falls in front of her face.

After waiting on the monitor to fall asleep and sending one last glance to double check, you quietly stand from your seat and go sit next to her.

You barely know each other, but she's your only hope of remaining sane and occupied.

"Hi," you greet, looking into her eyes.

"Hi," she copies, a tiny smile forming on her lips when she notices your impressed expression upon gazing down at her paper. You have to hand it to her -- she's really talented.

"You're really good," you compliment, still admiring the artistry. Seeing as how you're looking down, you fail to notice the blush that works its way to her cheeks. Coming from you, the simple remark meant a lot to her.

You spend the rest of the day making small talk and getting used to one another, leaving detention later with the hopes of sitting together again.

----

The Next Day

"Hi again," you whisper, glancing over your shoulder to ensure that the coast is clear. The monitor is out like a light, with his mouth hanging open and an obnoxiously loud snore coming out.

"Hi," she giggles, watching as you dive into the floor for cover when the man shifts in his sleep. You thought he was waking up, and if he finds out you moved seats, he'll definitely have something to say about it.

"The coast is clear, cadet," she nods like a soldier, assuring you that it's okay to move back after a minute.

"That was close," you breathe out in relief, glad to live to see another day.

You share a laugh, though it has to be hidden behind your hands and kept a minimum. It's cute though -- like a little secret between the two of you, only for you to know.

"What're you drawing today?" You ask later, laying your chin in your palm as you gaze down at her work. Her reply comes out stuttered at first when she feels your leg innocently brush against hers under the table.

"D-dalgom. My friend's dog." She manages out, mentally smacking herself for looking like a fool.

You smile, thinking she's adorable. "I bet it'll be great," you encourage. She grins back as her eyes scan over your face, committing the memory of you to heart. She's always had a thing for you, ever since the time you were paired up in Biology last semester, so she's been enjoying detention more than she thought she would. Seeing you makes the time go by faster, though ironically, she wishes it would slow down a bit.

You make her feel appreciated for more than just what she's capable of producing, and the divide between you and her friend group is blaringly obvious. They like her because of the rush she can help them achieve; you like her because of her.

That thought persists in her mind for the rest of detention, and before she knows it, the monitor is releasing you again. She bends down to put her notebook in her bag when a thought pops into her mind: she wants to ask if you want to go to the park with her. When she's done zipping her bag up, she looks back up at you, only to find you on your phone, talking to someone.

"Yeah, mom. I'll stop by on the way home. So milk, cereal, ramen, and paper towels, right?"

She watches as you wait for a reply, tucking the phone into the crook of your neck as you move to write the list down on a spare piece of paper.

"Alright, love you, too. See you later." You hang up before looking back at Rosie. She looks a little down, and you have no idea why.

You pause for a moment, silently psyching yourself up for what you're about to ask. "This is gonna sound really strange, but do you want to come with me to the store?"

Her heart's pace increases at that, happy to know that you want to spend more time with her, just as she does with you.

"Actually, yeah. That sounds like fun."

You grin at her before spinning around and doing a little celebratory dance, which wins you a strange look from the monitor. You stick your tongue out at him before grabbing her hand and rushing out of the room, hearing his disapproval shouted after you.

--

"Milk?"

"Check."

"Ramen?"

"Check."

"Cereal?"

"Nope."

You nod at her words, now reminded of what you were forgetting. You push the buggy towards the aisle of cereals, gazing around in wonder at the huge selection. Rosé is just the same, eyeing all of the options like a kid in a candy store. After grabbing your mom's favorite kind, you decide on one for yourself and bring it back to the cart. Rosie scoots her leg over, making room for them beside where she sits, reclined in the cart.

You grin when you see her eyeing a box of fruit loops. Huh; fruity. Go figure.

You wordlessly grab the box and hand it to her, feeling your heart melt when she looks up at you like you hold the key to the universe.

"Thank you, Y/N."

"No problem, Rosie." You say, putting your hands on the bar as you begin pushing the buggy again. "Now, I say we see how long it takes to get to the paper towel aisle. My last record was 30 seconds."

She looks at you, clearly impressed, with her eyebrows raised. Without question, she pulls her phone out and gets the stop watch feature ready to go.

"3...2...1... GO!" She shouts, commanding your legs to start pumping as you race down the long strip of store before you. A couple kids dart out of the way just before getting smacked into, quickly turning around and cheering you on as you charge forward.

Her giggles fill the air as you drift around a corner, shouting apologies to the lady you almost bumped into.

"Sorry ma'am!"

A few seconds later, chest heaving and legs sore, you come to a stop in the aisle, dramatically collapsing in a heap next to the buggy. Rosé checks her phone as she reaches down to poke you.

"22.18 seconds, champ," she declares victoriously, smiling when you magically regain enough energy to stand up and celebrate.

"Woohoo! Team Y/S/N (Your Ship Name) for the win!"

She laughs along at that, joining in on your celebration, but she's blushing like crazy on the inside.

-----

The Last Day Of Detention

Ever since your trip to the store, you and Rosé have grown closer and closer. You traded numbers and text occasionally, though nothing beats having her all to yourself for 2 hours straight with no distractions. She feels the same; when she's in class, she can't wait for the bell to ring and signal your reunion. Part of her wants to get in trouble again, just to see you more often.

So, as you'd expect, it's really no surprise that you're sat right in front of her again, telling jokes and asking about her day. You've grown a bit more bold with every step closer you've taken towards her heart, and now you reach down to intertwine your fingers with hers.

She happily accepts, even bringing your hand up to her lips to press a kiss to the back of it. She smiles against your skin after it, making butterflies take flight in your stomach. She's got you wrapped around her finger, and you don't even try to fight it anymore.

The sound of the classroom door opening alerts you, making her lower your hand. She doesn't let go of you, though, and that fact warms your heart for some reason. The squeaky hinges groan out again as the door opens wider, revealing about 4 or 5 people from the friend group that she hangs out with. They motion for her to sneak out with them, but she just shakes her head.

"Come on, Rosé!" They whisper-scream, offering her a way to freedom. Little do they know that she'd take this imprisonment over freedom any day, so long as you're by her side.

"No! Get out before he wakes up!" She whisper-shouts back, eventually convincing them to leave.

"Why didn't you go?" You ask once they're gone, toying with her fingers as your hands rest on the desk.

"Because I like spending time with you." She admits, letting her defenses down.

"I was hoping you'd say that," you smile, letting her know that you feel the same.

The Fallout

After detention, the two of you walked out of the school, hand in hand

"Would you maybe, I don't know... wanna go to the park with me?" She asks nervously, glancing up at you.

"You read my mind, Rosie." You smile at each other and head towards the parking lot.

You started hanging out more, and she distanced herself from her old crowd

You encouraged her to enroll in your school's art program and show her work that way

"You're really talented; it deserves to be seen."

Your support meant the world to her, and she never failed to let you know

"Thank you, Y/N. Having you behind me means the world to me."

At one of her art shows, where she was tasked with unveiling a new piece that she'd been working on for months, you got the biggest surprise of your life.

She created a mural of you, all decked out with every color of the rainbow, utterly gorgeous

She lit up when she saw your reaction

"This piece is titled 'Mine', which I hope the girl in it will soon be." She says into the microphone, looking at you with hope shining in her eyes.

You nod your head with a smile and walk up to her, pressing your lips to hers in a kiss that was long-overdue. She wraps her arms around your waist, pulling you in closer with her sweater-padded hands and kissing you again and again.

The crowd claps for you, happy to see such an ending.

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

Lisa

I couldn't choose between these two gifs so enjoy both for the price of one ^^^

Lisa Manoban: Cocky, smug, and self-assured. The dancer knew she was hot shit, and she wasn't afraid to show off.

You're all for people being confident and happy with themselves, especially when they're talented, but something about Lisa always seemed to rub you the wrong way.

Whether it be her lack of a filter or the arrogant swagger that she naturally exuded, you weren't sure. People wanted to either be her or be with her, but you fell into neither of those categories.

She always left you frustrated in one way or another, whether it be from her teasing or her witty comebacks

The teachers loved her, as did the students. She was the class clown, so her position was pretty sacred in the grand scheme of things

You, on the other hand, irritated her for other reasons. You were the only person she couldn't get to crack; you never gave into her charms, and it infuriated her to no end. She wasn't used to not getting what she wanted (as childish as that may seem) and having you, one of the most attractive girls at school, turn her down? Well that was a massive blow to her ego.

You weren't afraid to say your piece, and that both pleasantly surprised and upset her.

She constantly tried to flirt with you in class, but you knew it was all for the attention. She just wanted to make her friends laugh, which they always did.

"Y/N, come here babe. There's an empty seat next to me," she coos, batting her eyelashes as you walk in the door. It's a free day, so everyone is sitting with their friends, wherever they like.

"I'm good," you decline, deciding to sit against the wall beneath the large window of the classroom.

"Oooo, denied," Lisa's friends laugh at her this time, chuckling harder when she sticks her middle finger up at them.

"Yah, shut up," she says, nursing her bruised ego as she turns around and opens her phone.

You smile as you continue working on the homework you cracked open, scribbling an answer down onto the notebook paper in front of you. Your fingers glide over your textbook in search of the definition of the term you're on, and Lisa secretly watches from afar. Without realizing it, she grins when you light up upon spotting the answer.

Sometimes her flirting does work, though, and you turn into a blushing mess

*whistle* "Damn, Y/N. You're looking fine today," she exclaims, fanning herself. You worry that she doesn't really mean it, but when her eyes remain on you a second too long to just be friendly, you blush. She's taking in all of you, looking impressed all the while.

"Right back at you, Manoban." You wink, sitting down in your seat across the room. She lightly blushes back, though she does a good job of concealing it.

Considering you share a couple classes and the class sizes are relatively small, it was pretty likely that you'd end up paired together eventually

You weren't happy about it, especially not after the way she had acted that week. Her cockiness had been at an all time high as of late, leaving you frustrated and upset. She was so full of herself; all you wanted to do was wipe that stupid smirk off her face.

"Y/N, you'll be paired with Lisa," your photography teacher informs, pushing her glasses up higher on the bridge of her nose.

"But Mrs. Ta--"

"Pairings are final," she cocks her head at you, persuading you to give in. With a sigh, you respond, "Yes ma'am," and attempt to ignore the sound of Lisa's friends high fiving each other in celebration.

The Turning Point

"My parents are gone for the rest of the week..." she says, holding the door open for you as you carry in your equipment. A hint of suggestiveness lies in it; she's alluding to exactly what you think she is, and you push her shoulder upon realizing it.

"Knock it off, Manoban."

"Okay, okay," she chuckles, listening to you for once. The surprise is clear on your face.

She leads you towards the backyard, where you set up one of your highest power cameras and turn it on. You have to create a gallery of different photos, all under the same theme. You both agreed to do a time-lapse of the sunset, and take pictures of the stars after.

Once she makes sure that the timer is set correctly and that the auto shut-off feature is enabled, she motions for you to follow her back into the house. You do, and she leads you into the kitchen.

"Do you want a snack?"

"Sure, do you have any ramen?"

She nods, quickly busying herself by bending down and searching through the cabinets. After she finds it, exclaiming a pleased, "Aha!", she tells you to go get comfortable in the living room.

Three minutes later, from your place on the couch, you begin to smell something burning. You scramble up and rush to the kitchen, only to find Lisa running around like a headless chicken, attempting to put out the small fire she started.

"HOW THE HELL DID YOU MANAGE TO BURN RAMEN?" You shout, though your tone isn't angry. You're just very shocked, and loud about it. You push her away from the pot, albeit gently, and get the flames to go down relatively quickly. You turn the burners off and put the pot in the sink, leaning against the counter to recover from the adrenaline rush.

"Oops?" She asks more so that says, with a growing smile evident in her voice.

You shake your head and chuckle despite yourself, turning around to face her. "You can order a pizza now to make up for that." You point a finger at her, grinning stupidly when she presses the tip of hers to it.

"Your wish is my command, princess."

Thankfully you're already walking away as she says that, so she doesn't get the satisfaction of seeing you blush.

---

"Lisa, I can't keep going." You groan out, sweat dripping down your face. The pizza you ate earlier is giving you a stomache ache, paired with the physical activity you're doing.

"Y/N, just a little longer, we're almost there," she huffs out, keeping her movements steady somehow. You're a mess by now, so you don't understand how she's still going.

A couple minutes later, the TV in front of you lights up, saying, "Awesome moves! You win!" as you collapse to the ground in a heap.

Why you agreed to play Just Dance with her after eating is beyond you.

"Good job," she compliments, grabbing your hand to high five herself with it.

"Yeah, yeah," you roll over, catching your breath.

She lays down beside you as you recover, telling jokes to hear that laugh that she loves so much. She prefers yours over anyone elses, so it's always such a reward when she gets you to crack up.

"We should probably head up now," she notes, realizing that the stars will be coming out soon. You agree, and she carefully helps you up.

"Here, I'll carry you," she turns, bending down so you can get on her back.

"Lisa, you can't carry me," you brush off, feeling insecurity bubble up again like it always does when you're offered a piggyback ride.

"Y/N, I promise that I can. Trust me," she reassures, looking into your eyes sincerely.

"Alright," you sigh, standing onto the couch to get on easier.

"See?" She asks, sliding her warm hands up your thighs to keep you secured against her. "I've got you, babe."

You tuck your head into the space between her shoulder and neck, inhaling the sweet scent of her perfume.

"I'm gonna punch you if you drop me," you whisper, feeling her laugh against you.

"Fair enough."

-----

Later, On The Rooftop

"Careful," she instructs, outstretching a hand to help you climb out the window. Her camera hangs around her neck, and she takes the cap off of the lense once you're both safely sitting on the roof.

"Wow," you sigh, gazing up at the sky in wonder. Her house is far enough away from the city that you're rewarded with a gorgeous view of the stars, unburdened by the industrial fog that hangs over the cosmopolis.

"It's beautiful out here," you say, looking back at her. You tense up a bit, not expecting her to already be looking at you.

"Sorry," she laughs at herself, looking away once she gets caught admiring you.

"It's okay," you reach down and gently squeeze her hand, making her blush lightly.

"Let's get started," you conclude, pointing at the camera. She nods, knowing that she'd never get the assignment done if you didn't step in to tell her to (considering she'd rather admire you), and she points the device to the sky.

After snapping a few pictures, she lays back in order to get a better vantage point of one of the star systems. She hands it to you after she's satisfied with her work, and you take your turn with it.

She notices that you keep brushing your hair out of the way when it falls in your face, so she decides to help you.

