You Make Me Feel Hot and Bothered
Jongin and his uncontrollable sweat glands try to ask Do Kyungsoo out on a date. Let's hope he doesn't get too nervous.
x
Jongin sweats a lot, he doesn’t mean to, but he does. His sweat glands are probably a bit more active than anyone else’s or his pores on his whole body are just a whole lot bigger. It’s not a big deal though, he doesn’t mind, being in the soccer team and being captain of the school’s dance troop, he’s required to sweat a lot. Whether it’s from learning the new play for next week’s game or stretching out his limbs for the school’s competition, sweating means he’s working hard.
And all that hard work pays off; he’s the school’s golden child, as their principal would like to call him. The principal had said that the title suited him well, with his summer tanned skin and strong jaw line, plus he brings home the gold - which is the most important part.
So when he comes out of the field or the dance practice room, all flushed and hot and sweaty, the girls and boys in the school practically swoon over his damp hair and salt water dripping temples. Jongin grins and winks his way to the shower room and steal his schoolmates’ hearts along the way. He likes the attention and the perks of being the most popular kid in school, all thanks to his overly active pores and sweat glands (with his insanely good looks and hard work, of course).
Yeah, Jongin doesn’t mind at all.
~
But when fourth period rolls in and he’s sitting in the far left of the classroom - feeling the weight of someone sitting next to him - his whole body heats up, starting from his toes and up to the tip of his midnight-black hair. He gulps in a breath but his still heart starts to pump a little bit faster and his blood starts to boil. His whole body feels literally hot, his cheeks feel like their burning and he can feel the pores on his back start to cry, he silently curses his gift (or curse? He’s not really sure what with situation going on).
He shifts from his seat so his uniform doesn’t have to suffer from the uncomfortable sweaty mess that is his back while trying not getting attention from the class. Jongin tries to be really quiet, really, he doesn’t want to be noticed but-
“Oh- Jongin you dropped your pen”
Jongin’s eyes widen and he prays to the gods that Do Kyungsoo - aka cutest senior he had ever met and had a crush on since he stepped on the four walls of this cursed advanced Literature class - doesn’t notice the sweat marks around his uniform.
Sweating while running around the field playing soccer? Hot.
Sweating while doing complex dance routines wearing very tight (and sometimes very sheer) clothing? Hot.
But sweating all over your uniform on a perfectly air-conditioned room and just sitting next to your very adorable senior crush? Definitely not hot.
And definitely not the way to impress your crush. So Jongin pulls his uniform blazer closer to his body, ignoring the uncomfortable sticky feeling on his back that he oh-so tried to avoid. His face scrunches up when he feels the cotton uniform cling to his skin. Ugh, he’s gonna have to shower again when he gets home.
“Uh- Jongin?”
“Yeah?” Jongin tries not to stutter. Kyungsoo is looking at him - directly at him - with those beautiful deep brown eyes, Jongin feels like drowning with just looking back. He shifts awkwardly from his seat when Kyungsoo looked like he was about to reach out to touch Jongin’s hand (and Jongin may or may not have had a mini heart attack). He doesn’t want Kyungsoo to touch his hands now when he can feel the sweat peeking through his palms. Kyungsoo would think that he’s clammy and gross, and oh god, they haven’t even actually had a real conversation and Kyungsoo’s going to think that he’s some freak that just sweats uncontrollably-
“Here’s your pen. You dropped it.” Kyungsoo smiles at him, gummy and hearty, and Jongin tries not to faint. But he does audibly sighs when Kyungsoo starts to slink back to his own seat. He didn’t think Kyungsoo noticed his relief but of course Jongin is wrong. “Uh- you okay there Jongin-ah?”
“I- uh- yeah, sunbaenim. I’m okay.”
Kyungsoo is staring at him again and the senior sort of looks worried. Jongin just fidgets at his seat, flipping through his blank notebook because, really, he can’t look back at Kyungsoo without losing his breath. Kyungsoo shift from his seat and moves his face closer to Jongin’s, not close enough to touch but close enough that Jongin can physically feel Kyungsoo staring at him. Jongin grinds his teeth, he can feel sweat tiptoeing at the back of his neck from Kyungsoo’s heavy gaze.
