Cutely, Prettily (Expect Me) 2/2

[sohyes]

one | two

"Jongdae, I thought of the perfect plan to get into Joonmyun's pants." Baekhyun stage whispers from across the lunch table. Her grip is tight around Jongdae's wrist that had just gone to reach for her fries.

"And what's that?" Jongdae manages to grab a few anyway, shoving them into her mouth as her friend rambles on.

"Well," Baekhyun's hands return clasped together, her voice exuding with glee. "Chanyeol said that Joonmyun's never talked about you, right? That means you're completely irrelevant to him!"

Jongdae throws a wadded up napkin at Baekhyun's head.

"No, what I mean is, you need to build your relevancy!" Baekhyun pays no mind to the next napkin ball thrown to her as well. "You know, become part of his life. Spend time with him. Make him think about you. Make him wonder. About your ass."

A quick glance is thrown at Jongdae's ass. Its owner nods understandingly. "I see. And how exactly will I make him wonder about my ass?"

"That's easy! This car wash, he's gonna be there, and you're gonna have a wet shirt on. That's something he can think about it."

Baekhyun is not known to have earth shatteringly brilliant ideas, but Jongdae has to admit this one makes sense.

"Alright. Fine." She decides to concede, only slight regret creeping up on her when Baekhyun whips out her phone from her shirt pocket. She flashes its screen at Jongdae, eliciting a snort of disbelief from the latter.

The notepad app is opened to a page created just hours ago. A bolded title reads “Operation Tight Tie”. Jongdae raises a curious eyebrow.

“You know, his tie.” Baekhyun smiles deviously. “If this plan works-and it will-you can unlock the secret to loosening Joonmyun’s tie.”

“Excuse me?” Jongdae sputters, a piece of fry flying out of her mouth.

Baekhyun folds her arms over her chest. “Oh, please. You think your tie fetish isn’t obvious? Because it is.” She ignores her friend’s attempt at refuting by continuing to talk. “Anyway, read the rest.”

Operation Tight Tie

Let your best friend in the whole world (me) make you look super cute at the car wash so he’ll notice you.
Invite him to one of Luhan’s inevitable house parties.
Make out with him.
He will feel inclined to ask you out the next morning because he is Kim Joonmyun.
He will fall in love with you because you are Kim Jongdae.
Result: Go on a double date with ChanBaek.

“Baek,” Jongdae is somewhat amused, but also overwhelmed at how thorough her best friend thought everything out. “just wondering, but is this what you did instead of the math homework?”

“Maybe.” Baekhyun shrugs. “I was concerned more about your love life than my academic life. I think I deserve the best friend award for that.” Her hand forms an L again and is poised below her chin. “Or, at the very least, I deserve to copy your homework as a consolation prize.”

Although Jongdae doesn’t agree with Baekhyun’s priorities, she hands over her notebook with a sigh. It’s the least she could do. She guesses. “But don’t you think I could achieve the same result with one step?”

“And what would that be?” Baekhyun has begun to scribble down a multitude of equations messily onto a sheet of paper.

“I don’t know, drop his pants and give him head?” Jongdae rests her hand on her chin, exhaling heavily. Baekhyun’s expression is aghast, a dainty hand placed on her chest for emphasis.

“Kim Jongdae-“

“I was kidding-“

“I know you think your mouth is all that-“

“Well, you said Jongin seems to think so-“

“But that is not classy, young lady!”

Coming from the girl who had just earlier talked about wet t-shirts and boob pressing, Jongdae is practically insulted at the comment. She throws yet another wadded up napkin at Baekhyun’s head, wondering if it’s too late to become besties with Zitao.

✿ ✿ ✿ ✿

The next Saturday’s car wash initiates Operation Tight Tie, and Baekhyun calls Jongdae a whole hour earlier to the school’s washroom so she can prepare her for battle.

“Oh man, oh man!” Baekhyun hollers when she sees Jongdae step out of the bathroom stall clad in a tight white t-shirt and denim cutoffs. An eyeliner is in Baekhyun’s hand, poised and ready to draw on Jongdae’s waterproof weapons. “You’re gonna look so good,” she sniffs when Jongdae steps forward to meet Baekhyun’s touch. “My baby’s all grown up and chasing after a boy.”

Jongdae flicks Baekhyun’s forehead. “Please don’t make this more embarrassing than it has to be. It’s not like I bring up your own mission to chase after Chanyeol.” It had been mortifying to watch Baekhyun practically throw herself at him the year before, but Jongdae can sort of understand why she went to such lengths now.

Lovesickness is strange, Jongdae muses as Baekhyun draws small strokes on her eyelids. After some contemplation throughout the week, Jongdae had wondered if going through all the trouble was worth it. Kim Joonmyun was just another boy, after all. The boys in Jongdae’s life had never been held to such a high standard. They were usually just friends or the occasional fling at one of Luhan’s inevitable house parties. It’s not that she hadn’t been interested in relationships before, it’s just that no one struck a chord in her quite as hard as Joonmyun had.

