FROM THE START ⭑ Kim Jongseob
007: Mortifying Encounters
Your phone was balanced against your pillow, propped up just enough that Dohoon and Haerin can both see you from the chest up.
Dohoon is already leaning too close to his camera, his forehead in complete view.
“So,” He begins. “Start talking.”
“I don’t know. I’m nauseous.” You say immediately.
Haerin narrows her eyes. “I promise you it didn’t even look that bad and the night was fine after we went back upstairs with your stupid bread.”
“Was there anything specific that bothered you?” Dohoon asked.
You exhale dramatically and flop back against your bed. “Just me.” A groan followed after. “I exist and then I just embarrass myself.” You ran your hands down your face. “I was sweating profusely and stuttering my ass off.”
Haerin snickers. “I can vouch not gonna lie.”
Your thoughts drifted back, replaying the moment in vivid detail. There were so many other ways you could’ve handled it.. so many different paths you could have taken instead, but no.
“He was just like… do you want the other one still… Intak said you loved melonpan..”
Dohoon quirks a brow. “Like he remembered that fact?”
You widen your eyes and nod eagerly in agreement. “So, I’m not crazy right?!”
He laughs. “I mean, why would he remember that fact about his friend’s sister…”
Haerin pursed her lips. “Wait because… you’re kinda right….”
“Or honestly…” Dohoon paused, “He could’ve meant it in a way that like… Oh, Intak mentioned earlier…?”
You groan into your hands. “Fuck, I was also thinking that too. Guys! I don’t know! I’m just sick to my stomach and it’s so pathetic and I’m such a chud and I need to die. I don’t know. Please.”
Dohoon snickers. “What else happened?”
“He like... he kept holding eye contact?” You mumble.
“Well that’s usually how conversations work.”
Haerin rolled her eyes. “Don’t be a smart ass.”
You slide off your bed and start pacing your room.
“No, but he kept holding it,” You say. “And then he smiled. And you should’ve just SAW the way he was looking at me.”
“Okay… what kind of smile,” Dohoon asks sarcastically.
You stop walking. “I don’t know…? Soft?”
Haerin presses her lips together to keep herself from laughing. “You’re actually not real.”
“And then he offered to warm up the melonpan?” You add. “Like word for word he was like, I can heat it up, For. You.”
Dohoon raises his brows. “Oh the ‘for you’ is kinda crazy.”
You light up. “Right?! So I’m not crazy about that either.”
“He wants you,” Dohoon teases.
“Okay you can’t say that to me or I will deteriorate.” You groan, stepping into the hallway. “Hold on, I’m gonna be quiet.” You warn the two. “I’m getting a snack.”
Haerin hums. “All good. Just whisper?…” She suggested as you nodded.
“Mmmm, I know I keep saying I don’t know know but I literally do not know. These feelings are something way out of my control at this point. It just felt humiliating because I was.. so awkward about it and I declined his offer so fast.”
Your best friend shakes her head. “It really didn’t seem that bad, but from afar it was on both ends, not just you.”
You pause at the top of the stairs. “Both?” You repeat quietly.
“Yes,” She says firmly. “He was awkward too.”
Your stomach flips. “Well we literally haven’t spoken to each other properly in years,” You mutter. “Ugh, why am I like this?”
“Well you’re dramatic, anti-social, lowkey weird…,” Dohoon begins listing things. “I don’t know there’s a lot.”
“Right. Thanks.” You roll your eyes.
You descend down the stairs slowly, your brain replaying every detail against your will. “I need sugar or somthing. I’m going crazy.”
“Get melon pan,” Dohoon snickers.
“Shut up.” You reach the bottom of the stairs and turn toward the kitchen.
The second you look up, you stop so abruptly your sock slides slightly against the tile.
Ok.
Right. Okay.
Why is he here.
Why the fuck is Kim Jongseob here again.
Why is Kim Jongseob leaving against the island counter like he’s been here all freaking day?????
One of his hands was braced against the marble behind him, steady and effortless, while the other scrolled lazily through his phone. The dim light from the window caught in his blonde hair, softened by the sunset until it looked more golden than bright. A few strands fell over his eyes, and when he noticed you, he pushed them back with an easy, absent motion.
And you swear your heart actually fell out of your ass.
On your screen, Dohoon is mid-sentence. “Honestly, I feel like Japan could really get things going for you two.”
You lower the phone slightly, but not enough to disconnect. You end up pocketing it into your sweatshirt.
“Hi.” Jongseob says awkwardly.
Just that. Okay.
“Hi…?” Your mouth opens again but nothing comes out this time.
He straightens a little, clearly caught off guard too. There’s the faintest flush along the tips of his ears, more obvious against the blonde.
“Sorry if I startled you.. or something.” He began. “I’m waiting for Intak… we’re hanging with the guys later… Uhm, your parents let me in before they left,” He says quickly. “Since.. I’m early and he’s still getting ready.”
You try your best to keep your composure but how could you when you were wearing a sweatshirt and barely visible shorts.
Through your AirPods, Dohoon was speaking aggressively. “Wait? Is that Jongseob?!?!”
You were too scared to reply or even acknowledge the call anymore. But it was very clear his voice was picking up through the phone.
“What’s he wearing, does he look good?”
Haerin scoffed. “Ddoi, you’re never beating the allegations. Like ever.” She insulted him.
You pretend to wipe your face to cover your mouth. “Guys, shut up,” You mutter under your breath.
“Hm?” Jongseob tilts his head and hums.
You clear your throat. “Sorry, nothing.”
