• • •

San

Wooyoung is cute. It's something I've always thought -- always known, rather, but now it's especially apparent. It's one of the things I keep thinking about.

Wooyoung's dressed in a simple black long-sleeved shirt and jeans of the same colour, as well as a vibrant red beanie that adds a splash of colour to his already attractive outfit. I am not surprised when I find myself staring in his direction for what seems to be the millionth time this morning alone, but I really can't help myself. He's just too goodlooking.

His eyes catch mine just before he opens the door to let our friends in, the pools of brown igniting heat akin to flames that burns the inside of my chest. Fuck, I feel so warm and fuzzy, no matter how cheesy or cliché that must sound.

Wooyoung's eyes linger on mine for a millisecond before darting away as the door opens, and I have to fight back a smile. His shyness is so obvious and it's adorable, but I can't comment on it since I'm not any better myself. My hands are still overly clammy.

Shit, I still don't know what to do around San. Why is he so fucking adorable? God -- I'm gonna freak out in front of Yeosang and Mingi!

I hear his hurried, panicky words in my head, and although that should make me even more worried due to what we'd talked about earlier, all I feel is this contagious amusement that abruptly erupts an unfortunately audible chuckle out of me.

Yeosang, who'd been interrogating Wooyoung about what had taken us so long to answer the door, suddenly stops, while Mingi's eyes widen further underneath his blue fringe.

"Shit, San," Mingi begins, taking a step closer to me. His hands are clasped behind his back, a semi-serious look shadowing his face. "You're... laughing. Why is that?"

As always whenever I'm being stared at by several eyes at the same time, I unintentionally clam up, which totally sucks because it's something I can't control. My heart's thumping unsteadily beneath my ribcage, and my fingers curl into fists. I'm pretty sure Yeosang saw it.

And then the entirety of my back warms up and my heart rate picks up even more. I feel like I'm about to freak out, but I keep my expression levelled when Wooyoung's arm slings over my shoulder, his body temperature sending pleasant chills down my spine. He smells like lavender with a tint of vanilla, and that scent of his is one of the many things I've come to really, really like about him.

"San can laugh whenever he wants, Mingi. Stop being weird," Wooyoung says in a tone that almost convinces me that I'm fine, but it doesn't seem to work on Mingi or Yeosang.

I don't think they believe us, I find myself thinking.

I almost forgot that you can read my mind. And yeah, they look mostly unconvinced, Wooyoung thinks back, his palm lingering on my lower back before dropping it. I fight the urge to look at him, because I don't want Mingi and Yeosang thinking something else of it for some reason. I have a feeling that I'm like this because of the unshakably timid side of me.

"It's you two that are being weird," Yeosang says, his grey eyes turning all heavy and scrutinizing like they get whenever he tries to pull the truth out of someone. Wooyoung told me all about it one time. "You both look like you're hiding something..."

"Nope, nope nope nope nope," Wooyoung utters, before leaving my side to pinch Yeosang at his side. "Stop that hypnotizing shit."

Yeosang winces and pouts with a glare that can kill, while Mingi barks out a loud laugh. I crack a smile as well even when I still feel a bit uncomfortable.

"The hell, Woo? I wasn't doing anything," Yeosang replies.

"Yes you were." Wooyoung suddenly ruffles Yeosang's blond bangs which causes the strands to fall deeper into his hard eyes. "Now that's better."

Yeosang's face breaks into this horrified grimace. "My hair! I took like, an hour to fix that bird's nest I had this morning."

"It still looks good though," Wooyoung says with a pretty smile that causes my heart to squeeze. Despite his rather harmless smile to Yeosang, an unsettling sense of paranoia drills itself into my brain. Wooyoung's staring at Yeosang too long. But then again, they're best friends, and they don't like each other like that, do they? Wooyoung and I just freaking kissed like five minutes ago!

Faint heat creeps up my neck as I stop myself from thinking further. Wooyoung can sometimes read my thoughts after all, and it's something that we need to fix as soon as possible. There's literally no reason to overthink his actions with Yeosang, or anyone else.

"I'm gonna try and recreate that 'bird's nest' look," Mingi pipes up, and then there's two Yeosangs standing in front of Wooyoung and I, dressed in those sunny yellow overalls. The only difference is that one Yeosang has considerably messier hair than the other, and the hair literally looks like a nest.

"You goddamned fucker," Yeosang hits the messier haired Yeosang, and the sight's so weird yet hilariously insane that I almost choke on my laughter. Wooyoung promptly joins me. "Turn back right now."

"Hell no." The second Yeosang (who is Mingi) speaks, his voice nearly a perfect replica of the real Yeosang, and that just makes me laugh even more. "I think I dig this new look. I should go outside with it and -- oh! Let me take a selfie and post it online!"

