⋆ ˚｡⋆౨ৎ˚ PRETTY BOY 🧸ྀི — putting makeup on keeho <3 ( wc 386 )
ੈ✩‧₊˚ note ! inspired by this. and piwon’s new bangers. and also his hair this era bc im so in love w brown haired keeho<3
˖ ᡣ𐭩 ⊹ ࣪ ౨ৎ˚₊ @kstrucknet
the sound of music playing softly blurred into brown noise, as you focused on your task. keeho’s hands were resting on your hips, drawing circles in a soothing notion.
you saw one of the sanrio clips slip a bit, so you put the brush you were using between your teeth and went to fix it. gently fixing his hair, you adjusted the clip again.
keeho’s eyes were focused on you. chin slightly propped up since you were holding it, lips parted.
“now a little bit of blush…” you hummed and reached for the blush, swapping your tools.
the pink dust decorated his cheeks. you dabbed some on his chin and nose as well, the soft brush tickling his skin.
you leaned back, appreciating your work. you thought keeho would decline when you asked to put makeup on him. but he agreed gladly and even offered (insisted, even) himself you to sit on his lap.
“i think you’re forgetting something” he spoke up. your boyfriend was suspiciously quiet throughout the whole time, so you got startled a bit.
“uh… am i?” you frowned. foundation, eye makeup, mascara, blush… highlight? no… maybe…
“lip tint, duh?” keeho smiled gently. with a giggle, you nodded.
you got to work, leaning closer again. your hair tickled his cheek but he didn’t mind. the fuzzy applicator poked his lips gently, enriching their color. slight red bloomed and you quickly went to blend it with your finger.
you missed the way he swallowed hardly.
“mhm, done” you announced and looked up. keeho’s eyes were solely focused on your lips.
you involuntarily smiled, your finger still resting on his bottom lip.
“my pretty boy” you murmured and he finally met your eyes.
maybe he overestimated himself. the moment you sat on his lap, he was gone for. you, pampering him… being so close… it made his heart flutter. his mind was filled with thoughts about you. he didn’t spoke much: he was just admiring you the whole time.
“can i kiss you?” it slipped out of his mouth before he could think about it. you just nodded.
your fingers shifted, still keeping his chin up. locking lips with him, carefully not to ruin the makeup, you felt him sigh with relief.
he was waiting for it since the moment you sat on his lap.
♡ genre/warnings: fluff fluff fluff (i miss writing soft fluff and just writing in general omfg)
♡ word count: 1,171 words
♡ author's note: im crying anon thank you so so much for sending this!! it's my first ever p1h request and it made me so happy :") i'm sorry it took so long (life has been crazy lately) but i really hope this meets your expectations <33333
//
omg this is kinda giving our beloved summer (if you havent watched it, its my fav kdrama ever!!)
ok this might be cliche but i <3 highschool!au so let's roll with it
yoon keeho as a theatre kid (are we surprised) who practices his lines everywhere around school, has friends in every single class and is always being his friendly, extroverted self
y/n as a diligent, reserved student who is also a student librarian - you're usually stacking shelves or scanning books at the library after school on most days
your relationship blossomed through shy glances and soft whispers - keeho used to take note of the days you were on duty and purposely stayed behind to get closer to you
you were in the same english class - and being a theatre nerd, he was quickly intrigued by your ability to not only analyse shakespeare to a tee but also recite the plays word for word, line by line, without missing a single beat
keeho felt his heart speed up whenever he saw you in class, losing yourself in your work. in his eyes, you were always beautiful, but with the sunlight shining through the windows, illuminating your concentrated expression as you muttered to yourself and scribbled in your notebook - he thought that was when you shone the brightest
in the early days of getting to know each other, keeho would disrupt your peaceful reading sessions behind the library reception desk with endless requests of book recommendations earning many shushes from the head librarian
"i really like romance novels... what's your favourite?" hah, very smooth, keeho
you were confused, at first, because why was yoon keeho of all people taking an interest in you?
but then as you got to know him better you realised you shared more in common than you thought. despite your seemingly opposite personality types, the two of you had similar tastes in books, and music, and food, the list goes on
"hey y/n, have you tried the new bakery across the road? they're doing an opening deal - iced americano and a croffle for really cheap. should we try it together tomorrow for breakfast? only if you want to, of course..."
