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24 [Ft. Triple S's Seoyeon]

Author's note: So excited to write another long fic collab, this time with the lovely @ducktoo, he is such an amazing writer and it was an honor to write him, make sure to check his own blogs because he is basically one of the fronts of the fluff renaissance

Ducktoo's note: Seoyeon is patootie. Stan tripleS and Stan leafo.

Thanks to @erospandemos for beta reading and with that, we both hope you will enjoy this fic

word count: 10.7k words

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“Dont get me wrong, you seem like a great guy but this date kind of felt…bland”

It repeated nonstop in your head like a mantra. You were certain that you acted normal. Dressed smart casual. Nice perfume. Minty breath. You two were having steak for dinner, and the vibe was quite nice.

And yet. The word "bland" hits you harder than you ever thought.

You kept thinking back to it as you glanced up at the clock. 11pm (yikes). And you're not even sure why you stayed here at the bar next door.

Maybe it was the dim lights — sometimes alight and sometimes half-dead hanging over the counter, flickering every once in a while like they were just as dead as you are. Or maybe it was the bartender's silent pity at each glance. But honestly, nothing beats the sting of being called boring repetitively by each date as they walked out halfway through dinner.

"Tsk…fuck this" you muttered under your breath, swirling what was left of your whiskey. The ice clinked against the glass like it was mocking you.

"…you look like someone who just got rejected by a date." A voice piped up from your left.

You didn't even bother to look. "Yeah, well maybe I am."

That certainly hits her humour, judging by that low, amused sound. "Yikes. Self-awareness. You don't see that often at this hour."

You finally turned your head and there she was. Blonde hair. Hoodie two sizes too big. A can of beer in one hand and a bowl of peanuts. Well, her cheeks were the most puffy you have ever seen, but the main point is that she looked far too relaxed for someone sitting in a half-empty bar at midnight.

"…do I know you from somewhere?"

"Don't think so." She replied. "But it was more interesting here than staring at the spider web at the corner, so I figured why not give you some decent company?"

You stared at her. "…I'm good."

"Sure, buddy." She replied immediately, grinning as she slid onto the stool beside you, pushing the bowl of peanuts between you two. "You don't say good when you down that whiskey at midnight."

You tried to search through your tired brain for a comeback. Nothing came out. "…I'm sure I'm fine."

"Of course, I can see it in your eyes." She popped a peanut to her mouth, even without saying anything you can feel like she is mocking you. "So, what's the tea? Girl trouble? Job crisis? Being kicked back to Iron 1?"

You sighed. "Date trouble. She left. Said I was too boring."

Her eyes lit up like she'd found something fun. "Oh wow, interesting. A ‘too honest to the face’ breakup. Poor you."

"Well, it's not really a breakup. More like an early escape." you admit.

"Gosh, extra brutal." She laughed as she popped another peanut to her mouth. "Let me guess, first date?"

"Third, actually." You exhaled. "…which is far worse."

"Because it means she really tried?"

You squinted your eyes at her. "Do you always psychoanalyse strangers in bars?"

"Ehh…only the interesting ones." She sipped her beer. "Beats staring at the web."

You unexpectedly huffed a short laugh. "You must have a lot of free time, huh?"

"Wayy too much," she mocked. "What did you even do, buddy? Talk about stocks? How is mitochondria the powerhouse of the cell?"

"I said that I didn't believe in love."

A second of silence, and then she starts laughing followed by a little slam of her fist on the mahogany, you can tell she tries her best not to make a scene. She fails. “Okay… you just turned from interesting to really interesting” she says, taking a deep sigh after letting her laughter go away. “Okay then, tell me about this ‘I don't believe in love’ theory you got there…” she leans closer, her chin finds its rest on her palms as she looks at you with a bit too much curiosity, as if you just said to her that the world is a triangle.

“Doesnt really feel like a theory when five dates in a row i get the ‘I just don't see the spark between us’ text after a date, or it just goes straight to the ghost zone”

“Maybe it's because of your negative mentality? I don't know, just throwing out a guess” another peanut in her mouth.

“I’m not negative, I am just realistic about my situation” you explain.

“Yeah, it's realistic that you are a negative nancy,” she finished. "But honestly, if I were her, I'd have left too."

You frowned. "One, rude. And two, you don't even know me."

"I don't have to." She tilted her head. "You exude this pessimistic aura that I can sense from the corner of the room. I bet you're one of those guys that say he doesn't believe in love but still listens to sad ballads when he's drunk."

You ignored that playlist of songs she just called you out for on your phone. "…Okay, first of all, I don't –"

And she cuts in. "Bet your playlist is named something like 'Fuck Love but I still fucking miss you'?"

You rubbed your temple, unsure if it was because of the alcohol or it was her. "…has anyone ever told you that you are really nosy?"

"No, but I bet everyone tells you that you're quite predictable. Mr. Moody." She shot back. "Anyway, I'm sure that your next date will go better."

"I wish." You breathed, voice a bit quieter and tired. "At this point, I'm certain that people fall in love with the idea of someone, not the actual person. And then they wake up one day and realise they were just in love with how it felt to be wanted."

She was quiet for a moment. Then she let out this tiny, almost mischievous chuckle. "That…is the saddest thing I have ever heard."

"I'm so delighted that I'm your entertainment tonight." You deadpanned.

"But…" She chugged the remainder of her pint, as if she was pumping herself for some grand announcement. "…you are wrong, one hundred percent.”

It is ridiculous to argue with a random girl in a bar, but the inner you decides to challenge her, starting with the trigger: “Okay, prove it then”

“Sure, let's bet on it then” she retorts, her voice full of confidence.

You raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"

"Yeah." She straightened up (or tried to. She just downed a pint, after all). "I'll make you fall in love with me."

One second. And then two. And then you had to hold your laugh. "What?"

"...in the span of 24 hours. Starting at 12 AM today, which is ...in about 4 minutes" Her tone was deadly serious for someone who (allegedly) is drunk. “I will make you say ‘I love you’, what do you say?”

You were aware that you just had whiskey, but surely no way in your life you would make a statement like that. Even with liquid courage. "…Are you serious?"

"Oh yes. absolutely" She roared, standing up and slammed down a few bills on the counter. "You think love's dead? Fine, let's resurrect it."

"Are you drunk?" You stood up with her, hand scratching the side of your head from confusion

"Probably, but I know I'm not wrong." She responded, hand now reaching toward you. “So what do you say, are you in?”

Alrighty. Let’s assess this situation: this random girl (which by the way you don't even know) came to you, mocked you about your love life and now she wants to bet that she can make you fall in love with her in 24 hours. This can't be real, it has to be a prank. Has to be.

