Just Friends
Please keep in mine that these are standalone, short stories. Unless indicated in the title, none of these stories are connected.
You’re sitting in a restaurant with your best friend, Jae Kim.
This is normal—nothing new. He’s eating and laughing with you, throwing his head back, and you admire that glorious neck of his, stopping yourself from daydreaming about kissing it.
Why?
Because you’re friends. That’s it. He’s told you countless times how grateful he is to have you as his best buddy—how he’d be lost without his main girl.
Just a friend, nothing more. And every time you’re reminded of that, it stings.
It burns a hole in your heart that just won’t close because you wish this was something more.
He’s telling you a story about a prank his friends played on each other, and you’re sitting there shaking your head. You can’t help but watch his face—the muscles under his skin as he smiles, the way his cheeks flush because he’s laughing so much.
You’ve fallen for him, and he knows it, but he keeps you at arm’s length.
You guys became fast friends and always have something to talk about.
A chance meeting turned into spilled drinks that led to exchanging phone numbers. Next came karaoke parties with the rest of his friend group and little jam sessions with just the two of you.
You like Jae.
At first, it’s a growing feeling of attraction—the way his almond-shaped eyes lift at the corners when he smiles at you. Then it’s the way his mouth moves when he says your name, the syllables and the tone he croons it in. A low burn of heat starts in your belly, and soon it’s something you think about all the time.
Does he like you like that, though?
Now you’re watching a movie together, and you decide to make your move tonight.
He’s at your house—nothing new. Jae’s been here a thousand times before.
Coming back with the popcorn bowl, you stand in front of him, holding it out so he can take it. He lightly taps your butt to move you out of his way.
“Lemme see this preview,” he murmurs, and it doesn’t take much for you to notice the lingering feeling of his fingers on the curve of your ass.
It sends an electric thrill through your body, one that races from your toes into your heart. You just have to know.
“Might as well grab a handful,” you say, sitting down.
“Don’t tempt me. You know you have…what does Alex say…pie? No, it’s a dessert though.” He pushes more popcorn into his mouth.
“Cake,” you answer for him, and he taps your forehead, leaving a butter mark from his fingers.
“Exactly.” He laughs, watching you wipe your face.
Scrunching your nose, you cross your arms over your chest, mind racing, heart thumping loud.
Jae knows that you like him.
He knows that you want him—he fucking knows—and he isn’t doing anything about it.
That’s what’s killing you. Is he waiting for you to make a move?
Getting up, you make an excuse to go to the bathroom while Jae groans.
“It’s gonna start! Come on, you know I’ll be scared.” He sets the bowl to one side, concern crossing his features. “Wait, are you mad ’cause I touched your face? I know you don’t like that—I’m sorry.”
“No, calm down. I’ll be right back, you baby.”
And he’s always like that.
He knows what you like and what you don’t. He can finish a thought for you and act like it’s just because you’re so close.
In the bathroom, you lock the door behind you, hands on either side of the sink as you stare into the mirror.
You can do this. You can do this.
Just go out there, climb on him, and kiss him. If he wants it, he’ll kiss you back. Jae isn’t shy like that. If he doesn’t, he’ll probably still kiss you but tell you that y’all are seriously just friends.
That’s fine. You can get these thoughts of something more out of your head if he says that.
It’s not like your heart won’t be shattered into a million pieces.
Your chest tightens at the thought.
It’s not like you’ll cry later tonight.
Not at all. No, no. You’re a big girl—you can handle that. It’s better to know than to always wonder. Right?
Back straight, head high, you take a deep breath and declare yourself that bitch. Walking back into the living room, you feel your legs wobble. Jae has paused the movie; he’s on his phone looking at something, probably Instagram.
Now he looks up—god, that smile again.
“Alright, let’s get this party started.” He sets his phone down on the end table next to him.
His eyes are on yours.
Just do it.
Get on his lap.
Do it.
You scream inside your head, but cowardice is stronger than courage at this moment—and she wins. You sit back down on the couch next to Jae and spend the next two minutes cursing yourself out.
That bitch, huh? your conscience speaks.
Shut your dumb-dumb bubblegum ass up.
That’s precisely what you do until he reaches over and takes your wrist, pulling you close.
“Why are you so far away? You’re all under me any other time.” He chuckles.
“Nothing.” Letting him pull you close, he keeps your arm in his lap.
You look up to see his face watching the screen, his jaw taut as one of the ghosts is teased on screen.
That’s it.
Fuck cowardice and her yellow robe.
Sitting up, you turn Jae’s face toward yours and kiss him. All the fear, anticipation, and anxiety rush from your body when you notice that he’s kissing you back.
Now excitement takes the place of fear, anticipation revs up, and anxiety turns to lust. Jae pushes you down on the sofa. No words are exchanged as he finds his way between your legs. His hands are on your breasts, your face, your hips. He slowly moves his body against you—who knew that dry humping could feel this good?
