pride and pcy

“Fuck.” Jiho swears when he sees his graded exam with a bright red 47 on it.  

He passes you and glances back curiously. He rolls his eyes when he sees the green 93 on yours. 

“Fucking nerd.” He mutters lowly to himself. He sighs when he reunites with his friends at their seats. “What’d you guys get?” 

Hyoseob shows his 74 and Kyungsoo his 72.  

“You guys did so well. The fuck?” Jiho swears, stealing their papers to compare answers.  

“Not well enough. I can’t let my GPA sink any further than it already has.” Kyungsoo leans back, bored. He studied his ass off for this exam. A 72 wasn’t going to cut it. 

“You see her?” Jiho nudges his head in your direction. Kyungsoo follows his line of vision and sees you. You have your hair up in a messy bun, tortoise framed glasses and a Batman shirt that looked a bit too big for you.  

“Yeah?” Kyungsoo doesn’t steer away from looking at you. You were chewing on the end of your pen. A dinosaur pen.  

“She got a 93.” Jiho says with pure malice.  

Kyungsoo’s eyes widen in surprise, but not really. You looked smart. Kyungsoo studies you a bit longer, watching you frown profusely at your paper. Surely you weren’t anxious about your grade. You were staring down your paper like it had personally offended you. He chuckles to himself. It’s somewhat admirable to see you stress over a 93. 

“I swear, people like her have it so easy. So painfully awkward and weird they don’t have a social life to distract them.” Jiho spews out unsolicited insults. Kyungsoo’s used to it at this point. His friend has never been the one to shut up, even when he has something awful to say. 

“She’s kinda cute.” His head tilts when you push your glasses up the bridge of your nose with the chewed up dino pen. There was a weird charm to you that prevented Kyungsoo from looking away. You type something on your laptop and reveal your Jurassic Park wallpaper. Kyungsoo chuckles to himself.  

“You think every girl is cute. But I promise you. There is no getting through to this one. I bet she won’t even notice you’re flirting with her if you tried.” Jiho says as if he was challenging his friend.  

“I don’t think you’re giving Kyungsoo enough credit.” Hyoseob chimes in. “If he can bag that shy library girl, I’m willing to bet a hundred he can hook up with miss dino over there.” 

Kyungsoo can’t help but chuckle at his friend. Hyoseob hadn’t returned a book in time and instead of paying the fee, he sent Kyungsoo to return the book for him, knowing how charming his friend could be. Kyungsoo didn’t mind. Mina was pretty and he liked pretty girls. 

“Alright, a hundred if he manages to do it before the semester ends. What do you say Kyungsoo?” Jiho’s criminally obnoxious smirk appears on his face.  

“What am I getting exactly?”  

“Our two hundred bucks if you can pull it off.” 

“Alright.” Kyungsoo shrugs.  

Easy money. 

-------- 

Class ends and Kyungsoo quickly gets up from his seat to catch up with you, papers and pen still in hand. He watches as you hide your highlighters and pens into your Jurassic World pencil case. A smile creeps up on his face unknowingly. Cute. 

He finally reaches you, backpack slung over his shoulder. You don’t notice him right away, grabbing your own backpack filled with superhero enamel pins. Both Marvel and DC. You didn’t discriminate. Kyungsoo has to clear his throat to get your attention. 

Your face lifts at the sound. Your eyes widen in surprise and confusion. Apprehensive, you check around you to make sure he was looking at you. 

“Hi!” Kyungsoo greets you first. “I loved Battinson.” 

He points at your shirt and you follow his finger, darting your eyes down at your chest. It makes you pull your backpack closer to you nervously. You’re cute and squirmy. Like a baby deer. You had the eyes for it too. 

“Ok?” You say back in a confused tone. You’re so wary, so cautious. Kyungsoo catches your eyes shift to the papers in his hand. And it’s as if something clicks in you that you’ve found the confidence to assert yourself. 

“I’m sorry. I don’t tutor.” You apologize as soon as you see his grade and continue to pack your bag once you’ve come to the conclusion that he was here to ask you for academic help. 

“What? No. I’m Kyungsoo.” He introduces himself with his most genuine smile. It’s as if there is no bet in place and he is purely interested in being your friend. 

It’s not as convincing as Kyungsoo thought. 

“Yeah, I know.” You get up and try to move around him.  

Kyungsoo’s taken aback. 

“Sorry?” He steps aside to stop you. Why were you being so difficult?  

He can’t hear them but he knows Jiho and Hyoseob are giggling behind him. 

“Nevermind. I can’t help you with whatever you need.” You say, avoiding eye contact with him – the false confidence evidently gone. He can see you a lot closer now. Your bun was being held by a batman hair tie, flyaways all around your head. Your skin was close to perfect. Your lips were a bit chapped, and he could tell you pick at them. You were rough around the edges but overall pretty. Kyungsoo likes pretty. 

