HELIOTROPE ↻ NCT DREAM

one

Loving someone is a paradox for it could be beautiful and painful at the same time that was what Ayeon realized when she met him.

It was their orientation day in the University 3 months ago. The short bubbly girl, Ayeon, was running late. She almost tripped on every step of the stairs that lead to the auditorium on the 5th floor of the building, trying to catch up to the program that had already started.

Her alarm did turn off earlier, however, it was left inside her room - a place where she didn't sleep. The girl had spent the last day of her summer vacation lounging at her sofa in the living room binge-watching a drama. Right there and then just before midnight, the girl had unknowingly drifted to deep slumber. Ayeon did not regret it one bit though.

Upon entering the venue through the side entrance near the back, Ayeon's eyes adjusted to the dim room as she caught her breath and took the first empty chair that her eyes landed on which was situated on the third to the last row.

"I thought I was late, but turns out someone could actually come 30 minutes into the program."  She heard the guy beside her comment as she sat down. He chuckled a bit at his own remark, shaking his head. "Way to start the school year."

In response, Ayeon jokingly scoffed. "Excuse me, sir! I'm offended, but I assure you, me being late would not happen again." Finally turning to his direction to emphasize her statement, however, her words started getting caught up in her throat. "I-I don't wanna tarnish my record." She trailed off, immediately looking elsewhere except his eyes.

The anonymous University boy already had his attention on her and was smiling expectantly, but it came out more of a smirk. His eyebrows raised and the way his lips were curled had an effect on her in some way.

She was speechless.

The girl got to take in his features slowly, despite how dim it is inside the auditorium. Her eyes travelled from the shape of his eye and inspected its color. It was so dark, almost black, but it shined brightly as it reflected the white led lights that were turned on the front stage.

Ayeon's eyes moved to the bridge of his nose, it was certainly just right for his face - not too big and not too small, just the right angle. Next, she found herself looking at the shape of his lips. The way his upper lips were curled, it somehow reminded her of  how a child would draw a heart. His lips look soft and plump, and she wondered if it indeed is. Lastly, Ayeon's eyes found its way to his quite messy hair. It certainly astonished her how every part looks immaculate - how each part was like a puzzle piece that perfectly fits together. She could not believe how a person could look that good? but there he was, existing and breathing right in front of her. It seems that heaven really does have its favorites.

She couldn't really say that it was love at first sight. His features were indeed impeccable, she could agree on that, but love? Watch the girl release a cackle. Ayeon does believe the 3-second rule in which you can fall in love with anyone in just a few seconds. However, she was certainly not fond of the idea of that. How could she, when she doesn't even know what it was until a few weeks later.

Although perhaps, it was another factor that made her.