Silence stretches.
Right, right… riiiiight. Of course.
You nod once. “But cool.” You finally respond to his initial statement. Jesus, why did your voice feel so small? Why was that all you said????
The kitchen suddenly felt too narrow. You were now hyperaware of everything once again and the hum of the refrigerator, the ticking of the clock, and the fact that your best friends are hearing your interaction in real time were stressing you out.
You take a step further into the kitchen because retreating would be obvious and you take a breath.
Jongseob shifts his weight from one foot to the other as there was a slight hesitation before he spoke again.
“So.”
Your stomach drops as you froze in front of the fridge, turning around to look at him.
Fuck, you were so trapped now.
He leaned back against the marble top, he pushed his hair back absentmindedly, and you hated that you found that incredibly attractive.
“Uh,” He says carefully, like he’s stepping onto thin ice. “So, you’re going to Japan, right?”
You blink. “Yes!” Your voice came out fast and a little too eager. “Yeah.. I am.”
He nods slowly. “For sure?” Why did that sound loaded.
“Yes. For sure.” You force a small smile. “Why?”
“No reason.” He shrugs. “I just didn’t know if you were still thinking about it.”
Through your AirPods, Haerin sighs, “Is he stupid? Why would she not go?”
You press your lips together to stop yourself from reacting.
“I’m going,” You repeat. “We will have—it’ll be fun.” You fumbled your words, hoping to GOD he didn’t notice but Dohoon and Haerin definitely did with the way they were giggling and hollering into your ears.
He watches you for a second like he’s trying to gauge whether you meant what you said.
“Yeah,” He says quietly. The single word lands strangely, but before you can unpack that, he clears his throat again.
“Oh. Also.” He shifts slightly. “Did your brother tell you that the bakery is hiring?”
Oh come fucking on, can he please stop talking. This was torture.
You feel your spine straighten automatically because Intak did tell you about the bakery.
“Oh. Yeah.” You nod like this is brand new information. “He told me about the whole job thing last night.. when you and Jiung left.”
You pray your voice sounds normal.
“It’s a good place,” He adds quickly. “It’s not that bad. The hours are decent.”
This was actually so painful. You almost laughed.
“Yeah.. uh, I’ve been looking at a couple other places actually since Ive been wanting to get a job in general… So… I have some places in mind already.” Your words stop. You were rambling and you needed to pause.
“I have an interview soon,” You say, casually. “But the bakery’s definitely been an option.”
A lie. A complete lie. The bakery was never going to be an option.
You knew he worked there and that’s the entire reason why you cannot work there.
Working side by side with him? Absolutely not.
Jongseob pauses for half a second. “Interview?” He repeats.
“Yeah.” You nod again.
Please stop nodding.
“Just… some boutique at the mall.”
“Nice,” He says. There was something unreadable in his expression. “That’s cool actually. Maybe I’ll stop by and visit if you get the job.” He says with a soft smile.
What was this? What the actual fuck was that.
“Was that flirting?!” Haerin gasped as Dohoon’s cackles followed after.
You felt your heart stutter. “Why would you do that?” You regretted your words as soon as you spoke once again. “Sorry—I didn’t mean it like that.. Wow that was so rude, I’m so sorry.”
Jongseob laughed a bit. “No it’s okay—I just like fashion. Plus I’m always at the mall too.” He shrugged casually as you double down.
“Ohhh.. right.”
“Wow, that was really bad.” Haerin’s voice echoed.
Silence settles again. Your AirPods crackle faintly.
Dohoon whispers, “Please ask him something back.”
You want to die. Like yesterday.
“Uhm. Did you buy your ticket yet?” You blurt.
For fucks sake.
He blinks, then huffs a breath. “Intak told you about that?”
“.. Maybe… Yeah...”
He almost looked embarrassed. “I’m gonna but it soon. I just need to wait for my next paycheck I think.”
That makes you smile a bit before you can stop yourself. He was such a loser. “That’s good.”
He smiles softly too.
And for a second, it felt almost normal. You nearly relax. You turn your head to look anywhere else and he notices.
“What are you listening to?” He asks, nodding toward your AirPod.
You freeze.
Can he MIND HIS BUSINESS.
“Oh. It’s just— Uhm. Seventeen? The boy group?”
You are a terrible liar.
He nods slowly. “Nice. I’m a little familiar. Good music.”
You could hear Haerin and Dohoon cackling. “You are such a fucking LOSER.” One of them breathe out.
Suddenly from upstairs, a door opens and relief washes over you. Thank GOD.
Intak appears at the bottom of the stairs, adjusting his jacket. He pauses when he sees the two of you mid-conversation.
His gaze flicks between you, not suspicious, but a little observant.
“You guys good?” He asks as he approaches the kitchen.
Jongseob straightens up immediately. “Yeah.”
You shift in your spot too, even though your brother wasn’t really paying you any attention, he was staring at Jongseob for whatever reason.
And you just wanted to get the hell out of there.
Intak shrugs. “Right… you ready?” He asks Jongseob, before he nods and glances at you.
“See you,” He says.
You reply. “Mhm. See you.”
“I’ll be home later, love you.” Intak waves.
He, along with Jongseob leave without another word and the door closes behind them.
The house goes still.
You remain standing in the middle of the kitchen, and then—
Dohoon laughs in your ear. “What fucking boutique?”
END OF VOLUME ONE!
💌 from mika! guys please this was driving me crazy , i hate this one JUST VOTE JUST VOTE. I ALREADY KNOW IM OUT. i think time skip will happen next chapter. Idk.
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