"Here," she says, saddling up behind you. She gathers your hair up, running her fingers through it to neatly pull it up for you. Thankfully she always keeps a spare tie on her wrist.

"Thanks," you smile, snapping another picture. The simple act warms your heart; she's being selfless for once, and helping you without even being asked. It's a refreshing change of pace.

"You're welcome." She chirps, sitting back down beside you.

-----

Later, In Her Bedroom

"Oh, I really like that one!" She says excitedly, pointing at the TV. Her phone, which is connected via Bluetooth and automatically receives pictures of her choosing from the camera, is displaying some of your best shots.

"Yeah, you did really well with that. I think we might beat everyone else if we use that as our cover piece."

Your compliment makes her momentarily shy, and she quickly realizes how much she loves your praise.

The two of you continue like that, reviewing the different pictures and choosing your favorites. She always finds ways to compliment yours, noting your technique or the filter you used, and it always makes you smile. She's different than you're used to, and it's throwing you for a loop, pleasantly surprising.

---

Lisa steps out of the room to go to the bathroom a few minutes later, leaving her phone connected to the TV. A ding sounds out across the space, pulling your attention away from the stack of notes laid out before you. Your eyes dart up to the screen, reading the text message that appeared at the top of it.

Austin ⛓: "Dude, did you get into her pants yet? We're literally betting over here 😂"

You blink a few times as their words sink in, making your chest hurt. You were really beginning to believe that you had been wrong about Lisa; clearly, though, your instincts were right.

Feeling betrayed, you shove your folders back into your bag and stand from the chair, willing yourself not to cry. The sound of the sink turning on lets you know that she's almost done, so you hurry your movements and make your way towards the door. She steps out into the hall just as you exit her room, looking at you with wide eyes.

"Woah, woah, woah, what's going on?" She asks with furrowed brows, approaching you. One of her hands lands on your arm, and you shrug it off as you brush past her without another word.

"Y/N, did I do something wrong?" She asks from the top of her staircase, watching as you walk towards her foyer.

"Why don't you ask Austin?" You bitterly call over your shoulder as you turn the knob, slipping out the front door. She hangs her head upon registering your words, realizing what must've happened. She makes a mental note to give him hell when she sees him again.

Tears sting your eyes as you exit the house, wrapping your jacket tighter around yourself. You should've known something like this would happen. The chilly night air bites at your skin, stealing more of its warmth away with every step you take. The temperature doesn't change your mind, though; you're upset, and you'd rather freeze out here than be face to face with her right now.

"Y/N, wait!" She calls after you, blasting out the front foor. Her footfalls sound off behind you, announcing her rapid approach, but you don't turn around. Realizing this, she darts in front of you, keeping you from walking any further.

"Please, don't go. He's an idiot, Y/N."

"He might he an idiot, but that doesn't take away what he said," you scowl, clenching your jaw. "Betting? Really, Lisa?" You ask quietly, hurt evident in your voice.

"It was a stupid thing they tried to convince me to do. I didn't want to, but I couldn't stop them from talking once you and I were paired up. That's not what I want, though. I'm not just in it for that."

"How am I supposed to believe that? This is your M.O., Lisa."

"It's different with you, I don't know why." That's a lie; she knows exactly why you're different than anyone else she's flirted with in the past.

You stand there before her, silently weighing your options. After seeing the pleading look in her eye, her dark orbs full of sincerity, you relent. "Just take me home. We'll work on it another day," you compromise, allowing her in just enough to take you home, but not enough to stay at her place any longer. You're still weary after a text like that, and you will be for a while.

"Thank you," she breaths a sigh of relief, clasping her hands behind herself as you begin walking back to her house. She notices you shiver on the way, and she slips her jacket off without hesitation to cover you. Neither of you have to say anything; one glance from you is enough for her, and she's content knowing you're warm.

The Fallout

From there on out she was always honest with you and actually spoke out when her friends tried to do something stupid

She still remained the charming class clown that she naturally is, just getting rid of the not-so-nice parts of herself

You slowly let her regain your trust, little by little

She did nice things for you on the daily, whether it be holding the door, carrying your books, or offering to buy you some lunch

"Morning, Y/N. Wanna grab some breakfast?" She asks, moving her head to the side towards the café at the center of campus.

"Sure," you smile, laughing when she celebrates.

She invites you to her dance perfomances

When she goes to championships, you're always first on her list of invites

"I want you there." She declares, handing you the flyer.

"You've got it," you decide, knowing there's no where you'd rather be. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."

At said championship, she won the highest title and claimed victory for your school

You joined the rest of the team on the stage to celebrate, congratulating the solo dancer on her achievement.

"I'm so proud of you, Lis--"

She suddenly kisses you, clearly high off her win. She pulls back when she realizes what she just did, a worried look on her face.

"Shit, I'm sorry." She looks between your eyes, attempting to gauge your reaction.

"Get your ass back here," you order, feeling butterflies take flight when she eagerly presses her lips to yours again, wrapping her arms around you to spin you.

"Does this mean I'm forgiven?" She mumbles against your lips.

You squint, pretending to think about it. "Maybe... or maybe not."

Her subsequent gasp is quickly muffled by your kiss, which she can't seem to get enough of.

Never Really Over

Pairing: Model!Jisoo x Fem!Reader

Word Count: ~ 21,684

Warnings / Misc. -- Angst, Smut, Fluff

Disclaimer: This writing is a work of fiction, and no disrespect is meant for those mentioned herein.

A/N: Hi, everyone. I really hope you enjoy this fic 💜 It took me a long time to finish it and it might be a little messy in some places, but I hope it's worth the wait. Happy reading 🌹

♤《◇》♤《◇》♤《◇》♤《◇》♤《◇》♤《◇》♤《◇》

It's cold, when your journey begins. 

Chilly, early December air nips at your cheeks before swirling down to raise the ends of your trench coat as you march your way down 5th Avenue. 

Crunch, crunch, crunch

Each hit of your boots against the sidewalk is precise, final. Something about them resembles a warning sign, though you can't quite explain it. 

Perhaps it's the rhythmic scrape that accompanies each footfall, made by the rock that worked its way into one of the rubber grooves earlier.

Yeah, you think to yourself. That's it. 

Bright, shimmering lights of the city around you all vie for any attention they can get, and you watch as couples and tourists alike all flock to the usual spots. Some eagerly dart into the bakeries that your town's known for, while others step up to vibrant kiosks on the street corners to buy overpriced trinkets and knick knacks. 

A feeling of nostalgia settles deep in your bones as you pry your eyes away and pull your jacket tighter around yourself, both in search of its warmth and the comfort that it provides. 

It's a sanctuary, more or less. From the jealousy you feel upon witnessing their happiness. 

From the cold shoulder of loneliness.

The worn-in seams welcome you without judgment, and the small stitching on the inside of your right sleeve gives you something you can't live without. 

K.J., it reads. 

You always used to tell her how much you missed her when she was away, so she had her initials put in the familiar material just for you. She gave you the coat on your birthday so you could always have a piece of her with you, and you'd never been happier than you were that day.

But now, over 2 years later, that's about the only thing you have left of her. 

The ache in your chest, too, of course, but you can only really blame yourself for that.

Pockets of conversation fill the evening air around you as you pass by different crowds, still set on your way towards the restaurant that you ordered some food from. The delivery fee was far too much for such a short distance, and so you decided to just trek the few blocks there and grab it. 

A quiet buzz from the neon lights above you can be heard as you turn the corner, each step bringing you even closer to your destination, and a small smile works its way onto your face. Bittersweet, though it still shines in its own way. 

La Belle, reads the sign that you know all too well. Its oval surface is rimmed with a dark shade of brown, slightly chipped from the elements, while the middle is a pristine oak color -- untouched. 

A tiny bell dings as you open the door and walk inside, glancing around the lowkey space. The lights are dimmed as people converse with one another, some flirting over the rims of their martinis while others talk business. A family is seated next to the window as well, seemingly celebrating a birthday of one of the children. 

I'm 6! is displayed across a party hat in fun letters, sitting atop the head of the smallest at the table. Her sweet grin widens when she sees you, briefly locking eyes with a subtle wave, and the heavy feeling looming over you lifts, if only a little. 

"Welcome to La Belle," a pleasant voice introduces, pulling you from your thoughts. You turn to the left, greeted by a blonde woman who's waiting behind the hostess stand. 

"How may I help you?" She asks, voice rich with a southern drawl. 

"I'm here for a pick-up order. Y/N," you tell her, shoving your hands into the pockets of your jeans. 

She pushes a few buttons on the tablet that sits in front of her, efficiently checking on the status of your food. "It looks like we'll have it ready in about 5 minutes. If you'd like, you can take a seat over there and we'll bring it right out." 

She points to a line of chairs behind you, maybe 4 or 5 red-cushioned seats, and you nod. 

"Thank you." 

"Of course, Miss." 

You make your way over and sit down, leaning back as you survey the place some more. Posters and picture frames adorn the walls, mix-matched in their contents and yet never coming across as tacky or out of place. Everything looks as if it's meant to be exactly where it is. 

One painting in particular stands apart from all the rest, though: the centerpiece of the restaurant, displayed in the middle of the dining room's back wall. It stretches out quite a ways, almost as more of a mural than a regular painting, and pictures two lovers. 

One is more androgynous in their appearance, clad in a tunic and cloak as their shoulder length hair falls in soft waves. The other, feminine in every way, dons a floral dress that stops just above her ankles. 

Standing beneath the partially enclosed space of a beautiful veranda, their meeting place is secretive -- a quiet escape for the both of them. Their arms are outstretched towards one another as they rush to meet in the center of the room; you've always loved how the artist captured their movements perfectly. 

The woman's dress ruffles as she hurries towards her lover, likely having been separated for some time, and the cloak that the other wears ripples with movement. 

Their fingertips lightly brush against each other, but just barely; they haven't yet reached one another. Smiles adorn their faces, vibrant and contagious the longer you look; just at the sight of one another, they're smitten once more. 

And you can see it. 

You can see the eagerness that lies behind their eyes as they peer at one another, having missed the simple pleasure beyond words. An urgency fuels their movements -- draws them to one another. The longing they feel is tangible, and now you feel it, too. 

You try to reason that it's just because of the artist's talent, but you know you're kidding yourself. 

It's obvious, really, why you're feeling this way now. For when Jisoo was sat beside you at one of those linen-topped tables in this very dining room all that time ago, admiring the work displayed, you never really understood the piece. 

She was yours then, and you never had to miss her like the lovers pictured there do.

The intention and passion was all there -- all grasped by you -- but you failed to notice the way their muscles strained beneath their clothes, peeking out of the areas that their garments exposed. You failed to realize then why they were so determined to be reunited. 

But now, sitting here in the lobby of a place you once loved being, you've never felt more alone. You've never understood their reasoning more.

Your back presses against the cool metal bars of the chair, and for a moment, you try to remember what it felt like to sit at your regular table here. 

Number 4, you recall. 

It was Jisoo's favorite, and ever since you brought her here for your first date, it had been yours. The owners knew you, and their faces always seemed to light up when you walked in the building, hand in hand. They'd shout their greetings if the lobby was loud, or come out to say hello if it was a quiet night. 

Jisoo had decided early on to work her way through the menu, trying a new dish every time you came, but you were never that adventurous. You'd try the bites she offered you, of course, and they were delicious, but you tended to stick with one of your usual meals. Your enjoyment came from seeing her happy and well-fed anyway, so you were never really missing out. 

Back in present-time, you find yourself smiling despite the ache in your chest -- that incessant, double-edged sword of a feeling you get anytime she pops into your mind. It's a curse to have been so close to her once, because now her absence is even more painful. The quirks and particulars that you spent years molding your life around are gone now, taken with her the moment she left. 

Sometimes you even still place your bag on the second rung of the hanger back home, absentmindedly leaving the first space open for her out of habit. 

It's little things like that that serve as a reminder of how she truly took a piece of you with her when you parted,  moving on to bigger and better things than you could ever offer her. You can't blame her, though, seeing as how you pushed her away.

It was bound to happen eventually, you attempt to cope. You've spent the past two years telling yourself that anyway, and you don't plan to stop now. 

"Order for Y/N!" 

Right, you think. Enough moping.

You stand and readjust your clothes, knowing your hands will be too full to do it later. A fake smile lands on your face out of instinct, and you hold it as best you can as you approach the hostess stand. 

"Here you go," the blonde from before says, handing you the bags. You take them gingerly, not wanting anything to spill. 

"Thank you very much," you bow lightly. "Have a wonderful evening." 

She reciprocates the kind words before you turn to leave, and you keep the cheery facade up until you reach the front door. As you press a shoulder into the metal bar and open it, you allow the corners of your lips to fall again, back to where they usually rest. 

A blast of cold air greets you, and you welcome the brisk sting in full. Oddly enough, it feels nice. 

---

Crunch, crunch, crunch

Back on your path home, you let your body take over. Your muscles remember the way perfectly, and your mind has found a better way to occupy itself. 

Namely, with thoughts of the impending holiday that lurks just around the corner. Decorations are already up, strung about the lampposts and displayed in store fronts throughout the streets, but you have a hard time feeling all that joyful. 

Your closest friends have plans to come over and spend the weekend before Christmas with you (and you're definitely looking forward to it), but even still, something feels out of place around this time of year. 

You've busied yourself with planning and putting things on layaway early to keep from getting too overwhelmed later, and it's proven successful thus far. A mental image of the remote control car you're getting for your young cousin is conjured up, and you smile as you turn down another block -- after this, you have just one left until you're home. 

The cute giggle that he'll surely let out warms your heart, and you replay the noise that you've committed to memory back in your mind.

Apparently you were too caught up in your own little world to notice the couple headed straight for you. Their attention was elsewhere, too, so it was inevitable for the run-in to happen. 

The strong shoulder of a well-built man knocks into yours, sending one of the bags in your hands to the ground and making you stumble. A feminine gasp can be heard from above, followed by the man apologizing as he reaches down to help you. 

"Shit, I'm sorry," he says sincerely, picking up one of the busted take-out boxes and handing it to you. You look up and find a regretful expression on his face. 

"Don't worry about it," you reply, though you're annoyed at the inconvenience. Who knows how much of your food will be salvageable now?

You continue to grab the boxes and put them back in the bag as quickly as possible so as to not let them lose even more heat. Just as you finish up and go to stand, you hear something you never would've expected. 

"Here, let me give you some cash to replace the meal. We're really sorry." 

You freeze in place and suck in a breath at the sound of that familiar voice. 

Why is she here?

