💚satisfied.

espresso| l.at

“i’m working late, cause im a singer”

paring: idol!anton x barista!reader

word count: 1.8k

synopsis: at the end of a particularly bad shift you meet a sweet (and very cute) guy who makes all of your frustrations of the day disappear.

genre: fluff

warnings: none except for the fact that there are references to the dialogue being in korean

now playing:

as the last customer in the shop was getting ready to leave, you checked the tip jar to see if anyone left anything (not like they ever did). just like everytime before, it was empty. you sighed and plopped down on the ground of the shop. you rested your head on the counter and sighed slightly deeper this time, you just wanted to get home and sleep.

as you hear the bell at the door jingle you sigh and stand up to go lock it, thinking it was the customer finally leaving. you assumed she was a high school student due to her youthful appearance and her backpack, looking like she only came for a quiet place to study.

once you stood up and turned around, you were met with the face of a mind blowingly handsome young man. you were going to say something but nothing came out as you looked at him. he looked so familiar for some reason. maybe he was a regular who you’ve seen a very times before in between shifts of something.

as he saw your struggle to form a thought in your head, he smiled. god, his smile was pretty. you shook your head slightly to get yourself out of your thoughts.

you wanted to tell him how the shop was closed. how you were just about to lock up, but something told you not to. we thank that something, whatever it was.

“u-uh, give me one second! i want to lock up so no one else can come inside.” you say before speed walking towards the door to lock it. you flipped the “open” sign around so it reads “closed” to the outer eye.

once your back behind the counter, you smiled at him. “what can i get for you tonight?” you asked while putting both hands on the counter.

he looked up at the menu before looking back at you, returning you smile. “can i get an iced americano?” he asked with a soft voice, sending warmth up your neck to your ears.

“americano? this late at night?” he smiled sheepishly and nodded. you smiled back, putting his order in the system.

“will that be all? no cookies, brownies, croissants, cake pops, nothing?” you asked jokingly causing him to chuckle a bit. even his laugh is pretty.

“i wasn’t planning on it, but now im reconsidering” he said while looking in the display case. he pointed at a cookie, it was just a regular sugar cookie. “i’ll take one of those please”

you giggled at him and added it to his order. “heated or regular?”

“heated is fine”

you nodded in response. “okay, now will that be all?” you asked teasingly and he returned with a small nod. “yeah, yeah that’s it”

“okay, can i get a name for the order please?” he looked around the cafe in a teasing manner and leaned in closely as if there’s someone else there. “do you really need my name if there’s no one else here?” he asked scrunching up his face in what you swear is the most adorable way ever.

“it wasn’t for the order, just my personal knowledge” you say while following his actions with caused him to laugh again. he realized that you seriously didn’t know his name.

“i suppose it wouldn’t hurt if i tell you then” he replied, “anton” he said with an even bigger smile than before.

you tilted your head to the side and stared at him with furrowed eyebrows. you’ve heard that name before, but maybe it’s from one of your american tv shows you watched.

“your a foreigner?” you asked and he nodded in response. you smiled and asked in broken english, “you speak english?”

hearing you say that with such a confident smile made him laugh out loud. “yeah,” he replied in english, “i grew up in the U.S, new jersey specifically” he said and you just stared at him in confusion, blinking a bit more frequently.

“i can’t speak english” you said, switching back to korean which made him laugh. “i know, you weren’t fooling anyone” he replied jokingly, causing you ears to burn. thank god your hair was covering them. “all i really said was that i grew up in new jersey”

“well that sucks then” you say with a playful pout while walking to get his cookie. “i was practiced that all year” and he started to laugh again. “in that case, you did an amazing job” he says while starting to pull out his wallet.

you noticed and looked at him with a small smile. “it’s on me” you say, which causes him to look at you a bit taken aback. “no, it’s okay, really” you say before closing the ticket, making it impossible for him to pay for it himself.

he just stared at you with what you assumed was a blush but honestly, it could have been the horrible lighting for you brushed it off. your eyesight was never the best anyway.

you started to shew him off with you hand. “go, go sit down” you say with a smile. “seriously, don’t worry about it”

“thank you, although you didn’t have to-“ before he could finish his sentence, you were already shaking his drink so you couldn’t even hear his protests.

