Terrifyingly Innocent [Nineteen-Finale]
Pairing: Seungcheol x fem!reader (ft. Jihoon)
Synopsis: Fearful of losing her, yet unwilling to leave; this agreement between Seungcheol and his best friend’s little sister was meant to be casual and temporary, yet he finds himself growing more attached to her day by day.
Genre: Fluff, angst, fake dating, fwb(?), slowburn, older brother’s best friend!Seungcheol, badboy!Seungcheol, innocent!reader, older brother!Jihoon, non-idol!au, university!au, low-key Crazy Rich Asians!au(Seungcheol is RICH - implied chaebol lifestyle, Jihoon and reader’s family aren’t chaebols and are commoners but well-off)
Warnings: Use of profanity, mentions of alcohol, inaccurate architectural information regarding Achillieon Palace, unedited (I was in a rush - my sincerest apologies)
WC: ~3.8k
A/N: We’re at an end of a twogyuu era 😭 It’s my first ever written series and with it, I do feel like I’ve learned and grown a lot as a writer. Since it was my first, admittedly it wasn’t my best work looking back now, but I’m grateful to everyone who was willing to read it as I went along. I also saw recently that the masterlist hit like 1.2k upvotes and was like 🤯 Y'all really like this hot recycling!? LOL. Jokes, jokes - I’m very honored so many people wanted to read and/or actually liked this 🥺 Admittedly, I think this was the fic that really allowed my blog to flourish, so forreals, I’m really grateful. There were many moments where I was close to abandoning the series, but I’m glad I pushed through and I didn’t - prove to myself (and all of you) that I can finish something 😭😂
To the lovely silent readers, the enthusiastic rebloggers, and everyone in between, thank you all so much for being patient and your constant support this past year as I worked through this fic 💙 without further ado, the happy ending (most of) you asked for 🤗
I’m not sure when I’m going to do a series this long again (low-key it was very taxing as much as I enjoyed it😭), but I hope you all enjoy my future works, long or short, just as much. Happy reading!
And for my take care ♥! anon who wanted the Hao sequel/ending - I have a surprise for you in the months to come, so watch out for it! (i.e. i need a little time to write it out 💀 and flesh out the whole story so ksjdfalkdjf)
Taglist: @wonwoojichu@itsveronicaxxx @ann-non @halfsaints @cheolright @yoozuku @catwonwoo @pwwarkjisung @listxn@arikimtanapon @haobrainrot @autumn-lv @sleeplessdawn@cheoriemoawa @nanamioo @rjsmochii @hobistigma @magical-spit @smuchsmut @wonwoosthetic @taestrwbrry @ahgastayzen @bibinnieposts @nixtape-foryou @d-noona @jennie-rubyjane @greasywallboyluvr @billboard-singer @wonuziex @fanfic24 @jeonghanniehae95 @kayleeshinee @bsshjsjsn @confuchan
Unable to tag :( : @soonchanshua @missjopper @technicallypsychicmiracle @0f-course-why-not
previous || masterlist || fin
Your childhood bedroom was always a safe space for you.
Whether you wanted to hide your tears from your family, you were angry at Jihoon, or just wanted to kick and scream about the latest Eighteen comeback, you could do it all comfortably here, and be completely vulnerable and raw with yourself. It was strategically decorated to reflect your unchanging, yet growing self: a shelf lined with your favorite books from childhood to your teenage years, lilac walls plastered with posters of bands you’ve grown to love throughout the years, and your favorite part: the glow-in-the-dark star stickers on your ceiling.
They were seemingly childish, but you loved them. Whereas most girls your age would’ve opted for fairy lights at this point, you insisted on Jihoon helping you put them up in your last year of high school before he left for university, as short as he is. You didn’t like them because they were particularly aesthetic, no. They were tacky and cheap – sometimes you’d wake up in the morning and find that a star had fallen off overnight. Nonetheless, when your mind raced before falling asleep, anxious over college acceptances, or your heart was feeling heavy, the familiar neon green glow offered you a sense of comfort. With a deep breath, your eyes would scan across your ceiling and walls, and you’d count them until they lulled you to sleep.
They were simple decor, maybe even ugly, but a sense of consistency that you needed, especially in these past few years.
That’s what you were thinking, ironically, counting the glow-in-the-dark stars mindlessly too, when you heard pelting at your window. Crawling out of bed, you switched on your lamp and walked over, flinching when you saw a black pebble sailing at you. Fortunately, the glass of your window deflected it before it would have smacked you right between your eyes.
