Chapter Twenty Two
"So, has everything been resolved?" asked Jun as they walked down from their rehearsal stage.
Dino looked up at his hyung and broke into a happy smile before nodding his head. "Yes, everything has been resolved, hyung. I'm so relieved."
"Good," Jun said as he passed the microphone back to the staff members, "I thought I would live everyday seeing you like a dead person. You had no soul, maknae."
"I didn't?" Dino nervously scratched the back of his head. "Really? I thought I was doing pretty well in hiding the fact I wasn't fine."
"Nope, you were really obvious." Wonwoo suddenly butted into the conversation, smiling like a cute child as he walked together with Dino and Jun.
"Does Dino still likes her?" It was then Woozi decided to join in on the conversation too, whispering to the others.
"Hyung!" Dino pressed his thin fingers against his lips as he hushed his older one. "Don't be so loud! It wasn't that long since we resolved a misunderstanding. Don't start to create one again."
"As long as you're not dating then it's fine," Woozi told the maknae before heading off to the waiting room to get changed.
Hoshi was already found in the waiting room, hogging the entire black leather couch that was long enough to fit his entire body. Almost. His legs were left dangling at the end.
Aw, man. I wanted to take a nap. My body aches from all that rehearsal, Dino thought before he descended onto the floor and leaned against the white wall. He couldn't be bothered to change out of his clothes, although some stylists noona were already ushering him to the changing booth.
I guess it couldn't be helped. They need to keep the outfits ready and cleaned, Dino thought as he removed the jacket and white polo shirt from his body. He examined his body from the full length mirror and tilted his head to the side. I wonder if Hyejin would like guys with a good body.
Noticing that he was being a little too odd, Dino shook his head and changed out of his clothes and into something more comfortable and simple. He stepped out of the changing booth and handed his outfit to the stylist noona that was nearest to him before collapsing onto the floor once again.
"Tired, maknae?" a voice asked.
Dino opened his nearly shut eyes and looked up, finding himself lifting his head way too high just to find his member's face. Before even seeing his face, Dino had already knew that it would be Mingyu because of his height. Dino tiredly nodded in return.
Mingyu crouched down and handed him a Styrofoam cup. "Here, have some condensed milk coffee. It's something I've never tried to make but after seeing it on Battle Trip, I decided to try it out. I think it would suit your taste."
Condensed milk coffee? Why did that sound weird to my ears?
Dino gladly accepted as he tiredly smiled at his hyung. "Thank you, Mingyu hyung. I'll drink it well."
"Wake up with it. I'll go make some more coffee for the other members." Mingyu pointed at the others, who were scattered around the waiting room. "Those punks are barely keeping their eyes open."
"What do you mean by 'punks', Kim Mingyu?" Another member popped out of nowhere, head locking Mingyu all of a sudden, despite them being shorter. It was Wonwoo.
Dino would love to talk more, but seeing that the two older ones started taking interest more in themselves than anyone else, Dino decided to shut his mouth instead. He looked elsewhere, wondering where he could rest his aching body.
The floor didn't look comfortable and every other available couch seemed to be already preoccupied by the other members. Instead of trying to get himself one, Dino tried to get comfortable on the floor—although it was no where near comfy—and closed his eyes.
He wanted to just get some shut eye but instead, he found himself clouded with thoughts of confessing to Hyejin, which immediately made him open his eyes very quickly. He looked around to check his surroundings before lightly smacking the side of his head.
What are you thinking of doing? You're going to confess to her? Are you crazy? Dino thought as he tried to go back to sleep again. But the pestering voice kept echoing at the back of his head and Dino was this close to even considering doing such act.
He knew what would have happened. He knew that she probably liked him too—but it was all too different. She only liked him as her idol and not some guy. Maybe... it was best it stayed that way to keep things steady. It was okay if Dino only liked her one-sidedly.
"What are you doing alone here?" asked Joshua as he neared where Dino was currently sitting on.
"Oh, hyung." Dino tiredly rubbed his eyes as he looked at his hyung with a smile. "I was trying to sleep."
"Were you really? You seemed to have something else on your mind instead of sleep," Joshua pointed out with a sweet smile. That was his charm. That sweet, innocent smile that always manages to catch every girl's heart.
Dino felt guilty for lying to his hyung. Joshua was basically the most caring and laid-back hyung he would ever had. He wasn't the type to scold and he seemed so fragile at times. Dino quickly confessed, "I was thinking about Hyejin."
