Tender Love {Chanyeol/Jongin} [English Ver.]

~49~

It was only missing two months to finish college and that meant: final projects and exams. Everyone had started their projects in early January, or even before January. Except for Naeun's photography's class. The teacher hadn't told them what they had to do yet and didn't have an intention to do it which was driving the students crazy.

Eunji had finished her psychology book already while Baekhyun was almost finishing it. Sehun and Jongin were still working on their project while doing practices in companies. Chanyeol had to finish his model of a hotel, which was designed by himself and would have to show to professional architects. The design was modern and peculiar but he was sure it would be liked by his teacher and the architects.

He literally hadn't touch the model after his new life began, and everytime he saw it, he'd say he'd keep working on it the following day. Which never happened.

The library was full of students every single day. Everyone was studying hard to graduate -and others pass the year- with excellent marks. But while some people studied in the library, Naeun prefered studying in the comfort of her house.

She was currently sitting in the dining table with her books scattered over it. It was around 2am and she was almost falling asleep ontop of her laptop but she couldn't let that happen.

She jumped from fear when she heard Eunji screaming and running up to her.

"I know what we can do for your birthday!" She exclaimed happily now that she finally had an idea after thinking and thinking.

"It's almost 3am, Eunji! Don't yell," Naeun replied.

She sat in a chair next her friend and closed her laptop so she had her attention. Naeun glared at her: she had told her that she didn't want to do anything for her birthday. She had no time to think about it either.

"We can organize a small party here in the house with only our close friends!" Naeun sighed, tired, and covered her face with her hands. "You don't like big parties, but this one would be small and with your loved ones. You're turning twenty-two and twenty-two comes once in a lifetime."

"Fine." She gave up. "But you will organize it. Like a surprise."

"Awesome!" Eunji exclaimed. "But. . . . I only have a week! Oh my God. I have to invite the people and think about the food and the decoration!" She began getting stressed. She had a lot to do now including the party and her studies. But it was her fault for wanting to celebrate her best friend's birthday.

"Are you done? I have to keep studying."

"Yes, yes. Give me a paper and a pen," she asked, with no need to because she took what she asked herself and went back to her bedroom. She would start making the list for the people who would be invited.

***

Chanyeol walked past Jongin's bedroom after coming out of the bathroom and saw him studying. That was all he was doing lately: studying. Chanyeol thought he should be doing the same but then he shook his head.

He could do it later.

He laid down in his bed and stared at the ceiling, thinking. He couldn't see Mirei as much as before because she was also studying. Then he thought that she was leaving in a month. A month before graduating because that was when her exchange ended and she was going to graduate in Japan.

He was going to miss her.

Was he really going to? Or would he only miss having someone to be with when he felt alone?

He frowned.

"Do you like her?" He asked himself. "Of course I do. If not I wouldn't be with her. . . ." He tried to convince himself. "Would I be with her if I didn't really like her?" He wondered now confused. "Why don't I ask her to be my girlfriend?"

After thinking how long they had been going out and about, he came to the conclusion that it was time to ask her to be his. Even if she was leaving in a month. But they could see each other from time to time. He could go to Japan or her go to Korea. . . . Also, there was the internet.

That's it. He decided to ask her to be his girlfriend the next time he saw her.

***

The next day Chanyeol spotted Mirei walking in their classroom and hugged her from behind.

"You and I. Date. Tonight," he told her near her ear, startling her.

She turned around and smiled.

"Good morning. Tonight? Great." She accepted.

He smiled and gave her a short kiss on the lips before going to their respective seats. He already knew what he wanted to do. They'd go to have dinner in the centre of the city, walk by the Han river, he'd ask her to be his girlfriend and then take her back to her dorm. Everything was well calculated so it was going to be perfect.

The day passed by quickly. At night, Chanyeol picked Mirei up infront of the college campus and drived to the center of the city. He choose a Japanese restaurant to have dinner at. He didn't eat Japanese food very often and it was Mirei's home country cousine so. . . .

She was touched for the date he had prepared. And what surprised her more was that Chanyeol was very romantic and affectionate that night.

When they finished their dinner, Chanyeol took her for a walk by the Han River.

"I'm not leaving yet, Chanyeol." She giggled as he passed his arm over her shoulders, putting her close of him.

"I'm just saying I'll miss you," he replied. She smiled and got on tiptoes to kiss his cheek.

The night was warm, with a little bit of wind. The sky was dark with no stars nor moon. The only thing that lit the place were some street lights.

They sat in a bench and kept talking. Well, Mirei talked while Chanyeol listened. Almost an hour had passed when he thought it was the right time to ask her to be his girlfriend. He cleared his throat and caressed her right hand, which he was holding.

"Hmm. Mirei," he interrupted her. "There's something I'd like to ask you. . . ." She nodded, in response for him to ask whatever he wanted to ask.

He looked at her eyes and felt his heart race. The words he wanted to say got stuck on his vocal cords, not wanting to come out.

"I'm hungry. Do you want something to eat?" He finally could say something and felt like slapping himself for saying such thing. He let go of her hand and stood up. "Near here is a grocery store. We can get ramen."

She stared at him confused. How could he be hungry when they just had dinner? Right, he's Korean and Koreans were hungry most of the time.

She stood up and grabbed his hand to walk to the grocery store. Not a single word was said until they arrived and Chanyeol talked to the cashier, asking where they could cook the ramen. The man walked them to the microwave and left them after Chanyeol paid for using it.

Infront of the grocery store was a picnic table and they sat there to eat their food.

A while later Chanyeol drived to college and walked Mirei to her dorm.

"What's wrong?" She asked when they were at her door.

"Nothing. Why?" He asked as he rubbed her arms, which were over his shoulders.

"You've been too quiet. Tell me."

"It's nothing. I'm just. . , a little tired." He gave her a kiss on the lips and when he pulled apart, she kissed him again.

"Are you veeery tired?" She asked seductively. He smiled against her lips and followed the kiss she had just started.

They walked inside not pulling apart from the passionate kiss and he closed the door behind him. Mirei had a dorm for herself so they were completely alone. . . .