“Wait, I’m sorry if I’ve offended you. I just thought you were pretty. And I was hoping we could be friends.” He apologizes, lowering his face to get you to look at him. He watches you hesitate, sucking in a cheek. He does his best to put on a nervous looking smile to get you to pity him. 

You release a big exhale, accepting defeat. 

“I’m Y/N.” You introduce yourself, eyes still darting behind him towards the exit. 

“Hi Y/N. It’s a pleasure meeting you.” He extends an arm out for you. 

You suck in your bottom lip nervously. You push your glasses up and rearrange the book in your arm to shake his hand.  

You take the deepest breath.  

“Likewise.”  

Kyungsoo’s smile widens. 

-------- 

If Kyungsoo knows anything about nerds, they love being ahead of everyone. 

Kyungsoo arrives for ASTRO101 half an hour early for class. As predicted, he smirks when he sees you there, already waiting on the floor to be let in, laptop sitting cozily on your thighs. He slides beside you effortlessly.  

“Hi, Y/N.” Kyungsoo laughs when you jump in surprise. 

“Kyungsoo, you scared me.” You have your hand on your chest to ease your racing heart. He doesn’t mean to but he glances down anyways to find you’re wearing a very fitting superman graphic tee with a loose white dress shirt on top.  

You can’t be real.  

“Sorry, that wasn’t my intention. Love what you’re wearing by the way. Very Clark Kent of you.” Kyungsoo says, pointing up and down your body. This makes you blush and has you stuttering like a mess. So you do know when you’re being flirted with. 

“What do you need Kyungsoo?” You manage to ask, your focus not budging from your work, though Kyungsoo can tell you’re still nervous. He’ll take it you’re a bit interested. 

“You know when you said you already knew who I was. What’d you mean?” He asks and you didn’t think he would bring that up by the surprise look on your face. 

“You’ve been to my house before.” You inform him as if that’s supposed to help Kyungsoo figure it out. If anything, he’s a lot more confused now. You sigh, seeing his puzzled expression. 

“My brother is Park Chanyeol.” 

Oh. 

Kyungsoo’s $200 flashes before his eyes.  

Though, he’ll never hear the end of it from Hyoseob and Jiho. 

“Chanyeol. Giant, party thrower, team captain of the basketball team Chanyeol and does jiu-jitsu as a hobby?” Kyungsoo asks, a little dumbfounded, his jaw slack.  

You scoff. “That’s the one.”  

“Huh.” Kyungsoo checks you one last time and it suddenly clicks how similar you two look. Although you’re not carbon copies, you definitely have similar features. It doesn’t explain how he doesn’t remember you though. 

“So we’ve... met... through him?” Kyungsoo asks carefully as not to offend you. 

It’s too late. You’re already grunting in frustration. Annoyed with him, you shut your laptop and pack it in your bag so you could get away from him. 

“Wait, wait, wait!” Kyungsoo’s a lot quicker than you are though, anticipating your moves before you even know it. He reaches for your wrist and feels how soft your skin is. He lets go like it burns him. “I keep offending you. I’m really sorry. High school was a long time ago.” 

“We met last year.” The frown on your face is so cute like a kid pretending to be mad at him, but he gets the idea that you’ll crack with a simple smile. 

“Yeah, that’s a long time ago, sweetheart.” He does just that, smiling charmingly into your good graces. You do break as he predicted. It’s cute to see your lips purse in annoyance. Your face was betraying you, wanting to smile too. 

“You... asked me where the washroom was.” You mumble shyly because although he can’t hear your thoughts, without a doubt, now that you’re saying it out loud, it sounds ridiculous that he’d remember that. Kyungso doesn’t laugh at you. Instead, he holds a hand to his chest.  

“Please forgive me for ever forgetting such a beautiful encounter and of course, such a beautiful woman. I promise I won’t ever make that mistake again.” 

Kyungsoo crosses his heart comically, grinning ear to ear when he sees you purse your lips to an eventual smile. 

“I guess it is silly...” 

“Do you think we can start over and be friends?” He looks at you expectantly.  

He knows he has you exactly where he wants you when you nod shyly. 

-------- 

It takes a bit of convincing - what doesn’t when it comes to you, but Kyungsoo gets you to study with him. But I’m not tutoring you. You write your own notes. You had told him with a not-so threatening pointed finger.  

Your guard was very much up. You weren’t making it easy to get to know but at least you let him study with you. 

Kyungsoo sneaks glances at you when he pretends to study. He doesn’t understand the material. Studying you was far more entertaining. He was going to get ai to summarize it for him anyways. 