you knew your mom wouldn’t care that you wouldn’t even pay for the drink. normally she would probably be upset that you put the order “on the house” and didn’t even pay it, but you knew she would let it slide if she found out it was because of a boy. been trying to get you married since you were 8, you only just turned 20.

as your pouring his drink in the cup, a song starts to play faintly on the speakers. it was a song that you added to the playlist yourself actually. one of your friends suggested it to you and you really liked it.

she was always going on and on about some kpop group called riize, but honestly, you weren’t really listening to her. the only reason you got her to shut up about them around you was because you promised to listen to a song from them, the song being “memories”.

you stated to write his name on the cup with a sharpie while singing the lyrics softly and then it dawned on you.

familiar face.

familiar name.

foreigner.

grew up in new jersey.

getting coffee at 9 at night.

“yeah, the maknae of the group, anton, gives off really similar vibes as you. if you two knew each other you would be great friends, i swear”

all the boxes checked.

you looked up at him with slightly parted lips as you were in shock. he was already staring at you with a smug smile.

you opened you mouth to say something, but you quickly shut it, not knowing what to say in this situation. you finished writing his name and grabbed his cookie from the toaster oven.

you handed him his order and he started to chuckle. “i was suprised you didn’t realize sooner actually.” he says with a small smirk.

you, not knowing what to say, look down and chuckled. “i knew you looked familiar, i just didn’t know why.” you say while you ears heat up again. your almost 90% sure that your face is pretty red too.

he chuckled again and ruffled you hair slightly. “don’t feel bad, we didn’t even debut a year ago yet”

you finally looked back up at the feeling, your head still tingling from his touch and you nodded. your mom definitely wouldn’t be mad now.

as you walked him to the door so you could unlock he smiled and says, “i’ll definitely be dropping by more often. send me your work schedule” he waved you goodbye and started to walk down the street. “wait! i don’t have your number!” you say and he just shrugged.

you rolled your eyes and walked back into the cafe, locking the door behind you and getting ready to actually close for the night.

you walk up to the tip jar and noticed that there was way more in that than the last time you checked. in fact, there was nothing in there the last time you checked. you grab the money and started to count it. $9.04. the same amount as his order.

he still payed.

at the bottom of the jar, there was a napkin. instead of crumbling it like you normally would, your gut told you not to. you flipped the napkin around and smiled when you saw writing on it.

“surprise i guess! you’ll find to learn im not really the best listener lol. i (hopefully) told you to send me your schedule, here’s my number: (xxx) xxx-xxxx.

-lee anton from jersey :3

(p.s, it’s totally okay if you don’t text me, just know i’m waiting for it just in case. don’t leave me hanging! but if you do that’s totally okay too)”

lee anton…what am i gonna do with you?

a/n: GUYS BE PROUD OF ME!! I WAS ABLE TO REMEMBER AND WRITE THE STORY AGAIN 😭😭 normally i get frustrated and don’t want to write it again BUTT i wrote this all in one sitting. and we all cheered!!

686 notes View Post

sorilyae

1 year ago

🎧busy tonight…

No Room For Secrets-Chapter 1: Meet Cute?

Pairing: roommate!Jungkook x (f.)Reader

Genre(s): Roommates AU, strangers to friends, FWB, lovers, slice of life, angst, smut, fluff, (New Girl AU?), slow buurn

Summary: You settle into your new apartment and quickly bond with your roommates(plus Taehyung). A deeper conversation with Jungkook about life sparks subtle flirting and an unexpected connection.

Warning(s by chapter): explicit language(cursing)

Word Count: 4.6k

A/N: hey thanks for being here :) My fic ‘No Room For Secrets’ is HEAVILY INSPIRED BY THE TV SERIES NEW GIRL so don’t be surprised the apartment layout is the same. I know I could’ve been more creative but it’s one of my fav shows and thinking of bts being in that sort of dynamic inspired me to write this disaster :D hope you enjoy and feel free to let me know your thoughts❣️

“Alright, let’s get started. Why do you think you’d be a good fit as our roommate?” Your new acquaintance, Jin, is sitting on the couch in front of you leaning in with a welcoming smile.

You open your mouth to answer, fully intending to keep it simple, but somehow, words just keep spilling out.

