attention waltz ; choi soobin

09

"hey soobie!" ara greeted soobin with a poke on his cheek and her finger immediately fell into his dimples when he realised ara was here. he grabbed her finger that was poking his cheek and lifted his head to face her.

"hi ara." ara gave him a wide smile and sat at her usual seat. right next to soobin. sitting next to him is a hundred times better than him sitting in front of him. she wants to stay right next him forever.

"y-you're.. so pretty." soobin's eyes fluttered as he said those words and his face was turning bright red. "but.. you probably get that a lot and-"

"thank you soobie. yeah i get that a lot but-" those words never made my heart flutter like this.. those were the words that she wanted to say but she didn't want to get ahead of herself and tell him about her feelings. she decided to keep it to herself until she was sure that soobin returned her feelings.

"-i think this one's the most memorable." ara replied with a smile.

"oh, i have some news to share! i applied to be a committee for the festival some time ago and they got back to me and said i was accepted."

"soobie! that's great! you're slowly getting yourself out there! but why didn't you tell me about it? i could've applied too and we can be committees together."

"yeah but you're kinda famous so i don't think i can spend time with you like this.. everyone will talk to you and look at you.. and if you're with me then-"

"it's okay. i get it. take your time. did any of your other friends apply? you aren't alone are you?"

"yeah, i actually got assigned to the same department as mina."

ara's eye twitched at the mention of her name. "mina? the bitch i specifically told you to stay away from?"

"ara.. she's in my class and she seems nice. there's nothing fishy about her or anything.."

"i can't believe you jus-" ara was so pissed off that she felt like crying and she NEVER cried out of anger before. this is crazy.

"i told you to stay away from her and you completely ignored me?! i fucking HATE that bitch."

'SHHH!!'

right, they were still in the library.

"she's in your class.. how could i forget about that.. who knows what you did with her too."

"what are you talking about? we just talked about this committee thing and sometimes she asks me questions but i don't even answer sometimes because i- i was rushing to meet you here as usual.."

that bitch so wants him.

"are you going to cut her off?"

"what? why?"

"cut her off."

"no, why would i?" he was trying his best to make new friends and ara wants him to cut them off? no. every friend he makes here is precious.

"soobin." not even soobie anymore, just plain soobin. "cut her off."

"why are you trying to control me? if there's anything i hate, it's being controlled. who are you anyway? you're just- just a friend. and friends.. friends don't.." soobin starts to lose focus when he saw ara's tears flowing down her cheek.

'who are you anyway?' 'just a friend' 'a friend' 'who are you' 'just a friend'

those words keep playing around in her mind. he was right, who was she to him? looks like she's just a plain old friend. if this was a sign that her feelings are one-sided all this time then she'll take it. it will hurt more if she hangs on any longer.

ara took her stuff and ran out of the library. deep inside her, she wished that soobin would chase her and they'll be okay again. as if nothing happened. but she knew that he wouldn't. she was just a plain, basic friend.

"ara.." she felt a hand on her shoulder and she knew who it was.

"why are you crying?" he turned to face her and ara immediately started bawling in his chest. yeonjun wrapped her around his arms and caressed her head fondly.

"hey, do you want to talk about it?" yeonjun asked and ara shook her head.

"can we get some drinks tonight?" she finally spoke when she calmed down. it has been so long since she got drunk and tonight was the perfect time to pass out.

"sure. there's actually a party tonight at wooyoung's. do you want to go there?"

"hey, wooyoung's your friend. you can't miss his party." ara starts wiping her tears.

"i've been to a bunch of his parties. he won't even care if i wasn't there."

"the party is fine. i want to forget all about this. where did my old self go omg. i have to snap out of it. i really did change huh?" ara lightly tapped her face.

"mhm. i don't even see you anywhere these days."

"yeah sorry. working on my assignments." it was not a lie, but it wasn't the full truth either but he doesn't need to know that.

"sure.. now let me take you home and i'll pick you up again at 9 tonight."

"cool. ugh my face is gonna be puffy tonight.. how am i supposed to get laid.."

"i know someone that doesn't care about your puffy face and he even thinks that you're gonna look cute and he's standing right in front of you.."

ara chuckles and hits his chest. "no offense but maybe i'll find someone i don't know tonight. just a one night stand to forget stuff.."

yeonjun somehow felt ara's pain and took her into a hug. "you know, you don't need all that to feel better. a good friend is enough and i'm here.."

"fuck you.. you're making me cry again. but i think-i don't know.. i'll just see what happens tonight. thanks yeonjun." ara returns his hug.

"anything for you."

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let's drink our problems away 🥳