Ateez Imagines

Kim Hongjoong ✧ Better Than I Do

Hongjoong wouldn't admit it, but he was completely smitten with you.

You both had only gone on a few dates up until now, mostly quiet talks within a local gallery or museum about the artwork in front of you, and about each other. The most recent visit took up the entirety of the day, with you two enjoying one another's company until closing time.

He felt comfortable around you much quicker than he had expected to. It was to the point where the silences between conversations weren't awkward when you two would hang out. When you were away though, he couldn't help but check his phone into the late hours just waiting for your response.

It hadn't taken him long to realize the feelings he developed for you. But there was still one thing he wanted to make sure of before he made things official: how you were around his members. When he brought up the idea of meeting them, you were nervous, wanting to make a good impression on the people he held so dearly to him.

You ended up asking Hongjoong four times what outfit you should wear, which subsequently lead him to help you choose accessories. He didn't mind, of course, always loving to help you out with your outfits. He also found it adorable how much you were willing to try to make them like you, even though he knew in his heart that they would probably like you. You even ended up bringing brownies and cookies - which immediately won everyone over.

The person you ended up getting along with the most though is Seonghwa. You both managed to connect on similar interests right away, talking about k-dramas that you were in the middle of. With that, the naturally extroverted Seonghwa could keep the conversation going even when you were quieter, asking you questions about yourself that even Hongjoong hadn't thought to ask yet.

But, despite his deep respect and appreciation for Park Seonghwa, he couldn't help but watch him with a deadly glare as he spoke to you.

He knew that the eldest member meant nothing by his words and wasn't trying to steal you away. He knew that you couldn't be interested in someone else so quickly or you wouldn't have come over with him in the first place. And he knew that the feeling that was rising inside of him was not jealousy.

Then why was he desperately craving your attention right now?

It was as if his heart had gone rogue from his body, wanting nothing more than to scoop you up right now and go back to the quietness of your home. Of course, he was glad that you were getting along with them so well even though it's only been your first introduction to them. But can he guarantee that if Seonghwa makes you smile one more time, he won't intervene? He wasn't so sure.

As he saw the familiar curve upwards of your lips at another comment Seonghwa quietly makes, he realized he couldn't just sit back idly and watch. He didn't want to cause a scene though, so he first tried to attempt to call you over by texting you.

'Heyy love, now that you've met everyone, do you wanna go grab some food and head home?"

Funny enough, you get the message right as you're talking to Seonghwa about your relationship. Considering he's the closest to Hongjoong, he considers himself a wingman and wants to make sure you're right for him while also boasting about the good qualities the leader has.

It didn't take him long to realize that you'd be good for Hongjoong. You seemed to be just as smitten with him as Hongjoong was for you when he'd stay up late excitedly talking about you. You'd even end up rambling about how much you liked him unknowingly about three times, having a fond smile as you recalled all the fun times you'd have.

So, when you politely excuse yourself to check the text and then claim it was from Hongjoong, Seonghwa wasn't surprised. During the conversation he was having with you, he'd sneak glances at Hongjoong, who'd been staring intently at you. He realized pretty quickly that the member was growing jealous by the second as he'd have a green aura of envy that could be sensed from a mile away.