Work Text:
There he was, at the heart of the library lounge, comfortably sitting against the huge bean bags where the sun fell in not too warmly; just the right at-home feel.
His sharp but kind eyes curiously unfocused on the book, high cheekbones bounced light off of his face, sharp jaws cast shadows on his rather large grey hoodie with a matching pair of sweats.
Her heart melts as their eyes meet suddenly; totally not like Seungmin is watching her approach slowly through his peripherals. Her lips turned upwards, his eyes to crescents. Obviously he doesn’t have ears and a tail but somehow his demeanour reminded her of her own puppy.
‘He must be deep in the Physics book haha, he’s so cute’ she thought as she smiled back.
He’s the only one she knew would enjoy a reference book like it’s a romcom or a sci-fi, although he really scrambled to pick up a random book, having arrived just a few minutes before herself, because his heart is currently sitting in his throat. He wanted to keep the laid back facade up in front of her.
Bravely, with shaking hands, he gestured her to his side. Luckily she didn’t notice the shaking. Her eyes widened ever so slightly and fleeting, her own heartbeat betrayed her will to stay calm. She didn’t know she couldn’t handle even just the thought of closeness.
‘Have we ever been that close?! What does he even know?! Inviting me to his side like that.’ she internally and bashfully rolled her eyes
As if programmed, her feet started taking small giddy steps to his bean bag. Unknowingly to her, he feels the same.
The image of her slightly bouncing hair, knee-length pleated skirt flowing, and her cute bag littered with enamel pins of various cats and dogs as she approached is now saved in his storage of clips and stills of his favourite and most precious memories of her.
Right now, Seungmin is braver than ever after the drunken confession she made the other night.
They were really only supposed to drink beer but uni stress got in the way. They went through bottles of vodka and gin laughing at stupid group mates and stupid requirements that are due that week, then came the topic of lovers.
“You know if you weren’t my friend, I’d give you my hand in marriage.” she giggled as she took another shot of gin.
“You’re smart, thoughtful, considerate, persevere, your face with your height and with your voice?! Sooo my type!” she drunkenly stared at him and booped his nose.
Seungmin sputtered. He tried to be chill. ‘She doesn’t really mean that right? She’s just drunk off her mind right now. She can’t mean that.’ he remembered how the room was extra hot that night.
At the library, as they both wait and stare at each other to come in arms length,
‘Why is he looking at me like that? I can’t breathe.’ as his eyes sparkled with the most obvious adoration.
‘She looks so beautiful, I can’t breathe.’ as her doe-eyes reflected the world with such enthusiasm and love.
She arrived at his side, arms wide open for a snuggle, he then closed his book, turned to her meeting her eyes with intense passion, and just;
“I love you.”
Like it’s as easy as breathing. As if it’s the first and only thing he learned in life.
Ironically she held her breath, her brain short-circuited processing the words said aloud by her long-time love. Her hands are tingly, her neck is clammy, her cheeks and the tips of her ears are red. It looked like she was sick!
Seungmin, slightly panicked at the lack of verbal response, racked his brains for a “witty” and confident addition to his confession.
“I know you do too.” he smirks.
Her brain unexpectedly started working non-stop now came up with the response:
“How did you know?”
“Oh? So you actually do."
He no longer hid the happiness that seeps out of his skin and winked at her though he’s breathless too. Realisation sunk in a few moments later and she’s stunned, she's surely beet red now.
“I didn’t say that!” she rebutted with such a weak response; the sun is suddenly beaming down too hotly now.
“But I guess it’s obvious now, isn’t it?” She hid her face in her palms. So embarrassed that she’d been caught a second time. She did not forget what happened the other night.
‘She loves me, she actually loves me!’ he felt faint, he couldn't believe it. After all these years of friendship, shoving down and straight up rejecting his intense feelings for her, she loves him. It wasn’t just the alcohol talking.
She sat there still as a painting, with her eyelids and eyes the only parts moving, trying to discern whether she was actually awake or dreaming, then Seungmin’s voice broke through her mind.
“So, I’ve set a date tonight at 8:00 pm. I’ll pick you up from your house then.”
“Okay Seungmin, I’ll see you then.” she said uncharacteristically nonchalantly, stunned at the sudden confession from both parties.
He upped and left to return the book, obviously not because he’s leaving her hanging but because his heart was beating so fast he’s about to vomit out too much love.
‘I just want to thank all the gods out there intently listening to my prayers because I’ll be hers now.’ he thought as he set the book back in its place.
‘What just happened?! Are we official now?! Oh, my god.’ she thought as she’s slowly regaining her breathing back, still panicked and heartbeat through the roof.
Now, she and Seungmin happen to be celebrating their 3rd year anniversary in the very library that he confessed to her at.
They’ll be happily spending their time binge watching, reading and observing the others’ features under the stained glass window and the huge bean bags with no one around (because he rented the entire place for an entire day).