“So, we went to the same high school.” Kyungsoo breaks the silence to which you hum in response. “Crazy we never met... Other than that one time.” 

“Did you finish reading the chapter?” You don’t lift your face to look at him. 

“No.” 

“Why’d you ask me to study if you’re just going to talk?” You frown at him, spinning your pen around your fingers.  

“Because I want to be your friend.” Kyungsoo says simply, not breaking contact with you when you try to avoid his stare. 

“Why?” You ask for the nth time. Was it that hard to believe he would approach you? Yes, he was doing this for a bet, but that didn’t mean he didn’t find you pretty and interesting. 

“You seem fun. You dress up as superheroes and like dinosaurs. What’s not to be curious there?” It’s easy for Kyungsoo to find a reason because he’s not lying. You had that weird charm to you. 

“I was like this in high school too.” 

“And I was like this too. You didn’t approach me then either.” Kyungsoo argues. “I wanna get to know you now. Let me.” 

“It’s just hard to believe that you want to get to know me. You’re just so... popular.” You cringe at the word popular and Kyungsoo does too. He never liked being called that. It sounded so forced and awkward. 

“I just like making friends. Your brother is the same, you know.” Kyungsoo lightly pokes your side with a pencil.  

“Yeah, I know.” You say, a bit annoyed. Not really. There’s a small hint of a smile at the corner of your lips that you try to hide with a big sigh.  

“What’d I say this time?” He teases you. “Is it your brother? Do we not like your brother?” 

You laugh a bit too loudly for the library, earning a few stares from the other students trying to study. “No, I like Chanyeol. He’s a nice brother.” 

“Then why the long face?”  Kyungsoo taps your chin with the same pencil to your annoyance. He likes to see you get annoyed with me. It’s a nice change of pace from Jiho who ragebaits him for a living. 

“Nothin’, still in disbelief that you want to be my friend too.” You shrug and return to your textbook. 

Kyungsoo doesn’t say anything, choosing to stay quiet. He lets you study a bit longer before bothering you half an hour later to get pizza. 

Because that’s what friends do. 

-------- 

Sometime between classes, studying with you and walking you home, Kyungsoo finds out you’ve never driven stick. 

“You want a Miata? You have to learn how to drive manual.” Kyungsoo throws you the keys to his car. You almost fumble them. He laughs at you. 

“But I don’t get it. Yeol has a TSX. He didn’t want to teach you?” Kyungsoo lets you get comfortable in the front seat while he waits for you with the door open. His smile grows when you grin and rub your hands across the wheel of his SI.  

“No, he says I drive recklessly.” You look up at him with a small, devious smile.  

Kyungsoo’s breath stops. 

Maybe it’s the way you bite your lip anticipating his lesson or maybe it’s the way you’ve fully let your guard down that makes his stomach flip.  

Seeing you smile cutely like this. In his direction…  

Nevermind that. He has to shake the image out of his mind.  

He bends down and points at the pedals. “This is the clutch. Make sure to release it slowly when you’re shifting. Act like the pedals are eggs, okay? Don’t hurry it.” 

He makes the mistake of looking up to see if you’re listening. He’s met with your face filled of curiosity - brows brought together in complete concentration. He’s suddenly made aware of how close he is to you. How you’re wearing a well-fitted Spider-man tee and denim capris. How you smell like vanilla. How you surprisingly have a fresh pedicure.  

He clears his throat and stands up.  

“I’ll, uh, show you the gears.” 

He shuts the door and runs his hand through his hair. He exhales and hopes you aren’t looking at him as he walks to the other side.  

“Nervous Do Kyungsoo?” You push your glasses up with the cheekiest smile on. 

Kyungsoo scoffs at how cocky you pretend to be in the driver’s seat of his car. But he learns that you’re actually nervous by the way you tuck your hair behind your ears. 

“Relax, we’re just driving around the lot.” He chuckles as he sits down. He explains how to shift the gears and you nod along. Kyungsoo has to force himself to focus when you purse your lips and keep pushing those damn glasses up. Can’t you get them adjusted? 

“K, think I got it.” That’s the last warning you give before you start driving. 

Kyungsoo barely has his seatbelt on, panicking over nothing when he realizes you’re… not stalling? 

“The fuck?” Kyungsoo laughs at how ridiculously easily you catch on. It seems you’re as gifted driving as you are academically. You shift so seamlessly. “Let’s go on the main road.” 

“What?!” You try to look at him but he quickly pushes your cheek to focus on the parking lot. 

“Yeah, yeah! Let’s get some ice cream. You can do it.” He leans over and takes the wheel to gently turn the wheel in the direction of the main road.  

“You’re crazy.” You laugh nervously but Kyungsoo has full confidence in you. 