“Well, I’m pretty easygoing. I clean up after myself, I don’t throw wild parties, and I actually enjoy doing dishes—well, not enjoy, but I don’t mind them, which is basically the same thing, right? Also, I’m not a morning person, so you don’t have to worry about me making noise at ungodly hours. But I do sometimes talk to myself, like, just thinking out loud, not full conversations or anything weird—though I guess that’s subjective—”

“Wait, go back. You like doing dishes?” The man who introduced himself as Taehyung, raises a brow.

“I mean, yeah, relatively speaking.”

“Interesting.” He grips his chin. “Suspicious, even.”

The small one, who you now know as Jimin, starts laughing. “Tae, we’re supposed to be making her feel comfortable, not interrogating her dishwashing habits.”

“Though it is good to know.” Jin nods. “I enjoy cooking, but I loathe doing dishes.”

The three men sit across from you on the couch—Jin on the left, Taehyung in the middle, and Jimin on the right, all watching you with varying degrees of interest. From what you’ve gathered so far, they seem like good company. Or at the very least, not serial killers—which is always a plus.

“Maybe if this works out,” Jin continues. “We can familiarize you with our apartment responsibilities? Like when I cook, the ones who ate my food take responsibility for cleaning dishes after.”

Before you can respond, the front door swings open. You turn just in time to see a figure step inside—dark hair slightly tousled, black hoodie hanging loosely off his frame. His gaze flickers over to the scene in front of him, and his brows furrow.

“What’s going on?”

“Interviewing our potential new roommate.” Taehyung wiggles his eyebrows and grins.

“You don’t even live here.” The man blinks.

Jimin looks at you and sighs. “We’ve been telling him that, but he refuses to leave.”

Taehyung gasps with so much offense, his chest puffs out. “Excuse you, I bring valuable insight.”

“You asked about dishes.” Jin deadpans.

Taehyung looks at his nails. “And I stand by it.”

The dark haired man by the door just shakes his head, turning his attention to you. There’s a moment of silence as he studies you—assessing, curious, unreadable.

“Did they at least offer you water?”

You smile awkwardly, glancing toward Jimin. “No.”

Still by the door, he throws a look at the others. “You guys suck at this.”

“Noted.” Jin says, turning back to you. “Would you like some water?”

“I’m good, thanks.” You smile politely.

The man whose name you still don’t know, huffs a quiet laugh, shaking his head as he moves toward the kitchen. The conversation resumes, but you catch the way he glances at you one more time before turning his back and reaching for the fridge door.

You try to focus, but your brain is still processing the fact that there’s another hot guy in the room. And he’s barely spoken since walking in, and yet somehow, his presence felt the loudest. It was almost deafening, the way your attention gravitated to him.

A moment later, he’s back and the others stop bickering amongst themselves. He doesn’t say anything as he sinks into the couch next to Jimin, absently biting into an apple. But in his other hand, he holds out a glass of water.

You blink. Didn’t you just say no?

He doesn’t look at you, just keeps chewing, gaze focused on some random spot across the room like this is the most normal thing in the world.

Without a word, you take it. Noting his hand tattoos that just make him even more of a hot mystery. And, despite insisting you didn’t need it, you practically down the whole thing in one go.

Jimin watches in amusement. “Thirsty?”

You wipe your mouth, setting the empty glass on the table. “Apparently.”

The guy with the apple smirks to himself and keeps chewing.

“So,” he says with his mouth full, finally turning to you, “why are you looking for a new place?”

You hesitate for a split second before exhaling. “Because my current roommate sucks.”

Taehyung leans forward, intrigued. “Like, normal ‘steals your food’ sucks or ‘burns sage to cleanse your aura but also forgets to pay rent’ sucks?”

“Both. Plus, she invited her boyfriend to stay over every single night and now he basically lives there rent-free.” You sigh. “They also fight constantly. Over the dumbest things. One time, I woke up at 2 a.m. because he put the peanut butter in the fridge.”

Jin winces. “Yikes.”

“Yeah. So now I’m here, trying to reclaim my sanity.” It’s comical really. You thought it would work out with your friend-of-a-friend from college, but once she got a boyfriend she became a liiiittle demanding and less considerate of you also living there. You’re just grateful you didn’t grow close to her, otherwise this sudden move would make you feel guilty.