Turning your head, you're greeted by none other than Jisoo, who's digging in her purse for some money. She hasn't noticed you yet, and you can't decide if you want to run away before she can or stay right where you are until she does. 

It's a tough decision, but ultimately it's made for you when she raises her head to address you.

"Here you go--"

Oh shit.

Her jaw goes slightly slack as her eyes dart across your features, searching for proof that you're actually you. You look just like she remembers, albeit a bit more worn and jaded, but still… you.

Neither of you know what to say next. You're shocked into immobilization with little else to do but stare at one another. 

She regards you slowly, allowing her eyes to track up and over the curves of your body just as they had a million times in the past. She studies you -- looking for things that have changed in her absence. 

And you, lacking any foresight or care as to how it'll affect your heart, do the same. 

You admire how good she looks, though it hurts to see her so happy and lively. She's dressed to the nines in a plaid dress that reaches its way to her knees, keeping her body heat stored in its knitted material. She sports a long overcoat, too, and your worries are eased.

She could freeze out here, after all. 

Her chest tightens at the sight of you in her coat, though you'd never know it by the look of her. Her expression remains stoic, and you bite the inside of your cheek at the selfish desire that crosses your mind: you want her to be upset. 

Indifference is something you hadn't prepared yourself for. 

But what confuses you more, is that her eyes have seemed to lose a little vibrance as well. They're missing some refined quality that they had when she was yours, but you don't allow yourself to dwell on it too long.

When the man beside her shifts, likely confused at the moment you're sharing, she blinks a few times as if to bring herself back to her senses.

You clear your throat. "That's not necessary," you shake your head and point at the money in her hand. "It was an accident." 

She takes a hint of a step closer, and your chest tightens. Merely two minutes with her in your vicinity again and you're losing what progress you've made over the years. 

"Please, it's the least we can do." She presses her lips together, unknowingly drawing your attention to them. Her fingers beg to reach out and touch you.

You fake another smile and glance at her boyfriend before returning your gaze to her. "Truly, it's fine. Enjoy your night." 

You take a deep breath of the evening air and hold it in your lungs as you turn away, willing yourself to press on. If you look back and see her watching you go, you'll be tempted to run back to her and do something reckless.

She's moved on, Y/N. Let it go. 

That's the mantra you repeat to yourself until you've made it back to your apartment, but once you've crossed the threshold and sat your things down, the tears come falling. You sit at your table and cry. 

For all the mistakes you made in the past. 

For all the ones you continue to make. 

Her mere presence -- a fleeting moment in time that won't matter to her by morning -- is enough to shake up your world yet again. 

Seeing her with him was arguably worse than not seeing her at all. 

For you've created a barrier of sorts, over the years. You've hardened your heart at every mention of her -- every accidental slip of her name from one of your friends or family members -- and blocked out as many memories as you can. 

But that's the thing with her, you see. 

She's an enigma, and with every part of you that tries to forget her, there's an equal and opposite part that will always welcome her back in in any way possible. 

Tonight, it seems to be her eyes. Oh, how they haunt you. 

------

Jisoo

A soft chuckle draws her from the stupor that you put her in yet again, and she quietly curses to herself.

It comes from beside her, and it's accompanied by a puff of breath that turns white in the increasingly frigid atmosphere. 

"I take it that you know her?" 

She swallows, setting her jaw. "Yeah, I do." 

The man falls in step with her as they continue their walk, but Jisoo's mind is elsewhere. She nods and hums along in mock responses to him, but they're simply her body's doing. She's too busy wondering what you've been up to. 

You looked better than she had anticipated, though she never expected to run into you again; she's heard that you tend to keep to yourself nowadays. 

So, as one could guess, when she laid eyes on you again for the first time in two years, it quite literally sent her reeling. She wanted to reach out and touch you, just to prove that you weren't a figment of her imagination, or even just to talk to you. 

There are so many things she wants to say. 

But something tells her that that opportunity won't come. She sensed it in the way you retreated back into yourself before leaving earlier -- in how you closed another door by walking away. She shouldn't have wanted you to stay -- especially considering everything that's happened -- but she can't deny that she did. 

You have more of a hold on her than she previously realized, and feelings are flooding back in more ways than she appreciates. 

She thought she had it all figured out. That when you ended things and left, she picked herself up and moved on for good. Her friends worked hard to pull her out of that place and get her going again, but now it appears to have all been shoddily done. 

Their attempts to rebuild her self-restraint have nearly failed, and now all she wants to do is chase you and get the answers that she so rightly deserves. 

But, she knows she can't. She knows she has to live the life that she's built for herself without you, and not the one her heart truly wants. 

Because no matter where the two of you stand, for her, it'll always be you. 

-------

3 Days Later

To say you've been a wreck is the understatement of the century. 

The weekend passed by in a blur of tears and comfort food, and now you're sat back at your desk, tiredly typing away at your company-provided computer like nothing happened. Your coworkers can tell that something definitely happened, but none of them dare approach you and ask. 

For once, you find yourself thanking the universe for its lack of empathetic people. 

The keys are quick to spring back against your fingertips as you work through numerous reports given to you, and you occasionally sign off on the chart that rests on the table in front of you, documenting each paper finished. This monotonous cycle continues until you get a call from one of your friends and decide it's time for a break. 

Nini 🐻🥟 is displayed at the top of your screen, and you smile to yourself as you stand from your desk and answer it. 

"There she is," she chirps, sounding happy that you picked up. You may or may not have spent the past 72 hours ghosting people in order to grovel and wallow in self pity. 

Definitely not your finest hour, but who's judging?

"How's my favorite girl doing?" She asks.

You decide to cut to the chase; she'll get the info out of you at some point, so you'd rather just get it over with now and spare yourself from the back and forth. 

"Well, between work and seeing my ex again, not the greatest." You chuckle, despite the lack of humor in your words. 

It's a habit you use to comfort yourself, and Jennie knows it. 

"When did you see her?" 

She already knows who the ex in question is, too, because you've yet to date anyone since Jisoo, and she's left the greatest impact. Jennie can't say that she'd expect you to be this upset over anyone else you've been with, no offense to them.

"Friday. Her new boyfriend bumped into me and made me drop my takeout; can you believe it?"

"Ouch," she sighs, feigning hurt. "Brutal." 

You click your tongue. "I know, I know. Woe is me, and all that." 

She laughs, and you do too. 

"What's she doing back in town?" She muses. 

"Hell if I know," you shrug, grabbing a donut from the break room as you head for the elevator. You intend to spend your few minutes of freedom outside.

"They looked like they were out sightseeing, though. Maybe grabbing some dinner or something, from how nice they were dressed." 

"You think she came all the way back here for that?"

"You never know," you say, swallowing a sweet mouthful of the pastry.

"Maybe it's for work," she suggests. 

"An elite model like her back in a mediocre place like this?" You ask, holding back a laugh. "What, is she gonna pose outside the McDonald's on Main Street?" 

She giggles at that. "Alright, fair enough. I'm just trying to figure it out!" 

"I appreciate the concern, Nini, but I've decided to block her out of my thoughts. Starting… now."

"And knowing you, that'll last until….," she pauses, going silent. "...now." She plays, using your words against you. 

Your mouth hangs open, and though she can't see it, she can picture it clearly. She laughs loudly through the phone. "I don't know who paid you to clown on me, but you're doing a great job. Send my kudos to them." 

"Such a baby," she groans. 

Another chuckle slips past your lips before you decide to move on. 

"How've you been, Miss Kim? Get into any trouble lately?" 

"Stressed as usual, but no trouble. The girls planned a secret getaway for all of us, though. You can thank Rosie for the slip up." 

You smile, reminded of how notorious the Australian is for spoiling things on accident. 

"That's actually one of the reasons I called," Jennie concludes. 

"To brag?"

"No, babo; to invite you." 

You sit on one of the benches in the square outside, right next to a perfectly trimmed hedge. "When are you set to leave?" 

"Wednesday night. And don't even try to tell me that you don't have time saved up to take off work," she warns. "You've been working longer hours and picking up extra shifts left and right." 

You purse your lips. "You've got me there." 

"So will you come? I think it would be good for you to get away for a little while." 

You inwardly sigh, contemplating her offer. Running away from your problems and spending the next few days with your friends sounds perfect, but you don't want to ruin their time off. 

"I wouldn't want to bring you all down, Jennie." 

"The only way that'll happen is if you send us there without you. We miss you, Y/N/N." She admits.

Ah, hell. What've you got to lose?

With a deep breath, you tell her exactly what she wants to hear. "Alright, I'll go."

In preparation for the impending attack on your ear drums, you hold the phone away from your ear. 

"YAAAAY!" She squeals, the noise still very audible even from a distance. 

It draws a chuckle from you nonetheless. "I'll see you Wednesday, Jen. Love you." 

"I can't wait. Love you more!" She sing-songs, before eventually hanging up to call Lisa and Rosé and give them the good news. Being included in their plans warms your heart, and seeing Jennie want you there so bad makes you feel like you belong. 

Aren't they the greatest?

You find a genuine smile pulling across your features as you take another bite of your snack and look out across the city, wondering where the secret location will be.

One fact cuts through your pondering though, reigning supreme: no matter how this trip plays out, you're in for a wild ride.

That's for sure.

----

Wednesday, 6:53 -- Jennie's Apartment 

"Y/N!"

In a matter of 3 seconds, you say your last words and make peace with your imminent demise. 

Your three best friends race towards the front door, where you're stood in a cozy sweater and joggers. The perfect travel outfit.

They engulf you in a hug, nearly knocking you over from the sheer force of their love.

"You're alive!" Lisa shouts. 

"We've missed you so much!" Rosie follows.

You eventually pull away before they can smother you -- though, to be fair, if you had to choose a way to leave this world that would definitely be high on the list -- and you grin at them. Rosie smooths your mussed hair as Lisa fights the urge to pinch your cheeks, as she always does. 

Before long, she gives in. 

"We're so glad you're here." Jennie puts her hand on your shoulder, smiling her gummy smile at you.

"Thanks for inviting me," you say. Your words are slightly altered from Lisa's movements, and so you bat her hands away. 

She chuckles like a misbehaving kid. 

"Are you guys ready to go?" You ask, peering past them and into the living room. Their suitcases are nowhere to be found. 

"Mhm," Rosie nods. "The car's already loaded up. We've just gotta put your stuff in and then we're ready." 

You nod, clasping your hands together. Despite everything, you'd be lying to say you aren't excited to see where they're planning to take you. They always seem to pick the best places.

After a last sweep of the house to ensure that nothing important is left behind, the four of you head out to the car. Lisa has her arms around you, cuddling in close when a chilly breeze rolls in, and you rub her back to offer some additional warmth. 

She smiles appreciatively against your shoulder. 

"So," you start, once you're all inside the car. "Where are we going?" 

"That's for us to know and you to find out," Jennie quips as she reaches to her side for the seatbelt. 

"But--"

"Ah, ah, ah, just go with it. We promise that you'll love it." Rosie says, nodding reassuringly. Upon seeing the confident grin on her face, you relent. 

"Fine," you grumble, sulking. "But I'm not putting on a blin--"

A sleek piece of fabric falls against your hand, cutting you off. 

"...blindfold." You finish, pulling a face. 

"Just this once," Jennie attempts to bargain, smiling sweetly at you. She puts her hands underneath her chin and bats her eyelashes, making you laugh. 

With a dramatic sigh, you agree. The girls cheer loudly together, and you turn in your chair slightly so one of them can tie it in the back. 

Shaking your head at their antics, you still can't help but laugh. They let out another victory shout before Jennie pulls out of her driveway and the four of you get started on your journey. 

-----

Three Hours Later

The tires of Jennie's car crunch as they pass over the salted roads that lead you closer to your destination. Some pieces work their way into the treads and grooves, serving as a reminder of where you've been. 

You crest another hill, and then it's in view. At least for the rest of the girls it is.

An icy range of snow capped mountains serves as a perfect backdrop against the evening sky, sloping down in streaks of white and blue towards the sizable village below. Lamp posts and houses alike offer up their golden light, illuminating the area around them and creating a cozy aura. 

In one fluid motion, Rosie reaches forward to untie the fabric and take it off of you. She wants you to experience this place's beauty for yourself.

"Wow," you sigh, pressing closer to the car's window. Your gentle breaths fog the surface, but you're too intrigued by the sight before you to notice. More trees line the sides of the road as you make your partially spiraled descent down the hill, at times blocking out the sky above you with their thick branches and leaves. Their canopies are dark and brooding, yet they bring a sense of safety and comfort along with them.

This place is as mysterious as it is alluring. 

♡《》♡《》♡

In varying degrees of haste, the four doors of Jennie's car are opened by each of you. 

Lisa, just waking up from a nap, shakes the numbness from her arm and rubs her sleepy eyes as she steps out. Her breath becomes a puff of white air as she admires the building before you.

Rosie, full of energy from the five snacks that she had along the way, practically leaps from the car. She jumps a little as she gapes at the resort, knocking into Jennie in her excited state. The brunette just smiles at her, happy that she's happy. 

And then there's you. You step out curiously, taking in your surroundings. A winter resort isn't exactly what you expected for the girls to choose, but then again you never really know what to expect from them. They always keep you on your toes. 

As you gaze up at the golden lamps strung up across the entrance, you're suddenly pelted with something cold. A mischievous smile graces Lisa's face, and you glance down at your body, finding a ring of residual snow on the material of your sweater. The area of impact is right at the center of your stomach. 

Your eyes narrow at her, half comical and half serious. "It's on." 

In a flash, the four of you are reaching wildly for nearby snow and packing it into weapons of destruction. The next blow is dealt by Rosé, who fires off a spiraling and lopsided snowball at Jennie. It hits her in the shoulder, but she's quick to retaliate. Rosie's subsequent squeal pierces the air, and you laugh. 

The moment doesn't last long, though. Lisa's ears perk up at the sound, and in a move that decides teams, she launches another chilly snowball at you to defend Rosie's honor. 

"Y/N, look out!" Jennie bellows, running towards you. Her boots slide across the ice, but she makes it to you in time to push you out of the line of fire. Instead of hitting you, the snowball hits her chest, right over her heart.

"No!" You cry out, catching her as she falls. You sink to the ground with her dramatically, wiping the hair from her face and telling her to hold on. 

"Y/N, I'm not gonna make it," she coughs, gripping your shoulder. 

"No, Jen, don't give up. Don't go towards the light." You pull her closer, holding her body next to yours. 

"Avenge me," she whispers, shakily holding another snowball up to you before rolling over. 

