nineteen

My Best Friend's a Wingman
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n i n e t e e n ; it’s a  first

“Sorry about my parents—well my dad mostly.”

“Don’t worry.” Sehun shakes his head, surpassing my pace in order to open the passenger door. Nobody has ever opened a car door for me, and this gesture is so adorably deliberate that the warmth inside my chest can’t contain itself. “Thank you,” I mutter timidly. I slid inside his car. The first thing I notice is how neat it is compared to Kai’s car. The second thing is how vanilla the air smells. They’re qualities that I wouldn’t expect from a guy, but come as a pleasant surprise nonetheless. He starts the engine and says with a tiny chuckle, “I would do something similar too if I had a daughter, and she’s going on a date.”

I identify the keyword in his statement without a beat. “Date?”

He must be caught up guard because he stops reversing out of the parking and gives me a startled gaze. “I mean, this is one, right?”

I in a small breath. “Is it?”

“Do you want it to be? Because I mean, I thought it was already implied when I asked you. But it doesn’t have to be one. It could just be a hangout. Yeah, hangout.” His words frantically rush out of him. How could someone so popular seem so inexperienced and unsure of himself? Seeing how truly unconfident Sehun is relaxes me, because it means that I’m not the only one nervous about today.

“Do you?” Now that I’m gaining some assurance, I answer with a question in what I hope would come off as flirtatious teasing. However, due to how much experience I lack in that aspect, my tone unsuccessfully conveys teasing and rather resembles coyness. “Want this to be a date, I mean?”

He holds eye contact with me, and I can see the sincerity in his expression. “Of course,” he answers.

“Me too.”

So it’s a date. Not a maybe one.

 

•   •   •   •   •   •   •

 

 

For a museum, The Landscape is significantly more packed and less peaceful, buzzing with energy from the curious guests. Everything inside screams hipster while its modern trendiness is dying to be captured and posted on social media. The hot pink walls, quirky sculptures, and eye-catching art. Sehun and I try to maneuver ourselves to the light room where the neon lights are supposed to be. On our way, I accidentally bump against someone, causing me to stagger behind. I mutter a quick apology and find myself separated from Sehun amidst the sea of guests. I wander around, looking for him until a hand clasp against mine. “There you are.”

My eyes trail from our link hands to the face that belongs to that voice. Sehun gives me a gentle smile before leading me forward, his grip firmer as though preventing another separation.

Not in a billion years would I have dreamed something unreal as this to come true. It hasn’t hit me yet that this could indeed be a dream. It reminds me of a fan theory that the worst ending to a long book series would be the author marking the main character’s journey from all books as dreams that he had while in a coma. What if I’m in a coma right now without knowing it? To one day waking up and realizing all the things from today is one big imagination? That this date, the way Sehun is looking at me like he could actually have some interest in me, and how my hand fits in his are something as fictitious as a dream.

The abrupt dimness knock me out of my thoughts. We find ourselves more careful with our steps because the hallway leading to the light room is a void of light. A paradox, I realize. The darkness continues until we arrive at a large room. The sight is breathtaking. All sorts of neon colors glow through the pitch black room, like dozens of stars brightening up the night sky. Every section of neon lights have each of their own shapes or phrases. There’s one on the right wall that looks like a text conversation between two people. There’s a three dimensional one shaped of stacked cubes in blue, red, and green. Ones in cursive lettering, rainbow colors, and so many more.

However, the one that stands out the most is placed in the middle, curved and shaped in fluorescent white block letters: WHAT DO YOU LOVE?

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Thank you!
kaiwaiitaesu
thank u for everyone who left a comment & remembered these characters despite these 2 years. i can truly say that all of u are the kindest, most empathetic people i have encountered. i will continue to leave this story up whenever u feel like revisiting again. u are always welcome here.

Comments

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BeatBoxer
#1
Chapter 32: Hi it's 2024 and I still go to this story :) If you still log in and read this, I hope you are doing well too.
Chilliwallie #2
Chapter 32: Thank you for creating a story that i can come back to relive this experience with Skailar. It help me to go through tough times in my life. Though i am happy to see the happy ending you have envision and it feels like a fairytale.

Hope you are happy with where you are now!
MultiStanK
#3
Chapter 32: I'm a very picky person when it comes to fanfictions on asianfanfics because of how vast this whole website is. (I think the fact that the featured section goes on for 22 or so pages says enough to prove my point.)

Descriptions need to be intriguing, characters have to be somewhat familiar and the writing needs to have the sort of charm that just can't be described by a reader or anyone for that matter. This book had all of this and more (plus the enthusiasm that I love, love seeing in authors).

It's almost 2 o'clock in the morning but I sit here writing this comment because this story has been one of the most descriptive stories I've ever come across that has actually managed to hold my interest for the sometimes intimidating length of 28 chapters.

(It also happens to be the first slow burn book that I've actually adored to what looks like no end. I usually opt for more quicker paced stories or stories where the attraction is almost oozing out from the very beginning because I'm just impatient when it comes to literature and the genre of romance.)

I get what it's like to no longer be as passionate about a project as you used to be, so even though I am upset I won't be able to read more Skailar, I completely understand why this story ended or rather I guess, didn't end the way it did.

In the end, I just wanted to say that I absolutely loved this story and the dynamics and the characters. This story has so much depth to it and I don't even know what to say so I'll just end it here.

Thank you so much for leaving this up here, and all the best for your future writing or whatever you end up doing!
ackerwoman
#4
" I have too much time on my hand" that really killed me. Automatically subscribed to this.
universal123
#5
Chapter 32: I am happy for you and wish you all the best! Time change and people change and there is nothing anyone can do. Even though this is disappointing...it is your decision at the end. Anyway thanks for leaving the story for memories!!
ikoniieyxz
#6
Chapter 32: My fav story ?, you, stay safe too, thank you!
Iefa_San
#7
Chapter 32: Well, I can't lie and say I don't feel disappointed that this story won't be finish. But I fully understand your reason and I really hope that you will find that spark again in writing stories. Thank you for this wonderful story. You are a good writer and you should be proud of your talent and gift. And I'm sure I'm going to miss Kai's terrible puns XD I hope in whatever you do, you will feel and bless everyday!
Fadelah #8
Chapter 32: I can’t help but be disappointed cuz this was one of my favorite stories ever, the plot and the characters were well written and everything is beautifully described. Nonetheless thank you for all the effort you made in this masterpiece and I don’t think I will ever forget it.
JeMerald #9
Chapter 32: awwweee i found this story thru recommendations and was really hoping for an update because i found the pace perfect for my kind of read. I really like this story. I remembering crying to it. I'm really thankful to have come across it. :) bless u dear author. I hope you're doing well too
alexajjang
#10
Chapter 32: Thank you for giving us an ending for Sky and Kai, and although I feel bad that I won't be able to read anymore about them, I'm glad that you're alright and happy :)