Mystery guy hums, studying you for a second. “Fair.” Then, he leans back against the couch, one arm tucked under the arm holding his apple. “What do you do?”

You open your mouth to answer, but Taehyung cuts in first. “More importantly, do you come with references?”

You scoff. “What is this, a job interview?”

Taehyung nods solemnly. “A highly competitive one.”

Jimin rolls his eyes, looking somewhat exhausted. “Please ignore him. Go on.”

You shrug. “I work remotely, which means I’ll probably be home a lot. But I keep to myself, and I promise I won’t be the ‘bothering you all the time’ type of roommate.”

“That’s what they all say.” Taehyung narrows his eyes.

“I mean it.”

Jin tilts his head. “You said your current roommate sucks, but do you suck?”

“Not unless you ask my ex, but that’s another story.” You flash a grin.

Jimin chokes on a laugh while Jin fights a smirk.

Tatted hottie raises an eyebrow. “Do you have any redeeming qualities?” He takes another bite of his apple, chewing obnoxiously.

You cross your arms, feigning offense. “Yes, actually.”

A beat of silence. Four pairs of eyes stay on you, waiting.

You tilt your head, pretending to think. “For one, I’m great at remembering random trivia. Completely useless stuff, but it makes me fun at parties.”

Jin hums. “Example?”

You grin. “Bananas are berries, but strawberries aren’t.”

Taehyung’s jaw drops. “No. Shut up.”

“I don’t make the rules.”

Jimin leans forward, intrigued. “More.”

You hold up a finger. “Octopuses have three hearts.”

“Holy shit.” Taehyung gasps and grips his chest. “I have one heart and that’s already too much.”

The dark haired man, who has been silent up until now, clears his throat before speaking. “That’s nice, but can you cook?”

You hesitate. “I can make a mean grilled cheese.” You smile hopefully, praying he can’t see through your half-truth.

Jin snorts then tilts his head. “How mean?”

“Perfectly golden brown, crispy edges, just the right amount of cheese pull.” You raise your chin, really selling yourself. “Michelin star-worthy.”

Jimin gasps. “You have to prove this.”

The guy whose name you STILL don’t know, smirks. “Yeah. That sounds like bullshit.”

You narrow your eyes at him, feeling competitive now. “You doubt my skills?” Oh the nerve on this guy.

“I don’t know. You just don’t seem like you can cook.”

You scoff. He’s not wrong. “And you seem like the type to drink protein shakes and eat sadness, but here we are.”

Jin and Jimin burst into laughter. Taehyung wheezes. The tatted man just raises an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth twitching up before tossing the apple core into a nearby trash bin without looking and it lands perfectly. Of course it does.

“Alright,” he says, tilting his head. “Guess we’ll see.”

Taehyung calms down and waves a hand. “We’ll get to that. Continue. What else makes you tolerable?”

“I guess you’ll have to ask my best friend, Yoongi.”

The room falls into unexpected silence.

Jimin blinks. “Wait—Min Yoongi?” He looks at you quizzically. “Like, the Min Yoongi?”

You tilt your head. “Well, I don’t know if he deserves to be called ‘the Min Yoongi’ but… yeah, why?”

Tattoo hands exhales through his nose, shaking his head like he’s suddenly exhausted. Jin pinches the bridge of his nose. Taehyung looks at Jimin and points at you in disbelief, giggling like a little girl.

“You’re the best friend?” Taehyung is so shocked he’s giggling. But not at you. No, he’s laughing at how comically coincidental the circumstances are that you ended up being the one they interviewed for the roommate spot. Small world.

“You should’ve led with that,” Jin mutters with a smile.

“Yeah,” Jimin agrees, eyes wide with disbelief. “We could’ve saved a lot of time.”

You frown. “What? What does that mean?”

Taehyung just grins, throwing an arm over the back of the couch. “It means, sweetheart, that you’re in.”

“Really? Just like that?”

“Just like that,” Taehyung waves a hand.

“How do you guys know Yoongi?” You raise a brow. Given, your close pal produces music and actually has a social life, unlike you. But these guys don’t look like they make music?

