when the time comes, baby don't run, just kiss me slowly.

The first time when it happened was rather nerve-wrecking. It took Jeon Jungkook an hour to act on what he had rehearsed for the past few days.

Just a peck on the lips had taken him hours and hours thinking about how to initiate it.

The kisses portrayed in dramas and movies seemed so easy and they happened in a swift second. Unfortunately, this boy here was just an amateur.

Everyone—like really, everyone—knew about his crush on Jihae. Maybe he was just being plain obvious because every single time she walked past him, a blush would find its way up on his cheeks. Damn, he didn’t even dare to talk to her. Tongue-tied and flustered—that was what Jeon Jungkook was like whenever she was near.

☂

Jihae somehow thought that the boy she liked did not reciprocate her feelings. And why was that so? (It was sad) but he had not spoken a word to her even though they had many mutual friends. Every time she saw him, he would walk away—sometimes she even noticed him avoiding her from her peripheral vision—and she took it that he did not like her.

That was why nobody except her best friend really knew about her crush on him because it was embarrassing. She had her feelings for him hidden deep in her heart and she could only fantasize being with him in her daydream.

Damn, were they even considered friends? Or merely acquaintances? They shared no interaction and nothing in common. Jihae did not want the both of them to stay as classmates and only classmates.

But the first time it happened was at a barbeque birthday party. Their friends had organized it to celebrate Jihae’s birthday and gladly, Jungkook was invited. (her best friend had invited him just because—) Jihae had to thank her for that.

And thank god, he turned up on that lovely night wearing a red plaid flannel and a pair of denim jeans. To Jihae, he looked like an angel—probably the most handsome guy in the world.

When Jungkook arrived, his friends pushed him to Jihae at a corner and left the two there. Jungkook swore he heard his friend whisper, “Good luck bro, do it while we give you the chance to.”

“Happy birthday, Jihae.”

If he was correct, that should be the first time he was actually talking to her. He was palpitating in panic, breaking out in cold sweat. How hard was it to wish her happy birthday? Damn it.

“Thank you,” she replied meekly and her voice wavered. She felt as if she hadn’t spoken for a year.

Jungkook looked into her irises, deeply and thoroughly. His gaze seemed unwavering and she couldn’t help but stare back at him.

They both shared a moment of silence and Jihae wondered if that was her cue to leave and return to her friends. What the heck were they even doing at that corner in discreet?

But before she could even turn away from his gaze, he inched closer with both of his hands settled on the wall beside her head. “Wait I—”

He leaned closer, clasping her face gently. “Jihae,” he called out softly and she felt his warm breath on her face. It sent shivers down her spine.

She bizarrely liked how her name sounded when he said it.

He closed the little space between the two of them and she found herself sandwiched by him.

Then, he landed a soft peck on her perky lips.

Out of a sudden.

She didn’t respond when he looked for her reaction. Her eyes—though looking at his lips—seemed to have wondered faraway.

She couldn’t really register what in the world was happening. Her mind was spinning. Holy .

Her crush had just kissed her.

When she didn’t respond in time, Jungkook took it as a cue to leave.

♥

The second time it happened was not quite actually planned by him per say. Let’s just say they had very nice and helpful (not to forget scheming) friends who had plotted the second kiss by themselves.

They both just stared at each other, words at the back of their throats. Do they greet finally… after looking at each other for a minute or two? Or should Jihae just pick up her stuff and leave?

That would be so awkward.

But what about the kiss at the party? Were they going to act like nothing had happened?

“I—”

“Um—”

“Wha—”

He let out a nervous laughter and walked up to her slowly, his erratic heartbeat banging against his skin was audible. Each time he took a step forward, each time he felt colder yet warmer. Nobody could really understand how he felt with her around.

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