A Recipe for Love ( Le sserafim X Fem reader )

Chapter 13: A Place for Two

AN: What's this? A surprise chapter? hehe, I felt bad about the long wait between the last two chapters, so here's an extra one for you! 💖

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The soft morning light seeped through the windows, casting a gentle glow across Y/N's living room. The room was cozy, filled with warm tones and plush cushions that hugged the couch where she sat, coffee mug nestled between her hands. She could feel the warmth radiating from the ceramic, its familiar heat a grounding presence against the whirlwind of thoughts swirling in her mind. The faint aroma of roasted beans filled the air, comforting and familiar, yet doing little to ease the restlessness in her heart. Yesterday's events—especially the sudden Dispatch article—had left her feeling exposed, as though a private part of her life had been snatched and held up to the unforgiving light of public scrutiny.

She took a slow, deliberate sip, hoping the rich bitterness might steady her. Instead, her mind kept returning to the flashing headlines, the assumptions, the whispers. A simple day out with a friend had spun wildly out of control, thrusting her into the spotlight in ways she'd never expected, let alone asked for.

Suddenly, a gentle but firm knock on the door echoed through the quiet. Y/N jolted slightly, the mug trembling in her grip as her focus shifted back to the present. She frowned, setting her coffee down carefully on the side table, its warmth lingering on her palms. It was early—too early for visitors, and she wasn't expecting anyone.

When she opened the door, she was met with a figure she recognized instantly. IU stood there, her usually radiant presence softened by the early hour. She wore an oversized hoodie and a cap pulled low over her face, casting a shadow over her eyes, but not enough to hide the hint of apprehension in her expression. It wasn't like her to show up unannounced, and especially not like this.

"Ji-eun?" Y/N's voice was laced with surprise, the syllables tumbling out almost reflexively. "What are you doing here?"

IU offered a small, tentative smile, a stark contrast to the confidence she usually radiated. "I... I came to apologize," she said quietly, her gaze dropping briefly as if the words carried more weight than she wanted to show. She stepped inside slowly, hesitating as Y/N motioned her toward the couch, her hands lingering at her sides in an unusual display of nervousness. "I feel really bad about everything that happened with the Dispatch photos," IU continued, her voice barely above a whisper. "I should have been more careful."

Y/N shut the door softly behind them, her movements slow and thoughtful as she tried to process IU's uncharacteristic vulnerability. She crossed the room to join IU, who had settled onto the edge of the couch, her fingers twisting anxiously in the hem of her hoodie. "You don't have to apologize, Ji-eun," Y/N said gently, lowering herself onto the seat beside her. "We weren't doing anything wrong. It's not like you could have known they were lurking around."

IU sighed, running a hand through her hair, a frustrated and almost helpless gesture. "I know," she murmured, her gaze drifting to a spot on the floor as if it held answers she couldn't find in Y/N's face. "But... I don't want you caught up in something you didn't ask for. The rumors, the media—it's not fair to you." Her voice cracked just slightly, a rawness slipping through the composed mask she usually wore.

Y/N felt a warmth bloom in her chest, an unexpected surge of gratitude for the concern in IU's words. "Honestly, it's fine. The girls teased me a bit, but it's no big deal. Besides, if anything, I should apologize for not realizing who you were sooner," she said, a gentle smile tugging at the corners of her lips, hoping to lighten the mood.

A soft chuckle escaped IU, easing some of the tension that had settled on her shoulders. "Honestly, I was kind of relieved you didn't know. It's nice, being seen as just me... not IU all the time."