“I trust you. Come on, let’s go.” Kyungsoo says with the widest smile. 

“Stay in this lane.” Kyungsoo sees how tightly you’re gripping the stick, knuckles slowly turning paler. His first instinct is to place his hand on yours. He feels you soften under his touch. 

“Relax.” He reassures you, helping you shift the gears. “You’re doing really good. Are you sure you didn’t secretly take Yeol’s car for a joy ride?” 

He tries to make you laugh to break the tension in your body. You chuckle a bit solemnly to yourself.  

“No, but I did play a lot of racing games at the arcade.” You say, never once leaving your focus off the road. Only shifting your eyes to check your blind spots. 

“Oh, like on dates?”  

“Uh… Not exactly. I used to play there a lot on my own. When our parents would be gone on business trips and Chanyeol threw parties, I would go often.” You reveal a bit too casually.  

“With friends?” Kyungsoo regrets his question the second he sees you wince. 

“By myself.” 

He knew you weren’t from the coolest of crowds. He didn’t realize you didn’t have friends either. His gaze softens looking at you. 

He imagines you in the same Spider-man shirt but it’s a lot looser, your hair was probably in the same ponytail and you probably sported a lot nerdier glasses. He imagines a lonely you leaving your own home to find solace at the arcade. It pains his heart to imagine how lonely you must have been. 

“Please don’t look at me like that.” You must have caught a glimpse of the solemn look on his face.  

He can’t shake the image of a sweet and geeky you playing racing games on your own.  

“Like what?” 

“Like I’m some stray cat. I’m okay. And it’s not Chanyeol’s fault either. He’s just a lot different than I am. He tried to keep me home where he could watch me, but sometimes I just couldn’t… Not with those… people.” 

He squeezes your hand comfortingly. His heart warms up when he sees a smile seep onto your face. 

“I’m sorry you went through that. I wish I had known you then.” Kyungsoo’s face saddens once again. This time, out of guilt. It never occurred to him other people were going through a much different high school experience than he did. 

“Me too.” You say, creating a pregnant silence. 

“Turn here.” Kyungsoo points at the rundown ice cream shop, disturbing the moment. 

You park with ease. In reverse too.  

You’re just full of surprises for Kyungsoo.  

“It’s really okay, Kyungsoo. I know it’s sad I didn’t have any friends growing up but I did have Chanyeol when it did count. He took care of me the best way he could. I promise my life isn’t as sad as it sounds.” It’s your turn to reassure him because clearly, he was taking it a lot harder than you were.  

“You’re paying and driving back by the way.” Your tone is lighthearted again. Then you flash him a little smile. 

“Of course.” He follows right behind you, unable to hide the silly grin appearing on his face. 

-------- 

Kyungsoo finds himself texting you nonstop, arguing with you on whether or not Iron Man really was the only one who could’ve done the snap. He completely forgets that Jiho is next to him on the couch waiting for him to finish texting so they could proceed to play the next round. 

Jiho’s jaw tightens in annoyance when Kyungsoo has the audacity to chuckle to himself. He wants to wipe off that shit-eating grin off his face. 

“She cannot be that funny.” Jiho has a bored look on his face. 

Kyungsoo barely looks up from his phone, typing the rest of his text and pressing send. 

“Sorry.” He apologizes, picking up the controller as if Jiho didn’t just wait 15 minutes for him to be ready.  

Jiho doesn’t take the apology lightly.  

“This is like the third time she’s texting. What’s with her? It’s been a month. Why are you guys still hanging out? Are you having trouble sleeping with her?” 

“So many questions.” Kyungsoo raises an eyebrow at his friend who looks annoyed. Jiho was never one to be patient. Kyungsoo knows this. He grew up with Jiho. Yet, he has no clue why he’s being so rude right now. “She’s actually really sweet and funny. I want you guys to meet her.” 

Jiho stares at him, analyzing his friend who is so smitten by a seemingly ordinary girl with a weird obsession with dinosaurs. 

“What is this? Are you falling for her?” He narrows his eyes at him. “She’s a bet.” 

“She’s not a bet. I don’t care about the bet anymore. It was stupid.” Kyungsoo sighs and rolls his eyes. It stopped being a bet the second you let him in your life and became his actual friend. It was no longer a game when he found himself genuinely having fun hanging out with you. He looked forward to watching random youtube videos in a parking lot with you while you munched on fries. Sure, he’d have to convince you to drive his car, but he always paid for the snacks.  

He didn’t know when it happened. The tiny crush he had on you. He figures it was around the same time he started looking forward to the astronomy study sessions with you. Kyungsoo hates astronomy. 

Somehow and someway you had claimed a spot in his heart. 

