author’s note: Happy Birthday to Jeongin, our baby! This scenario is dedicated to him ❤️
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“Are you going to the school dance? I heard it’s gonna be lit this year. ASB worked hard on it aka. me, so go and support,” Seungmin handed Jeongin a flyer promoting the dance.
“Sorry man. I don’t think I can. Unless you want me to go alone,” Jeongin looked down at the flyer. He didn’t have anyone to go with.
Seungmin raised a brow, “You don’t? Are you serious? There are girls lining up at your locker every single day. There ought to be someone out there who’s willing to go with you.”
Jeongin laughed, “I can’t go with them. I honestly don’t even know them. Also, I’m kinda shy around girls.”
“If that’s the case, you might as well go with Jisung. He’d love to go with you,” Seungmin smirked.
The boy shuddered, “Um no thank you?”
“Do you not talk to any girls? Any at all?”
Jeongin thought for a bit, “Well there’s my neighbor, but I doubt she’d go with me.”
“Y/n?” he asked.
“Yeah, but she doesn’t really like dances,” he pouted.
~
You had been Jeongin’s neighbor for as long as he could remember. Ever since the two of you were children, you would go over to his house for play dates. However, in middle school, the two of you drifted apart. He was part of the popular crowd, and you were a wallflower. Although the two of you kept contact, you wouldn’t greet each other at school, or else the other students would start rumors. High school was a reiteration of middle school. You guys wouldn’t greet each other in the hallways. He was on the basketball team, and you were once again the wallflower.
You were walking home from school when you felt a sudden tap on your shoulder.
You turned around and unplugged your earbuds, “Hey Jeongin, what’s up?” Usually, he wouldn’t talk to you until the both of you had reached home. Jeongin was wearing a black windbreaker and his favorite pair of Vans. He had grown so much since middle school.
He rubbed the back of his neck nervously, “W-what are you doing this Thursday?”
You chuckled, “I’m probably just gonna stay home and work on some DIY projects. Why?”
Jeongin shook his hands frantically, “No nothing! I was just asking out of curiosity.”
You looked at him weirdly, “Um okay.”
“I was just wondering if you were going to the dance on Thursday. That’s it,” he asked, fiddling with the straps of his black backpack.
“Jeongin, you know I don’t go to dances. Dancing isn’t exactly my forte. I have two left feet,” you laughed at yourself.
Jeongin nervously nodded, “Right.”
You glanced up at him and asked, “Are you going to the dance?”
He sighed, “I kinda have to. Seungmin is president of ASB. I have to go to support him, but I don’t have a date.”
“Jisung’s been loving you lately,” you snickered. Their hallway interactions were way too cute.
Jeongin pouted sadly, “I might as well.”
~
“Did you ask her?” Seungmin asked during lunch.
Jeongin propped his head with his elbow, “Kinda? But I got rejected either way. Like I told you, she doesn’t go to dances.”
Seungmin smacked the younger boy’s head, “I bet you said some shit like ‘oh what are doing on Thursday?’ And she responds with ‘oh I’m reading a book.’ And you just give up and say ‘haha never mind’.”
He glared at Seungmin, “That’s not the point! Even if I asked, she wouldn’t go with me. She’s not the type to attend these events. I’m better off going with Jisung.”
Seungmin laughed, “Bro, who said Jisung was going to go with you? He landed himself a date. Surprising right? He planned it all, with balloons and everything. Boy, learn from him.”
Jeongin ran his hand through his hair, “What? I’m the only one who’s going alone?”
“Seems like it. Even I got myself a date.”
Jeongin shoved the older boy playfully, “Of course. Who wouldn’t want to go with Mr. ASB president?”
~
2 · 08 · 18
Jeongin fixed the tie on his tuxedo and straightened his white dress shirt. He was actually going alone. He glanced curiously at the house across from his and into your bedroom window directly facing his. Jeongin waved his hands frantically to catch your attention.
You noticed something moving in your peripheral vision and glanced up. Jeongin was in a full suit and tie. He looked amazing compared to your big t-shirt and messy bun. You smiled and walked towards the window to wave at him.
Jeongin quickly grabbed a notepad and wrote something down.
“You’re really not going?”
You shook your head lightly and wrote on your notepad.
“No, are you going alone?”
He nodded sadly. Who would have thought? Every single girl in the entire school would be lining up to be his date. Did he not ask any of them?
He grabbed his notepad again and scribbled something.
“I wish you could come.”
You sighed and wrote.
“I’m sorry.”
He frowned a bit and placed his notepad down. Jeongin waved goodbye to you and exited his room.
You sat back down on your bed and tried to focus on painting. However, something was on your mind. You took your hair out of the messy bun and tousled it slowly. Immediately, you sprang off the bed and ran downstairs.
“MOM, DO YOU STILL HAVE THAT DRESS YOU WORE?”
~
“You seriously didn’t get a date?” Seungmin asked Jeongin, linking arms with his date.
Jeongin sighed, “I told you man. Where’s the punch table? I’m gonna stand there for the entirety of the dance.”
