ice cream.
✦✧✦✧
mom
12:31 PM
HYORIN
Mom, I just want to inform you that tomorrow is my graduation.
HYEJIN
Oh wow really now?
Are you expecting me to come or something?
After asking you countless times to take a different course?
HYORIN
Like I said, I was just informing you.
You are still my mother and I wanted to let you know but I guess I shouldn't have done it
HYEJIN
Now what? Do you even have plans after?
Why don't you study law this time, it's not too late you know
Your cousin is entering law school next year and you?
What did you do? You chose that art over your future!
HYORIN
I'm not having this conversation with you.
Bye
HYEJIN
Don't expect me there!
You're such a disappointment
seen
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HAECHAN
2:43 PM
HAECHAN
Hey, do you want some ice cream?
HYORIN
HUH
Why do you ask?
HAECHAN
There's a convenience store in this area and I remember you live in this area too
So I thought of buying you some
HYORIN
You don't have to
Also, aren't you at work?
HAECHAN
Yes, we're having individual shoots and I have a free time so I roam around
and realize it's near your apartment
sooo ice cream?
HYORIN
Alright, I won't say no to that
Thank you!
HAECHAN
No biggie!
Can I come to your apartment then? Is it alright with you?
HYORIN
Yes, no worries
you won't do anything bad, right? 🤨
I won't let you lol
HAECHAN
Alright, I'll be there in 10
──────
Hyorin spent her time cleaning and fixing herself, and when she's done, she sits on her sofa while waiting for Lee Haechan to arrive, and not long after, her doorbell rings.
She opened the door and saw him, holding two plastic bags in both of his hands. "How many ice creams did you even buy?" She asked in disbelief.
"Who said I bought just ice cream?" he said, raising a brow.
Hyorin chuckled. "Come in."
Haechan smiled. "So, this is your home. Oh wow, I finally get to see it in person."
Hyorin rolled her eyes at his comment. "Yes. Let's see what you bought," she said, trying to get the plastic bags from his hands.
But she stopped when she realized that Haechan was staring at her. "Why?" she asked, looking up at him.
"Did something happen?" he asked.
Hyorin cleared her throat and looked away. "No, why do you ask?" she asked, avoiding his eyes.
"Ok, I won't ask," he said, lifting the plastic bags. "Time for ice cream?"
Hyorin laughed because of his cuteness. "Did you have lunch already?"
Haechan nodded his head in response. "Yes, how about you?"
"Yes."
"Okay, then."
They sat on the sofa and put the food Haechan bought for them on her coffee table. "What the hell?"
Haechan laughed. "What?" he innocently asked, as if he had bought just the right amount for them.
"Are you sure you came from the convenience store and not a grocery store?" she asked, looking at him incredulously. "How are we supposed to eat all of this?"
Haechan chuckled. "If we can't, then that's fine; they're not going to waste. They're all yours." He said that, which made Hyorin raise a brow.
He bought various types of snacks, chocolates, ramyeon, and even drinks!
"No, you're bringing it with you. I haven't even treated you to a nice dinner yet."
"Oh, c'mon, it's fine," Haechan said.
Hyorin grimaced, "This is too much!"
"It won't go to waste; we will eat it."
Hyorin sighed, defeated. It's already here anyway, and she can't do anything about it anymore.
"Is your work done, or are you just on a break?"
"On my way here, I received a text from my manager saying I could rest for the rest of the day." He stated that he never removed his stare from Hyorin, making her a bit conscious.
She's only at home, so she's dressed comfortably. She's wearing her black oversized shirt and paired it with jogging pants. She also tied her hair in a messy bun, but the way Haechan looks at her makes her want to look at herself in the mirror.
"Is there dirt on my face or something?"
Haechan smiled at her and shook his head. "No," he responded, looking away.
Hyorin cleared her throat. The man clearly just came from his schedule; he hasn't taken his makeup yet, and she couldn't help but admire his looks. This man is undeniably handsome, with or without makeup.
Haechan chuckled. "I could feel your stares." He said that, which made Hyorin look away.
She awkwardly stood up from her seat and said, "I'll just get a bowl for the ice cream."
Haechan bobbed his head and watched her as she walked toward her kitchen. He knew something was off a while ago. Her eyes say it all, but he didn't want to ask her since he noticed how she didn't want to talk about it. Haechan could only hope that she's okay.
When Hyorin came back, just like she said, she bought a bowl and a spoon for them and sat beside him, and then she spoke, "Thank you." She said, looking straight into his eyes, "For being here." She added, and he saw how tears shone in her eyes.
Hyorin tried to suppress her emotions; she couldn't let herself break in front of him.
She looked up at the ceiling to stop her tears and quickly turned to Haechan and smiled.
Haechan released a sigh. "You can tell me if something is bothering you, ok?"
Hyorin just silently nodded her head and started to scoop ice cream, and then she slid the bowl in front of him and faced him. "You don't have to worry about me; I'll be fine. I'm used to it already," she mumbled.
Haechan could only release a sigh. "You can always tell me, okay?"
She turned to him and gave him a reassuring smile. "Okay."
