𝓒𝒉𝒐

THE COLD CUP was sweating between your fingers while you slowly stirred the straw, too distracted for someone who was clearly the center of everything there, laughter mixing with loud voices, your phone buzzing with notifications popping up on the screen, the chatter of the ice cream shop, none of it held your attention.

until something did.

❝ that one over there, look ❞ — you heard one of your friends comment, and tilted your head toward where she was looking.

as soon as your eyes landed on "that one" over there, you quickly studied the boy.

quiet, with earbuds in, a small açaí bowl beside the stacks of books resting on the table, while he spun a mechanical pencil between his fingers, completely focused on some random question.

you turned your attention, or at least your gaze, back to your table.

❝ i've never seen him hook up with anyone, what a waste ❞ — one friend commented, letting out a dramatic laugh right after.

❝ soobin, right? impossible, he probably doesn't even know how to hold a conversation ❞

at that moment, the silence that fell over the table wasn't because the conversation had ended.

it was because every gaze turned toward the one person who kept the word "impossible" out of her vocabulary.

and that got your attention. your nails tapping against the cup as if you'd already made up your mind before any bet even existed.

❝ impossible? ❞ — you questioned, resting your hand against your chin while staring at the cup in front of you, letting out a quiet laugh.

❝ i bet you can't get anything going with him ❞ — a girl challenged, making you look at her with a competitive smile.

❝ how much? ❞ — you asked, knowing you could do it, and not about to miss the chance to profit from it.

❝ i'll put in 50 ❞

❝ i'll put in 100 ❞

❝ 250 bucks, but there has to be at least a little kiss ❞

❝ obviously ❞ — you shot back, almost offended by the painfully obvious condition.

you grabbed the stack of cash, only leaving it hidden beneath your phone.

❝ she's actually doing it ❞ — you heard a whisper.

❝ poor boy ❞ — another whispered, but there was no pity in her voice.

❝ pay attention, babes ❞ — you stood up without rushing, adjusting your miniskirt and fixing your hair, not even glancing at the little mirror someone offered you, you didn't need it.

you confidently walked to the boy's table, where he refused to take his eyes off his notebooks.

until he saw you casually sitting down beside him.

the boy panicked, dropping his mechanical pencil in a sudden movement while lifting his eyes to the feminine figure approaching him.

you smiled sweetly, already knowing the damage you were about to do.

❝ soobin, right? ❞ — you tossed your hair over one shoulder, calm, while crossing your legs, making your skirt ride up just enough to reveal the glowing skin of your thighs.

❝ did i scare you? sorry about that. ❞ — you apologized while bending down to pick up the pencil.

❝ y-yeah... yeah, that's right! soobin, that's my name, nice to meet you! ❞ — he blurted out, rushed and desperate, as if he was afraid of dragging things out too long and waking up from whatever dream he was having.

you laughed, amused, leaning a little closer, just enough to make him look directly at your pink lips, still cold from the milkshake you'd been drinking.

❝ soobin... ❞ — you called out, drawing out his name, tilting your head and having even more fun when he unconsciously mirrored the movement.

❝ i got curious about something, what's a cute guy like you doing here all alone, buried in this ice cream shop? ❞

he swallowed hard, adjusting his glasses with his pinky finger as they slid down his nose, a consequence of the sweat that had started forming the moment you arrived.

❝ i-i... i'm studying! f-finals are coming up, right! ❞ — soobin answered, hating himself for not being able to form a sentence without stuttering, but it wasn't entirely his fault.

at least not only his.

not when the prettiest girl on campus, the number one girl at the university, was sitting there, talking to him, showing more of her thighs while looking at him, highlighting the curve of her chest through the neckline of her top.

all of it was driving soobin toward ruin, and you hadn't even started yet.

❝ hm, true... i think i'm going to need some help studying, i can't understand anything the professor says ❞ — a lie, a complete lie.

you weren't just a pretty face, you had a brain and used it well, you were popular not only because of your insane facecard, but because you were the student professors always used as an example when assigning academic projects.

