Young Wings • h.hj & h.js

27

"Why are you suddenly being so nice?" You mutter as you trail behind the prince. As you stared at his back you realized 'were his shoulders always that broad?'. You hear the prince sigh, stopping in his tracks before turning to face you with a somewhat irritated look.

"Would you prefer that I be mad at you?"

"Hyunji-"

"-What happened?"

And with two words you were left speechless, frozen in place as you stared at Hyunjin with wide eyes. His reaction suddenly mirrors yours and he curses under his breath for rushing you. Once again, he sighs.

"Sorry... Look- I- Let's just head to the rose garden first then we'll talk" When he notices how you visibly flinch at the word talk, he adds "OR we could just eat and not talk"

Silence fills the air for a moment and Hyunjin takes this as a signal to continue walking. Once again you trail behind him, with only the moonlight as your guide.

As you both stood in front of the cottage at the rose garden, he couldn't help but struggle to open the door, fidgeting from the awkward atmosphere and the amount of food he's carrying. At first, you were just blankly staring at the ground, waiting for him to walk in. But when you realize that it's been a while, you look up to see a flustered version of your friend. 

If this was any other time, you'd laugh and tease him for being the idiot that he is. But right now all you could muster was a small faint smile before you decided to help him out, reaching for the handle of the door as well.

When Hyujin feels your body heat against his back as your hand goes over his, twisting the doorknob, his cheeks heat up and he freezes in place, almost dropping all of the food in his other arm. Then, a wave of sadness mixed with a tinge of nostalgia hits him when he realizes that it's been a while since you were both physically close.

When you open the door and walk in, Hyunjin automatically lays out the blankets and pillows stored in one area as you light a small lamp for your heat source.

Then, you eat, with you seated down, legs crossed while Hyunjin laid sideways in front of you, head propped on one arm as the other reached for some chips and dip.

"Lie down"

"The food won't digest"

"But you used to always lie down" Hyunjin says with a pout.

He couldn't explain it, but the atmosphere between the two of you was different from what it was seconds ago. It wasn't awkward, but neither was it as though you've known each other your whole life.

It was like two strangers going through the process of getting to know one another.

He didn't know how many times your conversations have ended and it irritated him how he was getting used to it. As he stared at your emotionless face, he contemplated whether or not he should bring up the topic since you seemed sensitive about it.

Thinking about your emotions and all, he couldn't help but blurt his thoughts out of habit. "Earlier today, Prince Jisung left his room once. And at the time you were in the same space, I saw you make this expression"

"...and?"

"y/n, I've known you my whole life. But for once, I couldn't read your face ay all. I didn't know what you were thinking and it scared me a little" A somewhat bitter chuckle escapes his lips soon after. "You don't have to talk but... I guess I just got to used to knowing you so well that I-"

"-We almost kissed"

And suddenly, Hyunjin felt numb.

"What?"