However, as much as you want to just laugh and walk away to just crash at your place and forget that shitshow of a date, a small part of you wants to take this challenge, prove that this nativity of hers doesn't have a place in the real world.

Besides, it's not like this would totally waste your time. Right?

…Right?

“What happens if you fail?” You ask in a curious tone.

“I won't bother you ever again, and you will prove that maybe this mindset of yours is actually correct…well, in your case at least,” she states, no sign of uncertainty in your voice, it's as if she knows she will win. “Besides, I highly doubt you have anything better to do, besides crying about GenG missing the finals again”

“Ok, I don’t cry just because an E-sport team is missing the–.” Before you could fully finish your opinion, she grabbed your wrist and dragged you with her out of the bar. “Wait— I haven’t pay–”

“I already paid your share. And that’s enough depression for one night, mister.”

The cold air smacked your face awake as she pulled you through the bar and into the street. You stumbled after her, double–no, triple guessing if she was being actually serious.

“You are one insane girl.”

“Mhm.” She hummed, waving down a taxi as casual as another night. “Yet you are still coming with me.”

“Why would I do that? I haven’t agreed to anything yet.”

She opened the door and turned to you with a wide grin. “Well, you could’ve pushed me away by now. Or any other instances back inside. So I take that as an agreement.”

She wasn’t wrong.

And for that reason alone, you got inside the car. The ride was quiet, mainly because the alcohol was definitely taking its effect. The taxi started rolling, street lights streaking past the windows as the city was deep in its slumber. You, however, barely had time to even breathe before she turned to you with eyes wide and alive.

You thought the job interviews were tough, but this was even more draining. She started barraging you with standard questions. “What’s your name?” “What do you do for work?” “How old are you?” But then the question starts being more nosy. “Favourite food?” “Favourite movie?” “Did you cry while watching Your Name?”

You ran out of breath after answering every single question of hers that you forgot a crucial detail. “...You didn’t even tell me your name.”

“Oh. oops.” She turned her head, acting as if she didn’t forget about that part too. Instead, she gave out a lazy yet confident smile. “Seoyeon. Yoon Seoyeon.”

You exhaled, leaning back against the seat. “Well, you are something, Yoon Seoyeon.”

“Don’t fall for me too fast then.” She turned away to look at her phone. 12 am. Midnight. “We got 24 hours to kill.”

-

The taxi stops somewhere that definitely is not romantic.

No skyline view, no fancy steaks, no modernist decor and interior. Just the good old dull flicker of a 24-hour convenience store sign, buzzing like it’s barely hanging on.

You look out the window, and then back at her. “...We could’ve gone to a family restaurant.”

“We could.” Seoyeon chuckled, already paying the driver. “But at least here there won’t be nosy people peeping our very deep ranting.”

Before you can protest, she already hopped out of the car. You sighed, reluctantly following her into the store. The door’s chime greeting you like an old friend that was the last person you want to see right now. The damn LED lights are way too bright, casting everything in that sterile glow that makes you wonder at which part of this trip you should’ve run. You yawned as the clock ticked in the background. 12:30 am.

Regardless of your mood, Seoyeon already beelined straight to the instant ramen aisle. “Alright, boring boy!” She calls out. “Do you want Neoguri, Shin, or Buldak?”

You just grabbed one without paying attention. “This one.”

“...X2 Buldak?” Her tone impressed. “Wow, must’ve been a terrible day then.”

“You don’t say.”

The cashier gives the two of you a tired look as Seoyeon pays for both cups (She ended up with a normal Buldak) and a pair of small milk boxes. And then she leads you outside (after cooking the noodles, duh), where she promptly sits down on the curb like it was a five-star restaurant. You hesitate for a second, both hands full of the noodle cup and milk box, before sitting beside her.

Steam rises from the cup as you both stir the noodles in silence for a bit. Wild situation, you tell yourself, midnight ramen on a curb with a girl (quite pretty, now that you feel sober) who promptly kidnapped you from a bar. But the air was cool, the city continued its slumber, and the night didn't feel that heavy.

This sounds a whole lot like a date.

Seoyeon takes the first bite and lets out an exaggerated groan. “Mmph! Who made this?!” She pointed to the cup in a weirdly comedic manner.

“...It’s just buldak.” You blew your noodle before slurping it, the chemical spice immediately kicks in.

“At least it has flavours compared to those high end places.”

Well, she ain’t wrong. “Ok. You got a point.” You muffled the noodles and spices stuffed in your mouth.

“Woah, that's the first point you agreed with me.” She points the chopsticks at you. “Guess I am doing something right then.”

You chuckled under your breath, finally swallowing that (admittingly satisfying) bite. “Fine, fine.”

She takes another bite, then looks over at you. “Anyway, tell me something, boring boy. When did you decide it was all fake?”

You paused mid-your-second-slurp. “Wow, straight to the point huh.”

“Time’s ticking, remember?” She tapped on the invisible wristwatch. “Twenty four hours.”

You sighed. “Well…unsure, actually. Maybe after being called boring too many times and watching people jumping from one person after another like a game. I’m certain that they just want comfort until it gets inconvenient.”

“Damn.” She mutters, looking up at the lamp post. “That is so depressing.”

“It’s realistic though,” You countered. “Love’s basically just…convenience with better lighting.”

She turned back to you, studying your features. “Now you sound even MORE like someone who got ghosted multiple times.”

That constitutes a side eye from you. “...weirdly specific.”

“Hey,” She elbowed you. “We both know I’m observant at this point.”

“I suppose so.” You put down the wooden chopsticks to the cup. “What about you? What’s your take on love?”

She took another bite (a big one, as if she was amping herself up for the quote of the year) then, with a quieter tone, said: “I don’t believe in love either.”

That is ‘quote-of-the-year’ enough, because damn. “You don’t?!”

“Not the movie kind, you know?” She took a deep breath. “I think people meet the right ones, though. The ones who make things feel…lighter, comfortable. Doesn’t have to be forever, maybe, but enough that it matters. That’s all it really is.”

…Wow.

You finally took a good look at her. The lone streetlight painted her face in soft warm white hues, a few blonde stray hairs escaping her bun, and the glint of tired honesty in her eyes (or she was just drowsy). Something felt unreasonably real in that moment, and it threw you off that it came from this stranger who, just an hour ago, was very chirpy and…honestly, a ball of sunshine.

“...not a bad way to see it, actually.”

She grinned, breaking the weight of her own words. “See? I’m not just a pretty face.”

“Eh, debatable.”

“Excuse me?”

“I said it was relatable.”

“You are such a fucking liar.” She laughed, poking your arm with her (dirty) chopsticks.

