dissident ｡ nct

11.2 ｡

-- part 11.2 --

Opposite Attracts

"something going on between you two?"

-- Hua --

"Are you happy with the design, Hua?" Yuta asked, a hand passing me the sketch.

I hummed in agreement, resting my back against the chair, eyes scanning the lunar cycle Yuta had designed before passing it back, "how long will this take?" I asked, glancing out the door hearing Jaemin and Emiko bickering over which tattoo design they wanted.

I winced as I saw Emiko throwing a punch toward Jaemin, just barely dodging her before running off.

Yuta followed my gaze, a soft chuckle escaping his lips, "they've always been like that, don't mind them," he waved off, turning back to the tattoo stencil in front of him, "it'll be around 15 to 20 minutes since it's quite a large tattoo," he added, turning back to face me, a smirk adorning his features, "why, you got a date to run to?"

I rolled my eyes at him, a hand pulling my shirt over my head before laying my stomach down on the chair, "nope, just a training session. Nothing too special."

That was a lie. Everything about the training sessions was special. Maybe it was because I felt myself improve, my confidence growing every session. But, a small piece of me thought it was because of Haechan, a glimpse of his real personality shining through every session, his strict facade falling—his soft smile etched in my mind.

"A girl like you, not going on a date?" he joked, placing the stencil on my back, "quite unheard of."

"Well, not everyone has the time to prance around and show off, Nakamoto," voiced Haechan, my eyes snapping to his figure by the door, a small smile falling over his lips as our eyes meet, "hello, flower."

"Fancy seeing you here, Haechan."

I followed him as he walked towards Yuta, the boys greeting each other with a handshake, "just wanted to check on all the newbies," he explained, eyes roaming around the tattoo designs in the space, "I heard that the majority of the group are getting their tats today. What's she getting?"

"You can check it out for yourself," Yuta announced, his voice fading into the tattoo parlour, "I've got to get some more ink, so I'll be right back."

I watched as he trained his eyes on my back, a look of surprise seeping into his features before composing himself once more, "the lunar cycle?" He whispered, hand tracing the stencil on my back, "why'd you decide on this?"

Not at all distracting. Not. At. All.

I let in a shaky breath, his touch so light, "It means continuous adaptation, and that is something I've learned here and want to remind myself of."

I've learned from you, more specifically.

I observed him, watching as his eyes roam the design on my back, this look of adoration falling over him, the late nights we've spent together clouding my mind, "Haechan," I breathed, his eye dipping down to my lips before meeting my eyes, "I, um, have a question?"

Did he just? Nah, no way.

"Yeah, sure," he responded, his fingers gingerly drawing circles on my left shoulder.

I let myself indulge in his touch for a second before zoning back into the conversation at hand, "why go out of your way to train me?"

The question seemed to take him by surprise, his fingers stopping abruptly, "I've already told you why," he reasoned, fingers leaving my shoulder as he crouches down to meet my eyes, "I can't bear not ever seeing you."

My heart skipped a beat.

Haechan's eyes widened in realization, "I mean, like, it would be a shame if you were factionless after working so hard," he blabbered, eyes everywhere but on me, "it would be a waste after everything you sacrificed."

"You don't sound too convincing there, H," I pointed out, tone playful as I tried to steer the conversation elsewhere, my heart racing as I feign ignorance at his words.

A sly smirk fell over his lips as he leaned in closer, challengingly, "you doubting me, flower?"

I took in a breath, his face so close to mine, the smell of peppermint oozing off of him, my eyes flipping down to his lips, "I would never," I quipped, my voice coming out as a whisper as I got lost in his eyes.

"I've got the ink," Yuta hollers, snapping me out of the moment, Haechan falling onto the floor with a low thud, "You okay, Haehcan? What happened?"

Haechan cleared his throat as he stood up, "I just, um, you know, slipped," he excused, scurrying quickly towards the larger parlour, his cheeks reddening by the second, "anyways, nice tattoo, Hua. I got to go check on the others, see you later, Yuta."

"Uh, bye?" Yuta called out to his fleeting figure, eyes turning back to face me with a brow raised, "something going on between you two?"

My eyes widened in surprise, my cheeks warming as I turned my eyes away from him, "no, nothing at all," I choked.

I heard the click of the tattoo ink being added into the machine, Yuta coming towards me to place the machinery on me, "I've known him for quite a bit now," he answered, signalling me to lay on my stomach, the coldness of mechanism meeting skin making me shiver, "and he's never visited the tattoo parkour just for the hell of it."

I shrugged, the tattoo machine clinking as I adjust my shoulders, "he's probably just checking on us," I excused, "maybe he had some orders from the higher-ups."

"Maybe," he replied quickly, the machine whirring to life as he turned away, leaving me to get lost in thought, Haechan's gleaming smile and touch lingering in my heart.

I really shouldn't get my hopes up. Yet, I can't help it.