Jin puts his hands together. “Let’s just say, Yoongi doesn’t let just anyone into his life. If he’s your best friend, you’re probably not a total disaster.”

“Or you are a disaster, but he likes you anyway.” Hottie smirks, but not in that ‘hot guy wants your number’ kind of way. It’s a warm and alluring smirk, like he’s intrigued. Like he’s curious. Like he’s already figured something out about you that you don’t even know yet. “Jungkook,” he introduces himself, finally giving you a name to match the presence that’s been taking up too much space in your mind already.

Jungkook.

The name suits him—strong, effortless… annoyingly attractive.

He reaches his tattooed hand out for a greeting.

The moment your fingers brush, a jolt of something sharp and unexpected shoots through you. His grip is strong, his skin slightly rough, like someone who’s used to working with his hands. You’re not sure if you imagined it, but for a split second, his thumb lingers against yours before he lets go.

Great. Fantastic. Now I’m overanalyzing handshakes.

He lets go first, and you hate how aware you are of the lingering warmth on your skin.

“Y/n.” You introduce yourself back and press your lips into a straight line. “Hope you don’t snore.”

His eyes never leave yours. “Y/n,” he tries your name on his tongue and a shiver runs down your spine. “Welcome to apartment 4D.”

Taehyung stands up enthusiastically, clapping his hands. “Should we show you around? You can see the room—your room first!”

Jimin stands up, placing a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Tae, maybe y/n should be getting a tour from someone who actually lives here.”

Jin ends up being the one to show you around—mostly because Taehyung got offended by what Jimin said, which led to a dramatic exit and some inevitable bickering.

Honestly? You’re not complaining.

This apartment is so much better than the shitty two-bedroom place next to the highway—the one that somehow always felt cold and damp, no matter how high you cranked the heat.

The layout is open, welcoming. There’s a communal bathroom, which you expected to feel awkward, but instead, it just adds to the homey vibe. The kitchen is surprisingly spacious for four people living together, with enough counter space to cook without feeling cramped.

Yeah. This place already feels different. Better.

Jungkook doesn’t say anything when Jin leads you toward the hallway. He stands, runs a hand through his messy dark hair, and watches you for a few breathtaking moments. Was he this magnetic the whole time?

Jungkook shoves his hands into his pockets, eyes lingering on yours for just a second too long. Then, with the faintest hint of a smile, he turns and disappears into his room.

You don’t know what you were expecting when you walked into this apartment today. But as Jungkook’s eyes linger on yours for just a second too long, something twists deep in your stomach—something you don’t have a name for yet.

The air feels strangely lighter once he’s gone—like a pressure you hadn’t noticed before has suddenly lifted. You exhale, tension slipping from your shoulders, but there’s something oddly hollow about his absence too, like the room isn’t quite as full as it was a second ago.

You brush the feeling off and follow Jin to see your new room.

You came here looking for a place to live. And yet you have a feeling you just walked into something much bigger than that.

——————————————

Move In Day

It’s taken you about 4 days to slowly move in with your new roommates.

Day 2 of knowing Jimin and Taehyung, they helped you move in your bed-frame, dresser, and nightstands(the day after your interview). Taehyung insisted you call him Tae cause he ‘likes your vibe’ and your taste in furniture. Bro is always asking you if he can have your things.

Day 3, Jin said he would lend you his dry cleaning bags to pack and move your clothes. And then he insisted on helping you do it, fearing you’d somehow ‘crease the bags.’

Next, all you had to move were a few—11 boxes, into the apartment.

You underestimated how much stuff you actually own.

At first, you thought you’d be able to bring everything up in just a few trips, but after the fourth round of lugging boxes up the stairs, you’re starting to regret every single one of your life choices. After that 4th trip carrying boxes up by yourself, you caved and begged the guys for help.

“Remind me again why we don’t have an elevator?” you ask no one in particular, huffing as you shift the box in your arms.

“Because this building is ancient,” Jin replies from behind you, carrying a box labeled kitchen up the stairs. “And because the landlord is a cheap bastard.”

“We actually do have an elevator. It’s just been ‘Out of Order’ for months now. You’d think with rent this high, they’d invest in some modern conveniences,” Jimin chimes in, walking in the front door and setting the box down near the entrance of your new room. He stretches his arms over his head, his cropped sweatshirt riding up slightly. “This is a workout.”

