"Sorry about them," Haechan let her enter his room. Just before her arrival, he had been running around cleaning up. He threw several of his clothing under Johnny's bed as soon as he heard the doorbell. Completely unaware of the awkward conversation she had been having just outside.
The maknae met eyes with his roommate through the slit in the door. The older boy signaling for him to leave the door slightly open. As if the younger boy would listen. Haechan raised his eyebrows daringly and shut the door.
"That kid does not respect me," Johnny muttered out. Fingers on his nose.
"He doesn't respect any of us," Doyoung said as he passed him and entered his own room.
Aera let her eyes look around. She ignored the pile of clothing that was peeking from under one of the beds. A smile coming to her face as she imagined him hiding the mess before she arrived.
"Which is your side?" she starred at the two almost identical beds. Instantly throwing herself at the one he pointed at.
He decided to sit in his desk chair. He was nervous to have her over for many reasons. What would all of his members say? What if she hadn't agreed? How would he act when they were alone? Despite the fact that they had been alone various times in the studio, this was different. They were now alone in his room.
"I thought you'd be messier," she laid on her stomach. Arms wrapping around a pillow, which she placed under her head and rested her chin on top.
"That's the 10th floor,"
"I was genuinely surprised when I came in and everything was set in place. I was upstairs last week and they had gotten spaghetti sauce on the wall," they both laughed. Walking upstairs was pure chaos. As she continued to get to know more about him she realized that her past assumptions of him were false. She expected him to be just like how she perceived him, so she use to only think the worse. Yet here he was amongst the tidiest members.
"So.. what's up?" She tried to keep the conversation flowing. It had seemed that their usual casual conversations flowed smoother when they were both in the studio. Something about being in the place where he found peace and often mostly wished to be in, made her shy.
"I don't know what you want to do. We can watch a movie, play video games- do you play?" He pointed at the mini shelf containing all the video games.
"I haven't played in a while," she instantly thought back to JooWon who almost always forced her to play video games instead of doing anything she wanted to do. He almost never gave her a chance to do something she enjoyed.
Haechan could see something bothering her. He didn't ask but instead chose to change the subject.
"Take advantage of how nice I'm being. This is a privilege. Today we'll do whatever you pick," he sat back in the chair. His past worry disappearing when he saw her laugh at his joke.
"Can we watch a movie?"
After debating between genre and then over which movie they'd watch. Aera rested her back against the headboard, her eyes nervously shifting towards the boy.
"You can sit in the bed if you want," she had noticed how he was leaning over to see the laptop screen that laid in front of her. He hesitated a bit before just taking her offer. For some reason their usual playful and casual atmosphere was different. They seem to be shyer. Haechan noticeably keeping a safe distance between them to which Aera didn't notice as she scooted over until her shoulder hit his. She pulled the laptop in the middle of both of their legs, a pillow under it to balance it evenly.
Aera seemed to be completely absorbed in the action movie they had chosen. Haechan on the other hand was slightly distracted by her. He side-eyed her more than he watched the movie. Something about having her so close made him nervous.
"Did you see that?" she pointed a finger at the screen. Her eyes looking over for his reply. He who hadn't been paying attention only nodded.
Aera was so used to seeing movies with Yeejin that she didn't notice herself snuggling into his side. Her arm was the first thing to link itself with his. She hadn't noticed him tense up as she hugged the arm and laid her head on his shoulder.
Haechan suddenly had a coughing fit. He stood up, making sure to unwrap her arm from his as he excused himself for some water.
"You don't have to pause it," he said just before exiting the room. He placed his open palm over his heart. Not really physically feeling his heart but surely hearing it racing in his ear.
"Get yourself together," he thought as he walked towards the kitchen.
"I made you kids a snack," Johnny moved the tray forward.
"Wow, Hyung. It looks great," the tray consisted of crackers with ham, cheese, and some fruits. Johnny observed his roommate who stuffed a grape in his mouth. The curiosity urging him to ask. He held back thinking back to Haechan who moved out for three days because of him.
Haechan pulled a knife out of the cabinet. He started to get rid of the skin on the apples Johnny had cut up.
