A Series of Unexpected Events: Stray Kids

Chapter 9: Crying in the Freezer Aisle (Part 2)

(TW: Depictions of SA)

Also, this applies to previous chapters as well, but don't mind any of the time stamps on the text messages. They don't align correctly.

Nearly 28k words. Enjoy <3

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Once that dark, mischievous look settled onto Han's face, you knew that you were done for. That there is no amount of begging or bartering that can help you fight against his insistent way of flirting.

Sure enough-- "I could help you with that," Han coos with a fiend-ish grin.

Your first instinct is to deadpan at him at the sheer surety and teasing undertone in his voice, but y'know what? Just because of that frustratingly handsome, cocky grin--

"Okay," you agree as you sit up and slide off the bed, padding to the bathroom without another word.

You can practically hear his mental operating system crash and eventually reboot as he--after a handful of seconds--slinks after you to the bathroom. Not coming in, but just barely peeking his head in past the doorway, as if not quite believing what he heard is what he heard.

"S-say that again please."

"I said," you droll, oh so slowly as you turn to him, "okay."

You don't know what kind of response you were expecting. But you do know he wasn't at all prepared for you to go along with his half-pretend suggestion. So when he furrows his brows--one of the only parts of his face you can see besides his eyes--you have to bite back the urge to chuckle at his confused disbelief.

"Don't play with me y/n. That wouldn't be funny," he warns, his face still scrunched up cutely. But when you simply answer his wariness by pulling off your shorts, even though he can't see anything because your oversized tee hangs down to your mid-thigh, he freezes, his brows furrowing more. "You-you're being serious?"

"Why would I lie to you love?"

Though the confusion slowly melts from his gaze, you see the way he stoically keeps his eyes on yours, not letting it dip to your bare legs, if out of nothing else but pure respect.

"But...but why?"

"Why not?" you fire back. And you mean it. "You guys are leaving tonight and I don't want to waste the little time I have with you. Isn't this what free rein was meant for?"

It's a decision you had come to on a whim but one you stand by now. The longer the two of you stand here, the more you realize how quickly this last day will go by. Less than 24 hours, that's all you have left with them. These past few days have already gone in the blink of an eye. And you don't want to let the rest of it be filled with regrets. So--

"If you want, and only if you want," you tell him, sidling up to the other side of the doorway so you're face to face, "I give you full permission to join me. I'd love if you did actually." Leaning forward, you give him a small kiss on the cheek before moving to close the door. "Take some time to think about it and come in if and when you feel like it, okay?"

You know by the look on his face that he's a bit too deep in thought to answer back so you simply close the door allowing him the time and space to sift through everything going on in his brain.

It's better for you too, because as much as you're acting calm and collected, you're beyond nervous. Being intimate with Lee Know yesterday was different in so many ways. For one, you were already half delirious with exhaustion because of the long day, and the darkened environment allowed for some semblance of not being seen. Not fully.