Faces Of Love: JJ Project Short Stories

1 - First Time (Part 1, Jinyoung)

The first time Jinyoung saw Jaebum, had also been the first time he stepped foot into the college library, since he just got accepted in their literature major. The then stranger Jaebum was sitting beside the window, reading a book. The sunlight fell upon his features, made it seemed like he was shining. And the sight was so strikingly beautiful. Maybe Jinyoung had already curious about the other person at that time, but didn't find it necessary to try finding who he was at the time and treated it just as a passing interest.

However, the interest grew further as he often found Jaebum at the same spot, reading mostly either a book he already read or he was interested in but not yet to read. They were not always the library book. Maybe about half of the books were something he brought himself, because he couldn't find it between the books on the library shelves. He wanted to ask about the books, but couldn't find the courage to talk to the stranger.

He only found out who Jaebum was when a friend of his, Youngjae, who majored in Fine Arts asked him to be a live model for a class. Jaebum was among the people trying to capture him into the canvas while he was trying hard not to move for hours, especially looking at the man who had caught his curiosity and didn't expect to meet there. He then braved himself to ask Youngjae about Jaebum, found out who he was and that he was a year above him.

The first time they talked, it wasn't him who initiated it, to his surprise. He was reading Murakami's Kafka on the Shore at some spot in the library when Jaebum suddenly approached him and started talking to him.

"Hey, you're Youngjae's friend right? The one who modeled for us?"

Jinyoung was too startled to form a word, he just nodded as an answer. He must've looked dumb, staring at Jaebum with a slightly gaped mouth.

"My name is Jaebum, what's yours?" Jaebum asked, sitting next to him. And Jinyoung further made a fool of himself by stuttering, almost forgetting, his own name, still with a dumb face.

"Okay, Jinyoung, so here's the thing. The book you're reading now is one of my favorite and I'm really, really aching to read it now. I've read it a few times, so I actually want to let you peacefully read it and wait until you finish it. But I have to go now, and I really want to read it as soon as possible. That's why, can you text me when you finish reading it? So I can read it right after and won't risk it getting borrowed by any others. Please?"

Jaebum was looking at him with hopeful eyes, and Jinyoung would do anything for those. So he nodded.

"Thanks!" Jaebum smiled brightly, his eyes squinted, and Jinyoung's heart skipped a beat.

"Here's my phone number," Jaebum reached for his pocket and pulled out a paper, "Please text me anytime you finished the book. I'm counting on you!"

And he was gone. Leaving Jinyoung processing their conversation and convincing himself that wasn't a dream. Wait, not only he talked to me, he gave me his number?

For a few minutes he stared at the small piece of paper, forgetting the book in his hands until he remembered the purpose of those numbers lining on it. He considered to just text him right away and gave the book because he didn't think he could continue concentrating on what he was reading while his heart still hadn't stop beating crazily against his ribs, and his mind filled with Jaebum. But Jaebum seemed to love the book so much, and maybe, there was a slight possibility Jinyoung could strike a conversation where he didn't look as dumb as he was before, bringing the book as the topic as he gave it to Jaebum. So he forced himself to focus, and continue reading.

Jinyoung finished it and glad he did, because it was such a wonderful book. No wonder Jaebum likes it so much. Then he sent his first text to Jaebum that went through the process of being typed, deleted, and typed again only God knew how many times. His reply came quite fast, and appeared in person a moment later. Jinyoung was still too nervous to start a conversation that he almost gave up and about to just let Jaebum go, but fortunately Jaebum wanted to treat him for guarding the book, which led to their first hanging out together at a café near the campus. Only then he found his courage to talk about the book. Jaebum responded enthusiastically, his eyes shining with excitement, showing his love for the book. Then the conversation flowed to the other books they also liked, going for hours, leaving the two cups of coffee in front of them cold. As he thought, to his delight, they had almost the same taste of books.