GLOW-UP

28 | firework night

"hey, moony, can i ask you something?"

taeil glanced up at the taller boy and raised an eyebrow. he didn't know why they were still holding hands seeing as they had let go for johnny to undo taeil's skates for him and take them off after the practise ice skating date. but somehow taeil's hand had found itself tucked in johnny's again, and they still hadn't let go.

"you sound really serious," taeil remarked with a short laugh, "if you want dating advice, you already know i'm the worst person to go to."

johnny blinked. taeil's response had knocked him off his train of thought. "what?"

taeil frowned. his other hand felt really cold, even in the pocket of his bomber jacket. "well... you like sooyoung, right? if you want to ask her out, there's nothing stopping you-"

"no, no, no, that's not what i was gonna say at all," johnny cut in, "i was going to ask if you wanted to come see the fireworks with me tomorrow night?"

"what, like a date?" taeil joked with a light chuckle.

johnny fell silent for a minute, overcome with the strangest feeling as the tips of his ears started to heat up. was this... embarrassment? no, of course not, johnny seo was always confident and in control.

"you wish," he answered, tossing his hair with an air of sass. "but no, i mean with the foreign swagger section."

"oh," said taeil, with a pause, "do you really still call them that?"

johnny looked offended and walked further away from him on the sidewalk, though he didn't let go of taeil's hand. "um, yes," he said, "what else would i call them?"

taeil stifled a laugh. "i don't know, most people call them... friends?"

"pfft, those people obviously aren't as cool as me."

"you're lame."

"i know."

the conversation continued past the bus stop, where they came to the silent agreement to walk home together in the dark instead of catching the 156 bus back to the student apartments.

"you still didn't answer my question," johnny complained as they approached the high-rise apartment blocks.

"oh, you mean your date proposal?"

"don't try and sass me, moony, it doesn't suit you." johnny rolled his eyes, but pulled him closer into his side, holding his hand just a little bit tighter. "just answer the question, will you?"

taeil shrugged, falling into step with the hockey player as johnny slowed down a fraction. "i guess i'll come," he answered nonchalantly.

"playing hard to get, are we?" johnny asked in amusement, "maybe you've learnt more than i thought..."

"can i invite yuta and sicheng?"

johnny sighed.

"what?" taeil demanded, "sicheng loves fireworks. he won't stop going on about how everything is inferior to chinese new year-"

"fine, sure, invite them." johnny gave up at that point. he didn't even know why he'd reacted like that to taeil's request.

maybe it was because if yuta and sicheng came, johnny wouldn't have taeil to himself.

"okay, i'll ask them when i get in!" taeil grinned and skipped the rest of the way to the entrance of his building. he was about to go in, but johnny still wouldn't let go of his hand.

"i could walk you up," johnny mumbled, and then tried to play it off by clearing his throat and shrugging. "y'know, 'cause you might get murdered on your way up or something."