"Why are you here?" Lina wasted no time to attack Hyuck when she opened the door. He smiled at her.
"Good evening, Mr. Joel. I see we're looking better." Without an invitation, he walked himself through the door.
"One of us is," Lina answered. "The other looks like an eight year old boy shopping in the women's section."
Hyuck turned around and clutched at his heart, making an expression that imitated him being in pain. "This is my favorite sweater." It was a bright yellow sweater, worn with ripped blue jeans.
"It's ugly," Lina said before walking into the kitchen. She had no idea how to act around him half the time, so insulting him was her best option, and it had gotten her through three years already, so she just never stopped. Hyuck just smiled to himself, following her into the other room.
"Good evening Mrs. Gong, it's nice to finally meet you. The tteokbokki smells amazing," he greeted Lina's mom. Mrs. Gong turned with a smile.
"Thank you, Donghyuck! It's great to finally meet you as well! Here, have a seat. I'll serve in just a second," she said. Hyuck sat down next to Lina, who turned to him disgustedly.
"I don't want you to sit next to me."
"Did I do something?" he asked. She looked over at him, her chest tighter than usual.
She dropped her voice to a whisper so her mom couldn't listen in. "You literally dropped me off in the nurse's office and left me there alone to pass out."
Hyuck grimaced. "Oof, yeah I was wondering if afterwards I should have gone back, but I didn't."
"Clearly."
"Look," he pinched her cheek. "Don't be mad, okay? I still love you."
"Whatever I'm over it. Stop touching me." Lina swatted his hand away as the bowls of tteokbokki came over. "Thanks mom," Lina said.
"Yes, thank you Mrs. Gong," Hyuck echoed.
Mrs. Gong smiled and sat down with them. "So, Donghyuck, you're quite a good friend to Lina, huh?" she asked. Hyuck looked up at her with a rice cake between his chopsticks.
"Only on Wednesdays," he replied without a thought. Lina looked at him and couldn't help but smile softly, trying to contain it mostly. He was so witty it drove her crazy, but it was also the reason she liked him so much.
Mrs. Gong giggled and nodded. "Fair enough. What are you planning to do after high school?" she asked.
"I want to be an idol-singer," Hyuck answered honestly. Lina stopped eating, watching him intently, stars practically in her eyes. "I have a name picked out and everything."
"Oh really?" Mrs. Gong asked. "You sing?"
"He has a really pretty voice," Lina interjected.
"I'll have to sing for you sometime," Hyuck finished with a smile. Mrs. Gong nodded, her eyes wide.
"Yes please! You should come over more often, you add a little spice to this house," she said. Lina's mouth dropped.
"I know, Lina can be quite boring, can't she?" Hyuck said. Her mom laughed again and Lina rolled her eyes. The front door opened and the sound of her father's whistling echoed through the house.
"Dad!" Lina called out. "Come in here!"
He did as she said and entered the kitchen, patting his daughter's head and kissing his wife's cheek before turning to look at Hyuck. "I don't believe we've met," he said. Hyuck stood and bowed with a smile.
"I'm Donghyuck," he introduced himself. "I'm a friend of Lina's. I came to check on her and was offered a lovely meal."
"Technically that's not how it happened," Lina grunted. "Dad," she tugged on her father's arm. "Save me, they're ganging up on me."
"My beautiful wife and your precious friend? How disgraceful," he said, walking over to the pot of food. "Donghyuck, you wouldn't disrespect my daughter, would you?"
"Not on a Wednesday," Hyuck replied. Mrs. Gong almost choked on her food from laughing, Mr. Gong not yet in the loop. Lina rolled her eyes again and stood up, putting her bowl on the counter.
"I'm going back to bed."
Lina walked back up the stairs and into her room, taking off her slippers before curling up under her covers. She heard laughter and then footsteps up the stairs right before her door opened. Hyuck stood in the doorway, smiling at her.
"I mean I just came up here to talk but if we're getting under the covers-,"
"Hyuck."
He smiled a genuine smile, the first one of the day. He shut the door behind him and made his way over to her, taking off his own slippers before getting under the covers as well. She was faced towards the wall on her side, and he was faced towards the ceiling on his back.
"You wanna know a secret?" he asked.
Lina pondered over whether or not she really wanted to know a secret. In the end, she decided against it. "No."
"Ouch, I didn't want to tell you anyway."
Lina rolled over to face him, causing him to turn his head to face her. Their eyes were locked on each other's, neither of them moving a muscle.
"You're beautiful," he told her.
"I'm confused," she replied.
"Welcome to the club. I've been confused for years. Should we cuddle now?"
Lina smiled and closed her eyes, letting Hyuck pull her close. "You know I always wonder which Hyuck I'm gonna run into when I leave the house in the morning. Will it be witty asshole Hyuck or will it be soft and cuddly Hyuck?" she spoke softly into his shirt.
"Which one do you like better?" he asked, his voice humming in his chest.
"I like them both," she answered honestly, looking up at him. "But sometimes you frustrate the hell out of me."
They sat there, their eyes locked again. "I don't mean to be a douche all the time, you just get under my skin and I don't know how to react."
"I get under your skin?" Lina questioned. "How do I get under your skin?"
"By being you. By doing every perfect thing that you do. It drives me crazy. Hell, I'm laying in a bed with you right now, probably giving myself the flu or something, because I had to see you tonight or I wouldn't stop thinking about you."
Lina was taken aback by all his honesty. "Why are you telling me this now?"
"Because you asked," he replied.
"No, I mean...Why-Ah nevermind," Lina tripped over her words.
Hyuck leaned down and placed a kiss on Lina's nose, sending shudders down her spine. He smiled as she shivered and pulled her closer to him. "You didn't want to know my secret but I ended up telling you anyway," he told her.
