Outsider | Na Jaemin ✓

𝟹𝟺 | tw! 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘦

tw! unwanted touching

The last round of colourful flower-like explosions that lit up the night sky happened around a week ago and to celebrate another new year of their lives, Yebin had a simple idea of going out for a little barbeque at her house seeing as the snow had covered the green sceneries. Haeyoon, in charge of small bites, prepared some kimbap and various flavours of onigiri. She places them onto a new container carefully, making sure that the food keeps their visuals clean and vibrant.

With Jeno's strength, he managed to pull the outdoor table, placing it half in the sun and the other in the shade. Various snacks and drinks filled up the middle of the table as the young adults dug in for their lunch, "And of course!" Donghyuck bought out a glass of wine, distributing a fancy plastic glass to each of them.

"Why wine on this kind of occasion? It's not really fitting for wine." Yebin questions her boyfriend.

"Exactly why I bought it!"

"You make no sense."

"But you love it."

The rest of the group looked away, cheekily disgusted at the short peck that Yebin gave Donghyuck.

"Alright lovebirds, gentle reminder that we're all still single here." Renjun tossed a bag of chips to Donghyuck, the boy just puckering his lips towards him, "I'm going to kick your ass, I swear."

They stayed with each other, sticking tightly with each other as if they hadn't seen each other around a week ago. They came incredibly prepared, feeling like they would bask in each other's company for a prolonged period of time bringing their speakers, some cushions, cards and board games as well as a camera to physically capture their memories digitally and instantly. Currently things are going well. Everyone managed to apply to their desired university as well as the major that they want to do. Maybe it was indeed an impulsive decision but Haeyoon decided to aim to become a children psychologist as she always loved the small humans as well as the complexity of the human brain, emotions and behaviour.

A couple of hours later when Donghyuck had finally ran out of fuel and social battery, they all decided to part ways for the day all the while promising to check their group chat and hang out again soon. Haeyoon slings her pastel purple tote bag over her shoulders waving at her friends as they make their way back home. The temperature was bearable for Haeyoon, the girl choosing aircon in winter over heater in summer anytime. Walking back home, she passed some night food markets as well as families who enjoyed their holidays before school and work period comes later on in the month. She waves at the children, content with seeing a smile and waves back to her.

It's weird how you would stare out in the distance, your head in the clouds but then at the sight of something in the crowd, your head instantly perks up and without knowing you would rush out to see if you have confused reality with imagination.

Haeyoon couldn't help but to confuse reality with imagination as she lightly pushed through the sea of people, saying dozens of 'sorry's and 'please let me through'. Undoubtedly, if she was in her right mind, she wouldn't even dare to refuse a favour from a grandmother with the shopping bags but she was sure, no she is sure that it was his silhouette that she saw for a split second. Calling out for his name countless times under her breath, feeling the tears prick her eyes again at the possibility of meeting him again. Yet she was left in the middle of the buzzing technology banners in the city alone, once again.

Unknown to her, the boy held his breath and hid his body behind a nearby tree. Jaemin moved back to Seoul earlier in the day, Brian welcoming him to his apartment until Jaemin saves up enough money again to move into his own. He didn't expect the girl to be out and about at night and in this chilly weather. When he accidentally looked up and met her eyes, Jaemin ran for it, not ready to face her and make his resolution come true.

Peeking out once again to see if the coast is clear, he sees Haeyoon walking into a bubble tea shop, "Bubs it's like minus something degrees...You're going to get sick." I mean, says the one who is only wearing a top, sweater and jacket with no gloves, winter boots or hat, but alright. Jaemin watched through the shop's window as Haeyoon tapped her phone to the machine to pay for her drink. He thought that he would need to hide again but she took a seat when her drink arrived, looking deep in thought, "She saw me, didn't she?" He couldn't help but punch the tree beside him, anger at being caught. He was barely surviving without her and he's the one who left her without an explanation. How bad is Haeyoon's pain compared to his? Jaemin couldn't begin to imagine it, "I should just go and apologise to her right now. She might reject and hit me and slap me and say that she never wants to see me ever again but that's fine! It's fine! At least I tried and at least I came back and explained it to her. It should be fine. I can do it, I can do it, I can---"

Jaemin's self-talk ends abruptly when he hears Haeyoon's voice, not realising that she left the store a couple of seconds ago and stepped foot onto the now empty city, "Jaemin won't come. He hates me now."

"What'd you do, you brat?" Another familiar voice commented. Jaemin took a closer look, his protective instinct flaring up as he identified the boys as the ones he hangs out with outside of high school. He is too close for his liking, way too close and the way that Haeyoon's face contorted and shakes under his towering figure only made Jaemin want to reveal himself to Haeyoon, not caring how she would treat him and he did just that when one hand tilts Haeyoon's face up while the other went low to her back.

"Nothing. She did nothing." While the boys smile and pat the shoulders of a disheveled Jaemin, Haeyoon could only stare at him in surprise. Jaemin didn't acknowledge the acts and tore Haeyoon away from his hold, wrapping his own arms around her body, her face buried on his chest. As soon as he made his first contact with the girl after all these months, he could feel his heart fixing and rapidly beating, aware of her gaze on him, "Don't touch her. If you touch her again, I'll make you wish you were dead."

Go get her, Jaem.

from_izzy