“Oh m– don’t poke me with that!” You groaned. “Where are your manners? The heck.”

“And yet,” She leaned in. “You haven’t walked away yet.”

Why would you when this has been far more interesting than the past 5 dates you have been in? Wait shouldn't you be against this?

By the time you two finished eating, the night had gone far quieter. The wind carried a faint chill now, brushing past the empty street like a sigh. You finally stood up, stretching your back, and fished out your phone. 3:02 am.

Wow, time flies when you are having fun.

“Guess I should head home.” You exhaled.

“Where do you live?”

“Uhh…” You checked the map on your phone. “Ten minutes from here.”

She got up, brushing her noodle cup aside. “I’ll walk you home, boring boy.”

“You don’t have to.”

“Please.” She already took a few steps forward. “If I let you wander alone, that’s bad PR for the challenge.”

“That you started by yourself…” You rolled your eyes but followed anyway. The two of you walked in silence for a while, accompanied by the soft crunch of gravel under your shoes, and her humming something under her breath (whatever it was, her voice was making it better).

When you two finally stopped in front of your apartment, she looked at you with that same (admittingly charming) stupid grin.

“I’ll pick you up tomorrow…boyfriend.”

You blinked, ignoring how palpitating your heart got. “W-what?”

“Don’t forget, the clock’s still ticking.” She chuckled, taking a few steps backward down the street. “But if you start missing me before tomorrow morning, just say that I won, okay?”

You laughed under your breath, shaking your head. “What did I get myself into…?”

She waved lazily, her silhouette fading into the quiet glow of the streetlights. “You’re laughing already. That’s three hours in. Good night, boring boy.”

You just stood there in front of your door for a while, staring at the empty street, the faint smell of Buldak still clinging to your clothes. But for some reason, you couldn’t stop smiling either.

-

You can't tell how much time has passed since you crashed on your bed, now being woken up by the oh-so-serene sounds of loud knocks, coming from outside your apartment. You reach your hand to check the time on your phone, 6 AM.

Fucking hell.

“Who even knocks this loudly this early?” You groaned, slowly managing to get out of the bed, the knocks are still insistent as you head toward the noise and as you open the door, you are met by non other than Yoon Seoyeon

You know, you only met her like 3 hours ago, but you had a feeling she would do something like this.

Gone was the casual hoodie with her hair bundled up in a bun you remembered last night. Now she has this flowy white sundress that goes all the way down to her knees, fluttering slightly with the hallway breeze, her blonde hair loose and wavy. Maybe it was the waffling smell of tomato and fresh vegetables, but you followed the smell through your nose down to the huge basket that is certainly half her height in her hand.

“Morning, did you sleep well?” Seoyeon asks, her tone is as cheerful as she is, annoyingly cheerful if you have to add.

“...we just met like 3 hours ago.”

“So you remembered me. Good sign.” She beamed, maybe too bright for still at the break of dawn.

“I barely got any-” You were barely yawning your sluggish words out before she immediately cut you off.

“Good, get ready, we have a long day and…. I want to win this bet.” She states, giving you two small pats on your shoulder to help you fully wake up, only then she remembers her manners. “Oops, uh…Can I come in?”

You blink, twice. At this point, decency is out of the window, and you don't even want to argue with her so you just nod, moving aside to let her in while you are heading towards your bathroom. Half-grumbling, half-mumbling curses under your breath about over-enthusiastic girls and weirdly bad life choices.

While you were in there, Seoyeon hums softly as she sets the basket down on the counter, peeking curiously around your place like a cat. She crouches beside your small shelf, tilting her head at the stack of books, and then the empty energy drink cans that you forgot to clean up. (To be fair, you were expecting no one here at 6am).

“Boring Boy!” She calls out, her chirpy voice echoing through the space. “You live exactly like a young adult, dude!”

“Thanks, whatever.” You replied flatly behind the bathroom door. “Nicest insult I can get this early.”

The peace returned, but not for long until…

“You don’t lock your bathroom door?”

You choked on your toothpaste mid-brush. “What?”

“Just saying.” and you can swear you could FEEL the smugness coming from her tone. “That’s a bold move for a lonely guy.”

“Well, because I live alone…Jeez.”

You rinse, spit, and open the door a few minutes later, towel around your neck with your hair still damp. Seoyeon definitely got the memo “get yourself comfortable” literally, as she sat on your couch now without a damn, scrolling through the phone, and the basket of food sitting neatly beside her feet. She looks up the moment you walk to the couch, and her gaze flicks up once. From your face, to your collarbone, and then down to your half-buttoned shirt.

And this girl didn’t even try to hide her smile.

“...what now?” You narrowed your eyes.

“Nothing.” It was suspiciously quick. “Are you ready yet?”

“Yes, now I am ready to go” you sigh, finishing buttoning your shirt while you grab your phone, keys and the wallet from the desk before walking out the door with Seoyeon by your side.

“Great, I have a lot of plans for today, let's get going” she responds, already heading out of your complex with you behind her since you were busy locking your door.

Now the two of you are walking on the streets beside each other, the early morning greets you with silence. Although, you can feel her gaze on you every now and then, more specifically how her eyes kept on wandering downward.

“You work out?” her question was surprisingly shorter than usual, still refusing to look into your eyes.

“Uh yeah, sometimes, why?”

“Nothing, just curious” she responds quickly, finally snapping her gaze toward, suddenly on her face there was a cheeky grin as she adds in a playful. “Just…liking what i see~”

Nothing, yeah totally.

You raised an eyebrow. “You were totally checking me out, ma’am.”

“Please,” she scoffs with exaggerated offense. “It’s not like I was looking at your midriff or anything.”

“...well that is not creepy at all.”

“It’s only creepy if I was catcalling, am I?” She wiggled her eyebrows.

“No, I am pretty sure it's creepy regardless” you state, matter-of-factly.

“You see? Thats why i am not catcalling, i am just smiling to myself and…getting excited, if you know what i mean, right?~” She adds in a playful tone as you mentally take note of the lack of filter Seoyeon seems to have.

“Nope, no idea, i will say though: it is kind of funny to walk around with toothpaste stains on the cheek”

She freezes. “Wait, huh?”

“Yeah.” You grin. “You’ve got one.”

“Where?”

You pointed at your own cheek. She immediately rubs hers with the back of her hand, checking her phone’s reflection…only to find nothing.

“You jackass.”

“Pff.” It was too funny to not laugh right there. “That’s what you get for being a perv.”

“I’m no– ugh.” She groaned, but there was no bite. ‘Let’s go, I’m hungry already.”

