Stopping in front of the ticket machine, Daehyun looked through the lists of what is showing in the theater tonight. As he scrolls through, Youngjae waiting patiently beside him, giving small comments here and there whenever Daehyun spots a movie that they could watch. The two were originally going shopping at first, but as they walked into COEX mall, the theater caught both of their attention first. And they both couldn't resist the smell of freshly popped buttery popcorn, especially Daehyun. And seeing that it's the weekdays, there's not a lot of people at the theater.

"Oh, what about this one?" Daehyun asked, pointing at one of the movies.

Youngjae looked away from one of the many posters and advertisments placed around the theater and focused on the movie Daehyun is pointing at.

"Your Name? A Japanese animation film?" Youngjae asked, surprised that Daehyun picked an animation.

"Yeah. I heard it's pretty good. Wanna watch it?"

"Sure, why not." Youngjae smiled a little and watched as Daehyun proceeded to buying the ticket.

"You want to watch it now or later? The next showtime is in about 15 minutes, and a later time is at 8 pm." Daehyun asked, looking at Youngjae as she glanced at her watch.

"It'll be a bit of a rush to watch a movie that's showing in about 15 minutes, don't you think? It's about 6:15 right now. Let's go with 8." Youngjae replied, looking at Daehyun for his approval.

"Sounds right." Daehyun nodded and selected the ticket for 8 pm. He paid for both and grabbed the tickets when they printed out.

"Where to now to kill time?" He asked, tucking the tickets away to keep it safe.

"I don't know. Let's walk around first?" Youngjae suggested and the two began to walk out of the theater.

Walking around, there were a few stores that caught their eyes, but not enough to make them walk into them. Seeing how it's not too late at night, there's a lot more people now in the mall than compared to the theater. Everywhere you look, there's either a a pair of people shopping together, or a group of them. Some are still in their uniform from school, and others are in casual clothes. Since Youngjae didn't get the choice of going home to change before Daehyun is done with his practice (thanks to Daehyun and his whining , and also his puppy face, she's also one of those people that are in their uniforms.

As they walked, Youngjae couldn't help but notice how people, especially women, are looking their way. To be exact, Daehyun's way. And she couldn't blame them for staring. The boy next to her is, well, very handsome. Sharp jaw line, killer smile, and charming eyes. To top everything, his adorable mole on his right eye make him so much hotter than he already is. And not to mention how even if he is wearing his school uniform, he still comes off as a very stylish person. From his hair to his shoes, to his simple accessories, every on him screams hot. So when Youngjae sees everyone around him looking their way, she couldn't help but feel proud and self-conscious at the same time.

Proud, because she's able to spend time with Daehyun. Self-conscious, because she doesn't fit to be next to him. He's everything she's not. There's nothing that stands out about her other than danger. And so with all these staring, she's slowly feeling uncomfortable. However, she wasn't the only one that feels that way.

"Am I the only one that is very uncomfortable?" Daehyun asked, leaning towards her a little. The sudden close proximity between the two caused Youngjae's heart to pick up a bit.

"Says you. Who's the cause of this?" Youngjae replied, looking around them with more people whispering among themselves while looking their way.

"Well, there's nothing I can do about this." Daehyun said while pointing at his face.

"Who said it was because of your face?" Youngjae asked, looking at him.

"Your blush says it all, Jae." Daehyun answered, poking at her cheeks.

"I was NOT blushing!" Youngjae pushed Daehyun away and hid her face behind her hands, making sure there was a gap so she can walk away from the boy that is currently cracking up behind where she left him. This caused nothing but Youngjae speeding up.

"Oh, come on Jae! Don't leave me. Come back, my friend!" Daehyun screamed behind her, causing her to flare up. Hearing the heavy footsteps behind her, Youngjae immediately knew Daehyun had jogged up to check up to her.

"You're so embarrassing." Youngjae commented once he began to walk beside her again.

"But you love it. Admit it, Jae." Youngjae's heartbeat began to pick up once again after Daehyun said that, yet he doesn't need to know that.

"Who said?" Youngjae glanced up at the boy and he thought for a moment before looking away, a hint of redness on his cheeks.  

"Do you need anything?" Daehyun asked, changing the subject as the two kept on walking, looking for stores to go into. "I think I need to look for some jeans."

"A new alarm clock." Youngjae replied, narrowing her eyes into nothing in particular.

"Why are you so serious about an alarm clock?" Daehyun laughed, tapping her forehead gently to stop her from scaring people away.