“She doesn’t find it weird that you randomly came up to her one day?” Jiho asks, putting the controller down, finding this new turn of events interesting. He never pegged Kyungsoo the type to get with a geek. He was always around cheerleaders, prom queens, conventionally women. “What are you gonna do when she finds out?” 

“She’s not going to find out.” Kyungsoo frowns. “Why do you care so much?” 

“I care about my friend making the mistake of dating a geek like her. She’s a lost cause. Won’t even know you’re into her.” Jiho’s tone is a lot more vicious and spiteful than anything Kyungsoo has ever heard before.  

It does not sit well with Kyungsoo.  

“What the fuck is wrong with you? She’s a human being with actual feelings and interests. This isn’t high school anymore. Stop being so weird about this. The bet was stupid and juvenile and she’s never going to find out about it.”  

Sometime between the fit of rage, Kyungsoo had gotten up and is now looking down at Jiho with a pure look of disgust. Jiho stares up in disbelief that his friend would defend a girl like you this hard. It’s rare to get him speechless like this because Kyungsoo has never yelled at him. Never in their decade long friendship. 

Kyungsoo sighs, he could stay mad at him all day but he’s been friends with Jiho for as long as he can remember. He hates it when they fight. On the rare occasion that they do, Kyungsoo always forgives Jiho. 

“Look, I’m sorry I’ve been distracted but she really is a nice girl. I’ll bring her to the pub next Saturday night and you guys could meet her. Okay?” His voice softens for his longtime friend who’s doing his best to stand his ground.  

But Jiho breaks too, finding it hard to stay mad at Kyungsoo. He agrees to meet you reluctantly. 

Jiho was curious now. He wanted to see what magic you were pulling to get his best friend so smitten and protective over you. 

-------- 

The next day Kyungsoo finds himself studying for the midterm with you in your family’s dining room. Your parents weren’t home for yet another business trip and Chanyeol’s whereabouts were unknown to him. He was alone in a house with you. And for the first time, he was feeling nervous to be alone with a woman. 

“Do you need some water?” You ask, concerned. He must not be acting as calm as he thought he was. Or maybe you were just being a considerate host. 

“Yes, please.” Kyungsoo smiles when you get up to get him a glass. 

“Thank you.” He says as you place it down for him. It’s new to him. The racing of his heart. He’s here to study, yet he can’t even think to read his textbook, distracted by you and your crooked glasses on your head. 

“You’re very welcome.” You beam, taking a seat right next to him to continue studying. He watches you plug in your right earphone, letting the other hang loose on the table. You still use wired earphones cause you swear it sounds better when you do. Kyungsoo rests the side of his head on his knuckles, elbow on the table, and just, looks at you.  

Who was he joking? He was never going to get any work done with you. Not when you left an ear open for him in case he has any questions.  

Studying you was distracting. He swears he can study your little quirks all day. 

Like how you use your glasses as a headband when you really want to force yourself to read the material. Or the fact that you’re literally swimming in a broken and oversized Miles Morales shirt, revealing the frustrating fact that your bra strap keeps falling off your shoulder. 

“Kyungsoo, did you get this part?” You point at a page in the textbook. It’s really sweet of you to think that he would understand a concept far better than you do but he tries anyway. He pulls the book closer to him and reads the excerpt for the first time. He reads it over and over again, actually. His frown deepens and he wonders if you think he’s an idiot by how long it’s taking him to understand. 

It’s all gibberish to him. Why would you ask him if he understood -   

It takes a second to register what just happened. His head is still resting on his hand. Your eyes are wide and hands are covering your mouth in complete shock with yourself. 

“Sorry!! I- You just- Your lips were-” You stutter after giving him the world’s record quickest peck on the lips.  

“Did you want to try that again?” Kyungsoo asks, watching your throat swallow nervously. Then you nod. You lean closer with a little more confidence this time, flickering your eyes to his for confirmation. He nods, giving you the go-ahead.  

Your lips softly press onto his and he lets you move your mouth the way you’re comfortable with. He doesn’t rush it, wanting to feel your lips massage his for as long as he can. You surprisingly swipe your tongue against his bottom lip, making Kyungsoo moan slightly and finally drop his arm on the table. He uses the other to cup the nape of your neck, deepening the kiss.  

His body leans closer into yours, feeling your body against his. He can smell the vanilla on your skin, making him groan against your lips. It was driving him insane. 

“Do you want to go upstairs?” You ask breathily, lips tickling his as he chases after them. They were already tingling at the loss of you. 

Kyungsoo almost instantly caves when he looks at your now swollen lips and crooked glasses on your head. He’s never seen you in like this before: wanting him. And God, did he want you too. 

But he wants to do this right. You deserve to have this done right. 