Which is what Jongdae had been racking her mind about all week. Was he really that special? Or maybe the conversation she had with Baekhyun the day she met him had temporarily changed her? Kim Joonmyun was attractive, sure. But so were many other boys. He was really nice too, yes. But so is lip gloss, which Jongdae doesn’t have many romantic feelings for.

But the whole reason she was propped up on top of the sink of the girl’s washroom, trying to look as good as she can for a damn car wash-that is the result of something that changed her mind about her wavering feelings regarding Joonmyun.

The day before, Jongdae had accepted Baekhyun’s invitation to get bubble tea with her and Chanyeol after their after school practice. Once the two cheerleaders had reached the SAC office however, they saw through a crack in the door that Chanyeol was still inside, speaking to Joonmyun.

“Are you sure you don’t need any help?” Chanyeol asked. “This a lot of data, Joonmyun.” He rifled through the files on the round table.

Joonmyun was sitting on a chair next to him, typing away on a laptop with the utmost concentration. “It’s alright,” the fourth year says without looking up from the screen. “I’m almost done. Besides, don’t you have a date with Baekhyun?”

“Yeah, but-“ Chanyeol’s protests are waved away by an authoritative hand.

“It’s alright, really.” Joonmyun insisted. “Go home. It’s Friday night, you should be out with your girlfriend.” He smiled at the younger, who still looked unconvinced. But another gentle push in the shoulder eased Chanyeol up from his seat.

“Fine.” Chanyeol said, voice still laced with concern. “But honestly Joonmyun, give yourself a break. You work yourself harder than any of us.”

“Chanyeol, I’m almost done. I’ll be out of here in ten minutes, tops.” Joonmyun smiled again, a sincere beam that finally persuaded Chanyeol to duck out of the room with a goodbye.

When Chanyeol opened the door and proceeded to pepper Baekhyun with kisses to her temple, Jongdae peered into the office again. Joonmyun stared longingly at the couple, before returning to his work.

“Um, Baek?” Jongdae took out her cellphone, pretending she had just gotten a text. “Mom wants me to be home early so you two go ahead without me.”

Baekhyun’s lips formed a disappointed pout, but she shrugged. After the three exchanged goodbyes, Jongdae waved the couple away with a grin.

As soon as they were out of sight, Jongdae found herself staring into the office again.

Joonmyun was clearly no where finished, Jongdae thought when she saw the pile of paperwork that hadn’t been there earlier. His eyes were locked in concentration, darting back and forth between the papers and the screen. She wanted to call out to him, ask him why he let Chanyeol leave early when he was offering help, or at the very least ask him if he needed help. Instead, Jongdae loses her footing and falls onto the door, pushing it all the way open.

Before anything else could happen, Jongdae scrambled to get onto her feet and darted out of the hallway. Hopefully she left before Joonmyun could realize that she had been spying on him. Hopefully.

“All done!” Baekhyun claps her hands twice. She raises her index finger to her eye, wiping away a fake tear and sniffling. “My Jongdae looks so pretty.”

Jongdae hops off her spot on the sink to look in the mirror. She examines herself curiously, amazed as always at Baekhyun’s skilled eyeliner application. Baekhyun has a strong grip on Jongdae’s shoulders from behind and stares at her through the reflection.

“Be charming, and be cute.” Baekhyun instructs, massaging her shoulders as if she’s a coach ready to send out her fighter.

“So you’re telling me to be myself?” Jongdae snarks, but Baekhyun surprisingly nods in response.

“Yes, actually.” Baekhyun lifts her hands off of Jongdae’s shoulders to give the girl a back hug. “You look hella good, and you’re hella rad, and you’re going to hella win Joonmyun’s heart.” She ducks when Jongdae turns around to swat at Baekhyun for her excessive use of hella.

“Thank you, Baek.” Jongdae says, and she means it. “I really appreciate-“

Another stall door flies open, startling the girls. Baekhyun shrieks.

“Chill!” Luhan raises her hands in defence. “It’s just me, ladies.” The head cheerleader’s even shorter, even tighter outfit makes Jongdae feels overdressed.

“Since when were you interested in helping SAC, Luhan?” Jongdae asks, well aware that Luhan only ever had one ulterior motive for doing things.

“Since Minseok said he would bring the team van around for a wash.” Luhan grins cheekily. “I thought it would be nice of me to personally do it for him.”

The third years share an eye roll, but they both know how much their captain really cared for her boyfriend. It was cute sometimes, but mostly nauseating.

“Wow, Jongdae!” Luhan says upon completely taking in Jongdae’s look. “You look really cute! Is this for a certain someone? A certain student body president?”

Jongdae immediately flicks Baekhyun in the forehead. “You weren’t supposed to tell anyone!”

Baekhyun casts a withering look at Luhan, who merely shrugs and fixes her fringe in the mirror.

