Everything Seventeen

Seokmin (DK)

I swayed along to the uplifting song sung by Seokmin, a student in the same cohort as me who often performed for school events. I enjoyed all his songs. His voice was crystal-clear and would resonate in the air and in my bones, sending a tingle down my spine. On top of that, he was good soul too. He was so cheerful, optimistic and humorous according to those around him.

Today, he was performing at the school's annual carnival meant to attract new students. His singing was a definite sure-win way to attract students. The moment he sang his first note to the end, there was an extremely large crowd in front of the stage. It was as if the whole festival paused just to let his talent shine and be heard. He had a mesmerizing voice that could allure anyone.

Then, in the midst of his song, as I was gazing at him, he made eye contact with me. Or the girl behind me? Beside me? In front? I would never know. In a crowd, it was hard. I looked back at him and he smiled. It could not be me. Impossible. We barely knew each other. Then again, for the record, he had been making eye contact in my general area in his previous performances too.

"Oh my god! He's totally looking at me! Oppa noticed me," a girl in front of me squealed to her friend.

She started making hearts with her fingers. There was no other reaction from him besides him looking away. Well, I guess he was not looking at her seeing his reaction. Either way, I brushed it off. Once his performance was over, the crowd naturally dispersed and the festival was alive yet again. I instantly left the stage area to go join my friend in an area she said she would remain at.

However, when I got there, she was gone. I looked around to no avail of finding her. I checked my phone. Oh, she had left me a text message.

Friend: Sorry, Carat. Something urgent came up so I had to leave early. Sorryyyyy ;-; I'll make it up to you. Sorry for leaving you alone in the festival.

My smile disappeared. I slid my phone back into my pocket with a disappointed sigh. I was not one to do well on my own.

"Is something wrong?" I heard a voice nearby ask.

I looked up to my left. Fudge. Frick. Prick me with needles. It was Seokmin and he was looking right at me. He tilted his head a little. Gosh, he was really tall. I stared at him, unsure if he was really referring to me. He stepped closer to me, yet quite a distance away.

"Ah, sorry for intruding. I just saw you looking upset and I just wanted to make sure if you were fine," he added, apologising.

He really was talking to me. Did he do this to all his fans? Perhaps he was just like this.

"It's nothing much, my friend just took off because something came up so I'm alone now but it's ok," I told him, lying that I would be perfectly fine.

"I'll be your company, then!" he exclaimed with a wide smile on his face.

My eyes widened. Woah. A popular student was going to accompany me for the rest of the festival. It was doubtful but heck it, it was a rare chance and plus, I wanted to know what he was like up close and personality-wise. The boy behind the bright charismatic smile and alluring vocals.

I nodded in agreement. A smile now plastered on my face. Upon seeing me smile, he smiled too.

"So your name's Carat from class 3-2, right?" he asked.

HE. KNEW. MY. NAME. AND CLASS. OMG.

"Y-yeah. H-how did you know?" I stuttered.

He suddenly froze up and looked elsewhere quickly before looking at me. I was not wearing my full uniform and my name was nowhere to be seen.

"I-I uh I just know. I'm a wise man! I know many!" he mentioned quickly.

I gave him a questioning look and it easily shot down his lie. He brought me over to sit down on a bench far from the crowd. He scratched his head and hesitated in speaking.

"Ok. I'll help you out. Are you one to get to know your fans? You want to be friends with your fans too?" I made generic guesses.

I assumed he talked to his other fans too and hung out with them.

"Umm...That's not exactly it. Rather than them, it's you... Just you," he pointed out, refusing to look at me to hide the blush on his face.

I gestured for him to go on. He sighed and nodded. He mumbled to himself, balled his hands into a fist and hit it on his chest once. He turned to me and his face had a light red pigment despite the cool weather.

"I like you. I've kept seeing you at my performances and the way you smile and sway to my performances, it intrigues me in a way. You catch my eye in every crowd I performed to. I may or may not have passed by several classes to find you. I also may or may not have done some 'stalking'.- IT'S BECAUSE I WANTED TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS INTRIGUING GIRL. NOT ANY OTHER WEIRD REASON. When I learned how good, kind and understanding of a person you were, I realised I didn't want you as a fan. I want you as more than a fan. I like your smile, your cheerfulness and your heart. I want to be part of that so I just want to confess that I think I love you and I want you to be mine," he confessed.

I was speechless. I stared at him for a good second. He held my both my hands and gazed at me in hope. My heart raced. Blood rushed to my cheeks. Must be a dream. A boy I adored and wanted to know more about was confessing to me. No way.

"D-did you just ask me to be your girlfriend?" I asked to make sure.

"Yup! I want to keep being the reason why that beautiful smile of yours is on your face," he confirmed.

"Then of course!" I answered with a smile.

Woah, someone I had been watching all this while with a fast-paced heart actually had feelings for me. So all this while, he was looking at ME and not just in my general direction coincidentally. I guess my guts were right after all. He really did have feelings for me.