[EN] HIM (HyunChan)

VI.

Christopher found himself smiling as soon as he noticed Hyunjin standing outside the school with Seungmin from a distance. He picked up his pace and joined his two friends. "Good morning, how are you?"

"So far so good," replied the boy with braces. His long-time friend nodded his head in agreement.

"How are you, Hyunjin? Two days ago, you looked quite miserable," the eldest looked at the tallest with concern.

"It's much better now, thanks. I guess I just needed some sleep."

"That's good to hear. I missed you." Christopher realized he'd let the second sentence out of his mouth too late. His cheeks began to flush and he was about to explain and apologize, but a gentle touch on his shoulder stopped him.

"I missed you too," Hyunjin smiled at him.

He had a hard time keeping his knees from buckling at that smile. That cute, warm smile that revealed the tiny dimples in the younger man's cheeks really belonged to him and him alone. He wanted to crush him in a hug and kiss his cheeks at that moment.

"Alright, lovebirds, that's enough for now," Seungmin brought him back to reality with a laugh.

"Did I miss something?" asked Minho, who was the last to join the group.

"Nothing happened," Hyunjin assured him with a wide smile. Christopher noticed that it was not the same smile he had given him, and felt a kind of selfish joy.

"Chris?" the long-haired man turned to him as they walked to the front door.

The man addressed turned his head towards him.

"Do you think we could hang out again after school on Friday for English?" He asked with the same puppy dog look he'd given him the first time he'd needed help. How could he resist that expression?

"Sure. What time do your lessons end?"

"At 2:30, I have a dance for the lesson."

Christopher nodded. "I finish a little earlier, but I'll wait for you," he promised.

"Thanks," the younger man smiled gratefully.

***

As Christopher promised, he was waiting for Hyunjin on Friday. As soon as his last class was over, he ran down the stairs to the basement, where the gym was located. If the door was even slightly open, he wouldn't let the opportunity to see the long-haired boy in action pass him by.

It was.

He peeked in. He noticed Hyunjin among the others immediately. The graceful, seemingly effortless way his long limbs moved, like the rest of his body, was unmissable. He watched his every move with a smile.

It wasn't long before their eyes met. Christopher couldn't have averted his eyes even if he wanted to. Hyunjin locked his gaze in his, holding it for perhaps the entire duration of the lesson. He felt his mouth go dry. He was beginning to realize that the younger boy was wrapping him... no, he already had him wrapped around his finger.

He only came out of his trance when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He blinked a few times to bring himself back to reality and met the gaze of the person in question.

"Hi," Hyunjin smiled at him. He was sweaty. Drops of sweat rolled from his forehead onto his sharply cut jaw, slender neck, and prominent collarbones. Strands of black hair were stuck to his cheeks. He swallowed dryly. Did the boy even realize what he was doing to him? He suspected he probably did.

"Hi," Christopher smiled back when he recovered.

"Thanks for waiting for me."

The elder nodded. "Sure, that's what we agreed."