HELIOTROPE ↻ NCT DREAM

twenty-two

December 27, 2020

"Lee Donghyuck, I love you!" Ayeon screamed over the phone causing the boy on the other end to almost drop his phone upon answering the call.

"Cute," he mumbled, chuckling at her reaction. "And baby, I know you do."

You see, the days in between Christmas and New Year, the couple had barely got in touch with each other. They barely communicated. Ayeon was busy bonding with her family, having movie marathons and just baking. While, Donghyuck? He was just kinda out of reach. Busy in his own world. But he did make it up to her.

The video he sent his girlfriend truly made up all the days that she was badly missing him, even that time during Christmas when he almost forgot to call and greet her. Ayeon was just overjoyed with the video of Hyuck singing Justin Bieber's Purpose. She couldn't even stop watching it. The video had been on replay the moment Donghyuck had sent it to her.

Plus, the fact that she had heard her boyfriend call her with an endearment was the topping on top of the cake as he doesn't usually do so.

You could say Ayeon basically entered the New Year, up in cloud 9 with full of love. Lucky.

After a while, when Donghyuck had been silent over the call other than a few hums in response, Ayeon finally notices the intense keyboard smashes that have been echoing in her boyfriend's room. He was once again playing and Ayeon couldn't help but to think to herself was that the reason he couldn't be reached. Although, she didn't mind; she was supportive of his hobbies as long as he doesn't forget to take good care of himself.

"You could've told me you were playing so I wouldn't have bothered you." Ayeon frowned. "Let's just talk when you're free, and besides a I'll be coming back on the 3rd."

Hyuck rolled his eyes and groaned upon hearing her statement, "You know you're not a bother. You're my girl, and you could call me whenever you want, remember that."

Ayeon wanted to throw the pillow as the beat of her heart accelerated, hearing how sure and firm he sounded made the butterflies wake up in her stomach and flew wildly. She didn't know what to say.

And before the girl could even speak, a series of screams erupted from Hyuck. Through it, Ayeon identified that the game was getting much more intense and decided to just let him be.

"Let's talk another time... For now, just kill them enemies," she laughed, "beat 'em good and get those wins!"

The boy hummed, amused at her unusual choice of words, suppressing a laugh, eyes still glued the computer screen in front of him, "Alright, baby."

"Bye. I love you!" The girl quickly added. And once again, Hyuck hummed in response.

-

January 4, 2021

Ayeon's back ached, and small beads of sweat formed on her forehead, despite the cold weather. The girl had traveled back to the city where her University was in preparation for the upcoming resuming of classes. Although, instead of her apartment being the first stop, it was Hyuck's instead. She had decided to pay him a visit to deliver the cookies their mother had baked for him.

Her eyes read the sign that was plastered on the elevator door, "out of order." To that, she could only suck in a sharp breath, realizing she had to walk the stairs up to the 5th floor.

Damn.

The moment Ayeon finally stepped on the 5th floor, her breathing was ragged and uneven as her knees trembled slightly despite the few breaks she took on each floor. Man, the girl could only wish she had better stamina.

Adjusting the strap of the tote bag that hung on her shoulder along with the backpack — letting her fingers clutched around it tightly, Ayeon's eyes roamed the hallway, landing on the door that had familiar numbers on it. And with wide strides, the girl reached her destination in no time - across the wooden door of unit 606.

Momentarily, Ayeon stood there debating with herself if it was okay for her to suddenly show up without a heads up or if Donghyuck was even there at the moment. But the girl then thought that it would've been a waste of energy if she suddenly decided to turn back without knocking. Taking a step forward, her knuckles collided with the door. The knocks were slow and drawn out as though it was done with a hint of hesitation.

The knob turned and the door swung open, Ayeon was met with an unfamiliar boy she had not met before. The two peered at each other, curious, no one uttered a word.

"Who are you?"

"Aren't I supposed to ask you that?"

"Well, yeah... But I just haven't seen you before," Ayeon countered, pouting. "And isn't this Donghyuck's apartment?" She tiptoed excitedly, in an attempt to see past the guy's built to check her boyfriend. Instead, she was met with a shirtless Jaemin.

"Yea-"

In a blink of an eye, the unknown boy was pushed aside, interrupted. Jaemin had his arms wide open to a hug, but Ayeon took a step back, wanting to tease the boy. He towered over her with a huge cheeky grin on his face, a chuckle left their lips.

"Since when have you been back? I missed you." Jaemin declared clearing his throat, assisting Ayeon with her bags, letting her in. "We missed you."

It has been quite a while since Ayeon last visited Hyuck's apartment and a surge of memories resurfaced. At that moment, she realized how much badly she missed him.

"Hyuck is currently taking a shower. Surprising, right?" Jaemin joked as he settled her things down before turning around to face her.

As he did so, Ayeon's eyes catched the bright white ink by his hips. It was peeking just above the top of his gray sweatpants. She eyed it curiously but couldn't really decipher what it was. "I never kne-"

The girl couldn't finish her sentence as Jaemin immediately covered it with the palm of his hand, hiding it from ger view, "This was so long ago." He chuckled awkwardly, shaking his head.

It confused her, unsure what he meant by that. Although, she definitely did not miss the panic and fear that briefly flashed in his eyes.