Summary || Your boyfriend takes you on a date to a place you've always wanted to go.
Word count || 2k
Kangmin only wanted the best for you. Being his first partner, he didn't want to mess up. However, he had no clue on what couples do. They make it look so easy on TV. And he must've looked especially pitiful, for Dongheon noticed his sulking and nudged his shoulder. "Something on your mind?" he asked.
"Mm?" Kangmin absentmindedly ran his finger along the rim of his glass. "Oh, well, it's (y/n)."
"Troubles already?" Dongheon laughed. "You've only been dating for, what, a month?"
The young man's shoulders sank, "Yeah... and I don't even know if I'm doing it right." He honestly wasn't sure if his worrying was a good or bad thing. Is it normal to worry this much?
His friend's words pulled him back, "Do they seem happy?"
Kangmin lifted his head up, brow furrowed. "Huh? Oh, I... I think so? I hope so," he answered. Dongheon shook his head in return. "Have you even taken them out on a date?"
The other was taken aback by his sudden question. "Wh... What? Of course I have!" He then awkwardly scratched his cheek, "We went out to eat like... last week-?" His voice rose a pitch.
"Kangmin!" his friend exclaimed. "I meant an actual date. Not just taking them out to lunches or dinners--" Except Kangmin quickly interrupted him, "Didn't you take your partner out to lunch yesterday?"
"This isn't about me!" He protested. Then, he sighed, "It doesn't have to be somewhere real fancy. Something simple, even better if it matches their interests." Kangmin tilted his head to indicate he wanted to hear more. Dongheon couldn't hide that little smile from growing; he loved knowing his advice will actually be heard. "For example," he continued, "my partner loves movies, so we often go to the theater, then we find somewhere to wind down and talk about it." Almost too quickly, the man lost the plot and began to gush over his partner. Luckily, Kangmin tuned him out so he could think.
Somewhere that matches (y/n)'s interests, huh... He suddenly recalled a past conversation with you, one where you were sitting on the floor and endlessly scrolling on your phone--
Kangmin was laying on the couch behind you as he caught up on something he was reading. Except he started to feel his eyelids become heavy. In the middle of a yawn, you gasped then mumbled, "I want to go," He forced an eye back open to see what you were talking about. "Mm? Oh, there? I heard they just opened a new exhibit." he spoke softly.
"Mhm," you responded, "I've been wanting to go there for a while though. Just once."
Another yawn from him. "Maybe we'll go someday..." His eyes closed again; he heard shuffling as you quickly replied, "Really? You mean it?" Except he heard nothing more as he quickly fell asleep.
He held his head with a hand. How long ago was this conversation? Oh man, he felt like a complete jerk for stringing you along like this! It's decided, then. He whipped out his phone to swiftly search up the name of the place and buy tickets.
Dongheon seemed to finally notice and paused in his rambling. "Figured it out?"
Kangmin nodded and gave him a smile. "Yep! Thanks, Dongheon!"
"Of course!" the other beamed, "What kind of big brother figure would I be if I didn't have good advice?"
"So, is the big brother going to pay for the drinks?"
The two of them turned their heads to Yeonho behind the bar, who held a mildly annoyed expression. "You two been sitting here, taking up space for the past 2 hours. And all you ordered was lemonade. At least leave a good tip." he huffed.
Kangmin was quick to point at his "big brother," "He invited me here."
Dongheon couldn't even argue. He sighed in defeat. "Fine..."
***
Within hours, you found yourself outside with an excited Kangmin hovering his hands over your eyes. "What?" You couldn't help but laugh lightly at his giggling. He blew up your phone to ask if you were home, and when you said you were, he arrived at such speed. He told you that you were going out; the sudden news almost overwhelmed you, but he looked so eager to go; you had no choice but to entertain him.
"Can I look now?" You asked with a playful huff.
"Mhm!" He finally pulled his hands away. You squinted from the light of the setting sun hitting you, but once adjusted, you noticed the most important word - aquarium.
You stared at the building with your mouth slightly agape. There's no way he... Did he actually...? You felt a small lump forming in your throat, but you shoved it down, for everyone's sake. "We're really going?" You questioned in a soft voice.
His brow furrowed. "Of course we're going! See?" He pulled out his phone to show the e-tickets. "Sorry for it being last minute, but..."
"No! No, it's okay." You took a deep breath. "Let's go." He smiled at you in return and offered his hand, which you slowly took. You had always wanted to go to an aquarium. You've seen so many videos online and heard people's stories, but for one reason or another, you never had the chance to go through one yourself. And, honestly, you had not expected Kangmin to have paid so much attention. You mentioned it mostly in passing... Was he really that attentive?
You tried not to think about it too much. For if you do, well... you frankly really don't want to cry in front of people, let alone him.
You could only stare in amazement as he happily pulled you along. There were smaller exhibits that contained a variety of fish and pond creatures. It was hard to suppress the wide smile from spreading across your face. Although, Kangmin did have to quickly usher you away from the frogs at one point. You're not the biggest fan of them -
The further you traveled through the aquarium, the darker the colors became. It was a bit unnerving, honestly, so you stayed close to Kangmin. Meanwhile, he was reading off the information on his phone. "Ohh, so it's getting darker because we're going deeper into the ocean. Cool! We-" he paused upon noticing your behavior. "Hey," he stopped his walking to turn to you. He tilted his head to try and meet your gaze. "You okay?"
"Yeah, I just... got nervous, is all." You begin to chew on your nail. "Also, is this a bad time to say I have, like, a deadly fear of sharks?" The words rolled out rapidly, so you were unsure if he even understood. Silence lingered for a few moments until he let out a quick chuckle. "No, it's not a bad time at all! Although..." he awkwardly scratched his cheek, "having a fear of sharks is kinda ironic..."
"Right?" You laughed anxiously. "But yeah. We haven't seen sharks yet, so I'm kinda getting-"
"Scared?" He answered for you. All you could do was nod.