Please just let it go, please just let it go. Jongin prayed so hard that the gods might have heard him, Kyungsoo pulled away and mumbled something about going to the nurse’s clinic. Their teacher comes in and starts the class. Jongin stops himself from sighing.
Jongin may or may not have held his breath until the rest of the class just so Kyungsoo wouldn’t have to look at him.
~
“You know, for a super cool golden child, you-my friend-are a dork.” Sehun slaps his shoulder and laughs his hat off with Lu Han. Jongin came to soccer practice looking like a train-wreck-blazer slung over his shoulder and two top button shirt popped open, his bangs a form of wet patch on his forehead, and his cheeks are flustered red-other students’ might think that Jongin looks really hot and sexy with that ensemble and messy hair but really it’s not that sexy when you know that your friend just came out of his Literature class.
Of course his friends had to ask, “What did Kyungsoo do to you now?” to which, of course, Jongin mindlessly answered, “He handed me my pen when I dropped it.”
Sehun and Lu Han are evil are still laughing and cracking a few jokes about Jongin - school’s golden child and resident hottie - being a messy ball of sweaty goo when it comes to Kyungsoo. “Oh god, you are just embarrassing.” Sehun laughs and wipes the tears brimming his eyes.
And Lu Han, “You- hahaha- you even got your blazer sweaty this time- haha” Jongin didn’t understand the other half of insults that Lu Han had said, he was laughing like a hyena and maybe throwing a few Mandarin in there too. “Hey, Jongin. Why is it that you can make the whole school swoon but stutter when it comes to Kyungsoo?”
“I don’t stutter! ..that’s Sehun’s thing!”
“Yeah, he just pours out a pool of sweat... And hey! I d-do not stutter!”
~
Jongin decides that he’s going to overcome his fears, so when fourth period rolls in the next day, Jongin takes a deep breath of courage and holds it in until he gets to his seat. The seat next to him is still vacant and he wonders if Kyungsoo will sit next to him this time as well. But it doesn’t matter, he’s going to talk to Kyungsoo, he’ll approach him, and they’ll have wonderful conversations. Kyungsoo will see that Jongin’s a great guy and Jongin will fall more in love with Kyungsoo’s voice. And they’ll be married by the end of the day. Yes. Jongin likes that plan, so relaxes in his seat and wait.
His phone vibrates though, so he checks it.
From: Lu Han (satan)
Go Jongin! Go Jongin! **^-^**
From: Sehun (spawn of satan)
Don’t forget 2 breath u idiot.
From: Lu Han (satan)
Srsly, just get it ovr with.
Its been a yr of soaking in your gross sweat.
From: Sehun (spawn of satan)
And wipe ur hand b4 u touch him. God, srsly, u r disgusting
Jongin can feel a vein on his brain pounding hard, he concentrates on not trying to crush his phone on his hand. His friends are fucking idiots and he should probably get some new ones.
“New what?”
“Lu Han and Sehun. They’re being stupid about me talking to Kyu-” But Jongin swallows half of the things that he was about to blurt out when Do Kyungsoo - cutest senior ever and oh my god is his hair black now too? - is sitting next to him, looking at him, and just plain existing. Kyungsoo looks like he’s actually expecting Jongin to say his name but Jongin doesn’t really want to embarrass himself any more than he already has. “Kyu- kyu.. hyun? Yeah, I was going to talk to Kyuhyun hyung about something and- uh, my friends are making a big deal about.. it..” Jongin shrugs but really he’s just trying to adjust his blazer uniform so it wouldn’t get all sweaty like yesterday.
“Oh. What about?”
Kyungsoo furrows his brows a little, not enough to be noticed but Jongin knows that look. He saw it a couple of days ago when he saw Chanyeol showing Kyungsoo a human-sized cut out of the gigantic elf’s dragon boyfriend - which was about 6 feet and 2 inches tall - to be put in their dorm room. “Why do tall people have to date other tall people?” Kyungsoo had said before punching the cut-out in half and leaving Chanyeol sobbing over his cardboard boyfriend.
