Naeun fiddled with the ends of her black dress before looking down onto herself. She lifted her head, looking straight into the big mirror in front of her and let out a sigh. She was not pleased with how she looked as she rubbed over the material, trying to get rid of anything which didn’t belong there although there actually wasn’t a single lint on her gown.

She looked into the mirror again, letting out a groan at the sight of her and began to work on her brown hair yet another time, after she had styled it for like an hour.  She wasn’t satisfied with the result but figured it was useless still trying to make it better because in the end she would probably make it even worse. Instead, she began to apply more gloss her lips, which had been perfectly tinted but Naeun still found there was something wrong with it. When she was done she took another look at herself and as she still didn’t like what she saw. She just sighed and let her shoulders and head fall, looking at her gold stilletos.

Naeun didn’t know how long she was standing there like this as she suddenly felt hands on her shoulder and then a head resting next to hers. “You look gorgeous.” An all too familiar voice said next to her head and the brunnette haired girl finally lifted her head again.

What she saw in the mirror was her smiling mother standing behind her, head resting on her shoulder. 

"I do not." Naeun mumbled in frustration, trying not to let her mother see her insecurity.

But she failed. Like always. Her mother just knew her too well.

Her mum let out a chuckle, letting go of her daughter just to walk around her to block her view to the mirror. She her pink cheeks and smiled at her. “Naeun, honey, you look good and I bet he will think the same.”

"I... I don’t want to look good for him." Naeun said, looking away because if she hadn’t done it her mother would have immediately seen that she was lying. 

"Of course." Her mother said and as she looked up to her and saw the smile she had on her face, she figured that she knew. Like she always did. “Don’t take too long, he’ll be here soon.” She reminded Naeun who just nodded. Her mother gave her a last pat on the cheeks before walking out of her room.

She took a last look at the mirror before turning away from it, walking over to her bed to sit down. She let his arms fall between her legs and began to look into space, thinking about why she was even stressing herself out about all this.

There was nothing to worry about…. She let out another groan. She just couldn’t believe that she was doing this.

A few weeks ago, all her plans for that day were to stay home in her room, grab a bowl of ice cream and watch some cheesy romantic kdramas. Alone. She didn’t expect to do what she was doing now; she thought she would spend her time on her own while all her friends and schoolmates are having fun with their dates.

She didn’t expect that she would be one of them.

Well actually, it wasn’t a date. It was just two friends going together to prom since they had no date. Just two friends.

That’s what he had said when he had asked Naeun to be his company at prom. Just two friends.

The question was: Why was she so scared about what her date--- friend, her friend would think of her?

Naeun kept sitting on her bed until she suddenly heard the doorbell ring. This was it. This was her friend who would pick her up to go to prom together. Just as friends. 

That’s what friends do, right? Go to prom together when they both have no date.

"Naeun-ah" She heard her mother shout and the she had already got up, again standing in front of the mirror to take one last look at herself. But even if he still had something which she wasn’t satisfied with she wouldn’t be able to do anything about it anymore. "Taemin's here!" 

He's here.

She took a deep breath before making her out of the room, walking over to the stairs and stopping there. She tried to breathe properly and why was she so nervous again? Naeun perched her hand on the railing and took her first step down the stairs. By the time she had made her way to the step where she would be able to see the door she lifted her head to look at the boy who was waiting for her.

He looked so handsome. Like always, really. She was allowed to call her friend handsome, right? Just his gorgeous smile which he currently had on his face when he saw her was so breathtaking, she just had to smile back at him. And that’s what Naeun did as she saw Taemin, she smiled at him and suddenly, all her insecurities were washed away, because that was her friend Taemin and Naeun knew that he liked her.

Well, Taemin wouldn’t have asked her to give him company if he didn’t. 

It was not even like they were friends for a long time, because they only got to know each other a few months ago when their friends Joonmyeon and Chorong started seeing each other. First, Naeun hadn’t been really fond of her bestfriend’s now-boyfriend Joonmyeon because well, he apparently flirted with everyone. But when she met Joonmyeon she just knew that his reputation didn’t fit to the person he was talking to; he was kind and sweet and because of this, people probably misinterpreted his actions as flirting. Naeun gave her bestfriend the permission after and it didn’t take long for Chorong and Joonmyeon to make it official. They were inseparable since then. Naeun would have probably felt left out if Joonmyeon hadn’t brought along his own best bud Taemin into the group. 

