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“-your moves are so precise! Your footwork’s improved so much! Your solo in the middle blew me away! How did you even-” Yeji’s eyes lit up. She had a bright smile on her face as she rambled away, leaning back against Hyunjin as she angled up the IPAD so they could both see the screen comfortably.
It was past midnight and they were in the single-use practice room, lights off, and cuddled closely together as they watched Hyunjin’s Studio Choom AOTM performance. For the past few weeks, Hyunjin had been completely secretive about his upcoming performance, refusing to give Yeji a single hint about anything. He wouldn’t even tell her what song he was going to perform, insisting-
“It’s a surprise.” He smirked at her soft frown, strong hands giving her waist a gentle squeeze. “No spoilers. Just prepare to be amazed.”
“But you amaze me all the time… With or without spoilers.” She pursed her lips in a pout, which he promptly kissed away.
But Hyunjin remained staunch in his refusal, so Yeji backed off (after a few more sweet kisses that dispelled her petulant expression).
Now the video was out, and Yeji was the most hyped she had been in a while, unable to keep quiet for more than a few seconds before interjecting another compliment or commentary on his performance.
“-And mafia?! Really Hyunjin?! You couldn’t give me ONE spoiler?!” She grumbled, lightly smacking the side of his thigh in disbelief before going back to fangirling.
“How did you even come up with this? This is more than a performance! It’s art! A complete masterpiece!”
“Ooh sick move! That move was really clean!”
“Eyyyy! Your facial expression’s on point!”
“Was one of the lyrics, ‘I’m at the top of the pyramid’? You really outdid yourself for this one!”
“I’m so proud of you!”
Yeji chattered on and on, completely oblivious to how Hyunjin’s eyes were darkening with seduction by the second and how his jaw tightened with impatience.
“My Hyunjinie’s amazing!” She cheered once the video came to an end.
She turned her head to plant a quick kiss on his cheek before directing her attention back to the screen, eager to rewatch his riveting performance. But before she could press play, she was stopped by a larger hand completely engulfing her own.
“… More than Wooyoung?” His voice deepened to a husky whisper, causing her to freeze.
Suddenly, Yeji realized how close he was – his chest pressed against her back, one strong arm around her waist while his large hand gripped hers. She could feel his breath tickling the side of her face.
“Better than Yeonjun?” His lips began to trace the shell of her ear, causing her to shiver.
“H-hyunjin-“ Her heart was thumping painfully in her chest.
“Am I more desirable than Juyeon?” He practically growled as his grip tightened over her possessively.
He’s jealous.
It hit Yeji like a wall of bricks. Hyunjin was jealous.
But why? Since when? Why-
She let out a squeak as Hyunjin’s lips danced from her ear to her neck, all questioning thoughts evaporating into the atmosphere as his kisses trailed up and down the side of her throat. He didn’t press hard enough to break skin or bruise, but was intentional in that she would feel his emotions for her.
Desire and want… Too tangible. Too fast.
She trembled in his arms, but his grip only became stronger, as if trying to cage her in his arms.
“Hyunjin, wait-“ She gasped when he bit down on her shoulder blade hard, her mind swirling in her head chaotically.
Hyunjin never bit her, never left bruises or any marks. But right now, it seemed as if he was completely possessed by the green-eyed monster called ‘jealousy’, his breath heavy with want as he enveloped her smaller frame with his larger one.
But why?
Why was he so jealous? When did Yeji even mention Yeonjun? Or Wooyoung? Or Jumi-Juyeon, whoever? She didn’t even know two out of the three he mentioned. What was going on?
In her haze, she looked down at the IPAD in her hands and what she saw caused her blood to run cold. Somehow, she had accidentally clicked on the Studio Choom Artist of the Month playlist and the lineup read:
October Stray Kids Hyunjin
September the Boyz Juyeon
August Itzy Chaeyeon
July TxT Yeonjun
June Ateez Wooyoung
It hit her all at once.
“Hyunjin, you can’t be serio-ah!” She squealed as he mouthed the back of her neck, pushing her hair to the side so that he had full access to her nape. “Hyunjin!”
But he ignored her, continuing his sensual ministrations as punishment.
Punishment. Because Hyunjin was jealous!
The thing was, ever since Yeji starred in Studio Choom’s Artist of the Month, she had been slightly (VERY) obsessed with it. Looking over the dance and studying it, from the footwork to the techniques to the creative expressions, brought out her nerdy side. Having an amazing performance to look forward to each month made her excitable as someone who loved dance.
It had become a ritual for her and her members to gather around in a huge pile to analyze the latest AOTM video each time. And she didn’t think much of it, after all, it was only dancing. It was simply observing art. But it seemed as if her jealous boyfriend had other thoughts and his own bias when it came to AOTM performances.
Yeji should have known. She should have paid more attention to the fact that every time she mentioned her latest discoveries in Studio Choom that Hyunjin’s lips would form a tight line as his shoulders stiffened. She should have been more aware of how Hyunjin’s hums and grunts of acknowledgement didn’t necessarily equate to approval of her new hobby. And she ESPECIALLY should have KNOWN that her silly boyfriend would make a HUGE deal of her looking at other men, even if it was from a non-romantic perspective. Gosh, sometimes he made her want to bang her head against the wall.
