chapter eight

15 2 0
                                    

The restaurant was empty, only consisting of the cashier, Donghyuck, and Harin. As old and ruggedly as it look from the outside, the interior was beautiful and surprisingly clean. It was filled with booths and many different toys and decor behind the register. 

Donghyuck seemed to know the cashier as he shook hands with the tall man with the dark black hair. He was fairly attractive. 

"You want the usual?" The man asked as he typed away at the register in front of him. 

Donghyuck nodded. 

"Yeah, but make it two-"

"You're cool with a burger, right?" He turned to Harin. 

She simply nodded. 

"Yeah, make it two please."

The man in the black and white stripes jotted down the order quickly. 

"Alright, sounds good." He smiled at the couple. 

"Thanks, Johnny." 

Donghyuck pulled out his wallet, as Johnny looked at an awkward Harin who stared at the floor. 

"You his girlfriend?" Johnny inquired causing Harin to shake out of her thoughts. 

She opened her mouth to say 'no' before Donghyuck cut her off. 

"Yeah, she is." Donghyuck interrupted, handing Johnny his card. 

Harin turned to look up at him with wide eyes, face flushed a deep shade of rouge. But Donghyuck had his attention on Johnny, unaware of the impact his words had on the girl. 

Johnny only pushed his hand back, grinning from ear to ear. 

"This one's on the house." He shook his head. 

Hyuck opened his mouth to refuse, but Johnny cut him to it. 

"It's not everyday that Lee Donghyuck brings anyone here, let alone a girl." He teased causing Donghyuck to chuckle. 

"What's your name?" Johnny asked her. 

"Harin," she gave him a small smile. 

"Listen Harin, you're a special one, this is the first time I've seen this guy bring a girlfriend of his to his this place… actually, this is the first time I've ever seen a girlfriend of his." He pointed at Harin leading her to take a glance at Donghyuck, catching his eyes. 

His face flushed the same color as Harin's. This was the first time Harin had seen Donghyuck blush. And if she were to be honest, it looked beautiful on him. 

The two seemed lost in each other's eyes, completely unaware of Johnny rambling to himself. Harin felt herself drowning within the dark brown pool of Donghyuck's orbs. 

They say a person's eyes are the key to their soul. After searching for so long, Harin had finally found the key to Donghyuck's.

And it was mesmerizing. 

"Ah, I can't wait to tell Taeyong about this. He'll be so happy!" Johnny squealed, clapping his hands in excitement. 

The sudden noise startled the two out of their battle for a stare off. 

Donghyuck awkwardly cleared his throat before sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck as Harin examined the little fire truck model placed behind Johnny. 

◇◇◇

The two exited the diner, Donghyuck before Harin as she stayed behind to bid farewell to the black haired man. 

Johnny was nice and funny, it was kind of surprising for Harin to see Donghyuck talking and laughing with someone other than their usual group of friends. She believed that she liked seeing the amount of respect and adoration Donghyuck had for Johnny.

The lunch, however, was definitely a difficult situation. It was filled with awkward eye contacts and strange silence, only the soft sounds of their chewing could be heard within the two. Harin had to admit though, that was the best burger she had ever had. Maybe it was because she was hungry, but she devoured it in minutes. A big part of Harin wondered why the restaurant wasn't as busy considering that their food was exceptional. 

Harin pattered behind Donghyuck to his car. The sun was starting to dim, hues of red and orange painted the once bright sky. The crimson especially darker at the horizon. Sunsets were alluring and Harin wondered why she hadn't realized that before. 

Donghyuck stopped before his black car, turning to face Harin, his body leaning against the side of it. 

His hand swiftly reached for the girl's dainty ones, hesitant at first to see if she would reject his touch like previously. But when she showed no sign of objection, Donghyuck wasted no time in pulling her to his chest. 

Harin rested her hands on his shoulders and placed her ear right above his heart. She listened to the steady rhythm, trying her best to match it. 

They stayed like that for a while, basking in each other's embrace while grasshoppers chirped around them, just living in the moment as the only thing that mattered was each other.

"I'm sorry." Donghyuck mumbled, playing with the fabric of her shirt. 

Harin only hummed in response, fearing that speaking would take away the warmth of Donghyuck. 

"I'm sorry for acting like that earlier. I was being a complete ass and I shouldn't have said those things to you. You were hurt and I just hurt you even more. I keep hurting you. And I'm sorry for that." 

Donghyuck's voice was quiet, almost above a whisper. It held a lot of pain and sorrow and Harin felt a lump forming within her throat. Not for the rough memories of their previous fight, but because of Donghyuck's tone. 

"I shouldn't have forced you to come here, but when you said you wanted to end this… I got scared. I got scared, so I said whatever I could to see you break down. God, I feel like such a horrible person." He rambled on. 

"I- I have never brought anyone to this area, you are the first. I don't know what made me, but I know that it means something. You being here means something to me… and I can't figure out what it is… and I'm mortified, Harin."

Harin could feel Donghyuck's grip strengthen around her waist and that's when she decided that it was time to look up. 

Donghyuck bit his rosy lips, looking into the eyes of the girl in his hold, eventually bringing up a hand to rest on her jaw. 

His thumb swiped across her bottom lip, sending a wave of excitement through her body. 

Harin felt herself leaning in after Donghyuck, their lips only centimeters away from each other. Finally meeting in the middle, Donghyuck closing the gap within them. 

Their rosy lips moved in sync with each other, dancing to the beat of some cliche love song. 

The first time, Harin wasn't ready. 

The second time, it wasn't meant to be. 

This time, it actually happened and Harin felt euphoria cascade through her body. His touch igniting blazing flames within her chest, burning the previous flower planted there. It no longer needed to blossom, for Donghyuck wasn't like that. Donghyuck was burning flames and mischievous eyes, he was the king of hell.

And flowers don't grow in hell. 

■■■

author's note

I won't even lie,
ever since school started
I've been feeling like
giving up on this story.
but, about two days ago,
I saw that this was trending in the haechan category,
and I suddenly got the motivation.
anyway,
thank you so much for the love.
pls vote and comment.

xxLARA

a day with you | nct dreamWhere stories live. Discover now