Playing Cupid
❇ Title: Playing Cupid + for slimyshlomo
❇ Pairing: girl!Chanyeol/Kyungsoo
❇ Rating: PG
❇ Length: 6207 words
❇ Warnings: unbetaed, cussing, failed attempt at fluff and humor
❇ Author note: Gigantic thanks to K and M for the unending support and cheer. To the recipient, hope u enjoy this fic! I may have diverted a bit from the original prompt but I still hope you’ll like it! And I’m sorry if it turned out this way, it’s a bit rushed.
❇ Summary: Kyungsoo is still hesitant in asking for Park Chanmi’s help.
Being single doesn’t bother Kyungsoo a bit.
While people fret about not having a girl or a boy to take on dates or even hold hands with, Kyungsoo, on the other hand, enjoys the perks of being single.
To Do Kyungsoo, nothing’s wrong in having some special quality time with yourself.
On special occasions, he goes and watches movies in the cinema alone. He would buy his favorite set of nachos and coke and would march inside the cinema like he doesn’t care that he’s alone and that he has no one to watch the movie with. There would be couples beside him but he doesn’t even give them a single glance not because he’s afraid he’ll turn lonely when he catches them. But because he doesn’t give a single fuck about what them. (Yep, it’s the truth.)
On a regular occurrence, he studies alone, (even if Baekhyun always invites him to study with him, which he obviously rejects every time, just because he thinks he studies best alone) in the café near the university.
And besides, Kyungsoo thinks, that the best thing being single offers is having to do whatever one wants to do without asking for someone else’s consent and opinion. He believes that being in a relationship means having responsibilities and Kyungsoo, though a responsible one, doesn’t see himself ready for such.
However, his relationship status doesn’t have anything to do with him being unwanted because-no. He’s pretty much liked by 90% of the school’s population (yes, boys included). He has people gaping at him while he walks in the corridor from his previous classes to the next. Because who wouldn’t just be enamored by his pale skin, pink heart-shaped lips and big eyes?
Although that may be true, beneath the face of an angel is a man too quiet for his own good and a man with a peculiar taste that only he understands. It isn’t bad to be weird, yes, but with the right amount. In Do Kyungsoo’s case though, when god made him, he had poured a lot of weirdness, coupled with a sheer amount of awkwardness and a pinch of sass. And dyaraaaan. It resulted to a 173 cm of cuteness, who in his 19 years of existence hasn’t dated anyone yet.
And maybe. Maybe, according to Byun Baekhyun, A.K.A. Kyungsoo’s best (and only) friend, the sole reason why he doesn’t snag a date is because of his 4D attitude. Kyungsoo would always brush it off when Baekhyun brings it up, emphasizing that he doesn’t a date and isn’t interested. But Baekhyun would always nag and would offer him with blind dates and such. It’s something that irks him when Baekhyun would speak of it as if having no girlfriend could kill.
He finds it unacceptable that Baekhyun thinks this is a huge problem. He is making a big deal out of it.
“What are you even saying? I don’t see any problem in being single,” He scoffs, while peaking from the novel that he’s been reading. He goes back in reading the ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’ which is needed for his Literature class. Because stupid Baekhyun isn’t worth the time. Apparently, Baekhyun has barged into his room minutes ago just to pester him about his ‘lack’ of relationship.
“Soo, can’t you see? It’s a big problem. How many women have I set up with you in past years? Those women are all over you. They like you a lot but when you go on a date with them you talk about weird stuff and Pororo? Really, Soo?” Baekhyun, who has comfortably lay down on his bed, suddenly sits, facing him.
“A nineteen year old talking about his Pororo plushie collection? Just what will they think of you?” He asks incredulously. His eyebrow raises.
“Cute?”
“Yes, cute. But Soo, remember Minah?”
“Minah? The music major?” Baekhyun nods, after lying on his stomach. He propped his elbows on bed, putting his hands on his cheeks, while watching Kyungsoo.
Well, if she was just another girl at school he’d probably forget about her. But well… they go.. way back.
Baekhyun has set him up with her in high school. And let’s just say, the date ended with a horrified expression and a wet dress.
Kyungsoo shakes his head, he doesn’t need to remember that nasty memory.
“What about her?”
“Before.. She told me about how your date went, specific details included. And then, with a horrified expression, she told me about your plushie collection. Soo, she was scarred for life. She thought you were using those in exchange of voodoo dolls and planning everyone’s demise with those. What the hell did you tell her,”
Kyungsoo scrunches his eyebrows.
Did he really? Well he can’t remember a thing.
“She told you that?” Baekhyun hums.
Hmmm.
“But you know, I just like them, right?”
“I know, but they don’t. And first impression always counts. And admit it, your dates have always sucked because they got turned off about the weird stuff.”
“Dating be damned.”
“What you need is an intervention. And this is what I’m doing.” Kyungsoo snorts.
“I’ll call you tomorrow, okay, I’ll see what I can do to your problem.” And in a second, Baekhyun flees the room.
When Baekhyun said intervention, Kyungsoo thought that he would be taken to some kind of a doctor or psychologist. (God knows how many times he has hurt Baekhyun with his jiujitsu moves and he thought he’d be taken to a doctor for the many times he had caused Baekhyun to have trauma.)
What surprises Kyungsoo was that, he never thought the help Baekhyun was talking about was in the form of a red-headed girl wearing an oversized supreme hoodie and a snapback. It takes a few minutes before it registers in his brain that the reason why the girl looked familiar was because she’s actually in Kyungsoo’s class.
Park Chanmi. That’s what her name is.
She’s way too noticeable to forget. Well, with a height of 184 cm. She towers most of the people in her class, Kyungsoo included. And the girl even has the nerve to occupy the front seats, resulting to Kyungsoo having a hard time seeing the lectures.
“Kyungsoo! Over here!”
“Kyungsoo, I’d like you to meet, Chanmi.”
“I know who she is,”
“Please, I leave this man, in your care.”
“Yeah sure,” She might’ve been smiling brightly because Kyungsoo thinks, fuck it’s hurting his eyes.
“Look I need to go now. Have fun, you two!” Baekhyun flees,
“You’re not very talkative, are you?”
“Tch, gives me the idea why you’re still single,”
“You don’t fucking know anything,”
“But yes, I do,”
“I see you in class every day and you don’t speak to anybody except Byun Baekhyun. I reckon 90% of the girls in class is scared of you,”
“You’re just not good at people, no? That’s why. Hmm. And which is why I’m here to help you!”
“Help? Who said something about me asking for help?”
“Well, Baekhyun told me about your situation and I’d be glad to be of help,” She extends a piece of paper in his direction which reads:
Park Chanmi
Dating Guru
009-xxxx-xxxxx
Who would’ve guessed she’s a dating guru?
She wouldn’t have pegged Chanmi as a dating guru. Because well, she’s clumsy, and she smiles a little bit too much. Has he mentioned about him getting a bit irked that she’s taller than him?
Chanmi, as much she believes she was skilled and appropriate for the job as a dating guru, is apparently not. It’s ironic how she gets to be called a guru, when in fact she’s inexperienced. Well maybe this whole dating guru thing is pure luck because she got the title after she comforted Luhan, the literature senior after her recent break up. And while comforting her in the coffee shop she may have accidentally called Minseok, the barista in the café and his friend to give her another cup of cold coffee. And the rest is history. Well, actually, while Luhan was crying her heart out, she had glance at the latter and got attracted, then. And it’s all thanks to Chanmi. Luhan, who was an SNS addict, posted everything on her weibo and hence the words spread that Park Chanmi’s good at advices and all that and now people start asking her for advices (which she just googles and sometimes base on magazines).
To cut it short, because of an extremely coincidental moment, Chanmi was dubbed as a dating guru and she continues this whole business because it gives her money and a few bills to save.
And hey, who wouldn’t like that?
That way, she gets to help people (even though everything’s not based on her experiences) and well, she would also earn money at the same time.
It’s a win-win situation, really.
