GLOW-UP

27 | don't let go

even after the suspicious series of events regarding johnny, taeyong and halloween that he couldn't quite remember, taeil still didn't expect to be confronted by lee taeyong that week.

lee taeyong.

the god himself.

and he was calling his name at four o'clock as taeil was just about to head home after the last math lecture of the day.

"taeil, wait up!"

taeil turned on his heel to see lee taeyong - in that cute black snapback he'd been wearing recently - speedwalking towards him across the courtyard. there was the strange sensation of cogs beginning to click into place in his mind and suddenly taeil was drawn back to the halloween party and everything that happened that had previously been nothing but a blur-

alcohol burning the back of his throat; dancing in long hair and a yellow dress; an empty bathroom.

taeil frowned.

"hey," said taeyong breathlessly as he stopped just a few feet away.

"uh, h-hi," taeil stammered. taeyong still seemed to have that magnetic effect on him that messed with his brain and turned him into a bumbling idiot.

it wasn't pretty.

taeyong scratched his head and met taeil's eyes (and it was a miracle taeil didn't self-combust on the spot - taeyong's eyes were so fucking beautiful). "i was wondering if you have a minute to talk?"

yes, yes, yES! taeil's mind screamed at him. he would give anything for a few minutes of listening to taeyong talk.

"okay, uh, cool," taeyong said with a nod, shifting awkwardly from foot to foot, "so, i don't know if you remember but-"

"oh, moony!"

taeil tried not to get distracted from taeyong's mesmerising gaze, but johnny had suddenly appeared by his side, interrupting the conversation. "uh, johnny, we're kind of in the middle of-"

"can i borrow you for a minute?" johnny cut in. he was wearing his enormous hockey varsity jacket and his hair was messy across his forehead.

(taeil had already seen that mess on his head, though. he'd been staring at johnny for the entire math lecture, getting more and more frustrated at the lock of hair that hung down in his eyes and wouldn't stop bouncing on his forehead every time he moved. and now johnny had the audacity to catch up with him after leaving the lecture hall, and ruin his moment with the love of his life. fuck him.)

"sorry, but i just needed to speak to taeil for a second?" taeyong piped up, sounding even more nervous now. he looked more than a little intimidated by johnny's presence, and taeil couldn't blame him.

johnny seo was probably the kind of person who could overpower you with just his pinkie finger.

"well, i also need to speak to taeil for a second," johnny echoed, arguing back in what seemed like a pointless argument.

he slid an arm around taeil's waist and pulled him into his side, resting his hand on the shorter boy's hip.

taeyong blinked. "uh... but-"

taeil tried not to be so obvious as he looked up at johnny with a glare. what the hell was he playing at? the hand resting on his hip was still there however, so taeil couldn't exactly squirm away and drag taeyong with him.

"so can i borrow you for a minute, tae?" johnny asked again, returning taeil's glare with a sweet smile.

taeil looked from johnny to taeyong, and back to johnny again. "b-but-"