❝ will you help me, soobin? ❞ — the boy was going to have a heart attack if he kept hearing you say his name in that drawn-out, sweet tone.

❝ i will! i'll help, absolutely, for sure, just tell me the day and i'll come by your dorm ❞ — the boy blushed, feeling the weight of his own words hit him.

❝ o-or you could come to mine, or w-we could meet at the library... or something ❞

you laughed, finding his desperate need to explain himself adorable.

❝ come to my dorm, if you want, tomorrow even. ❞ — you watched the boy slowly lose the ability to breathe, getting even more nervous.

you were having fun, you knew that if you wanted to, you could kiss him right now. but you wanted to stretch things out a little longer, wanted to see how far he'd go under your spell.

❝ my girls are waiting for me at the table, but honestly, i don't want to go back there right now. ❞

❝ no? ❞

❝ no, i don't ❞ — he stared at you in disbelief, as if he couldn't believe everything you'd just said.

❝ i want to spend more time with you, soobin... do you want to spend more time with me? ❞ — you suggested, leaning a little more in his direction.

❝ of course! ❞ — he wasn't stupid, he knew a chance like that didn't come around often.

you decided to speed things up a little, not just to get the money, no.

but because that closeness, that desperate devotion soobin seemed to have for you, made you curious about him.

❝ do you have a girlfriend, soobin? ❞ — you slid your hand down his arm, which despite being slim, showed some definition.

❝ n-no, i don't ❞ — he kept getting redder and redder, and nearly jumped off the stool when he felt your sharp nails brush against his bicep.

❝ then i guess i'm lucky ❞ — you looked at him, maintaining eye contact that only broke when his gaze dropped to your lips.and you noticed, of course you noticed.

❝ l-lucky? ❞ — he couldn't stop staring at your full lips.

❝ yeah, lucky... you're so handsome, you're smart, it must be hard finding a girl who doesn't want something with you. ❞

and it really was, but his lack of experience made many girls give up before even starting a conversation.

you, however, never gave up on anything, and loved teaching boys like him, loved leave them polished and ready for whoever came next.

❝ o-oh, come on... i'm not all that ❞ — he kept staring at your mouth.

❝ do you want to kiss me, soo? ❞ — you laid your cards on the table, using a silly nickname you'd come up with on the spot.

❝ you can't stop looking at my lips, do you want to kiss me? ❞

he looked back at you, into your eyes, almost trembling with desperation, because he really, really wanted to.

❝ i'll let you, come on, kiss me ❞ — you grabbed the collar of the beige shirt he was wearing, making him gasp instinctively, he'd never gotten this far before.

❝ i-i don't know... i d-don't ❞

you simply smiled, leaning even closer, until you casually rested one leg over his thigh.

❝ i don't care, i want to be your first, i'll help you, now kiss me, please, soo ❞

you took one of the boy's cold hands, guiding it directly to your waist, pressing it there, only stopping when you realized he was squeezing on his own.

you leaned in slightly and left a brief kiss at the corner of his mouth.

lifting your eyes to watch his glasses fog up.you tugged gently on his collar, bringing him closer, just to press your lips against his calmly.

at first, soobin froze, only gripping your waist with all his strength, as if channeling all his nerves into it.

but when you slightly parted your lips and pulled back for air, he missed the contact, and on impulse, pulled you back, resting a hand against the back of your neck and bringing you close again.

you were surprised, pleasantly, and took the chance to wrap your arms around his neck, anchoring yourself there.

when you asked for entrance by pressing your tongue lightly against his lips, you almost jumped when you felt him part them and let his tongue brush against yours, sending a pleasant spark through you as you tasted the sweet flavor of the açaí he'd been eating.

he started holding the back of your neck more firmly, while matching your movements and leaving you dizzy with a kiss that somehow wasn't being led by you anymore.

when you finally pulled apart from lack of air, the mess he was in only made you want to kiss him again.

his flushed face, swollen lips, crooked glasses.

you looked similar, your hair slightly messy from soobin's grip.

you smiled, instinctively fixing your hair while glancing toward your friends, who were completely ecstatic over what had just happened.

he lifted his hand from your waist to the table, looking at you as though you were an angel who might disappear at any second.

you stood up, leaning down just enough to leave him a little message in his ear.