"Aw, don't be scared," he kept his smile. "Look, the sharks can't hurt you. They're behind a glass, and you can always use my hand to cover your eyes if it's too much, okay?" He raised a hand and silently asked for permission to touch your face. You gave him a nod, allowing him to rest it against your cheek. "This is supposed to be fun," he muttered to you, "but if it gets too overwhelming, don't be afraid to let me know. I want your comfort to come first."
It took everything within you not to cry right then and there. Despite only being together for less than a month, he's acting as if the two of you have been together for years. He's too sweet... You shake your head to stop even a single tear from escaping. "Okay, I'm ready." You told him.
He retained his warm smile and kept a gentle hold on your hand as he tugged you into the next exhibit. The area was not as dark as you had expected it to be. You had kept your eyes forward, footsteps echoing as you walked. However, out of the corner of your eyes, you spotted a wide tank that took up most of the current area. Your blood suddenly ran cold, and you sharply turned your body away.
"Ah, there're the sharks," Kangmin sighed. "Come on, I can guide you thro-"
"N...No, I want to see them." You surprised yourself at the words spilling out of your mouth. You continued, "It's like you said, they're just behind a glass. They can't... They can't hurt me." You silently curse to yourself at your voice trembling. Kangmin squeezed your hand. "If you're sure, then... we can just stand right here, okay? We don't have to get any closer."
"Look," You stiffened slightly at his hand covering your eyes, "I'll turn you around," he explained, "And you can peek through my fingers. I'm right here with you,"
You took a deep breath then sighed. Your eyes were glued shut as he slowly shifted the two of you into position. You rubbed sweaty palms against your clothes as you kept repeating to yourself - they can't hurt you, they're behind a glass, they can't hurt you-
Kangmin is right here.
You almost jumped as the thought shot through your mind. But it's true; he's being incredibly patient with you and trying to sort things out. The least you can do is try...
"Okay," you slowly peek an eye open. The shark swam into view. At first, you shut your eyes again, but you repeated your little mantra as you regained the bravery to peek once more. The second time wasn't as bad - you managed to keep your eyes open for more than 10 seconds before shutting them again.
As you prepared to do it a third time, you felt Kangmin's hand shift. You panicked for a second, thinking he was removing your shield, but then you shuddered feeling his whispers tickle your ear, "You're doing great, (y/n)."
If you weren't in such a precarious situation, you would've pulled away at lightning speed. You were stuck between feeling flustered and absolutely scared shitless. You weren't sure now if you were trembling from the sharks, or from feeling the warmth of his body barely pressing against your back. Hah, you even had the thought to not open your eyes ever again, if only just to stay in this exact moment a bit longer.
Eventually, your eyes open again for a third time. Through the gaps between his fingers, you watched the shark peacefully wade through the water. Other, smaller fishes tailed under it, going in endless circles. The longer you stared, the more your heart began to relax.
Just as you were adjusting, Kangmin started to pull his hands away. Instinctively, you grabbed hold of them to keep them over your eyes. He chuckled softly. "Okay, the fear's not totally gone, but hey, it's a start!" He turned you around so you had your back to the tank before removing his hands. "I'm really proud of you," he squeezed your hands. "And I think we've had enough for today-"
You silently nodded, starting to feel exhaustion wash over you. He could only laugh quietly to himself as he guided you back out. But not before making a stop at the gift shop. You furrow your brow as he told you to wait outside, but you obliged.
It didn't take him that long to return with a brown bag. A bag that he selfishly kept to himself until you both made it back to your place. "What's in the bag?" You asked for the 10th time.
"Geez, we barely made it in!" He laughed at your slight glare. "Okay, okay, here-" He finally handed it to you. "A reward for today."
"Reward?" You echoed curiously but otherwise took it. From within, you pull out something soft - an adorable plush of an orca. You gasped softly and wrapped your arms around it, hugging it tight. "This is so cute...! Thank you..." Your smile grew wider as he pressed a quick kiss against your head.
Honestly, what did you do to deserve someone like him?
Summary || You frequently visit the Privacy Cafe near your college campus. You love the coffee and the atmosphere, but there's one problem... The guy at the register is breathtakingly beautiful and your legs turn to jelly when you see him. You've done your best to avoid him, but perhaps fate has other plans.
Word count || 1.9k
Oddly enough, he remembered when they first came in. It was shortly after the new semester began; it tended to get quite busy during that time. Yongseung had came to pay him a visit and briefly talked about his classes and professors. As he rambled, though, that's when he spotted them.
To everyone else, they were simply another customer of the cafe. They took a silent look around the place; the ends of their lips curled into a comforted smile. They then turned to chat with their friend as they got in line. Their eyes scanned the menu above before the two of them eventually made eye contact. He tried to give them a polite smile, but they were quick to pull away and awkwardly shuffled behind their friend.
It actually became a sort of routine for them. The stranger would arrive then anxiously scan for him. If he was at the register, they would wait until someone else took over before scurrying over to place their order. Or sometimes they'd place their order online to avoid him altogether. He always found this behavior confusing. They had never shared a word, not even a syllable, to each other, so why the fear?
He initially tried not to let it bother him. After all, why should he care so much? It's not like he was curious about them or whatever... It's certainly also not because he found them to be awfully cute, especially when they turn red and duck their head.
No, absolutely not.
A bit over a month had passed since their initial arrival. By this point, he had began to give up on learning the reason behind it all. His coworkers theorized that they may simply find him intimidating. "I mean, look at you," Hoyoung explained once, "you're a ridiculously handsome guy who keeps a neutral expression most of the time." Gyehyeon saw some truth behind his words, but surely that can't be it?
He let out a long exhale through his nose as he recalled the conversation. Hoyoung was currently out of town for a wedding, making him work at the register. It was a slow day and they were approaching the last hour of the night. He heard the bell jingle and tiredly muttered out his greeting without glancing up. All he was thinking about was the nice platter of fruit and cheese waiting for him back at the apartment.
Gyehyeon hid a yawn behind a hand and tiredly rubbed his eye. "How may I help y-" He paused mid-rub when the familiar stranger stood in front of him. "Oh," he offered a polite smile, "you're here later than usual. I was starting to wonder where you went..."