"y/n, have you listened to the new sza album? what's your favourite track? i love all of them, it's so hard to pick..."
"y/n, y/n, do you remember the author i was telling you about last month? they're writing a new book in the series! we should read it together when it's out, i wanna hear your honest review!"
even as a child, you were quiet and mostly preferred to read a book or draw and colour quietly while others played outside. this was both a result of your personality and also a few friendship fallouts that made you more wary (kids can be so mean...)
fast forward to high school, you retreated further into your shell, only keeping a handful of close friends. you preferred to bury your nose in your books and lose yourself in the fictional world of your favourite characters
that is, until keeho came along
the boy was as warm and bright as a summer's day. he had a way about him that just made people feel at ease. perhaps it was because he was so comfortable with being himself, that it helped others open up too
you were no exception. initially you were unsure of what to make of his unexpected friendliness and kindness, but you quickly realised that he was just a genuinely nice person who wanted to get to know you better
and you had to admit - after one too many mornings sitting on the bench overlooking your school field together, munching on your breakfasts and sharing an earbud each, listening to the summer's latest tunes under the gentle morning sun - you wanted to know more about him too
you could feel your cold walls getting dissolved by the warm, toothy smiles he always wore around you, and his melodious laughter
a few weeks into your daily ritual (consisting of breakfast in the morning and doing homework or stacking shelves in the library after school together), keeho finally made the first move
one morning, the two of you were nearly done your with your breakfast croffles when all of a sudden, the cloudy sky turned ominous and lightning flashed before your eyes
before either of you could react, the skies opened up, unleashing heavy raindrops all around you
"quick, y/n!" keeho grabbed your hand and interlaced your fingers with his. the two of you ran to the nearest school building, trudging past wet grass and muddy soil, staining your white school shoes
when you finally made it under the awnings, you both looked down at the state of your uniforms - mildly soaked, and burst out laughing at how ridiculous you looked
naturally, your gaze wandered towards your joined hands, and you slowly looked up, only to find keeho staring at you as if you were the only person in the world
you couldn't read his expression - there was a hidden intensity behind his eyes
he hastily unbuttoned and shrugged off his button-down shirt, leaving him in his white t-shirt, and promptly placed it around your shoulders to keep you warm
"keeho, you'll get cold, i - "
but he cut you off, "i can't help myself anymore, y/n..." it's now or never, he thought to himself
"huh? what do you mean, keeho? i don't - "
"i like you, y/n." he whispered softly, so soft that it nearly blended in with the sound of rain. he stuffed his hands deep into his pockets to stop himself from fidgeting
"what?" you thought you misheard, cos there's no way...
"y/n, i... i like you!" keeho closed his eyes and repeated again, already blushing red, embarrassed
you had an inkling that he was interested in you, but you never allowed yourself to daydream for too long whenever keeho entered your thoughts, for fear that you would only disappoint yourself. but now that you knew his true feelings...
you inched forwards and stood on the balls of your feet. why is he so tall, you thought to yourself as you bravely planted a brief peck against his warm cheeks
keeho's eyes shot open in surprise. it was so quick, his brain failed to process it. "wait, did you just - "
you giggled, eyes crinkling up into the little crescents he adored, and held onto his wrists before leaning in once more
the first meeting of your rain-stained lips was clumsy, as most first kisses are, but the two of you made it up with an eagerness that mirrored your initial desires to learn more about each other
when you both ran out of air, you laughed against each other's lips, basking in the tenderness of a new relationship, blossoming like a flower bud after a bit of sunshine and rain
# author's note … it was so strange to write for keeho??? like im glad i did hehe but i had this inner feeling that he’d give me a reality check LMFAOSOISJE i don’t have that w other idols help 😭 anywho enjoy ‼️
# warnings … might be suggestive lol + red velvet propaganda bc i can ‼️‼️‼️
# word count ... 735
# summary ... date idea: painting jeans <3
keeho walked into the living room, bottles of paints almost spilling from his hold. he scoffed upon seeing you sitting at the couch, patiently.
“what?” you asked, furrowing your brows.
“nothing. you’re cute” he grinned and put the necessities on the floor, where beforehand he sprawled some foil.
you joined him on the ground, excitement running through your veins.