Jungkook, who’s been eerily silent during all of this, walks in with two boxes stacked on top of each other like they weigh nothing. He doesn’t even look winded. Show-off.

“You guys are weak,” he says, dropping the boxes beside Jimin’s. He looks at you, eyes scanning your flushed face. “Need a break, princess?”

You narrow your eyes at him and scoff. “I’m fine.” The last couple days Jungkook has briefly observed you receiving help from Jimin and Jin. And as a result, he’s decided to start calling you ‘princess’ just to get a reaction out of you. And it’s being working. Slowly.

“You sure?” He crosses his arms, leaning against the doorframe. “Because you look—”

“If you say ‘like you’re struggling,’ I will throw something at you,” you warn lowly.

Jungkook smirks, amused. “I was gonna say ‘like you’re about to pass out,’ but struggling works too.”

You huff, choosing to ignore him, and grab another box from the pile near the front door, planning to bring it into your room. It’s heavier than you expect, and for a second, you wobble on your feet as the weight shifts in your arms.

“Ahh—careful!” Jin calls, but before he can do anything, Jungkook is already there.

One second, you’re bracing for impact, and the next, Jungkook’s hands are on your waist, steadying you effortlessly like you weigh nothing at all. His grip is firm, warm, and annoyingly familiar, even though you’ve barely known him a week. 4 days to be exact.

You suck in a breath, suddenly hyperaware of how close he is. The box you were trying to balance, long forgotten on the floor. His chest is inches from yours, his dark eyes locked onto your face like he’s checking to make sure you’re okay.

“You good?” His voice is lower than usual, quieter. Like his words were meant only for your ears to hear.

You swallow hard, as you begin to feel the flush spread up your cheeks. Were his eyelashes always this long? “Yeah. Yeah, I just—”

“Okay, lovebirds, break it up,” Jin says, completely oblivious, as he wedges himself between you and Jungkook to grab another box. “We still have a lot to move, and if I throw out my back, I’m making one of you pay my medical bills.”

The moment shatters, and Jungkook lets go of you immediately, clearing his throat. The tips of his ears turn red. You take a step back, heart pounding for no good reason.

Jimin, of course, is watching all of this unfold with the most amused expression you’ve ever seen. Though, he doesn’t seem the least bit surprised by what just happened.

“That was cute,” he hums.

You glare at him. “Shut up.”

Jungkook doesn’t say anything. He just grabs another box and walks with it to the kitchen like nothing happened.

But when he passes by, you swear you see the corner of his mouth twitch—like he’s trying to contain a smirk.

A few hours later Jin had made dinner. Conveniently, Taehyung decided to show up right as it was done and not when you needed help but none of the others seemed surprised. Where the fuck was he when you were moving boxes?

Dinner went by fast, with the grown men scarfing down every last noodle of the carbonara Jin made. You cleaned up the kitchen while Jin started prepping the coffee maker and packing his lunch for his work day tomorrow.

“Thanks for helping me get settled in here.” Your voice is calm, appreciative as you smile up at Jin.

“Hey don’t worry about it,” he looks over at you as he’s putting his coffee away in the cabinet. “It’s the least we could do since you’ll be putting up with our stray cat.”

Now you’re confused. “Wait. You guys have a cat?” You tilt your head.

You hear Jimin start giggling from over on the couch. “Yeah, you could say that.”

Then Taehyung walks in the living room from the bathroom, yawning and stretching his arms up over his head.

“See! Isn’t he just adorable?” Jimin is full on laughing now and Jungkook breaks a grin next to him.

Taehyung blinks, still half-asleep. “What?” he mumbles, looking between everyone.

Jin closes the cabinet with a smirk. “They’re talking about you, stray cat.”

Taehyung frowns, rubbing the back of his neck. “Stray cat?”

“Yeah,” Jimin says, still laughing. “You show up whenever you want, sleep wherever you want, and steal everyone’s snacks. You’re basically feral.”

Taehyung considers this for a second, then shrugs. “As long as someone feeds me, I’m fine with that.”

Jungkook grins. “Yeah, but we’re still debating if we should let you on the furniture.”

