Happy Endings ⁘ Chenle

35 ⁘ Breakfast

⁘ 35 ⁘

Soon enough, Da-eun's sniffles faded and made space for the soothing rhythm of her breaths. Chenle stayed still for a while, allowing her to sleep on his shoulder until he figured he should get her home instead. 

Carefully, Chenle slid his arms between her knees and back. He was trying to be as gentle as possible, as quiet as possible. It was completely by mistake that he woke her up, yet he felt bad about it. She had been upset and exhausted. Sleeping must have been the easiest way for her to get out of the headspace she was in, so he couldn't help but feel bad.

Da-eun, however, didn't mind. She opened her eyes just enough to be able to tell that it was Chenle who was with her. That was all she needed not to worry. 

She loosely wrapped her arms around his neck just as he lifted her off the ground. 

She rested her head against his chest. "Where are we going?" Her warm breath seeped through the fabric of his shirt, adding heat to an already warm summer night's air.  

"Home," he said as he walked back up to his car. 

"Oh." But after a moment she wondered, "Your home or my home?" 

He hadn't even considered taking her to his place, uncertain whether she would feel comfortable there. However, since she was already awake he figured he might as well let her decide. 

"Whatever you prefer." 

Da-eun pushed her head back a bit and gazed up at the boy.

"Your home," she decided quickly. 

Smiling to himself, Chenle nodded. "As you wish." 

His steps sounded clearer now that he reached the sidewalk and was no longer walking on grass. He got to his car not much later, unlocked it and opened the door to the passenger seat. 

"Careful," he whispered as he lifted her inside. 

After waiting for her to adjust her position, Chenle leaned over her to grab her seatbelt and fasten it. He was quick, backing up as soon as he could. 

But, just for a moment, he paused when their faces were barely apart. 

Blame it on the proximity, blame it on the summer night, blame it on the relief of having each other back. Blame it on whatever would justify the way each got lost in the sight of the other. 

Chenle lost track of what he was doing, absorbed by the beauty of her eyes. They were the purest, warmest brown imaginable. Despite how dim the street lantern's light was, it still shimmered wonderfully in her eyes. 

Different from him, Da-eun's mind started racing when she looked at him. Those eyes that the boy admired so much fell down to the smile he was carrying. 

Gorgeous pink lips drew a barely noticeable curve, edges pulled up by nothing more than subconscious admiration. Unfortunately, she didn't know what went through his mind. Or else, she would have known that his smile came without any effort, all on its own, fueled by nothing more but the joyful feeling he got from just laying his eyes on her. 

While she couldn't tell the reason for his smile, she could tell that, 

"You are pretty." 

The boy laughed softly. "You keep saying that." 

"So you don't forget," she justified which made him laugh again. He closed the door, then walked over to the driver's side and got inside. 

Keys already in the lock, ready to start driving, he suddenly stopped when Da-eun pressed her palms against the boy's cheeks, trapping his face between her hands. She turned his head so that he was looking at her.