You take it from her and set her down, now glaring at the other two. "This is for Jennie!" You shout like a battle cry as you rise, hitting Rosie in the leg with the snowball before tackling Lisa into a soft pile of snow next to one of the bushes. She groans, and you waste no time in gathering handfuls of the powdery substance and sprinkling it all over her head. 

"Ah!" She shrieks, feeling the coldness seep in all over. 

"Hands off!" Comes Rosé's voice, as she grabs you and tumbles to the side. She holds you down, pressing you into the snow to keep you from getting up. 

Lisa stands to tower over you, looking victorious. She casually compresses another handful of snow together, oblivious to what's happening behind her as she takes her sweet time. 

"You thought you could defeat the Chaelisa?" She tuts at you, in typical villain fashion. "Not possible, Y/N/N. We're the--"

"Ahhh!" 

Before your very eyes, a magically resurrected Jennie fires off a flurry of tiny ice balls, making Lisa jump and dance around with each prick of them against her skin. 

"Ow, ow, OW!" She returns, spinning around to face her attacker. Now, you have an opening. 

"Sorry Rosie," you apologize, before releasing a frigid handful of snow down the front of her shirt. A shrill scream sounds off as she rolls away, and you leap up and disarm Lisa. You wrestle the snowball away from her before ultimately managing to restrain her. Jennie emerges from her cover behind one of the pillars to do the honors. 

"You were wrong, Lisa. Y/Ship/N (Your Ship Name w/ Jennie) will always win!" 

Following one last, icy blow to the stomach, Lisa sinks to her knees in defeat. You wrap your arms around Jennie victoriously and spin her around, laughing happily. 

---

30 Minutes Later -- Room 417

Following your epic battle on the front lawn of the resort, you were welcomed with warm smiles and salutes from the staff. They got you checked in with no issue and gave you instructions on how to reach the room that the girls booked. 

Now safe and sound inside of it, you're flicking through the channels of the flatscreen TV in search of something you can all agree on. Below it is a large fireplace, where Jennie is preparing a sizable fire for you. Lisa tried first, but now she's at the kitchen island lamenting about her half-singed eyebrow. 

Rosé's preparing some popcorn and drinks for you and doing all she can to contain her laughter at the younger girl. 

You eventually land on a movie that you've all been meaning to watch, and your ragtag group gathers together on the large, plush couch. Rosé fans out a fluffy blanket that she found in one of the closets, spreading it over all of you as you settle in and cuddle close. 

"What do you guys want to do tomorrow?" Jennie asks, once a commercial break begins and as she brings a few pieces of popcorn to her lips. 

A pouting Lisa perks up a bit at this. "I wanna sled." 

"Maybe we could check out some of the stores in the village. I heard a lot of people talking about them in the lobby," Rosie suggests. 

Jennie nods, thinking. "What about you, Y/N?" 

"I've always wanted to try skiing," you grin. 

"Sounds like we've got a long day ahead of us, then," she notes, smiling back at all of you. "I'm excited." 

"Me too," you say, squeezing her hand beneath the blanket. She lays her head on your shoulder as the movie comes back on, and you stretch an arm out to lay across Rosie and Lisa, giving them affection as well. This little trip is already proving therapeutic; you're really glad you came. 

[**☆**]

11:16 PM

Clearly, the drive up took a toll on the girls. Quiet snoring surrounds you on both sides -- they didn't even make it through the whole movie without passing out. Lisa had been the last one awake, fighting sleep in order to talk to you and comment on what poor choices the characters were making, but she too fell victim to slumber's sweet embrace. 

With a soft smile, you stand up from the couch and put a pillow down where you had been; carefully, you cover the girls up again. Jennie mumbles something in her sleep, pulling the pillow closer to her, and Rosie stretches a leg across Lisa as she repositions herself. 

They look so precious in the moment that you just admire them for a minute, thanking the universe for such wonderful friends. Once you're done being sappy, though, you pick your phone up from the coffee table and snap a picture of them so that you can embarrass them later. The drool on Rosie's lip really adds to it; you're sure she'll be complaining about that for the next century. 

The sight of them reminds you of your own lack of drowsiness, though, and you sigh, rubbing the back of your neck. It's only reasonable that you should be exhausted, but you just can't seem to wind down. Something's keeping you from it, and you know it'll be ages until you fall asleep. So, instead of waiting around, you write up a note for the girls, telling them that you're heading downstairs to look around a bit. 

You hope a walk will quiet your mind and make you drowsy enough to get some decent rest tonight. 

--

Main Lobby

Despite what time it is, the lobby is still relatively active. Families file in with carts of luggage in tow, hauled by bellhops with concerned looks on their faces. A few couples stroll about, cheeks flushed and noses red from more than just the cold that they braved to get in.

It's all comforting, in some strange way, but entirely nostalgic all the same. For every smile the sights inspire, an equal pang of jealousy flutters in your heart. You hate that, but it's the bitter truth. 

The foyer -- which you cross in favor of getting something to drink from the sleek bar that gleams to you from the far wall -- is decorated wonderfully. Holiday lights are strung across the space, just like they are in the rest of the village. It's like this time of year is all that this place knows; it's stuck here in time, only ever repeating the months of December to February. But it's beautiful nonetheless, and you're determined to enjoy it while you're here. 

A suave bartender takes your order courteously, and you earn yourself a flash of her white smile when you give it. 

"One hot cocoa, please," you said. She wasn't expecting that from you, given that you're over the age of 10 and at a bar this late at night, but it was a pleasant surprise. 

She returned one steaming cup of it to you as soon as it was done, and you slid the dollar bill that you had been toying with across the bar to her in reply. A simple nod from you was all she needed, and she took the money with another grin before heading towards another customer. 

-

Small, delicate snowflakes coat the clothes of stray guests that filter in through the side door, all mumbling about either how pretty the place is or how close to hypothermia they've teetered. 

There really are two kinds of people in this world.

Their laughter fills the halls as you squeeze past them, clutching your drink close to your chest in a way of bracing for the cold that you're about to encounter. It staves off the initial gust as you press into the door, opening it with your hip and shoulder. 

A large, crackling campfire resides in the middle of the open space, serving as a beacon. Its flames reach up into the sky, flickering and dancing as people converse around it. Deep-set oak chairs and couches alike all form a circle around it, far enough away to keep from getting too hot but close enough to stay plenty warm. 

A layer of snow coats the ground, left altered by the imprints of your shoes as you shuffle towards one of the open chairs. It's chilly, and you unconsciously suck in a breath as your body sinks down into it; the warmth that you're radiating leaves you faster now in an attempt to lend itself to the frigid surface. But thankfully, just as quickly as it seeps from the thick material of your joggers, it's replenished by the cozy fire. 

You stay there for the next little while, not necessarily keeping track of the time. You judge its passage by how long it takes you to finish your drink and how long it takes the cold to spread from the ends of your fingertips to the rest of your hands.

The night sky is full of stars, all twinkling their brilliant light for the universe. They match the full moon, balanced between white and deep grey. All the way out here, miles and miles from the bog that resides over the city, you're able to really appreciate them. 

The atmosphere itself here is an escape, too. Fresh air is abundant -- not processed or cycled through purifiers. The trees and greenery offer it up readily, and you take it in as you rest your head against the back of the chair. 

From your seat, you can see one of the slopes of the resort. It's dotted with guests, some in groups and some alone. An array of equipment is strapped to them -- everything from sleds, inner tubes, skiis, and snowboards. A smile crosses your face as you see a teenage boy wipeout in front of his friends and attempt to hide his embarrassment. 

Just as he stands, hands fisted in his pockets, a young girl is celebrating her first successful ride down the hill without her parents. They embrace each other, all smiles and giggles. 

It all puts things into perspective, oddly enough: people can be less than a foot away from each other on Earth and yet be worlds apart in their journeys. While that teenager was contemplating changing his identity from embarrassment, the little girl was unlocking a core memory for herself. 

It's an interesting thing to think about, and you mull it over for a bit as you continue people watching.

-

Later, as you're getting ready to call it a night, a slightly inebriated man bumps into your chair from behind. He steadies himself on it, but in his clumsy reach to do so his palm accidentally brushes against the back of your neck. You tense, barely holding back a hiss of surprise as the man and his wife humbly apologize. 

You swallow down the feeling bubbling within you and give them a word of absolvement, though you avert your gaze as they walk away. 

You close your eyes, but it’s too late to stop it.

Flashback

The calluses of his large right hand rub against the back of your neck as he leads you past a few small crowds of guests, attempting to contain his seething anger. Tight lipped smiles are given to please them and save face, but before long he's shoving you out into the middle of the hallway and shutting the door behind himself. 

"Why must you always ruin things, Y/N?" He asks, sounding tired but unsurprised. 

You straighten your posture and smooth your clothes out, not wanting him to have the satisfaction of seeing you flustered. 

"Mr. Kim, please enlighten me as to what I've done now." 

"Do you not have any common sense?" His voice is full of disbelief, and his eyes shoot daggers into you. "That young man in there is one of the executives of Styline. Had you not stolen Jisoo's attention away, they would've secured her first endorsement." 

Your brows furrow. "Sir, I've been following your wishes to stay away from her tonight. I wasn't even in her vicinity." He blames you for a lot when it comes to her, but this is getting out of hand. You've specifically fought your own personal wishes to appease the unappeasable, and clearly it was all for nothing. 

"That doesn't matter, you're still in her head and distracting her! She's clearly taken with you, and that's a problem. You can never offer her what she needs." His voice lacks any sympathy for what he says.

You set your jaw, feeling a blush of both anger and embarrassment creep up the back of your neck.

"You sound so sure." You spit back. 

"Because I am," he nods resolutely. "For her, I tried to give you a chance. I attempted to look past your shortcomings and measly ways of life to make her happy, but it's incredibly clear that you aren't what she needs. You, Y/N, are a no one in her world. Once she's started her career, she'll be meeting with people better than you on the daily. You simply don't match." 

Hot tears of anger brim in your eyes, just begging to fall with every new, venomous word that slips out of his mouth. They're vile and harsh, but they do their job well; you begin to question their validity.

"Now," he says, adjusting the golden pins at the end of his cuffs. "Before the night is over, you'll end things with her." 

This, you refuse. Your head snaps up just as your broken gaze meets his haughty one, and you're quick to speak up. "I won't."

"You will," he smiles, already knowing he's won. He takes a step closer to you, looking smug. The sharp scent of his aftershave stings your nose. 

"Do you know how many contacts I have in this town, Y/N? I could have you fired with little more than a phone call. Do you understand me?" 

You fall silent, not knowing what to say. 

"If you want to keep the sad little life you have right now going, I suggest you do as I say. Otherwise I promise you won't be happy with what I'll do to you." 

"You can't threaten me like this. Do you seriously think I won't tell Jisoo?"

He purses his lips, pretending to think. "I know you won't, because it'll make all of this harder." He fakes a pout. "Would you rather her resent me -- someone she'll be seeing constantly throughout her life -- or you, someone she can easily leave behind and forget? Would you really rather make her miserable like that?" 

You shake your head, constantly surprised by his cruelty. "What the hell is wrong with you? All I've ever done is make her happy and protect her. I love your daughter and she loves me. Why does that bother you so much?" 

"Her love for you can be forgotten. She can have a successful life, far away from you and the limits your lifestyle puts on her. She was meant to be a star, Y/N, and you only prevent that from happening." 

"I won't stand here and be belittled like this anymore," you scoff, shaking your head. You turn and walk further down the hall, feeling more anger pump through your body with every heavy footfall.

Just as you reach the end of the corridor, though, you're greeted by two tall men with sketchy looks in their eyes. One cracks his knuckles just as you take a step back, and the other sizes you up. 

Mr. Kim sighs from behind you, still standing where you left him. "It really is a shame that you can't just listen, Y/N. Always making things difficult for everyone involved." 

He clicks his tongue before nodding at the men, and they step forward to grab you. 

>**<

That was one of the worst nights of your life, and the memories still make it feel like it happened yesterday. 

A fresh tear rolls down your cheek, made frigid as the night blows its chilly air your way, and you're quick to swipe it away. The cup in your hands -- more specifically the death grip that you now have on it -- brings you back down to Earth, and you're dragged away from the horrible memories of that night. 

The physical pain you felt then paled in comparison to the heartbreak that you caused Jisoo. Having to turn her gentle hands away as she attempted to heal your wounds was hard enough, but seeing her break down after you ended things was far, far worse. You wanted to apologize a million times over and confess the truth, but the terrible things that the men did to you reigned supreme in your mind. 

The sting of each hit rendered your fate even further immutable, and the warnings that you received about what could happen to you and your family members further sealed your lips. 

You agreed to keep Jisoo oblivious for the sake of everyone, but that didn't make things any easier. Clearly, time hasn't lessened the sting either. 

A hefty sigh pushes its way past your lips as you stand, no longer in the mood to be out here. Sleep still might not be achievable yet, but going up to the room sounds better than being surrounded by strangers right now.

You drop your cup in a waste basket just outside of the building and give a tight lipped smile to the worker who's tasked with stoking the fire and keeping it fed for the foreseeable future. He smiles back, his expression as warm as the fire itself. 

The French-style doors of the patio are opened for you, courtesy of a burly attendant. Kind blue eyes sit behind dark rimmed glasses, shining and pleasant to accompany his word of greeting as you enter the building. You return it in full, feeling the painful memories further retreat for the time being. 

You shake the cold from your body and rub your hands together, hoping to garner some warmth in them again. Jennie's earlier warning comes to mind suddenly, and you make a mental note to prepare yourself for the scolding you'll get if she finds out that you bore the cold sans gloves. Angry mandu incoming. 

Each hit of your shoes against the hardwood flooring of the hall sends an echo out, bouncing off the walls on its way. Paintings hang in meticulously chosen places, all arranged in perfect order. Some are abstract, filling the canvases with brushstrokes of passion rather than rhyme or reason, while others stay inside the lines that make typical people happy. 

They hang side by side, not a corner skewed or crooked in sight. 

The whole place is almost too perfect to be true. 

"Sir, we can accommodate the additional guests, but I'm afraid we'll have to charge you more to rent the larger hall. Yes, I'm aware--" 

You round a corner en route to the elevator, only to be met by the strong shoulder of a concierge. His ardent apologies are spoken with haste and through tight lips as he pulls his phone away from his cheek. 

Just as quickly as he appeared, he leaves; his dress shoes thunder on, announcing his departure.

Unable to help yourself, you listen in to the bargaining he does across the line. It fades as he gets further down the hall, only intriguing you more. With a quick glance around, you decide to follow him. 