Whenever Chorong and Joonmyeon are snogging off each other’s faces, Naeun knew that Taemin will always be rolling his eyes with her although they both knew that they were totally happy seeing their friends like that.

It really surprised Naeun when Taemin came to her one day and suddenly asked her if they would go together to prom, as friends, of course. Although she had plans--- which weren’t really plans--- she agreed and said ‘yes’ because Taemin was giving her his smile which let his beautiful brown eyes seem so tiny. That exactly was the smile Taemin had plastered on his face.

Naeun really hoped she wouldn’t trip right now because how would she explain why she got weak in the knees because of her friend? She couldn’t even explain it to herself; why was she suddenly so happy to be about to go to prom with Taemin even if it was just as friends.

"Hey, Naeun." Taemin said as she had made her way downstairs, standing in front of him.

"H-hi." She replied, not being able to stop herself from blushing. Naeun had almost forgotten her mother who was looking at the them from the side until she suddenly squealed. "Wait here, I’ll get the camera!" She said before rushing away.

Naeun was about to protest because this wasn’t a date so there was no need to take pictures as she heard Taemin say something close to her ear. “You look perfect, Eun. Just... perfect.” 

She turned her head and looked at Taemin in surprise. She began to realize what he had just said and she could feel the blood rush to her face. “E-Eun? Uh... t-thank you.” Since when did he start calling her Eun? 

She looked up to him all she could ever think was: Why wasn’t Taemin as nervous as her?

"So guys, can I take a picture now?" She suddenly heard her mother say and as she looked into her and saw what kind of a smile she had on her face. She knew that what she was thinking was wrong.

Because Taemin had invited her as a friend, he had said it, just friends going to prom together because they had no date. 

"Of course!" Taemin let out happily, most likely totally oblivious to what her mother was thinking this all was. 

She was unsure about what do to but he was already standing close to her so that her mother could take a picture. "Could you please stand a little closer to each other? Like... really closer? It will fit better in the picture." Her mom said. She was lying. Naeun knew that. She wasn’t about to move when she suddenly felt an arm going around her waist, tugging her closer. Naeun looked up to the boy beside her in surprise but then he just smiled innocently in the camera as if nothing happened.

"Honey, look into the camera." Her mother called in amusement. The only thought in her mind as the light flashed was that she hoped the blush on her cheeks wouldn’t be too obvious in the pictures. 

Taemin let go off her waist and she tried not to look too disappointed at the loss of contact. "We should go now." He let out and snapped her out of his thoughts. 

"Oh yeah... right." She rambled walking over to her mother to hug. "We're going, mom."

"You look cute together." She whispered.

"This is not a date." Naeun reminded her but now it just felt as if she needed to remind himself. She stepped back to stand next to Taemin again. 

"Don’t worry, Mrs. Son, I'll bring her back safe and sound." Taemin said.

They made their way out of the house and when they stood on the doorstep, Naeun suddenly felt his hand on her back, guiding her down the stairs. She looked over to the street to see only Taemin's car. Like a gentleman, he opened the door for her before making his way to the driver’s seat.

The drive to the school was silent with just the radio playing, but not talking for now was pleasant and not awkward at all. It didn’t take long until they finally reached the school. Again, Taemin was the one who opened the door for his friend and even took her hand to help her out, but quickly let it go after that. Instead, he held his arm in front of her so that she could link arms with him. Naeun did exactly that with an embarrassed smile. Together, they made their way into the building, just to be met by people who were already dancing, talking or sitting at some of the tables. 

Naeun took in the decoration and lights of the room she wasn’t able to prepare for a certain girl jumping at her.

"Naeun!"

She let go off Taemin's arms to hug her best friend. “Hey!” She said, smiling into Chorong's neck.

Soon after, Chorong and her boyfriend already had their arms around each othe again as they looked and smiled at the other two.

"Already having fun?" Taemin asked with amusement in his voice.

"Of course." Joonmyeon smiled brightly, but not at the two persons in front of him anymore but at the girl in his arms.

Naeun laughed at that before Taemin suggested that they should search a table somewhere where the couple agreed. The four of them sat down for a while, talked and drank light drinks together. Taemin said he wouldn’t drink it since he had to drive Naeun and himself home.
It didn’t take long till Junmyeon and Chorong left to make the dance floor unsafe so Naeun and Taemin were on their own again. But they didn’t mind that, they were used to being without their friends so they were able to have fun on their own, just talking and laughing together.

