____________________
"Well, this is awkward."
I dont say anything, maintaining eye contact with the boy in front of me. The awkward tension rises as we both stay put.
"You must like Michael Jackson." I raise my eyebrow at him.
"You seem like you do too." He squints his eyes and I feel his hand squeeze the vinyl tighter.
"You're not gonna let go, are you?" He shakes his head and I sigh.
"If I buy you a drink and a snack at a cafe in this mall, would you let me have this?" He looks up and puts his hand on his chin as he thinks.
"...cute." He looks at me with an eyebrow raised.
"What?" Did I say that outloud? Shit.
"Huh? Nothing. So, what's your answer." He gives me a grin and takes his hand off the vinyl.
"Sure." I smile and grab the vinyl quickly. He laughs at my eagerness. "But, I have something else to add."
I stop smiling and look at him with a blank face. "What else is there to add?"
"Umm, that's a Michael Jackson vinyl. I only need 3 more to finish my collection and that was one of them. You owe me a lot more than that." He crosses his arms and taps his foot on the ground.
I frown and sigh. "What is it then." Might as well, he has a good excuse.
"I'm with my friends here at the mall and you said cafe right?" I nod. "The new one?" I nod. "Well, they're over there now waiting for me so since you said you'll buy me something, you have to buy them something too."
My mouth drops open and I swear it hit the floor. "Why do I have to pay for your friends too?! It's not like they tried to buy this?"
"Well, I was supposed to pay for their drinks but umm, I didn't bring my wallet." I stare at him with a blank face.
"Dont look at me like that. Now come, they're very impatient." He grabs my wrist and pulls me to the front of the store.
My face gets a little hot as no boy has grabbed my hand ever in my entire life, sadly. He takes the vinyl from out of my hands and places it on the counter, motioning for me to pay.
"Will this be the only thing?" The guy working the register picks up the vinyl and scans it. I nod and take my card out.
"Umm I'm sorry if this seems creepy but you're really pretty." I freeze and I feel my face heat up again.
"Haha, thanks." I rub the back of head.
The guy stops and stares at me exactly like King, right into my soul. I freeze again and try to get his attention.
"Uh hello? How much will it be?" I try not to sound rude but this guy is giving me the creeps.
I turn around and see the boy from before behind me, also looking very creeped out.
"Itll be 19.79" He puts his hand out so I reach to give him my card. In a flash, he grabs my hand, harshly. I wince in pain from how hard the cashier grabbed it.
"Can I have your number? You're really pretty." He gives a forced smile, too big for his face. I panic, trying to say anything but the words just don't come out.
His grip gets tighter and his voice gets a little bit louder. "Can I?? You're reeaallyy p r e t t y."
I open my mouth again but nothing comes out. I see him open his mouth to speak again but feel my hand get ripped out of his.
"No, you cannot. Swipe the card and let us leave." The vinyl boy grabs my right hand and holds it in his. Still speechless, I see the creep get mad.
"Why cant I? You her boyfriend?" Vinyl boy stiffens before speaking again.
"Yes I am. Now swipe. The. Card." I turn my face and see his eyes darken. Where the hell was the sunshine boy from before?
I turn back towards Mr. Creep and the realization hits me. If he works here, then he would have saw me and vinyl boy come in at different times.
Please be dumb please be dumb please be du-
"Tch. Whatever." I let out the breath I didnt know I was holding in and look down.
The cashier puts his hand out with my card and vinyl but before I can grab it, vinyl boy grabs both with his free hand and pulls me out of the store.
He pulls me until we make it to the escalators I saw before right in front of the entrance.
"Holy shit." He lets go of my hand and slaps it over his racing heart. I frown slightly, missing the warmth that came from his hand.
"You ok?" I focus back on him and nod my head still too dazed to talk.
He doesnt say anything before grabbing my hand and putting my card and the vinyl in it.
"Well, now I know to never go back in there again." He laughs brightly and I cant help but smile back.
"Thanks for that, vinyl b-" I stop myself before finishing my sentence.
"Actually, I don't know your name." I smile slightly and tilt my head
He stares at me with widened eyes before smiling again.
"Haechan."
"Y/n."
"Well Y/n, let's go before my friends start blowing my phone up."
____________________