As you followed her (still grumpily walking) from behind, you couldn’t help but let out a chuckle at how fun it is to tease this girl. Checking your phone, the screen reflects back to you. 6.30am.

Damn it. Only a fifth of the way in the challenge, and you are already beaming. And that realisation annoys you even more than all the chaos she caused.

~~

7 am. And the first thing you expected at this time is not by the sea, but knowing her: you should just start expecting the unexpected

By the time both of you reached the coastline, the city had only just begun to take up. The air smelled like salt and due, with the faintest trace of the ocean brushing against your face with every soft gust. The grey blue horizon begins to be painted by the golden glow of the sun, slowly coming up from the waves.

Seoyeon, as usual at this point, looked completely awake for someone who probably had less sleep than you. Her sandals made these light crunching sounds against the sand as she carried that massive basket like it weighed nothing.

You followed (too late to back out now), while letting out a wide yawn that your jaw might drop. “You do realise most people are still asleep right now, yea?”

“Yea, and most people are boring.” She countered without a beat.

“Huh. Can’t argue with that.”

She stopped near a flat stretch of sand and knelt down, setting the basket in front of her. “Perfect.” she declared, dusting her hands together.

You looked around the spot. Quiet beach, light breeze, the ocean murmuring in the background. Like a date. Maybe?

Well no shit Sherlock, it is a date. What challenge are you doing again?

“I’ll give you that.” You admitted. “Good choice.”

She looked up at you with that same grin (which lowkey has started to affect you). “See? I have taste.”

“...You also showed up at 6 in the morning to drag a guy you just met out of bed, so your credibility’s questionable.”

As usual, she ignored your banter, and was already fishing out stuff from the basket. A blanket, a thermos, two sandwiches wrapped in plastic wraps (which explains the tomato and fresh vegetable), and what looked like a freshly cut array of fruits in a plastic container.

What time did this girl really wake up to do all this?

“...that’s a lot you prepared.” You crouched beside her, finally noticing the flowery perfume on her shoulder.

“Of course.” She stated. “Can’t win a bet on an empty stomach.”

You finally sat fully. “You do realise that it’s my satisfaction you try to win, right?”

“It’s both, boring boy.” She took a huge bite out of her sandwich. “You falling in love with me will be much easier if you’re not hungry.”

You scoffed as you reached for your own sandwich. “...that doesn't really make sense…like at all”

“Just admit that you’re impressed with my prep, damn it.”

“Its better than any previous date’s prep, which in most cases is…non existent so you cleared this low bar, i guess” You sighed as you finally bit into your own. Toasted bread, egg, tomato, lettuce, cheese…and immediately regretted giving her any kind of validation. “Damn it… this is good.”

“Good?” She glared. “I woke up at five for this and this is all the compliments I get? Jeesus, where is the chivalry these days.”

It has been barely a day, and Seoyeon has officially moved up to be the date with the most complaints ever. But to be frank, it is quite funny, so you just replied with: “Fine. Really good.”

She beamed, leaning back on her hands, the sandwich on her laps. “Heh, you are not so hard to please after all.”

“Shut it.”

Afterwards, the two of you ate in relative silence. It wasn’t awkward, surprisingly enough. Just easy. The kind where the sounds of the sea and the occasional gawking of the seagull filled the space between every bite. At one point, you two chuckled as that said seagull kept on circling on one particular spot.

After finishing her sandwich, Seoyeon turned toward the horizon, eyes squinting slightly as the sun peeked over the waves even more. “You know…” She breathed. “I come here a lot.”

You glanced at her. “Why…?”

She shrugged. “It’s quiet. The sea doesn’t shit talk back. It’s just there.”

“You? Wanting quiet?”

“Hey, your first impression of me might be a loud and eccentric one, but even I can have a break.” She tossed the crumbled plastic wrap at your knee. “Don’t ruin my poetic moment, jackass.”

You took another bite, swallowing a laugh. “I’m just saying, it’s hard to imagine you sitting here alone after you pulled a kidnapping last night.”

“Say what you want.” She chuckled for a moment, before her expression softened slightly. “I like to watch the water when I feel…um, lost, I suppose.”

Her tone made you pause. It wasn’t the playful Seoyeon from the bar that grabbed you from your depressing thought, how her white dress fluttered slightly with the wind, and how her blonde hair looked so ethereal in the sunrise.

And before you could stop yourself, you blurted out, “You are…weird, you know that?”

She blinked, then smiled, turning her head toward you. “Take one to know one…boring boyfriend.”

A strange silence followed afterward. Not awkward, actually, just one of those moments where you didn’t want to break and just let it sink in. Her hair swayed with the wind, and that faint smell of her shampoo mingling with the salt in the air. You two caught each other’s gaze once, briefly, then quickly looked away. Not totally awkward at all.

And then, “WOOF WOOF!”

A sharp, sudden bark echoed from behind you two. Seoyeon yelped out loud…and immediately clung to your arm like her life depended on it.

“T-The fuck was that?!” she half-whispered, half-shouted, peeking at the source of the noise from your shoulder. You ignore the heat on your cheeks, unsure if it was from the proximity or the way her perfume clung onto your clothes

Regardless, you look around until you find a cute little chihuahua. “...A dog?”

“Goddamn it.” she said, tugging on your sleeve harder. “Stupid dog. Make it go away already..!”

You couldn’t help but laugh, which earned you a small smack on the back. “You’re fine, Seoyeon. You were brave enough to kidnap a random guy in the city at midnight, but a little doggy made you this scared?”

“I-It’s not funny!” she protested…and still refused to leave your side. “It could bite!”

“...It’s wagging its tail.” You pointed toward the dog who stood passively a good distance away from you two, its tongue lolling out, wagging its tail like you said, and staring up at Seoyeon with pure curiosity.

“Oh.” She muttered. “It’s…kinda cute.”

“No shit Sherlock.” you deadpanned. “Truly terrifying to be afraid of.”

She glared at you for a brief moment (not the angry one, just a really adorable one that you refused to admit). But it didn’t last long. Well, because the dog trotted closer, sniffed the basket, and barked again, making her jolt once more.

“Never mind, not that cute.” She retreated back to you again as if the dog decided to learn how to punch.

You sighed as you gave her a light pat to her thigh. “You know, for someone trying to win a bet about making me fall in love with you, hiding from a puppy is definitely not helping your case.”

Lies. It was definitely making your pulse go wild.

“Shush.” She said, swatting at your arm but with a small grin that betrayed her embarrassment. “You’re supposed to protect your girlfriend, remember?”

Let’s ignore the way your lip twitched upwards at the word ‘your’, shall we?