“Hyunjin, please-“ She whimpered, her body trembling with want and anxiety at the weight of his arduous affections.
He swiftly wrapped one hand around her chin and turned her face towards him so he could finally sear his lips against hers, swallowing her cry.
Her eyes shut and lips immediately parted, allowing him to kiss her as he wanted – insistent. He kissed as if he were a starving man, trying to devour her whole with his love. Thanks to his passionate advances, she almost dropped the IPAD, only for Hyunjin to swiftly catch it with one hand and place it on the floor away from them, refusing to break away from her lips as he did so.
When he finally let her go, Yeji felt light-headed due to the lack of air.
“Y-you… Y-you’re r-ridiculous…” She wheezed, her lungs burning for oxygen due to his overbearing affections.
He huffed, a smirk on his lips, but didn’t say anything. However, Yeji knew him well enough to recognize his crestfallen expression, darkened eyes with a grimace on his lips – a sign of insecurity.
So despite heaving for breath, she leaned forward to press one last kiss on his lips, chaste and innocent, yet full of her own affection.
“I-it’s just d-dancing, Hyunjin… I-I don’t m-mean any-anything else.” It was a struggle to gasp for air and speak at the same time, but Yeji didn’t want to wait for her breath to catch up and speak.
Not when Hyunjin was feeling insecure or sad because of her. She never wanted to leave him feeling that way. Not since their last fight on Valentines’ Day.
“I know…” He mumbled, although the way his arms tightened indicated otherwise. “I know. I know it doesn’t mean anything. But still… I still…”
Despite the haziness she felt, Yeji mustered her strength to turn her body around, sitting in-between his legs. This position made it easier for her to search his gaze, coaxing him to look back at her.
“When I watch their videos… I’m w-watching with a professional’s opinion in m-mind.” She gazed at him softly, reaching out a hand to touch his face. “I a-analyze their moves… and tech-techniques and see what I can learn from them… trying to be as unbiased as I can.”
She smiled as he curled into her palm like a cat, yet avoided making eye-contact with her, the childish frown still on his lips.
“… But y-you-“ She fought back a giggle as his eyes immediately shifted back up to stare at her. “… I can’t be unbiased,” She bit her lip, feeling shy under his heated gaze, but mustered her courage to say the next words. “… because it’s you. And you’re… you’re the best in my eyes.”
Immediately, she yanked her hand back as if she’d been burned, averted her gaze to avoid staring into those smoldering eyes. She tried to back away, but he wouldn’t let her, hands that never left her waist, tightening their grip and giving a warning squeeze. Yeji felt blood rushing to her head and cheeks, but obediently stayed put in his arms, even though all she wanted to do was run away in embarrassment. Suddenly, she was yanked into an embrace, his arms coming caging around her to hold her close.
“… Thank you,” He murmured, kissing the top of her temple. “Thanks Yeji…”
At his shaky voice and sigh of relief, her embarrassment immediately dissolved into thin air. She smiled and reached out her arms to lock them together around his neck, snuggling deeper into his embrace, enjoying their innocent closeness.
When they finally loosened their arms enough to part and face each other, they were all soft smiles for each other. But Yeji’s arms remained around Hyunjin’s neck and Hyunjin’s hands held her waist firmly. For a moment, they sat in silence, basking in the warmth of their body heat and closeness.
“… You cut your hair.” She broke the silence first, running her fingers through his soft black locks.
“Like it?” He chuckled, keeping his forehead pressed against hers, enjoying the closeness between them.
“I do…” She blushed.
She really did. Hyunjin with long hair was hot and sensual, but Hyunjin with short hair, especially with his current hairstyle did things to her heart. Because-
“-it’s the same hair you had when I first met you.” She smiled serenely, fond memories of their high school selves rushing back to her.
“You saying I like look a high schooler?” He raised an eyebrow.
“No, silly.” She giggled. “You look like- like mi…ne…” Her voice trailed off as she realized her unconscious mind revealed her true thoughts.
But Hyunjin didn’t seem to mind, his face splitting into a grin.
“What?” He teased, invading more of her personal space so that his nose was pressed against hers, lips slightly brushing lips as he breathed more of her in.
“… My Hyunjinnie.” Despite the quietness in her voice, Yeji kept his gazed determinedly.
One look. One second of eye-contact. One glance.
His eyes widened in surprise, but she didn’t back down, her arms locking behind his head as her fingers continued to run through his hair. Her eyes were dark and full of unshed tears as she gazed at him with so much fondness that Hyunjin could literally feel the way her heart was about to burst.
He kissed her again, gently this time, but no less full of love. Gentle and soft didn’t mean uneager, so Yeji reciprocated his eagerness, pouring all her love and affection through her lips. This time when they parted, she wasn’t as breathless as before so she kept close to him, her lips continuing to brush against his every now and then as soft pants escaping her lips.
“Yours…” Hyunjin promised against her lips. “Only yours.”
“… M-mine…” She agreed breathlessly. “And I-I’m y-yours…”
And it was in that tiny room, in the quiet darkness in the middle of the night, with Yeji in his arms, that Hyunjin felt like he was at the top of the pyramid.