❝ tomorrow, my dorm, 6:00 PM ❞ and left a damp kiss just below his ear, feeling him shiver right after.

you walked back to your table, sitting down casually and picking up your milkshake, which somehow seemed colder than before, or maybe you were just warmer.

❝ girl... you're my fucking idol! ❞

you simply smiled, sipping from your straw while looking at them.

THE APARTMENT was quiet in a comfortable way, filled only by the low sound of the television and the clinking of the glass in your hand.

on your phone screen, another edit. and another, and another.

and another one.

Hwang Hyunjin in slow motion leaving a fashion show in Paris like it had been engineered in a lab specifically to destroy the female public’s sanity.

black coat slipping off his shoulders, tired gaze, rings shining on his fingers while he fixed his hair.

in the comments, a collective apocalypse:

“HE KNOWS THE EFFECT HE HAS”

“this man ruined my life”

“I would let him step on me”

you let out a small laugh through your nose, resting your chin on your hand, the worst part was that you understood them, you really did.

Hyunjin was handsome in an irritating way.

almost unfair.

the kind of man that seemed to always exist under cinematic lighting, even in shaky airport videos.

the annoying part was that he was a handsome man, and he knew it.

the pop-up notification appeared on the screen, making you leave TikTok and open WhatsApp:

babe 🧡

i’m here, princess!

you took another sip of wine while waiting, less than two minutes later, the door code was typed from outside, and then he walked in.

the suitcase bumped lightly against the wall as it was dropped near the entrance.

Hyunjin looked exhausted.loose black hoodie. mask pulled down to his chin. messy travel hair. heavy sleepy eyes.

and still… beautiful, absurdly beautiful.

his eyes found you in the kitchen almost instantly, as if automatically searching.

❝ you didn’t even come to greet me? ❞ — his voice came out low, hoarse from the trip.you slowly lifted your phone.

❝ i was busy watching this mess ❞

he narrowed his eyes immediately.

❝ oh no ❞ you laughed.

❝ Hyunjin, this girl said you two are spiritually married ❞ — you started reading the comments out loud, getting closer to him.

❝ good for her ❞

❝ this one called you daddy! ❞

Hyunjin let out a tired sigh, walking slowly toward you.

❝ babe ❞ — he squeezed your waist.

❝ hm? ❞

❝ put that phone down ❞

his calm tone didn’t fool anyone, you knew him too well.Hyunjin stopped in front of you, sliding his hands slowly over your waist while you were still holding your unlocked phone showing his edits.his fingers gently pressed the fabric of your shirt.

❝ i spent the whole day hearing people scream my name ❞ — he murmured, leaning his face closer to yours. — ❝ and then i get home and you’re ignoring me because of me. ❞

you bit back a smile, sooo dramatic.

❝ poor k-pop sex symbol, it must be so hard being pretty. ❞ — you pouted dramatically. he finally let out a short nasal laugh.

❝ you think it’s funny until someone tries to steal your boyfriend. ❞ — he started drawing small invisible circles on your waist

.❝ no one’s gonna steal you. ❞ — you didn’t even really look at him, you knew exactly what you meant, you were sure.

❝ i know ❞ — he answered softly.

since you started dating, even with his wish, you never wanted to appear publicly with him, because you didn’t want to lose your peace.

even though close friends said it would work as “protection” for your relationship, you didn’t care.

the whole world could want him to the point of madness, but at the end of the night, it was you wearing his shirt with nothing but underwear underneath.

it was you holding a glass of wine while he buried his face in your neck, tired from the trip.

Hyunjin snatched the phone from your hand without warning.

