Blind Hearts Unveiled|ZB1

11: Brushstrokes of Affection

Matthew's heart pounded in his chest as he sprinted through the school hallways. He had never been late for a date before, especially not with someone as special as Jiwoong. His sneakers squeaked against the polished floor as he rounded a corner, his gaze fixed on the spot where he had agreed to meet Jiwoong.

As he approached, he spotted Jiwoong standing there, looking effortlessly attractive. The sunlight filtering through the windows seemed to illuminate him, and Matthew's breath caught in his throat at the sight. Jiwoong's face broke into a warm smile as he caught sight of Matthew, causing a rush of butterflies to fill Matthew's stomach.

"Hey!" Jiwoong called out cheerfully, waving his hand.
Matthew slowed down and managed to catch his breath, his cheeks tinted pink from both the run and Jiwoong's welcoming smile.

"Hey, Jiwoong!" he replied with a grin.

As he reached Jiwoong, Matthew's heart fluttered when he noticed that Jiwoong had held the car door open for him. He hesitated for a moment, his brain seemingly unable to process this simple gesture. Jiwoong's actions were so considerate, yet Matthew found himself flustered by the chivalry.

"Thanks," Matthew mumbled, his cheeks now a deeper shade of red.

Jiwoong's own cheeks turned a faint pink, his demeanor shifting slightly as he tried to appear composed. "No problem," he replied with a gentle smile.

They settled into the car, the silence between them initially filled with a mixture of excitement and nervousness. Jiwoong started the engine, glancing at Matthew. "You seem a bit flustered," he observed playfully.

Matthew let out a sheepish laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, I guess. It's just... I've never had someone open the door for me before."

Jiwoong's lips quirked up in amusement. "Really? First time for everything, I suppose."

"Yeah," Matthew agreed, the warmth of Jiwoong's smile calming his nerves.

As the car pulled out of the school parking lot, the conversation flowed more easily. Jiwoong initiated by sharing a story about his own first experience being picked up for a date, which led to a playful back-and-forth about memorable romantic experiences.

Matthew found himself leaning into the conversation, eager to share his own stories. "I remember one time in high school, I tried to impress a crush by writing a song for her. I thought it was a great idea, but it turned out the lyrics were a bit... cringe-worthy."

Jiwoong chuckled, his eyes brightening with genuine interest. "Oh, come on, you can't leave me hanging. What were the lyrics?"

Matthew's cheeks turned a shade redder. "Trust me, you don't want to know. It was something about stars aligning and hearts beating in harmony. I cringe just thinking about it."

Jiwoong burst into laughter, the sound so contagious that Matthew couldn't help but join in. "Hey, at least you tried," Jiwoong said between giggles.

"True," Matthew agreed with a grin. "But I quickly learned that I'm better at writing songs about things like my hometown, Vancouver."

"Vancouver, huh?" Jiwoong mused, his eyes focused on the road.

Matthew's heart skipped a beat at Jiwoong's genuine interest. "Music, huh? Well, I've always been drawn to music that tells a story. There's this one song I wrote back in Vancouver about a rainy night that feels like a journey through memories and emotions."

Jiwoong's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "I'd love to hear it someday."

"Maybe I can play it for you sometime," Matthew suggested, feeling a surge of excitement at the thought of sharing his music with Jiwoong.