“You’re a go-getter, Jongdae.” Luhan blows a few strands of hair out of her face. “So go get it. Or him.” She gives Jongdae a thumbs up and a wide grin.

Jongdae blushes, and chooses to swat at Baekhyun again.

“Well,” Luhan flicks her head around, smacking Jongdae in the face with her ponytail. “we’re supposed to be out now. Shall we?”

Jongdae spits out a few blonde hairs. “We shall.”

✿ ✿ ✿ ✿

Getting Joonmyun’s attention is proving to be much more difficult than expected, Jongdae thinks as she watches him practically prance from station to station, making sure everyone is working. For one, Joonmyun hasn’t even looked at Jongdae so far, besides the one or two times he’s visited the soaping station to check up on their progress.

“I don’t know what to do!” Jongdae hisses at Baekhyun from across a car hood. When the girl doesn’t seem to hear her the first time, Jongdae chucks a wet sponge at her.

Baekhyun looks up, confused only until Jongdae repeats herself. “I don’t know either! Just make up a question to ask him when he comes by again?”

Jongdae wants to groan, why is she even here? In her peripheral vision, she can see Joonmyun talking to Kyungsoo and Yixing at the rinsing station. Soon afterward, it’s Kyungsoo coming by to check up on Jongdae and Baekhyun. After she gives a curt nod and leaves, Baekhyun flails her arms at Jongdae.

“Jongdae!” Baekhyun practically shrieks, flinging the same sponge that Jongdae had just thrown at her back at her. “I think Kyungsoo switched places with Joonmyun, think up a reason to talk to him while he’s in one place!”

“What?!” Jongdae looks from one area (Chanyeol maniacally waving the car wash sign by the entrance) to another (Luhan vigorously wiping down a car that could only be Minseok’s) to another (some obnoxious voice cat calling at Kyungsoo from inside of a car), but she can’t think of anything. When she turns back to Baekhyun, she’s no where to be seen but-

Jongdae shrieks when she feels a bucket of warm liquid being dumped on her. When she opens her eyes, Baekhyun is looking at her sheepishly. “I’m sorry, Jongdae. It had to be done.” is the only excuse Baekhyun can muster for dropping a bucket of suds on her. “Go ask Joonmyun to hose you down!” She pushes her friend toward the rinsing just as the obnoxious voice’s car pulls up to their station.

Feeling utterly confused but pretty desperate at this point, Jongdae strides up to Joonmyun and tries to give him the most amiable smile she can manage. “Um, Joonmyun!” She almost has to scream over the sound of the high power hose.

Joonmyun only replies when the car he was rinsing drives off, greeting Jongdae with his weak-knee inducing grin. “Yeah?” His finger rests on the hose’s trigger again once obnoxious voice’s car pulls up.

“I, um,” Jongdae stutters, knowing she needs to hurry up before Joonmyun’s attention goes elsewhere again. “Baekhyun got this all over me, could you spray me with your hose?” A cringe is creeping up on Jongdae’s face and she really, really regrets not thinking her question through.

“What low budget porno did you come out of, Kim Jongdae?!” Someone yells behind her. Jongdae turns to meet eyes with the same person who had been trying to hit on Kyungsoo just moments earlier.

“Shut the hell up, Kim Jongin!” Jongdae barks at the second year, who was riding shot gun to an extremely tall fourth year that was always at Luhan’s inevitable house parties.

Jongin gives Jongdae the stink eye, irritating the cheerleader even more. “So speaking of low budget pornos, how would you like to make one with me?” There’s a gleam in his eye that Jongdae’s always wanted to smack out of his damn head.

“You know what-“ Jongdae suddenly remembers where she is. And who she’s beside. Her gaze flicks to the side but all she sees is Yixing striking up a conversation with Kris as she rinses off his car. Joonmyun was nowhere to be seen, which meant now Jongdae was really going to kill Jongin.

“Hey, Kyungsoo!” Jongin yells again, clearly toward Kyungsoo who had just returned to the rinsing station and already had a hose in her hand. The expression on her face is nothing but scornful. Despite this, Jongin keeps going. “When are you going to stop playing hard to get?”

Jongdae almost feels bad for Kyungsoo. She wants to drag Jongin and his filthy boy mouth far, far away from Kyungsoo and the rest of the female population.

“Get bent, you bug.” Kyungsoo spits. She raises her hand and flicks the hose’s trigger, allowing a strong stream of water pelt Jongin before he manages to frantically roll up the car window.

“Wow.” Jongdae’s never seen someone shut Jongin up so quickly.

Several feet away, Baekhyun calls Jongdae’s name, making her remember why she was even here in the first place. But now Joonmyun was nowhere to be seen.

Yixing, helpful as always, decides to hose Jongdae down instead.

Jongdae spends the rest of the car wash thinking up a list of ways she could murder Kim Jongin.