❝ hey! ❞ — you pouted, watching the smile grow on his face.

❝ enough of my edits for today. ❞

❝ jealous of your own fandom? ❞ — you raised an eyebrow.

❝ i miss you. ❞ the answer came out so simple it made your chest tighten a little, he dropped the phone on the sofa without even looking where it landed, going back to holding your waist right after.

❝ come here ❞ — he murmured, pulling you toward the bedroom.

HE OBVIOUSLY doesn't want to be there, but what can he do?

wonwoo had no choice when mingyu and woozi, his roommates, practically dragged him to a freshman party that was going to take place in a fraternity near the sorority they shared

the poor guy was persuaded to supposedly keep company with 'gyu, who would be watching since woozi would be in the company of a random hookup

having a good samaritan spirit would still kill him

wonwoo didn't take long to realize that the worst part wasn't even coming, it was not knowing what to do after arriving

mingyu had already disappeared into the crowd in less than ten minutes, with the excuse of “going to stop to wet his throat"

and woozi... well, woozi had other priorities very clear when he pulled his little keeper into one of the rooms

So he stood there, standing, with a glass in his hand that he took, thinking it was water, but after taking a sip he discovered it was vodka, leaning close to one of the walls, looking around as if he was waiting for the mothership to come back and pick him up.

until you entered his field of vision, well, you kind of invaded

❝ hey! wonwoo, who would have thought that I would find you here? ❞ — you got closer, looking up until you found the face that was now starting to take on a shade of pink

You didn't know it yet, but one of the persuasion tricks used by the boys was to say that: “the little slut from pharmacy class would be there” a rather stupid nickname they gave you since they didn't know your name, much less matter

They knew well that wonwoo had been watching you for days, and they also knew that he would never have the courage to approach you

So they opted for the obvious: taking a big chance that one of the hottest girls on campus would be at the first party of the semester, and they were right!

❝ hi... ❞ — he mumbled, very quietly, almost crushing the paper cup he was holding

❝ I thought you weren't much of a party person... I'm apparently wrong, right? ❞ — you chuckled

❝ n-no, I don't c-like parties, I came with my friends! ❞ — he was quick to correct you, as if the simple fact that you were “wrong” was an offense to him

and you realized, you clearly knew that the boy was a pathetic little nerd, but he enchanted you, and more than a charm, it drove you crazy

You loved it when they were like that, totally given over to you, acting like you were a goddess who had just come down from Olympia, damn, you loved that attention

❝ I know ❞ — you replied, taking another step closer as if you were a wolf approaching its prey — ❝ and they let you go, right? ❞

He opened his mouth to deny it, but he couldn't.

❝… kind of yes ❞

you made a forced pout, “sad” about wonwoo’s situation

❝ cruel ❞ — you tilted your face a little, looking at him better, without any rush

wonwoo looked away first, obviously

❝ are you drinking pure vodka? ❞

❝ I-I thought it was water ❞

❝ my god ❞ — you laughed, really having fun with the situation — ❝ you’re so bimbo ❞

❝ I'm not a bimbo ❞ — he tried to steady his eyes that were reflected by his glasses, but he ended up looking even cuter

❝ you just drank vodka thinking it was water ❞

❝… it was a one-off error ❞

You laughed again, closer now, enough for him to “accidentally” smell your perfume.

❝ relax ❞ — you said, taking the glass from his hand — ❝ this would knock you down in two sips ❞

❝ I'm not weak ❞

❝ I didn't even say that, wonwoo ❞

You put the glass aside and looked at him again in that way that made big boys like him feel small, which only made his situation worse, because he knew

❝ so... you've been watching me for days and you weren't going to talk to me? ❞ — started drawing invisible circles on the polo shirt he was wearing

He froze, both from the unexpected touch and from being caught in the act.