★
Much to Kyungsoo’s dismay, Baekhyun still continued to pester him on meeting Chanmi. And Kyungsoo’s so torn on giving up (and actually seeking for Park Chanmi’s services) for the sake of making Baekhyun shut up or actually rejecting the whole idea of seeking for a dating guru for help with his love life. Could he just add that he also doesn’t trust Park Chanmi to give him decent advices? He doesn’t know the girl personally but there’s just something with her smile (that’s so bright and toothy) that doesn’t make him trust her. And Kyungsoo’s quite particular about the things that irk him in a person.
But in a strange turn of events, Kyungsoo decides to punch the said digits and text the taller for a meet up at the coffee shop near university. (However, it’s really just the 10 messages from Baekhyun that prompted him to do so.)
“Oh hey! I thought you’d ditch me!” is apparently what welcomes Kyungsoo as he settles in the seat across a certain big-eared girl.
“I’m sorry for being late. I just dropped by the library to return something,” True to his words, Kyungsoo is actually punctual. And he didn’t mean to come late to his meeting with Chanmi. Something just happened and let’s just assume it’s him being immersed into reading that he missed the time.
“For once and for all, I called you just to shut Baekhyun up and not because I’m really interested in what you’re doing,”
Chanmi pouts like a puppy and for a second, Kyungsoo thinks of saying something to sort of take back what he said.
“I’m hurt,” She looks at him directly in the eyes. “But it’s fine! Since I like you!” Kyungsoo’s eyes widen, like a deer caught in the headlights.
“I mean no! Don’t freak out! I just think you’re nice to have put up with Baekhyun,” She laughs. "How did you meet Baekhyun anyway?"
“We’re classmates. He just sat beside me in our class in Composition and then he wouldn’t leave me all day. You know how persistent he can get,” “How did you meet him, then?”
“Baekhyun used to be my neighbor. He used to be much taller than I am before,” She gestures with her hand how tall Baekhyun is. “Just like this,”
“But then, puberty happened! Then there’s my exaggerated growth spurt. I became taller than Baekhyun-”
“Not just with Baekhyun. But with everyone else,” He utters nonchalantly.
“Yeah, including you!” Kyungsoo makes a face and it only made Chanmi laugh harder, even clapping like it was the funniest joke ever.
“Back to my story, everyone started teasing me then. But Baekhyun always stood up for me. So we grew inseparable. He was the closest to me, like a brother. Not until his family decided to move during our sophomore year. And it sucked. But we promised each other to apply for the same university. And that’s it. The end.” She chuckles. There’s a gentle glint in her eyes while she was telling the story and Kyungsoo can’t help but notice how sincere she is. She seems to be the type of person who loves telling stories almost to anyone, even to a stranger.
“Enough of me. Let’s start talking about business now, shall we?” She fixes the huge framed glasses, lifting it off her nasal bridge through her index finger, as if to emphasize her ‘professionalism’.
“For starters, do you like anyone at the moment?” She questions,
“Actually, I-“
And before he can even answer, the world suddenly played a trick on him. A petite red headed girl enters the café, with a sleepy brunette on tow. The girl heads straight towards at the cashier, eyeing the menu board. The brunette was quietly standing beside her, with her earphone on, and looking like she could doze off any minute now and like she does need several doses of caffeine in her system.
And Kyungsoo caught himself staring at the two.
Chanmi was about to speak and prod Kyungsoo for answers but then she realized that Kyungsoo was staring somewhere. She followed his line of vision and discovered that Kyungsoo was intently staring at Jung Soojung, the famous dance major in the university. Momentarily, she froze when she notices that she isn’t alone. She was with Jinri, another dance major.
She looked back at Kyungsoo, who is sort of in daze. It doesn’t take her a minute to put everything together and realize what it means.
“So.. uh, Jung Soojung? She says, breaking the lump of silence. Kyungsoo suddenly breaks out of his reverie and turns into two shades pinkier.
“Wha-What about her?”
“What did you like about her?” She asks incredulously.
“I didn’t even say I liked her.”
“You do. I know for a fact that you do,” He sighs in defeat. He doesn’t even know why he bothers denying it. This girl never listens anyway.
“I-uh, Soojung is in one of my classes. She’s good at singing, dancing-hmm, in everything? It’s silly. She’s way out of my league,”
“Have you like spoken to her at once?”
“No I haven’t. What’s there to talk about, anyway?”
“Hmm, I don’t know. Anything?”
“Well, I can’t?”
“Of course, you should initiate a conversation first!”
“I don’t know, what if there’s no common denominator between us?”
“At least say hi? You see, "The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step." And that’s according to a Chinese philosopher named Confucius! Aha, I listen to my World Lit class after all,”
“It’s Lao Tzu, you dumbass.”
“Well, whatever, if you still haven’t spoken to her then, do it now! At least make yourself known first!” Kyungsoo looks confused for second. Chanmi stands up and grabs Kyungsoo’s wrist. He drags him to the cashier.
They were behind the two, who were now waiting for their order. She gestures for Kyungsoo to approach Soojung.
“I-uhm? E-ex-excuse me?” He utters, but it came out just like small noise. No one looked back.
Kyungsoo’s looking embarrassed, his eyes grew twice as bigger and Chanmi suddenly feels bad for the smaller. “Say it louder,” She mouths and prompts him to try again.
“Excuse me,” He tries again, this time in a moderate voice. But no one still dared to look back. His cheeks were blushing furiously and he already turned his back and go back to his seat when Chanmi stopped him to it.
“One last time!” She persuades, with an encouraging look on her face.
He heaves a deep breath, mustering all his courage and ((dignity)) left.
“Excuse me!”
It must’ve been a few decibels higher because Soojung did look, including the barista.
Kyungsoo’s eyes widen and literally froze on the stop. Chanmi elbows him before he realizes that Soojung was looking at him expectantly “I-uhm. Jung Soojung, right?”
Soojung nods, face still, expressionless.
“I’m-I’m.. in your Music Theory class. Do…Do.. Kyungsoo.”
With a half-smile, she bows at Kyungsoo. Chanmi once again elbows him. She was about turn around when he stopped her to it.
“I-um- Wait,”
“I just need to tell you something.. I-uhm. No,”
“We-we have a test tomorrow in class?” Soojung looks at her expectantly, face still void of any expression. The tension in Kyungsoo’s heart is increasing and he feels like he needs to say something. Just… anything….
“Uhm.. study well?”
Way to go, Kyungsoo.
There was a pregnant pause.
Chanmi bit his lower lip to stop herself from laughing.
“Uh, thanks?”
“Well… I will get going then,” He bows. “Have a nice day,”
And later, when they were situated again on their seats.
“How thoughtful of you to remind her about your test,”
“Oh god, I hope you rot in hell. It’s all your fault.” He buries his face on his palms.
“Don’t you think it’s a progress?”
“Oh my god, shut up,”
Kyungsoo really asks himself what he had gotten himself into.
★
When Chanmi wakes up that day, she immediately thought of a clear goal in mind. It came to her abruptly-like a bulb suddenly lighting up and there goes her ‘aha!’ moment.
Chanmi’s actually been thinking of this for a while now because Kyungsoo seems like a really nice guy and she really wants to help him somehow. And she’s caused him enough shame. So she needs to make up for it.
So in the past few days, she researched using tons of books and magazines. And in those materials that she had read, she had actually devised a really clear plan.
She tear one page of her notebook and started listing the things that she had researched. She posted the paper above her headboard, so that she’d be reminded of it every day. She smiles proudly, looking accomplished with her own made plan.
She’d have to act on it later.
Do Kyungsoo’s Guide To Success
1. Pick-up Lines
2. Makeover!!!!! >___<
3. Boosted Confidence
When Chanmi drags him somewhere, he didn’t expect it to be a cozy restaurant near the station. Viva Polo, as what she calls it is actually owned by her mother. And Chanmi, Kyungsoo notices, looked so proud while leading him to the place. There’s a big and proud smile etched on her face.
“Let’s change our strategy! What if you try being her secret admirer!” Chanmi suggests when they’re comfortably seated in a secluded place in the restaurant.
“Try sending her some pick- up lines? According to my research 90% of the guys who resort to pick-up lines gets rejected. But hey, don’t lose hope, okay. There’s still the 10% who succeeds so let’s just hope you would be a part of that 10%.”
