STUDY BUDDIES. | hajeongwoo

32.

jeongwoo widened his eyes when haruto spun him around to face him, this time, with intense share of eye contact.

it seems that jeongwoo was about to lose just by looking at those softer, gentle yet intimidating stare of his, his legs turning jelly, and the apple of his cheeks turned into an obvious shade of red.

but somehow, he doesn't want to lose and conclude that he was defeated. and so he remained strong, although haruto might look at him as a simple fool who's trying to remain dominant but lost in the first place otherwise.

but shrugging the sudden fight, haruto heaved a deep sigh as his hands gripped the edge of his shoulders, as if locking him and not wanting to let go, and looked at him with the same stare jeongwoo had never seen before when he's mostly around with other people.

he liked it, haruto only looking at him like that.

"i—" haruto started, looking down the ground as he tried to comply all the words to construct the proper sentence, as if going back to grade school and learn the proper construction of grammars and sentences.

after a few minutes of thinking with jeongwoo waiting patiently, haruto continued. "i'm sorry, that probably scared you, or bothered you— whatever that is."

haruto knew all along, that scenario isn't something jeongwoo should look at. he shouldn't be involved in any of this in the first place except on tutoring him and making him ace in one of his subjects during college.

but now he's bringing him to the company, something that he shouldn't be with, and meeting one of the most people he hated.

"i shouldn't have brought you there," haruto looked away, exhaling a long breath as he avoided his gaze.

he was sincere, jeongwoo felt it, and somehow his apology makes him wash away all the fear and intimidation he felt just few minutes ago out of his mind.

"hey, look at me," jeongwoo started, wanting to at least get rid of the ruefulness he felt deep inside.

seeing haruto slowly look at him and meet his gaze, he flashed him an reassuring smile before continuing, "it's fine. i mean, i was scared but you were there for me so everything's fine."

bashful. it felt weird for him to say that. even if haruto would take it as a friend way or something else more than that, the latter obviously out of the box, it still felt weird and embarrassing.

never had he ever say sweet things as that to him, but felt the need to say it to comfort him otherwise.

haruto heaved a giggle, finding the other quite adorable that he was fond of. and as if it was something he himself had the right to say so, a single statement made everything somehow confusing.

"i want to kiss you."

"huh?"

that was a coy response, and jeongwoo couldn't help but run away from the rising embarrassment. it was something he expected the least, but like it at the same time.

he knew he looked like a blushing mess right now, still under his grip and there's no running away from it this time.

he wanted to ask why, why would he even say that when they are nothing but friends? all the hopes he could even gather started piling up again.

he wanted to punch him, too, for making him feel like a chaotic crap. his cheeks are awfully flushed, the thumping of his heart beating twice as fast as normal, like a drum being played without end. all the emotions he felt were all interweaved.