Managing the Spotlight

It's been a year since I first met Eunchae. Crazy how it all started, like fireworks going off in the middle of a storm. We've gotten closer since then, if you can call sneaking around and fucking "getting closer."  

We text every single day. I send her dumb memes and screenshots I know will piss her off—she always fires back with something equally annoying. And yeah, sometimes she sends me those private pics that get me instantly worked up. Not gonna lie, those always hit different.

Same routine as always sent her a couple dumb memes right before my morning class, just to give her something to laugh at while I’m stuck in lectures. By the time she hit me back, it was already afternoon. Just a waving sticker at first, then before I could even type anything, she hits me with: "You miss me already?"  

I fired back with "Nope," but we both knew that was bullshit. The reply came way too fast.  

We went back and forth like that for a while, until she suddenly dropped a mirror selfie on me. Off-shoulder white top, loose jeans, one hand hooked on her belt buckle like some kind of cowboy. No warning, no context. Just ~BOOM! There she was, looking stupidly good, and my brain short-circuited for a couple of seconds. Couldn’t even come up with a reply. Damn her.  

They keep texting me until I finally get home, alone again. Parent's off on another work trip overseas. Seriously, I wish she was here right now.

Feeling kinda mopey, I end up texting "I miss you" without even thinking. I was about to hit delete when her reply pops up: "I miss you too." My face goes hot and I just collapse onto my bed. Then she adds, "Text you later, just wrapping up some stuff," and suddenly I'm stuck there, all flustered and grinning like an idiot.

Her fingers hovered over the screen, heart pounding. "What the hell.. did I actually send that?" The text stared back at her, undeniable.

A sharp knock interrupted her panic. "Eunchae-ah, you ready?" Manager-nim’s voice cut through the door. Like she’d ever say no, Hong Eunchae didn’t half-ass rehearsals, even if her brain was currently short-circuiting over a dumb text.

Practice with ILLIT and Katseye was brutal but fun, their new track "Iconic by Mistake" demanding every drop of energy. Between laughing at inside jokes and nailing formations, she almost forgot about her phone, almost. The practice video wrapped, dinner got inhaled, and by the time she collapsed onto the dorm couch, her notifications were flooded with Luc’s usual nonsense: memes, cursed TikTok edits, that one clip of a screaming raccoon she’d sent him last week.

She thumbed out a lazy "you up?" just to watch the typing bubbles appear, vanish, then reappear after a painfully long pause. 

Was about to sleep, he finally replied. She could practically hear his stupid smirk through the screen. 

"So I'm free Thursday. Wanna get lunch or whatever?" 

"Only if you were free..that is." She texted. 

"Sure, my grades aren't gonna slip coz I skip one day," he replied. 

"Don't be an idiot, Luc." 

"I'll gladly be your idiot.😜" Luc fired back at her. 

"Pabo!" she shot back, grinning like an idiot herself, a mistake when Unnies were lurking. 

"Manchae's texting her boyfriend again~" Yunjin sang, draping over the couch arm. 

"Yah! It's not—" Eunchae chucked a pillow at her, but the damage was done. The dorm erupted into chaos.

Eunchae retreated into her room, waiting until she heard the dorm settle down before grabbing a towel to clean up. 

But then she paused, catching her reflection in the mirror. Still wrapped in just that towel, she lifted her phone and snapped a quick pic. Just as she lowered it, the bathroom door creaked open.  

Kkura stood there, arms crossed, eyebrow raised. She took one look at Eunchae's guilty grip on her phone and smirked. "Damn. Whoever's got you sneaking around like this better treat you right."  

"Yah! He's not~!" Eunchae huffed, face burning, but Kkura was already backing away with that same stupid, knowing grin.  

Back in her room, Eunchae stared at the photo. Should she send it? Her thumb hovered—then slipped.  

Luc was half-asleep when his phone buzzed. He blinked at the screen then choked. Eunchae, damp from the shower, towel barely hanging on. "Holy fuck," he breathed. But before he could even think to save it, the message was deleted.  

"...Hey. What was that?"  

"What was what?"  

"The you know what."  

"Nothing. Good Night, Luc." She hurled her phone onto the bed, face burning. 

Somehow it was already Thursday.

Eunchae slipped out of the dorm and shot Luc a quick text: "Meet me at Banpo Park, don't be late." 

Luc replied with “🫡”,

then ten minutes later: "Here. Where are you?"  

"Find me yourself, 😝" she replied. 

He saw her over by the bridge, sprawled out under the trees like a cat soaking up the sun. sneaking up behind her, he tapped her shoulder with one finger extended, and when she turned, boop, right in the cheek.  

