「 ✦ soupslvt ✦ 」

You were the first in the practice room. It was quiet, carrying in the stillness of the morning.

You’d shown up early as usual, but today, your freshly cut hair was brushing lightly against your jaw and your glasses were resting on your nose. It felt strange not having your usual ponytail and contacts but the freedom was nice.

You were stretching on the floor, scrolling through music on your phone, when you heard the door creak open.

Hyunjin stepped in, head down, drink in hand and tapping through something on his phone.

He looked up and froze.

“Oh sorry!” His hand was already reaching for the handle. “I think I walked into the wrong room.”

“Hyunjin? It’s me.”

His hand paused. He stared for what felt like forever before the confusion on his face melted into realization. “You cut your hair.” 

You nodded. “Yeah, figured it was time.”

He walked slowly back inside. His gaze drifted from your glasses to your newly chopped hair, then right to your eyes. He didn’t say anything at first. He just stared. 

Finally, he let out a breathy “Wow. You look... wow”

“I hope that’s a good ‘wow’” you smiled.

He nodded way too fast. “Yeah, totally. I mean, you look... different. But in a good way.”

He stepped backwards without looking and his heel caught on one of the floor markers. He stumbled, arms flailing to catch himself.

You jumped up to help, but he straightened quickly, cheeks turning red.

“I’m fine” he insisted, but immediately tripped over his own foot.

You rushed forward, grabbing his forearm to steady him. He went still, eyes darting to your face, lingering a little too long again.

He ran a hand through his hair, still flustered. “I just didn’t expect you to look like that this morning. The hair, the glasses...” his voice got quiet. “Seriously, I thought someone else was in here. I didn’t think I’d...”

You cut him off “Catch you falling over yourself?”

“Can we pretend that didn’t happen?” He groaned.

“Nope.” You laugh.

The way he was looking at you softened now that the shock was wearing off and it made you think the haircut had been a very good idea.

Before you could tease him some more, the door burst open.

“Hyunjin, did you...” Chan’s voice cut off when he spotted you. “Oh! New look?”

Felix slid in behind him. “Wait, what? Who...? Oh shit, that looks really good on you.”

The rest of Stray Kids and the dancers popping into frame, chiming in with comments, whistles and compliments.

Chan clapped his hands. “Alright, warm up! Let’s run the choreo from the top.”

Everyone took their positions. You moved to your usual spot, directly in Hyunjin’s view.

He glanced at you in the mirror once. Then twice. Then again, quickly looking away, embarrassed when you looked at him.

 “Five, six, seven, eight!” Lee Know yelled over the music.

Muscle memory was taking over, you got into the rhythm immediately.  Hyunjin did not.

In the mirror, you caught him glancing sideways at you, lips slightly parted, eyes unfocused with admiration. It didn’t match the strong and fast choreography at all. 

And then... THUD. The room froze.

Everyone’s eyes were locked on Hyunjin on the floor, knee down, palm planted, hair falling into his face.

“Hyunjin?” Chan blinked, confused and concerned.

Han walked over, suspicious. “No way. Did you just trip over your own feet?”

Lee Know throwing in “What happened? Did the floor offend you or something?”

Hyunjin coughed and pushed himself off the floor, trying to regain some dignity. “I’m fine. I just wasn’t paying attention.”

Felix followed Hyunjin’s gaze to the mirror. Then to you. Then back to Hyunjin.

Felix’s face lit up. “Ohhh! I see.” He said with a mischievous grin.

Hyunjin immediately turned bright red.

“Okay, you don’t get distracted. Like ever. The building could collapse and you’d keep dancing perfectly.” Chan declared, hands on his hips.

Han gasped dramatically. “Wait! It’s because of y/n, isn’t it? You’ve been staring at...”

“No I haven’t!” Hyunjin squeaked, cutting him off.

You covered your mouth to hide your laugh. “Hyunjin, you kinda have been and that’s totally fine.”

He looked like he wanted the floor to open up and swallow him whole.

Changbin patted Hyunjin’s shoulder. “It’s okay. I get it. Y/n is really pretty.”

“Changbin!” Hyunjin swiped his hand away, turning his face away from everyone.

Chan finally intervened. “Alright, alright. Reset from the top. Hyunjin, try not to eat the floor this time, yeah?”

Hyunjin groaned softly. As everyone got into position again, he stepped close to you, voice barely above a whisper. “You do look really pretty today.”

Your heart jumped. “Thank you.” You smiled sweetly at him.

He swallowed. “And I swear I’m not usually this clumsy.”

You laughed. “I know.”