Yeosang yanks Mingi into a chokehold whilst raining curse words at the speed of light, and I shoot Wooyoung a panicked look.

"Should we try and stop them?" I ask, sparing a look at the first Yeosang who looks pissed off and the other who's alternating between laughing out loud and yelping in pain.

"Nah," Wooyoung shrugs, his lips still curled into a smile. "They fight like a married couple all the damn time. Let's just wait outside for them, I have the key after all."

"Uh, sure," I nod, seeing that Yeosang is now tickling Yeosang.

A breath pathetically hitches in my throat when Wooyoung's fingers intertwine with mine as he pulls me outside with him. Feelings of contentment and anxiety wrap around my chest, their stark difference erupting a wave of nausea that makes me almost stumble.

Wooyoung immediately notices, which makes me both embarrassed and soft. San, stop being weird.

"You okay?" Wooyoung asks me, dropping his hold. I don't like the coldness that creeps over my skin at his action, and as a result I bravely reach out and cup his right hand in mine. His eyes widen.

"Uhm -- " he coughs, briefly staring at the two Yeosangs who are frankly still occupied with each other. "You... don't mind if they end up seeing?"

"I-I do kinda mind," I stutter, before clearing my throat again. I really hope I'm not blushing again. "Just wanted to hold your hand for a bit."

Wooyoung's round, expressive eyes soften, his tanner skin blooming with a blush of its own. "Dude, that's so cute of you." He inhales a breath. "I wanna hug you again."

I let him do this, loving the way his arms wrap around my frame. I've always be sort of insecure about how slim I am, but at this moment I'm thankful for it because his hug engulfs me with warmth and rapidly fluttering butterflies. I rest my chin on his shoulder, my fingers coyly playing with the material of his long sleeved shirt.

"Look at us literally hugging in the hallway while our friends are fighting inside," Wooyoung remarks with a chuckle that decorates my arms with goosebumps. And then, under his breath he mutters, "chaotic couple goals."

I blink, my heart nearly kicking itself out of my chest. "What?"

"W-What?" Wooyoung sounds as startled as I feel.

"What did you just say?"

"What did I just say?" He repeats, but before I can add anything else, a new voice joins the conversation with a "Hi guys!"

Wooyoung and I practically spring apart, and then I turn around only to see Yunho's beaming face.

"You guys see Mingi and Yeosang anywhere around here? We were all supposed to go eat a while ago."

"They're inside, probably knocking each other's guts out." Wooyoung's voice is higher pitched than usual and unsteady, topped off with a clearing of the throat that literally screams suspicious.

"Yeah," I add, hoping Yunho didn't actually spot us hugging a little too closely a couple seconds prior. "That."

Yunho's smile doesn't fall off his face. Instead, it only broadens, and then he leans in with a voice too loud to be a whisper. "I won't say a thing about what I just saw." He shuts his lips with an invisible zipper, leaving Wooyoung and I a speechless mess.

"Wait -- " Wooyoung begins, but Yunho proceeds to push open the door to our dorm, and then rushing in to stop whatever Yeosang and Mingi are doing.

"Who's Mingi? I wanna know who I'm gonna vaporize with my wand," Yunho states.

"Why do I always get the blame?" One of the Yeosangs speaks up, and then Yunho's pulling him by the ear and up to his feet.

"Because you almost always start the trouble. You're lucky Hongjoong is too busy with his assignments to come along, because he would've definitely beat your ass," Yunho scolds like he's his mother, and Mingi turns into his original form, a big, annoyed pout on his face.

I heave a sigh of relief at this, because now that everyone's distracted by Mingi and Yunho, nobody will think to comment on how weird Wooyoung and I have been acting lately.

• • •

I've rarely ever been to town as I've spent a majority of my life indoors, since I had no idea if my vampire side would freak out and become unstable in public. I found hiding myself away from others far easier, because if no one saw me mess up, then there would be no harsh judgement coming from their side.

But now... Now I feel like I've been missing out on a lot of things.

Once the college grounds dissolve into thin air and sink us into the central town that Yeosang called the Town of Wonder, I certainly can't help but stare with wide eyes that the buzzing yet amazing imagery that greets me.

Slight sheets of snow are falling from the sapphire blue skies, floating about and tenderly grazing the surface of my arms and everyone around me. But, no one seems to mind.

I look at Wooyoung, noticing a couple of snowflakes resting snugly on top of his red beanie. I resist the urge to take them off, but why should I, anyways? Especially when he looks so pretty just standing there. I regret not bringing along my phone to take a picture.

Wooyoung walks beside me while Yunho, Mingi and Yeosang are in the front, continuously watching me until I have no choice but to meet his gaze.

"So..." He begins, his nose a babyish pink. "You were thinking something about a...picture?"

