jiae jumped up to help hyeyeong carry the multiple bowls of popcorn she'd just made for the large group of girls (and miles) in her living room. when soyi said "jiae protection squad, assemble!", jiae should have taken her more seriously.

the group showed up ready to raise fists. eunjin even brought a katana, for some reason.

"guys," jiae managed after successfully hiding her laughter of disbelief. "you're being ridiculous."

her words didn't have much seriousness behind them, so the others didn't pay her much mind. yuxi and miles were sparring in the living room, with sosuke and soyi as the referees. only lin and hyeyeong were on the couch with her, since eunjin and minsu were struggling to make dinner for everybody.

hyeyeong tossed an arm around jiae's shoulder, and the jiae leaned her head into the older. "this was their entire plan," hyeyeong explained in a patient voice. "they know you were panicky, so they came over to have some fun and calm you down."

miles yelled when yuxi kicked him in the stomach and swept her legs out from beneath her as he went down. jiae rolled her eyes as the two began to wrestle.

"i think it's working."

——

the night was peaceful after that (excluding the ten seconds of panic when someone burned the second round of popcorn and set the fire alarm off.)

the crew were splayed across the couch, and those who didn't fit slept on the floor. they'd formed a barrier of bodies around jiae, who, apparently, was the only one that couldn't fall asleep.

slowly, she sat up and looked around to see if anyone else was awake. once the coast was clear, jiae carefully removed her covers and tiptoed over her sleeping friends. she had to cover her mouth when she saw eunjin and lin holding each other in their sleep before finally making it to her room and shutting the door.

checking her phone, she saw that it was almost four in the morning. if it was anyone else she was trying to talk to, they'd be asleep. hyuck, just like most of the nct members, was a night owl.

jiae
hey

jiae
you up?
sent at 3:49 am

haechan
this feels strangely like an
international booty call 🤔
sent at 3:52 am

jiae
you wish !!

haechan
what's up sunshine?

haechan
it's a little late for you isn't it?

jiae
everyone is sleeping over
at my house rn lol

jiae
i needed an escape 😔

haechan
awwwwwwww you miss me 🥰

jiae
nuh uhh idk who else is awake at 4 am

haechan
you miss meeeee 🥹🥹

jiae
whateverrr 💞

jiae
i miss you

haechan
CUTIEKSMDMWKK

haechan
i miss you too pinkie 💗💗

jiae
🙄

jiae
what are you doing?

haechan
i was playing some games
with jeno but he can wait

jiae
poor jeno 😭

haechan
"poor jeno" HES A GROWN MAN

haechan
and you're never up this early so

haechan
trouble sleeping?

jiae
kinda

jiae
personal stuff yk

haechan
wanna talk about it?

jiae
what about your roommate?

haechan
jungwoo would sleep through an
earthquake. as long as i don't mention
food he'll be fine 🤭

jiae
okayyyyyyy

Incoming call from h-man 🧸
accept | decline

jiae laid on her bed, her phone between her cheek and the mattress. she wasn't quite sure how to start, but she enjoyed the comforting silence on the other end of the line.

after seconds that felt like hours, she heard her boyfriend's lazy chuckle through the phone. "has my presence shocked you into silence? or did you fall asleep?"

rolling her eyes, jiae replied with a smile in her voice. "you're so full of it. are you going to listen to my rant now, or continue to flatter yourself?"

after another moment of quiet, sleep-deprived banter, jiae told him everything. she told him about her ex-step-mother first reaching out, how she's been meaning to change her number, and how her ex-step-brother threatened to surprise her tonight. she told him it's the reason behind her recent reluctance and distracted demeanor. she told him that she isn't sure how to handle it on her own anymore, but that she's scared of him getting involved and risking himself and his career for her. most of all, she told him that she wished he was there with her, and that she'd feel more at peace with one donghyuck than she does with a dozen friends.

when she finished, exhausted and on the verge of tears, haechan finally spoke. "okay," his voice was gentle but held a whole new type of seriousness jiae wasn't used to hearing from him. "here's what we're going to do. we're going to extend that restraining order and up it so that you won't have to renew it again. we're going to get you a new number, and a new job—"

"but—"

"—one closer to the building, because i want you to move in with me."

jiae's breath stilled in her chest. "what?"

"your aunt is gone too much, and i want you where i can be there for you." she heard him swallow on the other line. "i don't know what i'd do if anything happened to you and i wasn't there."

jiae's nose burned with incoming tears. "hyuck..."

i love you. the words were burning on her lips, but she refused to say such important words over the phone. instead, she said, "is this what you want? even if my psycho step-family wasn't in the picture, would you still—"

"it's all i've ever wanted." he cut her off so quickly, and jiae wasn't sure how to process his words. even when he continued, she was swirling with thoughts of risk and doubts that mixed dangerously with the adrenaline coursing through her veins. "the happiest i've been is when i was sick. when you were there every morning to wake up to, and every night to fall asleep to. i want that every day for the rest of my life, jiae. i want this. do you?"

she didn't have to think. "i do. donghyuck, i want to move in with you, too." jiae was sitting up now and nodding against the phone, even though she knew he couldn't see her.

"are we really doing this?" she heard him ask, his voice full of glee. she wasn't quite sure if he was talking to her of himself, but she replied anyway.

"i guess we are."

•
JIHAE ROOMIES LETS GOOOOOO