✿ ✿ ✿ ✿

“You said what?” Baekhyun is trying to stifle her laughter, she really is, but once Chanyeol barrels over, so does she. The couple howls, bent over the table, and Chanyeol even slams his fist on it a few times.

“Keep it down.” Jongdae hisses through clenched teeth. The other patrons of the bubble tea shop were beginning to stare. Neither Baekhyun nor Chanyeol seem to pay any mind.

“S-Sorry,” Baekhyun is wiping tears from her eyes now, careful not to smudge her eyeliner. “It’s just, that’s so,” she struggles to find the right words between aftershocks of laughter.

“Hilarious?” Chanyeol helpfully supplies. Jongdae shoots him the strongest glare she can manage, but the boy takes shield behind Baekhyun.

“I didn’t mean to say that,” it just happened. And I didn’t think he’d take it that way either. But then Jongin had to come by and screw everything up for me!” Jongdae pauses to take an angry sip of her mango milk tea. “I hate that kid.” she grumbles.

Baekhyun nods understandingly. She too shared contempt for the second year, although it was usually in jest. Occasionally it was like that for Jongdae as well, but more so the opposite. “Well, don’t think too hard about it. I’m sure Joonmyun didn’t even notice.”

“Yeah,” Chanyeol adds. “he probably just got called over elsewhere. Don’t worry about it.”

“Speaking of, is there progress on Operation Tight Tie?” As the words come out of Baekhyun’s mouth, Chanyeol repeats them silently, a questionable look on his face.

“Wait, Operation Tight Tie?” Chanyeol asks, still confused.

“It’s the name of Jongdae’s plan to get Joonmyun to notice her.” Baekhyun rolls her eyes. “Keep up, Yeol.”

“Ah yes, Jongdae’s tie fetish.” Chanyeol nods and brings his lips to his taro milk tea.

Reddening, Jongdae reaches over the table and smacks Chanyeol’s head down, causing him to choke and sputter and spit out tapioca. “I do not have a tie fetish!” she stresses.

Baekhyun tuts and shakes her head. She retrieves a cellphone from her coughing boyfriend’s pocket, tapping a few keys that Jongdae couldn’t see. When Baekhyun turns the screen in her direction, Jongdae sees a picture of Chanyeol and Joonmyun, probably from one of their school’s formal events. Baekhyun uses her thumb to tap the screen twice so it can zoom into Joonmyun and his pristinely pressed tie.

Jongdae’s mouth goes dry.

✿ ✿ ✿ ✿

Immediately after Monday morning practice, Jongdae is rushing up several flights of stairs to make her way to the SAC office. Luhan had asked for someone to deliver their budget, and Jongdae had jumped at the opportunity.

When Jongdae finally finds herself in front of the office’s door, she pauses to catch her breath before bringing up her knuckles to rap on the wood. To her dismay, the person who greets Jongdae at the door is in fact not Joonmyun, but Sehun.

"H-Hey," Jongdae says, still feeling somewhat frightened by the second year's intimidating aura. "Luhan asked me to drop something off?”

Sehun smirks and hollers a "Joonmyun!" that prompts the school president to scurry over to them. Joonmyun looks gorgeous as always, Jongdae thinks. How someone could look so good in their bland school uniform always surprised her. Even she couldn't look that good.

"Oh, Jongdae!" Joonmyun looks surprised.

"Hey," Jongdae waves, trying to act nonchalant. "Luhan said you needed our budget?”

"Ah." Joonmyun nods. "Alright, but I’m actually, um, about to leave now. So, just feel free to wait for um, Kyungsoo, or something. Yeah." His sentence stops abruptly with an awkward clearing of the throat. He speeds out the door, leaving Jongdae slightly (very) disappointed.

“Sehun, legitimate question.” Jongdae says as she walks into the office. “How are you on SAC? You shoved freshmen into dumpsters last year.”

"Jongin tried to touch my butt, he deserved it." Sehun shrugs. That butt-grabbing had been the reason Jongdae became aware of Oh Sehun's existence in the first place. Also Jongin’s, since Jongdae had been the one to fish him out of the dumpster out of pity.

"Aw, nice to see you're talking about me." Jongin retorts, walking into the room holding a tray of iced coffees.

"Go to hell." Sehun scoffs.

“You’re here, aren’t you?” Jongin laughs obnoxiously.

"Shut the hell up." She smacks Jongin over the head. “Shouldn’t you be chasing some vice-president around?”

Jongin rubs the side of his head. "Not chasing! Kyungsoo is warming up to me! I swear to God she smiled at me at the car wash." He plucks one coffee out of its carrier.

Jongdae quirks an eyebrow at Jongin. "You're serious about her?" She snorts. "Good luck with that, friend. She wouldn't touch you with a ten foot pole.

“She won’t need to with my ten foot pole-goddamn it, Sehun!” Jongin stops suggestively pointing between his legs to clutch at his recently kicked shin. “I was kidding!”

