five times jinyoung thought naeun looked breathtaking, and the one time he voices it. (pt. i)
This very moment that we are spending together This time that is more precious than anything else
His favourite past-time activity includes cruising through the city—especially at night, with the window slightly open (unless during winter—or maybe fall) so he can feel the breeze caressing his cheeks. Sometimes he drives alone, sometimes not, but as of lately he always has a companion whenever he drives.
And for your information, It’s not his member nor was it his best friend. It’s Son Naeun—the sole possessor, thus she claimed, by the way (“This is mine,” she points at the seat. Her tone childish and commanding and he nods without even giving a second thought. Yes, of course it is. And she kissed his lip, child-like she was but that’s just a small part of her that he likes so much).
For Jinyoung, Naeun is a lover, sweetheart, girlfriend—you name it. She have him wrapped under her fingers whether he admits it or not (he did, by the way), and the boy follows along quietly (sometimes not so, because sure they bicker, but even those doesn’t last long as Jinyoung will always be soft for Son Naeun)—whenever, wherever, sometimes.
.
Jinyoung picked her up after a fansign event that night. Naeun, still with full makeup and her stage outfit while he’s wearing a normal attire and covering his head with the hoodie. He greeted her with a light peck on the lips,
“So, where are we going tonight? Back home, or—?”
“—anywhere.” She answered, her eyes twinkle as she stares at him.
He nods, gear up the engine and smiles.
Anywhere it is, then.
So there they are, located somewhere on the road of Seoul with no set destination beside the fact that they dropped by McDonald’s to grab a hash brown and coke. For someone who works under the pressure of spotlight, to go around aimlessly is such a pleasurable feeling. He let the road guide them and they’d sing to whatever the radio is playing. She would laugh from time to time and he’d break into the widest grin upon hearing that, despite his eyes that are focused on the road.
You made her laugh, man. He told to himself and his heart swell with happiness and pride at the very moment he hears her laughter echoes within the small car.
Jinyoung slowed down the speed to get a better glimpse of her smiling face and warmth suddenly came despite the cold breeze hitting his cheeks.
(But, he doesn’t say anything and only smiled. She noticed the smile later and questions him with various questions but he brushes it off with a laugh and they continue to cruise the night).
.
“Hey, tell me.” Naeun, eyes filled with curiosity, looks at him while chewing a Harsh Brown as Jinyoung parked the car somewhere in Garosu-gil. Dimmed streetlights and the stars being their company for the night since every shop they’ve passed by was already closed since the clock said it’s already two a.m. “This might be random, but—did you, um, ever find me attractive, say—before?”
“Huh?” Jinyoung blinks, amused. His laugh echoes in the car before he can even form a coherent word.
“Before we started… or something. I-I’m just curious!” Meanwhile, Naeun looks like she was panicking for a second. She pauses to get a good look at him, sulking as she sees the huge grin on his face. “Just forget about it, I’m no longer curious now!”
Jinyoung smiles, still, leaning in to press a kiss onto the corner of her lips and whispers, “I do, maybe, have some story to tell. Objectively speaking, you’ve always been beautiful.” He admitted, brown eyes staring directly into yours as he smiles shyly.
And so he begins to tell her about his small crush that he secretly harbor throughout the years.
.
2011, April.
He carried the burden and responsibility as a leader while adjusting himself in a completely new environment in their very first debut day. He’s inside a workplace that he could only imagine before, famous names walking past by him and he told himself not to get star struck and greeted everyone with a polite bow, showing the best impression they could ever give to everyone as a newly-debuted rookie.
And that’s when seven girls came into their waiting room, holding out their signed CD. They greeted each other with their respective group’s greeting. Jinyoung felt cramped and awkward inside the room (maybe it’s the blue jumper and the permed hair, he thought to himself). Later on he learned that the girls debuted only few days prior. Baro was the one who came forward to speak to the girls. Jinyoung didn’t quite catch what he’s talking about nor does he care—not when their debut stage is just around the corner.
Minutes passed by and they bid farewell to the group and that’s when he finally paid full attention. He was busy avoiding gazes as each of them said goodbye to him but eyes were locked when a tall, slender girl who whispered ‘goodbye’ in the softest voice he ever heard. Jinyoung kept looking at her until she walked away and suddenly he regrets that he didn’t grab the opportunity to learn about their debumate when it came.
(Later that night after they finished with practice, he finally learned more about her. Son Naeun. He made sure to remember it well and imprint it in the back of his head).
.
Jinyoung made sure to smile the next time he saw her, but that opportunity never came because he was always too flabbergasted and groggy to even say a word or move a muscle. They greeted each other backstage and exchanged bows and greetings in the hallway, but that was about it.
.
Few weeks later, he wrote something in his journal and later turned it into a song:
(“I keep thinking of you so my head hurts, all I can do is just look at you because I keep thinking of your bright smile,”)
Yet he didn’t want to admit his small infatuation with her.
.
--to be continued. for @naeunne.