THE RAIN HAS AN EDGE ╰ ﹙ ☁️ ﹚ft. park sunghoon ﹕ a oneshot ﹙ preview ﹚
you are the girl with an umbrella on a rainy day, and sunghoon is the boy at the bus stop drenched from head to toe.
in a nutshell ﹒ there’s a heavy downpour so you hold an umbrella over sunghoon and he looks at you like you’re crazy // 100% fluff
word count ﹒ preview is 1.5k; full ver ~6-7k
fic one of the between the lines series ﹙ coming soon ! ﹚
“true, the sun and the wind inspire. but the rain has an edge. who, after all, dreams of dancing in the dust? or kissing in the bright sun?” — cynthia barnett
now playing ﹒ paris in the rain﹙ lauv ﹚
THE FIRST TIME you talk to park sunghoon, it’s raining, it’s cold, and jake had ditched you to “hang out” with chaewon, because he’s a crappy friend who pounces at any opportunity for female attention.
after your study session in the school library finishes, you find yourself standing at the school’s front entrance, grimacing at the downpour of rain in front of you. heavy pellets pummelled from the sky like bullets, forming puddles in the divots of the ground and lowering the temperature enough to make you shiver.
lucky for you, you remembered to bring your umbrella.
this was a habit of yours even on the sunniest of days, after spending five days bedridden with a fever following The Great Downpour of 2020.
when you reached for your backpack and unfurled your umbrella, it sprung to life and off you went, hopping down the cement paveway that led to the nearest bus stop.
you’re just about to slip in your earphones when you stop in your tracks, spotting a figure a few steps ahead of you.
the person is crouching on the ground at the bus stop, hunched over and hugging their bookbag in an attempt at gathering warmth.
the person is drenched and miserable.
and practically radiating angst and despair.
because you’ve always been a totally (impulsive) caring and selfless person, you shuffle over and hold your umbrella over the person’s head.
they look up — and just when you encounter a cold gaze, dark brows and raven hair — you realise that the moody figure is none other than park sunghoon.
park sunghoon, the ridiculously good-looking senior everybody whispers about but doesn’t actually know anything about.
park sunghoon, the guy who always wears a stoic, unsmiling expression that makes him the most unapproachable of his group of friends.
and park sunghoon, the one who’s staring at you with a baffled and slightly distrustful expression on his face.
oh.
you’re just standing here, staring at him like a creep.
crap.
you should say something.
you open and shut your mouth a few times, trying to brainstorm what you might possibly say. you want to sound smart. and funny. and cool. so, naturally, the first thing that comes out of your mouth is a very intelligent and super profound, “it’s, uh. . . raining.”
sunghoon continues to stare, his brows slightly furrowed to suggest he was questioning your sanity.
“it’s raining,” you stupidly repeat louder, as though he hadn’t heard you over the rain.
“good catch,” he replies, his gruff voice coinciding with the slight dip of his lips.
the rumors are so true.
sunghoon definitely has a very grumpy, rather angsty demeanour. you’ve actually spotted him around school a few times (you may or may not follow him with your eyes every time he’s around. is that a crime? it can’t be! you’re not the only one in the student body who finds him extremely attractive and painfully enigmatic), but he’s not the kind of person you can approach so easily.
in fact, he’s been coined the nickname ice prince for a reason.
“yes, uh,” you struggle to string together a coherent set of words, especially because he stands to his feet now, and you have to make the effort to not be intimidated by his height.
“what i meant to say is that it’s raining but you don’t have an umbrella,” you laughed awkwardly, wanting to whack your head and yell stupid, stupid, stupid for impulsively waddling over here and saying stupid things to park sunghoon of all people. “i-i mean, obviously it’s a free country and you can totally do whatever you want, but, as you might already know — and i’m sure you do because you’re one of the smartest kids in school — standing in the rain can get you sick, like, really sick, and i only know this because about three years ago i forgot my umbrella and — funny story — i ended up getting so sick that i had to take five days off school because my fever was so high.”
oh god.
you quickly slap the tips of your fingers over your lips to physically restrain yourself from talking. the motion makes sunghoon’s gaze quickly flit to your lips, before they bounce back up to your eyes.
his stare is so painfully emotionless that you cringe inwardly.
you wish he’d say something.
anything. literally anything.
but he’s silent.
well, of course he is — you basically just trauma dumped about your stupid fever story. boo-hoo, you were sick from the rain — who cares?
just when you think you’ve reached the death of the conversation, you’re surprised by the sound of his soft voice.
“. . . niki.”
huh?
you blink, leaning in slightly so that you can hear him better.
“. . . niki. my brother. he took the last umbrella.”
oh.
your lips form a small o as you nod in understanding. “oh, niki! that doesn’t surprise me. he’s in my class, you know, and he’s always playing pranks on our teacher. one time he actually hid the test papers so we got a whole extra day to study,” your voice lowers to a whisper, “can’t believe i still failed it though. . .”
sunghoon doesn’t say anything, and afraid of being submerged in awkward silence again, you rush to fill in the space.
“so where’s niki now?”
he shrugs. “soccer practice, probably.”
“oh,” you frown. “wait, aren’t you part of the soccer team, too? you’re the goalie. you saved so many goals last season and helped the team to their first win in two years,” you say, though your eyes widen in panic as soon the words leave your mouth, “n-not that i’m a stalker, or anything,” you frantically add, “it’s just that everyone knows you’re the goalie because one, it’s common knowledge, and two, the game is coming up and we’re all on the edge of our seats to find out how it goes!”
stupid stupid stupid.
why are you rambling so much?
sunghoon doesn’t seem to mind, though his lips flatten in a rather sour manner. “i quit the team, actually.”
you gasp. “you’re the person jake is replacing? he’s been so cocky ever since it was announced that he’d be on the team. what made you quit?”
he shrugs, “it got boring,” he mumbles, then his ears turn slightly red and he dips his head in an emotion you never imagined park sunghoon could wear — embarrassment. “and i accidentally sprained my ankle.”
you blinked in surprise. “how?”
he hesitates before answering. “i tripped.”
you stifle a laugh at the irony, because while sunghoon was a lot of adjectives — tall, handsome, mysterious, brooding, kind of scary, even — you never thought he was clumsy.
you softly cackle, earning you a glare from the boy.
“sorry,” you grin playfully, growing accustomed to his icy aura. “i just never pictured you as a klutz.”
“says you,” he grumbles, “weren’t you the one who tripped and fell in the cafeteria last week? ”
“what—” you choked, “you saw that?”
he exhaled through his nose in amusement. “who didn’t?” sunghoon raised a brow at you. “i’m pretty sure someone recorded and posted it. the caption was ‘dumbass fails to do simple task and ends up with food all over her clothes.’”
your eyes slammed shut before they shot open. “fucking jake,” you growled, gripping the umbrella tightly. “i’m going to kill him.”
sunghoon chuckled, and the sound made your heart beat a little faster. you caught a fleeting glimpse of his smile which — by the way — showcased the most emotion you had ever seen from the boy. it couldn’t be helped that your stomach mangled and twisted at his pearly-white boyish smile, one that made his cheeks bunch up his face and his eyes twinkle like stars.
how pretty.
his smile faded as quickly as it appeared, however, and you soon found yourself facing his usual blank expression again.
you want to try say something that might make him smile or laugh again, but he suddenly steps outside of the cage of your umbrella and raises his hand, hailing down the incoming bus.
it slowly stops by the road beside the two of you, marking the end of your little interaction.
“oh, your bus is here,” you force a smile, rather disappointed. “i’ll, um, see you later, sunghoon.”
“get home safe,” he retrieves his bus card from his pocket, glancing over his shoulder before he boards his bus. “and thanks. for the umbrella.”
“n-no problem!” you quickly smile, “and by the way, my name is—”
“i know your name,” he interjects, and you think your mind is playing tricks on you when you see the edges of his lips twitch upward. “see you around.”
sunghoon disappears into the bus and it whizzes by you, though you stay frozen in your feet for what feels like forever.
he knows your name.
he’ll see you around.
you tuck your lip between your teeth, cheeks and ears flaring up.
get home safe.
if that’s what he truly wants, then yes — you think you can manage that.