"Shut your goddamn mouth, Jongin." Sehun rips open a straw wrapper with her teeth. "Anyway, Jongdae. How’s your SAC hunt going?"

Jongdae chokes on her own saliva and has to reach for Jongin’s coffee to subdue her coughing.

"Wait." Jongin looks at the two of them curiously. "Jongdae likes Chanyeol?"

Sehun smacks the younger again. "No, dumbass. She likes Joonmyun."

Jongin is wincing but amused. "Joonmyun? Kim Joonmyun? You want to get into the student body president's pants?" He looks positively delighted at this bit of information. And Jongdae wants to castrate him for it. "But Jongdae, you're so...Joonmyun is so pressed ties and pleated pants and you're all pressed up against walls and rolled up skirts?"

"I'm cute!" Jongdae shrieks. "He could fall for me! I could be good for him!"

"In what world, exactly?" Jongin sniggers. "Because I don't know where Joonmyun fits into blowjobs in Luhan’s bathroom."

"That was one time!" Jongdae snaps.

Sehun looks incredibly entertained. "Good luck getting close to Joonmyun. Between SAC and the newspaper and debate club and model UN, Joonmyun doesn't have much time to talk to anyone.”

"Well, I'll just have to make it so all he'll want to do is talk to me." Jongdae huffs, taking another sip of her coffee. "You should both have some faith in me. I'm gonna flirt the pants off him.

"And what are you planning on doing once his pants are off?” The grin on Jongin’s face is absolutely feral.

"Go to hell." Jongdae repeats.

"Already here, remember?"

Sehun drives a foot right into Jongin's ten foot pole.

✿ ✿ ✿ ✿

Sehun was right. It was incredibly difficult to get a hold of Joonmyun at any time of day. Jongdae had probably memorized his entire schedule just trying to chase him around for a few moments of conversation. Before school, newspaper meetings, which Jongdae couldn’t even bother with because of cheer. During lunch, tutoring suffering underclassmen, which Jongdae could have signed up for if it wasn’t a known fact her grades were outstanding. After school, SAC meetings mostly, where Jongdae and Baekhyun were still welcome, but expected to remain silent lest they unleash Kyungsoo’s wrath. Any other time of day, Joonmyun was busy doing something, somewhere, because Jongdae just had to fall in love with the busiest person on the entire planet.

"Jongdae?" Luhan's voice interrupts Jongdae's frustrated self-absorption. "Yoohoo! Did you hear what I just said?”

"Um, no." Jongdae says sheepishly. "Sorry."

Luhan tuts, shaking her head. "Pay attention, it’s not like you to doze off. I was just saying we’re supposed to cheer at the soccer game on Friday.” She twirls a strand of blonde hair around her finger. "And it'd be nice if we could all be there to cheer for Min-our school."

Jongdae rolls her eyes, probably at the same time as everyone else on the squad.

"So you're saying we need to come in for an extra practice so you can wear your cheerleading skirt in front of your boyfriend." Baekhyun deadpans, looking exasperated. “Can’t you do that on your own time?”

"Maybe." The head cheerleader shrugs. “But it’s been a while since we’ve performed at a school event, ladies! Where’s that spirit?”

Silence ensues.

Luhan sighs. “You’re all coming anyway. Or it’s laps for all of you.” There’s a collective groan from the girls, but Luhan merely flicks her hair. “Dismissed. And Jongdae, Baekhyun, stay behind.”

As the cheerleading squad files out, Jongdae approaches the fourth year, Baekhyun following suit. Luhan immediately breaks out into an impish grin. “So, how are you and Joonmyun?” She cups her own face with her hands.

Baekhyun sighs and shakes her head. “It’s a tragedy! He doesn’t even seem the slightest bit interested in Jongdae!” The girl dramatically clutches her blouse.

“Baekhyun-” Jongdae’s smacked in the mouth by the back of her friend’s hand. An “ow!” escapes her but neither Baekhyun nor Luhan seem to care.

“But Joonmyun has to notice Jongdae!” Luhan cries, just as theatrical as Baekhyun. “How else can Jongdae’s thirst be cured?!”

Jongdae really hates her friends.

With closed eyes, Baekhyun grips her heart and says her next words solemnly. “But wait...there is but one solution!” Her arm reaches around Jongdae’s shoulder, pinning the girl to her side. “Look hella good at the soccer game and invite him to Luhan’s inevitable party!” She declares as Luhan sings a “dun dun dun” soundtrack.

“You guys are nuts,” Jongdae frees herself from Baekhyun’s grasp. She stomps to the door, opening it and giving one last stern look to her friends. “I might do that, but you guys are nuts.”

She leaves the gymnasium as Baekhyun and Luhan high-five.

✿ ✿ ✿ ✿

The soccer game is surprisingly fun. It's been so long since the squad's actually performed for an audience instead of judges. Luhan's running back and forth with a megaphone, hyping up the crowd with her energetic voice. Jongdae laughs when there’s a chorus of deep yells during the high kicks, and despite her previous worries, Jongdae's back handspring is flawless, and gets a round of cheers from the crowd.

