Help Me, S.O.S [Verkwan, Seventeen]

two«what kind of expression can deliver my heart?»

Wonwoo was all too familiar with the look on Vernon's face whenever Seungkwan sang. There was so many emotions present in just one expression. Awe, admiration, longing, amazement- Wonwoo liked to sum it all up as lovesickness.

And there was no other word as perfect enough as that. Vernon was just so lovesick to the point where Wonwoo would get second-hand embarrassment.

Like now for example. It had already been a good fifteen minutes after Seungkwan's performance and Vernon was still staring at him from a couple of rows away like he was the most amazing thing that graced the Earth.

Seungkwan was sitting in front, two rows away from them. He was sitting with his usual group. Although Seungkwan could get along with just about anybody, he had his usual group that he would always be with. And just like Wonwoo's group they sat in order by instinct. Jeonghan at one end, Jisoo next to him, then Seokmin, then Seungkwan, and finally their supposed leader Jihoon.

Eventually, Seungkwan must have felt eyes on him- how could he not? Vernon's stare was a little too intense- because he suddenly whipped his head around. Vernon quickly looked away trying to look casual. Seungkwan stared at him curiously for a while until Jisoo tapped him on the shoulder and gained his attention.

Wonwoo shook his head.

"That's it," Wonwoo said. "You need to do something about this little crush of yours."

"Little?" Mingyu asked.

"Okay, huge," Wonwoo corrected.

"Gigantic," Mingyu continued. "Obvious, loud, embarrassing-"

"Okay, I get it!" Vernon said, exasperated. He stared at the ground and picked at the helm of his uniform. Wonwoo stared at him curiously, wondering why he suddenly got so quiet.

"You're right," Vernon finally mumbled. "I need to get over this crush. It's going nowhere."

Wonwoo stared at him in shock and then face palmed so hard that he made Mingyu look at him alarmingly.

"That's the exact opposite of what I want you to do!" Wonwoo shouted at him. His forehead stung a bit. He wished that their "dad" was here to advise him but alas, Seungcheol was on stage giving the tokens to the teachers. Looks like Wonwoo and Mingyu had to act as the parents for a while. (Wonwoo felt a little flustered at the thought of them being parents. He quickly shoved the thought away.)

"It's going nowhere because you're not doing anything!" Wonwoo continued.

"Yeah, you gotta drop hints," Mingyu said, "Like buying food for him!"

"Pick-up lines will definitely do the trick." Wonwoo said.

"Or- you can start by talking to him normally." Seungcheol said, having just finished his task and was retreating back to his seat. He only heard bits of their conversation but upon seeing Vernon's flushed face and using context clues he easily deciphered what their conversation was about.

"Oh yeah," Mingyu said, laughing, "You barely talk to him!"

"I- I get shy, okay!?" Vernon admitted covering his face. "You guys are so embarrassing!"

The other three laughed at the youngest's pain.

"That's the thing," Seungcheol said, "Why are you afraid to talk to him?"

"I'm just scared that I'll say something stupid, you know how I am."

"Well, you've said lots of stupid things in class and everybody in class still likes you." Mingyu pointed out.

"Yeah, don't even worry about it, Vernonie." Seungcheol said, trapping Vernon in a headlock and ruffling his hair.

"Look," Wonwoo said, wanting to get it over with. "Seungkwan is a pretty easy-going guy. You'll be surprised to find that you don't have to try that hard to talk to him. Besides, you shouldn't be nervous talking to him either way. As corny as it sounds, just be yourself. If he doesn't like you- which I highly doubt- then you shouldn't waste anymore time on him."