“So here, let’s practice. Assume I’m Soojung, okay? You have my number right? Text me! I suggest you use emoticons. Women dig that!”
From Kyungsoo
To Chanmi
Hey??? Soojung?????
From Chanmi
To Kyungsoo
Who is this please?
From Kyungsoo
To Chanmi
Your secret admirer (ﾉ´ヮ´)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧
From Kyungsoo
To Chanmi
Soojung??? Do you know that you’re like a dictionary?
From Kyungsoo
To Chanmi
Because you add meaning to my life. (づ￣ ³￣)づ
“What the hell, Kyungsoo. Where did you even find this?” Chanmi chokes on her food when she receives the last text that he just sent. She reaches for the glass water of across hers.
“On google?”
“That won’t do! This is too boring!” She complains, lips pouting like a child.
“Come here, download this app called PickUpLines4U on App store!”
“No. The last time I did as told, I ended up making fun of myself. No.”
“Hey, are you really underestimating me? The last person who I told to use that immediately got himself a date! It works, okay? Trust me on this, will you?”
“Fine,”
LATER AT CLASS
From 009964740404
To Soojung
soojung?
From 009964740404
To Soojung
hey?
From 009964740404
To Soojung
are you an orphanage?
From 009964740404
To Soojung
ask me why come on
From 009964740404
To Soojung
‘cause i wanna give you kids °˖ ✧◝(○ ヮ ○)◜✧˖ °
From Soojung
To 009964740404
whos dis?
From 009964740404
To Soojung
ur admirer ⊙ω⊙
From 009964740404
To Soojung
hey is your dad a drug dealer?
From Soojung
To 009964740404
what are u saying!!!! fuck u
From 009964740404
To Soojung
‘cause youre so dope ⊙▽⊙
From 009964740404
To Soojung
i know im a guy but i wanna be alice
From 009964740404
To Soojung
‘cause your body’s a wonderland ʘ‿ʘ
“Hey, Kyungsoo?” Baekhyun starts as he sits on their usual seat at the cafeteria.
“Have you heard of the latest? You know Jung Soojung right? Our classmate in Music Theory! She’s been bitchin all day.”
“Huh? Why?”
“Rumor says her phone was bombarded with weird ass messages. And she’s pissed as hell. She’s been looking for the sender. They said she’s planning to blacklist him or sth.”
“Hey are you fine?”
“Wait, Kyungsoo!”
“Hey! Where are you going?”
“I’m off to buy a new phone!”
★
“Excuse me but are you a frequent attendee of funerals?! Your wardrobe’s all black.” Chanmi says unamusingly as she goes over Kyungsoo’s closet.
Kyungsoo doesn’t know how Chanmi ended up going inside his room and rummaging through his closet. But he thinks it’s that part when she insisted on giving him a ‘make over’ and saying that this is the next step after the first two attempts failed dramatically.
He wonders why he still allows her to supposedly help him. It already seems like a bad omen, that this will not lead to anything good because all he experienced was shame in reference to the two times Chanmi ‘helped’ him.
“I just don’t see the need of buying colorful clothes. And unlike other people, there are just guys who look good no matter what they wear,” He deadpans.
“You know what they say about clothes telling you how you are as a person. And yep, I totally get it,” She snorts. “Oh my god, Kyungsoo, they’re awful! I can’t stand rummaging through your closet for potential date outfits!” Chanmi fusses.
“Stop overreacting. Those are fine.” He replies nonchalantly.
“No, we need to go shopping! Come on,”
“Get dressed now. I’ll wait for you at the living room,”
Certainly, shopping for Chanmi involves having to point out all the things that she deems cute and having to gush over it like small child. Despite of her tall height, she still acts like a kid and drags Kyungsoo around the mall to ‘look’ at stuff and actually laugh at things she finds amazing.
It’s pretty silly to look at them, Chanmi pulling Kyungsoo into places, like the mall is their huge playground. Deep inside, Kyungsoo thinks, Isn’t he the one who should be prioritized today? Why is he being dragged around like a luggage?
The two of them sight a Pororo mascot in front of a toy store and Kyungsoo stood frozen on his spot. Chanmi, on the other hand, is so delighted that her face literally is lighting up. She was grinning from ear to ear, fully showing her full set of teeth.
What Chanmi does next surprises Kyungsoo. She dashes towards the mascot, waving at it, being all friendly. While Kyungsoo still stands, as if rooted on the ground.
She yells Kyungsoo’s name, asking him to come over so that they can take a picture with the mascot. The people were looking expectantly at him. He literally facepalms himself.
Just when he thought he’s done with all the embarrassment… Here’s another one..
He scurries over Chanmi and stood in between the mascot and her. The photographer signals them to smile and get ready but Kyungsoo can’t bring himself to smile. Not when he’s about to take a picture with a mascot. God, just how old is he?
Chanmi nudges him, putting her two index fingers at the side of her lips, asking him to smile. He tries to smile, but with all the people watching them… he just can’t. So when the photographer signals them for another picture, he keeps his poker face.
A few minutes after, the photographer gives them a copy of the picture and Chanmi had probably rolled on the floor laughing because it turns out, Kyungsoo had kept his face void of any emotions while the mascot put on a peace sign above his head.
Well… How funny.
She squats in the middle of the mall, face buried in her thighs. Passersby look at her like she’s insane.
“Woah! Kyungsoo, I’m tired! I think it’s time to stop now,” Kyungsoo jogs to go to her, eyebrows scrunched in confusion.
“What, you’re giving up now? Haven’t you realized that you dragged me into this?” He asks, voice laced with confusion and annoyance.
She cranes her neck upwards, looking at Kyungsoo who now stood in front of her. “I think you’ve bought enough clothes with the stripes pattern. Did you also realize that they’re all stripes but just bought from different brands?”
“I think it’s better than what you’ve been trying to let me fit. All those supreme hoodies..” He retaliates.
“They’re top fashion okay,”
“Whatever you say. Let’s just eat first,” He extends his arm to her, prompting her to take it and just stand up. She took Kyungsoo’s hand, allowing herself to be pulled up by him.
“Are you going to treat me? Wow, Kyungsoo, I know deep inside, you like me,” She coos but Kyungsoo looks at her with his usual poker face.
“No, buy your own food. Come on,” He turned around, leaving her standing. She immediately strides to go after him, screaming hey don’t leave me here.
“Woah! Kyungsoo!” Chanmi shrieks as she stares into the screen. The screen shows six digits, possibly thrice as high as what the other people had reached before. She turns to Kyungsoo who is watching beside her.She steps closer and envelops him to a bone crushing hug. Kyungsoo’s eyes widen for a second because he can feel something soft pressing into his chest. Chanmi may be thin but her bust size isn’t… And…. Kyungsoo….
“Look at that! I got the highest score!” She points her finger to the screen, which is showing the image of a female guitarist with a text that says You Rock!
“What an achievement.” He voices out, trying to sound not too tensed. She entangles herself from him and Kyungsoo thanks the heavens for making her realize that it isn’t normal to hug a guy because….
“Wow, thanks for your enthusiasm!” She jokes. “Hey, it’s your turn. Don’t you want to play guitar hero?”
“Nah,”
“Don’t tell me you chickened out after seeing me play,” She challenges.
“Hell no. But- I challenge you to that game!” Kyungsoo points out to the arcade game where one chances on getting the stuffed toy inside.
“Challenge accepted,”
After a minutes of bickering and ten minutes of full concentration, Kyungsoo got an Anpanman stuffed toy. He raises his two arms up in the air, arms up in victory. He waves the stuffed toy in front of Chanmi, as if mocking her. But Chanmi only stares at him, looking unamused.
A few hours after, the two decided to head home. It has been a really exhausting day, with what the two had done. They’re in front of the station, about to separate ways but something had been bugging Chanmi. But then, Kyungsoo has been moving really fast, already turning his back on her, after saying a brief goodbye.
“Kyungsoo-“ She calls out, when Kyungsoo had turned around. He looks back, face full of confusion. “I-thank you for this,” She raises the Anpanman that Kyungsoo had secretly slipped on her backpack.
