[I58] YOU'RE A PERFECT 10
Prompt Code: I58
Title: you’re a perfect 10
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: flirt Kyungsoo; bullying
Word Count: 5,338
Summary: When a weirdo from his class pesters for his attention and hits on him, all Jongin wants is to get away.
AN: When I saw this prompt, I just had to write it.
Jongin stares at the colourful vandals scribbled on his concrete seat. The students call them ‘art’ though, and Jongin finds himself kind of agreeing, with the way the pens have intricately detailed every drawing of their hated professors in the edges (the students were creative and generous enough to mockingly add a strand of hair to their bald calculus professor).
When Sehun told him to meet up in front of the Arts building, it gets the best of him not to scowl. Though it’s just a three-minute walk from his building, the afternoon heat is a beast. He didn’t have a choice though. He needs those Calculus notes.
“Hello!”
Jongin sits quietly at the gazebo among other loudmouth students, when someone taps him in the shoulder.
“Excuse me. Hi!” The oddly familiar voice taps him again quite hard enough to be unnoticed. Jongin glances at his side, and he sees someone with a smile too wide beaming at him.
“We’re wearing the same glasses.” The man speaks as Jongin gives him attention. His fingers tap the accessory, as if emphasizing what he means. He’s short. The black long sleeve shirt’s a size bigger than his stature. Long mop of black hair that’s about to cover his bushy brows. Pale. And weird.
“Uh. No we’re not.” Jongin gives the man a weird look. “I don’t think my Oakley Latch is the same as yours.”
Jongin mutters slowly, as if not wanting to sound rude. He hopes the kind message comes across to the man who’s wearing a bookworm’s round eyeglasses. Jongin swallows a lump. He’s not offended. The man just compared his worn eyewear to his signature shades, which took Jongin half a month of his allowance.
"Yeah. I know.” The shorty chuckles, holding the strap of his bag tightly. “I just wanted an excuse to talk to you because you're cute."
The smile of the man doesn’t falter, but Jongin freezes on his spot and narrows his eyes. He looks anywhere except for the man, as if wanting to ask for anyone’s help and escape the other’s stare.
“What?”
“I said you’re cute. Do you want to hang out and grab some tacos with me?”
The seconds go on, and Jongin mentally yelps at the others around them, wanting to attend their eyes on the predicament. Jongin has always been told by his mom not to talk to strangers. Never did he think all the naggings will become handy up to this date. Crimes have always been prevalent in schools as well, so Jongin thanks his fast and alert thoughts.
He moves five seats away, and nope. Wrong move. Because the man follows suit.
“I’m Kyungsoo.” The man plops down beside him, further getting on his nerves because the guy looks so confident and smooth. “What’s your name?”
“Jongin.” His nervousness betrays him. Jongin bites his tongue, figuratively stopping himself to talk to the man. He checks his watch and grits his teeth. Sehun’s late again.
“Jongin? That’s nice. I’ve always wanted a boyfriend named Jongin.”
His eyes widen once more. Before he stands up and leaves the man, Kyungsoo beats him to it.
“I’m sorry. I’m awkward, right?” Jongin opts to say yes, and apologize after that. But Kyungsoo delivers his words so fast. “We’re classmates in Psychology, by the way. Four rows down, Five columns to your right.”
Jongin thinks, trying to recall someone with a black mop of hair in his class. His thoughts run through, but to no avail. Kyungsoo clutches the books in his hands tight, but does not make a move to leave yet. The tight-lipped smile stays on him, and so does Jongin’s discomfort.
“Nice to meet you, Kyungsoo. I’m waiting for someone, actually.” Jongin grips a stronghold on his bag and hoists it up.
“Who? Your lover?” Kyungsoo prods, and something sort of annoyance ticks in Jongin.
“No. A friend.”
“Ah.” Kyungsoo nods and smiles once more. It irks Jongin that someone can withstand a conversation with just a single emotion. “That’s nice. So, are you free after that?”
“No.” Jongin walks away, and persuasiveness wins in Kyungsoo. The shorty runs after him, sidestepping from person to person.
“How about tomorrow?”
“I’ve got an exam to study for.” Jongin fastens his pace as he feels Kyungsoo pulling down his bag.
