Every Heartbeat | Taekook

05 ; The Heights

05 ; The Heights
“And it’s lit up so bright by your smile
You’re my music and you’re my sound
And I don’t wanna get used to not having you around.”

“They’re going to be here soon. Don’t worry about me, I’m alright.” I told Jeongguk for the hundredth time today, ushering him to go back inside the bookstore first.

The book signing event will start in a few minutes. I’m in front of the biggest local bookstore in Seoul, waiting for Jimin and the gang to show up while Jeongguk’s here waiting with me. I have been telling him to go inside because the event is going to start soon but he stubbornly refuses to go.

Jeongguk shakes his head and beams at me brightly, “I will wait here with you.” He stubbornly replies and stood still beside me, eyeing every person who enters the bookstore.

I sighed in defeat, there’s no winning against him when he’s decided on something. I could only message Jimin to hurry up so that this man beside me won’t be late to show up at his own event.

I watched how most people immediately recognizes him and waved their hellos and compliments for his new book. Jeongguk also enthusiastically entertains them with occasional replies and smiles like he's won every award there is.

Waiting here isn’t as boring as I imagined anymore. Seeing how his eyes light up whenever one of the fans of his books engages in a conversation about his new book, it was clear as day that he loved everything about what he was doing. How every single curve of his lips turns into a wide grin whenever he receives a compliment, it was satisfaction.

I must have looked funny with whatever expression I had on because when he turns to me there was a slight frown of confusion on his face and yet his smile never seemed to waver.

“Hmm? Is there something wrong, mahal?” Jeongguk asks, immediately tending to me. But before I could speak, he beats me to it as he adds another remark. “Do you feel tired? I told you to just stay inside and wait there and not waste your energy like this.” There was concern laced in his voice, grabbing my elbow gently as he surveys me.

However, I could only let out a sigh and a small smile as I reached over to cup his face. The action was enough to send him into bolts of shock, looking at me with wide eyes. I chuckled at the reaction before pinching his cheeks, “I’m fine, stop nagging me like a mom. I will tell you if I’m not feeling well, alright?” I drag my words, making sure he gets them.

Jeongguk had the faintest blush on his cheeks that made my smile grow wider as he nods, “A-alright...”

“Hey, lovers!”

“Hello, Jeongguk!”

“Congratulations on your book!”

I lifted my head to see the gang rushing over at us, making me immediately pull my hold from Jeongguk and watch them come over at us. Everyone immediately started teasing us because of the scene they have just seen, to which I only shushed them all.

Everyone started to talk at once, overlapping one another so that I almost couldn’t understand a thing. I raised a hand, fingers closed to a fist and they immediately went quiet. Great.

“Can we please save the pleasantries for later? Jeongguk needs to go, the event’s starting.” I said before dragging Jeongguk inside the bookstore, my friends hot in our footsteps.