( to be continued )
this is a preview only ﹒ full fic is estimated 6-7k ﹒ taglist open — send an ask, dm, or reply !
a/n . btw this is a preview only. the full fic might come out next week ? anyway my first hoonie fic and it's 100% pure, unadulterated fluff <3 this is inspired by paris in the rain + the above quote + an exo fic i adore ^^ hope u all liked it :) see u in the full version maybe ? 🤓
WAIT I JUST GOT A HARD THOUGHT
Sunghoon as the brother's best friend trope wherein you're getting railed by him at your place but your brother gets home so now y'all gotta be quiet to not get caught but he's not making things easy for yoy
Idk it's the best I can come up with rn thank you headache 😒
hoon being your brother's childhood friend who you just never seemed to get along with and then one day he's over at the house waiting for your brother to come home and the two of you are just back and forth bickering at each other.
next thing you know is you're bent over the bathroom sink with his hand around your neck and sunghoon telling you how good you look taking him. sunghoon telling you how much better it is when you use your voice to make those pretty moans for him instead of arguing with him and acting like a brat.
falling apart on his cock when suddenly the two of you hear your brother announce that he's home. sunghoon looking at you through the mirror and giving you a big smirk before telling you how you better finish quickly if you don't want your brother to know about your dirty little secret.
no bc can we talk about this !!1
hoonie is just !!!!! a little bit of a loser !!! he does NAWT know how to act around ppl considering a major part of his life was just. training.
hes just a little awkward bean. he makes silly jokes and loves seeing his friends laugh and just wants external validation. he wants to be babied (have you seen him with heeseung, 2 seconds with hee and suddenly hoon's a baby girl..) and he wants to be loved <3
'he’s not gonna pin u to a wall and make out w u' as much as i love it when fics write abt this in specific YEAH !!!! hes gonna put your foreheads together and make god awful dad jokes so he can hear you giggle and kiss the tip of your nose
he is just!!!!!! a lovely loser whom i love beyond words !!!!!!!!!!
wow i am so sorry i got carried away- is it obvious that i love him so much 😍
WE CAN ALWAYS TALK ABOUT DORK HOON????
he literally is so loser coded n i love him so much for it <33 he’s spent a majority of his life either in the rink or in a practice room n it rly speaks to how dedicated he is to his craft!! n i LOVE a dedicated man ;) but ALSO!! as a fellow introvert, i understand how difficult it can be to feel comfortable interacting with others :(( i feel like hoon just needs some time to warm up to ppl, but even then, his personality is just so……silly? LIKE I CANT DESCRIBE IT IN ANY OTHER WAY???? (one of my fave hoon moments is in iland when he laughs rly awkwardly when sunoo says he wants to get close to him it’s so Him)
LMAO i too enjoy a good spicy hoon fic.. but YES!! i think hoon is quite shy n very very giggly .. his sense of humor is dad jokes, sarcasm, and screaming at the top of his lungs for no reason at all (never change park sunghoon <3) he’s the type of bf to yell and squirm and overall act like a fool if u show him affection in front of the boys but in private he’s all OVER you being a big lump of love
i love park sunghoon i need to write for him soon :(( (also Never apologize abt getting carried away bc i LOVE it)
WHEN GOSSIP MEETS LOVE ⌇ 함께
pairing ᝰ sunghoon x fem!reader — featuring.. Jake (as jaeyun) & Riki | word count: 6.6k+
⌇ … warnings & genre ↺ office romance, boss! sunghoon, fluff, tiny angst, make-outs, getting drunk, isolation, passing out, reader is blunt, sunghoon is arrogant at times.
synopsis — after being saved by Sunghoon on your first week of the job, you have had a blatant crush on him to the point the whole office knows. Later he learned of your interest, usually he wouldn’t care but why wont you make a move?
lee's ₊˚⊹ ᰔ comment ┊so this turned out way longer than expected… PLEASE READ THE BONUS ITS SO CUTE— Also I love me a semi arrogant man who gets put in his place 👅
Today was supposed to be just another day at the office. The same mind-numbing tasks, the same stale air, the same routine. The only thing that ever really changed around here was the gossip, and honestly, you kind of lived for it.
As you strolled down the hallway with a stack of papers in hand, you noticed your coworkers gathered in a huddle, whispering excitedly. Curiosity piqued, and you set the papers down on a nearby desk and wandered over.
“What’s going on?” you asked, trying to sound nonchalant.
The group turned to you, immediately shushing you before gesturing toward the glass-walled conference room. “Look,” one of them whispered, pointing.
You followed their gaze to the meeting in progress—specifically, to the group of men seated at the table. Raising a brow, you asked, “So… we’re just staring at men now?”
One of the girls grinned, barely able to contain her excitement. “Not just men. They just hired Mr. Kim Sunoo. Isn’t he dreamy? He’s totally my type.”
Another chimed in, dramatically clutching her chest. “What I wouldn’t give to get a piece of Mr. Lee. Ugh, it’s unfair how perfect he is.”
You stood there, unimpressed, letting your eyes wander to the man sitting at the end of the table.
“What about you, Y/N?” one of them asked, nudging you with her elbow. “Anyone in there catch your eye?”
Before you could answer, a sharp cough sounded behind you, making the entire group freeze.
“Do you ladies have no shame?” Jaeyun drawled, raising an eyebrow as he sipped his coffee.
“Jesus, Mr. Sim, would it kill you to mind your own business?” one of the girls snapped, rolling her eyes.
Jaeyun chuckled. “And miss out on this? Never. Besides, everyone knows who Y/N’s been crushing on.”
You immediately stiffened, while the other two girls exchanged looks. Their eyes darted to where you were staring—at him.
“Mr. Park?”
“No way! He’s such an asshole.”
“You could do so much better.”
Their words blurred into background noise as you kept your gaze locked on Park Sunghoon, your so-called “crush.” But they didn’t get it. They couldn’t possibly understand. To them, he was cold and aloof—practically a robot. But to you? He was… interesting.
You didn’t always feel that way. When you started at the company a year ago, you weren’t interested in men—or dating at all. You were laser-focused on your career, and determined to climb the corporate ladder. Then you met him.
It all started your first week on the job. The office wasn’t the soul-crushing nightmare you’d seen in movies. Your little corner office was cozy, and your workload was manageable. Things were going smoothly—until they weren’t.
Some of the senior employees, jealous of your early success, had sabotaged your presentation for an important meeting. As you stood in front of the board fumbling through the slides, your confidence crumbled. Your hands shook, your throat felt dry, and your face burned with humiliation. Then, out of nowhere, he walked in.
Park Sunghoon strode up to your computer with an air of calm authority, plugging in a USB without a word. The correct presentation appeared on the screen, and you blinked in disbelief.
The head of the board narrowed his eyes. “Mr. Park, care to explain your tardiness?”
“I apologize,” Sunghoon said smoothly. “But I caught some employees tampering with Ms. Y/N’s presentation. I thought it necessary to intervene.”
The board members exchanged glances before nodding, motioning for you to continue. Your real presentation went off without a hitch, earning praise from the directors. But all you could think about was the man who had saved you from disaster.
After the meeting, you waited outside the conference room, nervously clutching your notes. As soon as Sunghoon stepped out, you followed him, finally mustering the courage to tap him on the shoulder.
“Excuse me, Mr. Park?”
He turned, his expression blank but expectant. “Yes?”
“I just… wanted to thank you for what you did back there,” you stammered, your voice barely above a whisper.
His reply was cold and clipped. “I didn’t do it for you. I did it because I don’t tolerate workplace sabotage. Don’t expect me to save you again.”
Then he walked away, leaving you speechless.
A normal person might’ve been offended. Maybe even angry. But you? You were utterly smitten. How many men these days are that serious and passionate about their work? And let’s be honest—how many of them looked like that?
From that moment on, Park Sunghoon was your ideal man: hardworking, principled, and impossibly handsome. Sure, the whole office thought you were crazy for crushing on him, but they didn’t see what you see.
And as you stood there, watching him from across the room, you couldn’t help but wonder what he else he had underneath that surface.
A week after that little encounter with your coworkers, fate seemed to step in when you were assigned to lead a project—with none other than Mr. Park as your supervisor. Coincidence? You didn’t think so.
Now, as you sat in his office, he was going on about the plans and blueprints for the project. But you? You weren’t paying much attention. Your chin rested on your hands as you stared at him, absolutely transfixed.
“The peak must be at—Ms. Y/N, are you even listening?”
You blinked, snapping out of your trance. “Of course I am,” you replied with a bright, innocent smile.
He hummed, unconvinced. “Alright, then. How do you feel about placing it on Downtown Avenue?”
You nodded immediately. “Sounds great.”
His sharp gaze bore into you as he placed his pen down. “Interesting answer,” he mused, leaning forward until your faces were so close they nearly touched. “I never mentioned Downtown Avenue.”
Your eyes widened, and you quickly leaned back in your chair, flustered. Heat rose to your cheeks as you scrambled to regain composure. “I—I’m sorry, Mr. Park. Please continue. I’m listening now.”
He didn’t look convinced but leaned back into his chair, eyes narrowing slightly. “Alright.”
For all his calm professionalism, Sunghoon couldn’t quite figure you out. Sure, you were talented—he couldn’t deny that. But you were also incredibly dishonest, something he’d picked up on a month ago.
From the moment you first met, he could feel your gaze on him, as if you had a personal vendetta. He figured you hated him for how blunt he’d been during that initial meeting. But as time passed, he realized it was the exact opposite.
The revelation had come during a lunch break with the other department heads.
“What about you, Mr. Park?” one of them asked, smirking. “Is there a special lady waiting for you at home?”
Sunghoon raised a brow, finishing a bite of his food before setting his utensils down. “No, I live alone.”
The man hummed, and the others chuckled knowingly. Then, one of them leaned forward. “What about Ms. Y/N?”
At that, Sunghoon froze. “Excuse me?” he asked, voice cold.
The man chuckled nervously, straightening up. “Well, everyone knows how much she’s into you. Why don’t you give her a chance?”
The words threw Sunghoon off completely. “How much she’s into me?” he repeated, utterly confused. “Why would she be?”
For the first time in a long while, Sunghoon felt genuinely flustered. The idea that you might like him had never crossed his mind. And once the seed was planted, he couldn’t stop thinking about it.
His first instinct was to let you down easy. He’d been pursued before and thought it best to nip things in the bud. But when it came to you, things didn’t go as planned. Every time he tried to confront you, the words just wouldn’t come out.
In his frustration, he turned to Jaeyun, the office gossip king.
“Mr. Sim,” Sunghoon began, his voice strained. “Just tell me already.”
Jaeyun turned away, arms crossed. “I’m not spilling Y/N’s secrets.”
Sunghoon’s patience was wearing thin. “I’ll give you my year-end bonus.”
