“Jihyun-ah, wait up!” Doh Kyungsoo called, catching up with his costar as she was about to walk into her waiting car.
“Yes, oppa, what’s up?” Nam Ji Hyun replied as she turned around, smiling at him. They just finished their Vlive together with Kim Seon Ho and Han So Hee. Like those two, she knew that Kyungsoo was about to go to another prior engagement, while she was going to meet with some of the 100DMP cast and staff to watch the first episode in a samgyupsal restaurant. She already changed into more comfortable clothes.
“Are you free the night after tomorrow? I want to give you a proper drama send off so I’d like to buy you dinner,” Kyungsoo said, smiling at her expectantly.
“Oh, no, oppa, you don’t have to do that, really -“
“But I insist, Jihyun-ah. Do it as a favor to me, ahrasso? I want to do this before I fly to Berlin, and before your school load gets heavier,” Kyungsoo pleaded. “I promise your birthday gift will be separate,” he added mischievously, grinning at her.
“Ya, I didn’t - I certainly wasn’t trying to -“ Jihyun sputtered, grateful that they were at least out of earshot.
Kyungsoo snickered. “Yes, yes, I was just teasing you. So, what about it? Please, Jihyun-ah...” he hoped his full charm would work this time. Please, Jihyun-ah. Say yes.
Jihyun gazed at him thoughtfully, trying to guess why he was insisting on this. “Okay, okay. Where do you want to eat?”
Kyungsoo beamed. “There’s this really good restaurant that I go to that’s pretty near your school. So I can pick you up from there after your classes tomorrow, ok? No taking back,” he quipped, just obviously happy she said yes. He led her and opened the door of her waiting car.
Jihyun waved him goodbye as her manager drove off. What was that about?
==========
“This place is beautiful,” Jihyun whispered to Kyungsoo, who was leading her to their reserved seating facing the full glass windows that reflected the city lights. “Who would’ve thought a place like this is just tucked in here?” she quipped, turning to Kyungsoo, her eyes shining.
He beamed at her. “Wait til we eat though, you will hopefully like this place even more,” he said, taking the menu from their host. He ordered a bit of his favorites, in addition to what she said she liked.
He was observing her mostly throughout their dinner. He likes the way she eats - with gusto - savoring each and every bite, but primly, as ladies are wont to do. He found it endearing though when she just went for her portions, not cutting down her food intake for his sake, for this date. And yes, it’s a date, if that wasn’t clear to her, well, she will have another thought coming before this day ends.
Yes, Kyungsoo told himself. Today is the day.
He drove her home, talking animatedly in his car as they ate up the miles going to Incheon. He knew Jihyun was trying to keep things light, as she tries her hardest not to assume anything. Cautious as she was, Kyungsoo wasn’t about to get frustrated again as she is probably trying to put him in the friendzone like she did early on during their filming. That brotherly pat he gave her on their last kiss and rolling mat scene definitely worked against him. Jihyun-ah, he sighed in his head, as his car turned to her house’s driveway, this is it.
“It’s still pretty early, let’s go take a walk,” he said, his voice deep and thoughtful enough that Jihyun knew not to decline.
They got out of his car into the cool summer night. There was a park nearby, so they both headed towards its entrance, enjoying the silence Incheon afforded them, away from the cacophony of the sounds of Seoul.
“Our first episodes did pretty well, oppa,” Jihyun said, breaking their comfortable silence as they walked leisurely on the park’s paved pathway.
“Yes, it did,” he answered back, “I’m happy about it. I hope people will get to love it since we all worked so hard for it.”
“Me too,” she said in a hopeful voice. They walked a few more steps, and then Kyungsoo stopped. “Jihyun-ah,” he called, turning his whole body to face her.
She stopped too, her lovely face framed by her fringes being blown softly by the cool night air. “Hm?” she questioned, eyes seeking his.
A heartbeat, and then: “Nae-ga neo-reul joh-a-hae yo, Jihyun-ah.” He knew she heard his confession, as a blush slowly suffused her cheeks, making her look even lovelier. Her eyes widened a little, as her mouth parted when she breathed.
“I really like you. I do.” Affirming his confession, his voice just naturally went deeper and more quiet. “I’ve been sorting and thinking about this feelings a lot for a few months now, Jihyun-ah, but you don’t have to answer me right away. Just that...please consider taking a chance with me before making your decision. I’ll wait.”
Jihyun held his gaze thoughtfully for a few moments. A shadow of a smile began to break through her lips, and Kyungsoo can finally feel his heartbeat again. “Ok, oppa. I’ll consider what you said as I think about...this...us...” she trailed off as a full, tender smile made her face radiant even at night.
Kyungsoo’s brain froze again at the word us. Keep it together, us isn’t yes, pabo-ya, his mind supplied giddily as he fought his smile.
His heart and footsteps were light as he walked her back to her house, as he drove back to Seoul with Day6’s song blasting in the background.
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