s e o u l | k p o p - o s

162. NCT Johnny - A Not So Simple Answer

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Prompt: "No! But I'm also leaning towards saying yes."

Pairing: Johnny Seo x reader

Genre: university au / friends to lovers / fluff

Warnings: none

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"You like me, don't you?"

Such a simple question and yet it evoked a large reaction from you. In the beginning when Johnny asked you this, you would blush profusely and shake your head, your words coming to an unsteady halt just below the lump now forming in your throat. And Johnny would smile wistfully whilst he nodded, leaving it at that.

But the question would appear over and over. Sometimes at the most inopportune moments, such as when you were preparing arguments for your group project with him. With his head resting on the backs of his hands, he grinned at you lazily. "You really like me, right?"

"What? N-No, we're talking about Tacitus and his biased representation of Tiberius right now."

"Mhmm. Well, I think I'm biased towards you."

"That's hardly relevant to history," you retorted with a shake of your head, and a chuckle slipped from his lips, making you snap your attention back to him. "Johnny! Will you ever focus?"

"Will you ever admit it?"

Your lips pursed into a fine line and you shifted your body sideways, no longer facing him or the question. The blush was still there like when he had first started this interrogation over your feelings, but it wasn't nearly as potent, washed down by contempt. Johnny annoyed you more than anything else.

Still, he wasn't quite ready to let up.

Autumn slipped into winter, yet you could barely feel the chill in the air whenever Johnny was around you. And you could see it right now, the question on the tip of his tongue, much like it always was. You held up a warning index finger in his direction, waggling it dismissively. "Don't say it."

"Why not? You like me."

"I don't."

"You don't?"

Huffing out a deep breath, you shook your head adamantly. "No, so stop asking me it!"

"Huh, I was so sure you did."

"Well, you were wrong," you replied indignantly, darting your gaze away from his as you continued to walk back to the campus dorms.

You attempted to focus on the way your breath appeared in the atmosphere every few moments or rearranged your scarf and gloves mindlessly. But you were stunned. It was the first time that Johnny had fallen silent with this topic. Eventually peeking in his direction, you found him glumly staring down at his feet as he dragged them through the light covering of snow on the ground.

A small gasp fell from your lips as your mouth moved into an 'O' shape, your eyes rounding out as well. "Johnny, you aren't... I mean you always ask and I... I didn't-"

"You don't like me?"

"No." His eyes flashed with your response, much like your cheeks heated up. You fluffed your arms about, looking a bit wild in your flustered state. "No, I mean-"

"You either like me or you don't, Y/N. Which one is it?"

"Must all men be impossible?!" you screeched to the heavens as you hurried off, too embarrassed to answer his question. And with your hurry, you slipped on a particular icy slab of pavement, falling to the ground with a thud.

Rolling over so your face was hidden into the snow verge, you used the coolness in attempts to ease the flames of mortification. You hadn't fallen hard enough to somehow make it through the ground you wished would swallow you up whole right now.

Feeling gentle hands on your shoulder, you wriggled at Johnny's touch, trying to remain hidden. It was fruitless and he managed to flip you over again, crouching at your side. "You okay?"

"Couldn't you just let me die here?"

He chuckled. "Are you always going to be this dramatic?"

"Dramatic?! You started this with your question!"

"Well, most people can answer a simple question without this much effort, Y/N." He sat you up, and brushed the snow off your coat.

And then Johnny smiled down at you.

It was that smile that caused all of this. On the first day of university, you had sat down in your Imperial Rome class, nervous and not knowing a soul. And then Johnny had sat down beside you, bestowing you with such a warm smile. You had fallen for him there on the spot.

The problem was you didn't understand why he wanted to know the answer to his question. So what, if you liked him. Did he like you back? Or was his incessant teasing just a comradery thing? You didn't want to admit that you liked him when you weren't sure about his feelings.

But today, you started to realise there could be a positive answer underlying his prompting. You took a deep breath, breaking away from your dazed stare at his smile. "Do you like me?"

"Nuh-uh, Y/N, I asked you first."

"I..."

Pressing your lips to Johnny's softly, you waited for him to respond, to show you any indication that you hadn't just made a grave mistake. He was stunned but it didn't last more than a second, his lips moving against yours hungrily. He acted as if he had been starved, and you matched his fervour, greedily taking more of him in your mouth.

Until you shivered – and it wasn't because of how tantalising this kiss was.

Johnny pulled away, panting as he tried not to let out a breathy chuckle as well. "Want a hand up?"

"Yes please."

He helped you up and the energy sent you a little too close, Johnny quickly wrapping his arms around you. He grinned. "I think I have my answer."

The blush was back, and you chewed on your bottom lip shyly. It was foolish, you just had your tongue in his mouth and well, you felt a little light-headed considering what you had just been up to.

Johnny brushed some of your hair away from your face and then his expression lit up. "Wait, do you love me now?"

"No!" you exclaimed, shaking your head in surprise. You soon smiled, staring up at him affectionately. "But I'm also leaning towards saying yes."

"Is that so?" he murmured, sizing up your lips again. You nodded and Johnny gripped you to him more tightly. "Well then, I guess you'll just have to start asking me from now on."

"What?!"

"Well, I may have your answer, but do you have mine?"

"Johnny!" you cried, stepping out of his embrace only for him to firmly take your hand in his. You glanced at him and huffed out a sigh. "Do you love me?"

He kissed you before smirking. "Did you even have to ask? I've loved you since the first time I saw you."

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