Studying
“Baby.” It was by the third time that his finger poked at her cheek that she had to finally look up.
“You said you’d let me study.” She complained.
He ignored it. “Did you know you pout when you’re focused?”
“Yes, actually, I do know that.”
“It’s cute.”
“Maybe you should let me be focused, then.” She said. “So you can look at it for longer.”
“Of course, of course.” He waved his hands. “Pretend I’m not even here.”
A few minutes, then his hand made its way over to hers, fingers curling around it. “Seojun.” She whined. “I have a test.”
“I’m not stopping you from studying.” He replied, off handedly. “You don’t need both of them.”
“Don’t you have to study?”
“I do.” He nodded. “But it’s boring.”
“I know, but you still have to do it.”
“How can I? You’re over there, pouting over your notes and looking all focused.” He grinned. “Do you have any idea how cute that is?”
“Flattery will get you nowhere.” She deadpanned, pulling her hand out of his to use it to point towards his own manual. “Study.”
“If only I had some motivation.” He sighed with his eyes closed. “I am but a simple man, you know?” He tilted his head and opened one eye to look at her.
“Actually do some studying.” She argued. “And I’ll think about it.”
“Fine.” He dragged out the last syllable like a child giving up. “I’ll hold you to that.”
And so she turned her attention back down, towards her exercises for the test she had in just a couple of days, before it was dragged back to him.
He pouted, too, she noticed with a fond smile. And she had to admit it was pretty cute.
And for a moment she could just look at him. Like the time back in the tent when he’d been half asleep.
She didn’t know then she would love him like this.
She noticed more, too. The bags under his eyes. The tiredness in his expression that he hid with a smile and bright mood.
He didn’t say how tired he was, often. How overwhelmed he must be at trying to juggle university with his part time and the modelling on top of that.
And he didn’t need to say it, because she knew. It tugged at her heartstrings and she wished she could just do more. To help him. To take care of him.
It must be heavy, to carry all that responsibility. She wanted to take it away from him.
And in all of that, he still managed to make time for her, somehow. People asked her how she had time for all her activities, when in reality he was the one really making each second count.
Guilt tugged at her. Was he sleeping enough? Was he eating well? She hadn’t even been trying to make sure he did.
She should do better. She would do better.
“You’re staring.” He complained without looking at her, though there was a little smile quirking up his lip. “I’m trying to focus.”
“Sorry,” She answered, leaning forward to plant a kiss on his cheek before returning to her own work and leaving him with a happy smile on his face.