The stranger rubbed their hands down their jacket before shoving them into their pockets. "Ha, that's... wait, you were wondering?" Their voice became quiet. Their ears began to burn red. It only made Gyehyeon's smile grow. "Mhm." he answered, "You usually come by in the afternoon. I'm assuming after your classes?"
"Oh! Okay, yeah, that's right." Their eyes kept averting their gaze. "I... was finishing up a project. I just turned it in, actually, so I came to get a little treat, y'know?"
He was mildly surprised at their slightly talkative nature. Or maybe it was stemming from their anxiety. He kept his smile. "That's a good idea. You deserve to treat yourself every once in a while." Fingers gently pressed on the screen in front of him as he placed their usual order. "Here, does everything look correct on your screen?"
They glanced down to theirs and blinked, eyes growing slightly in surprise. "Y...Yeah! Actually, that's... exactly what I was gonna order." They finally peer up at him, eyes locked. "How did you know?"
It was his ears' turn to burn red. He shyly turned his head away and rubbed his neck. "Well, you come here a lot, and it's part of my job... Is there... anything else?"
He thought he caught a brief smile from them. "Can you add one chocolate donut and one strawberry?" They add. He silently nodded and included the treats in the order. "Okay, you're all set. Um... what's your name?"
"(y/n). It's (y/n)." They lock eyes once again, but it only lasted for a few seconds before the two of them broke away and hid their blush. "I'll call you when your order's ready," Gyehyeon muttered. (y/n) gave them a shy smile then grabbed a seat nearby. He took the chance to turn away and take some deep breaths. It was hard to suppress the big grin that wanted to spread. Calm yourself, Gyehyeon...
He decided to focus on preparing their order. But even then, his mind kept wandering. He stole a few glances towards (y/n); they were scrolling on their phone, but there was a subtle smile and blush on their face. It's so cute...
He felt relieved that they didn't seem to hate him. And they seemed so sweet. He still wondered why they never came to talk to him before. He hummed to himself then finished the order. "(y/n)?" he called out to them and placed it on the counter for pick up.
They came up to grab it, muttering a quiet "thank you". They began to return to their seat, and Gyehyeon noticed the time. "Oh, we're closing in about 10 minutes, just so you know." He quickly informed them. They paused in their steps and he watched them take a deep breath before turning on their heel.
"Are you doing anything after this? I...I know it's late, but..." Their gaze slowly lowered to the ground. They shook their head frantically. "Y...Y'know what, never-mind. Forget I asked--"
"No, I'm not doing anything." Gyehyeon softly chuckled. "I will need a ride home though." He took a look around. "Although, I'm not sure about where we can go this late at night."
"I... was thinking the roof of the parking garage?" They anxiously tapped their foot. "Enjoy some late-night coffee and donuts."
He raised a curious brow. "Huh, I never would've thought of that. Yeah... that sounds just fine," his warm smile returned. "Don't let your coffee get too cold though." He nodded to their drink.
"Oh! Right, thank you, I'll just... wait here then," They awkwardly returned to their seat and took a few sips of their drink.
Gyehyeon let out another chuckle and turned their focus to their closing duties. Luckily, it didn't take long. He finally shut off a light and stepped out from behind the bar. (y/n) rose from their seat. "Ready?" they asked.
"Mhm, and..." he shook a small bag, "I grabbed us more donuts."
That shy smile returned and they led the way outside. It was a bit awkward being in their car. After all, this is the first conversation they've shared, but he felt like he's learned so much about them from simply observing. He leaned his head back against the headrest, fighting back another yawn. It didn't help that (y/n) was playing gentle music on the radio.
"Oh, sorry, is my music putting you to sleep?" They turn it down some but stopped when he shook his head. "A little, but don't apologize. I like it. It's soothing." He had so many questions he wanted to ask them, but his exhaustion was starting to get the better of him.
He hadn't realized he fell asleep until he felt the car slow to a stop. He blinked then slowly sat up, rubbing at his eyes. "Did I fall asleep...?" he mumbled.
"Yeah," they giggled softly. "Come on, some fresh air might wake you up." They exit the car and moved to open the trunk door, then climbing inside. He quietly followed suit and the two of them pulled out their donuts to now eat their late night snack. He... hadn't experienced this before. He's the type to stay at home once it got late. But he had to admit, this was serene in its own right.
And he was fully comfortable in this silence. On the other hand, it looked as if (y/n) had something to say. He smiled gently at them, "Something on your mind?"
They nervously swallowed a piece of donut. "Well..." A sigh, "I just wanted to say I'm sorry if I ever acted weird around you. You're just so..." They began to lose their voice and ducked their head. His heart softened at the sight. "I'm so... what?" Yet, he felt the urge to tease. The heat slowly crawled up their neck.
"... Pretty..." they whispered. "Like, ridiculously pretty. Ugh, I hope that didn't sound weird!" They take a nervous bite of the donut. He retained his smile and shook his head. "No, not weird at all. But thank you." He stared down at his own donut as he collected his thoughts. "... Actually, I thought you hated me for whatever reason."
They groaned in response. "See, that's the exact opposite of what I wanted. So, I'm really sorry-"
"It's okay," he tilted his head at them. "Really. I'm just glad we got it cleared up." He shifted closer to them, and he felt their fingers twitch as they made contact. "Does this mean you'll stop running away from me?" he asked softly.
The red reached their ears. "I'll... try."
"Hmph," he laughed lightly, "that's better than nothing." A yawn suddenly came out. "Ooh, sorry."
(y/n) seemed to want to use this as a chance to escape. "It is getting late." They quickly comment, "You looked like you had a long shift."
He couldn't even argue and only gave a nod. He silently made his way back to the passenger seat, gave them his address, and promptly lulled himself to sleep.
When he awoke for the second time, they made it outside his apartment. He rubbed his eyes then grabbed his bag. "Mmm, thanks for driving me, (y/n). I'll... see you at the usual time on Monday?"
(y/n) gave a sheepish nod. "Yeah. Usual time. Good night, Gyehyeon."
The walk to his bed was a bit of a blur, honestly. All he remembered was unlocking the door then beelining it to the soft mattress. Not even a whisper of a dream occurred as he quickly fell asleep.