“Okay. How about the day after tomorrow? Or this weekend?” Jongin stops and turns around, almost making Kyungsoo bump into his chest. He faces Kyungsoo as he huffs his breath. The hopeful glint in the other’s eyes make Jongin sigh more. The heart-shaped smile looks cute, but Jongin wants to break it.
“Look. I’m sorry. I don’t know you enough to go out with you.” Jongin hopes to reject the man politely. He marvels how someone can even do that.
“But you know me. I’m Kyungsoo. And I’ll see you tomorrow in class.” Kyungsoo bows his head and sends him a cute wink, jogging away and leaving Jongin dumbfounded in his spot. A few seconds ago the man was persistent on eating out with him, and now he’s leaving him, the bag too big in his back bouncing as Kyungsoo goes in the Art building.
A bundle of sweat paves on his forehead, cutting Jongin in his reverie.
“What the hell happened.” He whispers to himself, blinking as his mind runs through prior events.
Jongin has always been a romantic, and being so, he trusts his judgment enough knowing that Kyungsoo’s advances come out creepy. But Jongin has gone through his early teenage phase, where that kind of thing makes him sweep off his feet. He thought it’s him who does the pining after someone though; not the other way around.
This afternoon’s full of surprises, and Sehun yanking him from behind is not an exception.
“Christ, you scared me!” Jongin almost flops down, getting unwanted looks from busy art majors around. Sehun continues to sport his mocking laugh as Jongin groans, smoothing out his crumpled sleeves. “I’ve been waiting for half an hour.”
“The test wasn’t easy. I’ve been held up for 10 minutes.” Sehun still has the audacity to rest on the nearest seat, when all Jongin wants is to go home.
“Alright then.” Jongin follows, sitting beside the man before holding up his palm. “I need those notes. Now.”
Sehun glances at his back, before giving him an incredulous look. His friend chuckles once more, and Jongin wonders where he gets this energy after a 9-5 class schedule.
“Not until you tell me who’s this for.” Sehun snatches something from his backpack. He holds the thing up in front of Jongin, and he freezes once more. “Or from who?”
Sehun’s poises up the stem of a white rose, fingers playfully caressing the plant, careful not to run over the thorn. The petals look healthy, as if it was just pulled off out of a bunch. The smooth and delicate beauty in its skin is unique in itself. It’s neatly white. A pure love.
“What? Where did that-”
“It’s propped in your bag.” Sehun gives the rose to Jongin, and the other reflexively holds it up to his nose. “It’s not zipped all the way down.”
The fragrance proves to be pleasing in his nose. Jongin swallows down his chuckles, reluctant to believe how someone can be creepy and sweet at the same time.
It’s kind of difficult to focus in your last class for the day, when you know someone leers at your back for the whole period.
Really, Jongin feels flattered, that’s why his movements are calculated. The first person Jongin saw upon entering the room was Kyungsoo, who was smiling at him and true to his words, he’s seated at the far back. Jongin wonders how come the face isn’t registered on him down to first month of the semester.
The time ticks down to the last ten minutes of the class, and Jongin’s knees don’t stop jerking. He can’t seem to point out on what he feels when he knows someone around is eager to get done with the class. Nervous, maybe?
Jongin stares at the numerous Campbell Soup painting projected at the board. The philosophy of Andy Warhol intrigues him, and halfway the discussion Jongin finds himself nodding at the contradicting notions behind his art. Is art supposed to be controversial? Does it need to be functional? He finds himself asking these when the professor ends their class.
He throws his notes inside his bag as students scurry out the room. Jongin fidgets as someone taps him in the shoulder. He sighs.
He swivels on his heels and keeps a straight face as Kyungsoo beams on him.
“Hi!” The smile is a bit contagious, but Jongin thinks it’s just the good weather that tugs up the corners of his lips.
“Hey.” Jongin picks up his pen, eyes narrowed in his bag. In his periphery Kyungsoo stands still, posture right and straight, looking like waiting for him. Jongin wishes for the other to walk away and just settle with that greeting.
“So, are you ready?”
“Ready for what?”
“You. And me. We’re going out today.” Kyungsoo says, his tone too cheerful for Jongin’s liking. He tightens the strap of his bag, as if he’s been pumped up all day for their little trip.