When the dog finally got bored of scaring Seoyeon and walked away, she released her grip away from you. “Anyways we already finished our food, lets go”

You could only chuckle at the nonchalant recovery as you helped her pack up. “Sure, where to?” You glanced at your phone again. 8:30 am.

She turned to you with that annoying grin, simply just shrugging her shoulders before walking away, leaving you confused.

~~

The next two hours blurred together in that relaxed way mornings sometimes do (a phenomenon you still don’t understand, or maybe it was her magic).

After breakfast, Seoyeon insisted on “walking off the food”, which honestly is just dragging you through half the city. The sun was higher now, definitely warm enough to feel the sweat beads on your back, while she carried the empty picnic basket around (she insisted there was no time, but really, you could tell she wasn’t that bothered). Every so often, she’d glance at you, either to tease or to ask random questions like: “why are buildings called buildings if they have already been built”.

You answered half of them; and the rest she filled in herself.

At some point, you stopped at a convenience store for iced coffee. Just like last night, you two sat on the curb, but this time with the world moving around. Cars hummed by, the smell of food waffling in the air, and Seoyeon sipped on hers. It feels…natural. Like a pair that have been together for far too long.

“You’re quiet.”

You looked at her. “Well yeah, I didn’t get enough sleep.” You muttered.

“Well, first time for waking up early, then.” She grinned. Slurping the last of her coffee, she tossed it to the bin nearby as she glanced at your phone. 10 am. “Let’s go, I know the perfect place for both of us.”

That…apparently is a PC bang tucked between a tailor shop and karaoke bar. From the silence of the sea to the loud, pop music in here, it sure is a bit of a whiplash to your ears. Or to you in general.

“Isnt this place a bit too…um…loud for a normal date?” You ask, loud enough so she can hear you.

“Do I need to explain that this is not a normal date?”

“Okay, touché.”

“Great, let's go in, and just trust me, I know what I am doing” she responds, walking toward the counter. You rolled your eyes, yet you followed her anyway.

Surprisingly, It doesn't take that much long to get 2 neighbouring PCs free for the two of you. You paid your share and found your seat with Seoyeon on the setup to your left. She has already logged in, hair slightly messy from the walk, and her fingers dance across the keyboard as if it’s her second nature.

“You play League, right?” She asks, hands typing her account details.

“Yeah, you too?”

“Only casually, Arena and ARAM,” She shrugs. “Sometimes I feel adventurous and play Normals, do you play ranked?”

“Yeah,” you nodded, “Gold 4, jungle.”

You could hear it. A muttered, nearly inaudible "Sweet motherfucking lord” under her breath. You gave her a nonchalant shrug as the client window opened, though the corner of your mouth twitches.

“What's your account name?” she asks again, this time through the discord call. Nothing you really keep your thoughts about, just enough so you write it to invite her to your lobby and start the queue. And with Korea being Korea, you find yourself in champ select in less than a minute.

You glance over at her screen. She’s hovering over Yuumi.

“Oh”

“What?” she asks, eyes narrowing suspiciously.

“So you are that kind of casual player?”

This gets you with a small smack on your shoulder.

“I am playing with friends who have main character syndrome, sue me if I want to help them feel happy”

You chuckle at the way she rolls her eyes…and locks in Briar.

“Really?” She scoots her chair a bit further from the table before looking at you. “You pick Briar and I’m the cringe one here?

“You picked Yummi. I rest my case.”

A blink, another one and Seoyeon just sighs, turning herself toward the screen again. Eventually the champion selection is over and the loading screen pops up.

For a couple of minutes there is silence between you two, letting the music surrounding you to flow without interrupting. You take a quick glance at Seoyeon, her eyes glued to the screen. She’s surprisingly focused. Maybe too much for a ‘casual player’.

“So…how is your dating life?” You start, breaking the silence

“Huh? What?” Her eyes darted to you.

“Like, I don't know…this entire day is for you to prove to me that dating is good and love is real, but i haven't heard a word about your own experience in dating” You pressed random keys, totally not being nervous or anything.

And obviously not because you are curious about her answer.

A small chuckle escapes her lips before she answers. “Oh…well, it does exist, I go on dates when I can, this isn't my first date.”

“Wait, this counts as a date?”

She shrugs. “You tell me, Boring boy.”

Meanwhile the game starts, you both choose your augments, buy items and wait for the first round,

“Got ‘Feel the Burn’ by the way,” Seoyeon adds.

“Nice, Mystic Punch” you say, happy for the double high roll returning back to the main topic. “Anyway…do they go well? Do you get to the second date?”

“Oh hell no” She laughs mid-combat, finger flying across the keyboard. “You think you are the only one who has a shit dating life? 3 ghosts during text, 2 ghosts during the actual dates, and 7,”

“Yikes. Seven…?”

“Yep. I repeat: seven!! times where i have been told ‘you seem great, but your personality is a bit…too much’”

The way she mocks their tone, with that fake masculinity. Can’t lie, it does make you laugh a little bit.

“So the pot calls the kettle black, that's interesting” you state, fingers move with dexterity, getting the first blood on the enemy Karma. “So how does it make you any different than me? if anything it seems you should believe in love even less than me.”

She snipes an enemy Ahri and smirks. “Maybe. But I haven’t, have I?”

You were about to respond when she added, her tone turned more sentimental. “I know that one day, I will meet someone that will love me. Not despite how I am, but because of it”.

You glance over. Her tone isn’t joking anymore. She looks at you straight, eyes soft but certain. “Listen…”

“Yeah?”

“...for me, love is about enjoying someone's presence and accepting every part of that person, even those that we connect less with. I don't want to be in a relationship where my partner doesn't fully accept who I am. Even the wild and cheerful side of me, because if we don't fully accept each other, is it really love?”

You don’t say anything. You just…sit there, letting her words hang in the neon glow.

The only thing you manage to say is a simple “Wow”.

“Yeah, that went…a bit too deep right?” She laughs awkwardly, “Oh shit round is starting, get ready” she now goes back to the screen.

“Y-Yeah” you respond, turning back to the screen. You don't know if it's the fact you slept for 3 hours or something else. But you catch yourself saying—

“I mean, if my say counts, I really think you will find someone that will love you. Just the way you are. You’re quite a girl as it is.”

Seoyeon didn’t say anything either. She just lets out a soft breath and smiles (the one that is far too real for how short you two have known each other).

“...well, aren’t you a smooth talker,” she breathed, eyes back on the screen.

You don’t try to play cool. Just smile back, and just fail miserably at focusing on the game.

~~

The rest of the 2 hours go by quickly, nothing too serious, a single win, a lot of losses (that Seoyeon insisted that were your fault) and even more banter between the two of you (“what do you mean you don't buy items?!” Seoyeon rants, and you counter with “Stat anvils are way better on Kaisa”.)

