A Hundred Ways (and more)

004 - come here, let me fix it

I was playing with my phone on the sofa when the door to my house bursts open, and the sight of Jaehwan in his favorite grey hoodie with long padding jacket greets my eyes immediately. The corner of his lips curled up in a lopsided smile as he breathes puffs of air.

He treats my house like his own, so I don't even bother wasting seconds to say 'Welcome'. Before I even have a chance to get up and sit beside him, Jaehwan throws his jacket at me across the table like he was shooting basketball into the ring. Rude.

He insisted on us going out for brunch despite it being -2° outside. As much as I want to stay at home wrapped in layers of blanket like an oversized burrito, I also can’t seem to ignore the growling beast in my stomach calling for foods. The last time I ate was probably yesterday, and it was a jumbo cup of ramen. (also, don't tell Jaehwan but i'm thankful he's going to take me out for brunch because if not, I'd probably die due to excessive hunger right now).

He's dressed warm enough to fight the cold afternoon winter, alright, but there is something off about his looks that I can't really put my finger on.

Call it as you may, but I can tell there is an imaginary lamp bulb above my head as something finally clicks inside my brain. I told Jaehwan to wait in the living room because I need to get something from the kitchen. The moment I step back into the living room, he throws a suspicious look at something I hide behind my back.

"Your hair." My index finger pointing at the bird nest that is his dark brown locks. "Come here, let me fix it."

He looks back at me (more specifically; at something I hold in my hand) over his shoulder with an annoyed glare. "Sit down and put that god damned scissor away."

Whoops. Looks like I failed to hide the scissor. "But your hair is a mess!!! I only mean well!" I manage to protest as I take a seat beside him.

Jaehwan lets out a long withering sigh, slowly coming closer to flick my forehead. Ow, that hurts! "You can hardly cut paper straight; you're going to chop my head off."

I smiled triumphantly at the riled up Jaehwan as he takes the scissor away from my hand to put it on nearby table. "You know I'm just joking, right?"

He shakes his head, refusing to agree to my question as if he couldn't believe it in the slightest. Who the hell will actually cut someone's hair out of the blue?

Clicking my tongue, I decided that at least fixing his hair with my own hand would be better.

"How are you going to look decent without me," I say as my fingers busy fixing his mess of a hair, brushing the tangled locks out his eyelids. A soft chuckle makes me blink in surprise and looks up at him.

His gaze softens, a small smile playing on his face. "I will always have you to fix it up for me though?" A smirk tugging at his lips as he speaks.

"Don't push your luck." I say with my nose scrunched and face flushed red. He still has that effect on me, making me feel like there are thousands fireflies and butterflies inside my stomach (and that annoying asshole sure knows how to use it to his own advantages).