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

167. NCT Ten - An Opportunity

Tumblr : prettywordsyouleft 

Pairing: Chittaphon (Ten) x reader

Genre: university au / angst / fluff

Warnings: none

Word count: 1260

To protect yourself, you had stopped listening to the speech the man before was still giving. Enough had already been said and you were waiting for your body to react, so you could leave this mortifying situation behind in haste.

Your feet, however, were rooted to the spot, your head lowered and you tried to stem the flow of your rising emotions. They were certain to spill over before your feet moved and you were desperate not to give him any further gratification of undermining you and your foolish beliefs.

"There was never an us, Y/N. Did you seriously think I'd find something worthy to like within you?"

You hadn't expected such a reaction when handing over the concert tickets you had managed to score yesterday, knowing how badly Luka wanted to go. You thought you were doing something kind by sourcing them, and as your eyes remained downcast, you watched as he gripped onto them still, as if he deserved to keep them. You knew you couldn't be petty and take them back, even if you had every right to do just that.

He didn't deserve you or the efforts you had spent on him over the last few months.

Of course, there was some part of you that was just as berating as his harsh words were. You had been foolish to think the attention Luka gave you came from a genuine heart. Now, with him spewing out how horrible to be seen with you off campus grounds would be, you wished you could laugh hollowly at yourself out loud. You clearly had a poor eye for things, and jumped to one too many conclusions in his company during classes. He was simply mooching off your adept skills to take in what he couldn't be bothered to in the lectures, falling for one too many of his smiles.

You hated that you came to realise just what a foul human being he was it from this embarrassingly public degradation of your personality.

Still, you weren't exactly standing up for yourself any, too ashamed that your heart had fluttered upon the mere sight of him just moments before he started up this attack.

"And so, that is why I can't believe you had the audacity to-"

"Listening to you openly treat a woman like this has fried some of my brain cells," a new voice stated tiredly, and you suddenly had the energy to snap your head up, your mouth falling ajar when you found a classmate standing between you and Luka. Chittaphon glanced in your direction and then snatched the concert tickets away from Luka's hand, giving them back to you. "These belong to you, right?"

"Why are you butting in? This is between Y/N and me-"

"If that was the case, you'd take it somewhere private," Chittaphon countered, gesturing to the people surrounding you in the hallway. You ducked your head back down, your cheeks flaring as your eyes started to water dangerously, now blinking rapidly, hoping that would push the tears back. You flinched when Chittaphon placed an arm around you, smiling at you encouragingly. "Why are you hiding? What did you do so wrong to receive such an earful? Keep your head up, you deserve better than this asshole."

"Watch what you're saying!"

"Why? So you can feel victorious for making someone who had genuine feelings about you feel like a lesser human? Why should you get all the glory? You're nothing more than an egotistical bully."

Luka pointed in your direction, evidently flustered. Your tears retreated; the comfort Chittaphon was lending you fuelled your confidence. He nodded at you, silently praising you for maintaining your eye contact with him. It made Luka frustrated, darting his attention around the gathering now piqued by the addition of Chittaphon to it. "Now, you listen here, this has nothing to do with you."

"You're right, and now, Y/N has nothing to do with you either. Shall we go get some dinner, Y/N? Off campus too? Because I have no qualms in being seen anywhere with you."

You still didn't trust yourself to speak, though you did manage a firm nod in agreement, allowing Chittaphon to lead you away from the scene. Once you were both out of sight, he let you go and raised a hand to his chest, inhaling deeply. "Wow, I never expected to be that strong in a situation like that. Are you okay?"

Nodding again, you let out a shaky breath, not realising you had been holding it for as long as you had. Your chest ached and you thumped at it, which sprung tears to your eyes.

Chittaphon cringed. "Oh, don't cry! You did so well not to in front of that jerk."

"I... I stopped breathing so it hurts now that I am."

Eying you carefully, he then let out a hearty laugh, gesturing towards the car park. "I was serious about dinner, shall we?"

"Are you-"

"It's a yes or no question, Y/N."

Smiling gently, you nodded. "That would be great, thank you."

Once seated in a small eatery near campus, you smiled more warmly at Chittaphon as he returned with a tray of food. "I could have paid for us both to say thank you for stepping in to help me."

Chittaphon waved you off. "It irked me no one stepped in before I had. I only saw some of it and that was enough. I don't know how you stood there taking in his disgusting words."

"I must've looked so pathetic to you," you breathed and lowered your head out of habit, blinking suddenly when you felt Chittaphon's fingers hook under your chin, lifting your view back up. He grinned at you when you looked at him again.

"You're not pathetic for liking someone. Okay, so I don't get what you saw in him, but we all end up falling for people who aren't suitable. Don't get so hung up on it, you dodged a bullet in a way."

"You're right," you agreed with a smile and Chittaphon nodded encouragingly again. "I can't believe how much money I spent on these tickets just because I felt confident that he liked me though. I wish I could rip them up, but, I think that would make me more miserable."

"I have a better idea," Chittaphon mentioned and you tilted your head to listen. "Let's go together."

"Oh, I couldn't impose on you-"

"I offered. It's not imposing at all."

You smiled with ease, Chittaphon was really straight-forward and you could tell by the look in his eyes that he meant what he said.

It was funny; you had maybe spoken all of five words to Chittaphon in the past. And now you were comfortably eating a meal with him and even making plans for tomorrow.

"Should we?" you asked, gauging his reaction. "I mean, it would be a waste and I don't know anyone else who would like to go with me."

"It sounds like a date," Chittaphon replied and your eyes widened. He laughed. "What's so wrong with that?"

"Do you like me?"

"Not yet," he responded with ease and you scrutinised him for a moment. Flicking his attention back to you, he smiled. "But I could if you give me a chance."

"I don't want a pity date."

"I don't pity you though."

"Then?"

"We're two humans presented with an opportunity to get to know each other more. Do you want to accept it or throw it away?"

You smiled slowly. "I'm accepting."

"I was hoping you would."

_________________