But still, you both still had fun together, enjoying each moment with a side effect of you warming up to your temporary ‘girlfriend’. So when Seoyeon drags you out of the PC bang toward the next destination, you don't question it anymore, instead just following her around.

“That is probably the most normal place you took me to” You say, looking at the sliding glass door of a burger place, one you never heard the name of, but it's quite popular based on the amount of people inside.

“Well I can't be quirky all the time, am I right?” She jokes, you laugh, it's a simple ebb and flow between you two. “You pay by the way, so get your money ready”

“Excuse me?”

“Last night i paid for your drink, and for your X2 buldak, your wallet can start losing some weight”

Ok, she's right, and you don’t exactly want to ruin whatever you two have right now. So instead you just go in, this time taking the lead.

The order is quite simple: two burgers, two boxes of fries and two cans of the same drink (“Do you want a split straw with that?” You were this close to duke the cashier out but it was quite funny). And then you two ended up sitting across from each other by the window.

You wished you had your phone out at that time, because the way she unwraps her burger with both hands was…um…quite adorable. Ok fine, it was very adorable.

The conversation continues from the PC bang. A bit of more arguing about some recent E-sport lives, pet peeves about some celebrities, then worst movies you both have ever seen. It was very natural. Unforced. And warm.

And then the conversation leads to… this.

“So.” She looks at you…well, while gulping down her drink. “”We’re halfway in this bet.”

You inhale like someone startled awake. “Uhuh. And?”

“Well…”

“Well…?”

“...I would appreciate it if you could give your thoughts about today.”

“...What? The date?”

“Uhuh,” Seoyeon nods. “Are you having fun? Am I on the road to winning this bet? Did I change your mind already?” She asks all of this before, very ungracefully, lets out a small burp that gets her giggling, a shy smile plastered on her face that gets you smiling back.

Fuck, maybe you are falling tor her alre- NO! you can't give up that easily, it’s only been one single day. You can’t just fall in love with someone you just met like this!

(Ignore the fact that it is clear that you really enjoy this more than any other bland dates before.)

“I mean, yeah I am having fun with you, but that doesn't mean you will win this bet” you say, eating another fry.

Her eyes narrowed, “How fast would you say ‘I love you’ if it was any other girl planning this type of date with you?”

“Around the time when they showed up with the same cute sundress and the picnic basket- Ow!!” and this response rewards you with a kick to your knee, and not a weak one as you try to hold your groan to not make a scene.

“It's a bit rude of you to mention other girls during our date, Boring Boyfriend.” she states.

“That you started by kidnapping me from the bar, this bet is also a way for me to know if I should call the police on you for kidnapping and depriving me of sleep” you comment back, trying to match her flirt. Keyword, trying.

She gasps overdramatically, “You wouldn't dare.”

“Try me then.”

“Try you? Puh lease, you are too soft.” She fires back.

You were about to counter when the phone buzzed in your pocket. A notification from the dating app. As you open it up you see a message which quickly turns your smile upside down.

‘Hey, we are still meeting today, right?

It's a reminder for tonight’s date. With a girl you matched with last week. This evening. Right now it’s 1:04 PM.

Of course, she notices it immediately. “Oho? What’s that? Why hide your phone huh?”

You tense, didn’t realise how your hand automatically hid your phone away. “Hm? It’s nothing.” Well that was totally normal.

“Liar,” she sings. Her hand shoots out across from the table, palm open. “Let me see, pllleeeeaaasssseeee?”

‘What? No. It’s–”

“Let me see,” She says again, but the joke is gone.

You swallow, hands suddenly cold. And slowly, you unlock your phone and tilt it toward her like a child to their parents.

With one glance, her eyes find the app. Her lips part for a second until, “Oh.” She forces a smile. Tight. Paper-thin.

“She looks…fine,” Her tone is too calm for comfort, as she pushes the phone back to you. “Pretty, too, I should say.”

You blink. “...Are you telling me to leave?”

“Yeah, of course.” She takes a sip from her drink. “It’s fine.” Yeah, it doesn’t sound fine. At all.

And when you think maybe she’s actually upset…

“BUT!” she interrupts, voice suddenly bright again. Maybe too bright. “Let’s hit a photobooth. Before you meet her.”

You blink. “...what?”

“A photobooth,” She repeats, already standing up and dusting off her dress. “You know, those machines where couples or a group of friends snuggle together to pretend to be cute? It’s literally next door.”

“I know what it is, but why?”

She just shrugs, eyes flicking anywhere but to you. “Because I want one,” She swallows, “Of today, I guess. And in case she accidentally finds this physical evidence.”

That stirred something in your chest. But before you could sort it out, she took your hand, and dragged you towards the aforementioned booth next door. Her smile is bright yet paradoxically dim. Even though she is holding your han, it feels too distant.

As the lightbulb above the camera flashes, you and Seoyeon start doing poses toward the camera. You know, the usual — peace signs, finger guns toward each other, one photo has both of you side-hugging with Seoyeon eye smiling.

Although, even with how happy she seems to be in each photo, you can tell something isn't right.

“Gotta say, I do think I look cute, don't I?" She comments, eyeing each photo before looking at you with a warm smile.

“Heh, yeah.” You don’t even try to hide this time.

“Come on, say that I look cute, say it” she nudges you with her elbow. That was more than enough for you to no longer have any boundaries around her.

“Fine, you look cute, there, happy?” you gave in.

She scoffs at you, “Bitch, I always look adorable” she corrects you, turning her innocent smile to a cheeky grin (that doesn’t quite go up all the way), she then takes another look at the photos before she hands them to you. “Here, you can have it. I will keep the other one.”

“Oh, thanks.”

“Don’t think too much, Boring Boy. Just…something to remember me by.” she says while slowly walking away from you.

“Ya, Yoon Seo–”

She looked back at you, adorning her smile, “Think of it as…your prize for winning the bet”.

“Seo–”

You want to walk behind her, to say something, anything. But, like a pre-planned scene in a script, she starts running away. It might be from the unexpected bonding, but you can see a few droplets of tears falling from her face toward the ground despite being far away.

And eventually, you are left alone in front of the photobooth.

As you take a look at the photos in your hand, seeing each image one by one — you two pinching each other’s cheeks, making goofy faces, Seoyeon resting her chin on top of your crown — only one thought comes out.

“Did I…win this bet?”

For the first time since last night, the walk home is uneventful. Bland, even. No talking, no laughter, just the weirdly suspicious silence of the afternoon. All of the warm colours that surrounded the city earlier have been replaced by more monotone, grey-ish colours, it only needs to start raining before you would officially say it's a K-drama.