Jaeyun’s head whipped around, a sly grin spreading across his face. “Deal. Yes, she’s interested in you, but not enough to ask you out.”
Sunghoon raised a brow. “What do you mean, ‘not enough’? Are you saying I’m not worth asking out?”
Jaeyun held his hands up defensively. “No, no, she’s just focused on her career right now. Don’t take it personally.”
But Sunghoon did take it personally. The idea of someone liking him and not acting on it? It didn’t sit well with him. His pride was bruised.
From then on, he started coaxing you, trying to provoke you into asking him out. At office dinners, he’d sit near you, only for you to switch tables. In meetings, you avoided eye contact as if it were a matter of life and death. It was infuriating.
And now, as he explained the project, you sat across from him, staring at him like he was the center of your universe. He couldn’t take it anymore.
“Ms. Y/N,” he said abruptly.
“Hm?” you hummed, snapping back to attention.
He leaned forward slightly, his eyes scrutinizing you. “Have you heard the latest office gossip?”
You tilted your head, confused. “I don’t think so, sir. But what does that—”
“I heard the women in the office are all over our new hire, Mr. Kim,” he interrupted. “Are you one of them?”
Your brow furrowed, suspicious of his sudden interest. “Well, I haven’t had the chance to speak to Mr. Kim yet, so—”
“Oh, for God’s sake,” he groaned, rubbing his temples. “I know you’re interested in me.”
Your eyes widened at his bluntness, but instead of denying it, you relaxed. “Yes, that’s right.”
His jaw tightened. “Then why haven’t you said anything? You lack initiative—”
You cut him off, staring at him dead in the eye. “Are you interested in me, Mr. Park?”
The question caught him off guard. His ears turned red as he replied, “No, I’m not.”
“Then why would I ask you out?” you shot back, your tone calm and collected.
He was stunned into silence. Since when did you have the upper hand in this conversation?
“Because it would allow you to get over me quicker,” he said, straightening his tie.
You stared at him for a moment before bursting into laughter.
“What’s so funny?” he demanded, his pride wounded.
“You think too highly of yourself, Mr. Park,” you said, standing up. “Did you think I’d beg for you? My work is more important than any man—even you.”
With that, you turned and walked out of his office, leaving him frozen in place.
For the first time, Park Sunghoon felt like he’d underestimated someone. But one thing was certain: he wasn’t going to let you off that easily.
In the days following your conversation with Sunghoon, you noticed a subtle shift in his behavior. The once-distant supervisor now seemed to find reasons to linger near your workspace, his presence a constant, albeit silent, companion. It was almost endearing, watching him struggle with the unfamiliar territory of being put in his place.
Today, his strategy appeared to involve hovering nearby, perhaps hoping you’d initiate a conversation. His restlessness was overwhelming. Should he apologize? But that would require him to make the first move, a notion that likely clashed with his pride.
Seeking guidance, Sunghoon found himself seated across from Jaeyun at an upscale restaurant—a setting procured through the promise of an expensive dinner. Jaeyun, the holder of all office gossip, knew how to drive a bargain.
“Alright, talk. Has she mentioned anything?” Sunghoon inquired, his impatience barely concealed.
Jaeyun took a deliberate sip of his wine before responding. “Nope, not a word.”
Sunghoon’s frustration was evident. “Nothing? Are you sure?”
Jaeyun nodded, his gaze drifting to the gorgeous night view outside. “I swear. I mean, she’s been busy lately. Extremely busy.”
Sunghoon’s curiosity was piqued. “Explain, Mr. Sim.”
“Please call me Jaeyun, we’re not at work.” Jaeyun said.
Sunghoon gulped never being informal before. “Okay…. Jaeyun— please elaborate.”
Setting his utensils down, Jaeyun sighed. “Well, besides the project you two are working on, she also has financial responsibilities concerning her family, especially her younger brother.”
Sunghoon listened intently.
“She’s been working overtime to gather extra funds for his tuition. I heard he’s exceptionally talented in the entertainment field, but their family isn’t wealthy enough to cover the expenses.”
Sunghoon absorbed the information, No he didn’t understand. Sunghoon has been fortunate his whole life but he was open to learning. He sat there contemplating his next move.
Jaeyun’s voice broke through his thoughts. “What’s all this for anyway? Do you like her?”
Sunghoon scoffed. “Why would you think that?”
Jaeyun smirked. “Who goes this far to reject a woman?”
Sunghoon pondered the remark. Perhaps you had made more of an impression on him than he cared to admit. Interest? Maybe.
“Okay, how should I approach this? What does she like? Purses? Jewelry?”
Jaeyun chuckled. “Wait, you’re serious? Oh man, you really have no idea…”
Sunghoon remained silent, a faint blush coloring his ears and face.
“Just be normal, Show her you care.” Jaeyun observed Sunghoon’s puzzled expression. “If you really need to buy her something, get her some food. She enjoys a good meal.”
Now that was something Sunghoon could manage. If he was going to reach out to you, a thoughtful gesture like sharing a meal might be the perfect starting point.
Sunghoon wanted to do something nice for you. A nice thought quickly turned into an overbearing gesture.
One day, you found a paper bag in your office. Inside were sweets from the bakery just a few minutes away from the building. Even though they weren’t your favorite, you appreciated the gesture and ate them. Sunghoon saw you smile through your office blinds a safe distance away and felt happy. He quickly looked around to make sure no one noticed and then walked away.
After that, he started leaving more and more food in your office. It became overwhelming. Today, you walked in and saw so much food that it startled you. You had figured out it was Sunghoon; he wasn’t very sneaky, especially after you caught him leaving your office last week.
This was too much. How could you eat all this? You sighed, closed your office door, and walked to Sunghoon’s office. You knocked.
“Come in,” he said.
You entered, giving him a sharp look. He stood up, adjusting his suit.
“Ms. Y/N?” he asked, looking confused.
“Mr. Park, how much longer are you going to leave all that food in my office?”
He blinked. “What do you mean?”
You crossed your arms. “Did you really think I could eat all that in one sitting?”
He gulped, running a hand through his hair.
“And do you even know what foods I like? What if I was allergic to some of them?”
He scoffed walking over to you slowly. “What do you like then? What are you allergic to?” He was now very close.
“Can’t hate a man you haven’t given a chance, don’t you think?”
Your face turned red. You were stunned by his bluntness. “What are you talking about?”
“What are you doing tonight?” he asked.
You tried to keep your composure. “I don’t have plans, but—”
“Okay, I’ll be waiting for you after work then.”
You didn’t believe him at first. You’ve met many arrogant men who talk big, so you assumed he was the same.
After a seemingly long task, you finally finished your job, clocking out. You exited the building and saw him leaning on his car, arms crossed with his eyebrows furrowed like always. When he saw you, his eyes softened. He gave you a small smile and opened the passenger door.
This was new, but you went along, got in the car, and he closed the door behind you. You didn’t see it but, He checked his hair in his phone’s reflection before getting in.
As he drove, you admired the city view. The lights of the night never got old to you. But sooner than later curiosity got the better of you. “Where are we going?”
He glanced at you through the mirror before focusing back on the road. “Dinner at ‘The Villa.’”
Your eyes widened. “Are you serious? That place is expensive and fancy.”
He nodded. “I thought you’d enjoy it.”
You sighed. You could see he was trying, but fancy restaurants weren’t your thing. An idea popped into your head. “Turn here Mr. Park, I know a place we can go.”
He looked at you, puzzled, but followed your directions. You guided him to a small restaurant. As you both got out, he seemed disappointed when you didn’t let him open the door for you but brushed it off.
He looked around, not seeing any fancy places. “Is this it? A grill?”
You turned to him with the prettiest smile he’d ever seen on you. “Yup! Come on.” You reached out your hand.
Usually, he wouldn’t choose a place like this, but with a smile like that, he’d follow you anywhere. He took your hand, and you both went inside.
Inside, the atmosphere was cozy and lively. The smell of grilled food filled the air. You found a table, and he awkwardly sat down, clearly out of his element.
A server came by, placing a small grill in the center of your table and bringing plates of raw meat and vegetables. Sunghoon looked confused.
You giggled. “It’s a DIY grill. We cook our own food here.”
He raised an eyebrow. “We… cook?”
You nodded, picking up a piece of meat with the tongs and placing it on the grill. It sizzled, and the aroma was mouth-watering.
He watched you, then hesitantly picked up the tongs. He tried to mimic your actions but fumbled, almost dropping the meat.
You laughed, reaching over to guide his hand. “Like this.”
As the evening went on, you both cooked, ate, and talked. Sunghoon shared stories about his upbringing, and you told him about your family. He was clumsy with the grill, burning some pieces and undercooking others, but you found it endearing.
At one point, he tried to flip a piece of meat and it flew off the grill, landing on the table. He looked mortified, but you burst into laughter.
“I’m sorry,” he said, chuckling. “I’m not used to this.”
You smiled. “It’s okay. It’s fun.”
By the end of the night, the initial awkwardness had faded.
After a delightful dinner at the grill, you and Sunghoon stepped outside, the cool night air brushing against your skin. The city lights twinkled in the distance, casting a soft glow over the streets. As you walked side by side, you noticed a small park nearby, its swings gently swaying in the breeze.
“How about a walk in the park?” you suggested, your eyes sparkling with mischief.
Sunghoon glanced at the swings, a hint of hesitation in his eyes. “I haven’t been on a swing in years,” he admitted, a slight chuckle escaping his lips.
“Well, tonight’s the perfect night to revisit childhood memories,” you teased, nudging him playfully.
