Shadow | Huang Renjun

50

Eunah and Renjun sit comfortably on the sofa in her living room, watching an old cartoon together that used to be one of her favourites as a child.
She rests against his side, curled up with her head on his shoulder and loose hair tickling his cheek. His arm lays around her waist, hand holding hers which sits on her thigh.

They're waiting for her parents to get home, so they can discuss the situation their daughter is in.

"Do you have to snuggle in here?"

Siho's voice comes from the doorway, him holding an empty bowl and glass ready to be washed. His face is scrunched in disgust, which causes Eunah to roll her eyes and Renjun to glance away in mild embarrassment.

"Do you have to be a little shit all the time?" she retorts, earning herself a glare from the teenager.

"What're you doing, anyway? You said you were gonna be out?"

"We need to talk to Mum and Dad. You too actually, so don't start anything new before they come back."

"Ugh, fine."

He enters the kitchen to put his pots in the sink, before scurrying back upstairs to avoid seeing any more affection of even the smallest degree.
Eunah turns to her boyfriend once they're alone again, raising a brow at his nervous expression.

"You okay?"

"Y- Yeah."

"Sure?" she hums, scanning his face. "You can tell me, it's okay."

"I just–"
He pauses, sighing.
"I've never... I'm still getting used to all this. Hell, I had to ask Hyuck what boyfriends are supposed to do. I don't know shit, and it's all so... weird."

The Angel exhales a soft laugh, nuzzling into the crook of his neck.
"Aw, that's okay. It's weird for me too, if that helps."

"A little."

"I don't know the first thing about being a girlfriend, and I'm not exactly the most... attentive out there, am I?"

Renjun shrugs lightly, careful not to accidentally shoulder her.
"I'd say you're quite attentive. Easily distractible, though. Pretty sure your head's in the clouds 90% of the time."

She scoffs, playfully nudging his side.
"No it's not. I'll have you know, it's on overdrive all the time. I can't be distracted if I'm always thinking about everything at once."

"Sounds exhausting."

"Oh, believe me, it is."

They return to watching the cartoon, Eunah snuggling into him with a contented sigh. His arm pulls her close, hand gently squeezing hers.

Mind elsewhere, he stares at the screen and hums in acknowledgement of his girlfriend's small comments every now-and-then. His free hand taps the arm of the sofa, seeming impatient, tongue tucked.
Amidst everything that's been going on, and the euphoria of a new relationship, he hasn't had a chance to apologise for his behaviour over the first couple of months.

"...blossom?" he mutters, hesitant and barely audible.

Eunah hums in response, taking a quick glance towards his downcast expression and having to look again.
"What's wrong?"

"I'm really sorry..."

Frown etched onto her face, she turns to wrap her arms around his torso.
"What're you sorry for?"

"I was awful to you when we first met, and you didn't deserve that."

Her hand comes to rest on his cheek, thumb gently running over it while his eyes avoid her soft gaze.