❝ I don’t— ❞

❝ it’s okay ❞ — you cut off, laughing quietly — ❝ I thought it was cute ❞

❝ I wasn't— ❞

❝ yes, why are you trying to lie to me, woo? ❞ — you tilted your head again, disguising your cynicism with the cheap seduction that worked perfectly

❝ I just… ❞

❝ alone? ❞ — you raised your bright eyes — ❝ I don’t bite, no ❞ — she replied, laughing

he didn't finish, there was no way it could end with you getting a little closer, leaning your body slightly towards him, as if you were sharing a secret

❝ you suck at lying ❞

❝ I'm not lying ❞

❝ wonwoo ❞ — you said his name slowly, almost testing it again — ❝ you blush very easily ❞

he exhaled through his nose, defeated

❝ I'm not staying ❞

❝ oh, yes ❞ — she was so amused by his attempts to deny the obvious situation

❝ I’m not staying ❞

❝ it's getting now ❞

he ran his hand over the back of his neck, clearly not knowing what to do with you so close, calm, petulant, insistent….

..fragrant, beautiful, delicious…

You just looked at him a little longer, as if expecting a rejection, and then you slid your fingers over his hand, cynically

❝ come here ❞ — she didn’t pull at once, she just started walking and let him follow

And obviously, he went, followed you like a fucking puppy on a leash, a little behind at first, trying to understand if it was really happening, until he got close enough to you

❝ I don’t dance ❞ — he murmured, almost hiding behind you

❝ it's okay ❞ — you didn't even look back this time, you just slowed down until you stopped, turning to face him — ❝ you don't need to know ❞

the tropical beats started to vibrate, and [won’t bite] by doja cat started playing, it was just the perfect soundtrack

his hand was still in yours when you adjusted it slightly, moving a little closer, wonwoo stayed still for a second, he didn't even try to move

You started to move first, very lightly, just enough to set a rhythm, and he followed, a little late, a little awkwardly, without realizing that he was staring at your cleavage.

❝ it's already good ❞ — you commented, almost distracted — ❝ but it can get better, right? ❞

you took the other hand that was lost in the air, held it tight as if you were warming it up, and brought it directly to your waist

wonwoo gasped instantly, he wasn't prepared to immediately feel the softness of the part that the small top didn't cover, the skin-to-skin sensation made him squint his eyes

it really was pathetic

this helped more than any encouragement

he tried again, a little less stuck, letting his body follow along easier

you got a little closer, enough to guide without needing to speak, your hand running up his arm to his shoulder, firm, calm

❝ woo, look at me ❞ — you caught the boy's attention, who was lost staring at the cleavage you wore, analyzing a small drop of sweat that dripped down the valley of your nipples

He obeyed promptly, looking at you now a little braver

❝ am I doing it right? ❞ — he leaned over a little to be at your height, almost chewing the words

You laughed, feeling the boy shiver when he heard your giggle.

❝ yes, you are doing it right ❞

He sighed in relief, it would even be comical if you weren't focused on the bulge that was now growing in his pants

You couldn't help it, you had already had a few, he was definitely your type, and he was still drying your breasts with the biggest face?

you were horny, and it wasn't even an accident when you turned to him, starting to roll lightly on the phallus that was now present, he almost screamed, he still couldn't believe that you were really into him

❝ I-I don't even know how to dance facing you, imagine this ❞ — the poor guy was still worried about dancing, fearing that greater contact would make the volume evident, but you had already seen it a long time ago

❝ so don't dance, woo, let me dance for you ❞ — and so you shut him up immediately, only feeling the grip on your waist get stronger he was so glued to you that it was ridiculous to expect you not to notice the pressure on your ass, fuck, you were too thirsty

but you knew that if you took any hasty action, it would scare him, and you didn't want that, at all.

then you began to burn that fuse slowly, relying on the movements of your hips to try to send him a message you swayed calmly, sometimes following the music, sometimes inventing your own rhythm, after all, you didn't care about any shit anymore you leaned over more than necessary, giving him a privileged view of your round ass covered by a super tight denim skirt — ❝ shit… ❞ — you heard him curse, feeling proud of yourself continued to dance, now passing his hand over the arms that held you, now scratching the skin of your abdomen covered by the fabric