But then a slow song was played. Naeun had kind of seen that one coming but she was still surprised when Taemin asked her. “Would you like to dance?” He asked, smiling slightly.

"Uhm... I’m not sure…" She began but was immediately cut off by him standing up and holding a hand in front of him. "I don't know.. how..."

“C’mon!”

Naeun looked up into his beautiful brown eyes before taking the hand, standing up to let him take her to the dance floor. He easily pulled her to himself, putting one hand on her waist and the other still holding her hand. He smiled down at her and again Naeun couldn’t help but blush at the other boy staring at her. They didn’t move very much, he only guided her a little bit so that they were only moving their feet while turning around from time to time.

She would be lying if she said she didn’t enjoy being in her friend’s arms, to be held like that. The slow dancing was so pleasant and Naeun could swear that she could do this forever.

"I wish I could freeze this moment, right here... right now."

Naeun didn't quite hear what he said. "Huh? What did you say?"

Taemin lightly chuckled. "Nothing." 

She looked over his shoulder and was met by her bestfriend looking at her while dancing with her boyfriend. Chorong smiled cheekily at her and she returned a shy smile, losing her out of sight as Taemin began to turn them again.

She wasn’t sure what she was allowed to do, how close she was allowed to get to her partner? Half through the next slow song she still hadn’t figured it out. Was she allowed to get closer to Taemin? Maybe rest her head onto his shoulder? She looked up to to see him smiling but not looking at her so she decided to just go for it, let her hand wander a bit further up his shoulder before slowly resting her head there.

Taemin didn’t flinch, nor did he show any other sudden reaction which would imply that he was comfortable with holding her like that, so Naeun smiled to herself and enjoyed the time she had left in this position. It felt to her like the song was over too soon and since faster music started playing after that, they let go off each other. They couldn’t help but smile at each other as they started to dance to the new music. And that basically was what they did for the rest of the night, just dancing, laughing, talking and smiling. 

The prom was over too soon in Naeun’s opinion and as she was seated again in Taemin's car, driving home, she wished that she could again be in the building. But this time, she would want Taemin to not be her friend, but her date. She wished she could have hugged him tighter right there on the dance floor like her friends Chorong and Joonmyeon had done.

He of course brought Naeun to her door and it seemed like both didn’t want their night to end as they wandered with small steps.

"I really enjoyed tonight... with you." Taemin half whispered as they reached the door, standing face to face.

"Me too." 

"I would say we should do that again but sadly this was our last prom." He said with a sad smile.

"Wasn’t this prom enough?" She asked curiously.

"... it could have been better." Taemin stated, biting his lip.

To say that she was hurt by this would be an understatement. She tried not to show her disappointment that much by looking away.

"I think... it would have been better if we had gone there as... as a date, you know?” She heard the boy say and snapped her head to him in surprise.

"D-date?" 

Before she knew it, Taemin’s hand was already touching her flushed cheek, it a bit before placing his palm there. “Can I?” He asked in a soft whisper.

She wasn’t able to realize what was happening, all she knew was that she thought Taemin wanted to go to prom with her just as friends and now she had to hear that he actually would have preferred to go there as her being his... date. Naeun looked up into those beautiful brown eyes and then her mind just shot down as she saw his smile, this damn smile so who could blame her for nodding at him then?

He came closer and closer to her face until he pecked his lips onto hers. She was in trance and she was glad that Taemin wasn’t about to move his lips since she didn’t think she would be able to show him any reaction then. And she didn’t want him to think that she didn’t enjoy this.

The kiss was sweet and nice and actually just a longing peck and as Taemin leaned back again. Naeun let her eyes stay closed, too in trance to open them.

“Thanks for tonight. See you in school... and... Eun?”

"Yeah?"

"Is it okay to... to call you... later? If you don't mind?"

"S-sure."

"Thanks." He said before she felt those familiar lips on her cheek and then he was gone.

Naeun opened her eyes to see him walking to his car and all she could think was: turn around, Taemin, please turn around. And he did, when he reached his car. Taemin did turn around and gave her a loving smile for the last time before he got into the vehicle and drove away.

She was still in trance as she stepped inside her house and let herself fall against the door as she closed it.

She just couldn’t let the stupid smile she had on her face vanish, because Taemin had kissed her and that was something she really hadn’t expected from just a friend. But it was something she enjoyed... very much.

And it was definitely better than eating ice cream and watching cheesy romantic comedy kdramas on her own.