“isn’t that doyoung? the lipstick prince guy?”

hyunjung almost snapped her neck when she whirled her head around too quick. sojung noticed it before she bit back an amused smile while the girls’ eyes were all on the said guy with light ginger hair, probably she was the only one who noticed the quirky act hyunjung just showed.

it’s been a few days since the lipstick prince incident. hyunjung was still having a slight hard time to fully digest it – how she was partnered with this certain doyoung, a great vocalist from an uprising boy group of sm entertainment on the show. of course, he’d be catching the public’s eyes with where he came from. people in this industry have a predilection to check out the ones from the big three. probably trying to figure out what this boy with soft bunny features could do aside from flaunting his good looks around like he was taught.

“he’s kinda cute, don’t you guys think?”

soobin piped in bluntly before the girls nodded in affirmation, not subtly ogling the sight of doyoung who seemed oblivious with the attention since he’s pretty much busy getting ready as the host for inkigayo. they’re girls, anyway. girls will always be girls. hyunjung didn’t nod or react anything differently as she tried to focus for the upcoming stage performance.

but she failed when her eyes can’t seem to look away from him.

hyunjung didn’t think anything else than showing her very best on the stage. certainly wouldn’t want her 10 years of training gone wasted. pity her parents, starship and herself, especially. the reason why hyunjung decided to be seola – strong-willed, emotionless and austere. she couldn’t help but be pretentious as she was now. she only smiled when she was told to do so, just like how she was told to be seola.

but she was wrong; she couldn’t always be unbreakable, no matter how much she needed to.

“you should smile a lot, you know. noona looks prettier when laughing. and lot less scary too.”

he said it easily, too easily as if he had been meaning to say that to her. doyoung was unbelievable, with that bright smile he’s giving that time when they had wrapped the filming up. hyunjung tried to figure what he’s been thinking about when he said that. instead, she stood there, tight-lipped as mind went blank all of sudden even before he walked away. he had certainly caught her off guard.

it didn’t stop until she’s in the bathroom of her dorm. standing in front of the faintly tainted mirror hanging on the wall, forlorn eyes staring straight to the reflection of her own.

the corner of her lips on the left suddenly has the audacity to move slightly high, as well as the other one – forming one small smile that didn’t look much of a smile as his words started playing in her blank mind like a whirling tape – the decent, melodious one. later, a much sincere smile she came out, this time. she even laughed.

he’s right. she looked less scary when she smiled.

(hyunjung didn’t get a good sleep that night once she suddenly remembered how close they were during the whole makeup session, especially when he had the guts to call her noona out of nowhere in a national tv show but it’s not like she’s complaining. sojung knew what was up and thank goodness, she didn’t bring it up with the other girls.

the fact that hyunjung went really shy at how close his face—literally—to hers which she could even smell the sweet cologne he’s wearing. she wasn’t worried about him giving her a makeover, but it’s more like she’s nervous with him being close to her. she wasn’t used with random guys initiating physical contacts with her.

however, he was really considerate and gentle that somehow she had to hold herself from blushing madly whenever his fingertips brushed the strands of hair away from her cheek. she believed it’s more like a natural reflex; any girl would feel the same if cute guys like him did that. she just wouldn't want to embarrass herself even more than it already was. he even asked her why she was being so nervous. she must have looked so obvious.

especially when she's fully aware how his eyes were staring at her lips, delicately and quietly, when he's applying pink lip tint with a brush on them. it's like no one has ever looked at her in the way he did. how he made her laugh comfortably with her head leaned back freely afterwards.

in which by the time she's gotten so flustered in the middle of the moment, she knew there's something wrong with her.

this is so not her, she pondered.

her hand slipped under the pillow, only to find a piece of chocolate under it. it was the chocolate that he gave that day. she wasn’t sure if it was for the purpose of the show or anything else. but she didn’t mind, really. perhaps, she just felt slightly happy.)

hyunjung wasn’t ready to expect this kind of coincidence, to be in the same award show as his group was attending too.

she didn’t shy away this time when she turned her face to see him beside her on the stage. he wasn’t looking back and she understood. he was being careful, she should be doing the same as well. she just couldn't hide the wide smile of her lips.

“noona!”

hyunjung spun on her heels around, only to face him properly now. she found it too easy of her to recognize his voice and turn around but it’s too late already. it’s happening now.

doyoung was smiling, wide and shy in between. his ginger hair looked so soft, just like his other features. the award show's backstage perhaps was their only chance. hyunjung was unable to speak any further, indirectly giving him the signal to talk first.

“remember when someone said giving a chocolate to a girl means the guy was asking for her phone number that other day? to get know of the girl?”

her memory slowly regained the information. she then clearly remembered luda was the one who said that during the show. the younger even bugged her about that when they reached their dorm after filming the episode. she innocently nodded at his words, and his grin grew wider, displaying his perfect row of teeth in the process; he looked so much like a bunny. her heart beat loudly as she held her breath. he took one step forward, looking at her with hopeful eyes that she couldn't help but fall at how mesmerizing they were.

“that’s exactly what i’ve been wanting to ask you right now.”