When he awoke the next morning, he'll be honest, it felt like he was in a haze. As if last night was the dream. He shook his messy hair and groggily got up to get ready for the day. It didn't take him long to enter the kitchen, where he was pleasantly surprised to see Hoyoung.
"Good morning," his friend chirped. "Well, afternoon, actually."
"Afternoon??" Gyehyeon furrowed his brow. His head whipped around to check the time. "I slept in until 2??"
"Yeah. I know you don't work weekends, so I let you sleep." He was finishing cooking up some lunch. "Oh, I was cleaning up a bit and was gonna throw this bag away, but there was a phone number on it. Dunno if it was important to you."
"A phone number??" Gyehyeon eyed the small bag on the counter. The same one he used for his donuts. He quietly picked it up and, sure enough, there was a number scribbled onto it. So, last night wasn't a dream after all...
"What, finally found out about that one strange customer of yours?" Hoyoung softly snorted.
"Mhm," the other nodded. "They drove me home last night. Really nice..."
"Well?" Hoyoung rose a brow. "What're you waiting for? Give them a call, lover boy."
His face flushed at his comment. "It... It's not like that--"
"Okay... whatever you say!" He brushed past him to set up the table. Gyehyeon glanced down at the number again. For someone so shy, this was quite the bold move -
Kangmin rested his face between his fists and huffed as the conversations replayed in his head. What's wrong with trying to pursue a relationship? He simply wanted to go on cute little dates, hold someone's hand, pepper them with kisses! But everyone around him still viewed him as some dumb little kid!
Sure, he's only 21, but that shouldn't hinder his potential so much. Or maybe it's because some believe he's not mature enough for a serious relationship. Minchan even told him others might see him as some kind of heart breaker or player.
But Kangmin's intentions were pure! Honest...
The young man eyes wandered around the ball room. It was Dongheon's birthday, and he believed there may be a person or two that could catch Kangmin's eye. At least someone was holding out hope for him. He quietly watched as couples around him formed. Hell, he even helped the birthday boy find his special someone just a moment ago, so why couldn't he be given some grace?
Another defeated pout left him and his head sank into his arms. All of these people, and not a single person tried to approach him.
"Hey, did you drop this?"
He slowly rose his head to meet the gaze of a stranger. A well-dressed stranger. A... really cute stranger... His eyes glanced down at the wallet they held out. "Oh! Wow, I didn't even notice," he smiled brightly at them and took it. "Thanks."
A gentle smile spread across their lips in response. "Yeah, no problem." In no time, they turned around and walked off. He wasn't sure why it took him so long to react; he jumped out of his seat. "Wait!" he tried to call out to them, but by the time he reached where he last saw them, they had disappeared into the crowd.
He scowled to himself. Agh, how could he be so...? Oh, he hoped they hadn't went too far. He couldn't help it now; he had to find them.
Kangmin walked around the crowd and stood on his tip-toes to try and spot them. He thought he noticed the familiar outfit, so he chased after it. He had to give a few pardons and excuses as he pushed through. He would call out, but he didn't want to embarrass himself any further.
Just as he freed himself from the crowd, who else but Minchan stepped in front of him. "Minchan! Come on, I'm a little busy right now-"
"Whoaaa, busy with what?" Minchan showed that stupid grin. The one that says he was well aware of what's going on. "Never seen you in such a rush." He laughed. But Kangmin tsked and tried to push past him, only for Minchan to hold an arm out and pull him right back.
"Hey!" Kangmin's smaller self barely managed to nudge the other. "I don't have time to play right now. They could be leaving-!"
"They?" The other rose a brow. "Aww, did our baby Kangmin finally find someone?" He tapped his chin, "A mysterious figure who caught your eye that you are now trying to chase." He sighed and shook his head, "Acting like a lovesick puppy."
Kangmin glared up at him. "I am not! I'm old enough now!"
"Ah," Minchan held a finger up, "actions speak louder than words. And you know better than to yell at your elders."
"Then let me go." Kangmin frowned. "... Please."
Minchan examined him carefully then slowly lowered his arm. "Huh. Guess you are growing up." His annoyingly cheerful smile returned. "Okaaay, I'll help the little man out. You talking about the one who just walked past?" He then briefly described the stranger.
Kangmin's eyes lit up. "Yes!"
"I think they went to talk to their friends. I was about to bring them drinks." He nonchalantly explained.
The little man's brow furrowed. "You? Bringing people drinks?"
"Well," Minchan's smile turned sheepish; a first for him, "I kinda talked with one of their friends. And, funnily enough, Dongheon was dancing with the other. Odd how connected we are, like a perfectly written plot of a novel..."
Kangmin stared unamused at them. "Anyway, thanks for telling me." He quickly brushed past him, except Minchan continued to call out to him. "Hey! What're you even gonna say to 'em? You're not exactly an expert..."
The other huffed and answered over his shoulder, "I'll... think of something..." Oh, great. That didn't exactly scream confident. When he spotted the same stranger at the table with their friends, his feet suddenly froze. Damn, Minchan was right... He doesn't have any experience in this field like he does. And he can't exactly go up there and potentially embarrass himself in front of their friends! Even worse, in front of Minchan.
He clenched his fists together and began to take some steps forward. Unfortunately, Dongheon arrived at the table with the remaining friend. Kangmin quickly stepped aside and hid behind a pillar. Nope. No way. Publicly embarrassing himself is bad enough, but if he did it in front of Dongheon?? Having the most awkward one out of their group tease him is a death sentence.
He'll... just have to find a way to get that stranger by themselves. Somehow.
He sighed heavily and rested his head against the marble. His brain was trying to come up with solid ideas, but all of them sounded either pathetic or stupid. Man, maybe he is a little hopeless.
"Oh yeah, where did you go?"
"Huh? Oh, I just walked around. This guy dropped his wallet, so I gave it back. That's about it."
"... Was the guy cute?"
"I mean-"
"Drinks are here!"
Kangmin peered around the pillar as Minchan announced himself before he took a seat. The stranger, they mentioned him! But they only referred to him as "this guy". He pouted silently to himself. Maybe he should listen in a little and see if he can find a way to insert himself naturally.