How does one even maintain their glee throughout the day? Jongin can’t believe how someone his age doesn’t seem to be fazed by the work load in college. The smooth, unblemished cheeks tell him that Kyungsoo isn’t stressed at all. Plus the big smiley eyes add up to his wonders. Kyungsoo looks young for his age.
“Kyungsoo.” Jongin sighs once more. “I told you we don’t know each other that well.”
Jongin has much more to say. Negative things. But the smile on the other’s face is so pure that Jongin doesn’t want to ruin.
"That's why we'll go out. To know each other well." The other's liveliness hasn't dwindled, and Jongin somehow thinks the other does this to annoy him. It works.
"Why?"
"Why? What why?" Jongin sighs exasperatedly for the nth time.
Jongin can't look forward to days in which the man continues to pester him. One chance must be enough. If they go out soon then hopefully Jongin's personality will bore Kyungsoo. He can't stop the other's persistence. Plus, the other looks harmless, judging by his small built and evident baby fat.
"Okay. Just for today." Jongin gives up, and soon the man is yelping in glee. Like a kid does.
"Alright then! We'll head to the pizza bar!" Kyungsoo repulsively pulls the other's backpack strap out of the room, yanking Jongin along the way.
"Wait." He halts. "You said we'll eat tacos."
They stand by the doorway. Jongin notices how they're the only students in the hall.
"About that..." Kyungsoo scratches his head, looking down on his shoes. "I gave the coupon away to Jongdae and the others. They asked nicely."
"Jongdae? The music major?" Jongin mutters, and Kyungsoo nods tight-lipped. "You gave it away because they asked nicely?"
"Yes!" Kyungsoo affirms. He opens his mouth to speak, only to close it again. He speaks once more. "If you want tacos, we'll eat there. No worries! It's my treat! It's just that maybe I'm the only one who wants them."
Jongin hopes to keep up with the other's enthusiasm until the end of the day. Socializing can be tiring, moreover when the other party’s personality doesn’t jive with yours. The sun is leaping down to set. It’s better to get moving by now.
Jongin nods to the other and leads the way. Kyungsoo hops beside him, bouncing on his feet.
“So what’s your favorite pizza flavour?” Kyungsoo tilts his neck up and fixates his gaze on him, waiting for the other’s response.
“Nothing in particular.”
“Okay. Do you have sisters? Brothers?” Kyungsoo strides ahead, opting to watch his steps on the stairs.
“None.”
"What's your favorite color?"
"Blue."
"That's nice. Mine's black." Jongin subtly looks at the shorter from head to toe. It figures. Kyungsoo wears black from top to bottom. Except his shoes. The man has a sense of fashion-- he marvels, as the seemingly expensive white sneakers piques Jongin's interest.
Jongin hums in response, hoping that the other gets the hint to keep the walk quiet as possible.
"What's your favorite subject?" Kyungsoo's curiosity wins once more.
"Science." There's a lot of sciences. Jongin chooses to say the general.
"And the worst?"
"Calculus."
"Why? I love math!" Kyungsoo reaches for the front door of the building and opens for them both. Jongin looks up-- someone must have prayed for a good ambience today.
"I don't need math to be a doctor someday." They scurry their way out among other students. There are times when the campus seems to be small for a nation-wide renowned university. This afternoon's one of them.
"But you do." Jongin raises his eyebrows at the other's assumption. Kyungsoo beams further.
"I can teach you. Would you like that?" The soft black hair covers a third of the other's face. Jongin wants to tuck it in Kyungsoo's ears.
"Ah. No thanks. My friend's teaching me already." Lies. Sehun's as bad as him when it comes to math.
"Okay then. If you say so." Kyungsoo says, surprisingly dropping the topic quick.
The leaves have fallen out of their twigs. A brittle one breaks beneath his steps, making crack sounds. Another falls on top of Jongin's head, and quickly he brushes it off before the other gets to do it.
"Thanks for the rose, Kyungsoo." Jongin remembers. Kyungsoo turns red, eyes wide facing him. He keeps the flower on his shelve, watered and proper. It's the place where his mom can't see the present.
Kyungsoo keeps his head down, but the blush is more apparent when Jongin sees how red his ears have turned. He hears a soft murmur of 'welcome' before Kyungsoo strides quick past him. Did Kyungsoo think he'd throw it?