Jongin had thought that it was adorable how Kyungsoo’s brows furrowed and the way his shoulder slumped after punching the cardboard, Lu Han and Sehun said Jongin was stupid.
And now, Jongin gulps because Lu Han and Sehun are probably right. Kyungsoo is adorable with those fluffy furrowed brows but Jongin is scared to be punched in half. “I- uh- yeah, I was going to ask about this game. I- started playing it and I- uh- yeah.”
You see, even if Jongin is the school’s golden child and he exudes sexiness by just breathing, he’s really just an awkward teenager with good skin and well-styled hair. Jongin’s whole body heats up from Kyungsoo’s gaze, the senior’s brows are still furrowed and he’s starting to move closer to Jongin’s face - he looks like he knows that Jongin is lying. “Really?”
Jongin can feel the sweat forming a familiar patch on his back and oh god his blazer is going to be ruined again. He lets out an awkward cough, nods, and slinks back to his seat just so there’s breathing space between him and Kyungsoo. The sweaty cotton uniform clings on his skin. Gross.
“Okay.” Kyungsoo’s brows relax and but he’s still too close. Kyungsoo smiles and Jongin barely manages to contain his squeak. He’s face to face with Kyungsoo and that is not good for his sweat glands which are probably on hyper drive by now since he can feel his palms getting clammy and his forehead a little warm and damp.
Kyungsoo slinks back to his seat, he looks busy doing something with his notes - thank God - and Jongin breathes out a sigh, wipes his face and just try not to exist for the whole class. So much for getting married-
“You just came from practice?”
Do Kyungsoo is talking to him. Oh god, Jongin can feel his face heat up again and his throat dries up, he opens his mouth but nothing. Nothing! He feels like he’s choking on air but then he realizes he’s not even breathing. He remembers Sehun’s piece of advice and Jongin gasps for a lungful of air - which got Kyungsoo’s attention - and then he actually chokes on air when he sees Kyungsoo smiling at him. “You okay there, Jongin-ah?”
Jongin heaves and coughs a little before answering.
“Uh- yeah. I’m okay. Heh. Just an itch on the throat.” Jongin shrinks in his seat, voice squeaking. He looks down on his desk and just doodles nothing with his fingers.
“Oh. You work too hard, Jongin-ah. I saw you leave late yesterday. You’re probably getting sick.”
“I’m okay, sunbaenim.” Jongin adjusts his blazer without looking up, his body doesn’t feel as warm but his face still feels like its burning. It’s okay though, as long as his uniform doesn’t have to suffer anymore. “A competition’s coming up so we doubled practice time.”
“I heard from Baekhyun that you made half of the routine. Good job.” Even though Jongin is still focusing on his desk - because he knows if he looks up to Kyungsoo he’ll probably choke again - he can feel Kyungsoo’s bright and warm smile.
And it’s not fair, really, he wants to talk to Kyungsoo, he wants to get to know Kyungsoo but how can he do that when he can’t even look at him. So he tries to peek a little and see Kyungsoo’s smile and, “By the way, just call me hyung.”
Yep, that was blinding.
Jongin sinks in his seat and he thinks he’s in some cheesy romantic comedy because the whole room is moving in slow motion, Kyungsoo’s hair is ruffling in the wind, and he’s pretty sure there are sparkles in his and Kyungsoo’s eyes.
“Thanks, hyung.”
Jongin smiles back and ignores the clammy feeling in his hands.
~
The bell rings and their class ends. Jongin jumps out of his seat and power walks straight to the door then slumps to the wall next to it. It’s the perfect moment, he thinks. He can ask Kyungsoo for his number when everyone else has already left the room and maybe-if he remembers to breathe-he can actually make a move.
Okay. Jongin adjusts his blazer and pats himself on back because he’s not sweating as much. His armpits are a little damp but what the hell Kyungsoo doesn’t need to know that. As soon as everyone else leaves the room, except for Kyungsoo, Jongin marches up inside the room and takes cautious steps behind the senior.
“Uh, hyung-”
“Oh. Shit-” Kyungsoo almost drops half of the books he was carrying when he turns around. He looked like he was mad but then his expression changed when he noticed it was Jongin. Is he smirking? “Jongin, you shocked me.”