"Because! I broke Himchan unnie's last alarm a few weeks ago and I didn't like my phone's ringtone so I want to get a new one."

"Who's Himchan?"

And that is how Youngjae launched onto a story of how Himchan and herself had met each other—modifying the parts that may reveal her past to the boy—as the two of them continues their store hunting. With his focus on the girl, Daehyun found himself smile or laugh at Youngjae every once in a while when she makes big hand gestures, trying to explain things. And of course, his heartbeat around her began to change, beating faster than normal. There's this feeling in his stomache that he couldn't get rid off ever since the two met and began to get closer to each other. And it's not a bad feeling. It's foreign for Daehyun, but it's not bad.

He knows what people around the school has been saying about the girl, but he just couldn't bring himself to care about those words. To Daehyun, it's not a way to judge a person. If anything, Daehyun could actually say that he, himself, can relate to her. He was once like that, too. Violent and cold around people and lost all faith in the world.

When he was just 5 years old, Daehyun lost his father due to lung cancer. It has brought his whole family down and led his mother to becoming a single mother. But he never cried. Growing up, Daehyun tries to be as tough as he could be for his mother, despite being the youngest in his family. After his father passed, his family financial situation became horrible as they needed to pay for his father's hospital bills upon other expenses. When he was 9 years old, his mother was able to find a stable job that pays well enough to be able to bring three meals to the table each day and keep the roof over their head. But what goes up, must come down. When he turned 12 years old, his mother fell ill and eventually gave her life up due to congestive heart failure, 3 months after his birthday. It left the two Jung brothers devastated. But he never shedded one tear. The two got closer to each other, knowing that they only have each other left in this world. Daehyun's brother, being 18 at the time their mother passed away, gave up his education on becoming a computer engineer and supported his little brother. Being able to only provide the two of them a compacted apartment, Daehyun was told to just focus on his education while his brother focused on his part-time job as a waiter and a full-time job as a computer programmer at a small office down the street from their apartment.

But everything ended for Daehyun when his one and only family left on this earth got his life taken away by a devil, disguised as a middle aged man, crashed into his brother while driving under the influence of a 0.19 BAC. Being 15 at the time, Daehyun was still far too young to take care of himself, let alone his brother's funeral. He wanted to cry, to be hurt, to do anything that could take away the pain in his heart, but he couldn't. His aunt took care of everything, but when it was time for his brother's wake, Daehyun was gone. Everything that he owned—which are just a couple clothes and underwears—was gone from his little apartment that he shared with his late brother, and the money that used to be his late family members' was too, all gone. With little to no where to go, Daehyun ran away to Seoul, where his new life awaited for him. Being a troublesome kid after all that he had gone through, Daehyun became a very violent and nasty person. He'll start off random fights with just anyone he comes across and ends up with a few cuts here and there. If it wasn't for Yongguk, who found him on the ground in an alleyway, bleeding from where he got stabbed by the kids he got into a fight before, Daehyun wouldn't have ended up to how he is now. But he was found. And Yongguk, who was just 19 at the time, brought him in and took care of him, despite Daehyun being a complete stranger to him.

That was the first, and only time, Yongguk was ever heard someone cry as loud and crushed as Daehyun did. It was the first time Yongguk saw someone crumble down as if there is no way to patch him back up again. As time went on, Yongguk realized that there IS a way to help patch Daehyun back up piece by piece, which is just simply stay by his side and never letting go. He was pushed away countless of times, but it didn't stop him from helping Daeyun when he was desprately in need of someone to be there with him.

So when he heard just about all the rumor there was to Youngjae, Daehyun didn't care. All he knew, was that he also wants to help Youngjae like Yongguk had done with him. Yet it wasn't because he pitties her.

It's because he understands her.

  "Daehyunnie Oppa?"

Setting down the pair of jeans he was looking at, Daehyun turned to see who the person that called him was.

"Sumin? What are you doing here?" The surprised look on his face is enough to tell Sumin that he was not expecting to see her outside of school at all.

"I came to shop with the girls. I didn't expect to see you here." Sumin said, but with each word, she stepped closer and closer to Daehyun.

 Looking around, Daehyun tried to look for a specific girl beside the one that's getting closer and closer to him, but remembered she left to go use the restroom. Gently pushing the girl away, Daehyun looked at his watch.

"I didn't expect you here, too, but I'm actually quit busy." Daehyun made a move to step away, but the girl was quicker.

