Seventeen One Shots (Requests open)

Valentine's Day - Hoshi

If there was ever a day Jem despised, it was Valentine's Day. Every Valentine's Day couples were gathered together as far as the eye could see, flaunting around what she didn't have. What she never had by Valentine's Day. She hated them.

Although, she couldn't blame them. If Jem had a significant other, hell, she wouldn't give a damn what others thought about it either. Let them judge her, nothing matters but the person by her side. That's what she would think, if she had someone by her side. But the fact is, she doesn't. She simply looks on in envy every Valentine's Day, staring at the couples surrounding her.

Despite her state of mind concerning the holiday, there was always one boy who managed to make it all brighter. 

Kwon Soonyoung, known by his best friends as Hoshi - a nickname courtesy of Jem when she described him as being a shining star. He was always there for his friends when they were down, ready with puns and jokes on hand, which were always perfectly tailored to fit the situation.

But even though Hoshi makes Valentine's better, he also made it much, much worse. You see, Hoshi was the one Jem was crushing on. And no, it wasn't one of those crushes where she just knows it'll go away. It was the kind that she wanted to go away, because no matter how strong she felt for the other she knew it'll never happen. 

Jem had always secretly liked Hoshi, but never realised how strong the feelings were. Not until she broke up with her last boyfriend 7 months ago. He was right by her side every step of the way, and only after he stayed beside her after a long night of screaming and tears did she realise how important he was to her. Only then did she appreciate it. 

And that brings us to a small, secluded corner of the cafe at which the offending boy's best friend Jihoon worked at. Jihoon knew about Jem's feelings for Soonyoung, and was the only one. On days where she wasn't crying over her ex with Soonyoung, she was crying over Soonyoung with Jihoon. 

But anyways, here she was in that cafe, death glaring every couple that dared to look in her general direction. 

"Jem, cmon, if you keep staring at them like that you'll scare them away. Then who will I serve?" The smaller boy said, his hands on his hips as he looked at her disapprovingly. 

Jem looked up at Jihoon, taking a bored sip from her coffee. "Me." She retorted, not really caring at all. "You can serve me." She looked up at him with dull, pained eyes, and he picked up immediately.

"For God's safe, Jem, just tell him!"

Another sip. "No."

"Why not?" He sat beside her.

She was silent for a little, mulling over the same question she had thought about herself. It wasn't until last night did she realise why.

"Because I don't want to lose him." 

It was now Jihoon's turn to go silent. He understood. Rejection could mean awkwardness between them, and eventually never being as close as they were previously. And if they did ever get together, they would never be the same after a breakup. As they both thought on the topic, the silence was broke by an unexpected question.

"If he asked you out, what would you say?"

~•~•~•~

It started with the chocolates. 

After she had left cafe she noticed a small box of chocolates hidden in the basket of her bicycle. No name, only a note that said "To Jem" in fancy calligraphy. Jem was of course wary of the mysterious box, but gave in to the sweet looking truffles. 

Next was the teddy bear.

After her classes in uni that day she returned back to her dorm. On her bed was a small teddy with beige fur and big button eyes. It was cute, really. Once again, no name, only a note with the same calligraphy letters saying the same phrase. She sighed, laying down to take a small nap before her nightly dance practice.

Last was the rose.

When Jem walked into the practice room the lights were out. It was strange, she thought. Soonyoung was always here before her. 

"Okay, Hosh. You can come out now." She called, spinning in circles to perhaps find the prankster boy. When there was no response she gave an eye roll and turned on the lights.

The room was empty, not a person in sight except for her. "Perhaps he has better things to do." She whispered to herself.

That's when she noticed the rose. It was red, a deep red, and sat in the centre of the room. There was a note attatched to it. Except this one didn't say "To Jem." It said "turn around." 

She did as the note said and there was Hoshi, in his dance outfit, a second rose in his hand. This one was a light pink, matching his face.

"L-listen... Jem..." he started, staring at his feet. He shook his head and looked up at her with his natural sunshine smile. "Simply put, I like you." He said. "And I don't care if you reject me, I'll still like you just the same." He looked so happy, like nothing could bring him down. 

He walked toward her and held out the rose, his eyes crinkled into 10:10 eyesmiles. 

"Will you be my girlfriend?" 

Here Jem stood, conflicted between love and security. Suddenly her mind went to the prior conversation with Jihoon, where he asked what she would say if he asked her out.

"If he asked you out, what would you say?" 

Jem froze for a moment before shrugging. Jihoon sighed.

"Okay. Close your eyes. Imagine that I'm Hoshi and I just asked you out. What's the first answer that comes to your mind?"

"Yes."

The answer was barely a whisper, but once she said it a grin grew upon her face. "Yes!" She repeated. "Yes of course!!!" 

Hoshi grinned wider than before and enveloped her into a hug, twirling her around. 

And in that moment in his arms, Jem decided that she loved Valentine's Day after all.