Jongin isn't surprised anymore. Well, a bit. He sees Kyungsoo one Friday in front of his building, standing on the lounge where the sun doesn't touch him.
"Hi!" Kyungsoo waves at him. Jongin supposes it's for him, and there's no other people behind him. Lunch time finds Jongin on his way to deliver a submittal to his professor, which isn't due until tomorrow.
"Hey..." Jongin mutters. Kyungsoo walks towards him. He lifts up his sunglasses, only to find a better view of the other's swollen lip, the lower nearly busted with a slit.
"What happened?" Jongin leans closer, taking a look once more.
"I'm done with my morning classes." Kyungsoo looks paler today. Maybe it's the trick of the make-up. "I brought you books. I hope they help."
"You... You didn't have to."
“It’s okay.” Kyungsoo thumbs the edges of the book. Jongin doesn’t see any folded corners, which attests to Kyungsoo’s neatness. “I don’t need them soon. You can borrow them for as long as you like.”
Indeed, if Jongin doesn’t ace his test the next period, his hopes of graduating in time can possibly crumble. For the past week Jongin has been feeding Kyungsoo returns to his persuasiveness. He wonders what the other does in his free time. Does the man have any other friends?
“Wait. Do you want to go to the library? What time does your class start?” It’s his face and glee in his voice that makes it hard to say no.
“Um. In two hours.” Jongin eyes the shorter once again. The two heavy Calculus books seem to be forcedly fit in the small arms. Sweat starts to form in Kyungsoo’s forehead. Jongin wonders how long the other waited for him. Perhaps, he might as well give his schedule to the other.
“Great. My next period’s in an hour. Let’s go?”
Before Jongin says yes, Kyungsoo meanders towards the library’s direction. It’s not that Jongin has no choice, but he finds himself willing to go. Jongin sees the subtle falter in the shorter’s steps, so he picks up the heavy books from the other’s arms, subconsciously sweeping Kyungsoo off his feet.
93 percent.
The numbers stare at him, and Jongin returns the gaze back, as if holding it before it gets away. He blinks, and opens his eyes once again- the numbers in red remain the same.
The students received their test sheets earlier. Like a grade-conscious being, Jongin hastily folds the paper for a thrill, and chooses not to look at his grade until he gets home. But curiosity beats him. Now he sits by the gazebo, the paper stretched in his hand.
“Hey.” Jongin folds the paper back as Sehun approaches. Sehun pushes his hair back, yawning. “You’re going later, of course?”
“Of course.” Jongin affirms. “Dance night. Gig. Couldn’t miss it for life.” He mimics the way Sehun say the words- a tone too jumpy. The other grunts in annoyance.
“Alright then. Let’s go.” Sehun juggles his keys. Jongin follows and halts, waiting for a car to pass by.
“Actually, I still have to meet someone before that.” Sehun looks at him in disbelief. Jongin checks his watch. “In 5 minutes. It’ll be quick.”
The red light turns green, halting the cars. The students walk past them, beating the pedestrian countdown as it ticks. Sehun slouches on his bag.
“Okay. I guess I’ll wait for you.” Jongin walks backwards, nodding at his friend. “I parked by the gate 4. I’ll meet you there.”
When Sehun leaves and walks across the drive, Jongin turns to his heels and strides back towards the building.
It’s 5 minutes earlier than they’ve agreed upon, but knowing Kyungsoo, the other has been already there waiting for half an hour probably. The heavy books in his bags lags him behind, though he owes it to them, and their owner. As well as the unsolicited lecture in the library the other day. It’s been a while since he’s gotten a grade in the subject as high as that.
A smile stretches on his face as he takes the flight of stairs, a bit excited to share the news.
Jongin meanders towards the choir room, and true to his belief, Kyungsoo’s hunched back greets him, seated by the instructor’s chair as he sees him by the glass door. When he enters slowly, he hears a few sniffs. Kyungsoo’s hand covers his face, and the whimpers don’t go unnoticed.
“Kyungsoo?” The man jerks in his seat upon hearing him. He slumps his face on the table, pulling his hoodie over his head. “What happened?”
Kyungsoo stops his sniffs, and Jongin wonders if the other still breathes. He rubs his palm on the other’s back, hoping to at least comfort the other.