Instead of his usual poker face, Kyungsoo’s lips move upwards and form a smile. “It’s nothing,”
Chanmi gets startled because it’s actually the first time Kyungsoo had smiled at her like that. He usually frowns, growls, snorts at her but not smile. And as if acting on an impulse, she crosses the distance between them and marches to him.
She closes her eyes, leans down on him, there’s a pretty good 10-cm-difference, and presses her lips to his.
It was the softest lips she could ever imagine.
Finally thinking of what she did, she moved away from him quickly, eyes enlarging like the size of saucers. They both touch their lips. Palms covering their lips.
“I-bye,” She runs off to the other direction, without even looking at him. In a second, she’s gone.
Kyungsoo stares out of nowhere, still flabbergasted at what she did.
Well… It was his first.
He stood there, for what seemed like forever, heart fluttering, stomach tied in knots. Is it normal to feel this way?
He doesn’t know.
He really doesn’t know.
Oh sweet Jesus, Kyungsoo’s in a crisis-because he cannot explain why his heart was racing. He cannot explain why he’s suddenly feeling out of breath and is in a daze.
He thinks he will not sleep well tonight.
Because a pair of sweet and soft lips will haunt him all night.
★
It’s already the eighth of November, days passing by in a blur with exams and quizzes. And it would be a lie if Kyungsoo says that he had not once thought of Chanmi’s soft lips. The lips that had once touched his, the lips that he didn’t think he’d ever dream of kissing again.
It’s been a month since he last saw Chanmi. He’d like to convince himself that she’s not hiding from him but how can he not notice her when she’s 184 centimeters tall? When she passes by in the hallway, she would look down, turn away and not meet him in the eyes. She would walk away, like he’s a plague to be avoided.
And every time she looks away, a fraction of him gets disappointed.
However, one day, during lunch, she walks towards their table, without a smile on her face. And it bothers him that he might partially be the reason why she’s like that. She looks… dejected.
“Hi,” He greets but Chanmi only smiles weakly in return. Baekhyun looks up from his food and also greets Chanmi but scrunches his eyebrows in confusion when Chanmi just nods at him. Something’s definitely wrong.
“So I heard this from Jongdae but there’ll be a ball three weeks from now. And I think it’s the perfect time for you to ask Soojung on a date.”
“Huh?”
“It’s… important. You know what, grow some balls. Be confident, ok? If you want Soojung to like you, you have to like yourself first.”
He frowns, unable to believe that Chanmi uttered those words. Because in the few months that he’s known her… there’s always playfulness in her words and tone. And it’s rare that she speaks seriously to him. Even Baekhyun, who is sitting next to Kyungsoo felt the tension in the air so he tries to ease the atmosphere.
“Wow, an expert now, Chanmi?”
Silence.
Baekhyun laughs awkwardly. He elbows Kyungsoo in his ribs, gesturing him to say something.
He gapes at her, waiting for her to say anything. She realized that she’s making the atmosphere even weirder because of her actions.
“Let me take you out tonight. In front of the station. At 7 pm. Our last meeting, maybe?” And before she turns her back, she bids Baekhyun goodbye.
It turns out, the place that she had brought him was an artsy café just a few stops away from university. When they entered the café, what welcomed him were the murals on the walls and the instruments placed on an elevated stage.
The place was actually full; the people chattering, waiting for the live band to start playing. There’s a spot light focused on the stage. And there were four men setting up the stage.
When they entered, the man on the counter, who looks like he’s in his fifties, looked up from what he’s doing and smiled. Chanmi rushed to him, smiling happily.
“Dad! This is my friend, Kyungsoo!” He looks at him gladly.
Dad?
Kyungsoo bows at him and he does the same.
“Dad, let me borrow the stage after that band, okay?” Chanmi nods at Kyungsoo. “We’re gonna use that stage later, alright?”
“Huh?”
“We’re gonna put that voice into use. Baekhyun told me you sing so… you will sing tonight,” Her lips curve upwards.
Forty minutes later, the two found themselves in the stage. Chanmi found her place in front of the piano. While Kyungsoo sits on a stool, right in the middle.
“Good evening. We’re not exactly a band or anything… but. Please do lend your ears for us. Our first song is a rendition of EXO’s Baby Don’t Cry,” Kyungsoo glances one last time at Chanmi waiting for her cue. She nods and the melodious sound of the piano keys fill the air.
Kyungsoo’s smooth and velvety voice echoes throughout the place. He effortlessly sings, eyes closed, feeling every word that comes out of his mouth.
Unknown to Kyungsoo, Chanmi has actually heard him sing before, when Baekhyun let him hear one of their recordings in his phone but there’s something enchanting about how his voice sounded tonight. His singing was so heartfelt.
Chanmi finds herself staring at him lovingly. Her heart feels like it’s being squeezed. Her chest is full of a plethora of emotions and feelings and she feels like crying because this must be… love. She’s fell in it too deep.
She can’t help but think just how lucky Soojung is.
The song ended with a loud applause. Chanmi quickly scrambles out of the hair to move away but Kyungsoo’s caught her hand.
He eyes her directly in the eyes, with a weird longing reflected in it. “I think this is the best thing you’ve done for me, so far. Thank you, Chanmi,” He squeezes her hand.
Her eyes suddenly feel moist. It wasn’t really supposed to be this way. She wasn’t supposed to feel this but she did. Stupid feelings.
“But it’s my job,” She replies.
★
Chanmi thinks she’s so pathetic. Everyone must be thinking she’s no fun right now. While everyone was on the ball to celebrate the end of the semester, she’s in her room moping.
No, scratch that. She isn’t.
She’s also not thinking of Kyungsoo and his possible date proposal to Jung Soojung.
No.
Because she’s certainly enjoying her own company with Coldplay’s songs in the background.
She decided that it would be better if she didn’t attend the ball because it would just complicate her feelings. The feelings that she was surprised to discover. The feelings that she thought didn’t exist.
Kyungsoo may have snagged her date tonight, she will never know.
And she better get over it because she fucking wouldn’t probably even stand a chance.
There are many fishes in the sea, Chanmi. But how do you find a unique fish like Kyungsoo anywhere?
★
Baekhyun barges into her room without a care in the world. What’s with Baekhyun and him barging into rooms, anyway? Chanmi squints, reaches for her phone on the coffee table to check the time. 4:00 PM.
Well… She may have stayed up until 6 am watching Chick Flicks on tv. It’s a best way to nurse a broken heart, they say.
But why is he even here?
“Get up,” Baekhyun mumbles. “Kyungsoo has a date at 6.”
“And how does it concern me?” She croaks out.
“Are you an idiot? You like Kyungsoo, right? Snag him before some girl can.” He utters. Is he commanding her now?
“What are you even saying?” She denies. But she’s already went out of bed, standing in front of Baekhyun who replaced her in bed.
“Wow, you’re no fun. I know you want to.” She actually laughs at this because wow, he knows her real well.
“Tell me the place,”
She’s determined more than ever.
★
Chanmi didn’t even waste time in dressing up. She just went into the shower hastily, just put on some supreme hoodie and pants from the closet and left.
She arrived at the restaurant in less than thirty minutes. The restaurant actually looks luxurious but she didn’t care if she didn’t fit in with what she’s wearing. She looks around, looking for a certain red haired girl with a brunette but she can’t see her anywhere. She just spots Kyungsoo alone, wearing a suit and tie.
Where’s she?
She strode towards his table, not caring even if people were looking at her weirdly.
“Kyungsoo? What are you doing there? Why are you alone?” Kyungsoo’s eyes meet hers.
“I guess, I got dumped?”
“What?”
“She said I’m an idiot.”
“Huh? Why? Didn’t she agree to date you?”
“She said I’m an idiot for going on a date when I like someone else.”
“You do? You like someone else? Who?”
“I’m still not 100% percent sure if this is genuine or what but. What I’m certain is that there’s something different when I see her… a good kind of different. Just like right now. That’s all I can say,” He gazes at her lovingly, eyes softening while talking. She still isn’t sure if it’s just her or there’s something really different with Kyungsoo’s tone and gaze. Like it’s directed at her.