You leaned over the ledge and peered down onto the driveway.
Choi fucking Seungcheol.
Oddly enough, his shoulders relaxed, slipping his hands into the pockets of his slacks, a soft smile settling on his cherry lips – he seemed almost pleased to see you fuming and hanging out your window ready to yell at him.
What was he doing here? Wasn’t he supposed to be tucked away in bed at his apartment near the university campus? If Seungcheol was here … was Jihoon here?
“You’re gonna pay for broken glass if you keep that up,” you hissed.
“Happy to see you too, Y/N,” he grinned dopily.
You rolled your eyes, glancing back to check the time before you replied.
3:28AM.
“What are you doing here? At 4AM?!” you exclaimed.
“I missed you,” Seungcheol teased.
“Choi Seungcheol,” you warned.
He only chuckled – god, how you hated how your brother’s best friend never took you seriously.
“Let me up,” Seungcheol pressed on. He scratched the back of his head looking around. “You have some vines or something?”
You pointed down at the attached garage, a criss-crossed decor on the side leading up to your room. “You can try, but I can also just come down and open the door for you.”
Rolling up the sleeves of his white button up, he smirked. “Nonsense – what’s the thrill in doors when I can do this like the movies.”
“It’s real life, not the,” you paused as he was already shaking the decor to test its sturdiness. “Never mind.”
You watched him hook the toe of his shoe into the bottom hole and hoist himself up with his hands, his forearms flexing in the process. He must’ve been ripped if you could make out the shadows of his muscles if this shit lighting. Catching yourself admiring him too long, you tore your gaze away, rubbing your cheeks to get a better sense of yourself.
This was Choi Seungcheol – your brother’s best friend.
You turned back, noting how the metal was creaking under his weight.
“If you break that –”
“Whoa! Umph!” Seungcheol missed a step and tumbled down.
“Seungcheol!”
He groaned at the soreness shooting through his back. Nervous that he broke his spine and may not be able to ever walk again, you abandoned your spot at the window and raced downstairs. You threw open the front door, forgetting to put shoes on, and rushed across the lawn to his side.
“You idiot,” you stumbled down onto your knees, hands tracing over his body for any injuries. “I told you not to climb that thing.”
He chuckled – after Jihoon, only you would ever be this worried about him after one of his stupid stunts.
“You didn’t tell me to stop,” Seungcheol grunted, pushing himself up into a sitting position.
Scowling, you sat back on your heels to allow for some distance between the two of you.
“You said, ‘it’s real life, not the – never mind,’” he poked your forehead with his pointer and middle finger, “You never finished.”
If he could tease you this much, clearly, he was okay.
“Asshole,” you shoved him, “You can just sleep on the lawn tonight.”
You got up and brushed the grass off your pajamas, heading for the front door that was left agape in your flurry.
“Hey!” Seungcheol pouted, he heaved himself up, wincing at the ache already starting in his lower back, and chased after you. “Wait!”
“Just go home, Seungcheol – or call your chauffeur,” you waved him off, not bothering to look back. “I’m sure Mr. Kang isn’t that far away.”
His thick fingers wrapped around your wrist and tugged you back. You tried your damned best to wriggle out of his hold to no avail – curse him and his newfound obsession with the gym. He was even stronger than before.
He pouted, “I said I missed you.”
“Yeah and?” you furrowed your brows together.
“Is that how you welcome a friend?”
“Technically, you’re Jihoon’s friend.”
“And by default yours.”
Pinching the bridge of your nose, you groaned in annoyance. This wasn’t going anywhere. “Just … go up to Jihoon’s room and sleep there, okay? It’s night – burglars and murderers are out. If we stay out here longer, the neighbors might call the cops. Let alone, you don’t want to wake my dad.”
A pleased smile graced his smug face. Seungcheol pushed passed you and skipped inside. When you entered, he was already running up the stairs.
How odd.
It wasn’t that the two of you weren’t friends, but you weren’t necessarily close enough for him to do things like this either. He was dressed nicely and you could’ve swore you caught a whiff of alcohol when you checked him earlier. You wondered what happened – a night out at the clubs again maybe? Jihoon had mentioned he was “going through a hoe phase.” He had to be drunk for him to come seeking you. Sure, he might’ve missed you but to no extent that he’d come visit you in the dead of night.