-

Royal Hall

Once-quiet discussions are growing louder between the handful of people gathered within. A stern woman points to a printed schedule, harshly reprimanding what seems to be a nervous intern. Nearby, a balding man pokes a finger into the chest of an event organizer. 

The concierge ends his phone call as he approaches the room, and with a pleading look at the ceiling, he releases a breath of worry. 

He launches into a speech as soon as he steps through the doorway, and you press on, being careful to avoid attracting any attention. Muffled insults about his tardiness are audible even from outside, and you frown; these people surely have sticks up their asses for no good reason. 

No offense to people that enjoy that, though. To each their own.

Regardless, it's clear that whoever they are, they're irrational. 

"I just got off the phone with Mr. Kim; he'll be arriving within the next hour or so, and he's requested that we go ahead and start without him. We'll be changing venues tomorrow when more guests arrive as well."

"Finally, some fucking results around here," one of the men mutters, sending an annoyed glance at one of the other workers. 

"Shall I start the presentation?" The concierge stands in front of a laptop that sits on one of the long oak tables of the room, hooked up to a few different wires. 

The executives nod, and he clicks a few buttons until a slideshow fills the screen. Styline reads at the top, in pristine lettering. 

One of the executive's shrill voices asks, "Will Ms. Kim be in attendance?" 

You hold your breath at the mention of that name; it's a common surname, though, so you shouldn't get ahead of yourself. 

"Yes, ma'am. We reached an agreement with Cartier; their other models and ambassadors should be arriving soon as well." 

"Lovely," she says, smiling for the first time tonight. It looks a little strange, like she rarely does it and the muscles of her face are learning along with her. Still, it's better than what she was doing before. 

More images grace the screen as he flicks through the slide show, until a fateful one takes center stage. 

In shock, your hand comes up to your mouth to muffle the sound of your gasp. A few heads turn towards the doorway anyway, still having heard something despite your efforts, and so you quickly move away from it. 

It's a gorgeous one of Jisoo. 

In shock, your hand comes up to your mouth to muffle the sound of your gasp. A few heads turn towards the doorway anyway, still having heard something despite your efforts, and so you quickly move away from it. 

As you make a hasty retreat down the hall and towards the elevator, you hear the door creak open wider. A quick glance back earns you the sight of the concierge shutting the doors after checking the hallway for eavesdroppers. 

With a breath of relief, you press the elevator button and wait for it to arrive. Absently, and with millions of thoughts now racing through your mind, you step into it when it opens up. 

A beat of silence passes before you even realize you aren't alone. 

"What floor, Miss?"

The sudden question startles you, and you hide your face from the worker in embarrassment. 

"Four, please." 

She nods politely and presses the button for you. Her hands are covered by white gloves with beautiful golden designs printed on them.

The elevator stops on the 3rd floor, signaling that another passenger is getting on. It's a young woman and her son, and both of them are bundled up in multiple layers of clothing. You step aside and give them plenty of room to board. 

A singular dimple indents the boy's chubby cheek as he looks up at his mother, clearly excited for whatever they have planned; she runs a hand through his curly hair and smiles down at him, happy to see him happy. It's a sweet moment, and you feel yourself smiling at it, too. 

"No, appa. I'm here now, okay? I'll be taking the night off to rest."

Funny how quickly a smile can fade, huh?

Your eyes scan down the hallway in front of you at the sound of that voice; it's like your ears have been programmed to perk up at it ever since you met her. Jisoo stands in front of a room, fumbling with her wallet in search of her room key, you infer. Her cell phone is held to her cheek by her shoulder, precariously wedged into the space there. Two luggage bags sit at her feet, waiting to be taken in. 

"Miss, is everything alright?" The worker asks from behind you, sensing your sudden change in demeanor. Her finger hovers over the door close button, waiting on your answer.

You swallow, not entirely sure of what to do or say. "Yeah," you eventually eke out, "but I'll get off here instead. Thank you." 

"My pleasure. Have a good evening," she responds. You turn to her and return her kind words before cautiously taking a few steps down the hall. The elevator doors shut behind you a few seconds later with a soft whooshing sound. Jisoo's still talking to her father on the phone; she hasn't noticed you yet, and you don't know if you're happy or upset about that.

"I'll see you in the morning. Eleven o'clock, right?" 

His commanding voice can be heard across the line, crackling through the speaker, and you pull a face at it. You definitely haven't missed it after all this time. 

"That's right, my girl. Now don't get into any trouble tonight, and don't go crazy on room service. You'll have a busy day tomorrow and you need to look your best." 

You frown at his words; it doesn't surprise you that he has something to say about her maintaining her figure, but your lack of shock doesn't make it any better. She shouldn't be limited like that; God knows how much she deserves a break from the strict rules of it all. 

"Okay, dad. Good night." 

She hangs up with a sigh, but her subsequent movement is sorely miscalculated; her phone comes tumbling down, and it ends up sliding across the floor a ways. 

Halfway between you and her. 

She glances up from it to you, only to do a double take as she registers who you are. Her eyes widen, and her mouth opens slightly, going slack as she struggles with what to say. Wordlessly, you bend down and retrieve her phone, feeling its screen press to your palm. It isn't cracked, thankfully, and you turn it over in your hand as you approach her. 

"Hey," you say, lacking any better way of starting things. Your heart's beating faster now that you're face to face again, just the two of you, and you hope it isn't too painfully obvious. 

"Hey," she returns quietly, still shocked. Her eyes flit across your face, and when they pause on your lips for a beat longer than anywhere else, a pang of hope hits deep in your chest. It's misguided and foolish, you know; but it's there. 

"Can I help?"

She visibly contemplates your offer for a moment before ultimately agreeing. What's the worst that could happen? 

"Sure." She takes the phone from you and puts it in her pocket, stepping back a little so you can pick up the bags. The room key finally makes its way into her hand, and she slides it into the reader. 

A mechanical click sounds off, and she releases a nervous breath that you fail to notice as she opens the door. Well, nervousness isn't the only thing present… a part of her is undeniably excited, no matter how hard she may try to repress it.

You set the bags down just inside the room, as per her instruction. She heads to the kitchen to put the rest of her things down while you take in your surroundings. 

A fleeting glance around the suite shows you just how fancy the place really is. You thought your room looked expensive, but compared to this place it's merely a dog house. Pricey furniture and decorations sit in all the right places, looking straight out of a movie; even the paint on the walls is different -- more refined. 

A nearby vase on the entryway table catches your eye, making you bend down slightly to get a better look; accents of gold shimmer across its surface in beautiful, swirling patterns. You wonder for a moment if the gold is real.

"May I?" The question gets your attention, making you stand up straight.  

Her dark eyes scan up to yours almost shyly as she takes a step closer, and you're momentarily confused as to what she's asking. 

"Your coat," she clarifies, smiling softly. You nod and cast your gaze away, feeling a little embarrassed. 

She approaches you from behind as you slip the heavy material off your shoulders, and she holds the cuffs as you wiggle your arms out. When one gets stuck and you have to do a bit of a dance to get it loose, she can't contain her giggle. 

You blush at the sound, though you'd do just about anything to hear it again. It's been so long since you've had her like this -- all to yourself and away from prying eyes. You want to memorize each moment to come and store it away somewhere, just in case you never get to experience it again first hand. You hope with all your heart that things don't come to that, but your situation is tricky. 

You can't say you'd be surprised if things go back to how they were before, with you and Jisoo standing lightyears apart. 

The brunette disappears back into the kitchen to retrieve a couple drinks for you before leading you towards the living room area of the suite. She turns and hands you your glass, gently ushering you to the loveseat. 

She sits on the adjacent couch, looking elegant as she settles onto it. The leather surface looks sleek and modern, and she fits right in. 

You, on the other hand, stick out.

"So…" you start after a moment, desperately wanting to cut through the tension in the room. "What brings you to the resort?" Despite the fact that you already kind of know, you want her to confirm it. Besides, hearing her voice is a reward in and of itself. 

She takes a sip of her drink, peeking over the rim at you. 

"One of the brands that I endorse flew me out here for some photoshoots, and they paid for my stay here. I couldn't pass up the opportunity, so I came."

You hum, thinking to yourself as you begin to toy with your fingers; Jisoo notices. She's always been someone who pays attention to details. 

"And you? What's a homebody like you doing so far from the city?" The smile on her lips can be heard through the words, but the sound makes your heart ache just a little. 

You see, that was one of the lies you had to make up when you ended things. You had to make her believe that your differences ran as deep as that -- that while her place was in the public eye, yours was hidden away somewhere. Truth be told, you've always loved to travel and experience new things. And a part of Jisoo knew this; after all, she spent years of her life by your side. 

But that night radically changed things; you had to say things you didn't mean and become a person you really aren't. It was hard, but for her, you'd do anything. 

"Little vacation from work," you say, finally speaking up again. "The girls invited me. Couldn't pass up the opportunity, you know?" A hint of a smile plays on your lips as you use her line, and she looks up at you. 

You try to ignore the pang of guilt you feel when something unreadable flashes across her face. They were her friends too when you were together, and the split cost her more than you even realized at the time.

She didn't just lose you. She lost them too.

Taking a deep breath, you run a hand up and down your pant leg in an attempt to self soothe. 

"Are you enjoying yourself?" She asks softly. "Are you happy?" 

Those questions alone feel like a slap to the face, but what's more is the tone of her voice. It's genuine -- curious -- despite the fact that she really shouldn't even care. If you didn't know better, you'd attempt to play it off as her simply asking in order to be polite; but, of course, you know her too well for that. 

Her heart is far too big for her own good sometimes. 

You fiddle with one of the rings on your finger as you contemplate how to answer her, twisting and spinning the band across your skin until you've made up your mind. 

"No." You say it truthfully, unwavering. 

"No?" She repeats, voice conveying some emotion you can't quite place. The optimist in you would call it hope, but the cynic would beg to differ. 

"I mean, sometimes, sure. But not truly," you admit, shrugging. "Not like before." 

She nods absently at that as her gaze makes its way to her lap. Her fingers toy with her glass as her brain attempts to process what you're saying and gauge her own emotions at the same time. 

"Are you?"

You attempt to sound neutral, but the air of hope that surrounds your question sells you out. It's obvious what you want her answer to be. 

A sad, lopsided smile of realization forms on her lips. It's not cheerful in the slightest. "Not like before." 

If at all possible, your heart breaks that much more. The only thing that could make what you experienced before worse is the notion that it was all for nothing -- that all this time suffering was felt by the both of you with no happy reprieve or end in sight. 

It's cruel and unusual.

"There's so much I want to say, Jisoo." It's a sorry, breathy acknowledgement of all the things you've been suppressing for so long. 

She doesn't respond right away.

Her lips press to the glass as she takes one final drink of her liquid courage, and she swallows the rich substance down fast. After replacing it on the table in front of her, she settles back into the cushions, getting ready for what she's been waiting on. 

She can finally get some closure. 

"Then speak, Y/N. I'm here to listen." 

With a calming breath, you begin. "I never meant to hurt you. Honestly; I can promise you that." 

She scoffs at your generic intro, but you don't take it to heart; it's easy to understand her reluctance to believe. Nevertheless, a new confession is playing on the tip of your tongue -- one you've mulled over ever since you parted ways -- and you know it's time to tell her.

"If I had had a say in what happened that night, we would still be together right now."

Her demeanor changes at this. Her perfectly-sculpted eyebrows furrow, showing that she can never be truly indifferent when it comes to you. She's intrigued, but incredulous all the same.

"If you had a say? What does that even mean, Y/N?" Inklings of hurt rise in her at the twisted image she has of that night. "You had every bit of the say in that situation." 

You shake your head softly, glancing away. "You know less about it than you think." 

"Then explain it and stop being so cryptic." She crosses her arms over her chest, further guarding her heart from you.

You sigh, falling silent as you weigh your options. Truthfully, you have no idea if her father would still make good on those promises. Perhaps he can't even be bothered to do it now that Jisoo's famous, just like he wanted; but can you really take that kind of risk? No matter how much you despise him, no amount of hatred can take away the power he holds. 

Clearly, your lack of answer has worked to frustrate Jisoo; she rises from the couch, shaking her head disdainfully. "Either tell me or get out. I'm sick of these games, Y/N." 

Despite how upset she looks, you can't bring yourself to tell her. Your fear eclipses your personal wishes, prompting you to utter a halfhearted response that you'll never truly want to say. "... I can't." 

Bitter acceptance dances across her face, overtaking her features. She should've known. It was a mistake to invite you in and think things could be any different than before. Her friends warned her, and yet she was blinded by what could've been. Seeing you again has only caused more problems for her, and it's about time she lets that sink in. 

She turns to walk towards the door, which she fully intends to open and usher you out of in the next five seconds. But you stand, too, in a move that only makes its way to your brain once the soft skin of her wrist slides against your palm. The action was instinctual -- not thought out in the slightest as your muscle memory kicked in and sent you after her -- but it was warranted by the deeper parts of your heart that you've blocked out for so long. Their commands have fallen silent until now. 

"Wait, please." 

She faces you again, now just a few steps from the door, and glances down at where your hands meet. You're just as warm and comforting as she remembers, annoyingly; she takes her hand away, working hard to forget the sensation of yours on her again. 

She sets her jaw and crosses her arms, going silent as she waits for you to continue.

"I was threatened, okay? My family members, too. Someone told me they'd make my life hell if I stayed with you." 

"And you didn't tell me?" Her head tilts following her question. "I would've arranged for them to be questioned by police and--"

"I couldn't, Jisoo." A pause fills the air as you question if you're really ready to cross that line. Once you do, there's no going back...

"Because the person was your father." 

"What? No." She shakes her head and one of her hands gains purchase on your bicep, strong against it as she goes to push you away and towards the door. 

"I'm not lying; I promise." You plead, hoping she'll believe you. 

A look of disgust pulls at her features now, making you feel small. "Why couldn't you just tell me the truth, Y/N? All this time, all I've wanted are honest answers and you give me this? I never thought you'd be the type." The last line stings, adding salt to the wound. 

She urges you towards the door, refusing to believe what you're saying about the man she's known her whole life. He'd never do something like that -- she's sure of it. 

Sensing that it's now or never, you offer up a question as a last ditch effort. You plant your foot firmly beside the door and turn to her. "Do you remember that night?" A crestfallen look is on your face, and you can feel it. 

"How beaten up I was?"

Jisoo regards you and nods, deciding to drop her hand and stop pushing you for the time being. 

"It was your father's men." A moment of silence passes, and although you're surprised she hasn't kicked you out already, you don't let your shock stall you any longer. "I know I always promised that I wouldn't lie to you, Jisoo, but the only time I went against my word was that night."