With a resigned smile, he agreed, “Alright, lead the way.”
You both approached the swings, and you took a seat on one, motioning for him to join you. He hesitated for a moment, then sat beside you, his posture stiff and unsure.
“Just relax,” you encouraged, giving him a gentle push. “I got you.”
As the swing moved, Sunghoon’s expression softened, and a genuine smile appeared on his face. He began to swing higher, his laughter blending with the night air.
“See? It’s fun,” you said, your voice filled with joy.
He nodded, his eyes meeting yours. “No, you’re the one making it fun Ms, Y/N.”
You both continued to swing, the world around you fading away. The simple act of swinging together brought a sense of closeness and comfort, a shared moment of happiness.
After a while, you slowed the swing and stood up. “Shall we continue our walk?”
“Of course,” he said, his voice soft.
As you walked through the park, you talked about everything and nothing—your dreams, your favorite books, the places you wanted to visit. The conversation flowed effortlessly, and with each step, you felt a deeper connection forming between you.
That night with Sunghoon felt like it was straight out of a dream—a memory you knew would replay in your mind over and over again. He wasn’t at all what you’d expected. Sure, he had an air of arrogance, and his confidence sometimes teetered on egotistical, but once you broke through that wall, he was entirely different. Genuine. Kind. Charming in a way that made you question how you’d ever misjudged him.
You’d never felt this kind of excitement in a long time, this sense of longing and hope for something more. A relationship. He hadn’t officially asked you out yet, but it felt inevitable. You’d already started imagining how it might all unfold.
But that was just wishful thinking.
The next day, as you walked into the office, you couldn’t ignore the way whispers followed you down the hallway. People stealing glances at you, hurriedly looking away when you caught their eye. At first, you brushed it off. Office gossip was nothing new. Maybe someone had spilled coffee on their boss again.
But the moment you saw your phone light up with notifications—hundreds of them—you realized you were the center of the latest spectacle.
It wasn’t just office chatter. It was everywhere. Tabloids, social media, magazines, blogs. Photos of you and Sunghoon—laughing together, standing too close, looking too comfortable. But that wasn’t the worst part. The headlines? They were brutal.
“Is Riki Nishimura’s Older Sister Using Park Sunghoon for Fame?”
“Dating Rumors Could Derail His Career!”
“How Will This Affect HER Younger Brother’s Future?”
Your stomach churned as you scrolled. At first, you laughed bitterly, brushing it off as ridiculous speculation. But then, you saw the headline about your brother. Your little brother, who had worked so hard to get where he was. Your heart sank.
If they wanted to drag your name through the mud, fine. But dragging your family into it? Threatening Riki’s career? That crossed a line.
You paced the floor of your office, wracking your brain for a solution. There was only one answer. It wasn’t fair, but it was the only way. You and Sunghoon… this thing between you—it couldn’t happen. Not if it meant jeopardizing your brother’s future.
The tears came slowly at first, then all at once as you slumped into your chair, burying your face in your hands. You hadn’t even realized how much you’d come to cherish what you began to have with Sunghoon until now, as you were being forced to let it go.
Meanwhile, Sunghoon had no idea what was happening. He was in his office, practically glowing, still riding the high from the time you spent together. He couldn’t wait to see you.
On his break, he searched for you. The lounge. The meeting room. Even your office. But you were nowhere to be found.
Frustrated, he turned to his co-worker—and now trusted friend—Jaeyun.
“Jaeyun, have you seen Y/N?” he asked, his tone casual, but his impatience obvious.
Jaeyun’s expression fell, pity flashing in his eyes. “Y/N? She… she put in for a two-week leave this morning. I figured you knew.”
Sunghoon’s heart sank. “What? Why? What happened?”
Jaeyun gave him a pointed look. “You haven’t seen the news, have you?”
Frowning, Sunghoon pulled out his phone, quickly typing in his name. The search results made his breath hitch. Article after article, photos, speculation, your name tied to his, your family dragged into the chaos.
Then he saw the headline about your brother. His grip on the phone tightened. He knew what you were thinking. Knew why you’d disappeared. And there was no way he was going to let this spiral any further.
Without a second thought, he called your number. Once. Twice. Three times. Each attempt went to voicemail.
Panic bubbled in his chest. He couldn’t let you do this—not alone, not to yourself, not to your relationship.
He barked an order to his assistant to start taking down the articles, to figure out who was behind this mess. But first, he needed to find you.
And when he did, he wasn’t going to let you push him away.
The days felt endless as you holed up in your apartment, your only companions being guilt and loneliness. It had been a week since you requested a two-week leave, and in that time, you hadn’t dared step foot outside. The weight of the news, the whispers, and the consequences of your choices pressed down on you like a heavy blanket.
The day you left the office, you called Riki, your voice trembling as you asked if he was okay. He reassured you that everything was fine—for now. His management had advised him to lay low until the rumors blew over. He didn’t sound angry, but that almost made it worse. You felt like you’d dragged him into your mess, and the guilt ate away at you.
Since then, you’d spent most of your time thinking about Sunghoon. Replaying the moments you’d shared, wondering how he felt, and most of all, worrying about what you’d say to him when you eventually faced him again. Did he care that much? Or had this all been one-sided? These questions swirled in your mind endlessly as you lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.
Desperate to drown out your thoughts, you remembered the new bar that had recently opened near your apartment. Without much thought, you dragged yourself out of bed, threw on some clothes, and headed out.
The bar was dimly lit, buzzing with quiet conversations and the occasional burst of laughter. You didn’t waste any time. One drink turned into two, then three, then four. You lost count after that, the haze of alcohol dulling your thoughts until you didn’t feel much of anything. Eventually, your body gave in, and you slumped over, unconscious.
Meanwhile, Sunghoon was unraveling.
It had been a week since he last saw you, and the distance was driving him insane. Every attempt to find you ended in failure. He didn’t know where you lived, your favorite places, or even how to contact your family. It frustrated him to no end, and it hurt even more to think that you might be avoiding him.
Every evening, he found himself at the small grill you both went to, hoping to catch a glimpse of you. Tonight was no different. He stood outside the familiar spot, his hands shoved into his coat pockets as he tried to stave off the cold.
The buzz of his phone broke through his thoughts, and his heart leapt when he saw your name on the screen. He fumbled to answer, pressing the phone to his ear.
“Y/N? Where are you—”
“Are you friends with the owner of this phone?” a deep, unfamiliar voice interrupted.
Sunghoon blinked, pulling the phone away to confirm it was your number on the display. Confusion settled in. “Uh, yeah? Who is this? Why do you have her phone?”
“No worries,” the man replied. “She’s passed out in my bar. I found her phone unlocked and figured I’d call someone. Can you come pick her up?”
Sunghoon’s heart dropped. “Where is she?”
The man gave him the location, and Sunghoon didn’t hesitate. He bolted to his car and sped through the city, his mind racing with questions. Were you okay? Why were you at a bar alone this late?
When he arrived, he barely parked the car before running inside. His eyes scanned the room until they landed on you. Slumped over the bar, your head resting on your arms, you looked so vulnerable. Relief and worry collided in his chest as he approached you.
“You’re Hoon, right?” the bartender asked, eyeing him curiously.
Sunghoon blinked in confusion before realizing the name was probably how you saved his contact. He smiled faintly, nodding. “Yeah, that’s me.”
The bartender nodded and stepped away, leaving Sunghoon to focus on you. His chest tightened when he saw how puffy your eyes were, evidence of the tears you’d cried before drinking yourself into this state.
He crouched beside you, placing a gentle hand on your back. “Y/N… can you walk?”
Your eyes fluttered open, blurry and unfocused as they locked with his. For a moment, you looked like you were seeing a ghost.
“Hoon?” you slurred softly, your voice tinged with disbelief.
He sighed in relief. “Yeah, it’s me. Come on, let’s get you out of here.”
But when you didn’t move, he frowned. You were too out of it to help him. He checked your phone, hoping for some clue about where to take you, but it was locked.
He hesitated. Taking you to his place didn’t feel right, but with no other options and the clock striking midnight, he made a decision.
“You’ll understand, right?” he murmured to himself, draping his coat over your shoulders. He carefully helped you to your feet, guiding you out of the bar and into his car.
The drive to his penthouse was quiet, save for your soft breathing. He couldn’t stop himself from stealing glances at you, the city lights illuminating your face in a way that made his chest ache. Even like this, you were beautiful.
When they arrived, getting you upstairs was a challenge. You slumped against him, muttering incoherently and occasionally whining about how tired you were. By the time he managed to unlock his door and get you inside, he was exhausted.
He guided you to his bedroom, laying you down gently on the bed. As he adjusted his coat on your shoulders, he heard you mumble something. When he turned back, his face turned bright red.
“Why is it so hot?” you grumbled, fumbling with the buttons of your shirt.
“Woah, hey—don’t do that!” he yelped, grabbing your hands to stop you. “Just… just wait, I’ll turn on the AC!”
He backed away, keeping a wary eye on you as he adjusted the thermostat. When he returned, he brought a glass of water, helping you sit up to drink. “There, that’s better, hm?”
You sighed, lying back down with a soft hum of approval.
Sunghoon turned to leave, planning to sleep on the couch, but you grabbed his wrist, your eyes wide and pleading. “Hoon… stay. Please?”
His heart clenched. How could he ever say no to you?
“Alright,” he whispered, circling the bed and lying down on the other side, facing the ceiling. He felt awkward, unsure of what to do, but within moments, you shifted closer, resting your head on his chest.