"Guy dropped his wallet? Sounds like something Kangmin would do," Minchan snorted. The guy who dropped his wallet immediately frowned.
"It... might've been him," the stranger pointed out. "He was a bit taller than me. Dark hair, long-ish bangs."
"Hm, did he have this lost look in his eyes?" Dongheon asked. "Like a lost puppy?"
He felt himself warm up at the sound of giggling. He doesn't look like some lost puppy...
"Y'know what, yeah," the stranger laughed lightly, "but I thought it was cute."
Kangmin's ears perked up. He readjusted himself to take a better look at them. They held that same gentle smile. His posture relaxed. At least the giggling didn't hold any malice behind it. And, well, if they think it's cute, then... maybe there's nothing wrong with it.
"Ohh, be careful," Dongheon chuckled. "That's how he gets you."
"Yeah," Minchan interjected, "he wants to be a little man now. The guy's been getting rejected left and right all night though. Honestly, I thought that'd be happening to Dongheon-"
"Hey!" Dongheon frowned.
"What?" Minchan laughed behind his glass. "You were the one with this super specific fantasy in your head."
"And it worked out, didn't it?" The other grabbed his partner's hand. "Maybe it was like a prophecy and not some fantasy."
Minchan snorted. "Okay, That's So Raven, settle down." His partner sitting beside him had to put her drink down, shaking her head and attempting to swallow before she started choking from laughter. Dongheon's ears burned red, but his partner gave him a few sympathetic pats against his hand as she bit back her own laughs.
Kangmin continued to watch and listen for a while. It... sounded like they were having a lot of fun. But what would happen if he were to join it? Wouldn't it become awkward?
"... In all seriousness though," Dongheon's voice softened, "Kangmin's a good ki- guy. Good guy."
Minchan nodded then pointed at the stranger, "Aren't you single? Looking for somebody- ow!" He frowned as Dongheon reached over to lightly bop his head. "I didn't even hit you that hard. And you can't just ask people that!"
"Whaaat? I was curious! And trying to set Kangmin up. Poor kid can't do it all by himself."
The stranger awkwardly shifted in their seat. "Y...Yeah, technically speaking. I dunno if I'm ready for a relationship though."
Minchan waved his hand in dismissal. "It doesn't have to turn serious. For real, he's really nice. A little confused but got the spirit. He... should be around here somewhere, actually-"
Kangmin ducked once more as the other started to scan the area. His heart rate picked up. This is all too soon! He's nowhere near ready. God, his worst fear right now is one of them finding him and dragging him out. It's too many expectations set for him!
Since he was caught up in his own head, he hadn't realized his stranger had gotten up and left the table. Something told him to open his frustrated eyes. He tensed up as he caught them walking past. He let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. Curious eyes watched as they turned and walked out to one of the large balconies.
His feet moved for him as he silently followed behind.
Once again, he found himself peeking around the corner. They stood alone, arms resting on the railing of the balcony as they took some deep breaths. The opportunity basically presented itself. And... if they needed some space, he was understanding enough to know when to bow out. Okay. You can do this, Kangmin. Just... talk to them as a normal person would.
He took in a big breath then sighed. Quietly, he approached from behind.
"I was wondering when you'd show your face again,"
He stiffened at their voice. After taking a peek behind him, he realized that there was no one else they could possibly be referring to. He turned back from hearing them laugh, and they moved to face him. "Yeah, I'm talking to you. Who else?" There was that smile again.
A nervous laugh blurted out of him. "Right! Yeah. Who else but me?" He cleared his throat then joined them in leaning against the railing.
"You're Kangmin, right?" they asked. He silently nodded.
"(y/n)." They introduced themselves. "... Don't talk much, do you?"
The realization hit him. "Oh! Sorry, I was just... yes! I talk a lot - wait no, that's a bad thing-" His ears began to burn red when they started giggling. "Sorry... I don't... do this often." he sighed, "Most people turn me away the second they see me."
"Why?" They rose a brow. "You're pretty cute. And funny."
The heat spread to the rest of his face. He awkwardly rubbed his neck. "I guess my age? I'm 21, but everyone treats me like a kid." His gaze shifted to the scenery in front of him. "I just wanna know what it's like. To have someone."
"Huh. Didn't peg you as the romantic type." They follow his gaze. "But yeah, I see it. Kinda scary though, isn't it? I mean, if you get into a relationship, it's either gonna work out and you'll get married, or it'll end in heart break and you start back at square one."
"Maybe..." Kangmin answered, "But I wanna experience that kind of love, even at the risk of heartbreak. High risk, high reward, right?"
They become silent for a moment. He worried he may have said something wrong. "You make a good point," they finally responded. "I guess I'm a bit... scared of going through that heartbreak. Just sounds like too much."
He quietly observed them. He could spot the twinkle of eagerness in their eyes. He found himself shuffling a bit closer. "Won't know until you try." His voice came out in a murmur. His attention was briefly drawn to the dancing crowd inside. He returned to (y/n) and leaned down in an attempt to get a look of their face. "Hey... have you been asked to dance yet?"
He spotted their eyes flickering to him then back to the scenery. "...No."
"Would you..."
"Yes."
He blinked feverishly at their sudden response, otherwise, a soft smile emerged. A hand was held out to them, one they stared at for a second before cautiously taking. He made sure to be gentle in pulling them towards the center of the wide balcony floor. Luckily, the music was loud enough to reach the outside, so he quietly followed along.
Although there was silence between them, he didn't mind it. He could tell this was their first dance, and he patiently fixed the positioning of their hands. His fingers found themselves interlacing with theirs at some point. His smile turned into a gently amused one at their refusal to make eye contact.
He's not sure what came over him, but he leaned in to whisper in their ear, "Why hide your beautiful face?" As he pulled back, it was hard to suppress a laugh at their flustered expression, but it allowed him a chance to see them. It felt like his heart melted at the sight. Perfectly illuminated by the moonlight.
He found himself leaning in again, but their voice stopped him. "What are you doing?" they whispered frantically. He pulled back some, earnestly replying, "Sorry, am I making you uncomfortable?"