"Hey," Luc said, grinning.

Eunchae smiled back. "Hey."

Up close, she's breathtaking. Without thinking, Luc reaches for her hand. Their fingers lace together as they walk along the river. After a quiet stretch, he nudges her. "Hungry? Wanna grab some food?"

Eunchae shakes her head. "Not really." So they keep walking through the park instead, Luc snapping a few candid shots of her.

She suddenly tugs his sleeve, lowering her voice. "If anyone asks, just say you're my manager, okay?" 

"Got it~" Luc winks. 

Eunchae bites her lip. "People might recognize me, and then..." She doesn't finish, already seeing the headlines in her head.  

Luc ruffles her hair. "Relax. We've got this routine down by now." 

"So, boss," he teases, "where to?" 

She drags him into a convenience store by the wrist. They grab instant ramen, fried chicken, and sodas,microwave the noodles right there at the counter before sneaking off to an outdoor table. Eunchae strikes a few "professional" poses while Luc plays photographer, snapping pics of her pretending to review the food. Finally, they tear into it, chopsticks clicking between bursts of laughter.

Before it completely got dark, when Eunchae glanced at Luc. 

He knew that look. Without a word, he cleared the table and reached for her hand. They walked silently to where he'd parked his parents' car. 

The drive back to his place was quiet, the kind of silence that sits heavy between two people who know exactly what's coming. Before either of them could process the passing streets, they were already at his gate. He clicked the remote, pulled in, and parked the vehicle. 

The door had barely locked behind them when Eunchae was on him, all hungry lips and clutching hands. Luc laughed into the kiss as he scooped her up, carrying her toward his room without breaking contact. 

The smell hit her first that same mix of his cologne and laundry detergent from the first time. Definitely wouldn't be the last. 

Her fingers were already yanking at his shirt. "Someone's eager," Luc murmured against her mouth. 

"Shut up," she growled, biting his lower lip. "You know I could replace your ass anytime." 

He kissed her forehead, slow and deliberate. "But you won't." The shirt hit the floor. Then hers followed.

Eunchae's pants hit the floor next, and she scooted back onto his bed, giving him that look—the one that said she wanted him.  

Luc grinned, dropped to his knees, and took her feet in his hands, pressing soft kisses along them.  

"Yah! Luc... what the hell?" she gasped, more startled than annoyed.  

His mouth trailed higher, leaving kisses up her calves, her thighs—then a teasing peck right over her white panties before moving to her stomach.  

His hands found her bra next, fingers kneading her small but perfect breasts.  

Eunchae yanked Luc's head closer, their lips crashing together in another hungry kiss.  

"Quit messing around, idiot," she breathed against his lips.  

Luc smirked, his voice dripping with amusement. "Then say what you want." Like he didn't already know.

Luc kissed Eunchae's lips softly at first, then trailed his mouth down her neck, nipping at her skin like he wanted to leave marks. But he held back, she couldn't show up with hickeys, or she'd catch hell for it. Instead, he moved lower, teasing the edge of her strapless bra before tugging it free with his teeth.

Eunchae pulls his head closer, pressing his face against her soft chest. She loves how Luc teases her nipples—it always sends shivers through her, way more than when she touches herself during their tours. 

Luc lets her guide him, his mouth finding her breast before nipping at her nipple playfully. He glances up at her face, watching as she starts to unravel from his little game.

God, he loved teasing her, he couldn't help himself, really. His free hand wandered over to her other breast, playing with it while Eunchae came completely undone beneath him, moaning his name like she couldn't hold back anymore.  

And fuck, her white panties were soaked already, getting wetter with every second. Luc switched to her other breast, his other hand slipping down to press against that damp fabric, teasing her even more.

His fingers traced lazy circles over her damp panties, teasing the heat beneath. 

"Luc..." Her voice hitched, breath catching as his touch lingered.

"Yes, baby?" He grinned, knowing damn well what she needed but loving how desperate she got when he made her ask.

Eunchae smacked his shoulder with a frustrated little groan. "Just eat me out already, you idiot!"

"With pleasure." His mouth followed the path his hands had taken, kissing lower, slower, cruelly slow until he nuzzled against the soaked fabric. He inhaled sharply, lips brushing her thighs before returning to press a hot, open-mouthed kiss right where she ached most.

"Fuck~ Luc, come on~!" Her hips jerked, fingers twisting in the sheets.