When the song ended, you slowly turned to him, observing the hot mess he had become in those 3 minutes.

his glasses were fogged up, his mouth was half open, his face was sweaty, you could have sworn he was even shaking and that scene only worsened the state of your panties, making you wrap your arms around his neck, waiting for a response

❝ y-you're beautiful... f-fuckin' beautiful ❞ — he managed to say through sighs, and you squeezed your legs, trying to alleviate some of the pleasant heat that was spreading

❝ am I? ❞ — you ran your hands down the collar of his shirt — ❝ so you’re not going to complain about that ❞ — and pulled him, pressing your lips together at a speed that would have scared him, but he was as needy as you, so you just allowed yourself to feel that moment

you controlled the kiss, scratching the back of his neck, while you felt his strong hands mark your waist more, he asked for passage with his tongue, in an attitude that surprised you, and you allowed it, aggressively, clicking tooth with tooth, but what would normally bother you, only increased your desire

❝ come.. with me ❞ — you managed to murmur amidst the lewd kiss, pulling him by the collar towards one of the bathrooms in the house

He followed you, without taking his hand off your waist or his eyes off your ass, only paying attention when you asked him to lock the bathroom door.

❝ I'm so soft that I wouldn't be able to walk up the stairs ❞ — she justified, as she pressed her mouth to his again

He just murmured something that you didn't pay attention to, moving his possessive hands down to the soft curve of your butt, risking a tight squeeze on one of the sides.you moaned against the kiss, feeling your panties getting ruined.

his kiss made you crazy, partly because it was so fucking good, partly because it tasted like the vodka he had drunk earlier

❝ hot ❞ — he spat, feeling you leave little bites on his marked jaw

You just continued your work, leaving wet kisses all over his neck, and going straight down to the waistband of his pants, staring at him.

❝ I need to prove it to you, woo ❞ — you started to unbutton your pants, feeling the light weight of the boy's hand, who wasn't sure if he could hold your hair or not

❝ you're going to finish me... my god ❞ — he whispered, leaning his head against the door, only feeling his hands going down the pants he was wearing

You stared at the white underwear he was wearing, the small spot of lubrication that had formed making you hungry, you left a little kiss there, hearing wonwoo's panting reverberate through the room

You quickly pulled down your underwear, feeling the long member practically jumping towards you, the pink head spewing excitement was your downfall, you could only think about what it would be like to have it inside you

It didn't take long for you to start jacking off the man, feeling the grip on your hair getting stronger, you kept stimulating him from the base to the tip, you wanted to know how much he could handle just the heat from the palm of your hand

he couldn't take much longer, wonwoo wasn't used to having special attention in that area other than his own hand, so it didn't take long for him to let out drawn out moans, asking you to put him in your mouth soon

❝ [name], please ❞ — he moaned softly

you laughed, releasing a hot breath against the cock that was starting to get more and more rigid.

He decided to end the little torture, slowly putting him in his mouth, just fitting his little head into the wet cavity that made him roll his eyes.

❝ g-good… it’s m-very good.. ❞

that praise only encouraged you to finish swallowing the member, returning after drooling the entire length and taking it out of your mouth, putting it away quickly

He began to make movements with his hands, massaging the heavy balls while licking the small slit on the head of the pink cock, before swallowing the phallus completely.

wonwoo was on cloud nine, he didn't know how to control himself, he moaned your name so sweetly that it made you moan too, vibrating around him

like that, it didn't take long for him to feel the first spasms, showing that he was going to cum, you held his strong thighs while you felt him reach your throat, and he began to have a clouded mind, shaking and almost falling with so much stimulation.

❝ I-I'm going to cum, I'm going to ❞ — he didn't even have time to take his dick out of your mouth, he exploded beforehand, and he still saw you swallowing it all, running your finger over what dripped out and licking it, looking at him in a totally provocative way

His breathing began to normalize as you went up and he pulled you in for another kiss, being able to taste him on your tongue.