"Oppa. You're here alone aren't you? Why not just come hang with the girls and myself?" Sumin tried to use her sweetest voice but she knows it doesn't work on Daehyun.

"I'm not here alone, Sumin. I came with someone." Daehyun frowned, looking around the store again to see if Youngjae's back or not.

As if the Lord above has answered his silent prayer, a voice popped up.

"Should I leave you two alone?" Youngjae asked, head tilted as she looked at Daehyun. Sumin turned around, arms crossed in front of her and gave Younjae a pointed look.

"Yes!"

"No!" Daehyun and Sumin both said at the same time, making Sumin's glare more deadly, but Youngjae could really care less, explaining why her eyebrows are raised, questioning the glare she was receiving.

One last glance at Sumin, Daehyun walked over and grabbed Youngjae's wrist before adding, "We're leaving anyways, Jae. It's almost the showtime." With that, he proceed to drag her out of the store, leaving a stunned Sumin behind.

Once they were out of ear shot, Sumin was beyond fuious. Stumping out of the store, she went to find the girls that she came with. Shoving Eunha, who happened to be cloest to her, Sumin fall on the couch and let out a scream, pulling on the hair on either side of her head. People around them looked at Sumin with a concerned face, but they all quickly walked away when the girls gave them a deadly glare.

"Unnie, what happened?" Yeri asked, once Sumin was calmed down.

"She RUINED my plan!"

"Someone was with Daehyun oppa?" Minjae asked, surprised that he came out with someone else other than their leader.

"He's with Yoo Youngjae. And they're going to watch a movie together! A movie! He never did that with me! Let alone go on dates!" Sumin exclaimed, face turning red from her anger.

"What makes her so special? She's an orphan." Newsun commented and that gave Sumin an idea.

"Nothing makes her as special as me, ladies." She said, emotion changed from anger to happy. If the girls hadn't been with her for long enough and were hanging out with Sumin for the first time, they would think she belong in a mental hospital. "We just need to teach our little ugly duckling a lesson that will let her know her place— and that should be below me."

~*~*~*~

"You know, leaving a girl back there by herself isn't very gentleman-like of you." Youngjae spoke up for the first time since they "ran" away from a certain fake blondie, as Youngjae calls her in her mind.

Daehyun, the usual loud and talkative boy that he is, was surprisingly silent since they came out. Not that Youngjae minds since she does wish for some peace from the boy, but the silence right now is bothering her. For what reason, she doesn't know. Looking at the boy, Youngjae puffed out her cheeks when he didn't give a reply.

"What if it was me that you left behind?" Youngjae tried again, and this time, she got an answer.

"I would never."

"I was joking, you know?" Youngjae replied, giving Daehyun a teasing smile. But all she got was a frown on his face. Sighing, Youngjae decided that she should just leave him alone until he feels like talking.

When the two got to the theatre, it didn't surprise them that the amount of people had increased. Knowing that Daehyun's still not talking, Youngjae decided to fall back, giving him some space. It also seemed like he didn't notice, since he just kept on walking. On their way to the consessions, a group of tourists suddenly appeared and Youngjae got stuck amongst them. Trying to find her way out, she looked for Daehyun, but he was no where found.

What the hell? Get out of my way, people! Youngjae thought as she pushes people aside, getting closer and closer to where her destination was supposed to be. The boy she was looking for is still no where to be found. Youngjae was about to give up on looking when a hand grabbed hers and broke her out from the crowd she was stucked in.

"Stay by me." Daehyun's voice was heard and Youngjae's insides warmed up. Not knowing what to say back, she nodded and the two quietly waited in line for their snacks with their hands still attached together.

~*~*~*~

When the movie ended, Youngjae was glad that they were finally out from the suffocating room. There was too many people for Youngjae's liking and it was louder than usual due to the fact that most, if not all, were teens and they give zero respect for others during the movies. As they made their way out from the mall, Youngjae was about to give her thanks to Daehyun and go their separate ways when he grabed her wrist for the second time today.

"Yes?"

"I'll walk you home." Daehyun said, face a bit red from the coldness in the air.

"Why?" Youngjae questioned, and Daehyun looked as if he's thinking of a reply.

When he finally thought of one, he turned red. "Why are you blushing?" Youngjae laughed.

"It's nothing. Come on. Let's go." Daehyun waved off as he walked in the direction of the station.

