INSIDE [jaeyong]

[4]

The boy was indubitably gorgeous. Jaehyun certainly had this intimidating aura about him, but at the same time he appeared really soft and approachable. Taeyong couldn't tell whether or not to feel vulnerable or okay — his mind was torn two completely opposite ways.

"I— I apologize. I was flustered," Taeyong said sincerely, blinking up at the pair. He averted his gaze back to Jaehyun, because he couldn't help but feel the boy's chocolate brown eyes penetrate into his skin. "I'm sorry about my appearance, too," he mumbled tentatively, the rose on his cheeks only burning brighter.

Jaehyun shifted his stare to Johnny, his eyebrows deeply furrowed. Johnny smiled sadly, knowing exactly what the other was trying to process in his brain. Taeyong was not ugly. The taller was honestly starstruck when he heard that this boy, that was so impeccably beautiful, apologized for what he looked like. It was rather humorous, actually.

"You look fine," Jaehyun admitted, seeing Taeyong's large doe eyes flicker back up. "You're really pretty actually."

Pretty?

Taeyong didn't know how to take that compliment, but uttered out a sheepish "thanks", nervously swaying in his spot. Taeyong hesitantly walked to the stools lined up against the kitchen island when Johnny said, in a rather chipper tone, "This is Jaehyun. He's also majoring in computer science and my classmate. I met him this year and I think he's a really cool guy." Taeyong fiddled with his thumbs, gazing back up at the said male across the counter.

"Hi, I'm Taeyong. I like books. Yeah so um, I'm going to school to be a literary editor."

That sounded so stupid.

The flustered boy felt like burying his face in his hands again, but Jaehyun was staring at him and he felt like he couldn't.

His vocabulary was quite clearly not up to standard today for being a literature student.

Jaehyun smiled, and oh boy, did Taeyong feel like somehow levitating off that wooden stool and flying out the door. He was visibly getting rattled now, and he could tell Johnny noticed because his stupid grin was pictured boldly in his peripheral vision. He had dimples; that alone made it impossible for Taeyong to just forget the taller and his misdemeanor with him tomorrow. Yeah, the dimples sealed it.

"That's cool. I don't have a job I want to commit to yet," Jaehyun said honestly, laughing a bit afterwards. "By the way, I'm sorry if I'm intruding on anything. I know you and Johnny had plans before this."

Taeyong shook his head, swallowing lightly. "No... no it's fine," he stuttered, and his best friend couldn't hold in his laughter anymore. Taeyong slid his hand underneath the table and pinched the tall male's thigh, which made him stop instantly.

A silence pervaded the room, Taeyong's eyes curtained by his lashes as he stared blankly at the floor while Jaehyun anxiously tapped his fingers on the counter.

Johnny interrupted the quiet with the clap of his hands, saying loudly, "Let's start bleaching Taeyong's hair. Once again, it's not my fault if your hair falls out. I'm pretty skilled at everything but I have to say that I'm not a qualified beauty technician."

Taeyong snorted, glaring at the boy above him. "You should dye your hair too, John," he crooned, smiling slyly. Bickering always alleviated awkwardness.

Johnny glared back as he crossed his arms to his broad chest. "Hell no."

Taeyong's grin broadened and he flickered his gaze over to Jaehyun. "What do you think? Would blonde look good on him?"

Johnny tensed as Jaehyun answered, "That's a good idea." Although they were joking, when Jaehyun winked at him after that sentence Taeyong couldn't help but feel hot again.