With a chuckle, his breath warm against her thigh, he slowly slid her panties down. He stopped for a second, grinning at the neatly trimmed patch of hair above her pussy shaped like a perfect little heart. "Cute," he muttered before burying his face between her legs.

His mouth found its way between her thighs, tongue teasing her clit until she was practically seeing stars. "Fuck yes, Luc!" she gasped, fingers tightening in his hair as she pulled him deeper, desperate for more.

She arches her hips up to meet your mouth, her breath catching when your tongue swirls around her clit before tracing down to tease her entrance. You grip her ass tight with both hands, pulling her closer as you bury your tongue inside her and fuck, the way she gasps, thighs trembling, tells you she’s already close.  

Then she starts moaning your name, ragged and desperate, and you can’t resist slipping one hand free from her ass. Her pussy’s soaked, warm, and your fingers slide in easily, curling just right while your mouth keeps working her. The combo’s too much, she cums hard, back arching, and you grin against her when her climax pulses around your fingers before she squirts, slick and messy, right across your face.  

She's grinning like crazy, totally lost in the moment as she comes down from her high. God, she's gorgeous like this, all unraveled and breathless. You lean in, kissing her soft lips as her arms loop around your neck. With a playful nudge, you roll her onto her side, lifting one of her legs just enough to tease her with your length, still pressed against her sensitive heat.  

"Ready for the real thing?" you murmur, grinning down at her.  

She lets out a breathy laugh, still catching her breath. "Took you long enough, dumbass."  

You guide yourself with one hand, guiding it to her slick entrance. She's already so wet you slide right in without resistance, like she's been waiting for this. Her tight heat wraps around you, pulling you deeper.

"God, I missed this..." she breathes against your skin.

You start slow, savoring the way she shivers beneath you, then pick up the pace when her nails dig into your back. Soon she's falling apart all over again. Her mouth finds yours between gasps, both of you lost in the rhythm, the friction, this messy whatever you call it between you.

You gave her ass a playful smack a few times before she broke the kiss. Leaning in, you planted one more quick peck on her lips and murmured, "Get on all fours, babe."

She grins, shoving you back playfully before dropping onto her hands and knees, arching her back to put her ass on display. Her eyes lock onto yours, hungry for whatever you'll do next.

You flashed her a wicked grin before moving behind her, burying your face between her thighs without hesitation. She gasped as your tongue dragged through her wetness, tracing upward until you teased tight circles around her tight little hole.  

"Luc what the fuck, no, that's~" Her protest cut off with a sharp inhale when your tongue pressed firmer, working her in slow, relentless circles. One sharp smack to her ass made her jerk, a broken noise escaping her throat.  

Before she could recover, you hauled her close, crashing your mouth against hers, tongues tangling as she tasted herself on you. Then, with a rough groan, you pushed back inside her, deep watching her eyes roll back before she could even catch her breath.  

You shoved her back against the bed, hips slamming harder now—she was wrecked, totally yours.  

Her walls clenched around you tighter, and you smacked her ass once, twice, the sharp sound cutting through the room.  

"Fuck you, Luc!" she gasped, but then whimpered, "Fuck me more, please..."  

Like you’d stop. Every thrust buried you deep, pulling out just to sink back in, relentless.  

Your thumb brushed her other hole, teasing, then pressed inside, she arched, crying out as she came again.  

She was squeezing you so tight it almost hurt, but her wetness kept trying to push you out. You held firm, feeling her drip down your cock onto your balls.  

You're right there with her, almost at your peak. Your thumb slides out of her ass as both hands grip her hips tighter.  

You want to bury yourself deep and you do, pushing all the way in before letting go, filling her up as you come hard inside her. She feels it, warm and thick, mixing with her own wetness.  

Your body collapses against her, exhausted. You press a kiss to the nape of her neck before she turns to face you, lips meeting again this time slower, softer, more intimate. 

You roll off her and settle beside her, pulling her into your arms.  

She turns to face you, burying her face against your chest.  

"Dummy... dummy," she murmurs, her fingers tracing lazy circles on your skin.  

You tilt her chin up with your hand and press your lips to hers.  

"But I'm your dummy," you say with a goofy grin one that makes her smile right back. 

"I love you, Lee Jin," she murmured with that playful grin of hers.  

You shot back instantly, "Nah, I love you, Hong Eunchae," dragging out her name just to mess with her.  

She whacked your shoulder hard and huffed, "Since when do you use my full name like that?"  

You just grinned, shrugging. "You started it."  

And just like that, the two of you fell right back into your usual back-and-forth, half-teasing, half-flirting.  

Yeah. They're definitely dating now.