You can't tell how long the walk took to get you now standing in front of your door but regardless, you open it, revealing your familiar living room. Take a sigh that you can't tell if it's from relief or disappointment and slowly start walking inside.

As you get in front of your bed, tiredness enveloped you, and every part of your body is telling you to sleep. You quickly oblige to its will, slowly falling toward the mattress and immediately close your eyes, letting the fatigue of this entire day finally take its effect.

~~

You know, it's safe to say that outside of your dating life, everything else about you is quite lucky. Because even while being awake for 10 hours with only 3 hours of sleep prior, your body manages to wake you up at 7:03 PM, one and a half hours before your date.

Your alarm didn't even ring. Instead, your brain decides it is perfect for you to get up once more.

You sit up, rubbing your face, and all you see is the memory of Seoyeon's stupid, smug smile. Still lingering in your head like she's physically sitting there. And then also her back and the hidden droplets as she runs away from you. You swing your legs off the bed, glance at your wardrobe, and immediately feel guilty already.

So you just pick your second best outfit.

Not the best one, the one that your love lives in is perfectly fine and you're a fine specimen. No. Because if you accidentally run into Seoyeon wearing that, you can hear her bratty and adorable voice pouting how "you didn’t dress that nicely for me?"

And it is far too late for you to be emotionally equipped for that.

You check yourself in the mirror. Yep, somehow you still look tired. Probably because you are in quite a turmoil.

Oh right, what was the date's name again? You scrambled for your phone to check the profile again. Ah. Yooyeon. Kim Yooyeon.

It's a nice name, you thought, as you leave the place once more to the agreed location. 50% trying to stay not tired, and 50% wondering what Seoyeon is doing now.

Wait, no, that's rude. Don't think about Seoyeon right now. Yooyeon should be on your mind. Not Seoyeon. She seems like a nice girl. Smart to boot, too. She did say she's studying Science in her bio.

And her profile photo is definitely bad at capturing her beauty as a whole.

It was quite a cakewalk to spot Yooyeon outside the station, waiting under a streetlamp. Pastel sweater, neatly tied hair, a warm smile. The kind of first impression that normally would make you, and any other guys, stumble over your words and your feet.

You greet her, exchange a few polite lines, and start walking together. It's normal. Comfortable. She laughs at your joke about being half-awake after hibernating (it is half a lie), you laugh when she keeps messing up the directions.

It should feel good. It should be. It's no longer bland as before. It feels like a good start. Instead, you keep thinking how Seoyeon would've roasted you for still being sleepy. How she might be late, makes up some lame excuse, and then throws all the rants at you for being "too early".

You push those thoughts away as you reach the arcade.

Inside, it's loud and bright, with flashing lights, metal floors, and the constant ring of machines. Yooyeon paid for the token card and gives you a challenging smirk. 'Let's see if you're any good, mister."

You subconsciously gave her a half-hearted laugh. "Bring it on, miss Kim."

She pulls you to a racing game, and you try, you really try, to focus on the screen, to focus on the moment. But the moment the countdown starts, all you think about is how Seoyeon would bitching about how low the chair is. Then she would ask you to fix it, then proceed to lose and blame you anyway.

Instead, you lose by a mile. Yooyeon laughs and nudges you. "Pff, you're quite terrible."

"So mean." You force a laugh back, and she pulls you to a rhythm game next. Of course, she is shockingly good. She hits every beat, her hands moving like she has trained for her entire life.

You clap. You smile. You tell her how amazing she is. How flawless this perfect girl is. But it is genuinely impossible not to imagine the exact opposite scene, with Seoyeon missing every beat with pride, then complaining the machine is lagging even though it shouldn't, and then laughing because she knows you know she's lying, and then-

"That's a cute smile. Do I look cool with these games?"

Her voice got you snap back to reality, your mouth quickly suppressed the smile on your lips.

"Of course, of course."

One lie.

~~

Dinner comes, and of course, as if the sky plays a big joke on you, she picks the same burger place you and Seoyeon ate at just a few hours ago. Same chairs. Same smell of fries. Same buzz of the overhead lights. And the same clock that reminds you that it’s 9pm.

Yooyeon takes her seat across from you, chatting about her university classes, her friends, some drama with her coworker at her part-time job, and something about a stingy professor. She has such a nice voice. She talks well. She's charming. She's exactly your type and exactly someone you should realistically be paying attention to.

But your brain refuses to cooperate.

Everything she says reminds you what Seoyeon would've said instead. Every bite of food feels like something that should've been shared with someone else. You pick yours up as Yooyeon picks hers. Before you can really take a bite, you can hear the bickerings with Seoyeon you just had.

And you almost choke.

Yooyeon pauses, blinking. "Are you okay?"

You clear your throat. "Sorry, I'm okay. Just the spice."

No spice in sight. Another lie.

She laughs softly and takes a bite. And you? You basically force yourself to chew the memories instead of fries.

As she talks about her favourite books, you catch yourself zoning out — wondering if Seoyeon is chilling at home, if she has fallen asleep immediately, if she’s still thinking about your conversation in the PC bang, if she’s still annoyed you almost didn’t show her your phone. You take another sip of soda, and it tastes wrong. So wrong. Because she’s not here complaining it's too flat. It’s just Yooyeon that is still talking, and you smile because she deserves it. She’s kind. She’s giving you genuine interest. She’s trying. She’s deadass gorgeous.

You should be falling for the girl in front of you. She’s literally your type. But instead, your heart keeps reaching for the one who already left.

The worst part of you is that…you just want to finish this date to see her again.

-

By the time you walk Yooyeon back to the station and wave goodbye, your leg immediately runs. You don’t even pretend to scroll or check your phone as usual. Your muscle tense, and your chest tight with something that feels far too close to panic. The city lights are warm and blurry around the edges, the noise of traffic melting into white noise. Every step feels like you’re chasing a shadow.

But you are too busy beating yourself up. You don’t know her number. Nor her address. Nor her favourite food as peace offering.

Yet you know exactly, exactly, what her brazen laughter sounds like when she’s trying not to show she’s flustered. You know the way her smug smile makes her cheeks even more adorable. And you know how you really, really like her tone when she calls you “Boring Boy”.

And that is more than enough for you to sprint across three districts like a man possessed. You check every place, retracing every step you took with her that feels like years being together.

First, the convenience store where she bought you x2 Buldak last night. Just empty aisles. LED lights buzzing overhead. A cashier who looks at you weirdly when you double check the ramen aisle. Next, the restaurant you literally just went to with Yooyeon. Beginning to clear out. A family or two comes out. A group of girls. A couple. But no Seoyeon. Then the PC bangs. Just a row of middle schoolers yelling, someone blasting an OST, and zero sundresses in sight.

