I Like Me Better [JaeYong]

Eight

"Hello, Welcome to Blue Flame Studio! I'm Ten, an instructor here, how may I help you?" The nameless man now known as Ten smiles to show friendliness to the shivering male by the door. He makes his way around the front desk, his short stature became immediately noticeable to Jaehyun.

Scanning him up and down, Jaehyun noticed his fit look, instantly seeing his black ripped jeans and white button-up shirt. Ten clears his throat, wondering if the stranger will ever answer the question he asked him right away.

"Oh sorry, yeah. I was wondering if Taeyong was here today? Lee Taeyong? He told me he owns this studio, and I'd like to speak with him." Jaehyun politely asks, hoping Ten at least knows the name of his boss.

Ten hums a bit, indicating that he's thinking, "Actually, Taeyong has been calling in sick a lot, including today. Do you want me to leave a note that you've been here asking for him?"

"Um yeah, sure, that'll work." Jaehyun responds to the question fast this time as Ten makes his way back around behind the desk. He grabs a pen from a mug and a post-it, ready to write down the other's name and number. Jaehyun by now has made his way to the desk, tapping his fingers along to the music that could be heard through the walls.

"Alright, what's your name and phone number?"

"Jung Jaehyun, and my number is-"

"Wait, wait, wait... YOU'RE Jung Jaehyun? Oh, you're not going to be able to talk to Taeyong, I'm sorry." Ten puts the pen down and crosses his arms, locking eyes with the now confused stranger.

"Well, why not? I don't see a problem talking to him." Jaehyun crosses his arms as well, somewhat mocking the short man in front of him.

"Taeyong has told me about you, about what you did that night. Honestly, I don't want you two interacting again, he sounded so stressed when mentioning your name," Ten shakes his head in disproval and starts to shoo Jaehyun out the door, "Now go! Before I call the police on you for stalking my best friend!"

Jaehyun raises his hands in defeat as he turns his back on Ten, making his way out the door and into the freezing weather outside. His teeth instantly start to chatter as he makes his way back to Johnny's car, which hasn't moved at all since he's last been in it before the encounter inside the studio. He opens the door wide and slams it shut once he's settled in the heated leather seat.

Johnny raises his eyebrow, questioning as to why it took his best friend so little time conversing with who he called his "best friend's future husband". But he doesn't bother saying anything, knowing he's most likely going to start ranting any minute now. He was right to spare his breath, because the moment he clicked his seatbelt tight, Jaehyun's mouth wouldn't shut up.

"Johnny, Taeyong doesn't want to see me. It's official, and I'm not a stalker, right? He's just changed my life, I want to thank him for his actions. Maybe I changed his, too, but maybe for the worse? Do you think I've caused so much stress for him? I don't think I have, he was literally happier than I was." Jaehyun buries his head in his hands when he finishes rambling, not knowing what to think anymore.

Johnny angles himself to face the younger better, sighing once he's found the perfect position, "Jaehyun, whatever happened in that studio just now, I think it was over exaggerated. You know why I know that? Because you can't go from being so confident in talking to your crush to just throwing that out the window."

"Hey! Taeyong isn't my crush!!" Jaehyun ignored everything that Johnny had just told him except that certain part.

Rolling his eyes, Johnny chuckles at his best friend's stupidity, "You literally talk about him everyday, don't lie to me, you ass. If we're going to pretend that you don't have a crush then at least try to act like it! Actually, you might as well just start calling him your husband."

Jaehyun playfully slaps the older's shoulder, displaying the act that he's mad. But his frown and scrunched nose quickly fade away as he laughs along with his best friend. They throw their heads back and forth, clutching onto their stomachs from the pain and they stomp their feet in random rhythms.

This burst of laughter has caused the interactions between Jaehyun and Ten to have left his memory, though the idea of any possible pain he gifted to Taeyong still lingers for a long time.