For the meantime, she would just stick to the idea that it is does directed at her.
❇ Pairing: girl!Chanyeol/Kyungsoo
❇ Rating: PG
❇ Length: 6207 words
❇ Warnings: unbetaed, cussing, failed attempt at fluff and humor
❇ Author note: Gigantic thanks to K and M for the unending support and cheer. To the recipient, hope u enjoy this fic! I may have diverted a bit from the original prompt but I still hope you’ll like it! And I’m sorry if it turned out this way, it’s a bit rushed.
❇ Summary: Kyungsoo is still hesitant in asking for Park Chanmi’s help.
Being single doesn’t bother Kyungsoo a bit.
While people fret about not having a girl or a boy to take on dates or even hold hands with, Kyungsoo, on the other hand, enjoys the perks of being single.
To Do Kyungsoo, nothing’s wrong in having some special quality time with yourself.
On special occasions, he goes and watches movies in the cinema alone. He would buy his favorite set of nachos and coke and would march inside the cinema like he doesn’t care that he’s alone and that he has no one to watch the movie with. There would be couples beside him but he doesn’t even give them a single glance not because he’s afraid he’ll turn lonely when he catches them. But because he doesn’t give a single fuck about what them. (Yep, it’s the truth.)
On a regular occurrence, he studies alone, (even if Baekhyun always invites him to study with him, which he obviously rejects every time, just because he thinks he studies best alone) in the café near the university.
And besides, Kyungsoo thinks, that the best thing being single offers is having to do whatever one wants to do without asking for someone else’s consent and opinion. He believes that being in a relationship means having responsibilities and Kyungsoo, though a responsible one, doesn’t see himself ready for such.
However, his relationship status doesn’t have anything to do with him being unwanted because-no. He’s pretty much liked by 90% of the school’s population (yes, boys included). He has people gaping at him while he walks in the corridor from his previous classes to the next. Because who wouldn’t just be enamored by his pale skin, pink heart-shaped lips and big eyes?
Although that may be true, beneath the face of an angel is a man too quiet for his own good and a man with a peculiar taste that only he understands. It isn’t bad to be weird, yes, but with the right amount. In Do Kyungsoo’s case though, when god made him, he had poured a lot of weirdness, coupled with a sheer amount of awkwardness and a pinch of sass. And dyaraaaan. It resulted to a 173 cm of cuteness, who in his 19 years of existence hasn’t dated anyone yet.
And maybe. Maybe, according to Byun Baekhyun, A.K.A. Kyungsoo’s best (and only) friend, the sole reason why he doesn’t snag a date is because of his 4D attitude. Kyungsoo would always brush it off when Baekhyun brings it up, emphasizing that he doesn’t a date and isn’t interested. But Baekhyun would always nag and would offer him with blind dates and such. It’s something that irks him when Baekhyun would speak of it as if having no girlfriend could kill.
He finds it unacceptable that Baekhyun thinks this is a huge problem. He is making a big deal out of it.
“What are you even saying? I don’t see any problem in being single,” He scoffs, while peaking from the novel that he’s been reading. He goes back in reading the ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’ which is needed for his Literature class. Because stupid Baekhyun isn’t worth the time. Apparently, Baekhyun has barged into his room minutes ago just to pester him about his ‘lack’ of relationship.
“Soo, can’t you see? It’s a big problem. How many women have I set up with you in past years? Those women are all over you. They like you a lot but when you go on a date with them you talk about weird stuff and Pororo? Really, Soo?” Baekhyun, who has comfortably lay down on his bed, suddenly sits, facing him.
“A nineteen year old talking about his Pororo plushie collection? Just what will they think of you?” He asks incredulously. His eyebrow raises.
“Cute?”
“Yes, cute. But Soo, remember Minah?”
“Minah? The music major?” Baekhyun nods, after lying on his stomach. He propped his elbows on bed, putting his hands on his cheeks, while watching Kyungsoo.
Well, if she was just another girl at school he’d probably forget about her. But well… they go.. way back.
Baekhyun has set him up with her in high school. And let’s just say, the date ended with a horrified expression and a wet dress.
Kyungsoo shakes his head, he doesn’t need to remember that nasty memory.
“What about her?”
“Before.. She told me about how your date went, specific details included. And then, with a horrified expression, she told me about your plushie collection. Soo, she was scarred for life. She thought you were using those in exchange of voodoo dolls and planning everyone’s demise with those. What the hell did you tell her,”
Kyungsoo scrunches his eyebrows.
Did he really? Well he can’t remember a thing.
“She told you that?” Baekhyun hums.
Hmmm.
“But you know, I just like them, right?”
“I know, but they don’t. And first impression always counts. And admit it, your dates have always sucked because they got turned off about the weird stuff.”
“Dating be damned.”
“What you need is an intervention. And this is what I’m doing.” Kyungsoo snorts.
“I’ll call you tomorrow, okay, I’ll see what I can do to your problem.” And in a second, Baekhyun flees the room.
When Baekhyun said intervention, Kyungsoo thought that he would be taken to some kind of a doctor or psychologist. (God knows how many times he has hurt Baekhyun with his jiujitsu moves and he thought he’d be taken to a doctor for the many times he had caused Baekhyun to have trauma.)
What surprises Kyungsoo was that, he never thought the help Baekhyun was talking about was in the form of a red-headed girl wearing an oversized supreme hoodie and a snapback. It takes a few minutes before it registers in his brain that the reason why the girl looked familiar was because she’s actually in Kyungsoo’s class.
Park Chanmi. That’s what her name is.
She’s way too noticeable to forget. Well, with a height of 184 cm. She towers most of the people in her class, Kyungsoo included. And the girl even has the nerve to occupy the front seats, resulting to Kyungsoo having a hard time seeing the lectures.
“Kyungsoo! Over here!”
“Kyungsoo, I’d like you to meet, Chanmi.”
“I know who she is,”
“Please, I leave this man, in your care.”
“Yeah sure,” She might’ve been smiling brightly because Kyungsoo thinks, fuck it’s hurting his eyes.
“Look I need to go now. Have fun, you two!” Baekhyun flees,
“You’re not very talkative, are you?”
“Tch, gives me the idea why you’re still single,”
“You don’t fucking know anything,”
“But yes, I do,”
“I see you in class every day and you don’t speak to anybody except Byun Baekhyun. I reckon 90% of the girls in class is scared of you,”
“You’re just not good at people, no? That’s why. Hmm. And which is why I’m here to help you!”
“Help? Who said something about me asking for help?”
“Well, Baekhyun told me about your situation and I’d be glad to be of help,” She extends a piece of paper in his direction which reads:
Park Chanmi
Dating Guru
009-xxxx-xxxxx
Who would’ve guessed she’s a dating guru?
She wouldn’t have pegged Chanmi as a dating guru. Because well, she’s clumsy, and she smiles a little bit too much. Has he mentioned about him getting a bit irked that she’s taller than him?
Chanmi, as much she believes she was skilled and appropriate for the job as a dating guru, is apparently not. It’s ironic how she gets to be called a guru, when in fact she’s inexperienced. Well maybe this whole dating guru thing is pure luck because she got the title after she comforted Luhan, the literature senior after her recent break up. And while comforting her in the coffee shop she may have accidentally called Minseok, the barista in the café and his friend to give her another cup of cold coffee. And the rest is history. Well, actually, while Luhan was crying her heart out, she had glance at the latter and got attracted, then. And it’s all thanks to Chanmi. Luhan, who was an SNS addict, posted everything on her weibo and hence the words spread that Park Chanmi’s good at advices and all that and now people start asking her for advices (which she just googles and sometimes base on magazines).
To cut it short, because of an extremely coincidental moment, Chanmi was dubbed as a dating guru and she continues this whole business because it gives her money and a few bills to save.
And hey, who wouldn’t like that?
That way, she gets to help people (even though everything’s not based on her experiences) and well, she would also earn money at the same time.
It’s a win-win situation, really.
