NCT 127 Stories : One-Shot

Before Love: Jaemin x Ryujin (ITZY)

"Hey"

"Hey yourself" Ryujin replied before looking up.

Jaemin smiled at Ryujin who stood shocked across the room as he went his way. He turned the corner at the end of the corridor and stopped, closed his eyes and with a hand over his heart, leaned againat the wall.

The thundering was impossibly loud. He muttered curses after curses to Jeno for wiggling him into this stupid bet.

Eventually he slid to the floor where other members found him.

"What are you doing here?" Haechan asked with the usual mischievous glint.

"What do you think?" Nana quirked his brow in a you-dare-ask manner.

Hechan only laughed and hauled his ass back the way they came, with Jaemin resisting as much as he could.

Ryujin was still standing where she was. As she looked over, he straightened. You couldn't tell he was being dragged.

She gave him an unsure smile and he returned it confidently before looking away. Once again, out of sight, he collapsed.

All his members laughed their head off and he cursed them to get embaressed in front of their own crushes.

"What are you doing on the floor?"

His head snapped to Ryujin as she strutted down the corridor in her sparkly stage outfit and dark red lip. Her black velvety pants made her legs look impossibly long and he didn't want other thoughts creeping into his head right now, so he stood up.

"Re.. esting" he croacked. Throat dry.

"Oh" she looked around a little confused. That's when he noted Haechan ushuring everyone to their makeup desk with a smirk.

"That little... " he let the sentence fade, glaring at his retreating back.

"So, what did you want to talk about?"

"Hmm?"

"Heachan said you wanted to talk?"

"Stupid Heachan and his pranks." He face palmed himself making her laugh.

The sound made him smile too. It was a bubbly giggle. As the laughter died, they stood there not knowing what to do.

He didn't want it to be awkward and so he turned around with a small nod.

"Wait..." He wheeled around expectantly at her voice.

"Umm... Would you.. umm.. I mean.." her voice went smaller and smaller. Hands clasped in front and eyes darting  everywhere but at his face.

How was it possible that his heart could beat this loud? He would have an attack any moment now.

She started again, "I mean, if you'd want to, we can, hang out sometime."

His heart dropped and then picked up again in double speed.

"Sure." His voice was raspy, mouth parched.

His tongue rolled over his lips and her eyes followed. Something in him stirred lower than it should have.

"Sure. Ummm... Yes." He said more confidently. It gave him courage.

"Would you want to grab dinner? After the performance?"

Her eyes snapped to his and a slow smile appreared.

"Ryujin, come on. You are up in 10." Her  manager called somewhere from behind.

She nodded, stepped forward, stopped, thought better off of what she was going to say or do and only nodded.

Then she turned around and hurried away, her heels echoing in the hall.

When had the hall deserted? He noted for the first time. Behind him Haechan whistled. He silently thanked him for the prank, pulled a frown on his face before turning around and glaring at his friends mockingly, especially at Haechan.