He froze, his heart pounding as he felt your steady breaths against him. Slowly, he relaxed, his hand coming up to stroke your hair.
“Goodnight,” he murmured softly, his eyes fluttering shut as sleep finally claimed him.
The glow of the sun streamed through the curtains, forcing you to stir awake. The dull throbbing in your head hit as soon as you sat up, and you winced, bringing a hand to your temple.
Blinking, you took in your surroundings. The room was unfamiliar—sleek, modern, and definitely not your own. Panic began to rise in your chest as you tried to piece together the events of the previous night. You remembered the bar, the drinks, and then… nothing.
Your eyes widened as you looked down at yourself, relieved to find you were still in your clothes. But then you spotted the figure lying beside you, their back turned to you.
Oh no.
You gasped, clutching the pillow you’d been sleeping on, and without thinking, you began smacking the man’s back with it in a panic. “Who are you?! What is this?! Did we—?!”
The man bolted awake, flinching and shielding himself with his arms. “Hey! Hey! Stop!” he shouted, scrambling backward until he fell off the bed with a loud thud.
You froze mid-swing, the familiar voice cutting through your panic. Slowly, you leaned over the edge of the bed, clutching the pillow tightly.
“Sunghoon?” you whispered, your eyes wide.
He was sprawled on the floor, wincing as he rubbed the back of his head. His legs were awkwardly bent in the air, and he looked up at you with an awkward, sheepish smile. “Uh, hi.”
You let out a deep breath, sitting back on the bed. “Oh my god,” you muttered, dragging your hands down your face.
Sunghoon quickly got up, brushing himself off as he looked at you with a mix of concern and embarrassment. “I’m sorry, I should’ve explained sooner. We didn’t… y’know, do anything.”
Your cheeks burned as you glanced up at him. “Are you sure?”
His ears turned bright pink as he nodded fervently. “Yes! I swear. You passed out at the bar, and I didn’t know where you lived, so I brought you here. That’s it, I promise.”
You relaxed slightly, but the tension in the room remained heavy. The silence that followed was suffocating, neither of you knowing what to say.
Finally, you broke it, your voice trembling. “Sunghoon… our relationship has to end here.”
His head snapped toward you, his eyes wide with disbelief. “What? Why?”
You avoided his gaze, staring at the sheets instead. “I’m sure you’ve seen the news. They’re dragging my brother into this, and I can’t let that happen. I can’t risk his career for my selfish desires.”
“Y/N—“
“What we had was nice,” you interrupted, your voice cracking slightly. “But it’s better for everyone if we stop seeing each other.”
He stepped closer, his brows furrowed in frustration. “You should check the tabloids again.”
You froze, your heart pounding. “What do you mean?”
Sunghoon grabbed his phone from the nightstand, quickly pulling up the articles before handing it to you. You hesitated, but as you scrolled, your breath caught.
The scandal was gone. There were no articles tearing you apart, no headlines about your brother being caught up in rumors. Instead, there were positive comments, even a few articles praising the supposed romance.
“How… how did this happen?” you asked, your voice barely above a whisper.
Sunghoon sighed softly, sitting down beside you. His voice was gentle but firm. “I made it happen. I wasn’t going to let them ruin your life, or your brother’s, over something like this.”
You turned to look at him, his face close to yours. His expression was so sincere, so full of quiet determination, that it made your chest ache.
“Why would you do that?” you asked, your voice trembling.
“Because I care about you,” he said simply. “And I’m not giving up on us that easily.”
The words hung in the air between you, heavy with meaning. Your eyes locked, and in that moment, all the fear, doubt, and guilt melted away.
Without thinking, you leaned in, your lips brushing his tentatively. Sunghoon froze for a split second before responding, his hand cupping your cheek as he deepened the kiss. It was soft and slow at first, filled with all the emotions neither of you had been able to express.
But soon, the kiss grew more passionate, more desperate, as if you were both trying to make up for all the lost time and the moments you almost didn’t have. His other hand found its way to your waist, pulling you closer, while your fingers tangled in his hair.
Soft sighs fell from the both of you as he laid you back on the bed. His hand exploring your body softly and slowly.
You took the chance to snake your hands below his shirt, scratching his back slightly making him shutter against you.
When you finally pulled back, both of you were breathless, your foreheads resting against each other.
“Sunghoon,” you whispered, your voice shaky but certain. “Thank you.”
He smiled softly, his thumb brushing over your cheek. “Anything for you.”
BONUS 𝜗𝜚˚⋆
“Hoon, get up,” you said softly, glancing down at Sunghoon, who was sprawled across your chest like he had no intention of moving.
“Mm,” he hummed lazily, burying his face into you as if that would make you forget about work entirely.
You let out a soft laugh, stroking his hair absentmindedly. The moment your fingers ran through his dark locks, you realized you’d made a mistake—he let out a content sigh and snuggled in closer, clearly sinking even deeper into his sleepy state.
“We have to go to work,” you said, this time playfully, though your hands still gently tangled in his hair.
“I don’t want to,” he mumbled, his pout evident even though his face was tucked against you. God, he was so cute.
You smiled softly, shaking your head. “Well, we have responsibilities we can’t ignore, so you need to get up, Hoon.”
When he didn’t respond, you rolled your eyes, deciding to switch tactics. “If you get up, I’ll give you a reward,” you said, your tone light but teasing.
That did it. His head immediately shot up, his sleepy eyes now wide with interest. “What kind of reward?” he asked, a mischievous smile spreading across his face.
You smirked, leaning back slightly as his head rested on your chest, his eyes glinting with curiosity. “You’ll find out if you get up,” you teased, brushing a stray lock of hair away from his face.
Sunghoon raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued but not entirely convinced. “That’s suspicious,” he murmured, though the corner of his lips quirked into a small smile. “Is it worth it?”
“More than worth it,” you said confidently, trying to stifle a laugh. “But you’re never going to know if you keep laying there.”
He groaned dramatically, still clinging to you like you were the only thing keeping him tethered to the bed. “You’re not making this easy, you know.”
“Well, you’re the one being stubborn,” you replied, gently pushing at his shoulder, though he didn’t budge.
Then, in one swift motion, he propped himself up on his elbows, his face dangerously close to yours. “Okay,” he said, his voice low and playful. “I’m up. Where’s my reward?”
Your breath hitched slightly at the sudden proximity, his teasing grin making your heart race. “Patience,” you said, trying to keep your composure. “You’re not fully up yet. Get ready for work first.”
He tilted his head, pretending to think. “Hmm, that wasn’t part of the deal.”
“It’s implied,” you countered, laughing softly as you tried to push him off the bed.
But instead of moving, Sunghoon leaned even closer, his warm breath fanning over your cheeks. “I think I deserve at least a preview,” he murmured, his lips brushing yours ever so slightly.
Your heart skipped a beat as you tried to glare at him, but it was impossible when his mischievous grin was so disarming. “You’re impossible,” you muttered, but before you could say anything else, he closed the distance, capturing your lips in a soft but lingering kiss.
It started playful, his lips tugging into a smile against yours, but quickly turned deeper, his hand cupping the side of your face as he kissed you with a tenderness that made your heart skip. He pulled back just enough to whisper against your lips, “Best reward ever.”
You rolled your eyes, still breathless. “Now get up, Hoon. Or that'll be the last one you'll ever get.”
He laughed, finally pulling himself out of bed. “Fine, fine. You’re the boss in this house.”
He disappeared into the bathroom, you couldn’t help but smile to yourself, your cheeks warm as you touched your lips. Sunghoon always had a way of turning your mornings into something unforgettable.
↳ PAIRING: park sunghoon x fembodied!reader
↳ SUMMARY: to prove to his best friend that he could get any girl he wants, park sunghoon makes a bet. within the next 30 days, he has to make the next girl that walks into the room fall in love with him. sunghoon, however, hadn’t anticipated the feelings he would gain during those 30 days.
↳ GENRE: fake relationship (kind of)
↳ WORDCOUNT: around 40k
↳ WARNINGS: alcohol consumption, cigarettes, cursing, angst, sunghoon has major mommy issues lmfao, smut; oral sex, handjobs, unprotected sex, fingering, making out, handjobs etc, minors dni!
↳ TAGLIST: CLOSED !
— PART ONE release date : 8TH OF AUGUST, 4 PM CET
summary : making a bet with jay was easy. getting your attention, however, wasn’t as easy; especially since you seem to have your eyes set on his bestfriend.
word count : 10,3k
— PART TWO release date : 15TH OF AUGUST, 4 PM CET
summary : you getting closer to jake was most definitely not on sunghoons list of things he expected to happen, but you making his heart flutter wasn’t on that list either; yet you did. word count : 8,8k
— PART THREE release date : 6TH OF SEPTEMBER, 10 PM CET
summary : the time spent with you causes sunghoon to come the realization that he fucked up, and he fucked up bad. and thanks to jake, you also realize how badly sunghoon fucked up.
word count : 10k
— PART FOUR release date : 26TH OF OCTOBER, 1:25 AM CET
summary : sunghoon comes to terms with the fact that he has fallen in love with you and is willing to do everything in his power to show you that he has truly fallen for you, but are you willing to forgive him?
word count : 9.6k © svnoohe4rts 2022
it is so unfair bc i thought we were friends and they told me things and i told them things to the point that i considered them my safe space and when the opportunity came they just put me aside and what makes me furious is that i still care about them like why cant i fucking forget them an go on with my life
SYNOPSIS. Y/N Cheshire lived her life carefree. Being the daughter of the Cheshire Cat made her more inclined to not take anything seriously and to just have a little bit of fun in everything she does. Whether it was pulling pranks, sneaking up on people, or making jabs at her friends- Y/N kept a Cheshire’s smile on her face. Because of that, she just couldn’t take Chaehyun Cupid seriously when she claimed that Y/N had a crush on Riki Wonderland.