He moved away just to watch her, almost drunk with devotion.

THE RAIN hammered against the café window in uneven waves, turning the entire street into a gray-and-gold blur of headlights reflecting off the wet pavement.

you were late. again.

your apron was tied crooked around your waist, a coffee stain slowly spreading across the sleeve of your hoodie, and your hair was pinned up so badly that a few strands had already completely given up on staying in your makeshift bun.

❝ god, i'm gonna lose my mind ❞ — you muttered to yourself while trying to balance three cups on a small tray.

the coffee grinder was making noise, the espresso machine was making noise, two people were complaining about the wi-fi, someone had spilled sugar all over the counter, and, to make things even better, your shoelace was untied.

perfect.

you quickly crouched down to fix it and ended up smacking your head against the counter in the process.

❝ ow, shit! ❞ — you cursed, quickly rubbing the small red mark forming on your forehead.

❝ lovely language first thing in the morning ❞ — he remarked, and you'd heard that voice so many times by now that you knew exactly who it was.

leaning near the entrance, holding a black umbrella dripping water onto the café floor, joshua watched you with that expression that was far too calm for someone who had clearly just walked through an entire storm outside.

the dark overcoat made him look ridiculously handsome.

❝ you always show up at the worst possible moment ❞ — you complained, standing back up.

he walked over to the counter without any hurry, a wide grin already spreading across his face.

❝ i think i show up at the best ones ❞ — you automatically rolled your eyes, wiping your hand on your apron.

❝ the usual? ❞

❝ mhm ❞ — he rested his arms on the counter. — ❝ and one of those awful cookies ❞

❝ you come here every day just to talk shit about my cookies. ❞ — you pouted.

❝ but i'm here every day, aren't i? ❞ — he sat down on one of the stools near the counter.

❝ that doesn't make your case any better ❞

❝ it does. it means i'm loyal ❞

you fought back a laugh.

while making his coffee, you could feel his gaze following your movements from the other side of the counter. shua looked at you as if he noticed things nobody else ever did, the way you bit the corner of your lip when you were concentrating, the different rings on each finger, the chipped nail polish, the fact that you always tapped your fingers against the coffee machine whenever you got nervous.

❝ here ❞ — you slid the cup toward him.

❝ did you get your eyebrows done? they look beautiful ❞ — he commented casually before taking a sip of his coffee, and your brain immediately shut down.

❝ what? ❞ — you blinked slowly, wanting to make sure you'd heard him correctly.

❝ you look beautiful ❞ — he repeated, as if it were the most normal thing in the world. — ❝ it suits you. ❞

you opened your mouth, then closed it.

opened it again, but no words came out.

because no one had ever said something like that before, people always complimented you in a superficial way:

“cute”, “pretty”, “funny”

but that felt like he was actually seeing you, and, damn it, you never knew how to react when you realized someone was truly seeing you.

hong took another sip of his coffee while you remained standing there like a statue, and the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

❝ it's funny when you get flustered ❞

❝ i'm not flustered, i'm just waiting for you to pay ❞ — you snapped back to reality and started “cleaning” the counter with a random cloth lying nearby.

❝ sure ❞ — he replied sarcastically, setting the cup down on the counter.

❝ get out of here before i throw this coffee at you. ❞

❝ feisty. i like it. ❞ — he stood up, grabbing his cookie before finally walking over to the table by the window.

you watched as he sat there, calm as ever, absentmindedly holding the warm cup while the rain continued to fall outside.

and then you realized it.

you'd finally noticed how much lighter you felt, how you always found yourself counting down the minutes when it got close to the time he usually arrived, how you came home happy, and, somehow, looking forward to work, just so you could see him again.

you quickly looked away, pretending to organize the napkins on the counter, trying to chase those thoughts away, but the small smile lingering at the corner of your lips stayed there anyway.