Chapter Text
He’d been trying to invent some excuse to invite you over for a year. More than a year now. He’d only managed brief interactions with you since you’d moved into the apartment next door. They were enough that he wanted to know you more.
He sucks in a deep breath before knocking, preparing himself for the thing he’d been putting off so long. You swing the door open with no warning, much quicker than he’d anticipated.
“Um, hi,” is what he offers in greeting.
“Hi, Jeongin,” you answer, a friendly smile on your lips. Don’t stare at her lips, he self chastises—dropping his eyes to the box in his hand instead.
“I was at my parents house this weekend,” he begins, shuffling on his feet a little. “I found this old console. Most of the games are mutli player and I thought…maybe you’d like to try them with me?”
It wasn’t a strong excuse. He could’ve asked a friend. Why would he ask his pretty neighbour he’d hardly spoken to. Your eyes drop to the box in his hands. “What console?” you ask, no judgement evident in your voice. He tilts the box towards you so you can see its contents. You take a quick step towards him and dig your hands into the box, lifting the white console from the tangle of wires. “Oh my god,” you exclaim. “I had a Wii as a kid! I have no idea where mine ended up.”
He can’t keep the smile off his face. Well, this was going better than he thought. “I’m not sure where most of the games are,” he says. “I have Wii Sports and Mario Kart.”
You laugh as he swings the controller around, failing in blocking your attack and watching as the little animated version of him topples off the tower. You were playing a game where the controllers acted like little lightsabers, and you were much better at it than he was. He couldn’t really care less, not when you’re laughing like you are.
You drop to the floor as the game ends, controller resting on your stomach as you lie on your back. He joins you. “Did you play this a lot?” he asks. “As a kid.”
You prop yourself up on your elbows to answer him. “Mm, was my sister's favourite. I’ve had years of practice,” you grin.
“So I was setting myself up by asking you to play with me.”
You laugh. “Do you regret it?”
He shakes his head. “Not at all.”
“I feel a bit silly,” you say, dropping your eyes from his. Your hair drops over your eyes and he resists the urge to lean over and brush it off your face. First day you’ve spent time together properly, he reminds himself.
“Silly?” he questions.
“I’ve…been working up the courage to ask you over for a while. I just thought… you would have asked if you were interested. It’s so easy now I’m here, I just feel silly for putting it off for so long.”
He sits up straighter, dropping the controller onto the ground. “You—I mean you…wanted to ask me?”
You nod. He laughs, falling flat on his back before turning to look at you. You have a little wrinkle between your eyes where your brows are pulled together in confusion. He wants to know you well enough that he could reach up and smooth it out. “Would you like to stay for lunch?” he asks.
You offer him another pretty smile and his heart thumps hard in his chest. “Sure. As long as we can play another game.”
“As many as you want,” he answers.