★
Much to Kyungsoo’s dismay, Baekhyun still continued to pester him on meeting Chanmi. And Kyungsoo’s so torn on giving up (and actually seeking for Park Chanmi’s services) for the sake of making Baekhyun shut up or actually rejecting the whole idea of seeking for a dating guru for help with his love life. Could he just add that he also doesn’t trust Park Chanmi to give him decent advices? He doesn’t know the girl personally but there’s just something with her smile (that’s so bright and toothy) that doesn’t make him trust her. And Kyungsoo’s quite particular about the things that irk him in a person.
But in a strange turn of events, Kyungsoo decides to punch the said digits and text the taller for a meet up at the coffee shop near university. (However, it’s really just the 10 messages from Baekhyun that prompted him to do so.)
“Oh hey! I thought you’d ditch me!” is apparently what welcomes Kyungsoo as he settles in the seat across a certain big-eared girl.
“I’m sorry for being late. I just dropped by the library to return something,” True to his words, Kyungsoo is actually punctual. And he didn’t mean to come late to his meeting with Chanmi. Something just happened and let’s just assume it’s him being immersed into reading that he missed the time.
“For once and for all, I called you just to shut Baekhyun up and not because I’m really interested in what you’re doing,”
Chanmi pouts like a puppy and for a second, Kyungsoo thinks of saying something to sort of take back what he said.
“I’m hurt,” She looks at him directly in the eyes. “But it’s fine! Since I like you!” Kyungsoo’s eyes widen, like a deer caught in the headlights.
“I mean no! Don’t freak out! I just think you’re nice to have put up with Baekhyun,” She laughs. "How did you meet Baekhyun anyway?"
“We’re classmates. He just sat beside me in our class in Composition and then he wouldn’t leave me all day. You know how persistent he can get,” “How did you meet him, then?”
“Baekhyun used to be my neighbor. He used to be much taller than I am before,” She gestures with her hand how tall Baekhyun is. “Just like this,”
“But then, puberty happened! Then there’s my exaggerated growth spurt. I became taller than Baekhyun-”
“Not just with Baekhyun. But with everyone else,” He utters nonchalantly.
“Yeah, including you!” Kyungsoo makes a face and it only made Chanmi laugh harder, even clapping like it was the funniest joke ever.
“Back to my story, everyone started teasing me then. But Baekhyun always stood up for me. So we grew inseparable. He was the closest to me, like a brother. Not until his family decided to move during our sophomore year. And it sucked. But we promised each other to apply for the same university. And that’s it. The end.” She chuckles. There’s a gentle glint in her eyes while she was telling the story and Kyungsoo can’t help but notice how sincere she is. She seems to be the type of person who loves telling stories almost to anyone, even to a stranger.
“Enough of me. Let’s start talking about business now, shall we?” She fixes the huge framed glasses, lifting it off her nasal bridge through her index finger, as if to emphasize her ‘professionalism’.
“For starters, do you like anyone at the moment?” She questions,
“Actually, I-“
And before he can even answer, the world suddenly played a trick on him. A petite red headed girl enters the café, with a sleepy brunette on tow. The girl heads straight towards at the cashier, eyeing the menu board. The brunette was quietly standing beside her, with her earphone on, and looking like she could doze off any minute now and like she does need several doses of caffeine in her system.
And Kyungsoo caught himself staring at the two.
Chanmi was about to speak and prod Kyungsoo for answers but then she realized that Kyungsoo was staring somewhere. She followed his line of vision and discovered that Kyungsoo was intently staring at Jung Soojung, the famous dance major in the university. Momentarily, she froze when she notices that she isn’t alone. She was with Jinri, another dance major.
She looked back at Kyungsoo, who is sort of in daze. It doesn’t take her a minute to put everything together and realize what it means.
“So.. uh, Jung Soojung? She says, breaking the lump of silence. Kyungsoo suddenly breaks out of his reverie and turns into two shades pinkier.
“Wha-What about her?”
“What did you like about her?” She asks incredulously.
“I didn’t even say I liked her.”
“You do. I know for a fact that you do,” He sighs in defeat. He doesn’t even know why he bothers denying it. This girl never listens anyway.
“I-uh, Soojung is in one of my classes. She’s good at singing, dancing-hmm, in everything? It’s silly. She’s way out of my league,”
“Have you like spoken to her at once?”
“No I haven’t. What’s there to talk about, anyway?”
“Hmm, I don’t know. Anything?”
“Well, I can’t?”
“Of course, you should initiate a conversation first!”
“I don’t know, what if there’s no common denominator between us?”
“At least say hi? You see, "The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step." And that’s according to a Chinese philosopher named Confucius! Aha, I listen to my World Lit class after all,”
“It’s Lao Tzu, you dumbass.”
“Well, whatever, if you still haven’t spoken to her then, do it now! At least make yourself known first!” Kyungsoo looks confused for second. Chanmi stands up and grabs Kyungsoo’s wrist. He drags him to the cashier.
They were behind the two, who were now waiting for their order. She gestures for Kyungsoo to approach Soojung.
“I-uhm? E-ex-excuse me?” He utters, but it came out just like small noise. No one looked back.
Kyungsoo’s looking embarrassed, his eyes grew twice as bigger and Chanmi suddenly feels bad for the smaller. “Say it louder,” She mouths and prompts him to try again.
“Excuse me,” He tries again, this time in a moderate voice. But no one still dared to look back. His cheeks were blushing furiously and he already turned his back and go back to his seat when Chanmi stopped him to it.
“One last time!” She persuades, with an encouraging look on her face.
He heaves a deep breath, mustering all his courage and ((dignity)) left.
“Excuse me!”
It must’ve been a few decibels higher because Soojung did look, including the barista.
Kyungsoo’s eyes widen and literally froze on the stop. Chanmi elbows him before he realizes that Soojung was looking at him expectantly “I-uhm. Jung Soojung, right?”
Soojung nods, face still, expressionless.
“I’m-I’m.. in your Music Theory class. Do…Do.. Kyungsoo.”
With a half-smile, she bows at Kyungsoo. Chanmi once again elbows him. She was about turn around when he stopped her to it.
“I-um- Wait,”
“I just need to tell you something.. I-uhm. No,”
“We-we have a test tomorrow in class?” Soojung looks at her expectantly, face still void of any expression. The tension in Kyungsoo’s heart is increasing and he feels like he needs to say something. Just… anything….
“Uhm.. study well?”
Way to go, Kyungsoo.
There was a pregnant pause.
Chanmi bit his lower lip to stop herself from laughing.
“Uh, thanks?”
“Well… I will get going then,” He bows. “Have a nice day,”
And later, when they were situated again on their seats.
“How thoughtful of you to remind her about your test,”
“Oh god, I hope you rot in hell. It’s all your fault.” He buries his face on his palms.
“Don’t you think it’s a progress?”
“Oh my god, shut up,”
Kyungsoo really asks himself what he had gotten himself into.
★
When Chanmi wakes up that day, she immediately thought of a clear goal in mind. It came to her abruptly-like a bulb suddenly lighting up and there goes her ‘aha!’ moment.
Chanmi’s actually been thinking of this for a while now because Kyungsoo seems like a really nice guy and she really wants to help him somehow. And she’s caused him enough shame. So she needs to make up for it.
So in the past few days, she researched using tons of books and magazines. And in those materials that she had read, she had actually devised a really clear plan.
She tear one page of her notebook and started listing the things that she had researched. She posted the paper above her headboard, so that she’d be reminded of it every day. She smiles proudly, looking accomplished with her own made plan.
She’d have to act on it later.
Do Kyungsoo’s Guide To Success
1. Pick-up Lines
2. Makeover!!!!! >___<
3. Boosted Confidence
When Chanmi drags him somewhere, he didn’t expect it to be a cozy restaurant near the station. Viva Polo, as what she calls it is actually owned by her mother. And Chanmi, Kyungsoo notices, looked so proud while leading him to the place. There’s a big and proud smile etched on her face.
“Let’s change our strategy! What if you try being her secret admirer!” Chanmi suggests when they’re comfortably seated in a secluded place in the restaurant.
“Try sending her some pick- up lines? According to my research 90% of the guys who resort to pick-up lines gets rejected. But hey, don’t lose hope, okay. There’s still the 10% who succeeds so let’s just hope you would be a part of that 10%.”