“I want to.” Kyungsoo says a bit reluctantly. 

“But?” You sense his hesitation. It’s absolutely killing him the way you look disappointed and hurt.  

“But I want to take you out on a date first. A proper one.” He explains, hoping this makes that look disappear. 

“A date?” You frown like you’ve never heard that word before. 

“Yeah, a date.” Kyungsoo affirms. 

“I’ve never been on a date before.” You say, more to yourself, like you’re trying to convince yourself that this was happening. “With me?” 

“Yes, with you. Will you go on a date with me?” Kyungsoo laughs at your pure innocence. God, you’re so good, so nice, so everything to him. 

“Okay.” 

The stars don’t shine; they burn. Yet here you were, with your smile shining brightly at him. 

-------- 

The date starts off strong with Kyungsoo coming up to your door with a bouquet of yellow flowers wrapped in black paper.  

He’s about to knock on your door when you open it almost instantly. You look shocked like you weren’t expecting him. 

Kyungsoo’s jaw drops at the sight of you. 

You had a leather jacket on with a tank top and a midi skirt. Your hair was down with your hair pushed back by a headband. You had curled your ends. Your glasses were a metal frame instead of the tortoise ones he was used to.  

You were painfully and beautifully you. 

“Sorry, I didn’t know you were here. I don’t think I got a text?” You check your phone, expression a bit worried. Kyungsoo has to place a hand on your shoulder to calm you down. 

“Relax. I was going to come to your door like a gentleman. These are for you.” He extends an arm out for you. That’s when you finally notice the bouquet and blank.  

You stare at him then back at the flowers.  

“I- You didn’t have to.” You say timidly, smiling at the flowers so preciously. Kyungsoo would give you another bouquet for a chance to see that smile on your face again.  

“I wanted to.” 

“Yellow and black for Batman?” You bite your lip and give him a kiss on the cheek, making Kyungsoo blush. “I love them. Thank you.” 

You quickly place the flowers inside your home. 

“Okay, I’m ready.” You tuck your hair behind your ear. Kyungsoo chuckles at your excitement before taking your hand to escort you to his car.  

He only lets go to open the door to your surprise. You look uncomfortable as if no one has ever done this for you before.  

“You really don’t have to.” 

“It’s your first date. I want it to be memorable.” 

You blush, quickly sitting down to hide your face behind the door but Kyungsoo catches it nonetheless. 

The first spot he brings you to is a trendy brunch spot in the city where he learns that you are a bottomless pit and you can eat three pancakes on your own within 15 minutes. He then surprises you with a trip to a thrift store with an extensive comic book section where you browsed the endless piles, going through the comics one by one.  

He had checked on reddit for recommendations and found this store. He’s happy to see that he made the right call and brought you here instead of an actual comic book store. He almost laughs aloud at how concentrated you look. He loves seeing your brows furrowed. He rarely gets to see your hair down so watching strands fall down your face sent Kyungsoo’s heart fluttering. You just looked so effortlessly pretty. 

Kyungsoo doesn’t really read comics but he browses all the same, showing you every cool cover he sees.  

“This one’s cool. Doc Ock Wins?” Kyungsoo pulls out the comic to show you and is taken aback when your eyes widen in surprise. You rush to his side immediately. Your vanilla perfume hits his nose and he melts. His hand unconsciously settles on your hip while you grab the comic from his hold.  

Kyungsoo’s head tilts as you examine the colourful paper. He chuckles when a cheeky grin appears like you’re an evil mastermind about to unveil your super evil plans. 

“What? Is it valuable?” He laughs, hand rubbing up and down your side. 

You push your glasses up in the nerdy way Kyungsoo loves so much.  

“This is a 1967 issue in near mint condition. You can get this appraised and it could go for hundreds. And you just picked it out of the hundreds of comics here.” You explain, handing it back to him. “It’s a really good find.” 

“Oh shit.” Kyungsoo looks down at the comic in his hands. It didn’t seem fair to find such a gem as someone who didn’t appreciate them the way you did. “I’ll get it for you.” 

“What? No, you keep it. You found it. It’ll be a good investment. I can show you reputable grading companies if you’d like.” You shake your head, pushing it back to his chest.  

“We came here for you. This is yours.” He tries to sway you, pulling you in closer by the waist. “Take it.” 

You purse your lips, trying to stop yourself from showing how happy he just made you.  

“Are you sure?”  

“Seeing you smile like this, why wouldn’t I be sure?” His hand reaches your cheek, rubbing your thumb mindlessly.  

You beam, wrapping your arms around his neck to pull him down for a quick kiss.  

“Thank you, Kyungsoo.” You look up at him with glossy eyes. “For always being so nice to me.” 