When you entered your room, too lost in your musing, you failed to notice Seungcheol already collapsed on your bed.
“Seungcheol,” you moaned, “What are you doing?”
He turned his head to look at you, his bread-like cheeks pressed into your comforter, smiling innocently.
“Get off,” you poked his shoulder.
“No,” he quipped.
You pushed a little harder this time. “Get off – go sleep in Jihoon’s room.”
He only buried his face in your pile of blankets.
“Seungcheol – oof!”
He tugged you onto the bed and crawled onto your lap. Inhaling deeply, you definitely caught a whiff of the alcohol mixed with something sweet. He was definitely drunk – what were you supposed to do? You didn’t have experience dealing with drunk friends.
“Stop yelling at me,” Seungcheol muttered. “Just,” he let out a shallow breath, already nodding off, “Let me sleep here for a bit.”
This was way too intimate of a position for you and your older brother’s best friend. His face? In your lap?
It’d be rude to push him off when he was sleeping so peacefully though. When you had calmed down a bit, you took in his rather ethereal appearance. His lashes were perfectly curled and long – he was so close, you swore you could’ve counted each strand. Your eyes tracing down the straight of his nose, settling on his cherry red pout. It was almost as if he was always wearing lip tint.
You weren’t quite sure why, but you felt an urge to card through his hair. You raised a hand, hovering nervously above his head – do you? Do you not?
You do.
Seungcheol mewled at your touch, eliciting a blush on your cheeks. You were glad he was asleep and couldn’t see how affected you were at such a seemingly small act.
“Missed you,” Seungcheol said again, much more softly this time. “I meant it.”
You only hummed in response.
“Uni sucks.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
He winced, snuggling deeper into your thighs.
“Wish it was just you, Jihoon, and me forever.”
You chortled softly. “It can be if you want.”
He didn’t reply afterwards. You were only met with his soft snores.
That night, you never did find out why he came to visit. He was gone before you woke up the next day.
“Have you always liked me?” you asked Seungcheol, staring off at the city below, mindlessly brushing through his dark locks similarly to that night all those years ago.
“Hhmm?” Seungcheol looked up at you.
You smiled, letting your gaze fall to meet his own. His eyes were shining, the city lights reflecting off his dark irises and lighting up like neon green stars in your childhood bedroom.
You were halfway through the summer already. Finals flew by like a train you were trying to catch. Graduation went by like a blur and then the flurry of parties that followed. Seungcheol was slowly starting to pick up responsibilities at Sebong Holding, while you, more shifts at the cafe. He still picked you after your shifts when he could – notably, coming into the cafe this time instead of waiting for you at the street corner.
You had sorted things out with Jisoo as well; admittedly, a little awkward, but he was surprisingly very calm about it, telling you he figured you had your mind set on someone else given how preoccupied all the times the two of you spent together. Jihoon seemed to be the hardest one to convince regarding your relationship. Though he was reluctant and still suspicious, he was … slowly warming up to the idea of Seungcheol and you being together – for real. He doesn’t purposely sit in between the two of you anymore during car rides on night outs (“hands to ourselves please,” he’d grumble before and after the trip).
Unfortunately, because of his busy schedule, you found yourself spending less time with Seungcheol than you both had intended this summer. Fortunately, however, that only made all the moments more precious, no matter how big or small. Nothing between the two of you changed since making it “official” per se. As Clara had put it, if you hadn’t come clean and confessed you and Seungcheol were fake dating, no one would have suspected it in the first place.
“Could’ve fooled me,” Hansol had mused, alternating, quirking his eyebrows, “It was all very seamless and oddly natural now knowing that – as if he always had a crush on you or something.”
Tonight was one of those few nights Seungcheol had some free time and asked to go out for a drive to your now shared “safe haven,” simply in hopes of enjoying each other’s presence and the perks of a city view.
“Have you always liked me?” you asked again.
“Why do you ask?” he turned back, pressing his cheek into the palm of his hands.
“Reminds me of the last time we were like this,” you replied. “You remember? My senior year of high school – you showed up throwing rocks at my window.”
It was a bittersweet memory, but he was glad you were in it.
“Yeah,” Seungcheol replied softly.
“Well?”
He sighed. “I can’t say I didn’t think about it growing up.”
“So … you faked dated me on purpose?”
“What?” he shot up from his spot on your lap, frowning at you.
You chortled and leaned back on the palm of your hand, tilting your chin towards him.
