ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗥𝗧𝗬-𝗧𝗪𝗢
─◌✰್ 𝖽𝗋𝗎𝗇𝗄𝖾𝗇 𝖼𝗈𝗇𝖿𝖾𝗌𝗌𝗂𝗈𝗇𝗌

sunshine.lix wait is this post about what i think it's about...?
> ramenoodlaska i already told you what it's about babe...
    > ryerye @sunshine.lix and you're literally friends with the other person in this situation so you should know right
        > matchatess @ramenoodlaska @ryerye ugh guys are dumb, no offense @sunshine.lix
            > minniemouse- @sunshine.lix we all talked to you yesterday, remember?
                > sunshine.lix sorry guys i just don't get cryptic captions 😔

matchatess oh you ate that up girl
> catdad_lee shut your mouth, you're drooling
    > matchatess @catdad_lee stfu why would i be drooling??
        > dingdonghong @matchatess maybe bc you like drama too much
            > catdad_lee @matchatess you'd get along with @the.official.hwang
                > catdad_lee @matchatess if you weren't busy flirting with other guys, that is
                    > robin_is_a_penguin @catdad_lee keep your random drama out of my comments bro wtf

mymymy y'all look so good but i feel awkward commenting 🫣
> ramenoodlaska you can just comment on how hot we are
    > ryerye @ramenoodlaska or how good the food looks!
        > sunshine.lix @ryerye tbh i wasn't even looking at the food...
            > mymymy @sunshine.lix i was waiting for someone else to chime in with you, but i guess this post wouldn't have been made if he did, huh?
                > robin_is_a_penguin @mymymy girl what happened to being cryptic???

minniemouse- did you block @cheesecakehannie ?
> huats.up and if she did?
    > matchatess @minniemouse- yeah she can block whoever she wants
        > changaroo97 @huats.up @matchatess he is kind of sad, though...
            > sk8terjj @huats.up @matchatess we don't even know the whole story so we can't hate, yet that is
                > ryerye @sk8terjj i was born a hater 😃 but i will stay neutral
                    > robin_is_a_penguin @minniemouse- just dm me

"Tell me what's going on, right now."

Changbin's brows knitted into a frown as he sat you down on the stairs outside the lodge. As he gazed at you, clearly long gone from the amount of alcohol you'd consumed, he battled against the frustration and concern he felt for you.

Before he could stop himself, he added, "Oh, and also tell me why you've been avoiding me all night! Is it work? It's always work."

You sighed in defeat, shoulders slumping. He felt a pang of regret for the harsh tone he'd just used. He hadn't meant it that way. He'd just been so excited to spend the entire evening with you on Halloween, that he couldn't mask his disappointment when that didn't happen. When he'd seen you having a great time with, instead. He had to admit, it stung.

"Se Ri told me that the CEO is unhappy with my work. And she said that we would be having a conversation when I get back home. I-I think they're going to fire me, if I do poorly."

"No." Changbin let you finish what you had to say, before bursting in with a vehemence he didn't know he could feel. "They are not going to fire you, Gorgeous. You're such a hard worker. You've done an amazing job with these dogs, even after all the clients left. That wasn't your fault, and neither was the dog escaping. And if they want to blame you, they're terrible business owners." He reached over and grabbed your hand, soft, warm palm contrasting with his large, rough one. He squeezed, in an attempt to comfort you.

You tried to smile, but your lip wobbled, as you were clearly trying to fight back tears.

Changbin's heart ached, and he wished harder than ever that he could take your hurt away. He'd never been good at these conversations. He preferred to keep it light and silly, cracking jokes rather than talking about his feelings, only choosing to share his emotions in the songs he decided to produce.

"I wish I was as confident as you are," you croaked around tears. "It feels like every time I try to do better, they turn around and tell me I'm a failure."

"You aren't a failure," Changbin insisted. "I can see that, we all see that. And if I they don't, maybe they're not worth-"

"But my job is my life!" you burst out, cutting him off. Tears were now flowing down your cheeks, smudging your black and red eye makeup, making it look like you were bleeding. "Without my career, I'll feel like a failure. I'll have nothing."

A pang zapped his heart at your words. Did you really feel that way?

"You are so much more than just your job, Hua," he said quietly, his thumb rubbing circles against your hand. "And you have so much. You're so smart and determined, you could get a job anywhere. And you have such amazing friends, you have your dogs, and... well, you have me too."

You smiled a watery smile, before leaning over and resting your head on his shoulder. "I know. And I feel so lucky to have you. It's just... this job is really important to me. I need to be successful, I need to prove that I'm worth all these people's high expectations of me-"

Changbin frowned even harder at that, accidentally cutting you off. "Gorgeous, you know that no one cares if you have a job or not, whether or you're super successful, but you, right? I couldn't care less if you make 100K or 40K. If you're the same amazing person you are right now, I want you no matter what. And all your friends feel the same way. People who would judge you just because of your job title aren't people you want in your life. Your friends only see you as amazing because of the person you are, not because they expect you to be perfect."

