7

(KEY’s P.O.V)

The practice room became silent except from Jonghyun’s pants and mine, when I turned off the stereo. I slumped down the floor as I pant. Jonghyun and I were currently inside his apartment’s practice room. The Ballad’s concert would be in two weeks, so, we both decided that it was time for him to practice his dance routines. And I, being his ‘temporary’ dance instructor, had to help him with it.

I have to thank the times that I spent with Taemin when we were still in college, if not for him I won’t be able to dance like this.

 “A-are you still okay?” Jonghyun asked me in between his pant, but he was giving me a kind of sugary-sweet smile.

I felt my cheeks grow hot, ever since he comforted me, two days ago, the strange feeling inside of me seemed to have grown stronger than it was before. I never imagine that my plan would backfire, that it would backfire really badly.

As bad as falling in love with him?

I couldn’t help but let out a long sigh because of the tiny voice inside my head. I didn’t even imagine myself falling in love with him, but, I have proven the fact that things don’t always go based on how we planned it.

“Kibum?”

I snapped back to reality and gave him an apologetic smile. “Ah, yeah? What were you talking about?”

“Are you sure that you’re just fine?” he said with a frown.

“I’m fine. I’m just a little out of breath.” I answered him with a small smile.

Jonghyun was smiling again as he continue to stare at me. “Good.”

I looked away because I can feel my cheeks turn hot for the second time.

“Mind if I sit beside you, on this wide empty floor?” I chuckled at how he said that, but my heart suddenly skipped a beat when he scooted really close beside me, making our hands graze with each other.

Jonghyun dried his hair with his hand towel and drank from his bottle of water, oblivious to the abnormal beatings of my heart that he just caused.

“You ready for the concert?” I tried to start a conversation so that the atmosphere between the two of us will not grow even more awkward.

He laughed and answered enthusiastically. “No way. I’ve got more to learn.”

I giggled nervously, battling with myself inside to calm down. “Ha-ha. You’re a fast learner. I’m sure you would do just  great.”

“Thanks. You’ve really taught me good techniques to make me learn the steps faster.” He again gave me a sweet smile, his chestnut-eyes turning into two fine slits.

“Well, I was just doing my job.”

Jonghyun laughed. “And you are doing a great job at it.”

I couldn’t help but smile at him because of what he said. There was something weird about his gaze that made me want to stare back at his face. There and then, our eyes met.

My face began to heat up at the way he looked at me. I cleared my throat and quickly looked away. My heart was beating erratically on my chest that it felt as if it was going to blow up.

“Kibum.”

The way he called my name made it worse. “Y-yeah?”

“The thing that happened at the restaurant, two days ago.” He said. I couldn’t help but look up at him.

“W-what about it?”

“You shouldn’t let anything that he said bother you. You didn’t deserve to be treated like that when he’s the one at fault.” The tone of his voice made me want to hug him right at this moment, but I didn’t.

“Yeah. I know, thank you, Jonghyun.” I thanked him as I gave him a small smile. “Honestly speaking, it doesn’t bother me anymore. I don’t know why, but it seems like it doesn’t hurt anymore or something like that.”

“Really?”

“I think. Or maybe I’m just numbed from the pain.” I heaved a sigh. “I don’t really know what to think anymore.” Especially when you’re around me…

My heart started doing backflips when Jonghyun took my left hand and squeezed it. The warmth of his soft hands enveloped mine like it was the most right thing in the world. My cheeks began to warm up as his hand lingered with mine. I couldn’t even hea