When My World Falls-JAEYONG

20 | not a crush

Taeyong was seated on the chair beside his mother's office door. They were still waiting for Jaehyun but his aunt went to buy something for them, so he was left there. Some co-workers greet and have some small conversations with him, but that's about it. It was a bit too quiet for him. He was curious about what's happening inside of the room.

A few minutes more, the aunt came back with some drinks. Taeyong helped her and, grabbed his and Jaehyun's drink to let her sit beside him.

"Not finished yet?" she asked.

Taeyong hummed, "Not yet, I guess."

Right after he said that, the door suddenly opened and saw Jaehyun coming out of it. Taeyong stood to catch his attention.

"How was it?" the boy asked and gave him the drink that his aunt bought for him.

Jaehyun hummed, "It's the same..."

"Oh...Well, do you want to go home? But I was actually going to ask you if you want to go out with me--Not a date," Taeyong said, shyly and almost stuttered.

The man looked at his aunt and saw her nodding at him with a small smile on her face and gives him a thumbs up. Jaehyun looked back the boy infront of him.

"Where?" the man asked.

Taeyong almost gasped, assuming that Jaehyun will come with him, but his eyes just sparkled at the thought, "You can come with me in my part-time. I just...wanted you to unwind a bit."

Jaehyun took a few seconds before he nodded, timidly, "Okay..."

Arriving at the clinic, Taeyong excitingly pulled Jaehyun in. He could use some help with cleaning up the cages, but he won't let Jaehyun do much. Maybe Jaehyun would be happy seeing some cute animals. Opening the door, he greeted by his co-workers and greets them with a big smile.

"Hey, hyung. I got some help," Taeyong uttered when he saw Taeil.

Taeil looked at the man behind who seemed to be nervous at the moment so he wasn't looking back at him. He just nodded at Taeyong.

"Okay, okay. Have fun then," Taeil said before he runs off to wherever he should be going.

The boy looked at Jaehyun, "Let's go."

Jaehyun then followed behind Taeyong. They smoothly went into the room where most animals are admitted in. The man looked around and was surprised to see all the pets. Taeyong started greeting them and the man found it awkward. Well, he wasn't used to talk to animals, either talking to people so, he shouldn't be really thinking about it now. He finds everything awkward.

"While the clinic is still available, I got tasked to disinfect some of their cages," Taeyong said and went to the other room to get his uniform then he went back while he buttons it.

"So, you brought me to clean up with you?" Jaehyun asked.

The boy chuckled, making the man's heart to flutter, "No, of course not. You'll just keep the pets safe and happy."

Taeyong knelt infront of a puppy's cage and opened it, started talking with baby talk as he carried the pet. The puppy did get some fever but he's well now. Jaehyun watched the boy pouting and giggling at the cute puppy he has. In second thought, Taeyong's the cute one between the both of them, by Jaehyun.

"Here," the boy was then trying to give the man the puppy.

Jaehyun was looking at the puppy, he was leaning back from the pet, and it has his tail wagging. The puppy seemed pretty happy, but he doesn't know how to react, either how to handle it. He was worried about what bad could possibly happen. Was it really normal to overthink and to be overly scared about breaking and hurting things?

"Jaehyunnie."

A soft voice snapped him out of his mind. He looked at the boy who called him. He just realized that a simple smile from him can make him feel better, like his anxieties never existed.

Taeyong stood and sat beside Jaehyun, "Why don't you let him sit on your lap instead?"

The boy carefully placed the puppy on the man's lap. Jaehyun looked at it, a little nervous but Taeyong was there. He was nervous but at the same time, he was fine because the boy was beside him.

Jaehyun has his hands up but Taeyong carefully grabbed one of his and guided to place on top of the puppy's head.

"They don't bite," the boy uttered before he went and started disinfecting the cage the puppy has been staying in.

The man looked down at the puppy who was looking back him. It took him a minute before he found it very adorable with the big eyes and fluffy ears. His hand carefully rubbed its head then went to scratch its neck, and it actually snuggled into his lap. The last pet he has was kicked out by his mother which just made him lonelier those days. But he didn't really care about that right now. Jaehyun couldn't stop but let a small smile come up.

"You should smile more."

Jaehyun jolted and looked at Taeyong who was staring back at him. The phrase caught the man off guard and almost blushed from, what it supposed to be, a compliment.

"D-Did I?" the man asked, like a whisper.

Taeyong giggled, grabbed the puppy and softly placed him into the disinfected cage. He closed the glass and lets the puppy rest. Jaehyun thought he wouldn't answer his question and will go to the next cage to clean, but his heart skipped a beat again when Taeyong nodded and sweetly smiling at him, still kneeling.

"Your dimples did show up even it was a small curve. It's really attractive..." Taeyong dreamily uttered but he immediately snapped out and realized what he just said, "L-Like it's a new thing, that's why it's attractive. I-It's new to see you smile for the first time."

Jaehyun looked away, "I don't look weird?"

"I...actually like your smile. You should smile more often, Jaehyun," the boy said.

What would even happen to Taeyong if Jaehyun did smile?

It would be the death of him. Taeyong really feel butterflies and felt like palpitating whenever he's with Jaehyun. He wouldn't even consider Jaehyun as a crush anymore.