[untitled.]

puppy love // svt hansol vernon chwe

you applauded the group once the song was over and they stopped dancing, their panting and breathing taking over the silence of the practice room. a few of them sat or lay on the floor while the others went off to get some refreshments. you stood up, thinking to grab water for the members that were tired and on the floor.

"y/n-ah, you're an angel. thank you," seokmin reached for the bottle in your hand from his seat on the floor.

you sat between him and mingyu, passing the latter another bottle. they thanked you and you smiled at them, telling them that they have done a good job. you were too busy laughing and talking with the two of them to realise that vernon was watching you from the back of the room, a subtle but fond smile on his features.

he was on his phone, scrolling through the notifications he had. most of them from you sending videos as they practiced just ten minutes ago. as he was going through his feed, he heard you laugh at something and looked up again.

"you should tell her, you know," wonwoo encouraged with a pat on his back.

vernon blinked at him. "tell her what, hyung?"

"oh come on, it's so obvious you like her," wonwoo teased with a smirk.

"yeah! just tell her, hyung!" dino chimed in, a wide smile on his face.

the boy wasn't exactly quiet, which earned him hushing noises from both wonwoo and vernon. chan apologised with a sheepish smile, and hansol took a moment to appreciate the chatter of everyone else in the room. he glanced back at you who was still chatting away with dk and mingyu before shaking his head. wonwoo pat him again on the shoulder and returned his attention back to his phone, and chan left to go and review the choreography with soonyoung.

vernon sighed and glanced back at his phone. the device that had automatically shut off turned on again, and he was now looking at you through the photo he had set as his lock screen.

it was taken by one of the group's members. you were bent over laughing with one hand on your knee, the other pointing at vernon who was looking at you judgementally. he had a bungeo-ppang hat on, which was already funny, but he didn't remember what exactly made you laugh that hard and for him to make that face. he did however, remember how beautiful you looked with that smile on your face when he saw that candid photo for the first time.

you had noticed the background before and had asked him about it. his excuse was that it was just a funny memory and he wanted to remember it. he didn't want you to know that he had it set because he was so enchanted by you.

he didn't know when or how, but he's had a crush on you for the longest time. the two of you had been friends for longer. you were attached at the hip ever since before you knew how to talk, and it was almost like you were siblings since you both grew up together. he never told you his feelings for you, for many reasons. one of them was that he didn't want to ruin the special bond you already shared with this puppy love, so he decided to keep it a secret.

only, it wasn't just puppy love.

vernon saw every side of you and still loved you. he saw your temper, your insecurities, your humour, your kindness, your hatred, everything. he still loved every part of you, wishing every day that you were his as much as he was already yours.

"bononieeee," you called in a sing-song voice.

he snapped out of his thoughts and noticed the phone had turned off automatically once again. vernon looked up at you who was walking towards where he was sitting. you nodded at him in question and he blinked awkwardly. was he staring for too long?

"what are you doing?" you asked as you took a seat next to him, waving at wonwoo in the process.

"nothing much. have you eaten?" he asked you in reply.

"not yet, but i'm not really that hungry. we can go out for dinner after you're done! i know a good place," you wiggled your eyebrows at him.

he chuckled. that good place would definitely be the restaurant down the street that you've frequented since you guys were teens. he couldn't blame you though. they really had the best home-cooked meals. it had become you guys' spot for all occasions.

"i'm down," he said, smiling at you. 

"great! you can come too, wonwoo-ssi," you offered.

vernon felt something in his chest shift. he was hoping you guys could hang out alone since you always hung out in groups. its been a while since hansol had you all to himself.

"oh i'm good, thank you. you guys have fun," wonwoo said, politely declining.

you nodded at him in understanding and told him he's welcomed to join next time too if he wants. the older boy chuckled and ruffled your hair as he got up, earning a noise of disapproval from you. he told you guys he'd be right back since he wanted to get a drink, vernon helping you fix your hair as you mimicked punches at wonwoo for doing that.

"thanks, nonie. you're so nice to me," you smiled at him as your gaze softened once you looked at him again.

"of course," his rich deep voice was music to your ears.

"i gotta go do one last bout of practice. dinner later, yeah?" he said as you heard the instructors gather the whole team again.

you nodded at him, the smile you had on never leaving your face as he got up and jogged over to his group. the music started again, and you can't help but stare at your best friend the entire time.

what vernon didn't know, was that you've always felt the same. you were just too shy to say anything and afraid that this really all might just be puppy love.