Seungcheol took it as an opportunity to peck your lips.
“I didn’t really think about liking you,” he looked sideways, considering his words before continuing again, “Liking you romantically until recently, at least. Sure it crossed my mind a couple of times how funny it’d be if we got married because Jihoon,” he noted the way your eyes widened humorously. He scowled at you jokingly, reaching over to cup your cheek. You leaned into his touch nonetheless. “ I’ve always … had a soft spot for you though.”
Slowly, a small, shy smile crept onto your face as you paused, letting a comfortable moment of silence pass. You turned your head to graze your lips across his palm.
You shoved his shoulder playfully. “You’re incredibly cheesy, you know that?”
He did know, but he didn’t mind if it was you – not that he’d tell you that right now out loud.
“We’ve come a long way, Y/N.”
Seungcheol snaked his arms around your waist, sliding you across the hood of his car into his embrace. Foreheads touching, Seungcheol slotted his lips against yours, lazily kissing you. He broke away momentarily to let you better slant your head and ease into him – the press of your lips sudden and more fervent.
He didn’t think he could ever get tired of the taste of you.
“I love you,” Seungcheol whispered against your lips, “Gonna miss this when you’re gone.”
Wrapping your arms around his neck, you whispered back, “We still have time until then,” you placed a chaste peck on the corner of his mouth as if to reassure him, “And it’s not forever.”
“I know,” he whined softly, “Doesn’t mean I still won’t though.”
You let out a breathy chortle. “You’re whipped, Cheol.”
“And who’s fault is that?”
Teeth grazing on his bottom lip, you let them sink in lightly before tugging away to tease him. “I’ll gladly take the blame.”
Seungcheol let out a hesitant breath, unsure if now was a good time to bring up the topic. You weren’t necessarily hard to talk to – communication has been flowing easily between the two of you. The possibility of your relationship being nothing but a fever dream and ending in a month and half was just something he wasn’t sure he wanted – not when he was growing more attached to you by the day. He loved the way you texted him back telling him he was corny with the woozy-faced emoji after every ‘good morning’ message. The way “Cheol” rolled off your tongue sounded like a gentle music box to his ears. He loved the thrill of being able to hold you close when Jihoon wasn’t around.
“Does this mean …?” his voice trailed off.
You looked at him coyly, silently urging him to finish.
“You want to keep trying?” He took your hint. “Long-distance and all?”
The corner of your lips twitched up, your eyes flickering to your touching fingers.
“If you don’t know yet, you don’t have to tell me right now,” Seungcheol quickly added, his thumb grazing your chin.
“No, no,” you were quick to reply, “I mean – no, I don’t don’t know yet, but yes, I … want this long-term.”
Seungcheol beamed at you. “Really?”
“Really,” your finger mindlessly traced his knuckles shyly, “During and after Greece … I’m just … nervous.” You breathed out hesitantly.
Seungcheol smiled gently. “I am too, but we’ll figure it out – we always do.”
You nodded silently, dipping your chin into your chest in an attempt to hide your face from him. He could make out the sniffling between your breaths.
“A-are you crying?” Seungcheol chuckled.
“No,” you fibbed.
“Baby girl, you are,” Seungcheol cooed. He raised your chin and swiped at your cheeks.
“You’re just … so fucking corny, Cheol,” you smacked his chest lightly.
A low laugh bubbling from his chest, Seungcheol pulled you into his embrace, squeezing you tightly as if you couldn’t be any closer to him. Planting a peck on the crown of your head, he stroked your back, reassuring you, “You are so in love with me.”
Despite having grown up with Seungcheol and having grown with him romantically these past few months, you were still as shy as ever to admit it.
You were.
Epilogue (Bonus): 6 months later, Greece
“What are you doing today?” Seungcheol asked.
You hummed softly, collecting your books and sliding them into your satchel as class was finishing up. The Mediterranean air was thick and humid, the papers sticking to the table rather easily. Tucking a strand of hair behind your ear, you swiped at the sweat forming on your forehead, nodding at your professor on your way out and into the hallways.
“I’m going to go visit the Achilleion Palace,” you told him, “Taking some pictures and gathering inspiration for a project.”
“That sounds exciting,” Seungcheol mused.
“It is,” you smiled softly to yourself, “I wish you were here to see it with me.”
“Yeah?”
You rolled your eyes, descending down the steps of the lecture hall. “Of course.”