You laugh, shaking your head. “Do I need to get you a little bell for your collar?”

Taehyung’s eyes narrow, but there’s amusement there. “Only if it’s Gucci.”

Jin chuckles, grabbing his coffee mug to set it by the coffee maker. “Yeah, that’s fair. Only the finest for our stray.”

You can’t help but smile as the conversation rolls on, easy and light. It already feels like home.

——

The apartment had settled into a comfortable quiet, the kind that felt heavier after laughter faded and footsteps retreated behind bedroom doors. Jin was the first to say goodnight, followed by Jimin and Taehyung. Taehyung had crashed in Jimin’s room, leaving the living room to just you and Jungkook.

The soft glow of the lamp cast shadows on the walls, and the low hum of the city outside was the only sound. You pulled the blanket tighter around you, suddenly hyper-aware of the silence. And of Jungkook, sitting just a few feet away on the couch, his legs stretched out, his gaze unreadable.

It felt tense—but not in an awkward way. Charged. Heavy.

Jungkook glanced over, catching you watching him. A slow, knowing smile pulled at his lips. “You always this quiet after dark?”

You huffed a quiet laugh, shaking your head. “Just thinking.”

He tilted his head, studying you. His gaze was slow, deliberate. “That’s a dangerous habit.”

You looked away, hoping he couldn’t see how his attention made your skin feel too tight, too warm. Why did it feel like every word he said was meant to pull at something inside you?

There was a pause before you spoke again. “How’d you get into photography?” The question broke the silence, simple and safe. Something to focus on that wasn’t the way his eyes made your pulse trip.

Jungkook leaned back, his gaze drifting to the ceiling like he was sifting through memories. “Started with a cheap camera when I was a kid. I took pictures of anything that caught my eye. Mostly stupid stuff at first—like street signs or random clouds. But it felt… safe. Like I could hold onto moments that would’ve just disappeared otherwise.”

You nodded, fingers fidgeting with the edge of the blanket. “Like freezing time.”

“Exactly.” His eyes found yours again, and something about the way he looked at you made it feel like you were under a lens, being studied, captured. “And sometimes, it’s about understanding people. Seeing them the way they don’t show themselves.”

Your heart gave a small, traitorous beat. “And do you think you’re good at that? Seeing people?”

Jungkook’s smile was slow and a little dangerous. “Sometimes.” He let the word hang for a second. “I think I understand you a little better now.”

The words were simple. Casual. But they landed heavy, a low pulse beneath your skin. You hated how much you wanted to ask what he meant. Hated how just one look from him felt like more than it should.

You kept your voice steady. “Oh, yeah? What do you see?”

He shrugged, but there was mischief in his eyes. “Someone who doesn’t like silence. Someone who thinks too much when it’s quiet.”

Your lips twitched into a small smile. He wasn’t wrong. “Maybe.” You looked down for a second, letting the moment break, but your thoughts didn’t quiet. Did he really see that? Or was that just a good guess? Was he actually trying to look deeper, or were you imagining it?

You looked back up. “Sometimes it’s easier to think when it’s quiet. But it’s also… lonelier.”

Jungkook’s gaze lingered on you, something softer there now. “Yeah.” His voice was quieter. “Silence can be loud when you’re the only one in it.”

The words sat between you for a moment, heavier than the room and real. You wondered if he felt it too—this quiet weight between you. Or if it was just in your head.

“I guess that’s why I take pictures,” he said. “To fill the silence with something that matters. Like… proof that I was here, that something I saw mattered to someone.”

You watched him, wondering how many moments he’d tried to hold onto. How many he’d let slip through his fingers. And why it felt like he was saying more than just words.

“Do you ever think about the future?” you asked, surprising yourself. “Like… what happens when the moments stop coming? When there’s no one to share them with?” The last question carries more meaning than you intend it to. When there’s no one to share the moments with because your friends have moved on and have their own lives.

Jungkook’s eyes flicked to yours, and the warmth in them turned sharp, curious. “You mean ‘the future’ like… finding someone? Having a family to share them with?”

You nodded. You hated how vulnerable it felt, but you didn’t take it back. Jungkook’s next words came slow, careful.