"Well, n... no..." They stumbled through an answer. "No, you're not. I... also don't do this often." He exhaled softly but gave a nod of understanding. "Okay, I won't do anything else without your permission." His heart beat picked up as a sudden thought came through. "(y/n)...?" They anxiously focused on him.
"Is it okay if I kiss you?"
Their grip on his hand and shoulder tightened. They stopped their swaying, but their eyes refused to leave his gaze. He swallowed a small lump forming, fearing he may have pushed his luck. But, to his amazement, they gave a few nods. "Yeah... Yeah, it's okay."
A wide smile quickly spread, but he doesn't let his excitement take over completely. Their comfort was his number one priority. He tilted his head and slowly leaned in until he felt soft lips brush against his own. The contact sent butterflies through his stomach. He pressed forward slightly; his hands silently moving to link their fingers together.
Honestly, he thought it'd only be a quick little kiss. They surprised him by returning the favor, tilting their head up to continue. He wasn't sure how long they stood there, all he knew was that they eventually had to pull back for air.
Kangmin let out a small, breathless laugh. He even hopped a little in glee. Just like a dumb little kid. (y/n)'s blush hardly faded. If anything, it may have gotten worse. They squeeze his hands. "How am I supposed to go back and face my friends like this?" They mumbled.
"If it helps," he chuckled, "my friends are there too. I'll get teased regardless."
They hummed in response, took a deep breath, then sighed. "Okay. Then... let's go face them together."
Yongseung nudged his glasses back up. His eyes flicked between the professor's notes on the whiteboard and his own notebook. He had only been in college for a few semesters, but he found it equally challenging and rewarding. Only thing is, he tended to isolate himself. Not entirely his fault; whenever he entered a classroom for the first time, he tried to find a spot near the front. Others were not as bold as him, instead opting to sit near the back or leave a few seats between them.
It grew a bit lonely; he won't lie. But he tried to focus on his studies. Most of his classes hadn't asked for partner work. However, this was a much smaller class size, and he remembered spotting the words "group project" on the syllabus. Thinking about it made his leg bounce.
"Okaaay, I know we're still pretty fresh into the semester, but keen eyes probably saw a mention of a group project in the syllabus," the professor beamed at them, despite the students' uneasy squirming. "I wanted to use the project as a way for everyone to get to know each other! Don't worry, there's no more after this." Some sighed in relief, others in quiet annoyance.
The professor pulled out a box from their desk. "In here are names of countries we'll be studying throughout the semester. This'll be a duo project, meaning two of you will get the same country and have to create a short presentation overviewing basic details." They rattled the box and began to walk around, stopping at Yongseung's desk first. "Go on, don't be shy!"
He gave them a tight-lipped smile then reached into the box. His hand dug through the papers for a minute before he pulled a piece out. The professor kept walking, so he undid the folds to reveal his country: Mexico. He hummed and nodded- not a bad choice. He has been studying the language for a while and has been wanting to learn more about its culture for a while now.
But he looked past his shoulder at everyone else. As some were reading their countries, a few looked around expectedly and showed their country. There were some murmurs of disappointment, as well as quiet cheers. He scanned the room to see if he could make eye contact with his partner, but no one came forward.
"Alright," the professor spoke up, "I'll be ending my lecture a bit early, so you all can find your partners and start planning. The details are already posted on your portal, but I'll be here for another 10 minutes if you have any questions."
The room sparked with conversations and awkward hello's. Once again, he looked around, but... his leg began to bounce-
"Um, hi."
He whipped around to look up at a classmate. He gave them a relieved smile. "I was starting to think I'd be doing a solo project." He laughed lightly. They smile awkwardly at him. "Can I sit here?" They point to the chair and his backpack that was occupying it. "Oh!" he hurriedly pulled it off. "Yes, yes, of course. Sorry." He cleared his throat and readjusted his chair. "What's your name? I don't think I've met you," he asked.
"(y/n)," they answered. "And that's probably because I tend to hang out in the back..." They fiddled with their pencil. "And you? I've seen you around but never got the chance to find out your name."
"Yongseung." He replied.
"Y...Yongsung? Sorry, I wanna make sure I get it right-"
He shook his head, smiling kindly. "Yongseung, as in sing."
"Oh! Okay, okay. Yongseung. Just gimme a few tries and I'll get it down next time we meet." They share some light laughter, causing his nose to scrunch up. It's true; he hasn't seen this person before, but they're making a good impression on him. A bit awkward, but he's dealt with awkward before. If anything, it only made them cuter.
"So... Mexico. Dunno if this is gonna be easy or tricky." They looked down at the paper. "We shouldn't overthink it," Yongseung pointed out. "But..." he peeked back at the emptying classroom, "I honestly don't want to be the last ones here. Are you okay with heading to a little cafe spot nearby?"
"R...Right now?" They stared at him with wide eyes. He nodded. "Oh! Yes, that's... that's totally fine." Although he wore a smile, his brow furrowed in slight confusion at their blush. He gathered his things and led (y/n) out of the room. They made pleasant conversation as they walked, finding out each other's majors and other classes they're taking. It... was nice to be able to talk to someone, just as he's watched others do. He only hoped he wasn't coming across as overeager.
He wasn't exactly sure why people avoid him. He did his best to smile politely and sometimes ask questions, but he'd always be met with weird or awkward looks. And his other friends were all occupied with different things. He wanted to make friends on campus. A study buddy, even.
He may be getting his hopes up too soon, but he hoped something will come out of him and (y/n).
A short bus ride later, and they arrived at the Privacy Cafe. He held the door open for them then asked, "Do you want anything?"
They scanned the menu hanging overhead and hummed. "What do you usually get?"
"Iced matcha or something with caramel."
"Ooh, I'll go with the caramel option. Don't disappoint me," they chuckled. His eager smile returned. "Okay, you can find a spot. I'll get us the drinks-"
"Wh- are you sure?" Their blush returned, "You don't have to..."
"Really." Yongseung nodded. "Don't worry about it." They stared at him for a minute before a small, warm smile appeared. "Alright... thanks, Yongseung." And they turned to find a comfortable booth to sit at.