“I got a haircut.” Kyungsoo looks up, and pulls down his hoodie. The mop of hair is gone. His sides are trimmed, and his bangs are blunt- safe to say that it’s just slightly longer than a military cut. Jongin diverts his gaze to the man, eyes puffy and red. “I don’t like it. Do you like it, Jongin-ah?”
Kyungsoo speaks strangely, like frightened. Jongin studies the other’s shaky eyes. And when he doesn’t respond, Kyungsoo trembles once more.
“I know.” Kyungsoo nods, that kind of an understanding one. “It’s ugly, right? No one likes their hair short. Short is ugly. I’m ugly.”
“No, Kyungsoo.” Jongin tilts his gaze for a better view. “It looks good on you. Stop crying.”
Jongin gives the haircut a look once more, and notices the uneven cut. Like it’s undone.
“My mom was persistent in cutting my hair. So we went to the nearest hairdresser. It convinced me at first. But now I hate it.”
“Don’t hate it.” Jongin tries to push in positivity towards the man, like speaking to a child. Kyungsoo sniffs once more and looks down. The moist brims in his lashes. “It looks good. Believe me.”
“Liar. Your… Your friends all have smooth and bouncy hair.” Jongin’s gaze lands on him. Tears dwell on his eyes once more. “Good looking men in our class don’t have a short hair like this. I almost look bald. My big cheeks are emphasized. Even the girls lining up for you all have long and dyed hair. How can we be friends if I’m ugly?”
Jongin remembers his mom regretting and getting sad over a bad haircut, but it hasn’t gotten to a point where she cried. Never did he think Kyungsoo gets this conscious over physical looks.
Kyungsoo pulls out his roots, and Jongin stops his hands.
“Kyungsoo.” Jongin sighs before his monologue. “Attractive people don’t need a good haircut. Any hairstyle will work for them. And I think… you fit in them.” Kyungsoo stares at him with wide eyes. Jongin has expected this. He’s not lying, though.
“And we’re friends.” Jongin continues. It goes quiet for a while before Kyungsoo wipes his tears with his shirt, but small hiccups make its way. “So don’t worry. But for now…”
Jongin stands up behind him, and Kyungsoo’s eyes follow. “The stylist didn’t get some areas trimmed and smooth. I don’t know how, but I’ll try. Do you have scissors?”
Kyungsoo narrows his eyes at the proposition. He bites his lip, as Jongin eyes him, waiting.
“You know,” Kyungsoo’s voice trembles. “How can someone card their fingers through their lover’s hair during intimate moments when they’re super short?”
Kyungsoo stiffens when Jongin brushes his fingers through the roots, but his fingers only catches a few as much as the length allows.
“It will grow.” Jongin mutters with that low, attractive voice.
“It’s in my bag’s pocket. The scissors.” Kyungsoo clears his throat. Jongin hovers Kyungsoo as he fishes out the equipment, and Kyungsoo gets a faint smell of the other’s perfume.
Jongin touches his fringe, gliding his fingers on its ends. The weight of his other hand sends him warmth. It’s silence that looms on them, until Jongin swipes the blades on the hair near his nape. Kyungsoo lays his gaze once again on the table, embarrassed as a tear makes its escape once again. Jongin has to gently tilt his head up by the chin for an even levelling.
The only classes Jongin shares with his clique are sciences. It’s a warm day, and Physics runs from 9 at the morning till 12. With the schedule, it’s inevitable to find college students yawning and yearning for something to eat. Jongin doesn’t call himself studious, but the work load last night was set aside for this early morning, causing him not to have any breakfast at all.
The clock strikes 12, and Jongin stands up and folds his notes. Quantum theories look interesting, but he mentally notes to run through his notebook once again tonight.
“Baekhyun texted me.” Sehun says. “They already saved us seats.”
“Ah yes. About that,” Jongin puts up his bag, all the while creasing out the folds of his shirt. “I can’t eat with you guys today.”
Sehun props his chin, eyebrows up. The professor goes out of the room, letting out the controlled sighs and profanities out of the other students’ mouth.
“You’re going with that Do Kyungsoo again, right?” Jongin freezes, and Sehun lets out a chuckle as it confirms his assumption.
“You know him?”
“I saw you two together with him yesterday. And yes.” Sehun clicks his tongue and leers at him. “I’m in most of his classes. You’re dating him, and yet you don’t know his major?”
