𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐀𝐃𝐄; boysnextdoor

lines we cross ; taesan

Y/N had always believed that love in marriage was something you worked for, not something you simply felt. She had been married to Junhyuk for three years—a marriage born of practicality and mutual respect. He was kind, hardworking, and dependable, but their relationship lacked the spark she'd secretly longed for. Their days were routine, their conversations polite but perfunctory, and their nights quiet and distant.

Taesan's life wasn't much different. His wife, Sooyoung, was a powerhouse in the corporate world—always on the go, always chasing the next promotion. They had married young, swept up in the whirlwind of first love, but over the years, they'd grown apart. She loved her work more than she loved him, or at least that's how it felt to Taesan. He had learned to accept it, burying his frustrations beneath the surface.

Y/N and Taesan's paths first crossed at a charity event hosted by mutual acquaintances. It was the kind of gathering where people came to network more than to celebrate the cause. Y/N stood by the dessert table, balancing a glass of wine in one hand and a plate of pastries in the other, when Taesan approached.

"Are the desserts worth it?" he asked, gesturing toward the spread.

She looked up, meeting his gaze for the first time. He had a disarming smile, one that made her forget, for a moment, how out of place she felt in the room.

"They're decent," she replied, her lips curving into a small smile. "Though I can't vouch for the macarons. They look too perfect to taste good."

Taesan chuckled, grabbing one anyway. He took a bite and grimaced dramatically. "You're right. Terrible."

Her laughter bubbled up before she could stop it. It had been a while since she'd laughed like that, unrestrained and genuine.

For the rest of the evening, they found themselves drifting back toward each other. Their conversations were lighthearted at first—banter about the event, the food, the people—but it quickly became apparent that there was an ease between them that neither had expected.

The second time they met was purely coincidental. Y/N was sitting in a small café, flipping through a book, when Taesan walked in. He paused when he saw her, then smiled as he approached.

"Twice in one week," he said, setting his coffee down at the table next to hers. "Fate or coincidence?"

"Definitely coincidence," she replied, though the flutter in her chest made her wonder.

They spent the next hour talking, their conversation flowing effortlessly once again. Taesan spoke about his struggles with balancing his passion for music with the realities of adulthood, while Y/N shared her frustrations with the monotony of her life. Neither mentioned their spouses.

As weeks turned into months, their encounters became more frequent. Sometimes they were planned—a casual text from Taesan suggesting coffee or a walk in the park—and other times they felt serendipitous. Y/N knew she should have drawn a line, should have stepped back before things spiraled out of control, but she couldn't bring herself to.

It wasn't an affair, she told herself. They weren't doing anything wrong. They were just two people finding solace in each other's company.

But the truth was, it was more than that.

Taesan had a way of seeing Y/N that no one else did. He noticed the small things—the way her lips twitched when she was holding back a laugh, the way her eyes softened when she talked about the books she loved. And Y/N found herself drawn to him in ways she couldn't explain. His presence felt like a breath of fresh air, a reminder of what it was like to feel alive.