“So here, let’s practice. Assume I’m Soojung, okay? You have my number right? Text me! I suggest you use emoticons. Women dig that!”
From Kyungsoo
To Chanmi
Hey??? Soojung?????
From Chanmi
To Kyungsoo
Who is this please?
From Kyungsoo
To Chanmi
Your secret admirer (ﾉ´ヮ´)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧
From Kyungsoo
To Chanmi
Soojung??? Do you know that you’re like a dictionary?
From Kyungsoo
To Chanmi
Because you add meaning to my life. (づ￣ ³￣)づ
“What the hell, Kyungsoo. Where did you even find this?” Chanmi chokes on her food when she receives the last text that he just sent. She reaches for the glass water of across hers.
“On google?”
“That won’t do! This is too boring!” She complains, lips pouting like a child.
“Come here, download this app called PickUpLines4U on App store!”
“No. The last time I did as told, I ended up making fun of myself. No.”
“Hey, are you really underestimating me? The last person who I told to use that immediately got himself a date! It works, okay? Trust me on this, will you?”
“Fine,”
LATER AT CLASS
From 009964740404
To Soojung
soojung?
From 009964740404
To Soojung
hey?
From 009964740404
To Soojung
are you an orphanage?
From 009964740404
To Soojung
ask me why come on
From 009964740404
To Soojung
‘cause i wanna give you kids °˖ ✧◝(○ ヮ ○)◜✧˖ °
From Soojung
To 009964740404
whos dis?
From 009964740404
To Soojung
ur admirer ⊙ω⊙
From 009964740404
To Soojung
hey is your dad a drug dealer?
From Soojung
To 009964740404
what are u saying!!!! fuck u
From 009964740404
To Soojung
‘cause youre so dope ⊙▽⊙
From 009964740404
To Soojung
i know im a guy but i wanna be alice
From 009964740404
To Soojung
‘cause your body’s a wonderland ʘ‿ʘ
“Hey, Kyungsoo?” Baekhyun starts as he sits on their usual seat at the cafeteria.
“Have you heard of the latest? You know Jung Soojung right? Our classmate in Music Theory! She’s been bitchin all day.”
“Huh? Why?”
“Rumor says her phone was bombarded with weird ass messages. And she’s pissed as hell. She’s been looking for the sender. They said she’s planning to blacklist him or sth.”
“Hey are you fine?”
“Wait, Kyungsoo!”
“Hey! Where are you going?”
“I’m off to buy a new phone!”
★
“Excuse me but are you a frequent attendee of funerals?! Your wardrobe’s all black.” Chanmi says unamusingly as she goes over Kyungsoo’s closet.
Kyungsoo doesn’t know how Chanmi ended up going inside his room and rummaging through his closet. But he thinks it’s that part when she insisted on giving him a ‘make over’ and saying that this is the next step after the first two attempts failed dramatically.
He wonders why he still allows her to supposedly help him. It already seems like a bad omen, that this will not lead to anything good because all he experienced was shame in reference to the two times Chanmi ‘helped’ him.
“I just don’t see the need of buying colorful clothes. And unlike other people, there are just guys who look good no matter what they wear,” He deadpans.
“You know what they say about clothes telling you how you are as a person. And yep, I totally get it,” She snorts. “Oh my god, Kyungsoo, they’re awful! I can’t stand rummaging through your closet for potential date outfits!” Chanmi fusses.
“Stop overreacting. Those are fine.” He replies nonchalantly.
“No, we need to go shopping! Come on,”
“Get dressed now. I’ll wait for you at the living room,”
Certainly, shopping for Chanmi involves having to point out all the things that she deems cute and having to gush over it like small child. Despite of her tall height, she still acts like a kid and drags Kyungsoo around the mall to ‘look’ at stuff and actually laugh at things she finds amazing.
It’s pretty silly to look at them, Chanmi pulling Kyungsoo into places, like the mall is their huge playground. Deep inside, Kyungsoo thinks, Isn’t he the one who should be prioritized today? Why is he being dragged around like a luggage?
The two of them sight a Pororo mascot in front of a toy store and Kyungsoo stood frozen on his spot. Chanmi, on the other hand, is so delighted that her face literally is lighting up. She was grinning from ear to ear, fully showing her full set of teeth.
What Chanmi does next surprises Kyungsoo. She dashes towards the mascot, waving at it, being all friendly. While Kyungsoo still stands, as if rooted on the ground.
She yells Kyungsoo’s name, asking him to come over so that they can take a picture with the mascot. The people were looking expectantly at him. He literally facepalms himself.
Just when he thought he’s done with all the embarrassment… Here’s another one..
He scurries over Chanmi and stood in between the mascot and her. The photographer signals them to smile and get ready but Kyungsoo can’t bring himself to smile. Not when he’s about to take a picture with a mascot. God, just how old is he?
Chanmi nudges him, putting her two index fingers at the side of her lips, asking him to smile. He tries to smile, but with all the people watching them… he just can’t. So when the photographer signals them for another picture, he keeps his poker face.
A few minutes after, the photographer gives them a copy of the picture and Chanmi had probably rolled on the floor laughing because it turns out, Kyungsoo had kept his face void of any emotions while the mascot put on a peace sign above his head.
Well… How funny.
She squats in the middle of the mall, face buried in her thighs. Passersby look at her like she’s insane.
“Woah! Kyungsoo, I’m tired! I think it’s time to stop now,” Kyungsoo jogs to go to her, eyebrows scrunched in confusion.
“What, you’re giving up now? Haven’t you realized that you dragged me into this?” He asks, voice laced with confusion and annoyance.
She cranes her neck upwards, looking at Kyungsoo who now stood in front of her. “I think you’ve bought enough clothes with the stripes pattern. Did you also realize that they’re all stripes but just bought from different brands?”
“I think it’s better than what you’ve been trying to let me fit. All those supreme hoodies..” He retaliates.
“They’re top fashion okay,”
“Whatever you say. Let’s just eat first,” He extends his arm to her, prompting her to take it and just stand up. She took Kyungsoo’s hand, allowing herself to be pulled up by him.
“Are you going to treat me? Wow, Kyungsoo, I know deep inside, you like me,” She coos but Kyungsoo looks at her with his usual poker face.
“No, buy your own food. Come on,” He turned around, leaving her standing. She immediately strides to go after him, screaming hey don’t leave me here.
“Woah! Kyungsoo!” Chanmi shrieks as she stares into the screen. The screen shows six digits, possibly thrice as high as what the other people had reached before. She turns to Kyungsoo who is watching beside her.She steps closer and envelops him to a bone crushing hug. Kyungsoo’s eyes widen for a second because he can feel something soft pressing into his chest. Chanmi may be thin but her bust size isn’t… And…. Kyungsoo….
“Look at that! I got the highest score!” She points her finger to the screen, which is showing the image of a female guitarist with a text that says You Rock!
“What an achievement.” He voices out, trying to sound not too tensed. She entangles herself from him and Kyungsoo thanks the heavens for making her realize that it isn’t normal to hug a guy because….
“Wow, thanks for your enthusiasm!” She jokes. “Hey, it’s your turn. Don’t you want to play guitar hero?”
“Nah,”
“Don’t tell me you chickened out after seeing me play,” She challenges.
“Hell no. But- I challenge you to that game!” Kyungsoo points out to the arcade game where one chances on getting the stuffed toy inside.
“Challenge accepted,”
After a minutes of bickering and ten minutes of full concentration, Kyungsoo got an Anpanman stuffed toy. He raises his two arms up in the air, arms up in victory. He waves the stuffed toy in front of Chanmi, as if mocking her. But Chanmi only stares at him, looking unamused.
A few hours after, the two decided to head home. It has been a really exhausting day, with what the two had done. They’re in front of the station, about to separate ways but something had been bugging Chanmi. But then, Kyungsoo has been moving really fast, already turning his back on her, after saying a brief goodbye.
“Kyungsoo-“ She calls out, when Kyungsoo had turned around. He looks back, face full of confusion. “I-thank you for this,” She raises the Anpanman that Kyungsoo had secretly slipped on her backpack.