Your heartbeat keeps climbing. Every stop tightens your chest. And every failed discovery feels like a punch to your gut. This is so ridiculous. Pathetic. Desperate. But you don’t want to stop. You can’t. Until you know she’s okay.

And then a crucial memory slams into you so clear that you brake yourself:

“It’s quiet. The sea doesn’t shit talk back. It’s just there,” and then another one, “I like to watch the water when I feel…um, lost, I suppose.”

You finally allow yourself to breathe. Of course. Of course she’d go there, far out. Of course the sea is where she will be.

Checking your phone for direction, the clock shows 11:30pm.

You take off running again.

~~

The city slowly thins out the closer you get to the shore. Restaurants replaced by empty storefronts, neon replaced by dim streetlamps humming softly in the wind.

Your breath grows ragged. Your legs burn like hell. Your lungs ache. But the second you hear the faint crash of waves in the distance, adrenaline hits you all over again. The sand greets you cold and damp beneath your shoes as you arrive. Wind cuts cross your skin as you push forward, scanning the shoreline.

At first, it looks empty. Just a dark stretch of sand. An ocean covered by a veil of night sky. Your small hope begins to flicker out.

And then, far ahead, near the curve of the beach, you see a small shape. Someone sitting alone, knees tucked to her chest, and her head bowed slightly.

You recognise the white sundress that glows faintly under the moonlight, fluttering around her legs. Her blonde hair spills over her shoulders, moving with the wind.

As you approach closer, with each step sinking into the sand, you notice the plastic convenience-store bag filled with cheap soju bottles and two cans of beer.

She is far smaller than before. So quiet now. So…uncharacteristic of the girl who dragged you out of your bland life. And It's only at 11:53 PM when your body suddenly realises that…the date, the bet, the rules aren’t relevant anymore.

All you care about is her.

“Yoon Seoyeon!” you reach out, walking closer but not too much. She doesn't turn to face you, just taking a deep sigh that is so unlike her.

“Wow, you knew where to find me…” she says, her voice barely audible with waves softly reaching to the sand, the cold water touching Seoyeon’s feet. “What are you doing here?”

“Finding you —fuck, I’m tired— of course.” You pant, crutching yourself to catch some air.

She doesn’t look at you at first, still looking to the abyss where the sea eats the sky. And then you see it, how she slightly peeks at you, slightly amused. “Did you run?”

“Y-yeah, after the date.”

“So?” She nudges a rock with her toe, her head still tilting down, “I assume you came here to tell me about the date? I hope you had fun”

“Honestly?” you admit, scratching the back of your head. “...don’t remember.”

That gets a small laugh out of her.

“So you broke her heart as well?” She snorts. “Didn't expect it from someone who is looking for a relationship, especially not doing it twice”.

“Yeah…I just” You stutter. “I just…couldn't stop thinking about you. I guess.”

And that makes her go still.

Even from behind, you can see the tension in her spine. How she almost, almost, turns toward you before forcing her gaze back to the horizon. Her fingers dig slightly into the sand by her side.

11:55 PM.

You still have time.

You inhale slowly, lungs tight, heart hammering, and you start rambling. No plan, no filter. Just from the bottom of your heart.

“Before I met you last night, I thought that love was dead, that it was impossible to fall in love with someone, that dates were supposed to be the fancy dinner in candlelights cliche and well…” you let out a small chuckle, flashbacks of the places you shared with her today run in your mind, as you continue.

“Then I met you and you proved all of them wrong,” that got Seoyeon to turn her head to face you, her expression confused. Yes, but at the same time her eyes tell signs of hope. That you would say what she thinks you will say.

11:56 PM.

Your pulse kicks harder.

“I mean, no one would be able to just come, insult my love life and still try to prove to me that love exists. No other girl would even consider to start a date in a fucking 24 hour convince store, no one besides…you. ” A small tear shedding from her visible eye as you ramble. And it was the cue for her to rise from her spot, and stand up to look at you.

That gives you enough courage to get closer.

11:57 PM.

“You showed me how love really is. It's more than just the candlelights and the fancy dinner, it's actually… um…laughing at the silly plays you make during a League game together, it's the damn spicy buldak of 2AM last night, it's the way you ask so many dumb questions that got me grinning.”

You don’t realise how your hand has landed on her shoulder until she notices it. But she doesn’t pull away.

11:58 PM.

“As much as I hate to believe it, you were right” Your voice softens. “Love is real, and it's about finding the right person to love and well…for me, the right person is you.” You let out a breath you’ve been holding for the whole day before finally say it:

“I love you Yoon Seoyeon”

11:59 PM.

Just on time. Phew.

For a moment, both you just stare at each other, smiling like idiots, her hands finding their way on your waist, fingers curling into your shirt.

“You won the bet.” you admit. but that's when Seoyeon starts to giggle.

“Not yet, boring boy.”

Suddenly you can hear your clock. 12:00 AM.

And just as fast as time passes, she grabs the collar of your shirt, pulling your face closer while leaning in to let her lips find their place on yours

The first contact is like fireworks are set in your stomach, eyes wide open to how close Seoyeon is to you but eventually you ease into the kiss, closing your eyes while your hands find their place on her cheeks, feeling the texture of her skin in your palm, softly kneading it.

Her lips are warm despite the cold sea breeze, soft but insistent, still the lingering taste of soju she just had and the salt of the ocean air. Her fingers clutch the collar of your shirt so damn tight that the fabric wrinkles against your throat.

You swear the whole world, the whole time, hell, the whole challenge, narrows down to just this — her mouth against yours, the heat curling in your chest, and the electricity that shoots down your spine. The waves still crash behind you, yes, but they’re muted to your ears.

Seoyeon is all you can really focus on.

Eventually she pulls away, your eyes open to see the red on her face as she looks at you with stars in her eyes and you can't lie that those stars may have snuck into your eyes as well, she then lets a cheeky grin that makes her the girl that she is.

The girl that you love. And also taught you how to love.

“You are…so annoying.” she whispers. “You made an adorable girl cry, you know.”

That got a chuckle out of you, as you brush your thumb gently along the edge of her jaw. “You made me run two districts. I’m sure we’re even.”

She huffs a tiny laugh and leans in again, pressing a second kiss to the corner of your mouth. This one is far softer, slower, as if she’s memorising the shape of you.

The third kiss on your lower lip.

And the fourth? She’s smiling at you.

“Now I won the bet” she lets out a cute giggle and for the first time, you beam widely when Seoyeon calls you by her favourite nickname.

“Boring boyfriend.