Seventeen One Shots

d o k y e o m

예쁘다

Stepping into the bus with a few eco green bags in her hands, she spun to her side, allowing the card in the right pocket of her black button skirt to tap the card reader with.

Pulling up the turtle neck collar to keep warm her neck as she walked down the aisle, she realised how the bus was quite empty despite that day being a public holiday.

She breathed out in relief knowing that she'll be having a peaceful ride. As her hands covered by the sweater paws clutched onto the bars, a familiar voice hummed to another familiar tune from the seats further back.

Her eyes widened before relaxing again, a smile forming after.

"Seokmin-ssi?", she called out.

The figure turned his head from staring out the window to the girl who called her.

His eyes shook in surprise and a hint of nervousness mixed, "U-Uhm-"

The girl smiled pleasantly, appeared standing next to a vacant seat beside his.

"Younghee, from your class." she stretched her hand out before she saw his expression relaxed a little and reached his hand out to shake hands with her.

"Ah, yeah- Jaehyun's project partner from before, is it?" he questioned and smiled when she nodded.

"Yes, I'm glad you noticed, " she giggled before pointing politely to the seat beside his. "Can i sit here?"

Looking slightly flustered, he quickly nodded. "O-Of course, have a seat."

Placing the bags onto the floor, she then took the seat, grunting a little. Silence filled the air as they said nothing- although he managed to cough heavily a few times- but it was still silent somehow.

She turned to him and confidently spoke. "Seokmin-ssi," her voice had made him turn to her in a slight discomfort, "Are you going home to spend Chuseok with your family?"

He laughed rather bitterly, answering. "No, i shouldn't be."

She creased her brows, looking rather curious.

"Why not?"

He sighed a little, "With the due date of the project coming so soon, I don't think i should be doing anything else other than practice. That's why I'm here in the bus, on my way to our school's practice room."

Her eyes widened, "You skipped the chance to meet your family for this? To practice?"

He nodded and again, smiled bitterly.

"Well, i had to."

Looking concerned, she responded. "Is anyone else from your group going too?"

He shook his head, "No, they turned down my request. But it's okay, I don't mind practicing alone."

She grinned cheekily, looking at her phone. "Well, you won't be."

"Huh?"

Pressing onto the call button, she lifted her phone and pressed it lightly on her left ear, the dial ring continuing until it stopped and a voice was heard.

"Mom? Yes, yes, it's me. Uhm, mom? Yes, this is urgent-"

From his seat, he could hear a few words from the conversation in between the two through the phone but he wasn't able to grasp what they were fully implying.

"-yes, I'm really, really sorry. Thanks for understanding, mom. Yes, okay. Bye." she pressed the end button before turning to him again, looking relieved.

"What happened?" he questioned.

She let out a triumphant look before reporting back. "Good news, you're not going to be practicing alone."

"Eh? What?" he repeated, unsure if he heard correctly.

"I'm staying back too, to practice."

His eyes widened in surprise, how could one be so carefree?

"Younghee-ssi, you don't have to-"

"I decided this on my own will, after i saw you doing this, i couldn't help but feel the urge to practice too.

"Besides, the more the merrier, don't you agree?"

He couldn't help but smile at her. "Yeah, you're right."

"Great! Now wipe off that bitter look of yours and brighten up! I'll call the school and let them know about us."

Chuckling, he smiled whilst staring at her talking in a pitchy yet calming tone with a smile plastered on her face. He realised how dense he was to not have known or noticed her in class with such a bright and outgoing personality. Taking a few more moments to stare, he had also realised how she had these gentle looking pair of eyes, the dimples which appears whenever she smiles and the shape of her lips in which he found rather attractive.

As he drowned into the act of staring, he didn't realise that he was subconsciously murmuring things he wasn't going to.

"Yeppeuda."

Having probably the worst timing, she was just done with the call and had clearly heard what he had said before giggling softly, making him jolt in shock and return to reality.

"Oh gosh- did i say something i shouldn't have?" he panicked a little and she chuckled in response.

"Is calling me pretty something you shouldn't have said?"

"Yes! I mean- it's not entirely wrong but uh- saying it gives out a weird vibe that shouldn't be there in the first place?" he admitted, looking flustered.

Laughing, she showed him a bright smile before tucking the loose strands of her hair behind her ear.

"Thankfully I tend to shrug away all the weird vibes and keep the nice ones around. So I don't have any problem with compliments, thank you very much."

He looked relieved once again before breathing out, feeling calm this time. It was new to him, to feel calm when he had just met a person who's no more than a stranger to him.

He felt, safe and comfortable around her- very comfortable. The vibes she gives out were pleasant and friendly, he could imagine her getting along with anyone in a matter of minutes with her irresistible charms.

She tapped on his shoulder, earning his attention as he turned to her, looking blank. She cupped her hands over his ears and leaned in, whispering.

"By the way, you're pretty handsome too."

With her voice ringing softly in his ear, he shivered a little as she smiled cheekily and he did the same, only with the sincere grin of his, thinking.

'This is gonna be fun with her around.'

Standing up so suddenly, she hollered. "Seokmin-ssi, we're here! Let's go!"

He chuckled, watching her run to the door and exited the vehicle, looking very impatient as he exited too and met her eyes again.

"Shall we?" she asked as he nodded.

"Yeah, let's practice."