He met your eyes through the mirror. And this time, when the music started again, he didn’t fall, but he did miss a beat or two because he was still smiling at your reflection.

His head turned to your reflection like a sunflower chasing sunlight and everyone noticed.

During a short break, the teasing picked up again. 

Seungmin smirked at Hyunjin. “Hyunjin, you good? Need glasses too? Might help you, you know... look forward.”

“Hyunjin’s in love. Hyunjin’s in loveeee.” Han added quietly.

Hyunjin nearly tripped again. “STOP.”

I.N fake squinted at the mirror. “Maybe he’s not looking at y/n. Maybe there’s a ghost behind her.”

Lee Know didn’t even look up from tying his shoe. “If that were the case, he wouldn’t be blushing. Ghosts aren’t that attractive.”

Hyunjin grumbled, absolutely done with them, and walked over to grab his drink. 

Everyone stopped teasing Hyunjin just long enough for practice to wrap up. Everyone was exhausted and ready for food, but the group had other plans.

You didn’t notice the glances, the whispering, the suspicious smirks, but Hyunjin noticed. “Oh no.” he muttered under his breath.

You turned to look at him. “What?” you asked, but he didn’t answer.

Instead, Chan clapped his hands loudly again. “Alright everyone! We’re heading to dinner.”

“Yeah, we’re starving.” Han added.

“Absolutely starving!” Felix said dramatically.

“Like death is near.” Changbin agreed with a nod.

You laughed. “Okay, let’s go!”

But then Chan grinned. His eyes darting from you to Hyunjin and back. “Oh, no. We’re going. You two are staying.”

You raised your eyebrow, confused.

Hyunjin froze, wide eyes staring at Chan. “What do you mean we’re staying?!”

Lee Know stepped forward, “We, as a group, decided that Hyunjin needs to stop tripping all over the place and figure out his feelings before he breaks an ankle.”

Hyunjin’s soul left his body. “Guys, it’s not...”

Felix patted his back. “It’s for your own good.”

Chan pushed him gently towards you. “Bond. Talk. Confess. I don’t know. Figure out what’s making you malfunction.”

“Hyung, please...” Hyunjin whined.

“We’ll go get food and be back in an hour or so.” Chan said.

“Bye!” Everyone screamed in chaotic unison.

The door shut. Silence.

“Sooo, they really just left us here.” you said awkwardly, turning to Hyunjin who squatted down and looked like he wanted to evaporate.

Hyunjin rubbed his face with both hands. “I’m going to kill them. Actually kill them.”

You laughed. “It’s fine. We can just hang out until they come back.”

He peeked at you through his fingers. “They think I...” he stopped himself.

You sat down on the floor, stretching your legs, pretending not to notice how flustered he still was. “They think you what?”

“They think I like you.” he finally got out, quietly.

You smiled gently at him. “Well, do you?”

“I...” he looked down, fiddling with the hem of his shirt.

“I wans’t supposed to say that out loud.” he muttered.

You shifted closer to him. “Say what?”

He looked at you, and the moment he saw your face, your glasses slightly slipping down your nose, your hair framing your face perfectly, it slipped.

“I like you. A lot.” he blurted out.

Your breath caught.

He looked horrified. “Wait, no. I mean... yes. I wasn’t going to say it like that. I...”

“Hyunjin.” you said, gently touching his hand.

He froze instantly. 

You smiled at him. “I like you too”

His eyes snapped open. “You do?”

You nodded. “I was honestly waiting for you to stop staring long enough to do something about it.” A small laugh escaping you.

His ears turned so red, he looked like he was overheating.

“I wasn’t staring.” he whispered.

“You tripped while dancing and just walking.” You raised your eyebrows at him.

“Okay, maybe I was staring.”

“It was cute.” You laughed softly.

Hyunjin melted just a little. He reached for your hand, getting his confidence back, and laced his fingers with yours.

“Can I take you on a date?” he asked.

You squeezed his hand. “Yeah, you can. I’d love that.”

He smiled, relieved.

Of course, that’s when the door exploded open. Scaring both of you.

“They did it. They’re holding hands! Guys look!” Han screamed of excitement.

“Han, you weren’t supposed to open the door yet!” Lee Know scolded him.

Hyunjin groaned into your shoulder while the others screamed and cheered for the both of you.

Through it all, Hyunjin kept his eyes on you and he didn’t let go of your hand. Not even for a second.

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✧ Divider by @omi-resources ✧

✧ Disclaimer: This is purely fictional and does not portray anyone in real life. Fanfiction is fiction.

If so! @hnsbxby

And!!!! My other bbs🥰(lowkey probably forgot so many people)