He watched as they took a seat. "God, you're hopeless." His friend's voice made him turn back to face the barista. He huffed slightly. "I am not! I'm just being nice. Nothing more than that, Gyehyeon."
"Mhm," Gyehyeon tiredly rubbed an eye, "so, two of your usual caramel?" He rung up his friend's order and gave him the ticket number. "They seem nice," he continued. "Surprised you haven't scared them off."
"They wouldn't run..." Yongseung mumbled. "I hope not, anyway. And I'm not scary-"
"Start talking about space and see how they react," Gyehyeon softly snorted. "Or soccer. Or your collection of Rubiks cubes. Or-"
"Okay!" The other raised his hands to silence him. "Okay, I get it. Well, they don't really have a choice. We're partnered up for a presentation."
"Ohh, that explains it." Gyehyeon soon passed his drinks over. "Hm. Good luck. Keep me posted," he gave him a thumbs up. Yongseung said a quiet thank you and walked back to the booth, handing a cup to (y/n). Even though he wanted to know more about them, he spotted their open laptop. Right, the assignment is more important. He took some sips of his drink and pulled out his to look at the project details.
They began to layout a plan for their presentation - finding good sources and dividing the work between the two of them. He also found some enjoyment in this. He could tell they were a hard worker and wasn't about to let him shoulder all the work. It was actually starting to become a little fun.
As they studied the words on their screen, Yongseung found himself staring. They chewed down on their pencil and held furrowed brows in concentration. Their fingers delicately swiped the mousepad up as they scrolled. He... wasn't sure why he was staring. But even when he tried to break away and focus on his own screen, it was as if his gaze was magnetically pulled towards them.
Eventually, he was caught. "You... okay?" They asked. He blinked then rapidly shook his head, forcing himself back to his screen. "Y...Yeah, sorry. Spacing off."
"Oh..." Was that disappointment in their voice? "Well, it is getting late. I don't wanna miss the last bus to the parking lot." They started to pack up their things. "Thanks for the drink. I actually really liked it," They smiled softly at him. His shoulders relaxed at the sight. "Oh, we should exchange numbers. Y'know, to schedule more meet ups." He nearly shot up at the suggestion. He was all too quick in breaking out his phone to receive their number.
"You okay with heading back by yourself?" He quietly asked.
They chuckled softly. "It's cute that you're worried for me, but I'll be fine. Look, I'll um... I'll text you when I make it to my car safely, yeah?" He could only nod pathetically. But their smile remained as they gave their goodbyes.
Yongseung slumped in his spot. That... wasn't so bad, right? He got their number, after all! He leaned his head back, staring up at the ceiling. God, they're really cute... And it wasn't just in the physical sense. A little awkward at first, sure, but he was already admiring their work ethic and willingness to try new things. This interaction only made him more eager to learn about them. Their likes and dislikes, sources of fear and joy.
Is this normal...?
"Hey." His head rolled over to Gyehyeon, who was standing over him. "Congrats on a successful first date. Can you take me home? I forgot Hoyoung was out of town for a wedding."
Straight to the point with that one. Yongseung sighed but otherwise nodded and grabbed his things. Not many words were shared, but that's how it normally is. Besides, his thoughts were on his new partner. He barely remembered dropping Gyehyeon off and making it back to his apartment. He practically collapsed on the couch. Too much energy spent from social interaction. Mindlessly, he turned the tv on to a rerun of a soccer game.
The pillow was pulled closer to him. The exhaustion washed over him like a soothing wave. That is, until he felt buzzing from his pocket. He groggily rose his head and pulled out his phone. Oh, right! (y/n)! He tried to rub some sleep out of his eyes to read the message:
sorry for the late text! was driving. but made it home safely :]
hope ur getting some sleep too
i'll see u in class tomorrow!
A smile stretched across his face. He snuggled back into the pillow and allowed himself to drift off to sleep.
The project served as a good excuse to hang out throughout the past few weeks. As predicted, though, it didn't take much effort to finish, and their presentation went off without a hitch, so he came up with the idea on holding a minor celebration at his place.
"God, now I can close all these damn tabs." (y/n) groaned as they leaned back from their laptop, earning a chuckle from Yongseung. He took a sip of his water then readjusted himself on his spot on the floor.
"Oh yeah, I was always curious about something." He tilted his head at their question. "And what is this something?" he asked them.
They point towards the bottle in his hand. "I only ever see you drink water or some juice. I've never seen you drink soda. Hell, not even sparkling water! I get staying hydrated but man."
Yongseung let out a few nervous laughs as he rubbed the back of his neck. "It's a bit hard to explain... I basically can't drink anything carbonated." He winced at the memory. "Last time I had a soda, I passed out."
"No way!" They gasped. "Seriously?"
He meekly nodded. "My body just can't handle it, I suppose. One of my friends, Dongheon, he tried to make me drink something carbonated to see if I was still the same. I spat it back out and just laid there on the floor..." Even if it was embarrassing, he found himself laughing all the same. He quieted himself to hear their laughter more, though. "Um... please don't ask me to do that, though. Yeonho would kill me if I got stains on his rug."
They shake their head, smiling up at them. "Nah, I won't. But that is a funny story to tell." They shifted a bit closer to him as they became quiet. He nervously stiffened for a second. Since they've been hanging out, he had found out so much about them. He was shocked at how many interests they shared, and even more so when he realized how attentive they were when he would ramble about his favorite topics.
It only made his crush worse.
It's gotten so bad that his friends were beginning to notice. Gyehyeon was already teasing him, but Yeonho couldn't, considering he had also started seeing someone he met at his job. The others were just like Gyehyeon - teasing him until Yongseung scolded them like a mother. Also didn't help that this was his first crush in a while...
"Yongseung..."
Their voice pulled him out of his thoughts. "Mhm?"
"There's something else I've also been curious about."
He tilted his head again. "Yeah? Ask away."
"I... kinda lied when we first met. About not knowing who you were."