Kyungsoo’s melts at the sound of your small voice. It makes him sad to think not everyone has been kind to you the way you deserved. You were often overlooked, even by him. He was seeing you now. He won’t make that same mistake again. 

-------- 

“It’ll just be a sec! I want my friends to meet you!” Kyungsoo says excitedly as if he was trying to convince you to be excited with him. But you couldn’t share that sentiment with him. You knew the kind of people he hung out with. And Kyungsoo knew that too.  

Just how he did with you, he wanted you to give them a second chance to get to know them. 

And just like the sweetheart you are, you comply, holding his hand tightly and holding your breath as you walk into the pub. 

You come to a halt when you see the familiar faces from high school.  

“They’re not as scary as they look. And if they do say anything weird, I’ll be there, okay?” Kyungsoo rubs his thumb on your hand. He hopes it’s enough to reassure you. He really wants to show his friends that you were sweet and funny. You weren’t just that weird girl in class who was weirdly obsessed with dinosaurs and superheroes. That you were the girl he was slowly falling for. 

“Guys, this is Y/N. Y/N, these are my friends Hyoseob and Jiho.” Kyungsoo’s hand is rubbing your lower back reassuringly. You introduce yourself perfectly in his eyes. Hyoseob shook your hand as the normal one of the two. Jiho, on the other hand, has some odd vendetta towards you and doesn’t reach to shake your hand, only nodding in your direction to acknowledge you.  

At least that was something. It was a start.  

“Did you guys order already?” You ask as you slide into the booth. You were trying to make conversation to Kyungsoo’s delight. He knew how nervous you were yet here you were, being considerate and polite for his sake.  

“We got some nachos for the table.” Hyoseob, fortunately, responds to you, reciprocating your politeness. “You’re welcome to share with us.” 

“I think I’ll take you up on that offer. Thank you, Hyoseob.” You smile, closing the menu and setting it on the table.  

“So how was the date? Kyungsoo wouldn’t stop talking about it all week.” Hyoseob continues. 

Kyungsoo smiles when you reply with excitement and a blush, excitingly showing them the new comic Kyungsoo got you. He knew he could count on Hyoseob to be friendly. The two of you continued to bounce off each other, quickly getting comfortable enough to joke around with each other.  

Jiho was on the quieter side. Nothing Kyungsoo wasn’t used to. It took his multi-layered friend time to get to know. 

It didn’t mean he wouldn’t try. 

“Did you ever finish that build?” Jiho randomly asks when there was a pause between you and Hyoseob’s conversation. Kyungsoo has no idea what he’s referring to. 

“Build?” Kyungsoo turns to you for explanation. You don’t seem fazed by it. 

“I did! I didn’t think you’d remember me.” You reveal a bit more, leaving Kyungsoo a lot more confused. Jiho always held some weird resentment towards you. He thought that stemmed from some deep insecurity of his to hate on people smarter than him. Maybe he was wrong. “I used to go to Jiho’s dad’s shop a lot to get the parts for my computer. They always had good discounts.” 

Well, that’s news to Kyungsoo. Having you surprise him was nothing special. Having you know Jiho even back in high school, that was news.  

“Oh, I didn’t know you guys knew each other back then too.” 

That’s when Kyungsoo feels you freeze beside him.  

“Uh, yeah. Jiho used to be really nice to me.” You share apprehensively as if you knew you were about to shift the mood. 

Jiho scoffs and takes a sip of his beer. The waiter brings the nachos to the table, interrupting the moment. Kyungsoo would probably have to ask you about this later to fill in the blanks.  

Whatever it is, you continue to be the pleasant person you’ve been since you got here. You tuck in your hair behind your ears. Kyungsoo sucks on his bottom lip, reaches for your hand, and squeezes it reassuringly. He hopes it’s enough to get through this night. He didn’t think you would have some weird history with Jiho. 

Something happened between you two in high school. Kyungsoo thinks you might have dated but that wouldn’t make sense. He knows of every girl Jiho has been with. Unless he was embarrassed to be with you. Maybe that’s what created the riff.  

Kyungsoo shakes his head. It didn’t add up. You seemed genuinely surprised to find out he remembered you. People who date don’t forget one another. 

“My dad really wanted to help you build an inexpensive pc.” Jiho suddenly mutters like he’s too embarrassed to admit it.  

“How is he? I hope he’s doing well. I really appreciate everything he did for me.” A small smile appears on your face, remembering Jiho’s father’s kindness. Then you turn to Kyungsoo with a glint in your eyes, excited to share a little glimpse of your teenage life. “He used to order parts he wouldn’t stock just so I can buy it from him.” 

He remembers how you were alone for a large part of your teenage life. They must have been the few who showed you grace and kindness. He wonders what went wrong that Jiho would feel comfortable badmouthing you. 