“I-I’m sorry. I just- uh- wanted to, uhm- I mean if it’s okay- Like, if you don’t mind-” Jongin feels like an idiot right now, knowing what to say but not knowing how to say it, and his pores agree and they’re mourning his doom. His hands are starting to feel clammy and he fidgets with them. His whole body feels warm and Kyungsoo’s expectant gaze is not helping at all. Jongin looks down on the floor and starts to lean on the heels of his feet, his back is starting to catch up from all the nervousness and Jongin just wants to be at least two feet away so that Kyungsoo doesn’t have to see the sweat patches on his uniform shirt. “I just wanted to, erm, ask you, hyung.. If it’s okay. I mean, your.. num.. ber..”
“Jongin?” Jongin freezes, his heart feels like its thumping right out of his chest. His whole body feels a shiver and for the first time, being next to Do Kyungsoo makes him feel cold. This is it, he thinks, Kyungsoo’s going to think that he’s a freak and he’s going to reject him and they will never get married and have three dogs and drink coffee in the morning after long nights of- “Do you want to go out with me?”
What.
Now, Jongin really thinks he’s in some cheesy romantic comedy, his eyebrows shoot up to his forehead and his head looks up to be face to face with Kyungsoo’s own beautiful smiling face. Jongin’s pretty sure that there are sparkles and pretty pink fog around them right now and he feels dazed just looking back at Kyungsoo’s eyes. Kyungsoo is at least five inches away from his face and he feels like everything is in slow motion when Kyungsoo moves closer and plants a soft kiss on his cheek. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
Jongin nods slowly, trying not to move in a sudden motion, not wanting to startle Kyungsoo off, or just not wanting the moment to end. He lets out a soft breath and he feels like he’s on fire when Kyungsoo slips in his hand in Jongin’s blazer uniform pocket and grabs his phone.
“I put my number in there. Text me, let’s have our date on Friday.”
Kyungsoo hands him his phone back, grabs his bag and then starts to leave. Only then Jongin finally chokes out words. “H-Hyung!”
Kyungsoo only looks back, same blinding smile on his face. “Yeah?”
“I really like you!” Jongin may or may not have shouted a little louder than he needed to but he really doesn’t care right now. Not when Kyungsoo just kissed his cheek, gave him his number, and asked him out on a date. Jongin doesn’t mind that he’s clammy and sweaty and gross and his hair probably looks like a matted mess right now. Nope, he doesn’t mind, not when Kyungsoo smirks and then winks at him.
“I really like you, too, Jongin-ah.”
Yeah, Jongin doesn’t mind at all.
~
[Epilogue?]
“You guys were great!” Lu Han throws towels at the freshmen, a little harder than he should. They’re at their dance practice - well, Jongin and Sehun’s dance practice, not really sure why Lu Han’s there - and they’re taking a break because the freshmen needs “breathing time”. Sehun scoffs.
Jongin is lying on his back. He feels sweaty and icky from the dance they did and the cold wooden floor feels like heaven at his warm body right now. He closes his eyes and the first image to come up is Kyungsoo’s smile, and then eyes, and his hair. He still can’t believe they have matching hair color! And that they have a date this weekend! He’s going to finally have chance to show Kyungsoo that’s he actually great and they’ll fall in love and buy annoying couple stuff and they’ll probably make out in the hallway after Literature class and they’ll just be happy. He sighs with a smile and then he actually giggles.
Sehun throws a water bottle on his stomach.
“Umph-”
“Oops, sorry. No wet day dreaming in the practice room, by the way.”
“Fuck you, Sehun.”
“Don’t be rude. I handed you a bottle.”
In the background, a shrill voice is pleading for his hair to not get colored like a rainbow. Jongin mumbles not again. Sehun flinches from the memory. And Lu Han is torturing the freshmen.
Now, they remember why Lu Han’s there.
an:
this was written when the world made sense
and jongin's hair was black and kyungsoo's
hair was black too. evn tho soo's hair is still
black now.. but yeah. whatever? do u like it?