Tongue in your mouth, he moans, pressing the growing hardness in his pants in just the right spot against your open legs.
Thank God for leggings.
Such thin fabric lets you feel every inch of what’s in his pants, and you know your panties are soaked when he releases your mouth and looks at you.
“I knew you wanted me.” He rubs his nose against yours.
Bastard, you think.
Saying nothing, you reach for his face again, but he stops you. His expression is slightly serious now as he backs off and pulls you into a sitting position.
“I like you. I really do.”
And here comes the heartbreak.
“But?”
You want to cover yourself. You feel so exposed—God, why did you do that?
“I want our friendship more. I like being with you, playing with you… I wanted a friend—someone I could trust and chill with, who vibes with me like this—and I got you. I don’t want to ruin that.”
He looks apologetic. He’s not looking at you now. He rubs his lips with his thumb, like he does when he’s thinking or nervous.
Of course that’s how he feels.
Even though he had to know how you felt.
No, those aren’t tears threatening your eyes. No, that isn’t the sound of your shattered heart hitting the floor. It’s the sound of the dark consuming your soul now.
You’re about to enter your villain era.
“If you knew I liked you, then why didn’t you say something?”
“I never thought you’d act on it—and I could have been wrong. Fuck, I mean…” Jae pauses the movie once more. “I like you. I just value your mind and heart more than a quick fuck.”
Looking up at him, you’re ready to fight.
“So I’d be a quick fuck?”
Jae pushes his hair off his forehead. He’s standing now, the tent in his jeans still there. He adjusts himself, not caring that you can see.
“You wanna fuck?” he asks, holding out his hand. “I’ll lay the ground for this. I’ll fuck you—I want to, yeah, I won’t lie.” He glances toward your bedroom and then back to you. “But I want to be your friend. If you want or need my dick sometimes, okay—but I’m not your man.” He points at you. “And you are not my girl. We are friends first and always, and I help you out when needed.”
Incredulity spreads across your face.
The absolute nerve.
Balling your fists, you stand and push at his chest. “Fuck you, Jae. I don’t need your dick—or you, for that matter.”
Now he’s mad, jaw clenched as he tries to reach for you, but you slip past him.
“Wait a damn minute. I didn’t mean it like that, and you know it! See? This is what I mean! This is exactly why I didn’t bring up feelings. This is why we can’t just have sex and leave it at that. This is why!”
“Because I’ll want more, right?”
Turning on him, you stand in your doorway.
“Because you don’t want to have to spare my feelings. It’s not you—it’s me you’re worried about. It’s me you want to save? Fuck you.”
Jae leans his head back, shouting. “Yeah, fuck me. That’s what you want.”
Then an idea comes to you—petty and sharp.
“How about David, then? He’s your friend. You know him best. I think he’s cute. Want to hook me up? Since we’re friends, right?”
“What? You want me to ask David if he’ll go on a date with you?”
“No.”
“Oh, so you have stipulations?”
Walking closer, you get in his face.
“You’re not my boyfriend. You’re not my father. You’re my friend, right? I want a dick that belongs to me. I don’t want yours—I want his. Tell David I think he’s cute. Let’s go out, so I won’t bother you anymore.”
It surprises you when he grabs your face—not hurting you, but enough to send a chill down your spine.
“Go out there and fuck them if you want to. See if I give a shit.”
He lets you go, breath hot against your skin.
“You don’t care? Then why does it matter? Alex can get it too for all I care. At least he makes what he feels known.”
Then he snaps.
Holding your arms at your sides, Jae presses his lips harshly to yours. He doesn’t wait for you to respond—he takes.
And it sends euphoria through your body, coating your mind in heat and haze.
Clothes come off—his and yours. Falling backward onto the bed, he hurriedly rolls on a condom. Your hands are on his back, his face, your teeth catching his lower lip.
Jae raises your legs, hooking them under his arms as he pushes inside you. A harsh breath leaves him as he adjusts to the feeling—of you.
You say nothing. Eyes closed, fists clenched in the sheets above your head, energy coursing through you like you could tear the world apart.
Then his forehead presses to yours, and he drives deeper—fully seated, filling you completely.
He’s thick, heavy—a grounding weight settling low in your belly.
He moves.
Hard.
In and out, letting your legs fall open as he thrusts into you.
“This is what you wanted, right?”
Your nails rake down his back. He hisses as your teeth find his shoulder. There’s no space between you—no room to breathe, no air to escape your lungs as his body moves against yours.
His hand grips the back of your neck. His lips find yours again, whispering something you can’t understand—your mind already slipping into the pull of your orgasm.
Then it’s over.
You’re lying in bed, sheets over your waist.
He’s sitting on the edge, boxers on.
Neither of you speaks.
But he reaches back and takes your hand.
You lace your fingers through his.
“I’ll call you in the morning,” Jae says, voice low and rough as he stands and quickly dresses.
Then he’s gone.
And you’re alone—with nothing but feelings…
and the quiet, undeniable truth that nothing will ever be the same again.
