Chapter Text
Jaehyun did not know what to do with himself at this point.
“Aigoo, WooJae-yah are you that upset?” Doyoung drunkenly teases as Jaehyun scowls into his glass of water.
“I’m not upset.” Jaehyun vehemently denies with a pout, before downing the water like he did the soju bombs earlier when it became apartment that the tall stranger that kept giving him the eyes all night, was not going to talk to him.
“Hyung, if you’re going to lie, at least try to make it believable.” Haechan snickers, while moving to ruffle Jaehyun’s hair but changes his mind when he sees the unamused glare aimed his way.
“But Hyung, why didn’t you just talk to him tho?” Mark asks, confused, earning snorts from everyone except his “definitely just a friend” Yuta, who just lovingly smiles at the Canadian, probably thinking about how cute he is the 86th time that night.
“Yah! Lee Minhyung! Do you think these are the dimples of someone who just “just talks” to people? He should have recognised that he was in the presence of divinity and come over to pay respects!” Doyoung scolds, overly affronted at the thought of Jaehyun having to put the slightest amount of effort. ‘So you’re
why everyone thinks that I’m a pillow princess.’ Jaehyun realizes, not sure whether to be amused or annoyed. Helong stopped being the youngest in their little group, but Doyoung’s weird brand of babying hasn’t eased up in the slightest.
“Hyung, calm down, it wasn't that deep.” Jaehyun says with a shrug, trying desperately to hold onto his unbothered king title.
“Aigoo!” Haechan says in pity with a shake of his head and forces Jaehyun into a comforting embrace, not believing him for a second.
Jaehyun is still thinking about that stranger a few days later at work. He’s dripped in some designer label that he does not care enough about to learn how to pronounce, while draped over the most uncomfortable chaise that he’s ever come across. The flashing lights and the photographer’s almost manic joy as he sings Jaehyun’s praises, fades into a gentle hum as he goes into autopilot before succumbing to his thoughts. He has been off kilter since he left the party that night with his friends after one too many pity soju bombs.
That night was supposed to be just like any other. Crash the house party in the Hills that technically only Golden Boy Mark was actually invited to. If the slight chance of there being security came up, then Jaehyun would charm their way inside easily. They would drink, dance and flirt a little with people whose faces they will not remember in the morning, because if Mark was to be believed, they were all super single. That was the plan, and Jaehyun didn’t know about the others, but he was definitely planning on going home alone, having long grown bored of the stars, wannabes and everyone in between. But then He happened and all his well laid plans went to shit essentially.
For the life of him, Jaehyun cannot remember what was so funny, but he remembers everyone laughing at something Yuta said when he felt his eyes on him. You would think with how often it happens, that Jaehyun would be able to fight the urge to have a peek every time someone burned a hole in him with their gaze, but if that day were to ever come, it certainly was not any time soon. ‘He’s so tall’ is all that comes to Jaehyun’s mind when he locks eyes with the stranger. Not that Jaehyun isn’t quite tall himself, in fact he’s probably only about an inch or two shorter than him. There was just something about the handsome man’s aura that had Jaehyun mesmerised by his height.
And that was another thing about the man. He was just so handsome, and in a way that he was not used to after so long surrounded by all the sexiness of his industry. Not that he was not sexy as well, because he was. And Jaehyun could tell.
The man’s sexiness was secondary to everything else about him. From the way his gaze was so attentive to whatever his friend was saying even through his drunkenness, to how that drunkenness gave way to a seriousness and concern in an instant, it was clear to Jaehyun that this man was caring and a genuine listener. Yes, the man was sexy but in a way that would be easy to forget about in favour of being distracted by the rest of wonders, only for him to switch it up and wield his sex appeal like weapon when you least expect it.
Jaehyun shook his head to clear his thoughts of the nonsense before he got even further sucked into that man’s orbit, and focused back on his friends who had by then all noticed his brief distraction.
They kept catching each other’s gaze the whole night, but nothing happened further than that. Much to the frustration to the curling feelings in the pit of his stomach that made Jaehyun open to following him to the ends of earth, or even just the back of his car - Jaehyun wasn’t picky. He is snapped back into reality when the makeup artist and stylist rushes over to him for touch ups at the photographer’s request.
Maybe if the stranger had not made it so obvious that he was interested, and maybe if Jaehyun had not made it clear that that was okay, then maybe Jaehyun would have taken the initiative and talked to him.
It seems silly, being too scared to talk to someone who you already know is interested but how could Jaehyun be brave with the way things were that night? Anyone could tell that his the stranger was interested, even Yuta, who rarely knows what is going on outside of Mark’s orbit. The knowing smirks that the stranger’s friend sent his way, made it clear that they both knew that Jaehyun was at the very least down. All that going for him and that stranger and still
nothing
. All that and somehow Jaehyun was still not worth it. As much as he has a reputation for being an unbothered king, he could help but be bothered every time he thinks of that man.
“You blew it.” He says softly as he walks home after the shoot, never clarifying who his words were for. He likes to think that it was for hi.. that stranger but he cannot be too sure.