"Hyejin? Hwan Hyejin?" Joshua didn't sound as surprised as Dino would have imagined. Instead, Joshua was smiling. "You must really like her. Everyone has been talking about you two for some time now. By that, I mean the members."
Dino's ears started turning red at the comment. He knew the members had a tendency to tease him with Hyejin. However, hearing Joshua talk about it felt somehow new to Dino. "I guess I do. The hyungs keep warning me and I want to listen to them but the feelings are getting stronger. I really want to confess to her, hyung."
"I'm not saying it's wrong to but there are pros and cons to everything," Joshua lightly explained. "Are the pros more than the cons?"
"But hyung, in the end, it's our lives. Whatever the media says, we don't have to mind it, right?" Dino wanted justice for the idol life. Why was it that if an idol was dating, if an idol found love and another happiness, some fans went against it? He wanted some happiness just as much as he wanted to give it to the fans.
"If you're so sure, then go for it. I'll explain to the hyungs if you two do become a couple. Just remember all of our warnings. You two are still so young. You guys have a lot ahead and so much time," Joshua said, smiling at the maknae. "I support you two. Hwan Hyejin would make a nice addition, don't you think?"
Dino's ears started turning red after calming down once again. "H-hyung!"
Joshua's calm and enlightening laugh rang in Dino's ears before he stood up and said, "Good luck, Chan. Make her yours."
+ + +
Following Joshua's words, Dino called Hyejin a few days later to meet up. A calm, relaxing Sunday spent at Kwanjang Market on a rainy day with Hyejin seemed to make Dino's heart flutter.
Shortly, he saw Hyejin in his peripheral view and eased up a smile behind his medical mask. It might be risky to be out in the open after calming the scandal but Dino wanted to live a normal life at times too. So he decided not to wear makeup or anything. He looked like just any Korean guy in Seoul.
Hyejin seemed to be smiling too, judging by her eyes slowly scrunching up like half crescents. She didn't exactly have an evident eye-smile like Joshua, but it was somehow similar. She was also wearing a mask.
One thing that Dino failed to notice was the fact that he hasn't seen Hyejin wear so much makeup. The only makeup she's ever worn was a little foundation and lip balm and that was it. Even on talk shows, that was the only thing she's ever worn. Yet, she was still a beauty and not only to Dino's eyes, but to everyone else's eyes.
That made Dino smile behind his mask and fall for her a little more than he already has.
"Hi," Hyejin greeted first, tucking her long strand of black shiny hair behind her ear.
It was as if the scandal never happened. Dino liked how they were still the same despite what has happened. And luckily, if it weren't for the crowd, they would have already been spotted. Dino learned that maybe it was better to blend in with the crowd rather than trying to avoid it.
"Hey," Dino greeted, taking a step closer to close the space between them. The only length that separated them was an arm's length.
"It's so busy here," Hyejin noticed, looking to her left and right. Everyone was walking around, occasionally bumping into Dino and Hyejin too.
"We should get something to eat," Dino suggested, rubbing his growling stomach before he held Hyejin by her hand. His heart started beating but he brushed it off and guided her to the many stalls. Vendors were shouting, trying to catch the attention of people so that they could buy their food.
Dino could feel his legs turning into jelly as the thought of him holding Hyejin's hand kept whispering at the back of his head. His heart raced faster and he could only picture him and Hyejin in the middle of the sea of lights and people.
"Oh, Chan! Let's get some fish cakes!" Hyejin immediately tugged onto Dino's shirt, pointing at the fish cakes in front of them.
Dino slightly sunk into his coat, his heart beating when he replayed the way Hyejin called him. Chan and not Dino. He prevented himself from smiling but it couldn't be helped in the end. Luckily, he was still wearing his mask.
"Okay," Dino shyly said in return, pulling out his wallet.
Hyejin noticed that Dino had pulled out his wallet and immediately shook her head. "No, it's my treat today."
"Why your treat?" Dino was actually surprised. And because he found her cute, he felt an urge to tease her.
"I mean, why not? You're working hard for your money. You should keep whatever you earn and save it to give to your parents who misses you dearly, am I right?" Hyejin quickly surprised Dino with a surprise attack.
Dino placed a hand on his heart, smiling widely at her despite the mask. "You're so nice. You even thought of my parents."
Hyejin nodded in return, probably even smiling behind her mask. Dino seemed to notice that Hyejin was the type of person who easily smiled and laughed, which made her even more lovable.