Jongdae doesn't even see Joonmyun until after the third quarter, watching the game excitedly next to an unamused looking Sehun. When, Jongdae manages to reach his side of the bleachers, she throws him a wink and a kiss.

It's odd how Jongdae feels while she's cheering. There's a new confidence implanted in her. Not that she's not confident off stage, but there's something about performing for such a crowd that makes Jongdae feels great. She suddenly remembers what it feels like to know what she's doing again.

Baekhyun’s words suddenly come to mind again. Inviting Joonmyun to Luhan’s inevitable party seemed like a pretty good idea.

With just ten minutes left in the game, Minseok manages to score another goal, breaking the tie and pulling his team into the lead. As Jongdae and Baekhyun try to restrain Luhan from going on the field herself, Jongdae deduces that the win will secure the inevitably of Luhan's inevitable house party.

✿ ✿ ✿ ✿

"Joonmyun!" Jongdae calls after the student body president immediately after the game ends, still in her cheerleading uniform.

"Yeah?" Joonmyun looks a tad startled. (And uncomfortable but that could just be Jongdae’s imagination?)

"Luhan’s having a party at her house to celebrate the win. She said you should come." Jongdae smiles amiably.

"Ah, um," Joonmyun stutters. He takes one step backward before being grabbed by the shoulders, and pinned to Chanyeol’s side.

"Of course we'll go." Chanyeol grins. "Wouldn't miss it for the world." The tall boy carts Joonmyun off, giving a thumbs up to Jongdae.

Jongdae gives him an OK sign back.

Phase 1 successful.

✿ ✿ ✿ ✿

By the time Jongdae arrives (fresh out of the shower, hair curled to perfection), the party already seems to be in full swing. She sees Jongin in the mess of sweaty bodies on the dance floor, Sehun and Tao somehow having a regular conversation on the couch, and a wobbly Luhan headed her way.

“Jongdae! You made it!” The fourth year says, alcohol on her breath. She slings an arm around Jongdae’s waist, wailing her next words. “You look r-really good. I can’t believe Joonmyun hasn’t-”

Minseok speeds in, peels his girlfriend off of Jongdae, and drags her away with apologies. Jongdae would be taken aback if Luhan was anyone else but her.

"Jongdae!" Baekhyun greets her next, just out of the kitchen with two red cups in hand. She gives her friend a quick hug, then thrusts the cups in her direction. “Joonmyun’s in the den, quick, take these too him! I think Luhan’s had enough anyway.” They both shoot a look in the direction of the party host who could not be seen, but heard amongst the loud music.

“I’m so nervous!” Jongdae yells, accepting the cups gratefully.

“You’ll be fine!” Baekhyun screams back, giving her friend a reassuring smile. “Good luck!”

Jongdae tilts one of the cups at Baekhyun in response.

Phase 2 successful.

✿ ✿ ✿ ✿

The den’s door is locked. Strange. Jongdae presses her ear against it, but hears nothing. Then she knocks (using the heel of her boot because of her preoccupied hands). Once. Twice. She’s about to leave when Joonmyun answers the door, wide-eyed like a frightened puppy.

"H-Hi." He says.

"H-hi." Jongdae echoes. It seems that every time she convinces herself that Joonmyun’s just a boy, she quickly tears down that image and rebuilds one of immaculacy. And it sucked. She couldn’t even tell if it was the music or her actual heart thudding against her chest.

“Do you want to come in?” Joonmyun asks, stepping out of the doorway to give her space. Jongdae realizes it’s also the first time Jongdae’s ever seen him without a uniform. How is it possible for someone to look so good in a hoodie?

Wordlessly, Jongdae steps inside, apparently unable to even remember the word “yes”.

Joonmyun still looks positively panicky when he takes a seat on the armchair across from Jongdae, eyes darting side to side like he’s watching a tennis game.

“Why are you alone?” Jongdae’s surprised she can even produce a cohesive sentence. She offers one cup, glad that it’s not filled to the point where her shaky hand would spill it all over the rug.

Joonmyun accepts it with two hands, courteous as ever. "Ah, I don't really know. I don't feel like being in that chaos. It's not really my thing."

Jongdae nods in understanding. "Oh. Me too." She takes a large gulp of her drink.

Joonmyun laughs. “Really?”

“No.” Jongdae admits. “I like it sometimes. But I like quiet.” I like you too.

“I see.” Joonmyun nods, raising his cup to his lips. He coughs the moment the cup tips back, letting the liquid spill all over the table. “Shit.” He laughs. “I thought that was gingerale.”

Jongdae’s never heard Joonmyun swear before, but she thinks it’s kind of hot. (She thinks everything he does is kind of hot.) “Here.” Jongdae rifles through her bag for a napkin, moving onto the couch to wipe up the spill.

“It’s okay, I got it.” Joonmyun says, taking the napkin from her hands.

