Twenty Centimeters Apart

final.

Sehun has a hard time expressing his feelings. He finds it incredibly awkward being put in a serious situation, and his face expressions stays the same for every conversation he's a part of. When he starts to notice that he has developed romantic feelings for Irene, he can't help but to make fun of her height because that's simply the only way he can express it.

It's 11P.M. at night and Irene is forced to enter the SM building for vocal practice by her trainer. She is dropped off at the building by her manager and soon after he speeds off into the road in a matter of seconds. In order to enter the building, you must enter in a number pin-code that will allow you to enter. Although, for Irene, her pin-code was changed just about a week ago, leaving her with a new pin-code to remember. Therefore, she tended to forget the new code, just like she did at that very moment.

"Are you kidding me?" Irene quietly said to herself. She continued to enter in many random pin-codes into the number pad, hoping that one would end up correct and let her into the building.

There wasn't a single cellphone in the near distance due to the fact that Irene wasn't able to have one yet by her management. Irene sighed, placing her head on the wall as she awaited for a miracle to happen. Perhaps a worker would enter the building at this time and bring in Irene with them, but she doubt that would happen due to the fact that it was late at night and only the night owls would enter.

"Is something wrong?" A voice had suddenly asked, making Irene jump up from being frightened.

She lifted her head up and saw the one and only Sehun standing in her presence. "Sehun!" She shouted out. "I'm glad you came. I forgot my passcode, so maybe you can put in your code so we can both enter the building together."

"What would you do without me?" Sehun straightforwardly said with a straight expression as he entered in his pin-code. He walked right into the building as Irene followed him like a little penguin waddling in.

"What are you doing here this late at night?" Irene asked while the two of them entered the elevator.

Sehun responded back, clicking on the third floor button. "We're currently preparing for our comeback. And me, I just so happened to be in charge of drinks today." He looked through the grocery bag, which was in his hand, and handed Irene a soda can without making a single eye contact towards her.

"Oh! I can't have soda due to my diet and I also have vocal lessons soon. But thank you though!" She smiled very cheekily.

He then placed the soda can back in the bag and handed over a herbal tea bottle to Irene. "I heard that this specific tea is good for your body and it should also help out with your throat for your vocal lesson."

Irene couldn't help, but to smile like a little kid when she received the drink from him. "Thanks." She dipped her head into a small bow to show her appreciation.

"It's no problem, shorty." Sehun ruffled her hair with a light chuckle escaping his lips.

"Shorty?" Irene's face expression suddenly changed within a second and the elevator door opened as they arrived at Sehun's stop.

"You're so short that I have to look down in order to see you." He playfully said as he walked out the elevator.

"Hey! Oh Sehun!" Irene exclaimed as the elevator door closed right in front of her face and proceeded to go up one more floor. "161cm isn't that short, right?"

< : >

It was a nice, calm day while the time was ranging around the afternoon. Irene was located inside a convenience store within walking distance from her company. She decided that she'll stop by the store to buy herself, and even Sehun, a drink to show her gratitude towards him for last time. Everything went well until she saw her favorite drink on the highest top shelf. Like the petite person she is, Irene began to stand on the tip of her toes, trying to reach for the certain drink. She began to struggle until she saw a pair of slender hands grab her desired drink from the same shelf. Once again, it was yours truly, Sehun.

Irene chuckled, "You always seem to be there when I'm in need of help."

"You wouldn't need my help if you weren't that short." Sehun blankly said as he examined the drink that was in his palm and also in Irene's. "Who's these two drinks for?"

The color of Irene's cheeks transformed into a a light shade of pink as she said, "Well, I was going to buy a drink for you and I since you offered me a drink the other day in the elevator." She then stated right after, "And last time I checked, you're 181cm while i'm 161cm. We're only twenty centimeters apart."

"I'm not sure if you're trying to make yourself feel good about your height, but twenty centimeters is still a pretty big difference within our height, noona." Sehun proceeded to place the two drinks back onto the shelf. "Last time I checked, my favorite drink was bubble tea."

Irene became extremely confused as she had no idea what was happening in the current moment. "But these drinks were on sale! Come on, buy one get one for free! I don't have enough money for bubble tea."

"My treat then, shorty." He spoke out so casually as he walked out of the store, Irene following right after.

Irene asked, "You're fine with paying?"

"Sure. I know money is tight for you." He then randomly stopped walking as he looked straight into Irene's eyes. "Actually, I'll only buy you a drink if you're able to reach the palm of my hand." He then placed his hand right above his head, trying to play a playful joke on her.

"Why do you always have to do this to me?" Irene shrugged, jumping constantly trying to reach Sehun's palm.

After all the hard work of trying, Irene eventually gave up. Sehun lowered his arm and placed it on top of Irene's shoulder as he continued to walk, bringing her with him. "You're so short and adorable, that I'll buy you bubble tea and anything else you want for free."

"I already know that you find me short, but you also think I'm adorable too?" She giggled while her lips curled into a bright smile.

Sehun stayed quiet as he was crazily blushing. He looked at the opposite direction Irene was in due to embarrassment. Irene held onto Sehun's hand that was resting on top of her shoulder. "You have a hard way of showing that you like me. Remember, we're only twenty centimeters apart from one another, so that means I'm not that far away from your heart."