I'm losing myself again. I almost referred my parents as her 'future' parents-in-law. I was so close to confessing...
Dino shook his head and stood behind him, protecting her from the crowd like a human barrier. When someone was about to hit her accidentally with their elbow, Dino lightly pulled her away. When he noticed some older guys checking Hyejin's body out, Dino made eye contact with them and threw them a glare. They immediately concentrated on other things short after.
Hyejin came out of the crowd after grabbing some fish cakes. She looked quite annoyed though. "Can we go somewhere that's less crowded?"
"Why? It's fine here. Also, don't forget it's raining." Dino lightly poked her forehead, grinning behind his mask once again. She was just so cute.
"Ugh, whatever you say. I just really want to sit down," Hyejin said, handing a cup of fish cake on a long stick to Dino. It was the first time Dino heard her complain like this. He found her even cuter.
Dino noticed a young couple—probably around their twenties—getting ready to move. Once they did, Dino threw an arm over Hyejin and quickly but carefully guiding her to the seats. Once both of them were seated, Dino pretended as if he didn't do any of it.
Hyejin was searching for his face but Dino made sure to avoid eye contact and he continued to eat. He kept his head low and pulled down the mask so it was positioned just below his lips and took a bite out of the very long fish cake.
Hyejin's mask was also pulled just below the lips and she teasingly grinned at him. She didn't say anything but Dino knew what she was trying to tease him about. It only made his ears burn red.
The rain outside the market didn't seem to calm down. It started to pour heavily. The roof of the large market started to create a loud sound that sounded like people were banging against it. It was almost impossible to hear the people in the market. It was far too noisy.
Some people started moving away, probably too annoyed by the noisy atmosphere. However, Dino seemed to be enjoying it. He wasn't sure if it was because all this noise didn't sound like noise at all in the end or it was because he was with Hyejin at the very moment.
He decided that both seemed to be plausible reasons so he decided with that.
Hyejin tugged his long sleeved shirt and motioned him to lean closer so she could whisper something into her ear. "Where should we go after this?"
The first thing that had popped into Dino's head was a confession he wanted to share, but he had to think of a place before anything. He whispered back, "Somewhere quiet. It's too noisy here. I'll think of where while eating."
Hyejin nodded back before she went back to eating. She adjusted her hat and made sure that she wasn't recognizable to the crowd of people here. She kept her head low most of the times.
Dino watched her with admiration. He knew she wouldn't be able to see him staring at her because her head hung so low and her hat has blocked out her sight of him.
After that had finished their fish cake, Dino and Hyejin stood up after putting their masks back up. Since Dino didn't want to lose Hyejin in the large crowd of people busily walking around, Dino took the initiative to hold her hand and guide her through it.
Dino couldn't lie; he felt his heart beating out of sync as he continued to hold the hand of the person he longed to be with. It was a good thing that there was a heavy rain. His heart would barely be heard by anyone but himself.
Dino and Hyejin had moved to somewhere quieter with less people walking around. In fact, there was barely anyone. It was as if it was deserted.
"There, a better place," Dino said as his eyes finally met Hyejin's. The rain outside was still pouring but despite it being loud, Dino couldn't hear any of it. He only concentrated on her and the sound of his beating heart that was finally giving a signal. A green light. Like someone telling him, 'Go.'
Hyejin nodded back, her eyes looking like she was starting to smile behind her mask. The hand that Dino was still holding onto, he has not let go off. He didn't want to. Not until he had the official right to hold them.
Dino leaned closer, cupping his hands around his mouth as he started to whisper something to Hyejin.
"Truthfully... I like you." Dino stepped back, proud to finally let those words out. He felt like something heavy had finally lifted off his chest and when he looked again, he noticed that the rain wasn't pelting down as much as before.
It was all the perfect timing, Dino thought, smiling proudly as he squeezed her hand even tighter.
~Author's Notes~
I could stare at Dino's GIFs all day and won't get bored at all. <3 And guess what? I also fangirled and smiled when writing and editing this chapter. Honestly, among most of my SEVENTEEN fanfictions, Hyejin and Dino are my favourite couple <3
Also, thank you so much for helping this story reach 1K votes! You guys are the true MVPs here. Sorry for taking so long to update. It's nearing the end and I honestly don't want to let this story go, you know? So I'm doing so much to hold on to this story a little longer :') Anyway, I hope you enjoyed reading <333