“Don’t worry, I’ll do it.” Jongdae pulls it back.

Joonmyun tries to take it back, but tugs Jongdae closer instead. She freezes. She’s never been so close to him. The napkin between them slips out of her hands, and now Jongdae’s just worried that Joonmyun might feel how fast her heart’s racing if they get any closer.

Joonmyun gulps, and he’s so, so close to her. Jongdae’s eyes are beseeching, desperately trying to articulate in some way that her heart is about to burst.

Jongdae’s head tilts up to meet Joonmyun’s lips, and suddenly all the music thudding through the walls stops. And it’s just her kissing Joonmyun and she feels like she’s never kissed someone before and she doesn’t know what she’s doing until-

Joonmyun’s pulled Jongdae closer to him by her waist. Now she’s really going to collapse. Their noses bump too many times and it’s a complete mess, but Jongdae couldn’t care less because she loves the way their mouths fit together and how soft his lips are.

But then Joonmyun pulls back. He retracts completely, drawing back his arms and even leaning back into the couch. There’s a look of bewilderment on his face. Jongdae wonders if she’s done something wrong.

“I’m sorry but...” Joonmyun stands up. He scrambles to get onto his feet, making a hasty exit and leaving an open door. No goodbye, no wave, nothing.

Mission failed.

✿ ✿ ✿ ✿

Jongdae spends the next two weeks moping. She sulks in class, during practice, after school--she sulks to the point where even Jongin begins to genuinely worry and sends her a text questioning her behaviour.

I’m fine, Jongdae answered. That’s all she’s been saying for the past two weeks. She was fine. She was fine, really. So things with Joonmyun hadn’t worked out. It was alright. Jongdae was Jongdae, and she was fine.

Except Jongdae is also a big liar and is anything but fine. She feels terrible. So absolutely horrified for kissing Joonmyun. She can’t believe she’d do something like that. The last thing Jongdae ever wanted to do was hurt him.

Sweet, kind Joonmyun. Generous, helpful Joonmyun. Disappointed, sad Joonmyun because Jongdae had screwed everything up.

Ridiculously stupid Jongdae.

Jongdae tries to go by the SAC office as soon as school is over, but Joonmyun no longer seems to linger. One day, Kyungsoo says that he’s started to take all of the council’s work home. Yixing has to politely shut Jongdae and Baekhyun out of SAC meetings, much to Chanyeol’s dismay. Sehun mentions that Joonmyun tenses up at the mere mention of Jongdae’s name.

Jongdae is the worst person in the world.

She absolutely cannot go on without looking Joonmyun in the eyes and apologizing. Otherwise, she’d probably find herself despicable for the rest of her life.

Although she doubts he’ll be there, Jongdae knocks on the SAC office’s door during lunch. Yixing answers it, clearly surprised that the younger girl is on the other side.

“Jongdae,” Yixing looks around in the hallway. “what are you doing here?”

“I want to apologize to Joonmyun.” Jongdae states firmly.

Yixing ushers Jongdae inside. The two sit in silence, Yixing on the couch and Jongdae on a chair. Jongdae thinks it’s a bad time to ask why Yixing’s sitting on the sex couch.

“Yixing, is Joonmyun really mad at me?” Jongdae decides to ask.

“Yeah,” Yixing nods, looking apologetic for even saying so. “I’ve never seen him so out of it.”

Jongdae feels sick and wants to roll off a cliff. Kim Joonmyun aka The Light of her Life is mad at her.

“He’s really disappointed.” Yixing says. “You were really insensitive about his feelings.”

“I know,” Jongdae says, feeling even more terrible than before, if that was possible. “I didn’t mean to. I just like him so much. I just kissed him and I feel so awful and I can’t believe I did that.”

“Wait, you like Joonmyun?” Yixing blinks in surprise. Jongdae thinks it’s the first time she’s seen the older girl move so quickly. “Like, you like-like him?”

A blush creeps up onto Jongdae’s face. “Yes, I like-like him.” She says.

“Well then,” Yixing smooths down her skirt. “I think you should apologize to him. And tell him that. Because I think he’d appreciate it.”

“But he keeps avoiding me! I mean, I can never find him. Ever!” Jongdae flops over the round table. “I think he hates me.” She wails.

“No, no, no.” Yixing shakes her head. “Joonmyun’s incapable of hate. Just…don’t let him run away next time you see him. Chase after him. That’s all you’ve been doing so far, I’m guessing.”

Jongdae sighs.

Yixing repeats herself. “I think you should chase after him.”

✿ ✿ ✿ ✿

Jongdae waits outside of the school entrance for Joonmyun that day. These are the only doors he could use to go home unless he was willing to walk around the entire school yard. She doesn’t think he’d go that far to avoid her. (Or maybe he would? Maybe Jongdae was that terrible?)

When Joonmyun finally comes out of school, Jongdae closes her eyes and clenches her fists, yelling his name before she can convince herself that this is not a good idea.