“i grabbed some jeans, brushes… let me just play some music. is there anything you wanna listen to?” your boyfriend asked, grabbing his phone “maybe a hit kpop band p1harmony?”
“those losers? no way. better put on some red velvet” you grinned and nudged his elbow teasingly. keeho just rolled his eyes playfully and did put on red velvet on shuffle, knowing how much you love their music.
you ran your hand through the denim material of the jeans and straightened any wrinkles that formed.
“so from what i read those work like normal paint. it’s sometimes better to put white base underneath so the colors stays longer” he said and handed you some brushes “you have any ideas?”
“not yet” a small pout formed on your lips.
keeho had an amazing idea to transform old pants by simply using fabric paint on them. that’s what you’re doing right now, as a form of indoor date. you were really looking forward to it, curious about the outcome.
“i don’t want to be basic though” you huffed, sitting back on your heels and eyeing the piece of clothing in front of you.
keeho hummed, leaning forward. you saw him paint some strokes with a brush he grabbed.
“so no flowers?” he teased, hyper focused to be precise. scanning though the containers with paint, an idea started forming in your head.
“i have a vision” you blurted out and reached for a brush “there’s gonna be like… bone x-ray… and there’s gonna be hearts where my knees are”
keeho looked over your shoulder and puckered his lips in thought.
“trust your gut. i’m doing whatever is on my mind” he said encouragingly and you nodded, humming to the song and getting ready to work.
you two created your pieces slowly but surely, thanks to the paint drying fast. keeho decided to put them on to see if there’s anything missing. you did the same and walked up to the mirror that was in the living room. suddenly, an idea bloomed in your head.
“i think yours are missing just one thing. can i…?” you asked and keeho nodded, liking the idea of you adding something personal. you quickly ran up to the paints and smeared pink paint on your hands while he still observed the pants in the mirror.
then, you attacked. smacking two hands against his butt, keeho let out a squeal.
“yah, a little warning next time” he laughed when you pressed your hands further to make sure the color was imprinted precisely. he turned around and his mouth fell agape “you little devil! come here!”
you ran away with a squeal and… well, tried to run away. keeho grabbed you by the belt hoops and pulled closer, leaving small yellow stains on them.
“you have some red paint on your face” you giggled and tried to wipe it but forgetting you had the pink, you only created a bigger mess. keeho watched you with adoration in his eyes, not realizing your schemes. he was just way too whipped for you.
“what do you think of my jeans?” he hummed and eyed yours in the mirror “yours are impressive. i had my doubts when you told me the idea but you managed to pull it off”
“thank you, baby. that’s on being a natural” you grinned and looked at his “well, yours look like a five-year-old…”
keeho just rolled his eyes and leaned in to prevent you from further dissing his artwork. some of the paint he had on his face brushed off on you. you moved your hands to his neck and only smiled wider when you felt him shiver a bit.
“your hands are so cold-” he leaned away but rested his forehead against yours. you saw the realization in his eyes “y/n!”
you only laughed, not realizing that you’re as dirty as him. a mix of yellows and greens on your forehead and chin that he smeared accidentally. chuckling, you shared a few more kisses waiting for the jeans to dry completely.
with and without you: a supportive bf!keeho headcannon
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ non-idol!keeho x non-idol!reader ୨୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅
♡ genre/warnings: fluff!! reader finds it challenging to navigate a certain social situation (aka: university classmates' reunion), especially without her supportive and understanding boyfriend, keeho. but tldr, she manages just fine on her own :)
♡ word count: 1,836 words
//
after three long, boring hours, your seminar finally came to an end. as you walked out the door, you felt the fatigue set deep into your bones. that, plus the fact that you stayed up last night to finish an assignment, meant you wanted nothing more than to just go home and sleep.
but you knew you couldnt – you and keeho already agreed months in advance to attend your friend’s pre-wedding dinner tonight. and shoot - you checked your phone and realised you were running late
just then, keeho’s notifications popped up. he told you that he was still held up at work (something about waiting for approval from his boss), and will be around half an hour late. the plan was initially to meet up first and head over together, but it seemed like he had to meet you there instead.
you felt yourself shrivel up at the thought of arriving and having to face all those people alone, without keeho – your boyfriend; your rock. but you bit your lip and sucked it up because work was work, and he had no choice
keeho could sense you were apprehensive, but reassured you that he would try to get there as soon as he could, and as always, that he loved you.
