Reasons to Stay // Hyunin

~3~

"Hey Jeongin!"

During the weekend Jeongin had planned to go to the mall with his other friend and probably only friend at school, Felix. So here at the mall entrance Jeongin had been waiting for him.

Felix bounced up to Jeongin and gave him a warm hug and squeeze. Jeongin choked, "Ouch– you're hurting me–"

Felix slid off and gave him a pat, "How are you?"

"Good," Jeongin half-smiled. "I had an embarrassing incident Friday."

Felix widened his eyes in interest. "Like what?"

Jeongin sighed and answered while they walked on the marble floors, "I ran into someone bad yesterday while going to work. It was embarrassing." He quickly said, "Are you doing okay?"

"I'm doing amazing," Felix bubbled. "I mean, we haven't come here together for a long time."

"Yeah," Jeongin said shortly and they wasted no time heading to a store to shop for clothes.

After picking out some nice ones, the two went to the fitting room to try it on.

Jeongin had picked out a white sweater vest to try out. He thought it looked kinda big but that was some kind of fashion so he wore it over a long-sleeve sweater. "Felix, how do I look?" he called over the stall.

"I'm coming out," Felix called back and opened his door. Jeongin stood in front of the mirror and waited anxiously for a good response. Felix stood back and took a look. "It's...cute," he finally judged with a smile which turned into a smirk. "But you know what would look even better?"

"Haha, what..." Jeongin said hesitantly.

Felix came around and pulled at his sleeve. "If you take this off."

"The inside sweater?" Jeongin asked confused.

"Yup," felix looked proud and eager.

"Dude, did you see how low–"

"Yah just try it Innie!" Felix gently pushed Jeongin back into the stall. "I'm waiting and don't worry, you'll look good."

Jeongin sighed and took off his tops. He put back on the sleeveless sweater and looked at himself in the stall mirror before going out to show Felix.

Man...This wasn't anything he wanted to show anyone. His whole collarbone show, his chest was half-exposed and the worse part–the arm holes were too big and revealed too much. He turned and look at his left side. As he had worried, his burn scars could be partly scene.

He stood there, worrying about what he should do. There was no way he would let Felix see his scars. Felix was his only friend at school and if he decided that Jeongin was weird and didn't like him anymore because of the ugliness, Jeongin would really be lonely. And he couldn't bear to lose Felix because they had been friends since freshman year, and Felix had been popular so he would still have friends if he stopped hanging around Jeongin, but Jeongin wouldn't. He would be forever humiliated as the person who Felix played and left and the person with weird burns that were super ugly and that–

"Jeongin, are you done yet?"

Jeongin froze. No no no I'm not and I never will be. "Um, it's kinda–"

"Don't worry," Felix giggled, "I can see it right?"

"..."

"Cmon Jeonginnie, no one's here but me!" he said in a hushed tone.

"You sure?"

"Yeah it's just me. Don't worry, I won't make fun–"

"But it's really big," Jeongin tried to bring up excuses but Felix seemed really looking forward to it.

"That's the point. It's a style! Innie-yah, and I'll show you my nice outfit!"  

Jeongin sighed. "...I'm coming..."

He slowly opened the door and lingered back, not coming into the hallway but leaned shyly onto the doorpost. He pressed his left arm to his side. This way he could somewhat cover up his scars. 

Felix mouth dropped open upon seeing Innie in a very, very low top and Jeongin could feel the sweat breaking out. "Um- i-is it good now?" he mumbled and slid back into the stall and was about to close the door. "Wait!" Felix finally found his voice. "Jeongin you look so..."

So what? Jeongin thought. He didn't feel too comfortable standing there with Felix staring at his exposed chest. 

"...so...sexy...!" 

Sexy? Jeongin didn't know whether to be happy or disgusted by the comment. Did he want to be described as that? "Um... thanks but it's probably just cause I'm half-naked--"

"That is not called half-naked Jeongin. You look like some work of art! Your skin condition is- amazing-!" he gasped suddenly as he thought of an idea. "Wait Jeongin-"

"What," Jeongin said dreadfully, trying to ready himself for the answer-

"You should wear this to my house Friday!" he said excitedly.

"Your...house...?" Jeongin was confused but then -"oh I forgot about that--" Why was he so forgetful lately?

?! What, was Felix like drunk or something?! "Your kidding," Jeongin said in disbelief.

"I'm not!" Felix responded sincerely. Jeongin, you know how hot you look in that? I never knew you had this side before! Everyone would crush on you and--" 

"No way I'm wearing this anywhere," Jeongin laughed shakily. "Felix, look at it. Does this look appropriate at all?!"

"No, it doesn't," Felix responded, happily smirking. "Wait let me take a pic."

Jeongin sputtered in disagreement but Felix pleaded with big puppy eyes. "Fine," Jeongin muttered, defeated, but he kept his stance next to the door post, halfway in the stall.

"Hey come out and stand over there, it will look better," Felix said, gently taking his arm and trying to lead him out. He was surprised when Jeongin yanked his hand arm away quickly. Jeongin was surprised too, but there was no way he was letting anyone see the ugly burn marks!

Felix blinked twice but brought himself together and said slowly, "Oh, okay...sorry about that-"

Jeongin didn't like to see Felix rejected like this. "Ah wait, no, we can take pictures." he hastily changed his mind. Besides it wasn't that big of a deal and Felix was his best friend. He should trust him, right.

Jeongin quickly scooted past Felix's rightside to get to the hallway mirror. He stood at an angle so that his left side didn't show.

Felix happily pulled out his phone. "Tilt your head to the side with an I'm-annoyed look."

Jeongin tilted obediently and changed his facial expression. Felix squeaked, "Jeongin, you really look amazing. You should become a model! Are you gonna buy it? Please say you'll buy it!"

"I mean I guess I will (since you seem to like it so much)... and thanks, but I don't think so," Jeongin said uncertainly.

"Hey let's do one with you leaning forward like your inspecting something," Felix offered.

Jeongin's eyes opened wide. "What?" as if wearing this for a picture already wasn't enough! What trash pics did Felix have in his phone? Jeongin was genuinely creeped out.

"Haha I was just kidding!" Felix teased. "That would be like the same thing as seeing you–"

Jeongin closed the stall door loudly before he could finish the sentence.