When Jongdae opens her eyes, she sees Joonmyun staring back at her. He looks frightened, like he’s about to run away.

But Jongdae’s not letting him go yet. “I need to talk to you.” She says. “It’s really important.”

Despite looking extremely hesitant, Joonmyun takes a few careful steps toward Jongdae. He nods.

Jongdae takes a deep breath. She’s never been so nervous before. “I’m sorry for being so insensitive. Like, I know I do some things that I shouldn’t do but-”

“Why did you do it?” Joonmyun cuts her off, voice tense. “I just want to know why. You’re so nice. And I know my crush on you was-”

“What?” Jongdae interjects. “What did you say?”

Joonmyun stares back at her, confused. “What do you mean?”

“You said ‘my crush’.” Jongdae repeats. “What did you mean by that?”

“What it means?” Joonmyun looks hopelessly lost. “Weren’t you teasing me?”

“Why would I tease you?” Jongdae asks, having trouble finding words.

“Because I liked you! But I didn’t think you would mock me for it.” Joonmyun is completely baffled. “I thought it was just a coincidence how you showed up at SAC meetings at first, but then there was the thing at the car wash, and then Chanyeol and Sehun started talking about you, and the soccer game and the party and the kiss?”

Jongdae doesn’t know how to describe her feelings at that moment. Dumbfounded would be an understatement. “Why would I kiss you just to make fun of you?” She asks. “I did that because I like you!

“Wait, you like me?” Joonmyun’s face is completely red. “Since when?”

Jongdae’s cheeks flush a similar colour. “I don’t know! Since that time you helped me up the first time I went to the SAC office? When I realized you had a really nice smile? When I saw you do all the work so you could send Chanyeol home? Probably somewhere inbetween?”

“Wait, you were that?” Joonmyun sputters. “Why do you like me? You’re beautiful and confident and smart and-”

Jongdae somehow interrupts him by making some sort of gurgling noise. There is no way Joonmyun is saying all this. She must be dreaming or something. She pinches herself. It hurts.

“Wait, so this isn’t a dream?” Jongdae asks quietly. “This is real? Real life?”

Joonmyun nods, allowing a small smile to form on his lips. “Can I say something now?” He lets out a shaky breath. “I know I probably thought too much about everything you did, but it’s just because I’ve never liked someone so much before. I’m scared, even. I’ve never been this unsure of something before.”

“Me too.” Jongdae smiles coyly. “I don’t understand a lot of things about relationships and love and everything, but Kim Joonmyun, I like you so much that it scares me. So I think it’s partially your responsibility to date me and make me less scared.”

“That makes sense.” Joonmyun reaches to grab Jongdae’s hands, intertwining their fingers. “Want to make this an official deal by shaking hands?”

Jongdae is appalled. “You’re joking, right?”

Joonmyun laughs and bends down to kiss her.

When they break apart, a kittenish smile forms on Jongdae’s lips.

“So do we get a turn on the couch?”

✿ ✿ ✿ ✿

“We’re never going to get any work done around here.” Kyungsoo lets out a deep sigh. Her glasses rest on the bridge of her nose, eyes scanning through the document laid out in front of her.

Baekhyun giggles a few feet away from her, whispering things back and forth with Chanyeol on the floor. Every time they exchange words, their laughs grow louder. As do Kyungsoo’s sighs.

Joonmyun, at least, is trying to be productive. Kyungsoo appreciates his effort to try and help record last week’s revenue, but she’s sure that he’s quite distracted with Jongdae nuzzling into his neck. The vice-president makes a mental note to just redo the file later.

With Yixing taking off to go on some date with that tall guy and Sehun being preoccupied with texting Tao on the couch, Kyungsoo figured the school year would end by the time she got all this work done.

But she at least wanted some peace and quiet while doing so.

“Get out.” Kyungsoo deadpans. When Sehun doesn’t seem to pay much attention, Kyungsoo snatches the phone out of her hands.

“Hey!” Sehun shrieks. “Give it back!”

“Take your phone and your girlfriends out of here.” Kyungsoo huffs. “I can’t concentrate.”

Joonmyun looks concerned. “Are you sure, Kyungsoo? There’s a lot of-”

“Joonmyun, get out right now.” Kyungsoo points a stern finger to the door. The five of them immediately file out. Baekhyun yells something about a bubble tea double date.

Finally alone, Kyungsoo opens her notebook to a clean page and picks up her pencil.

Several steps away from the door, Jongin contemplates going inside.

fin.

a/n: THIS WAS A LONG TIME COMING
tbh i binge wrote this i thought i would write a couple hundred
words at a time but nOPE IT WAS A COUPLE THOUSAND
huge huge huge s/o to kiwi and lanna for being my own cheerleaders
another ty to kiwi bc she's the one who came up w the ten foot pole thing
i love y'all :*

p.s this is gonna be a new au i feel it in my bones
look out for kaisoo