PAIRING. Kitty Cheshire! Y/N x Alistair Wonderland! Riki
(btw im not shipping kitty and alistair i just based them off the characters)
GENRE. Ever After High AU, High school AU, Fluff, Slight Angst
WARNINGS. bad parental relationship, ooc riki umm, expected word count is like 15k yea ik. long fic.
RELEASING. sometime in november
NOTES. if u haven’t seen ever after high it’s ok u can still read this all u rly need to know is that the students of eah r the children of fairy tale ppl like snow white or cinderella and they have to follow the paths of their parents and stuff Yassssss
After sometime, Riki opened his mouth. “I know I already asked this earlier, but why did you come here? You know, to stargaze.” As if he wasn’t satisfied with her answer.
He was right in thinking that her answer wasn’t what she truly wanted to say, but it just felt awkward to give an exact reason. Her relationship with her mom was something she could barely tell her only 3 friends about, let alone someone she barely considered an acquaintance.
But Y/N knew Riki was a reliable guy; she had heard it often from Soul, Rei, and Giselle. And maybe for once she would let herself put faith into another person.
“I’ll only tell if you tell me why you like stargazing.”
Riki blew out a breath in thought. “Hm… I don’t know if I can give an exact reason for that. I was just bored one day and ended up coming across this place. That’s what made me stargaze, but something about it just felt so comforting to me that I wanted to do it more often.” He answered, a soft smile gracing his lips. “But that’s not exactly a good reason.”
“I think it suits you.” Y/N whispered out. “I’m sure you have your own stresses with being the son of Alice in Wonderland. It would make sense that having a hobby like this to come back to is something you enjoy.”
He pondered on it for a moment. Maybe she was right. He then chuckled at this side of her he had never seen before. “You’re a lot more poetic than you let on. Anyways I answered your question, can you answer mine?”
Y/N considered answering it, she truly did, but as much as she wanted to open up there was the side of her that wanted to keep everything inside. Her mother had always told her that vocalizing your feelings does nothing good and only makes people pity you.
One thing Y/N despised was being pitied. It only reminded her of how her mother referred to her as a ‘pitiful girl’ and how she would amount to nothing.
So she slowly shook her head. “No, I don’t think I can.”
Riki felt himself beginning to sit up to look at the girl. There was something off about her. The way she spoke to him and the way that she carried herself… she wasn’t acting as she always had. Normal Y/N would be more playful and even mischievous. But now, there was a certain sadness in her entire being that seemed to be throwing her off her rhythm. And it only made Riki more and more curious about her.
“Okay, I get it. You don’t have to tell me.” Riki smiled, before continuing. “I just hope it doesn’t take away your chaotic spirit. You know, I kind of like that about you.”
A sigh left Y/N’s lips at his words. “You don’t mean that, Wonderland.”
“I mean every word, Cheshire.”
Y/N could only roll her eyes before slowly evaporating into the night, using her invisibility and teleportation to finally go back home.
Left lingering in the air was her Cheshire’s smile, which disappeared last and left Riki staring at the wisps of where she had sat only moments prior.
Maybe it made sense that Riki enjoyed stargazing. In a way, there was something about him that was made of the stars. No matter what he did, he always seemed to shine brighter than all the others. There was something about Riki that felt that he belonged up in the sky, giving life to the night and adding a certain glimmer to the auras.
Riki had his own place amongst the sky, and she wished she could be like that too. But after speaking to him, maybe there was nowhere she could have her own place in. Y/N could only wait for the day that she could contribute to a bigger picture, and take a larger part in his story. After all, she had always wanted her own place within the stars.
But for now, all she could do was hope she would become more than just the Cheshire Cat’s daughter.
authors note. postinf this after jay noticed me on his weverse live i am not well. anyways it’s coming 🤓🤓 those 10k words sitting in my drafts r waiting to be released don’t worry babies mommys almost done
permanent taglist. @muhwaa @hoori @yizhoutv @ja4hyvn @carayat @one16core @enhacolor @haerinz @soobin-chois @en-boyz @ohmy-fandoms @yjwonz @yunki4evr @strwberrydinosaur @duolingofanaccount @iichaeyj @eundiarys @ineedaherosavemeenow @chaerybae @bubblytaetae @w3bqrl @xiaoderrrr @jaeyunnsworld @rikizm @teddywonss @gweoriz @dimplewonie @jennaissantes (if u requested to be on my permanent taglist and u didn’t get tagged it’s bc i cant see ur acc, but pls dm me if u want to be in it !)
PAIRING ▸ ravenclaw! jungwon x ravenclaw! reader
GENRE ▸ hogwarts! au, fake dating! au, f2ls, romance, angst, fluff, humor
SUMMARY ▸ your house’s prefect, yang jungwon, is the textbook definition of a ravenclaw. as a fellow housemate and friend, you’re certainly willing to help him out when he needs it. but when jungwon asks you to be his date for the yule ball, you don’t expect the trouble that follows.
WORD COUNT ▸ 4.7k
AKA you and jungwon are the definition of dumb and dumber.
NOTES ▸ mentions of food, not proofread ???
part of the charms and chasers miniseries.
“WILL YOU BE MY DATE TO THE YULE BALL?”
certainly a great start to your breakfast in the great hall. you choke on your orange juice, not expecting those nine words to leave your house prefect’s mouth. you’re not sure if you’re lucky that your friends hadn’t arrived yet to witness such unexpected words or unlucky that they weren’t there to help you.
“e-excuse me?”
yang jungwon shuffles around nervously, glancing around before he repeats his words. “listen, i’m really desperate. you’re the first person i saw who was available-“
your eyebrow quirks up at that.
“-and this year they’re making the prefects dance the opening and I don’t have anyone to-“
you zone out.
sure, you thought jungwon was a really nice and responsible prefect slash housemate. and sure, you thought he was literally the textbook definition of a ravenclaw, but you weren’t sure what to make of this.
you would even consider jungwon a friend- if someone you only talked to a couple times a week for schoolwork counted as a friend. blinking, you return back to focus when you see jungwon staring at you with a half-desperate and half-embarrassed? look on his face.
you fumble, “uhm….”
it comes out utterly confused, your mind scattered at the abrupt confrontation. with his eyes boring into you, you look everywhere and anywhere but at jungwon. you just wanted a peaceful breakfast, not a massive heart rate spike in the early hours of the day. give credit to your social anxiety and personality to please everyone that made you stutter out a weak, “sure,” and shoot jungwon a half-grimace, half-grin.
he practically deflates in relief, clasping his hands together tightly and thanking you countless times. biting your lip, you watch as he leaves and your friends come into view, making their way over to you. truly, you have no choice but to wonder what you just got yourself into.
you find it awkward to talk to jungwon after the confrontation. should you say something to break the ice? after all, he was the one who asked you to be his date.
or was he waiting for you to make the first move?
you shake your head, overthinking really sucked.
“did you finish the assignment for potions?”
you jump at the familiar voice, turning around in your seat to see jungwon looking at your expectantly, although the jittering of his knee below the table catches your eye.
“oh. yeah. uh… did you?”
“yep,” he nods shortly. silence overcomes you and you bite the inside of your cheek.
why were you acting like this? jungwon was your friend (right?), so you shouldn’t be feeling afraid to hold a conversation with him, let alone look in his direction.
“listen, about the other day,” he starts off and your body tenses.
“i just wanted to apologize for asking you so out of the blue. i was kinda freaking out since i had to find a date really soon, so i’m sorry i put you on the spot like that. if you don’t want to go with me, that’s fine, i’ll just have to-“
again, jungwon starts rambling and a tiny smile makes its way onto your face.
“jungwon. i said i would go with you, right?”
he pauses and nods slowly at that.
“yeah, and i don’t go back on my word. as long as you’re good too, there’s nothing to worry about. how about we just stay as comfortable as we have been?”
you attempt your best to give a reassuring smile and you think it works judging by jungwon’s sigh of relief.
“o-of course. thanks y/n, a lot. i mean it.”
you’re not sure but maybe that conversation broke down a wall and unlocked something in jungwon. because after that day, you felt a noticeable shift in your relationship.
no more of the friendly surface level conversations about school- you came to learn much more about the ravenclaw yang jungwon.
entering your house’s commonroom during a break, you’re pleasantly surprised to find jungwon sitting at a corner, looking focused as he scribbles furiously on a sheet of parchment paper.
there was no harm in sitting with your friend, right? that thought crossed your mind as you strolled over and took the seat across from him.
for a couple of seconds, jungwon doesn’t even seem to notice your presence. you watch with amusement at the way his eyebrows furrow. what could he be so focused on?
the sound of your name being called out questioningly brings you out of your thoughts. you look up to find jungwon studying you with wide eyes, a sight unexpectedly cuter than you thought. you internally slap yourself.
“y/n! what are you doing here?”
you shrug, “wanted some peace and quiet during break. just happened to see you here so i…” your voice begins to falter, “thought it was okay to join you?”
jungwon smiles his trademark prefect smile and you almost choke. “yeah. i don’t mind at all.”
coughing, you glance around the empty room before looking at him again. “what are you working on?”
he lets out a exhausted sigh, and as a ravenclaw yourself, you’ve heard that too many times to count.