you and keeho had been dating for around four years now. you first met at your classes in uni, and went from being friends, to study buddies, to best friends, and naturally, to lovers. the two of you were three years out of school, and stuck together through thick and thin – first jobs, first moves, first promotions, and everything in between.
earlier in the year, you decided to go back to grad school. that meant moving from your hometown to the big smoke - new york. and of course, keeho came with you, easily finding a corporate job in the financial centre of the world
it was hard adjusting though, if you were being truly honest. the big city was filled with people, yet you often felt yourself feeling more alone than ever before.
luckily, you had keeho right by your side. he was there for you when you struggled through early classes and late nights; he was there to cook and make sure you ate your meals on time during exam season, and he was even there to wipe away your tears when you faced hurdles completing your research. keeho, truly, a supportive bf we stan!!!
anyways - point is. you missed your close friends and family back home
but you were lowkey dreading this dinner. having to answer questions like “how are you” and “what are you doing for work or school” repeatedly seemed a bit overwhelming. the dinner was a mini-reunion of some uni classmates - a group of around ten who all took the same classes as you and keeho and mostly stuck together to study, do assignments, practice for interviews, help each other with applications etc.
it wasn’t like you weren’t close, it’s just… you definitely weren’t besties, and let’s just say you weren’t the most social person in the room
keeho was the opposite. your boyfriend was a social butterfly; a classic extrovert. always able to blend into any social setting and talk to anyone about any topic under the sky
you however, took awhile to warm up to people, and even then, you found yourself craving your alone time more than anything. keeho liked to tease you and said you have a small social battery – you just ran out of charge quicker than others (and there’s nothing wrong with that, he’d always remind you)
but with this particular friend group, you always had the sneaking suspicion that they were only keeping you around because you were the nerd; the smart friend. the one everyone wanted to pair up with in a group assignment because they knew you would hard carry the team. the one who everyone approached for study notes in the hopes of performing as well as you did in the finals. the one everyone was jealous of… the one who got used and subsequently thrown away
that was probably why you haven’t spoken to any of them in years, with the exception of keeho ofc, and the bride-to-be, yoonhee
before you knew it, you arrived at the restaurant. yoonhee was always a big fan of italian food, so it was no surprise that she picked one of the finest italian eateries in new york for the dinner
despite your obvious personality differences, yoonhee was one of the only girls in the friend group who actually took the time to get to know you. she was outgoing and outspoken like the other girls, but also had a hardworking, studious side that came out during important events like interviews or exams. she wasn’t a big fan of drinking (like you) and usually accompanied you on the sodas or lemonades at drinking events. importantly, she also shared similar hobbies to you. in particular, she loved reading, and the two of you used to exchange book recommendations in between classes and visited bookshops together
you were genuinely happy that your friend was tying the knot, but as you stood in front of the door, you had to take a few deep breaths to calm your nerves (you tried to hype yourself up: dont be a chicken, y/n! these are just your old classmates. you will be fine)
pushing open the doors, you gave the waiter your name and followed them into the crowded restaurant. the smell of woodfired pizzas and sizzling garlic invaded your senses as they led you towards the back of the restaurant where the group congregated
immediately, yoonhee spotted you and let out an excited squeal. “y/n!!!!” she ran forward to engulf you in a warm hug. “i’m so glad you made it!”
you couldn’t help the smile that worked its way on your lips. her energy was always infectious. “it’s great to see you too, and congratulations!” you replied sincerely, returning her hug. when the two of you pulled away, you handed her your present. “from me and keeho.”
“ooohhhh!” she said teasingly, “you and keeho? you’re still going steady, then?” she wiggled her eyebrows suggestively, before accepting your gift. “thank you for this, you didn’t have to.”
you shook your head, “yeah, it’s nothing big. but we hope you’ll like it.”
“let’s go say hi to the others! you haven’t seen them in awhile, right? oh! and i’ve got to re-introduce you to my fiance!!!!”
you let your friend lead you to the larger group, and thanks to her, you felt yourself ease into the group’s conversation. whilst you still missed having keeho by your side, yoonhee did a great job at helping you navigate social situations, just like when you were back in uni
the food and conversation flowed continuously, and you found yourself actually enjoying yourself. who would’ve thought? you almost forgot why or what you were so concerned about earlier today
and as the current conversation about astronomical rent prices and how impossible it was to live affordably in new york eventually died down, one of them turned to you and asked, “so, y/n. you came alone? are you and keeho…” he trailed off, unsure of how to phrase his question
“intak!” his best friend, jongseob, hissed as he elbowed him in the ribs.