Your eyes filled with tears again, and he smiled, hugging you close. "But... Park and Paws is such an important company, and I want to keep working there," you mumbled against his arm. "Not really because of the people, but because I feel like we make a difference for these animals, you know? I want to be able to say that I'm really changing their lives, and I feel like this is the only way to do it. And if I got fired, I don't think anywhere else would hire me. Word travels fast in Jeju."

Changbin nodded gravely, understanding finally dawning. He felt similarly about producing music. He loved seeing the artists that he worked with transforming their lives, partially due to him. He related to you deeply, when it came to making a difference in others' lives.

"Well, if helping animals is so important to you, then we'll make sure to take great care of the ones we have, right?" He kissed your cheek lightly in encouragement. "Of course Junjie and Jiao love you, but Miso, Areum, and Bingsu have already gotten so attached to you, too. You're a natural trainer. But we're only going to do that if you enjoy it. We're not just helping them so you can keep your job. Your happiness is more important than that, okay?"

You paused, considering his words. He could tell you were doubtful of what he was saying. Even though you were clearly wasted, and might not remember much of anything that happened tonight, he still felt the need to comfort you, while also telling the truth of how he felt. "Y-yeah, I guess," you said haltingly. "You know, Namjoon said something similar, I think."

Changbin turned to face you, his heart tightening. Had you told Namjoon all this before him? "You told him?" he asked, trying to keep his voice casual.

You nodded, head lolling as you fought to stay awake. Or conscious, he supposed. "Yeah... I bumped into him right after I got off the phone with Se Ri, and I was kind of a mess. I was scared to tell you all this because I didn't want you to think I was a complete failure. He was easier to tell, because I don't really care what he thinks, you know? I wanted to wait to talk to you until tomorrow, so I didn't say something stupid. Too late for that, huh?" You laughed weakly. "He said that he could help me get to know the dogs even better, since he's already worked with them. I wanted a game plan, something that would guarantee that I wouldn't get fired. But if what you said is also true, about caring for me even if I mess up, I don't know what to do." You ducked your head in embarrassment.

"I can't tell you that, Hua," he replied tenderly. "But the reason why I love my job is because I don't put pressure on myself to be perfect. Not everyone respects me for being a part-time tattoo artist, especially compared to my producing, but I do it because I enjoy it. I don't really care if people think it's a good decision or not. Maybe that's a good starting place."

"You really don't care if I was a complete loser, and didn't have a job?" you asked, as if he was crazy. "Why would you want to be with me, then?"

Changbin started to laugh, but judging from your heavy frown, you were serious. He sobered, trying to hide a smile, before saying, "well, because it's you, Hua. I wouldn't want to be with anyone else, and it's not because of your job, or because of how successful you are. As I've told you before, and I'll keep saying it until I literally can't speak anymore, you caught my eye because of your stunning looks, vivacious personality, and because you just get me. I've never had such an immediate connection with anyone before, until I met you."

You sighed, nuzzling into his neck. He could feel the tears drying on your cheeks, and he leaned down to wipe them away.

"I don't think you know just how amazing you are, Bin," you murmured, gazing into his eyes with a shaky smile. "You always say that no girl would want to be with someone like you, but you're everything a girl, everything I, could want in a man. You're always there for me, even when I'm having literal breakdowns. You're funny and passionate, and so smart. And you're fucking sexy as hell, which definitely doesn't hurt."

Changbin could feel his cheeks warm at your words. Even drunk, you were somehow still incredibly coherent. But of course you were. Even if you wouldn't admit it, you were perfect. He opened his mouth to say so.

"I love you Bin, so much," you whispered before he could speak, your eyes fluttering shut as you spoke. "No matter what happens, I want to be with you forever."

Changbin's heart expanded like a balloon so quickly, his chest hurt. He had to admit, he'd been dying to say those three words to you since the day you met. But he'd waited, not wanting to scare you off with the intensity of his feelings, and perhaps more importantly, to shield himself from potential rejection. But now that you'd said it first...

"I feel the same way, Gorgeous," he murmured, pressing a gentle kiss to your lips. You smiled against him happily, leaning into him.

"You look so handsome, Binnie," you babbled, before your eyes closed completely, and you fell asleep.

He sighed, gazing down at you fondly. "But I can't say it back, not yet," he continued his previous thought. "Because I don't think you're going to remember any of this in the morning. And I want my first time saying those words to be perfect. I want us both to remember it. And then, you can say it back to me, too, and mean it."

Then he pressed a kiss to your forehead, and picked you up. Carrying you into your empty cabin, he laid you down on the bed, climbed in next to you, and promptly fell asleep, a smile on his lips.

He hoped you really would remember what happened tonight. Because he couldn't wait to tell you how he felt tomorrow.

laska's note —
waaaa this chapter makes me so soft 😭😭 why are they just so precious?? i know hua is all drunk and incoherent as hell, but she still means every word she says! of course she was the first to say i love you, even though bin has been in love with her for so long 🥹 these two are the real deal, huh? i wonder what's going to happen, when all of this is put to the real test... i guess you'll just have to find out in the chapters to come 😏 also, look out for a double update this week! there may or may not be an extra chapter coming...

𝖭𝖤𝖷𝖳 𝖴𝖯：
𝟯𝟯 - 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿
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