"Shut up," I snap, trying to sound annoyed. It totally fails when bright giggles spurt out of Wooyoung's lips.

He pokes my side, lowering his voice. "Do you like it here?"

I look around once more. The area looks like the towns I've seen illustrated on the textbooks I studied back at home, but it's another experience entirely to see one with my own eyes. Several shops are open, tasty aromas of food from the restaurants spilling into the streets. I glance at our other friends and see that they're talking to each other just like Wooyoung and I.

Looking back at Wooyoung, I get totally caught off-guard when I spot this raw, ardent look in his eyes. I then focus my gaze on the ground, my fingers twisting and turning themselves as a way to distract myself from my nerves.

"I like it here," I begin, busying myself with observing my surroundings. Wooyoung's eyes are still following my movement, and half of me feels exhilarated while the other half is apprehensive. Stop freaking out, it's just Wooyoung. "The buildings are very pretty."

"Wait until you enter Aquarius," Mingi suddenly adds, giving me a thumbs up. "You'll love this town even more."

"Yeah," Yunho contributes, "it's a great restaurant."

Wooyoung nods along. "That's why I'm super glad San got to join us today."

I let out an awkward smile, pretending I don't notice Yeosang's eyes moving between me and Wooyoung.

On our way to that Aquarius restaurant at everyone seems to be really excited about, Mingi buys this spherical object that blows bubbles that reflect off all the colours of the rainbow after begging us several times if he could get it. And anytime a bubble blows, it explodes into these dazzling and harmless sparks that remind me of fireworks.

And speaking of fireworks, Wooyoung settles his and my hand into his sweater pocket when no one else is looking, and it startles me. Those darned butterflies manifest themselves again.

"Why'd you do that?" I ask.

"'Cause you looked like you could use some warmth," Wooyoung replies with that cheesy tone of his, and I make a show of fake gagging.

"Ew," I tell him, wanting to smoothen the frown between his eyebrows due to my statement. I laugh and shake my head. "I'm a vampire, I don't freeze easily."

"Yeah, but you're also part demon and human," he answers. "You need all the love and protecting that you can get."

My stupid heart races. "God, you're so cringe."

"Your spectacular presence makes me feel like I'm on cloud 9, and your face is simply drop-dead gorgeous," Wooyoung continues, but his tone is secretive and for no one else but me to hear.

I chuckle even though I feel like utter mush on the inside. "Stop it."

"Choi San, your dimples are amazing and you're the most interesting and attractive vampire I have ever seen in my lifetime," Wooyoung responds.

Luckily, before I get the chance to turn into literal mush, a building that looks much more like a miniature castle instead of a regular restaurant appears before us. Aquarius is scribbled on the top of the building in golden, elegant penmanship, and Wooyoung practically pulls me inside the place along with Yunho, Yeosang and Mingi before I can count to three.

Blue and gold appear to be the theme of the restaurant. The place looks far bigger inside than outside, even extending to booths on the second and third floors. The walls are lit up in royal blue lighting, displaying the deep mystical sea and an array of exotic looking fish.

"They're just simulations," Yunho tells me, "but they're super cool to look at. Take a look at those fish over there."

I look in the direction that Yunho's pointing at, and then notice beautiful golden streaked red fish swimming around the glinting lamps that lit up the corners in a pleasant cornflower hue.

"They sell everything here -- except fish, which is a good thing," Yeosang comments beside me. "A lot of people who work here are merfolk like me. Cool, right?"

"Yeah," I reply a bit distractedly, especially when Wooyoung is in my line of vision, ecstatically pointing at a booth to the left. No matter how astoundingly aesthetic this entire place is, Wooyoung looks far more breathtaking.

"Let's take that seat over there. Mingi, you're ordering."

Mingi blows a colourful bubble in Wooyoung's face, his features tight with a challenge. "No way."

He ends up ordering for us, though.

As soon as our orders are served, Wooyoung grins at me and points at my plate. "Want me to feed you?"

I repeatedly blink, quickly shaking my head. "Nah," I whisper, "Yunho, Mingi and Yeosang are literally right there."

Wooyoung nods. "I can at least hold your hand, right?"

I stare at him, hating the weirdness I feel as soon as our eyes lock.

"I just wanna be with you," Wooyoung says in a mildly lower tone this time, and a bit of red flashes across his eyes so quick that if I'd blinked at that moment, I would've completely missed it.

"Wooyoung," I whisper, my tone betraying the worry I feel. "Snap out of it."

"Guys?" Yunho says, and it's as if a switch has been flipped. Wooyoung's expression changes into a more natural one.

"What's up?" He replies, and I gulp, slicing through the choco cake Mingi had recommended to me even though I now have no appetite to consume anything.

I never really eat anything that afternoon.

• • •

a/n: i really dislike this chapter tho. thoughts?