“Yeah. I think about it.” He paused, then added, “Wonder if I’m chasing something that isn’t really meant for me though.”

The vulnerability in his tone pulled something from you. Something deep in your chest. “I think about it too,” you said, softer. “Like, what if it never happens? What if it’s just… always this?”

Jungkook’s eyes don’t leave yours. He was watching you again, like he could see more than you wanted him to. “Maybe you’re just too picky.”

You let out a soft breath, forcing a small smirk. “Or maybe I just haven’t met the right person.”

His smile turned slow, with warmth beneath it. “And where do you think the right person is hiding?”

“Beats me,” you said, but your heart was racing now. “If I knew, I’d have found them by now.”

His gaze dropped to your lips for half a second—brief but noticeable—before returning to your eyes. “Maybe they’re closer than you think.”

The words hit deeper than you wanted them to. Your stomach twisted, heat pooling low. You hated how easily his words unraveled you. How much you wanted to believe him. You told yourself it was just flirting, harmless and casual, but it didn’t feel harmless. Not when his gaze felt like a touch, not when his words left something burning beneath your skin.

Silence stretched again, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. It was charged, electric. You knew you should look away, say something to break it, but you couldn’t. You didn’t want to.

And then Jungkook said, voice low, “Do you ever feel like… even with all these people around, no one really gets you?”

You swallow thickly as your throat tightens. You could’ve lied, but it felt wrong in this moment. “Yeah. All the time.”

He nodded, his eyes softening in a way that made it worse. “Same. It’s like… they know the version of me that I show them, but not the rest. Not the parts I don’t even understand.”

“Yeah,” you said, your voice quiet. “Like there’s always some part of me that feels… alone.”

Jungkook’s eyes bore deep into yours. “Maybe you just haven’t met the right person yet. Someone who actually sees you.”

The words lingered, heavier than the air, thicker than the quiet. For a moment, you didn’t breathe, didn’t move. You weren’t sure if it was the words themselves or the way he said them. Slow. Intentional. Like they meant more.

His hand brushed against yours—accidental or not, you couldn’t tell. But he didn’t pull away.

The sound of a creak from the hallway broke the moment, snapping you both back into the real world. Jungkook glanced toward the hallway, then back at you, the corner of his mouth lifting like he knew exactly what that moment had been.

“Guess we should call it a night,” he said, voice low but still soft.

“Yeah,” you replied, though your pulse was still thrumming.

But neither of you moved for a few seconds.

Not yet.

You both just sat there, too far away from each other on the couch. The atmosphere too quiet. Too intimate. Too palpable.

Jungkook took a slow, deliberate deep breath and stood up, looking over at you as he started walking to his room.

“Goodnight, Y/n.”

“Night, Jungkook.” You watch him disappear down the hall and into his room.

—

End chapter 1

—

taglist: @sorilyae @cherrylovescheol

the spider’s sense! a spidercaleb series.

♥︎ spider-man!caleb 𝑥 fem!reader

synopsis. ┆ caleb’s life was perfect—until it wasn’t. a radioactive spider bite turned him into linkon’s friendly neighborhood spider-man, the daily bugle started hunting for the man behind the mask, and to top it all off, he was forced to partner up with you—his smart, competitive, and infuriatingly perfect classmate who threatened his spot as number one in the class rankings.

tags/warnings. ┆ college/modern au, academic rivals to lovers, fluff, angst, eventual smut, gran isn’t evil in this LOL, the canon event, college parties, alcohol consumption, cliches, depictions of serious crime, references to the spider-man comics and movies, mdni

a/n. ┆ fanart art is by 长白山小葱头 on weibo. this is my first series on this app to celebrate hitting 1K! if you want to join the taglist, comment on this post or send me an ask.

main masterlist. ┆ talk to me!

chapter one ── pest control.

caleb's worst fear comes true when the two of you are assigned as lab partners, especially after your first experiment together goes horribly wrong in more ways than one. (4.6k)

chapter two ── too easy, this game.

after you’re forced to check up on caleb, you realize that your methods of revenge can be much more interesting than you had originally anticipated. (3.8k)

chapter three ── pepper spray. (soon!)

caleb tries to adapt to his newfound role as the web-slinging hero of linkon city, and you receive the opportunity of a lifetime.