“He’s okay. He’s been threatening to retire soon.” Jiho, for the first time tonight, actually laughs and you giggle with him like this was some inside joke.  

“He’s always saying that.” You give Kyungsoo context, being the considerate person that you are.  

You don’t seem nervous anymore. He can tell by the way you lean into him and rest your head on his shoulder. He’s learning that every time you feel comfortable, you initiate contact. Kyungsoo smiles down at the image of how cozy you look under him. He can finally feel himself relax knowing you’re okay with his friends. 

The night goes on. Hyoseob and Jiho order another pint for the table, eventually getting to the point of sloppy, tipsy drunk. They try to get you to play darts with them, but they soon realize you’re a bit too coordinated and gifted in games. You win against them easily. Sometime in the night, they end up at the pool table for a 2v2 where you’re shooting all the solids for Kyungsoo. Jiho whines while Hyoseob cheers you on.  

Kyungsoo is at bliss knowing that you fit right in. 

“I’m gonna to the bathroom real quick.” Kyungsoo places a hand on your lower back to let you know. You smile at him, holding the cue upright, and reply with a short and sweet “okay”. 

The moment Kyungsoo enters the restrooms, he’s hit with an overwhelming feeling in his chest. He knew his friends would fall for her as hard as he did. He can’t remember the last time he introduced a girl to his friends and it going this smoothly.  

And Kyungsoo has introduced his friends to many women.  

He can’t contain the smile on his face. You’ve made him so happy this past month.  

He wants to bring you on so many other dates, bring you to all the places you never got the chance to visit as a teen. He wants to recreate memories with you and replace every single lonely one.  

Although you both come from very different childhoods, Kyungsoo finally feels that he’s met his match. Someone that will bring out the best in him even if he feels that he might not deserve you. He hopes he can do the same for you so you can show off that shiny bright personality of yours to the world. It deserves to get to know you too. 

Kyungsoo washes up quickly so he can be by your side as soon as possible. He walks out the doors with a stupid grin on his face. 

It slowly disappears when he notices how uncomfortable Hyoseob looks.  

“What’s wrong? Y/N beat you guys again?” Kyungsoo laughs lightheartedly.  

Hyoseob doesn’t answer, instead his eyes shift to Jiho. Kyungsoo frowns when Jiho avoids his stare. He follows Jiho’s line of vision to the door.  

He looks around. There’s a sudden drop in his stomach. 

“Where’s Y/N?”  

Jiho’s eyes flick to Kyungsoo’s by accident. He sees the guilt in his eyes. 

“What did you do?” Kyungsoo’s tone darkens, a lot graver and threatening.  

He grows angrier when Jiho stays silent.  

“I was gone for a minute. What did you do?” He asks one more time. 

“She was going to find out eventually.” Jiho mutters, barely reaching Kyungsoo’s ears to hear. But when it does, it’s loud. The volume of the chatter in the bar is becoming deafening.  

His breath hitches and that pit in his stomach grows tenfold. He can’t think about anything else but you. He grabs his keys and storms off. He can hear Hyoseob calling his name behind him. He doesn’t care. He can’t care when you’re out there thinking he lied to you. 

“Pick up, pick up, pick up.” He chants to himself, hoping you’d pick up the phone, be the understanding person that you are, and hear him out. It’s to his surprise that you do. 

“Y/N? Where are you?” Kyungsoo tries not to sound too frantic. 

He hears you take a deep breath. 

“Don’t call. Don’t text. When you see me in class, don’t even look at me. Fuck you, Do Kyungsoo.” 

You hang up abruptly, not even giving a chance for Kyungsoo to speak. 

He tries calling again, phone shaking in his hold. 

The number you have dialed is unavailable. 

chananyeol bong: if anyone has a copy of that oilblotter drabble :') pls send it my way. i think it about it a lot 🤕❤️‍🩹💔 this will have a second part (and maybe third - i can only hate myself for this lol) this was started when i was being moody from my period and it was hard to finish cause i was in my usual sunshine and rainbows mood after lol

on this segment of memes that made me think of this story:

non idol au, reader(dreamer) x exo polycule vibes, more implied to be with junmyeon but hooking up with most of them, constantly heavy teasing in public like public-public, indirectly edging sub!kyungsoo, tickling/nipple play, kinda cucking vibes but again dream logic so it was treated as casually as friendly touches if that makes sense, may update this section later if I remember anything else

also it kinda looked like the view mv, very spring break with a hot friend group fanfic vibes, I think..................... I'm not american idk anything abt spring break

such a weird dream but I can't say I didn't enjoy it... if like one person shows interest i'll write it, this blog is becoming my (sex dream) diary anyway