“actually-” yoonhee began on your behalf,
but you answered, “actually, he’s late. work’s been really busy, so he had to stay back a bit. he should be here soon though.” you replied, with even more confidence than you initially expected. both your answer and your tone left the group pleasantly surprised. this was not the same y/n they knew from university, clearly.
“you’re still together!” another guy, theo, cheered from the edge of the table. theo always liked to claim that he played matchmaker and introduced the two of you, back in the day. “what can i say, i really am the best cupid in the matchmaking business.”
“so, when are you guys getting married?” yoonhee asked with a sly smile. “it’s been, what? four years? surely you’ve talked about it.”
“well actually, we –”
“guys!!!” a familiar voice yelled from behind you, stealing everyone’s attention. keeho sure knew how to make an entrance. “it’s been too long, boys!”
after five minutes of hugging everyone at the table and exchanging pleasantries, keeho finally circled around to you and yoonhee. he took his seat next to you, instinctively resting a warm hand on your waist, and turned to yoonhee, “congratulations! did y/n pass you the gift? you’re gonna love it - we’re the best at gift-giving.”
yoonhee laughed in response. “youre talking it up way too much, yoon keeho. it seems like you haven’t changed at all. and thank you, she did! i can’t wait to open it.”
keeho shook hands with yoonhee’s fiance and exchanged small talk about work, as they were both in the same field. you watched silently as they talked, happy to take the backseat and just listen in, as you usually did with keeho by your side
when the conversation reached a lull, keeho felt your eyes on him, and squeezed your waist in response. “hey.” he said in a low voice, for your ears only. the two of you faced each other and smiled, escaping to your own world. “sorry i was late, it’s been a really busy day.”
“it’s okay…” you trailed off, eyes wandering around the table as you finally realised, “it wasn’t that bad.”
keeho chuckled, “see? you did it. i could tell you were nervous on the phone, but you did it. i’m proud of you.” he leaned forward slightly to press his lips against your hair, as a reward.
“i had help. yoonhee’s great.” you replied sheepishly, eyes downcast as you felt shy
“yeah but coming to a social gathering after a long day of classes and having to actually interact and talk to people? that’s all you, baby.” keeho countered, wanting to give you credit for your efforts. to many, it didnt seem like a big deal. but he knew you. it’s not easy for you to feel comfortable in these situations, especially when you were alone, or tired. he understood that you needed to recharge by being on your own, and that being around people for too long could be draining.
“i suppose…”
keeho hummed in response, “also,” he tilted your chin so you would look up at him. “i missed you.” he smiled sweetly before capturing your lips in a sweet kiss.
“yah! yoon keeho! y/n! pda is not allowed here! geez, go get a room!” theo teased, causing the table to erupt in laughter
you felt the tips of your ears light up, but it seemed like keeho had other plans. he pulled your chair even closer to him with one hand and shoved the middle finger up with the other; all whilst gliding his lips smoothly against yours
♡ genre/warnings: fluff inspired by a dream i had??!
♡ word count: 1,940 words
♡ summary: delayed confessions, the ocean, and ice cream ♡
♡ author’s note: omg im not even joking i had this dream and immediately after i woke up i was like write that down write that down anyways !! here it is ! for our beloved leader •ᴗ• (as always, pc to the lovely people on tumblr and insta!!)
//
The bus leaped over the speed bump, lightly knocking your head against the window and waking you from a shallow slumber. Your eyelids, still heavy from fatigue, fought to stay open as you readjusted your posture, grimacing as you felt tenderness in your shoulders and neck.
A fist came up to your eyes to wipe the sleep away. Once it was gone, you were met with a complete change of scenery. Outstretched fields of paddy and rolling hills were replaced with sparkling waters all along the horizon, all in the blink of an eye.
The ocean.
You hadn’t seen it in over a year, since you moved to the city. It was a rarity to get even a glimpse of nature in the concrete jungle you now called home. You involuntarily breathed a sigh of relief, as though your mind and body were at peace again being this close to the open waters.