“I wish I was there too,” he said back to you. “Send me some photos alright? At least I can live vicariously through you.”
“Okay.”
“I gotta get back to work –”
“We are now boarding for gate 3A,” a formal voice sounded in the background.
Your brows furrowed together. “Are you traveling right now for your dad?”
“Uhh, no,” Seungcheol hummed, “Just … picking a client.”
“Huh – you’ve never done that before.”
“Well, when duty calls and they’re important.”
“Fine,” you shrugged. He had no reason to lie to you.
“I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?”
“Okay,” you relented.
“Love you,” he sang.
“I guess … I do too.”
“Very convincing sweetheart, but I know you do,” he smooched into the receiver. “Only 146 more days until I see you.”
“You’re still counting?!”
“What kind of long-distance boyfriend would I be if I wasn’t?”
You both bid goodbye and hung up. Walking back to your dorm, you couldn’t shake off the strange feeling in your chest.
Something wasn’t quite right.
The Achilleion Palace was magnificent.
A three-story, stark white building surrounded by the greenery of the island by the clear blue water, you were in sheer awe that you had the privilege to come here and see it in person. You had seen pictures of it in textbooks, but none of the pictures did it justice. Nonetheless, you had taken out your camera to snap photos of the grand entrance.
You waited momentarily for the tourists to clear before you aimed the lens at the building, making a point to ensure the marble pillars were symmetrical on either side of the shot. Just as you were about to snap the photo though, an annoying young man dressed in a black t-shirt and white shorts walked straight across your view.
Your finger was poised, ready to press the button as he lingered along the edges, but then he walked across again.
“Fucking prick,” you groaned, lowering your camera.
You narrowed your eyes following after him. Suddenly, he was making a beeline towards you. As he grew closer, from his wide eyes to plush pout, his features were coming together and growing all too familiar.
“Choi Seungcheol!” you feigned annoyance as you called after him. You tried your best to control your breathing, but it only grew uneven by the second.
He grinned widely at the sound of his name, suddenly taking off in a run towards you. He laughed loudly, scooping you up into his chest and spinning you around. You squealed, clasping tightly around his shoulders. God how you missed his touch and the way you could almost never fully wrap your arms around his broad shoulders.
“What are you doing here?” you asked breathlessly as if you were the one running. Your hands slipped down against his chest.
“Surprise?” he offered instead.
You scoffed. “You were at the airport earlier.”
His hand played with your waist, tilting his head coyly at you feigning innocence. “And?”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“That’d defeat the purpose of a surprise, sweetheart.”
“I don’t like surprises,” you fake pouted.
Seungcheol pointed to the empty space behind him. “Should I? Should I go home then?”
“No!” you immediately wrapped your arms around his waist. “I-I … I missed you.”
“That’s what I thought,” he chortled, kissing into the crown of your head. “Missed you too.”
“You’re already here, so you might as well just stay … maybe a few days.”
“How about a week?” Seungcheol offered.
Eyes wide, you pulled back. “A week?!”
He winked at you.
“Wait how?” you frowned. You mind flitted back to the few news articles about the Sebong heir making more public appearances at events these days. “Don’t you have work?”
“Work,” he paused, trying his best to suppress his grin, “In Greece, yeah.”
A moment of silence passed as you peered up at him through your lashes, your heart swelling and manifesting itself on your lips into a stupid, hopelessly in love grin. It had been months since he kissed you goodbye at the airport and when you thought you wouldn’t see him until next year, he was here, in flesh, in your arms. The phone calls and text messages throughout the day were nice and comforting, but nothing beat seeing him in real time.
“I’ll be a little busy some days, but I’ll make time to come see you,” he reached for your hand, loosely holding it and running his thumb across your knuckles.
Some would argue that your time being together a little more than a year at this point was all part of the process and this giddy feeling whenever you saw one another was just part of your “honeymoon phase” that would soon start to fade. You’d like to think you and Seungcheol were different, however. Your relationship with one another was like a honeymoon phase that lasted a lifetime because you enjoyed all the little things about one another and with each other. It’s not that you were naive and weren’t expecting any problems to arise, but you’d hope that you could work through those and ride out this love story like they write in fanfiction on Tumblr.
Perhaps you were loopy on feelings, but Choi Seungcheol was truly something else – a good something else.
Launching yourself into his chest, you whispered those three damned words you were once so afraid of: “I love you.”