You swallow, nervous. "I didn't get in a random fight like I told you; it was them." 

"Why would they do that?" Her tone is genuine. 

"Because I refused to back down without a fight. I didn't want to end things."

You decide to test the waters by stepping away from the door and taking a cautious step towards her, palms upturned as you subtly reach for her.

"I didn't want to leave you." 

She hesitates, and the anger on her face falters enough for you to see past it. It's merely hiding her pain. 

"If you'll let me, I'll explain everything. Anything you want to know." You run a thumb along her knuckles, just like you used to when she was stressed. 

"Just please trust me and come sit down." 

Your gentle coaxing seems to work; she lets you take her hands further into your own, conveying your sincerity. It's a simple gesture, but it's leaps and bounds away from anything you could've expected out of a night like tonight. 

Even still, as you make your way back to the sofas, the distance between you is prevalent. For every promising step forward, one is taken back; you sit on the same couch, but on opposite ends. Her gaze is fixated on you, just like you've wanted it to be all this time, but it's intimidating in a way you find difficult to handle. 

Nevertheless, you pull yourself together and tell her everything. The entirety of what went down that night, all the awful things her father said and vowed to use against you -- all of it comes tumbling past your lips in a clumsy rush to finally meet the light of day. The things you've kept inside -- your feelings, what you wish you would've told her -- fill the air of her suite, lifting a bit of weight from your shoulders as they go. 

She listens intently, and at times when she has a hard time believing something -- when that nasty feeling of doubt begins to seep in again -- you're quick to mitigate it with a valid explanation. Fathoming that her father would do all of that is difficult for her, and understandably so, but she can't find a reason for you to lie about it now. She trusts you on this, despite her brain telling her to be weary. 

By the end of your explanation, both of you are teary eyed. A sniffle rings through the prevailing silence, and Jisoo's arm remains propped against the back of the couch, as it has been. Her hand is pulled into a fist, and resting beneath her chin; she resembles The Thinker as she works to process everything. 

"To think that I've spent all this time hating you when it was never really your fault…" Her voice is wistful as she trails off. 

That cruel word hangs heavy in the air, and you take a deep breath to offset the dull ache in your chest at its utterance.

"I can't blame you for that." Your lips press together. "I might not have been the catalyst, but I sure as hell guaranteed that you wouldn't want to be around me anymore after that night." 

She doesn't attempt to flatter you with any denial of that fact; you both know you're right. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry. I had no idea he would ever do something like that."

"Don't," you say, holding a hand up to silence her. "Don't you dare apologize for him."

She looks down, upset.

"To be fair, he had a point. I know you, Jisoo. You would've settled down in my lame ass little town and lived in our apartment for the rest of your life. You wouldn't have gone after your dreams, and I wouldn't have been able to watch you give it up. So it's my fault too," you admit, nodding to yourself as that fact hits you. "Don't think I'm totally innocent just because of what he did."

"I would've been happy with living in your lame ass little town because I would've been with you."

Your sad eyes track up to hers at that.

"I loved you, Y/N. A lot. And now, what?" Her voice turns pompous as she mocks the words she's saying: "I'm rich and famous and I get to travel all the time. I get to stay in gorgeous locations and make conversation with some of the most influential people in the world. Does that make you happy?"

Her expression screams resentment, and you can't even blame her. She's had the people around her pulling the invisible strings attached to her future and happiness behind her back for years.

As you search through your mind for what to say, carefully avoiding how her use of the word loved made your heart hurt, you eventually find a fitting response. "When we were together, I saw you fall in love with modeling and embrace a new side of yourself. Nothing ever made you glow like that, Jisoo. When you were trying on new things and getting in front of that camera more often, I knew that that's where you belong. I could see it, then, and I didn't want to take that away from you."

She gives a dismissing wag of her head. "As noble as that is, you still should've told me the truth."

You sigh again -- you've probably done that more tonight than ever before in your life. "Jisoo--"

"No. You know what? No. Shut up. You were the one person who I finally found comfort in; who didn't judge me. I was at home with you no matter where we were or what we were doing, and I needed that kind of stability more than anything. I would've given up everything for you, Y/N, and I'm sick of you acting like that's so hard to believe." She's exasperated, and tiredly so. "You were everything to me. So much more than a job ever was."

Stunned into silence, you merely tap the back of the couch with your finger. The gravity of her words courses through you, realized little by little. 

Quietly, you ask: "Were?"

She drops eye contact, and your heart sinks. You know it was stupid to get your hopes up after everything, but you'd be lying to say you didn't. As silence wins out yet again, speaking volumes as it hangs thickly in the air, you push yourself further into the cushions. 

Jisoo eyes you for a moment. She doesn't speak, doesn't move -- just watches you as she inwardly debates on something. Her jaw clenches and releases a few times, its lines contoured by the lamp light of the room, but you don't see it. After a moment, she makes up her mind. Standing from the couch, she crosses the entryway and disappears down a short hallway. 

You're confused by her sudden departure, but you stay put. If she wanted you to see yourself out, she would've said so… right?

A minute or so later, she returns with something clutched in her hand. It's hidden from your view until she sits down, though this time she's a fraction closer to you than before. Baby steps.

"Do you remember our trip to Hawaii?" 

You nod, wiping a leftover tear from your cheek. "Our first anniversary," you say, a bittersweet smile on your face.

"That was one of the happiest times of my life," she admits, taking a breath. She replays the memories in her mind, right then and there: the laughter you shared, how close it brought the two of you. It was a whirlwind trip that she still wishes she could relive again. 

When she's out on the road for business, she always finds herself drifting back to that place. 

Her skin remembers the warmth of the sand, how the cool water slid over it to remedy the heat. Her lips and body remember the promises yours made with every movement, every kiss -- the entirety of it haunts her, but she can't say she would want it any other way. 

"I kept this." 

Her hand opens to reveal the small ring you won for her. 

It was a perfect night; the breeze rolling in was cool enough to offset the residual heat lingering from the daytime, but warm enough to keep you comfortable. Jisoo was right next to you, brushing closer to your side with every step you took down the street. Her arm fit around your body like it was always meant to be there, holding you against her in a sweet embrace. 

Lights surrounded you on both sides, some bright and multicolored while others opted for a soft, golden glow. The street vendors all called for your attention, hoping to interest you in what they were selling. 

One finally caught your eye. 

An elderly woman sat beside her booth, clad in a beautiful dress that rippled and flowed just like the ocean. A flower was nestled above her ear, pairing nicely with the jewelry she wore. 

"Fate Charms" was written in stylized handwriting above the entrance of the tent. Jisoo noticed your intrigue, and decided to investigate. She tugged you forward and towards the shop with little warning. 

The woman's eyes lit up when she saw you approaching. "Good evening, beauties. How is the island treating you?" Her voice was gentle, but a slight waver could be heard in it due to her age.

"Wonderfully," you smiled, nodding. 

"And you?" Jisoo asked, grinning at her. 

"Ah, I'm fine, dear. Thank you for asking." She stood from her chair and approached the makeshift counter, which she promptly stood behind. 

"May I interest you in a fate charm?"

You shared a look with Jisoo before agreeing. The woman beamed. 

"Great! Let me show you how it works," she said, clasping her hands together. She shifted until she was standing in front of a bin full of round plastic containers, each numbered and with a unique symbol painted on it. 

"This part is simple; the two of you will each choose one of these," she instructed, motioning to the bin. "Whatever you pick will be given to the other person, and the two symbols on the container will be combined for a second gift."

Both of you nodded, and Jisoo gently guided you to stand in front of her in a silent way of telling you to go first.

"Now, when you choose, there's only one rule: close your eyes. You'll know which one you're meant to pick." 

You thanked her for the instruction and did as she said, closing your eyes. Jisoo's fingertips slid against the small of your back unconsciously as she watched your hand hover over the bin; eventually you paused, letting the woman know you'd found the one. You opened your eyes and handed it to her before trading places with Jisoo. 

She repeated what you did, and the woman took both prizes to a clear section of the counter. She unlocked and opened them before holding both packages up to the lamp inside the tent with shaky hands. 

"Ah, moon and sun. Two classics," she noted, as she took a chest out from beneath the counter. She searched inside of it momentarily before producing a slip of paper and making her way back over to you. 

"For you, my dear," she said, looking at Jisoo. "A ring." She held her hand out, showing a small band with a heart at its center. It was simple yet elegant, shining with beautiful stones of some kind. They were likely native to the island, you realized, and that made them all the more valuable. 

"And for you," she turned, addressing you. "A necklace." She held it up, allowing you to get a good look at it. A heart similar to Jisoo's took center stage, but inside of it was a moving needle -- like that of a compass. 

You both took your gifts from her with grateful bows and put them on as she unraveled the paper. 

"Your last present is a message. It says: love knows no time limits. Borders and distance don't confine matters of the heart; be true. To yourself, to your other half. Know that in the end, whatever will be, will be. Things rooted in destiny will forever find their way to fruition."

"Wow," Jisoo breathed, amazed. 

"That's beautiful; mahalo nui loa." You said.

The woman humbly shook her head. "Don't thank me; thank yourselves."

You looked down, admiring the charm between your fingers. It was smooth, and it was beginning to warm up as your skin lent it some heat. 

"How much do we owe you?"

"Not a cent. I don't do this for money." 

Her statement came as a surprise -- one that was clearly written on both your and Jisoo's faces. The woman laughed when she noticed your expressions. 

"Just enjoy, alright? That's payment enough." 

You extended both hands to her, taking her aging one between them with care. "You made our night even more special," you said, feeling Jisoo slide up behind you. Her head came to rest against your shoulder as her arms wrapped around you. "Thank you again," she said to the woman, feeling her heart swell at the blush that rose to her tanned cheeks. The attention you both were giving her was more than she was used to, and it was making her shy. 

"You're welcome, my loves." 

                                  -- 

"I kept it," Jisoo repeats, bringing you back to present-day. She wipes a fallen tear from her cheek as her tongue darts out to soothe her lips. 

"I wanted to give it away at first; but I remembered what that woman said and couldn't find it in myself to let go. I kept hoping that the message would come true if I kept it, but it never did." 

Reaching a hand up your body, you dip it beneath the collar of your shirt. The familiar, smooth charm presses to your palm as you pull it from the cover of the material. 

"I kept mine, too." 

Jisoo's eyes widen the slightest bit, and you notice her hand twitch. Before your brain can stop you, you take it in your own and bring it to the necklace, allowing her to feel it and confirm that it's real. 

The needle points straight at her. 

"You have no idea how much I've missed you, Jisoo," you confess, holding her hand tighter. You don't want her to slip away this time. 

"I know that what I did was fucked up. No matter why I did it, I hurt you; and I'm so sorry. If I could go back and change things, I'd do it in a heartbeat." 

She blinks, willing herself not to cry. 

"And… and I know that you probably can't forgive me. And that's alright. I just want you to know that you made me the happiest person alive, and all I ever want is to see you happy. You deserve every single good thing that this world has to offer, Chu, and I'm sorry I couldn't give it to you." 

You bring her hand to your lips and kiss the back of it. Only now does it sink in that this might be the last time you ever have her so close. 

Bitter silence fills the room again, remaining unbroken save for your occasional sniffles. 

But her subsequent lack of a response is answer enough for you, and you nod to yourself. You've both made your peace; now it's time to deal with what comes after. She learned the truth after all this time, and that's a victory in itself. 

Carefully, you get up and approach the door. The chilly metal works its way into your hand before you turn back, one last time. You hope she'll be looking, but then again, that might make things harder. 

(Un)luckily for you, she isn't. 

You clench your jaw and walk out, holding your head as high as you can manage right now. More tears spill from your eyes despite the fight you put up to keep them in. 

Now out in the hallway, you take a deep breath. The wall presses to your back as you lean on it, reassuring in its sturdiness. It'll be there for you if no one else will, and that's something. 

You take a moment to wipe your tears and clean yourself up a bit before trekking your way back to the elevator. The walk there feels like a mile hike up the steepest mountain you've ever encountered; your body resents you for every step you take, but you know it has to be done. 

On the couch, Jisoo's crying, too. Her heart feels tight, pushed to its limits and weak from the strain of all this. It aches, truly. She wonders if seeing you again was a sign; but maybe too much damage has already been done. Trusting you again isn't something that would come very easy; the nasty thought that history might repeat itself again or that you might slip away in the middle of the night with no explanation would always be at the back of her mind, nagging her. She wouldn't want to put you through that, and she definitely wouldn't want to subject herself to it either.

Maybe that woman's message was meant for another life. 

Exhausted, you allow your head to lull to the side and rest against the hallway wall. The elevator button emits a warm yellow glow when you push it, and mechanical sounds fill the shaft as it begins its ascent to you. 

The doors open up soon after, filling your vicinity once more with that gentle whooshing sound, and you step inside. The pleasant look on the attendant's face and the greeting she was about to give both fade away, and she solemnly averts her gaze. 

From your peripheral, you can see her debating on something. She wants to offer you some type of reassurance, but she doesn't know what to say. 

As she opens her mouth to speak, floundering for a second, another voice takes the spotlight from her. 

"I'm not ready to lose you again." 

The statement catches your attention, prompting you to raise your head and spin around. Jisoo stands outside of her door, teary eyed, as her fists ball in the material of her pants. 

"I'm scared of letting you in again," she confesses, taking a few steps closer. "But I can't keep pushing you away when the one thing I want is to have you in my life. Scared or not." 

You sniffle, and your feet work in tandem with your heart to bring you closer to her. 

The attendant, though intrigued beyond belief, takes that as her cue to leave. Once you're out in the hall, she closes the doors and descends to give you some privacy. 

"I'm willing to try again, Y/N. But only if you promise to be honest with me." Jisoo's lip quivers, and your heart breaks. "No exceptions." 

You agree -- of course you do -- and close what distance is left between you. 

Her arms wrap around your neck, and yours go to her waist, pulling her closer than ever before. It all happens in a rush; neither of you can deny how much you've ached to be wrapped in the other's embrace. 

Jisoo's wanted this since the day you walked away.

"I'm so sorry," you whisper fiercely into her shoulder, where your tears and broken cries mingle. 

"I've missed you more than you'll ever know." She tells you. "And I never stopped loving you, either, no matter what I've said." 

She tightens her hold on you as she cries, needing to feel you close. The collar of your shirt dampens the longer you stand there, but that's the furthest thing from your mind. She's in your arms again, finally, and it's everything you could've ever wanted. 

"Come back inside," she says quietly, feeling a little too exposed now. A woman enters her room with a freshly-refilled ice chest, pretending she didn't just witness part of your reunion. 