Your destination was not too far from where you spent your childhood and adolescence. It was a sleepy beach town, quaint and quiet, but bustling with life once the waters and sand warmed up, the flowers started blooming and the trees turned a luscious green. You used to make the hour bus ride down to the beach quite often during the summer holidays with your school friends. You could spend hours upon hours building sandcastles, splashing each other in the salted waters or just sitting by the beach, enjoying your convenience store ice creams.
Those were the days…
As the bus rounded the corner and got closer to the town centre, you went through a mental list of your friends. One, two, no, three of them had gone overseas to study. Another was currently doing his PhD. One more was married and expecting a baby in fall. Which left just you, a single, twenty-something working an ordinary desk job, trying to make it in the city. And him.
You closed your eyes. Taking a breath, you could nearly remember the scent of the fancy sunscreen his mom forced upon him; could see the striking red and white striped beach towel he would always have around his shoulders; could envision his skin, tanned from the sun exposure (because who on earth would reapply sunscreen?), contrasted with his pearly whites; could feel the sandiness of his hair as you pushed him under from your seat on his shoulders after winning another game of chicken fight.
It was a bit too much. Even though it’s been twelve years since you last saw each other, you could still remember every single detail of him with all five of your senses. It was a good thing that he was the one who reached out when he came back home after studying abroad. You knew that if it was the other way around, you would do a terrible job at hiding your eagerness.
You weren’t sure what to make of this newfound honesty of yours - for months, years, a decade even, you had to constantly lie, to yourself, to him, to your friends, that there was nothing between you and him but friendship. That the lingering glances, the hushed whispers and the accidental touches all meant nothing. Just two teenagers who grew up together; who knew every inch of each other, to hell with genders. Who cares? It’s the twenty-first century, after all…
And yet, there were nights where you wanted to take one small step forward, to reach out just a little further, or to say one more word. You were always on the edge of the precipice; tiptoeing. Thinking, hesitating, and then the moment would pass. The timing; wrong. You would go back to how it always was - light and teasing, and fun, but nothing more.
Someone on the bus pressed for the next stop. Your mind, still fuzzy from all the memories, registered that it would be yours too. You felt it in the depths of your stomach – the nerves that were building up gradually but with ferocity. It had been a long time, twelve years to be exact, and apart from the occasional like on social media or the odd happy birthday message, there had been virtually no contact. The Keeho you once knew, and the Keeho who would stand before you, could very much be two completely different people.
You tried to reason with yourself. This was Keeho, after all. The boy who let you bury his entire body in sand. The boy who would always share his red and white towel with you when you soaked through yours with your damp hair. The boy who called you princess when he gave you piggybacks in the water, splashing around with your friends in a competitive chicken fight before throwing you into the ocean. The boy who made fun of your celebrity crushes. The boy who brought you to watch the sunset on your birthday – a school night. The boy who would make sure you always had the last bite of his ice cream.
It would be fine, right?
With shaky hands, you tapped off the bus and got off at your stop. It was conveniently located in between a popular strand of the beach, and a strip of shops and restaurants.
“Y/N!” A voice called from far ahead – a voice you no longer recognised. It still held traces of sleepy summers and salty water and yet, it was different; like the sound of polished, deep brown timbre. Moulded with depth, the experiences of life, no doubt; yet strong and dependable.
“Keeho!” You yelled back in greeting, flapping your arms so he could see you from afar. He jogged, and as his tiny figure grew in size, you took in his dressing - still very him, white shirt, white jacket, and jeans. But in the setting sun, you also noticed the silver chain, sparkling earrings and were those things on his fingers – rings?
“Y/N, you came.” He said, out of breath. He was still standing about an arms’ length away from you, pausing to catch a break.
“Of course I would. His royal highness is back, I can’t pass up his summons, surely.”
Keeho looked up, still huffing slightly, and flashed you a knowing smirk. “Still not letting up on the role play, huh?”
You laughed in response. Why were you even worried? It was Keeho, after all.
“It’s been ages, Y/N.” Keeho muttered, voice small and quiet, allowing the words to linger. He took a step forward, breaching your personal bubble, and wordlessly took you into a hug.