“well, the riddle to enter the common room changed so i had to go around telling all the clueless first-years what the answer was. then i finished the herbology research and had to go on patrol. finally i guess i came here for peace and quiet, like you.”
an eyebrow of yours raises. “and yet you look like you’re still working hard?”
he glances at you sheepishly, “helping complete a third-year’s defense against the dark arts homework?”
“helping or struggling?” you snicker, and jungwon pouts.
“not struggling entirely,” he defends himself and you send him a look, scooting closer to see the sheet better.
you squint at the questions, faintly remembering the content on the page. as you explain to jungwon, you see his eyes light up as he begins to remember.
while watching him write down the answer, you smile to yourself.
“you have a lot on your plate, yet you always seem to be so on top of things still. it’s crazy. i really admire you for it.”
the sound of scribbling stops.
his lips purse together as he stares down at the half-filled paper in front of him.
“thanks, but it’s not exactly ideal when that’s what it only seems like. in all honestly, i don’t know what i’m doing half the time. finding you as my date for the ball lessened half the load on me.”
perhaps there was much more to jungwon that you didn’t know about. you suppress a laugh, “was it really that hard?”
“it was so bad,” he whines, and you resist the urge to reach out and pet his top of his fluffy hair.
“then, i’m glad i was able to help you, mr. ravenclaw’s perfect prefect.”
you can only laugh as he protests to no avail.
as you leave charms, you pat jungwon’s shoulder.
“good luck on your test- and don’t worry. you always overthink.”
he sticks his tongue out at you, “shouldn’t i be the one telling that to you?”
with a huff and a shake of your head, you bid him goodbye. your friends are left on the side to watch your interaction with the boy, eyes zeroing in on you.
“what was that about?” wonyoung sneakily slides in, giving you the side-eye. you give her an innocent look in response, “what was what about?”
“don’t try me. you know, the budding relationship between you and yang jungwon?”
you roll your eyes at that. “what budding relationship? we’re friends. we’ve been friends. you know that.”
she hums, “yes, but i’m also your friend. so,” she drawls on, “i’m telling you right now to tell me what the deal is. there’s obviously something going on.”
at that, you’re not sure what to say. you have no clue if the ‘situation’ between you and jungwon was public knowledge or not.
that being you as jungwon’s date to the ball.
the yule ball hadn’t become a huge topic amongst the school yet, mainly because it wasn’t announced to the student body yet.
jungwon knew early as a prefect and asked you, so you figured you had to keep everything a secret. even to your friends. especially to your friends.
who knew the amount of teasing you would be succumbed to for having jungwon as your date?
you shiver. not exactly an ideal situation after all.
what you didn’t realize, was that the news would be released during breakfast the next day.
once the yule ball’s exactly details were announced, the great hall erupted in conversation.
“y/n!” kazuha calls your name from across the table with a gleam in her eyes. you turn to her with an easy smile, kazuha was like an older sister to you and you loved her.
“are you going with anyone?” your friends turn to you expectantly, and your palms begin to sweat with all the attention.
“w-well, you see-“ you glance around desperately for help but there appears to be no one. you’re not sure why but something in your chest tightens.
you just can’t tell them the truth. it was so simple, yet something was keeping you from saying that you were going with jungwon.
“er, i’m so sorry but i have somewhere to be- you know, i have to water my homework!” you blurt out quickly and grab your stuff before basically flying out of the great hall, leaving your friends to share confused looks.
you turn the corner to an empty hallway and place a hand on your pounding chest. great job y/n, great job running away indeed.
you take a small breather, closing your eyes and laying against the wall before blearily opening them again. your vision focuses on a clock in front of you, and you suddenly come to.
“shoot, i’m late!”
you just barely manage to make it to the ballroom. chest heaving, you noisily push past into the room, attracting everyone’s attention. you can only stare back, in a daze and gasping for air.
the professor turns to you.
“oh, wonderful! you must be mr. yang’s date to the ball!”
as gasps fill the air, you almost collapse right then and there.
“-jungwon’s date?”
“does that mean they’re dating?”
“they have to be! did you see the way jungwon looked so worried when y/n didn’t show up?”
amidst the mess, you find jungwon staring back at you with an apologetic gaze. as awkward as it is, you drag your feet over to your rightful spot next to him. while the professor goes over the details, you quietly apologize for being late.
“i’m so sorry, i totally forgot what time you told me-“
“hey,” he interrupts, a hand reaching out to squeeze yours quickly. “it’s okay. at least you’re here now. that’s all that matters.“
curse jungwon for getting you into this mess and being so nice about it. you refocus on the task at hand, and as the words fill your ears, you feel the blood drain from your body.
of course, the whole ball was about dancing.
another thing you didn’t know about jungwon. he’s freaking good at everything. besides being smart, kind, attractive- you slap yourself once more-
he’s also good at dancing?
you can’t count the amount of times you had to apologize to jungwon that day, whether it be for stepping on his feet or literally existing.
you shouldn’t have been surprised, honestly. after that day of rehearsing, you couldn’t catch a break.
you were still nursing your sore legs later when wonyoung quite literally attacks you in the courtyard. you were contentedly studying on a bench, papers in front of you. that is, until she practically leaps on you and makes all your notes blow off into the surrounding air.
your lips purse into a thin line. what could it be now?
“you’re dating yang jungwon?”
your jaw drops as if she wasn’t just talking about you.
“what did you just say?”
she grabs you by the shoulders, pupils blown. “it’s been spreading everywhere, y/n! why didn’t you tell me? or-“
her words fall on deaf ears as you stalk off with one mission in mind.
it isn’t hard for you to find jungwon, you already knew what his next class was. but to see all the eyes on you as you drag him away and to the room of requirements for privacy was something else.
jungwon doesn’t even get a word in as you force him to sit in an empty chair, arms crossed and eyes narrowed.
“what is-“
“you tell me. what in the name of dumbledore is going on, jungwon?” you stare at him accusingly.
when he avoids your eyes, you know your hunch is confirmed.
"you see…”
“i see?” you prompt.
“all my friends kept teasing me about you… so i kinda forgot to mention that i asked you out on a whim, a-as a friend,” he manages to fumble out.
it’s not hard for you to put two and two together. you pinch your nose bridge, “so you chickened out and said we were dating?”
he visibly deflates.
“yeah. basically.”
you bite your lip, “but why would you do that? it’s not a bad thing for two people, who are friends, to go to the yule ball together. is it?”
jungwon sighs and just says, “it would be embarrassing if my friends found out that i couldn’t find anyone and asked you randomly. literally i would never hear the end of it. i know already embarrassing enough for the both of us, and it’s all my fault, but can you please go along with it until the ball‘s over?”
you hesitate, and he stares at you with those pleading eyes again. curse yang jungwon.
“we can just pretend for a short bit. it’ll be harmless, and after that we can just go back to normal.”
harmless? normal?
you weigh your options in your head. wouldn’t it be situation escalate even more if you denied the rumors after he confirmed them? maybe you should have thought about your answer more, but it was too late.
“fine,” you exhale, “but you owe me a favor. history of magic tutoring because it’s literally the most boring class.”
“o-of course. i really owe you one.”
it was a long process coming up with a story. but surprisingly easier than you thought.
“can’t we just say we were friends and then i asked you out?” jungwon frowns.
you scoff, “really now? how realistic does that seem to you?”
he clears his throat. “fine. we’ll say that you asked me out and things just went on from there.”
facing your friends was the hardest part. you had to give them the fake apologetic look and explain.
“we wanted to keep it a secret at first. you know, since it was so new to us…”
“you know, i’m honestly not that surprised. I could definitely picture you guys being together before anyone said anything,” haerin chimes in.
you swallow your spit a little too harshly. before long, sounds of agreement fill the air and you actually want to transfigure into a fly and escape out the window.
you let out a strained laugh, “really? i’m surprised.”
wonyoung frowns, “i’m still mad you kept it from me but i have to agree. you guys look good together.”
you splutter, “you haven’t even seen us together!”
she shrugs innocently, “i’ve always been watching you two.”
“creep.”
“whipped.”
some ground rules were established between you and jungwon. rules never to be broken within your expected duration of (not) dating.
first, no kissing, obviously. hand holding was fine, hugs were fine, just nothing too far. second, no cheesy nicknames (merlin’s beard, never). you settled on won for jungwon and he settled on- you pause- what did he settle on? after you suggested won, he seemed to be too preoccupied (with reddened ears) to focus on making one for you.
third. walking to class together was necessary to keep the act up and study “dates” in the library (aka your side of the deal) were every thursday.
“I think that settles it,” you glance at your list in satisfaction.
“wait-” jungwon says abruptly before faltering.
“what?” you glance at him curiously. “are we missing something?”
he mutters something under his breath and you lean in closer.
“you can just say it,” you shake your head in amusement, “it’s not like this is a strict, by the book set of rules.”
“clothes!” jungwon manages to get out, “like- don’t couples share clothes and stuff like that? but if you’re not comfortable with that-“
you fall silent.
jungwon takes note of your lack of reaction and rubs his hands nervously.
“o-or not, we don’t have to-“
“okay,” you say quietly, all of a sudden your fingers seemed much more interesting to look at than the boy in front of you. was it just you or did the room feel a bit too hot?
you found jungwon’s scarf to be a bit big and a bit itchy, but comfortable. the first thing you noticed when you put it on was that it smelled like him.
jungwon smiled softly, “it looks good on you.”
you blink, almost feeling the soft material tug at your heartstrings. “oh. thanks.”
