What's After Like [M Reader X IVE (adult members)]

Chapter 8.1 - IVE (M)

Staring into your closet, you mull over the various clothes available to you, wanting to look just right for tonight's dinner.  Evening sunlight shines warmly outside your bedroom window as a pleasant spring day draws to a close.  Not that the weather really matters to your wardrobe selection given that you're only going next door.  Opting for a balance of fashion and formality, you grab one of your trendier shirts and a simple pair of pants.  You've been really looking forward to this night since Liz invited you a week ago.  Though you'd spent plenty of time looking after Rei while she was sick during their promotions, you'd hardly seen any of the other members recently except for your date with Liz.  Plus this feels like your first time officially visiting their dorm as a guest, and the first time you've really been invited to be part of the whole group.  Altogether it promises to be a memorable night, even if you try not to read too much into Liz' suggestive promise of 'fun' afterwards.  Maybe you won't be needing these clothes for too long...

Putting such raunchy thoughts away for now, you see that it's nearly time, so you shut down the lights in your apartment and head out to knock on the next unit over. It's Rei who greets you, opening the door to IVE's suite.  "Hey y/n, come on in!  Glad you could make it!"

"Oh I wouldn't miss it for anything!" you proclaim, before teasing a little.  "Careful though, are you sure you should be opening such a heavy door?"

Rei only grins.  "As a matter of fact, I have great news!  The doctors said today that I'm cleared to get back to physical activity.  It'll be a few more weeks until I can get in shape enough to return to group activities, but starting now I can get back to practice, and to other...physical activities."

"That is all great news indeed!"  You're very happy to hear that she's returning to strength.

As you step into the main living area of the suite, Liz runs up to you, not even saying hello before she pulls you into a long kiss.  "Ewwww!" Rei exclaims with a laugh.  "Get a room you two!"

"Okay!" Liz replies, grabbing your hand and starting to pull you towards the nearby bedroom door with her name on it.

"Hey hey hey save that for later!" you hear Gaeul's voice as she emerges from the kitchen with a stack of dishes.  "The food's almost ready."  You help Gaeul arrange the table as the other members begin carrying dishes of food from the kitchen.  Yujin smacks your ass with a wink as she walks past, a simple "'Sup?" her only word.

Wonyoung is the last one to emerge, carrying with her the final dishes of the feast.  "Welcome to our humble dormitory y/n" she says in a polite but still friendly tone.  "You've hosted enough of our members at your apartment already, so I'm glad we can finally return the favor."  Soon you all take your seats.  You wind up sitting between Yujin at one head of the table on your left and Rei on your right, with Liz smiling across at you.  Gaeul occupies the other end of the table while Wonyoung is diagonal to you.

The dinner proves to be an exceptionally pleasant time.  Conversation ranges all over the spectrum, from funny childhood stories to dramas you've all watched to other idols and artists that you all admire.  There's plenty of laughter and an air of genuine friendship throughout.  Even though you haven't spoken with some of them much recently, everyone seems entirely comfortable with your presence.  They're not shy about hiding their affection for each other either, but rather than exclude you this only serves to heighten the sense of connection, as though they've really trusted you enough as a group to freely show their true lives before you.  And the food is great too, particularly the bulgogi and the kimchi stew.  Even after everyone's had plenty to eat you all relax at the table for a long while, enjoying the simple pleasure of an evening in trusted company.

Eventually Gaeul is the first to get up, gathering some dishes into her arms and heading towards the kitchen.  Wonyoung quickly joins her.  You move to get up and help, but Yujin grabs your shoulder and holds you in your seat.  "Now hang on a moment y/n, you're our guest, let us do the cleanup.  Besides, I have to ask you something."