Seungmin punched his arm lightly, “There are many single ladies out there. Just ask one of them to dance.”
He shook his head frantically, “No, I’m way too shy. I don’t even know half of these people.”
The taller boy shrugged, “Whatever suits you. Punch table is on your left.”
Jeongin trudged towards the table gloomily.
~
Jeongin poured himself his third cup of punch, staring at his friends with dancing with their dates. He sighed and sipped on his fruit punch, slightly jealous of his friends. Suddenly he felt a small tap on his shoulder.
He turned around and almost spat out his punch. His eyes were wide as he gaped at you. Not only did you come, you were dressed in something other than a t-shirt and a pair of jeans. You were wearing your mom’s dress from her winter formal. You wore a off-the-shoulder, floor length, grey satin gown that was fitted on your waist and exposed just the right amount of ankle. You wore your delicate silver heels, and your neck was adorned with a simple charm necklace. You looked stunning.
You fiddled with you hands and tugged on your clutch nervously, “I kinda felt bad for making you go alone. So here I am?”
Jeongin was taken back and stuttered, “W-what? You look amazing-I don’t know what to say wow thank you holy cow.”
You looked down on the ground and smiled shyly.
Jeongin exhaled and mustered up his courage, “May I have this dance?” He extended his hand slowly, slightly making eye contact with you, and then quickly looking away bashfully.
You chuckled, “Of course.” You placed your hand in his bigger one. His hands were warm. Jeongin lead you to the dance floor, and Seungmin gave him a small smirk.
“Wait, I don’t know how to dance,” you mumbled.
“I’ll guide you. Just follow me.” He lifted your arm slowly and placed your hand on his shoulder. He did the same with the other arm. You stared at his chin, unable to make eye contact with him. He rested his hands gently on your waist. Jeongin focused his eyes on the top of your head because he was also too shy to make eye contact. Jeongin placed a foot back, and you followed. He then stepped left, and you followed again.
Jeongin smiled, “Hey, you’re really good. You don’t even have two left feet.”
You gathered up your courage and made eye contact with him, “Don’t jinx it.”
He smiled softly at you, his eyes turning into crescent moons. The two of you just stared at each other for a while in the middle of the dance floor.
When had he grown this much? I remember when he was just a little boy.
You remembered the time the both of you chased the ice cream truck. You were over at his house, and Jeongin contemplated a bit too long. The ice cream truck had already driven off to the next street down the block. You accidentally slipped on his sneakers, which were a few sizes too big for you, and chased the truck together with him. It seemed like it was only yesterday.
The same boy who chased the ice cream truck with you was standing right in front of you, holding you. Where did all the time go?
Jeongin thought the same. The girl in front of him was the same girl who fell of the bike, accidentally consumed hand sanitizer, and chased the ice cream truck. There you were now, standing in front of him, looking like a goddess.
“You look amazing Y/n,” he said, staring into your brown eyes.
Your gaze wavered, and you responded, “You look really nice as well.”
“I’m glad you came,” he smiled ear to ear.
~
Seungmin had truly done a great job with the event venue. He booked a botanical garden. Trees with hanging lights lined the green lawn with a pebbled pathway. In the center, there was a marble fountain, making soothing noises as the water droplets fall. A bit ahead of the fountain, there was a swing hanging from an extended branch of the largest oak tree in the garden. String lights intertwined the branches loosely, and they slowly cascaded down and hung below the leaves. They resembled stars embellishing the night sky.
Jeongin held your hand and led you to the swing. He motioned for you to sit down, and you gladly obliged.
“I still cant believe you came tonight,” he started, “Just wow, thanks for being my date.”
“If you asked me in a more direct way, I would have said yes,” you giggled, kicking your feet back, making the swing rock back and forth lightly.
Jeongin held onto the ropes of the swing, “Well you said you didn’t do dances, so I didn’t want to force you.”
You turned and lifted your head to look at him, “There’s a first time for everything, Jeongin.”
He scrunched his face and pushed the swing with you on it.
“Oh and also, I have something for you.”
Jeongin held onto the ropes tightly, preventing you from swinging too far, “What is it?”
You got up and reached into your clutch, “Give me your arm.”
He reached his arm hesitantly. You pulled it towards you and strapped a leather bracelet around his wrist. You let go of his arm and smiled cheekily.
“Happy birthday,” you beamed.
Jeongin studied the bracelet, slowly rotating it around his wrist.
He read the engravings carefully as his fingers skimmed over them, “Forever young.”
You flipped his wrist over, “Read the inside as well.”
“February eighth, two thousand and one,” he read the numbers carefully. His birthday.
“Do you know why I chose this phrase?” you asked.
Jeongin shook his head.
You continued, “Because even though time flies by as you grow older, our memories will always stay young. I’ll never forget how you held my hand during my first day in kindergarten. And ten years from now, I’ll will not forget how you held my hand tonight.”
Jeongin took a step closer and pulled you towards him. He placed his hands gently on your waist once again and smiled. You tilted your head up slightly to face him.
“Neither will I,” he whispered.