You gasped at the suddenness, but also, the warmth and the familiarity. You could feel it, and you were half certain he could feel it too - the pounding of your poor heart against your ribcage, relentless.
For a few moments, the two of you just stayed there like this. The world passed you by - people walking along the beach, enjoying the sunset. Cars zooming past, late for their dinner reservations. Kids on scooters, eager to get a few more rides in before they were called home by their parents. And in the middle of it, just two kindred spirits, reunited.
“You could’ve visited or something…” You whined, muffled by Keeho’s chest.
“What?” He chuckled, pulling away, but still keeping his arms around your shoulders.
You refused to look up, instead focusing on a particular spot on his snug, white t-shirt. “You could’ve visited… or called. You did neither.”
“I know… Hey,” Keeho paused, using a finger to tilt your chin towards him, yet refusing to remove said finger once he was staring into your eyes. “I’m sorry. It’s just, life got in the way.”
You punched his chest weakly in response, only to wince slightly when you were met with pain. Damn Keeho and his strict workout schedule (you only knew this from the frequent updates on his Instagram stories).
“So,” Keeho started, uncertain, which was unlike him. He nibbled on his bottom lip, as though contemplating whether he should continue. To hell with it, he thought. “How was the date?”
Your eyebrows scrunched in response. “What date?”
“You know, last night…”
You raised your eyebrows this time.
“You said you went on a date last night and he got you Italian.” Keeho said, all in a single breath and with the straightest face he could manage, no emotions whatsoever.
“Oh!” Your eyes widened, remembering that you updated him on your weekend plans when deciding on the best time to meet up. “Right, Intak.”
“Intak, yes.” Keeho repeated, hiding his gritted teeth.
“Oh, it was fine, not memorable. I mean, nice guy, pretty face and everything, but… Why?”
Keeho suddenly let out a huge sigh of relief, steadying himself with two palms firmly gripping your shoulders. “Because, I wanted to make sure before I do this.”
“Do what? Keeho… What are you –”
Keeho shushed you, and before you could register what was happening, he was getting closer, and closer, and closer, and it was all happening in slow-motion and yet too fast, and – oh, oh…
His lips, softer than you ever imagined, met yours in a tentative, gentle dance. Nothing fancy, just honest and eager. And you could tell, from the way they glided against your lips, that this felt just right. It felt like you should’ve been doing this all along…
“Should’ve done this ages ago. I don’t know what took me so long but,” Keeho mumbled, pulling away so slightly that the words were breathed against your lips. “But I couldn’t let some guy –”
“Intak.” You provided, unhelpfully, it seems, because Keeho rolled his eyes viciously. You couldn’t stifle your giggles.
“Whatever. I couldn’t let some guy have you.”
“Oh, so I’m a commodity?”
“That’s not what I meant! Just – I’m sorry, I’m bad at expressing myself.”
“I’m very much aware of that.”
“Let me make it up to you –”
“Ice cream?” You both said at the same time. Both of your faces split into wide, childish grins.
“Race you, princess!” Keeho declared before giving you a quick peck on your cheek.
“Hey, no fair! Your legs are so long! Wait up!”
//
{ epilogue }
“So how did you know?” You broached the topic gently as the two of you sat knee to knee, shoulder to shoulder on the kerb outside the convenience store. You lost, obviously, and as per tradition, the loser had to buy the ice creams.
“Know what?”
“That I… you know, reciprocated your feelings.”
“Oh, easy.”
You whacked his shoulder. “Do tell.”
“Hey! That hurt…” Keeho whined, rubbing the sore spot with his ice cream-free hand. “Well, it’s really not that hard.”
“Go on…”
Keeho looked at you and contemplated for a few moments, before stating, “Every time I post a thirst trap, like a gym photo or something, you like it within a minute. And then when I check back, you unlike it. It’s almost like, I don’t know – you don’t want me to know?”
You stuffed the ice cream in your mouth and groaned aloud. Your lips were fixed in a permanent pout as you chewed silently on the last of your ice cream.
“It’s fine, the worst bit was definitely when you accidentally liked that photo of me in a suit from two years ago like, last month.”
You were about to bury your face in your knees when Keeho replaced your finished ice cream stick with his own, the last bite, covered with more chocolate than vanilla ice cream, fully intact. You accepted it wordlessly, clearly in a sulky mood as you rested your head on his shoulder.
