#btob fluff

            There was the time you got to work with Hyunsik of BTOB. Everyone knew he was some kind of genius when it came to music. His contributions to the discography of the kpop boy group was matched by few. So when Cube staff sought you out and requested your assistance with a new love song for BTOB’s next comeback, you jumped at the chance.

            You rocked back in your seat, throwing your head back as you laughed a joke Hyunsik made about the cheesy lyrics he just gave you for opinion. You hid your face behind your hand, feeling your face warm beneath your fingertips, and you felt silly. You felt that you had an obnoxious laugh, prompting a poor attempt to cover it up to avoid any humiliation.

            Despite your worry about coming off as an obnoxious personality, Hyunsik genuinely enjoyed your company. It made the process of song writing more fun than usual. You were bright and full of ideas. You were inspiring. Not just for your passion in your lyrics, but he found you cute. Without realizing it, he was already thinking of ways he could possibly extend his time with you, even in work.

            To his dismay, your time together that day was coming to a close. He had another schedule to keep and you needed to make the commute home before it got too late. “Today was fun,” you said as you gathered your notebooks. “We made good progress, I think.”

            Hyunsik nodded in agreement, putting away his things and straightening up the studio. “I think we can match our lyrics with the melody perfectly.”

            “I can work on the next verse later tonight while I have some downtime,” you offered.

            He shook his head and turned to meet your eyes. “Don’t overwork yourself. You should relax with your time off.”

            You nearly scoffed. “Between the two of us, I should be telling you that. Idols like you don’t exactly have the luxury of relaxing that often. Even if we had fun today, it was still work.”

            Hyunsik hummed in agreement but shrugged. “I don’t know. I felt pretty relaxed.”

            The tone of his voice was implicating; of what, you weren’t sure. But if his innocent, boyish smile was anything to go by, he was telling the truth regardless. Despite having to attend another schedule, he didn’t seem stressed or tired. At least not as much as you’d expect him to be. And you felt a warmth grow in your chest knowing you somehow had something to do with it.

            On one particular night, you were both mentally drained by the time you wrapped up work. But you guys had finished the song, so the feel of accomplishment was strong.

            “It’s late,” he said after checking the time. “I’ll call you a cab home.”

            You turned and found him already unlocking his phone to do exactly that. “Oh, don’t worry about it,” you said, almost frantically. “I don’t live that far from here.”

            “Then I’ll walk you home.” He said it without missing a beat, and you felt your face flush.

            You finished packing your things and walked with him to the lobby of the company building. “Honestly, Hyunsik. I don’t wanna be a bother. It’s not too far.”

            Even with tired eyes, he gave you a bright smile and held the door open for you, pressing his hand to your back with a gentle nudge forward. “You’re never a bother.”

            The short walk to your apartment was filled with idle talk and slow steps. He kept himself at an even pace with you, staying to your side and separating you from the road. He told you stories of shenanigans he and the other members of BTOB would frequently get into. You told him little things about your inspirations. It was almost too soon when you arrived at your complex.

            “Be safe walking back, please,” you said. “Let me know when you’re home?”

            He nodded. “Yeah. I’ll text you.” He hesitated, standing there like he was reluctant to leave.

            The number of cliché possibilities of what could happen next jumbled up in your exhausted brain, not allowing a single thought of reason to come through. You had to dissolve the awkward tension you felt around you before you succumbed to inevitable humiliation.

            “Well…Goodnight.”

            “Goodnight.” He gave you one more smile and waited until you were safe inside your apartment.

            Even after you finished getting ready for bed, you waited. He didn’t make you wait long. Your phone chimed with a message received, and you opened it to find he had gotten home safely. You were about to respond with another goodnight, but paused when you noticed he was typing another message.

            One of the lines from the song the two of you just finished.

There was nothing special about where you went to eat. It was the place he took you to on your first date, something that became a regular option after you expressed your love for the food there. And there wasn’t anything particularly exciting about the quiet walk through the park you two were currently taking, waiting the clouds drift by in the sky.

You listened attentively as Hyunsik spoke about his new music, loving how animated he became when discussing the songs he worked on. It was when you were least expecting it, when you got lost in his voice, that he dropped the nerve-wracking question you were waiting for. “Can I kiss you?”

You hadn’t realized he had pulled you to a stop, his fingers laced through yours and squeezing gently. The look in his eyes was hopeful, a small, nervous smile gracing his lips. Your bottom lip was drawn between your teeth, your poor attempt at hiding your own smile as you nodded shortly.

Hyunsik paused a few times as he slowly leaned toward you, as if double checking that you wouldn’t push him away in disgust. When his lips finally touched yours, he released a sigh of relief, and you could feel the coolness of his breath fan over your mouth. It was a light, chaste kiss, a test, and he pulled away shortly after, gauging your response carefully.

Like a lovestruck schoolgirl, you instinctively touched your lips with the tips of your fingers, willing yourself not to giggle like a child. “Why haven’t we kissed before?” you jokingly asked.