"Awe, is Daehyunnie blushing?" Youngjae continued to , happy that his mood is back up.

"Stop it." Daehyun tried to sound annoyed, but the side of his mouth that is slightly going up tells Youngjae otherwise.

"Why? It's fun teasing you."

"Oh really?" Daehyun smirked in a way that Youngjae decided was not a good sign.

"Don't even think about it, Jung Daehyun." Youngjae warned him, but it didn't stop him from jabbing a finger into her side. "Yah. Stop it."

"What if I don't?" Daehyun's eyes turned dark and Youngjae realized that it's game on.

"Oh, you're so dead." Youngjae grabbed a pile of snow that's on top of a bush she was walking by and threw it in his face, laughing when the snow landed square on his face.

Daehyun stood frozen on the middle of the sidewalk, looking at the ground to let the snow fall, as Youngjae slowly created a distance between them. When he finally looked up, Youngjae gulped upon seeing his firey glaze.

"Run." Was all Daehyun said that made Youngjae run for her life as he chased after her with a snowball in his hand.

Somehow, in the middle of the chase, the two of them ended up at a near by neighborhood park that was empty. The snow fight was still going on, but Daehyun can see that Youngjae is getting tired. But the warm feeling inside of him didn't go away as he listens to Youngjae's laughter fill the air. He watched as the edges of her eyes wrinkle up when she smiles, and tthe shine in her eyes as she waits for him to finish his pile of snowballs that are ready for him to use when she attacks. And when she hides in his scarf to protect herself from the bitter wind, it was then that Daehyun realized that maybe, just maybe, the butterflies that he feels in his stomach whenever he's with Youngjae is because he fell of her. And he is still falling deeper and deeper every moment that he's with her. When Youngjae caught Daehyun staring, he simply just gave her a smile and surprisingly, Youngjae smiled back and it seemed as the world in Daehyun's eyes just lit up, which further confirmed his one sided crush.

So when Sumin suddenly appeared at the mall, all up in Daehyun's face, of course he got mad. Why? He left her two months after they started dating freshman year when she started to make unnecessary comments about every girl that ever tried to start a conversation with Daehyun. And her personality changed, too. But never in Daehyun's life did he think that she'll be like how she is right now. Still clinging onto that old feeling she's unwilling to let go. And afraid that she'll do something to Youngjae, he had to drag her away. Not like Youngjae can't handle herself, but it's what Sumin is capable of doing that scares Daehyun. Hiring people to hurt those that goes in her way, Sumin was someone who should be feared. The feeling he had when the two started dating was to just try it out. He was scared to love, when those whom he had deeply loved ended up leaving him alone. Maybe that  was also why he wasn't so attached to the relationship with Sumin when it ended. Maybe it was because he was never into her. But with Youngjae, Daehyun noticed the change in himself.

Only who knew that he wasn't the only one who had that thought go through their mind.

"Hey, you hungry?" Youngjae suddenly asked when a scent of freshly made ddeokbokki hits Youngjae, breaking Daehyun from his train of thoughts.

"Why, are you?" Daehyun raised his eyebrows at the sudden question. The growl that came from Youngjae's stomach was all the answer he needed before he stood up and led to two of them out of the park to find a ddeokbokki stand as he laughed.

Hand in hand, the two joked around like long term friends as they fought the winter like weather together, looking for a place to fill their empty stomach as a late dinner. The warmth from each other's hands not only caused an effect on their hands, but also their heart. When the two of them found themselves staring at each other when one wasn't looking, a voice that they thought scared them the most actually turned out to be the voice they needed the most.
 

Maybe this time, I'll actually have to courage to love again.

OKAYYYYYY- Before any of you guys kill me for going MIA, here is a new chapter that maybe you have all been waiting for. DAEJAE RELATIONSHIP PROGESSION!!!! Looks like our two main characters decided to finally realize their feelings for each other. Ayyyyyyyyy~ But, like the annoying writer I am, I will not have them date until chapters later. Muahahaha!!

KIDDING. I'll see what my brain comes up with as I write the following chapters later. Maybe they'll finally be together next chapter, or maybe the one after that, who knows. As long as my brain doesn't fart whenever I'm writing, the story line should be fine.

As always, thank you for reading. If you have any comments, please leave one after so I can know anything that I should fix or add. Please give it a vote if you want and feel free to share this story with anyone that you think should read this. And, uh... I think that's it.

Until next time, bye my wonderful readers!!