His brow furrowed as he sat up a little. He waited for them to continue, "Truth is," they sighed, "I've seen you in a lot of my classes. The entry-level ones. Y'know, with the big halls. You always sat in the front, but you were never with anyone. You... don't have to answer, but why? Why do you sit by yourself?"
He took in a deep breath then sighed. Honestly not a question he was expecting, but he wasn't offended by it. They were merely being observant. "It's not exactly my choice," he began. "My main group of friends are all doing their own thing, so it's just been me on campus. And..." he stared at the ground, "I've tried talking to people. I don't know what it is about me. I asked my friends once. Yeonho told me that I look kind of intimidating. He figured people were just too nervous to talk to me," He shook his head. "But I've done my best to come across as nice. So, I don't know what I'm doing wrong..."
They quietly sat, eyes staring off as they listened attentively. They finally take a soft breath, "I... don't think it's on you, then. You're not doing anything wrong." They shuffled even closer. He felt their weight rest against him. "Okay, yeah, I'll admit, I was a bit intimidated by you. I mean, super pretty boy who's also insanely smart? I was also kinda worried you'd be some kind of jerk."
He paused, mouth slightly agape. Did they just-?
"But," they continued, "talking to you, hanging out with you, working with you..." They rest their head against his shoulder. "You surprised me. You're genuinely such a sweet person." His heart began to race, but not from their closeness. He felt a lump forming in his throat and had to swallow it down and cover it up with a quiet laugh. A hand wiped away the few tears that managed to leak from his eyes.
"That's... That's really nice to hear, (y/n). Thank you. I could say the same of you... Being a sweet person, I mean. Not the intimidating part." He smiled warmly, "I actually find you quite pretty yourself."
He felt them flinch and their arm warm up against his. "Jeez, don't play like that, Yongseung..."
"I'm serious." he gazed down at them, silently waiting for them to raise their head up. When they did, he chuckled quietly at their red face. "Not only are you pretty, you're also intelligent, observant, and attentive." His voice quieted to a soft murmur as he leaned in. "I've never met someone quite like you."
He heard their breath get caught in their throat. A tiny smile couldn't help but appear on his face as a result. His forehead delicately rested on theirs; he could smell the perfume that was beginning to fade. "(y/n)..." He mumbled against their lips.
But he quickly pulled back as he heard keys jangling and the door creaking open. He bit down on his tongue and straightened out his lips as Yeonho entered. His friend paused, staring at the two of them. "...Did I interrupt something?" he snorted.
"It's fine!" (y/n) blurted out. "It...It's getting late, anyway. I have a paper to finish." Yongseung could only sadly watch as they grabbed their things in a haste and rush to the door. "I'll um... I'll text you when I get home, okay? ... Bye." They hurried out, closing the door behind them.
Yongseung jumped as Yeonho clapped his hands. "You were about to kiss them!" His friend laughed. But his smile dropped at Yongseung's glare. "What? Oh, c'mon! You know what time I come home!"
"I lost track of time," Yongseung grumbled. He started to clean up the area around him. "Damn, now it's just gonna be awkward," he hissed to himself.
"Might've been awkward if you did kiss them too-"
"Not helping."
Yeonho raised his hands up in defeat, "Okay... Okay. Relax. Look, I'm sorry for ruining your little date." He hung his jacket up. "But if they really like you, then you'll get another chance soon enough." His eyes shifted to his phone. "Besides, it really is getting late. Have you ate?"
Yongseung sighed deeply. "No..."
"Then it's decided. I'll cook us up a quick meal; it'll help us sleep easier, 'kay?"
He couldn't help but nod. He could never be genuinely upset at his friend. It wasn't his fault. He just hoped he was right...
After the brief dinner, he washed up and crawled into bed, phone in hand. He stared at the messages shared between himself and (y/n). Should he text them...? No, that might come off as too strong-
He jumped at the vibration.
made it home
see u in class
:]
Despite them sending their little emoticon, he still felt like shit. He buried his face into his pillow as it began to burn hot. Why? Why did he do that? Now he might've ruined his only potential friendship - all because he got too greedy...
He took a deep breath then sighed. No use crying over it. He plugged in his phone then turned over. He'll deal with this tomorrow.
And tomorrow came all too fast. He honestly slept walked through the day. Everything his professors said went in one ear and out the other. He thought he could sleep it off, but no, it continued to haunt him. And (y/n) hasn't texted him since. His heart ached as a sudden thought came through: they hate him...
It was finally time for their class together. His footsteps felt heavy as he made his way to the building. He kept his head down, earbuds in. They can't hate him; they texted him last night! But what if that's just them being nice? His hands clenched together in his pockets. Man, he needed to apologize and soon -
His steps slowed as he took out his phone to check a notification. His eyes went wide, and he had to rub them to make sure it wasn't a mistake. His head shot up; he suddenly gained the energy to bolt the rest of the way. He knew the spot where (y/n) usually waited. And sure enough, he found them right there.
No fear weighed him down as he rushed up and called out their name. They turned towards him, only to jump as he grabbed their shoulders and spun them around. "Did you see it??" he asked excitedly.
"Wh...What? See what?"
"Our grade! A perfect score!"
"What?!" They whip out their phone to check. "I...I mean, I knew we'd get a good grade, but a perfect score?" They looked up to him, "Shouldn't you be used to this? I'm sure you get perfect grades all the time-" They froze when he quickly kissed their cheek. Wide eyes stared at him as he was beaming. "No! Okay, sometimes, but I... I don't know! I guess since we worked so hard together on it... I guess I'm just... really proud?" He questioned himself. He finally noticed their expression and pulled their hands back.
"Oh, I'm... I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to-"
Yongseung softly grunted as his arm was yanked down. A blink later, and he felt soft lips against his own. His heart swelled with joy, but the feeling disappeared as quickly as it happened as they pulled back. He had to blink a few times to get out of his daze.
"Tell your friend if you have me over next time." They huffed with burning red cheeks. "Also..." their eyes darted around nervously, "people are staring. Let's get inside before we're late for class."
He couldn't help but burst into laughter. His nose scrunched up as his wide smile returned. "Okay, I'll let him know." He offered a hand. "Come on. Be a real bad look if we were late after getting a perfect grade."
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