You nod and take the hand that she offers to you, feeling butterflies take flight. Something you can't quite place shines in her eyes as she unlocks the door -- a glint away from satisfaction, perhaps -- and it's all you can do to keep calm. You have no idea what she has planned for you now, but you're ready for whatever it is. 

Click

The door latches softly behind you, closed by your nervous hands, and Jisoo turns to face you again. She lets herself enjoy the sight of you now; she'd definitely done so earlier, but it was laced with an anger and resentment that she wants to let go of. 

Her gaze softens when she notices how red your nose and eyes are -- evidence of how much you care. You didn't come tonight to get anything for yourself; no selfish reason sent you to her. But what's more is that the entire thing matters to you just as much as it does to her. It makes it real, and it makes her heart beat a little stronger again. 

It had stumbled into some sort of uncanny rhythm without you -- one she's glad to get rid of, no matter how long it takes. 

Her hands cup your cheeks as she steps closer, chilly against your heated skin. The action pulls a sigh from your lips, making her smile the tiniest bit. It's such a pure thing. 

She brushes your hair out of your face, wanting to see you better, and you take the opportunity to wrap your arms around her waist again and pull her closer. 

"I never thought I'd be saying this," she starts, humor evident in her growing smile, "but I've missed your touch more than I thought I would." 

You raise an eyebrow. "Yeah?" 

She nods as you bring your right hand up to her face, caressing her cheek with the back of your fingers. "Anywhere you want it, it's yours." 

Her long lashes meet gently as she blinks, thinking about all the places she wants you. She's been surviving on her memories of you, reminiscing and replaying the nights that you stayed up well into the AM getting lost in one another, and the prospect of having it all for real again excites her. 

You can tell, because a low blush rises to her cheeks and she subtly presses her thighs together. 

It's comforting, knowing that she still wants you. 

"Tell me where, Jisoo." 

Her dark eyes meet yours again -- rich pools of velvet, swirling with desire -- and you feel your pulse quicken. 

"Here," she utters, quiet and intimate. Her hand guides yours downward, skating underneath the hem of her sweater and giving you access to her warm skin. Your breath catches, taken aback, but you do well in playing it off. 

Your fingertips trace over the defined lines of her abs, feeling them flex and tremble beneath your touch. Her chest rises and falls a little faster when you bring your hand up, skimming it across the lace of her bra. 

"Kiss me," she says suddenly, catching you off guard. Your gaze leaves her body, flitting up to her face. 

You pause, studying her. She looks vulnerable, but embers of a hidden fire flicker in her eyes. 

"Are you sure?" 

"Entirely." 

Time stops for a moment, kindly allowing you to focus on the softness of her lips as you press yours to them. They taste like the wine she was sipping on earlier -- rich and utterly intoxicating. 

She molds her body to yours, fitting herself against every curve and dip of you like she can't get close enough. The distance was present for so long -- now she wants to make up for lost time. 

When you part for air, she dips her head down and kisses your neck. But these aren't like you remember; they aren't shy or meek in the slightest. They're bold, open mouthed, entirely seductive kisses that're meant to leave you ruinous and put you under her spell. She further asserts this new side of herself as she pushes you against the door, smiling against your pulsepoint at the soft grunt you make in response to the impact. 

"Jisoo, what--"

"I learned some new tricks while you were away, Y/N," she interrupts, kissing just below your jawline now. Her voice is low, filled to the brim with confidence. "I learned new things about myself. What I like… what I need. And one of those things is having you submit to me. Will you do that?" 

Your jaw tenses as a blush creeps up the back of your neck. This side of her is definitely something to experience. 

She pulls back to look into your eyes. A dominance shines in hers, but it's soft; she'd never make you do something you're uncomfortable with. Light from one of the nearby standing lamps casts a hazy glow on her, making her even more ethereal. 

How could you ever deny her? After everything, she deserves to have control. 

"Yes." 

An almost imperceptible smile crosses her face at that. 

She leans forward and kisses you again as her hands go to the hem of your shirt, quickly slipping it over your head. Goosebumps span out across your skin in response to the new exposure, noticed by her as her wandering hands feel them. She gets an idea. 

"Follow me," she instructs against your lips. You subtly nod, and she takes your hand in her own. 

She leads you down the hallway from earlier and stops in front of the first door on the left. As she opens it, she casts a sensual look over her shoulder at you that has an all too familiar throbbing between your legs picking up in an instant. You shake your head and look up at the ceiling, silently pleading that you make it out of this alive. 

Now inside the master bedroom, you peer around in wonder at everything before you. A massive bed is pushed against the wall west of you, topped by a comforter that looks to be made from the softest materials in existence and a plethora of pillows, all of different sizes and firmness.

A desk and chair sit to the right of the door, and on the east wall a sizable electric fireplace resides, flickering in all of its glory. On the far side of the room, two curtains are pulled halfway in front of the doors of the patio, partially concealing it. From what you can make out from where you stand, it's roomy out there and furnished with a spotless couch and table.

Jisoo watches you. She sees the way the corners of your lips turn up ever so slightly when you notice something you like or that intrigues you. She sees how the lights of the room add even more of a sparkle to your eyes; how your lashes meet every so often. She could look at you forever; su estrella. 

But she yearns for more than just seeing you, and her patience is wearing thin. She needs to feel you, to taste you. To know that you're still hers and that you're not leaving this time. 

"Come help me set up, my love." She says, kissing your cheek.

You smile and agree, feeling your heart soar at her use of the term. Words could never do justice to what it feels like when she calls you that. 

She grabs the comforter, untucking it from the corners and pulling it off the bed, and she motions her head towards the pillows. You catch on and grab some, picking the ones you think are the most comfortable and taking some that you know she'll like. You follow her towards the hearth, where she gracefully fans the blanket out and crouches down to fix it. 

You're momentarily distracted by the way her muscles jump and move with her motions, but you eventually snap out of your daze. 

She steps to the side and takes her shoes off -- you realize now that yours are on, too. Evidently you were too preoccupied to remove them earlier. 

You take yours off as well and plop the pillows down, setting up a nice little area for the two of you. You primp the cases and fluff them, wanting them to look as good as possible. Once you're satisfied with your work, you turn around to look at her. 

"What do you think--"

Oh shit.

She stands now in only her bra and panties, black and red lace interwoven beautifully and dead set on driving you wild. Her dark hair ripples over her shoulders, falling in perfectly elegant waves that contrast with her fair skin. Your mouth runs dry as you drink in the sight of her, letting your eyes take their time in admiring every inch offered up. 

A smug smirk rests on her lips, though truth be told she feels giddy to have you looking at her in such a way. Part of her was afraid things might've changed. 

"Kneel." 

Your eyes slightly widen at the order, but you do as she says once it registers in your mind. The soft blanket beneath you welcomes your knees, caressing them as you lower yourself down. Your gaze remains locked with hers, and you watch as she gulps upon seeing you listen so readily. It feeds her ego, and you love to see it. 

She needs this -- needs to have the say for once. And you're more than happy to let her have it.

She saunters over, stepping past her discarded clothes to reach you. Once her feet -- tired and aching from the heels she's had to wear all day -- make contact with the blanket, she inwardly sighs. Cautiously, and in a move to test the waters, you reach a hand out, allowing it to stroke the back of her calf. 

Her eyes close at the sensation, reveling in the feeling of your slightly chilly fingertips against her, and she lets you continue. You move in closer until your front is hovering next to her, just far enough away for you to still be able to get a good look at her as you peer up. 

Your warm breath fans across her thighs, steady and tantalizing. Her head gently lulls back when you bring your free hand to her other leg, slipping it further up until it reaches the back of her thigh. She trembles slightly, and so you lean forward to press a soothing kiss to her hip. 

After leaving another there, you sneak down a little further, towards the apex of her thigh. You want to see how far she'll let you go before she pulls the reins back.

A few kisses later, and then...

"Y/N--" her voice is warning, but she makes no move to stop you. You wait, one beat… two… but all of her subsequent orders die out for the time being, no longer awarded the honor of being spoken. 

You loop your thumbs in the band of her panties, one set at each side of her hips as you pull them away from her skin and drag your lips across the area you expose. She whimpers when you leave a small hickey in your wake, and the sound has you shifting slightly as you feel the heat between your legs increase. 

You inch the material down until it reaches her knees, and then look up at her for confirmation. Her slender hand cups your jaw as her thumb brushes against your cheek lovingly. She looks utterly breathtaking as she towers over you, a gorgeous angel peering down. 

"I'll let you have your fun now, Y/N, because I don't plan on stopping anytime soon. You'll be begging before too long, anyway," she shrugs nonchalantly. "I might as well get your appetite going in the meantime." 

You swallow thickly at the tone of her voice. She says it like a fact, because she knows exactly what she's going to do to you. What positions she wants to try, what techniques… and all of it sends a thrill to your core, making desire pool dangerously in your stomach. 

"Go on," she says, glancing down at herself. "Do what you like." 

Butterflies take flight at that, and you waste no time in leaning forward to kiss her again. First it's her toned abdomen, where you leave a trail of love bites for her to look at later. She always liked being marked by you, she said, in places that only she would see. It made it even more special for her. More personal.

You work your way down, allowing your lips to remind her of how much you love her in every way they can. You nip at the skin of her thighs as you bring a hand up, pressing your thumb to her clit as the rest of it lays against her lower abdomen. 

"Fuck," she curses quietly, making you grin. She's so sensitive to your touch that you can't help but get a confidence boost from it. 

She feels you smile against her, and so she tangles a hand in your hair to put you in your place. 

"If you want to continue, you'd better not get cocky." She tightens her grip to prove her point, and you nod, relenting. 

You circle her clit slowly at first, almost as a silent apology as you ease her into the rhythm, but once she's comfortable and completely loosened up for you you speed up your movements. You lick a stripe up her folds and moan at the taste that you've missed so much. 

The vibrations course through her, making her clench around nothing and blush at how wet you've already made her. She puts a steadying hand on your shoulder, knowing she'll need something to hold on to soon enough. 

Huskily, she speaks. "More, Y/N." 

Her needy wish is your command. You replace your thumb with your mouth, carefully taking her clit into it as your thumb comes down to stroke her entrance and tease her some more. You suck on it, eliciting breathy moans from her and making her legs tremble. Her fist tightens in your hair again, making your eyes water slightly. 

She lets out a soft groan when you slide a finger into her, remembering all of her favorite spots. It pumps in a steady rhythm -- one that's quickly outpaced by her racing heart. Her fingers curl against the skin of your shoulder, leaving tiny indentations from her nails in the process.

Her left leg raises, slotting itself over your shoulder as you move closer to her. You steal a glance up at her, finding her lip pulled between her teeth and her eyes shut tight. 

Something magical resides in the way that you work her up, knowing her body like the back of your hand. She ebbs, you flow; you push, she pulls. It's a dance for two, truly, and you're making it count.

Pleasure courses through her in waves, building upon itself with everything you do to her. It ripples throughout her body, making her come alive; every flick of your tongue and movement of your fingers inside of her -- no matter how subtle -- have her yearning for more. Her broken moans create a melody as she revels in it, nearly getting lost. 

But still, part of her is holding back. She wants to let go; her body grinds against you wantingly, searching for more of the high you give. Her pulse beats wildly, thumping so loudly that she wonders if you can hear it. It serves as a testament, going to show just how much she's aching to give in. 

But she can't give herself to you fully -- and you notice. 

Stilling your movements, you pull away to look at her. Her chest heaves from what you've been doing, and her center glistens with even more evidence. 

She gazes down at you, softening when she sees the care in your eyes.

"What's wrong?" You ask gently, voice full of concern. Lust still plays on its tones, too.

She doesn't answer you with words. Instead she glances away, clearly reluctant to share what's on her mind -- almost as if she's ashamed of something. She subtly nibbles on the inside of her cheek; a habit of hers that you know all too well.

Pursing your lips, you look beside yourself to an open spot on the blanket. An idea comes to mind. 

"Come lay down." 

She looks hesitant but not totally opposed, so you continue. "It'll be more comfortable that way." You put a warm hand on her calf again, soothing her. "Just trust me." 

She nods and takes a deep breath, placing her hand in yours as you help ease her down. She lays back on the pillows and shuffles down a little until she's comfortable. Once she's settled, she looks up at you. 

You sit beside her, using one arm to prop yourself up and leaving the other free to touch her. Your eyes flit across her body, admiring the sight you can never get enough of; but before you can get too distracted, you focus your attention back on her face. 

Her brown eyes shine, warm and tempting. They look like home; something unique glimmers in them, indescribable in its nature. Some light, like that of a distant star, maybe, that you've been searching for in every pair that you've come across since leaving. 

But only hers have ever made you feel so safe. Only hers have had that sparkle.

She brings a hand up to your cheek, cupping it sweetly. A million things pass between the two of you, unspoken yet understood. You turn your head slightly and kiss her palm. 

"I'm sorry, Y/N." She says softly. Her dominant demeanor wavers now, eclipsed by the guilt she feels. 

You shake your head, settling your hand on her side. "Don't be. I know that this is difficult." 

She doesn't look satisfied with that, though. She sighs quietly, wanting to explain herself more. "You have no idea how much I want this. How much I want you," her hand drops to your arm now, skating down it. 

"I'm just so scared. You still have me wrapped around your finger, and if you leave again after tonight -- after what we'll do tonight -- I don't know how I'll recover."

You tut at her, knitting your brows together pitifully. 

"I know that what happened will always stick with us, babe, and I hate that. I wish I could change it, because you don't deserve all this." Your head shakes, disappointment obvious. "The second guessing… the doubts." 

She stays quiet, needing to hear your words just as badly as you need to get them off your chest. 

"But I can only make up for it now, and every coming day that you'll let me. I'll do everything I can to earn your trust back and show you that I'd never make that mistake again. You're my world, Chu." Her fingers thread with yours at her side. 

"You always have been." You say, a small smile easing its way onto your face. It's bittersweet and full of regret.

"And I understand if this is too much all at once. If you don't want to have sex tonight, we won't." A singular nod leaves you, and Jisoo's heart warms at the familiar sight. She always used to say you looked like an officer when you did that -- so serious and official.

You continue, suggesting, "Maybe we'll just watch some TV or something. I heard that [Her/Fav/S] is coming back with a few new episodes. I could make some food or order some takeout, and-- wait, do they even have takeout in the village?"

"Y/N," she says, cutting off your rambling. Her head shakes ever so slightly, amused. 

"Yeah?" 

"We're having sex tonight," she affirms, sitting up. "But we can do that stuff after, too." 