Haechan could only nod his head; he didn't want to force her to open up, especially if she is not comfortable enough yet. He's just worried about her.
There was a comfortable silence as their gazes remained in each other's eyes. Hyorin was the first one to break the eye contact and spoke, "Your timing was great though; how'd you know I needed this?" she said, raising the bowl of ice cream to show it off to him.
Haechan chuckled. "We have a connection, didn't you know?" He joked, and Hyorin laughed.
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rinrinnie posted to her story
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They were so comfortable around each other, to the point that Hyorin didn't even mind their close distance while watching a movie. It's just like hanging out with your closest friend; the difference is what Hyorin felt every time their skin touched; it's as if there's electricity traveling inside her whenever that happens.
Now that they were both silent, Hyorin couldn't help but think about the conversation again. She knew how much her mom opposed her choice; for once in her life, she wanted to do something for herself, and that was art. She still has this little hope in her that when she graduates, her mom will finally recognize and accept her, but maybe that is just too much to ask. Now she's starting to wonder: if she chose a different path, would it make a difference? Will her relationship with her improve? She hopes it does, but hell, she already threw away that opportunity. Did she really made the wrong decision?
Tears are starting to form in her eyes. She looked up at her ceiling in order to suppress them from flowing down her face. It's embarrassing if Haechan will catch her crying when they are literally watching a rom-com movie.
On the other hand, Haechan's attention was never on the movie; he kept glancing at the woman sitting beside him. She has been quiet ever since the movie started, which is so unlike her. And he noticed how she tried to stop her tears. Haechan released a sigh. "You can cry," he said, which made Hyorin turn her head to him, her eyes widening, realizing that Haechan actually caught her.
"I--" She tried to form words that could actually hide her emotions at the moment but failed; it's just too much. They're overwhelming.
Haechan softly tucked her hair behind her ears and spoke, "It's okay to be vulnerable with me, Hyorin. Let it out." He softly said, wiping the single tear that dropped from her eyes.
"My mom..." she began, and Haechan turned his full attention to her. "She hates me," she added, lowering her head as she felt a lump in her throat and trying her best to speak. Her eyes were on her fingers, which had been fidgeting, and Haechan held her hand to comfort her. "Don't force yourself; it's fine," he softly whispered.
Hyorin quickly wiped her tears away. "I'm sorry," she muttered.
She just ruined the mood by letting her emotions win. They're watching a movie, and suddenly she opens her mouth, only to let herself break—the thing that she wanted to avoid.
Haechan gave her a warm embrace and hush. "You don't need to be sorry," he said, assuring her while caressing her back. Haechan removed his arms around her and looked at her face, squishing her cheeks with both of his hands. "It's alright, let it all out," he stated, and caged her in his embrace once again.
Her emotions came crashing down; tears continuously flowed down her face, and she tried her best to stifle her sobs. No words came out of her mouth as she continued to cry inside the arms of the man she least expected to breakdown to; of all people, it happens to be Lee Haechan.
Haechan continued to comfort her by caressing her back and whispering encouraging words in her ears.
They remained like that until Hyorin fell asleep from crying. Haechan carefully laid her on the sofa to stand up and lift her in a bridal way towards her room for her to sleep comfortably. He was being careful to avoid waking her up. After making sure that she was comfortable, he came out of her room, cleaned the coffee table, and turned off the movie that ended a while back.
What he noticed while he was in her apartment was that there was not a single picture frame inside, not even a photo of her. There is a huge abstract painting placed in her living room, though, that was signed by her. Haechan was mesmerized looking at her art; to be honest, he was not a person that is into art; among the members of Dream, that would be Renjun and not him. But somehow, her paintings scream a lot of emotion that he couldn't decipher. It is like Hyorin pours her emotions into every work of art she makes.
He sighed. She doesn't deserve the pain she's into; she deserves a lot of love. If only her mother could see her masterpieces, if only she could see how much art makes Hyorin happy and how her eyes glisten in joy when she talks about it, they really do. Hyorin wanted to prove herself to her, and she did. The problem is how her own mother is turning a blind eye to it.
When Hyorin woke up, Haechan was already gone from her apartment, and when she came to her kitchen, she saw a meal placed on her table with a note saying, 'Eat this when you wake up, rinrin. You did well, and I am proud of you. Always keep that in mind. - hyuck.'
Hyorin felt something churning inside her stomach; it felt like there were butterflies inside. But then she felt embarrassed after remembering that she fell asleep after bawling her eyes out at him.
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HAECHAN
06:57 PM
HYORIN
Hey, I uhm
I just want to apologize
Damn I can't believe that just happened
Please pretend that never happened
I'm really sorry
Also, thank you for the food I'll enjoy it
Thank you, Hyuck
HAECHAN
Whenever you need someone to talk to, I'll always be here
Please remember that, hm?
HYORIN
🥹
Thank you
HAECHAN
It's nothing, really.
Anyway, I'm in a meeting right now
make sure to finish the food, alright?
I'll talk to you later
HYORIN
Okay, I will.
Laters, Peter.
𓆩⟡𓆪