“see you later at lunch,” he waves and you wave back with a soft smile.
besides the teasing from your friends, you found it to be quite nice- including the extra tutoring from smartie jungwon.
“i don’t get it. who cares about who started the goblin rebellion of 1289?”
jungwon chuckles in amusement, “the professor does, that’s who. and you will too since your marks depend on it.”
you groan, planting your cheek on the wooden library table. habitually, jungwon pokes your cheek.
“come on. we won’t finish until 12 if we stop now.”
you let out a muffled protest.
“y/l/nnnn-“ he drags out the last syllable.
you turn your head so your cheek rests on the table, but you can still see him staring back at you with a fond expression.
“don’t want to.”
sighing, jungwon puts the textbook aside and puts his head down so he’s directly facing you. your breath hitches at the close proximity.
at this closeness, you can every speck of light in his eyes. the moles on his face, the eyebags that you’re sure you share as well.
“i’ll make an excuse so you don’t have to attend the next dance lesson,” he says softly, and his breath tickles your cheek.
“deal,” you whisper back.
and yet neither one of you can seem to get up from your position.
“you guys are sickeningly cute.”
at this point, it was becoming a regular. after the shock of you and jungwon “dating” had subsided came the admirers and fans.
you laugh dryly, dropping jungwon’s hand and ignoring the look of confusion and protest he sends your way. to make up for it, you lean in and give him a kiss on the cheek. only for a split second do you see the surprised look on his face before it’s wiped away with an easy smile.
“see you later, won.”
“bye, baby.”
again, you pretend not to hear the cooing and awwing from your friends behind you.
“you even have nicknames?”
“he’s such a nice boyfriend to walk you to your classes.”
you shift uncomfortably in your position. “yeah…”
what was bad was that you had gotten a little too used to it- acting as a couple with jungwon. what was worse was that you were starting to like it.
he comes to pick you up after class is over. and walk you to lunch. usually jungwon would drop you off at your designated seat with your friends and go to his friends, but today he was stopped by some third years.
“hey prefect! could you help do my research paper for potions?”
at the first sign of jungwon’s uneasiness, you frown. it wasn’t the first time you witnessed his stress and exhaustion of being a prefect- and simply a kind person.
you knew he always tried to help out whenever he could. that was his duty, and his personal values. but the days spent observing him literally pulling his hair out over other people’s issues wasn’t making it any better.
“excuse me,” you step out in front of jungwon, “but my boyfriend here isn’t your homework machine. he’s a human, and he’s perfectly willing to help you guys out- not do you work for you because of your laziness.”
jungwon’s eyes widen, mouth opened to object, but you angrily take his hand and drag him out of the great hall to a quieter place.
“y/n- you didn’t have to-“
“they were taking advantage of you. they always do. you have your own problems and those kids need to learn how to do things for themselves.” you were internally fuming and not about to hear jungwon defend them.
“but it’s my job as-“
“i don’t care about your prefect duties, i care about you!”
he freezes and your voice noticeably loses its strength, “you’re my friend. of course i care about you.”
“yeah… right,” he manages to whisper before stalking away, leaving you alone and confused.
you hadn’t seen jungwon in a while. it’s like he was personally avoiding you, but you had no idea why.
he stopped walking you to class, showing up for tutoring on thursdays- completely and utterly avoiding you without a single word.
you couldn’t even approach him, it’s like you didn’t even exist. you replayed that days events in your mind over and over, picking apart each and every interaction.
what did you do? what did you say?
“don’t worry, y/n. he’s just going through a tough time probably and wants to be alone. just give him time,” kazuha reassures you.
wrong, you think bitterly but don’t voice your thoughts. jungwon wasn’t the type to do that, or so you believed.
the yule ball was still coming up and now you had to practice dancing alone, rehearsing every step in the dark with an imaginary partner.
you didn’t even know if you were still going with jungwon, but something in you made you feel obligated to at least get the moves down. if any tiny hope in you still said so.
the day before the ball, one last practice, you thought you heard a sound but when you looked, there was no one. it was probably just your imagination hoping jungwon would show up out of nowhere.
sweaty and breathless, you lay down in the middle of the ground. and let the sadness wash over you.
“are you sure you’re not going?”
you smile sadly, curling up tighter under your blue covers. “nah, i’m good.”
“but-“
“really,” you insist, “i’ll join later.”
as the door clicks shut and silent fills the room, you stare up at the highlighted ceiling, sprinkled with stars. stars alike the ones you saw in jungwon’s eyes.
you rub a hand over your face, throwing the covers off you.
screw it.
you need to do this.
scrambling out of the room with one heel on and the other untied, you hastily managed to dash over to the ballroom. soft music floated over through the doors, and you curse.
were you too late for the introductory dance?
releasing a heavy breath, you push past the doors and stumble to a halt.
your eyes fall upon the familiar prefects positioned in the middle of the room, all students surrounding on the sides.
and finally, you spot jungwon next to the dance professor.
everyone’s eyes are on you, but for once you only seem to care about one person’s.
the professor silently sighs in relief,
“thank goodness. prefects and respective partners, take your places!”
blood rushing in your ears and adrenaline effectively coursing through your veins, you take each step carefully towards jungwon.
he has an unreadable expression on his face, which makes your stomach churn. you take your positions as practiced, and your hand tingles when his touches yours.
it’s silent at first, the period of waiting for the music to start, but once the music begins, jungwon speaks under his breath.
“you look beautiful.”
your heart skips a beat and slowly, your eyes flicker to his face. he doesn’t look at you, instead focusing on executing the moves perfectly.
“you look handsome,” you whisper back.
the dance proceeds smoothly in the beginning, as if you had practiced a hundred times. but nearing the end, you falter at one move and bite your lip, hoping not too many people noticed.
“you’re doing good. three… four…”
you look eyes with him, surprised, and in that moment, your breath is taken away. time pauses and the music fades. everything else doesn’t matter in the moment,
it’s only you and him.
with jungwon’s encouragement, you’re able to finish the routine without another mistake. and when the dance ends and applause begins, you quickly take his hand before he can run away again, grip desperate.
“can we please talk?” eyes pleading, he has no choice but to listen.
finding an empty corridor, you face him on the other side, leaning against the wall. it’s completely silent, so you clench your fists.
“could you explain why you ignored me for the past week? please explain what i did to you?”
“it doesn’t matter,” he shakes his head, “after today, we don’t have to do this anymore. everything i put you through will be over, because that’s what you want, right?”
you groan in frustration.
“who said i want that? what if i say i don’t want it to be over? what if i want answers from you so we can go back to how we were? fake lovers, real lovers, i don’t care! i can’t keep acting, i just want you back in my life,” your voice cracks at the end.
his hands fall to his side.
“what do you mean?” he responds shakily. you can barely see him in the darkness, so you take a few steps closer.
“are you that dense? because i don’t think so.”
another step.
you realized, and you knew. thursdays became your favorite day of the week. no, any day spent with jungeon was your favorite day. you had become too comfortable supposedly acting with him for all of it to be a lie. and it wasn’t. your feelings weren’t a lie.
“i think i should be asking you that question.”
you stop, head cocking to the side.
“what-“
he pushes off from his spot on the wall, and you feel the action. blinking, you didn’t realize how close you had gotten.
the newfound confidence seems to fade when jungwon fiddles with his tie, “i wouldn’t have asked you to be my date if i didn’t like you…”
you clear your throat awkwardly, “so the whole you’re the first person i eyes on and was available was a lie?”
“somewhat,” he defends himself, “i didn’t know what would happen, but you really were the first person that i was comfortable enough with to ask. it just so happened that i liked you as well. i dunno- things just happened and we got closer.”
“then why did you push me away?”
he sighs, “because i thought you didn’t feel the same way. i got too caught up in being your fake boyfriend so i tried to prepare myself to go back to the way we were before. just friends.”
you lean in, just a barely. “but now we both know- that’s not what we want.”
his face was just an inch apart. you could feel his nose tickle the side of your face.
“what do you want?”
“this.”
and you proceed to smash your lips on his.
bonus :)
“you’re just lucky that i practiced.”
“alone too,” you add with a fake dramatic turn of your head (jungwon internally melts at the sight of you acting like a little kid), “like a maniac in the ballroom during the wee hours of the night.”
jungwon lets out a melodious laugh, squeezing your hand and sending you a guilty smile.
“i know.”
you straighten up, "excuse me?”
“i saw you during patrol that night,” he explains, “technically no one is allowed there past hours, but i let you stay.”
you frown but suddenly gasp at the recollection, “it was you back then!”
he blushes.
“you were watching me?”
“of course, i always was.”
a/n ▸ hehe as a ravenclaw i had to do this :>
MAIN TAGLIST ▸ @precioussoulofmine @lov3niki @heesterical @rerequire @nvertheless @duolingofanaccount @hoeshii
SERIES TAGLIST ▸ @ritsusakumasgf @minimarkive @lilactangerine @shinsou-rii @ahnneyong @nomniki @nyanggk @imtaehyungry @seattlesolace @allthegirlsmialoved @annoyingbitch83 @jakahbot @leeis @heavenforatlas @acciocriativity @loveza1nab @juliemr0 @en-martieru @uomre
UNABLE TO TAG ▸ @/27melodies
send an ask/dm to be added to the ‘charms and chasers’ taglist!
why do people leave me and not feel an absence? nothing about me was worth having? nothing worth remembering? reminiscing? fighting for? wanting back?
new mantra act like an angel dress like crazy ta tarata tara tata