“I’m not dating him.” Jongin defends. A bit of him is still quite surprised knowing that Kyungsoo’s an interior design major, same as his friend. That explains the scissors in his bag. “I wasn’t able to return his books yesterday. And now I will.”
Jongin checks his watch. It’s still early for him to meet the other. He has a lot of time to kill, but Jongin hopes Kyungsoo’s already there. He walks past his friend towards the door.
“Okay. But be careful.” Jongin raises his eyebrows, and Sehun gives him a knowing gaze. “Kyungsoo is… a bit weird.”
Jongin already knows that.
“Yeah. Weird, but tolerable.” Also persistent. But his persuasiveness can account to being determined. Kyungsoo makes it easy for him to get along with.
Sehun opens the door for them, and the noise the hallway gives doesn’t pleasure his ears at all. It’s break, after all. And the churning stomachs win over their composure. Jongin wonders what Kyungsoo wants to have for lunch.
“I mean, people treat him differently.”
“Why?” Jongin sees someone scowl, as a man accidentally steps on his hand. Lying down on the hallway isn’t advisable, anyway. Jongin sidesteps from the commotion, and heads to the staircase. “Did he do something wrong?”
“Dumping the basketball captain is very wrong.” Sehun stresses the last word. “Chanyeol asked him out last year in front of our class. Kyungsoo just smiled and walk away. No one does that. All the girls sent him death glares. I guess that triggered their hate.”
With that, Jongin debates with himself. How can someone receive hate, when the person didn’t push through everyone’s stupid expectations?
“That’s unfortunate.” Jongin comments. There’s a lot of time to waste, but Jongin finds himself walking fast like he’s in a hurry. “Chanyeol is a bit weird too. They should’ve dated.”
“I can’t argue with that.”
They reach the second floor, and Sehun nods as he bids him goodbye, heading out to eat with his clique. The hallway in the floor is crowded same as before. It’s fortunate that Kyungsoo decided to meet in one of the rooms, so Jongin checks them one by one.
What he doesn’t expect to see is Kyungsoo in front of three towering bodies, looking agitated.
Jongin enters, breaking the stiff atmosphere.
“Jongin!” Kyungsoo’s wide eyes greet him.
“Hey Jongin.” Jongdae snarls, amusement laced in his tone. The man stands tall in front of Kyungsoo, and Jongin’s reflex tell him to go by his side.
“So it’s true.” Jongdae’s seemingly sidekick chuckles, and all Jongin does is question the event.
“Kyungsoo told us you’re dating. Said he asked you out and you said yes.”
Jongin’s breath hitches as he hears the words. Kyungsoo whips his head towards him, eyes frightened.
“I… That was a lie, Jongin. I’m sorry. I didn’t-” The others mockingly laugh straight at Kyungsoo’s face, and Jongin sees red.
“I’m not saying someone can’t date you out of pity. That’s understandable.” Jongdae snickers.
Kyungsoo tears his gaze at him, locking his eyes on his shoes, his fists tightening. Chin up, Kyungsoo. Chin up like you always do.
Jongdae pulls Kyungsoo by his hair, yanking him down as the hand harshly pull the roots. Jongin’s chest tightens.
“Shall we continue where we left off? Jongin, keep your eyes on this.”
“Stop.” Jongin says, his teeth gritting as he sees the scene unfold in front of him. Kyungsoo whimpers as Jongdae pulls further, toppling his eyeglasses unbalanced in his nose.
“Hope you like the hairstyle I did yesterday. Hey. Get the scissors from his bag.”
A knuckle strikes on Jongdae’s cheek, hard and sharp, causing him to stumble. A punch’s not enough. Jongin strikes once more, sending Jongdae on the floor.
“You do that to him again and it’s not only your hair that I’ll cut.”
Kyungsoo looks at him, perplexed by his action. Jongin’s knuckle hurts, but he knows that can’t compare to what beating Jongdae deserves. Only if Jongin can, but the college admins can’t know about this.
The sidekicks pick their leader up, his arms on each one of their shoulder. Jongdae’s still conscious, but Jongin hopes he could make him not.
“Get out.”
The trio scurries out, grimaces rendered on their faces, all the while Jongin sends them glares. The door closes, and all Jongin hears are mewls.