"So now you guys don't only text but hang out too?" Johnny poured himself a cup of water. He seemed to forget that he wasn't going to ask. Haechan silently grabbed drinks, he tried to ignore the question.
"Does Mark know?"
"What's the big deal? Isn't it a good thing we don't hate each other now? And yes Mark knows we're friends," The younger boy was only getting angry. The constant prying from his roommate always angered him and only more now that she was close enough to hear him.
"Just friends?" Haechan glared at the taller boy. His gaze slightly intimidating the other as he looked away.
"I'll seriously move out," he threatened as he started to gather the drinks and food he was going to offer.
"Thanks for the snack," was the last thing he said before he disappeared down the hall with both arms full.
"You missed the best part," Aera raised an eyebrow when she saw the tray and drinks he tried to hold. Signaling with his lips for her to grab the tray before it fell.
"Johnny made it," Aera smiled happily at the food. She was just starting to feel hungry, having forgotten to eat anything after HyunTae's meet.
"I hope you like apple juice," he pushed the drink towards her to which she smiled gratefully before taking it. She reached forward and paused the movie and then moved the laptop to the side so they could sit on the bed.
"Thank you," she took a cracker from the tray. Haechan watched her. The girl seemed to become happier upon the arrival of the food.
"Despite the fact that we spend a lot of time together we haven't gotten to know the basics about each other," the boy had realized that she was right. He was curious to know more about the things she liked and didn't like.
"I'll say a few things and then you go," she nodded at his suggestion. Aera pushed the bottle towards him since she couldn't open it. He easily twisted the cap and returned it.
"Uhh, where do I even start? Oh, right! Well, I love music. More the instruments than anything else as you can tell. Even though you probably thought I was a mega-bitch, I'm not really always like that,"
"Are you sure?" she shoved him lightly. His teasing causing her to smile lightheartedly.
"People say I'm really nice and bubbly. I spend all my time playing music or studying.. yes boring. My favorite color is grey, I have kinemortophobia, which is the fear of zombies. Even though I don't mind receiving flowers I prefer something you can actually eat. I can't eat the skin of the apple," she held up the nicely cut apples that Haechan had prepared for her.
"I think that's it. Oh wait and I have three- sorry four best friends," she stared at him for a few seconds. Letting her words play in his mind.
"Yeejin who I met when I just moved to Korea. She's my roommate as well. HyunTae as you already know. Mark is obviously my best friend since he's been with me since... forever. And then there's you," she shifted her gaze towards the tray. Her cheeks turning red as she avoided his eyes. Haechan almost didn't hear her. Her cheeks being stuffed with apples that it was muffled.
The boy smiled knowingly. Somewhat proud that he was ranked as one of her best friends. He chose not to say anything as he noticed her shyly avoid him. When she finally looked up he teasingly squinted his eyes and winked.
"Don't wink at me!" She threw a tissue at him. He fell backward, laughing at her. The butterflies erupting in her stomach at the sound.
"I guess it's my turn now,"
"I love playing video games, mostly with Johnny who absolutely sucks. My favorite artist is Michael Jackson. I also enjoy playing the instruments. I have color amblyopia, basically, one eye doesn't see that well so my brain focuses on what the other eye sees," his eyes shifting around the room and occasionally looking at her. She stared with slightly widened eyes as she listened to everything he said.
"Always wanted to become a singer since music was a big part of me growing up. I basically eat everything and.. yea I think that's all I can think of for now," the room became silent. Both simply enjoying each other presence as they munched.
What either of them didn't admit was that they already knew almost everything they both had said. Even though it had been years of fighting and petty insults. They were well aware of things either one did. They knew what set them off and what they most liked.
Aera stole glances when he wasn't looking. He had been wearing a casual white tee and basketball shorts. Her eyes trailing the moles that she hated to admit she loved. His forehead peaking out as he passed a hair through his hair.
"You okay?" He asked when he saw her spaced out. She blinked several times.
"What? Oh, yea," but she had been lying. The storm of butterflies and her pumping heart were clear evidence that Aera was more than okay as she blushed when he smiled at her.
a.n: Haechans recent live just screams violence. He woke up and decided to attack all of us by wearing those damn jeans.