Instead of his usual poker face, Kyungsoo’s lips move upwards and form a smile. “It’s nothing,”
Chanmi gets startled because it’s actually the first time Kyungsoo had smiled at her like that. He usually frowns, growls, snorts at her but not smile. And as if acting on an impulse, she crosses the distance between them and marches to him.
She closes her eyes, leans down on him, there’s a pretty good 10-cm-difference, and presses her lips to his.
It was the softest lips she could ever imagine.
Finally thinking of what she did, she moved away from him quickly, eyes enlarging like the size of saucers. They both touch their lips. Palms covering their lips.
“I-bye,” She runs off to the other direction, without even looking at him. In a second, she’s gone.
Kyungsoo stares out of nowhere, still flabbergasted at what she did.
Well… It was his first.
He stood there, for what seemed like forever, heart fluttering, stomach tied in knots. Is it normal to feel this way?
He doesn’t know.
He really doesn’t know.
Oh sweet Jesus, Kyungsoo’s in a crisis-because he cannot explain why his heart was racing. He cannot explain why he’s suddenly feeling out of breath and is in a daze.
He thinks he will not sleep well tonight.
Because a pair of sweet and soft lips will haunt him all night.
★
It’s already the eighth of November, days passing by in a blur with exams and quizzes. And it would be a lie if Kyungsoo says that he had not once thought of Chanmi’s soft lips. The lips that had once touched his, the lips that he didn’t think he’d ever dream of kissing again.
It’s been a month since he last saw Chanmi. He’d like to convince himself that she’s not hiding from him but how can he not notice her when she’s 184 centimeters tall? When she passes by in the hallway, she would look down, turn away and not meet him in the eyes. She would walk away, like he’s a plague to be avoided.
And every time she looks away, a fraction of him gets disappointed.
However, one day, during lunch, she walks towards their table, without a smile on her face. And it bothers him that he might partially be the reason why she’s like that. She looks… dejected.
“Hi,” He greets but Chanmi only smiles weakly in return. Baekhyun looks up from his food and also greets Chanmi but scrunches his eyebrows in confusion when Chanmi just nods at him. Something’s definitely wrong.
“So I heard this from Jongdae but there’ll be a ball three weeks from now. And I think it’s the perfect time for you to ask Soojung on a date.”
“Huh?”
“It’s… important. You know what, grow some balls. Be confident, ok? If you want Soojung to like you, you have to like yourself first.”
He frowns, unable to believe that Chanmi uttered those words. Because in the few months that he’s known her… there’s always playfulness in her words and tone. And it’s rare that she speaks seriously to him. Even Baekhyun, who is sitting next to Kyungsoo felt the tension in the air so he tries to ease the atmosphere.
“Wow, an expert now, Chanmi?”
Silence.
Baekhyun laughs awkwardly. He elbows Kyungsoo in his ribs, gesturing him to say something.
He gapes at her, waiting for her to say anything. She realized that she’s making the atmosphere even weirder because of her actions.
“Let me take you out tonight. In front of the station. At 7 pm. Our last meeting, maybe?” And before she turns her back, she bids Baekhyun goodbye.
It turns out, the place that she had brought him was an artsy café just a few stops away from university. When they entered the café, what welcomed him were the murals on the walls and the instruments placed on an elevated stage.
The place was actually full; the people chattering, waiting for the live band to start playing. There’s a spot light focused on the stage. And there were four men setting up the stage.
When they entered, the man on the counter, who looks like he’s in his fifties, looked up from what he’s doing and smiled. Chanmi rushed to him, smiling happily.
“Dad! This is my friend, Kyungsoo!” He looks at him gladly.
Dad?
Kyungsoo bows at him and he does the same.
“Dad, let me borrow the stage after that band, okay?” Chanmi nods at Kyungsoo. “We’re gonna use that stage later, alright?”
“Huh?”
“We’re gonna put that voice into use. Baekhyun told me you sing so… you will sing tonight,” Her lips curve upwards.
Forty minutes later, the two found themselves in the stage. Chanmi found her place in front of the piano. While Kyungsoo sits on a stool, right in the middle.
“Good evening. We’re not exactly a band or anything… but. Please do lend your ears for us. Our first song is a rendition of EXO’s Baby Don’t Cry,” Kyungsoo glances one last time at Chanmi waiting for her cue. She nods and the melodious sound of the piano keys fill the air.
Kyungsoo’s smooth and velvety voice echoes throughout the place. He effortlessly sings, eyes closed, feeling every word that comes out of his mouth.
Unknown to Kyungsoo, Chanmi has actually heard him sing before, when Baekhyun let him hear one of their recordings in his phone but there’s something enchanting about how his voice sounded tonight. His singing was so heartfelt.
Chanmi finds herself staring at him lovingly. Her heart feels like it’s being squeezed. Her chest is full of a plethora of emotions and feelings and she feels like crying because this must be… love. She’s fell in it too deep.
She can’t help but think just how lucky Soojung is.
The song ended with a loud applause. Chanmi quickly scrambles out of the hair to move away but Kyungsoo’s caught her hand.
He eyes her directly in the eyes, with a weird longing reflected in it. “I think this is the best thing you’ve done for me, so far. Thank you, Chanmi,” He squeezes her hand.
Her eyes suddenly feel moist. It wasn’t really supposed to be this way. She wasn’t supposed to feel this but she did. Stupid feelings.
“But it’s my job,” She replies.
★
Chanmi thinks she’s so pathetic. Everyone must be thinking she’s no fun right now. While everyone was on the ball to celebrate the end of the semester, she’s in her room moping.
No, scratch that. She isn’t.
She’s also not thinking of Kyungsoo and his possible date proposal to Jung Soojung.
No.
Because she’s certainly enjoying her own company with Coldplay’s songs in the background.
She decided that it would be better if she didn’t attend the ball because it would just complicate her feelings. The feelings that she was surprised to discover. The feelings that she thought didn’t exist.
Kyungsoo may have snagged her date tonight, she will never know.
And she better get over it because she fucking wouldn’t probably even stand a chance.
There are many fishes in the sea, Chanmi. But how do you find a unique fish like Kyungsoo anywhere?
★
Baekhyun barges into her room without a care in the world. What’s with Baekhyun and him barging into rooms, anyway? Chanmi squints, reaches for her phone on the coffee table to check the time. 4:00 PM.
Well… She may have stayed up until 6 am watching Chick Flicks on tv. It’s a best way to nurse a broken heart, they say.
But why is he even here?
“Get up,” Baekhyun mumbles. “Kyungsoo has a date at 6.”
“And how does it concern me?” She croaks out.
“Are you an idiot? You like Kyungsoo, right? Snag him before some girl can.” He utters. Is he commanding her now?
“What are you even saying?” She denies. But she’s already went out of bed, standing in front of Baekhyun who replaced her in bed.
“Wow, you’re no fun. I know you want to.” She actually laughs at this because wow, he knows her real well.
“Tell me the place,”
She’s determined more than ever.
★
Chanmi didn’t even waste time in dressing up. She just went into the shower hastily, just put on some supreme hoodie and pants from the closet and left.
She arrived at the restaurant in less than thirty minutes. The restaurant actually looks luxurious but she didn’t care if she didn’t fit in with what she’s wearing. She looks around, looking for a certain red haired girl with a brunette but she can’t see her anywhere. She just spots Kyungsoo alone, wearing a suit and tie.
Where’s she?
She strode towards his table, not caring even if people were looking at her weirdly.
“Kyungsoo? What are you doing there? Why are you alone?” Kyungsoo’s eyes meet hers.
“I guess, I got dumped?”
“What?”
“She said I’m an idiot.”
“Huh? Why? Didn’t she agree to date you?”
“She said I’m an idiot for going on a date when I like someone else.”
“You do? You like someone else? Who?”
“I’m still not 100% percent sure if this is genuine or what but. What I’m certain is that there’s something different when I see her… a good kind of different. Just like right now. That’s all I can say,” He gazes at her lovingly, eyes softening while talking. She still isn’t sure if it’s just her or there’s something really different with Kyungsoo’s tone and gaze. Like it’s directed at her.
For the meantime, she would just stick to the idea that it is does directed at her.