Beside him, Kyungsoo sits by the wall, covering himself by his knees. A few weeps and sobs and Jongin crouches down to his level as well.
“I’m sorry, Jongin.” Kyungsoo removes his glasses and rubs his eyes, looking at anywhere but Jongin. “I lied. About us. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. They were bullying me and-”
“Shhh.” Jongin wipes his wet cheeks with his hands, but the tears don’t stop. “You should have told me about them.”
“But why?” Kyungsoo buries his face in his palm, biting his lip from frustration. “I’m just… I’m just some loser who badly wants to date you. And I’ve told them shit about us. You can hate me now.”
Jongin wishes to halt Kyungsoo from his rambling, but he doesn’t know how. He opts to stay silent, and offers his hand as a temporary hankie.
“You weren’t supposed to see me weak like that.” Kyungsoo continues. How can someone look pretty while crying?
“You’re not a loser, Kyungsoo. They are.” Jongin soothes the other, palming the other’s back with his free hand. “Please don’t hate yourself. I don’t like it.”
“It’s true though.” Kyungsoo’s lips tremble, and Jongin feels himself hollow once more. “You’re a perfect 10, and I’m just a 2.”
Jongin finds it a bit unfair that those words come out from a pure, untainted being. Jongin settles with his thoughts. Kyungsoo fits his type- a beautiful innocence. Jongin begs to disagree. Kyungsoo’s not a 2. He’s more than that.
Jongin runs his fingers through the shorter’s hair, and concludes that it doesn’t need to grow. Kyungsoo doesn’t need to grow his hair to share this type of moment with him.
“How can you say that?” Jongin thumbs his cheek, wiping out the moist. The doe eyes look at him questioningly. “We’re dating, right?”
“What?” Kyungsoo gasps, pupils dilated. “I lied about that. I’m sorry.”
“No. You asked me out. And I said yes.” Jongin flashes him a smile.
Jongin trusts himself to make it right. There’s nothing that can go wrong. It’s Kyungsoo, and Jongin’s willing to give it a shot.
“W-we are?” He stutters. Kyungsoo trembles once more. Jongin hopes it’s out of happiness.
“Can we re-enact that scene?” Kyungsoo looks at him in disbelief, his jaw hanging. “Ask me out again.”
Jongin lifts his chin, and the warmth attests to the redness on the other’s face. The wide eyes dart on him, as if looking for any hint of a joke. The shorter steadies his breath. If Kyungsoo’s a volcano, then he’s going to erupt by now.
“Wipe your tears. I can’t say yes to someone who’s crying.”
Kyungsoo lets out a beautiful laugh, and Jongin missed the heart-shaped smile so much. That’s the smile he’s been used to seeing every now and then. Tears of joy gather in his eyes, and Kyungsoo wipes them furiously. He gulps, before he says the words.
“Jongin-ah. Can you be my boyfriend?”
Jongin looks at him straight in his glassy eyes, unblinking. “Yes.”
It’s as if a miracle happened. Kyungsoo crumbles down to Jongin’s hold, beaming wide. After all the pining, Kyungsoo ends up in his set of arms, and Jongin hasn’t ever been satisfied like this.
“What happens after that, Kyungsoo?” Jongin sniffs his aloe-scented shampoo.
Kyungsoo blinks up at him. “What?”
“What happens next?” Jongin shows him the perfect set of teeth, waiting.
Kyungsoo draws his lip between his teeth once again. Jongin hopes they don’t bleed.
“You… You held my hand.” Kyungsoo whispers, sounding reluctant. Jongin complies, running his palm through the other’s smooth arm before claiming the small hand. Jongin tightens the hold, leaving no space in between. Kyungsoo reddens once more.
“And then?” Jongin’s face is a few inches away from the other, causing Kyungsoo to draw back in embarrassment.
“And then I… I don’t know.” Kyungsoo stammers, and Jongin chuckles at the cuteness.
“I think the next thing we did is…” Jongin holds the other’s unoccupied hand around the other, locking the shorter in his arms. Kyungsoo narrows his eyes at the gesture. Jongin grins before muttering. “We went out and had our first lunch date.”
Kyungsoo lets out a breath he’s been holding in and chuckles. “Yeah. We did.”