Surprise must be written all over your face, because Jisoo giggles soon after her statement. 

"Are you sure? I don't want you to feel pressured if you're not ready yet."

"I'm sure, jagi." She scoots closer to you, wrapping her arms around your waist. Some final piece seems to have fallen into place for her; a puzzle solved. 

"You might have to hold my hand, though." 

Her gaze levels with yours, and as her smile widens you notice that her eyes are on their way to forming those adorable half crescents that you love. A bit of mischief shines in them, further easing your worries. 

"Anything for you," you sigh with a grin, putting your hands behind your back so you can hold both of hers. 

As she leans in to kiss you, you wonder if she did that on purpose. 

Her full lips glide against yours slowly, relearning the rhythm that they used to share. Their softness is only rivaled by the passion that guides them; they teeter between gentleness and intensity the longer she kisses you. 

With a squeeze, she lets go of your hands and rests her own on your thighs. The material of your pants greets her fingertips, and she tugs them down your legs without breaking the kiss. You slip them off and toss them somewhere behind her, only to be pressed down into the comforter a second later. You laugh to yourself at her sudden eagerness. 

"You're so beautiful," she whispers against your lips, taking the bottom one in between her own as she settles her hips between your thighs. Your legs instinctively wrap around her waist, pulling her in close. 

You moan as she rocks against you, searching for friction to ease the ache that you've caused. She kisses the breath out of you in retaliation, only satisfied once you're panting like she was earlier. 

Your arms snake around her torso as you pull her in, grinding on her. 

A curse slips out of her mouth, and she puts a hand on the floor above your head, steadying herself. She's embarrassingly close already. 

Remnants of her heady perfume wash over you following her sudden movement, and you faintly smile. She still wears the same kind.

Warm light from the fireplace flickers across her features, making them look even stronger than usual. Her jawline is sharper, even more defined; the curve of her nose and lips even more beautiful somehow. She's a work of art, striking yet delicate.

"Baby, look at me." You request, bringing a hand up to cup her cheek. It's hot against your palm as she nuzzles into you, turning to grant your wish. 

Her dilated pupils surprise you at first, but soon you find comfort in them. They show that her desire comes not only from touching you and being touched, but merely by looking at you. You turn her on without even trying. 

She kisses you again, pinning both of your wrists above your head with one of her hands. The other runs down your body, worshipping every dip, curve, and perfect imperfection. 

First, it wraps around your neck. Her slender fingers apply faint pressure -- just enough to arouse you. She feels your pulse, how it jumps and beats for her; you still feel the same. Your body reacts to her touch just as it did before, and that turns her on. She's still your best.

Her hand pushes under your bra next, teasing your breasts in time with the greedy rutt of her hips. You writhe beneath her, feeling your toes curl when she pinches your nipple and massages the ache away. 

"Has anyone else touched you like this?" She asks, now moving her hand across your abdomen. It ghosts over your skin, and she appreciates the way your shuddered breaths make it ripple. 

"Have they, Y/N?" She prods, peering up at you. Her mouth hovers above your chest, tempting and warm on your exposed skin.

"No," you reply, glancing away. "I haven't been with anyone since you." Your eyes close, both in embarrassment at that admission and avoidance of her gaze. It's clear that she can't say the same for herself, seeing as how she was with that man back in the city. You're not prepared for her reply, whatever it may be, because you know it'll hurt regardless. A lie to comfort you, perhaps, or even the truth. Usually the truth hurts more.

"What?" She asks, sounding breathless. She's taken aback. 

"You heard me." 

A twinge of bitterness lies hidden behind your words, but not well enough to go unnoticed by her. 

"I haven't either," she admits. 

Your brows furrow as you look at her.

"What about the guy in the city? I thought..."

She's already shaking her head before you can finish your statement. "He's my manager. We were grabbing some food while we waited for a meeting with one of our executives. They had us fly in for business." 

"Oh." 

The simple response is all you can come up with, and it makes her laugh. You smile at her, feeling a bit of weight lifted from your shoulders at that revelation.

"I thought about it," she confesses after a minute, "but I couldn't have gone through with it. Nobody would've even compared to you." 

She lets go of your arms now, letting both of her hands roam your body as they please. Your bra is undone and removed from you in an instant, and quickly replaced by her mouth. She paints your skin with love bites, returning the favor. 

"You remember that old camcorder we experimented with back in Paris?" She mumbles a couple minutes later, lips trailing down your sternum as she moves down your body. 

Oh God. "The one with our sex tape?" 

She grins cockily against your hip, where she's begun to pull your panties down. "Bingo." 

"You kept it?" You ask, finding it harder to breathe when she rids you of the thin material and peppers kisses across your thighs.

"I did more than just keep it, jagi." A low chuckle leaves her, though it's more so out of reminiscence than humor. She lost count a long time ago of how many times she's replayed that video, mesmerized by you and her memories of that night. When she watches it, she can almost feel the humid breeze that drifted into your cabana then, sensual and rich with the promises it held for your time together.

Part of you wonders where this side of her has been hiding; she's always been so demure that you'd have never expected this from her. 

"I have to say, though," she starts, sitting back on her knees as she pushes yours open wider. "The camera could never do this pretty pussy justice." 

You groan at her words and bury your face in your hands, feeling exposed and shy all at once. She quick to pull them away, though, and simply glance above your head to let you know that she won't hesitate to pin them again. 

"There's no need to be embarrassed, baby. Your body's incredible," her eyes drink in the sight of you, possessive in their darkness. "I love every inch of it." 

She brings a hand down between your bodies as she settles back down, using it to cup your center. Your head pushes further back into the pillows, taking one last moment of reprieve in this calm before the storm. The dangerous look in her eyes excites you, though, and probably more than it should. 

But her body's warm against you and humming with the passion she's kept bottled away for the past two years, and that's all you really care about. It almost radiates from her when she's near you, like some kind of beautiful enchantment. 

You've had her enraptured since the day you met… and some things just never change.

"I've craved you more than anything else in my life, Y/N," she says, unwavering and true. "And this time without you has been the worst." Her lips press to your cheek in a gentle embrace, lessening the sting of the reminder of your time apart. 

"But we're here now, and I'm going to make up for every second we lost. I promise." 

She seals her declaration with another kiss, and her body busies itself with its mortal purpose: pleasing you. 

----

Three Hours Later, In Bed

You awake slowly, to the howling of distant wolves. Their high pitched cries carry for miles in every direction, aided by the slopes and dips of the mountains. Moonlight streams in through the patio windows, reflecting off of the table outside to create a shimmery myriad of colors wherever it falls.

Jisoo lays next to you on her side, her limbs outstretched and splayed across your body. Her relaxed breaths warm your shoulder, consistent and calm, and for a moment you let yourself just be. 

The burdens you were carrying before all seem lighter now, as you just lie here with her. In this room, it's just the two of you; the world can't touch you. Her demanding father is miles away; the brands that she'll be representing in the morning don't exist. You're lightyears away from your boring job and everything else that's worked to keep you apart. 

Here, it's just you. Here, the only thing you have to wonder about is where you end and she begins. 

The quiet coos she makes in her sleep comfort you and give you a glimpse back into what life used to be like with her. When you shift, intending to alleviate some of the strain on your aching muscles, she instinctively tightens her hold on you. It's something that might not seem significant to others, but you understand the weight of it immediately; even when she's unconscious, she wants you next to her. She doesn't want you to slip away again, and it saddens you immensely that she even has to worry about that in the first place. 

"I'm not going anywhere, my love." You whisper delicately, as a promise. She hums lowly at that, her voice full of the sultry tones that sleep always brings on, and you smile.

She nuzzles into you, and you kiss her temple as you hold her tight. 

--

A Little Later

When Jisoo is pulled from the sweet embrace of sleep, it's far less pleasant than what you experienced. 

Her eyes open to darkness, and the bed beside her is cold. Empty. Void of you or any evidence that you had even occupied the space at all. 

She sits up with a start, fumbling to brush her hair away from her face and look around the room. Her discarded clothes lay in a neatly folded pile at the end of the bed, reassuring her at the very least that she didn't dream up your reunion; you were really there at some point. 

The lamp flickers on a minute later, and she swings her legs over the side of the bed. Her eyes fall down to her body, finding splashes of red and purple hickeys everywhere; she blushes slightly at the memories that play in her mind, but she pushes them away shortly after. 

If you really did leave after everything, she could never forgive you. 

She strides across the room towards her closet, where she retrieves the complimentary silk robe that the resort leaves for guests. She slides it on, sighing slightly at the coolness it provides. 

Just as she finishes tying it and hastily pads her way towards the door, opening it in a rush, she's greeted by a sight that has all of her fears dissipating just as quickly as they came on. 

"One way ticket," you sing into the handle of a spatula, dressed solely in one of Jisoo's hoodies and your underwear. You adjust the heat on the stove, where you're warming some milk to make hot chocolate. 

Still oblivious to her presence, you wave to an imaginary crowd and smile at your band before singing again. "One way ticket, one way ticket to the blues!"

She leans against the hallway wall, smiling to herself at how adorable you are. Your hair is pulled back in a messy bun, you're barefoot, and you're half dressed. 

You have no intention of leaving her again, and that fact slowly makes its way to her brain. She feels her final defenses lowering when you spin around, enjoying yourself. 

"Gonna take a trip--"

Your eyes land on her shadowy figure halfway through the line, leaving you with little else to do but scream bloody murder in shock. 

She gasps as you tumble to the ground in a heap, and she's quick to chase after you. 

"You scared the hell out of me!" A groan rumbles in your throat as you begin to stand on your already exhausted legs, sore and embarrassed that she caught you. 

"I'm sorry," she mitigates, holding her arm out for you to grab. You take it with a halfhearted glare, but use it nonetheless. 

"I was making hot cocoa for us, until you interrupted," you grumble, turning towards the stove again. She purses her lips, attempting to keep from grinning at your antics. 

"Really?" She acts, feigning confusion as she slides up behind you. Your breath hitches when her hands find their way beneath the hoodie, running dangerously close to your breasts. 

"Jisoo…"

She kisses down your neck tantalizingly, reminding you of the night you shared. As her robe opens slightly, her bare thigh grazes the back of yours. "Because it looked to me like my rockstar girlfriend was putting on quite the show." 

You pause, not moving. She seems to notice her slip up as well, and her head falls forward against your shoulder. A grimace crosses her face; she's sure she just messed all this up.

"Y/N--"

"Girlfriend?" You ask curiously, though you try to conceal your wishfulness. She looks away when you switch the burner off and turn around, eyes on her. 

"Look at me, please." 

Her fingers fiddle with the ends of her sleeves, but she eventually gains the courage to do as you ask. 

The moonlight sparkles in here, too, as it cascades in through the frosted bay windows. Small deposits of ice and snow sit in the corners of them, like silent witnesses of your interaction. They watch with anticipation, just the same as you. 

"I was thinking we could try again, you know?" 

Her voice is timid in the face of such a daunting proposition, especially given your history, but she stands tall. In a way, it feels like asking you out all over again.

"I'd love that, Chu." 

Your ensuing smile melts her heart, and she breathes a breath of relief. She steps forward and wraps her arms around you, falling into your embrace. You hold her tight, making her feel secure not only physically, but also in her emotions. 

She sways gently with you in the moonlight, leaving stray kisses against your collarbone every so often. 

After a few minutes like this, you remember your purpose for leaving the warmth of her bed in the first place. Hot cocoa. 

"How about this, jagi," you say, leaning back slightly to look into her eyes. "You go grab a blanket for us, and I'll finish making our drinks. Then we can go stargaze on the patio." 

She nods happily, and plants a lingering kiss to your cheek before sauntering away. 

You bite your lip as you switch the heat back on, shaking your head in disbelief. If someone had told you that this is how the trip would leave you, you never would've believed them. It's a miracle, truly, and you'll be thanking your lucky stars the second you step outside.

--

"Two hot chocolates, incoming!" You announce, keeping the steaming mugs steady in your hands. The patio door is open enough for you to easily slip out and join her. 

Instead of just her, though, which would be more than enough for you, you see that she's lit an array of candles and placed them around the patio. They create a romantic ambience for the two of you, and the view that you have to go along with them is something out of a dream. 

"Jisoo, this is…. Wow." 

The stars twinkle in the sky, high above it all as they keep watch. Their constellations show vividly, like they're waking up to say hello. So too is the village below, stretching out left and right. Wooden welcome signs groan and creak as the wind pushes against them, whispers of greeting coming from their oak posts.

The golden lamps that you saw upon arrival earlier now burn even brighter, sitting in the windows of stores and houses and hanging high in the protective cases of the street lamps. It's a tender thing, yet their light adds a vibrance of life to the village despite the late hour. 

Jisoo's hands are clasped behind her back, a shy smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Do you like it?" 

"I love it," you assure her, setting the mugs down on the table. "And I love you." 

Her smile widens at that, much to your relief, and she steps towards you. Happiness is the only thing on her face as she takes your hands and invites you to sit down with her.

"I love you, too, Y/N. So much," she says, almost dreamily. "I'm really glad I decided to come on this trip." 

You agree, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. "That woman's message was true, then." 

"Yeah," she sighs, grinning as you hand her her drink and settle in next to her, wrapping the blanket around both of your bodies. Although the patio is heated, the blanket serves as another layer of warmth and a way to bring you even closer to one another.

"And I'm really happy it was." 

You hum at that and grab your drink, clinking the side of the mug against hers in celebration. 

"To us," she declares proudly, eyes shining with love and every other emotion you make her feel. 

"To us," you repeat, beaming all the same. You take a sip and peek out at the mountains over the rim, watching the stark white snow accumulate. It paints everything in sight with its powdery magic, from the hills and slopes to the village homes. Layers of it continue to build upon each other, pillowy and soft with every new flake.

It's creating the perfect conditions for everything the girls mentioned doing while you're here, and a knowing smile shows on your face as you realize something. 

You have the perfect opportunity to invite Jisoo to come along for your plans and right some of your wrongs in the process. She and the girls can all heal from the damage caused, and you can have the honor of seeing that happen. 

It's not often that such a privilege is awarded to people, and you don't plan to take it lightly. 

So you hold Jisoo a little tighter, a little closer, here and now, to show her how much she means. You'll do everything you can to atone for the mistakes you made and take away her future burdens for as long as she'll allow you, always. 

It's just the promise you make, because for you, no matter what, it'll always be her. 

With her, things are never really over.

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Songs that inspired me:

"Where's My Love" - SYML

"Fear Of The Water" - SYML

"One Way Ticket" - Eruption