Chapter Thirty Four: Swipe, Type, Swoon

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[ ᴛʜɪʀᴅ ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴ ᴘᴏᴠ ]

The night was supposed to be productive. That was the plan.

Seungmin and Jisung had promised their manager they would spend the evening working on new lyric ideas, but 'productive' quickly took a nosedive somewhere between Jisung throwing a crumpled paper ball into Seungmin's forehead and Seungmin retaliating by locking his phone in the snack cabinet.

Now, an hour later, papers were strewn across the floor, lyrics abandoned, and the only thing being brainstormed was why Seungmin looked like he was about to smile himself into a coma at his phone.

Jisung sat cross-legged on the couch, popping candy into his mouth as he stared shamelessly. "Dude. You're literally sparkling. Is that even legal?"

Seungmin, pretending he wasn't vibrating with excitement, cleared his throat. "Shut up."

But he couldn't hide it. His foot was tapping, his fingers were drumming lightly against the phone screen, and a small smile was tucked into the corner of his mouth, like it had snuck up on him when he wasn't looking.Because she-- Nayoung -- had agreed to play the game. Twenty-one Questions.

It had been Jisung's stupid idea. What started as casual teasing turned into a semi-existential crisis when Seungmin realized, with a sinking feeling, that despite talking to her for months, he barely knew her. Favourite food? No idea. Favourite season? No clue. Whether she even had a dog or preferred cats? Mysteries of the universe.

He had tried to play it off-- scoffing, saying it didn't matter, that he wasn't invested or anything-- but Jisung saw right through him.

"Bro..." Jisung had said, slapping a hand dramatically over his heart, "...this is either gonna be the start of a beautiful love story... or the most hilarious, catastrophic breakup ever. Either way, I'm getting popcorn." Now, hovering annoyingly behind Seungmin's shoulder, Jisung watched as the first question popped up on his screen from Minnie_.

> Minnie_: ARE YOU SINGLE???

She had added three question marks. And, somehow, it made Seungmin blush like a tomato.

> Minnie_: WHAT'S THE HOLD UP, BABYBOY?

Nayoung texted again two seconds later.

Seungmin nearly choked.Jisung wheezed. "She called you babyboy. Do you know what this means?"

Seungmin shoved at him with his shoulder, half-hearted and flustered. "Get away before I block you." Still cackling, Jisung retreated to the other end of the couch, watching gleefully like he was at a sold-out concert.

Seungmin, scowling but secretly melting, typed out a dry,

> Hater:Yeah. Unfortunately.

Nayoung responded instantly.

> Minnie_: UNFORTUNATE FOR WHO?

> Minnie_: BECAUSE IT'S VERY FORTUNATE FOR ME.

Seungmin snorted before he could stop himself. He looked up. Jisung waggled his eyebrows from across the room. Focus, Seungmin told himself. Don't be weird. Don't be obvious. Just... ask normal questions.

His turn.

> Hater: Favourite color?

> Minnie_: YELLOW!!!

> Minnie_: Like the sunOr lemon candy

> Minnie_: Or those ugly crocs everyone makes fun of but I secretly love!!!

Seungmin laughed under his breath, imagining her typing with wild abandon. He sent...

> Hater: You have the energy of a lemon candy, not gonna lie.

> Minnie_: I WILL TAKE THAT AS A COMPLIMENT.

Her enthusiasm was infectious.His chest felt light. Before he could type more, she shot back:

> Minnie_: YOUR TURN. FAVORITE SEASON?

> Hater: Autumn.

> Hater: The weather's nicer.

> Hater: People shut up about beach bodies. And sweaters.

> Minnie_: I wanna kiss Seungmin's beach body.

> Hater: What the fuck??

> Minnie_: Nothing.

> Minnie_: Pretend you saw nothing.

> Minnie_: also, AHHHH I KNEW YOU HAD AUTUMN ENERGY.

> Minnie_: MYSTERIOUS BOY IN A SWEATER VIBE.

Seungmin rolled his eyes but couldn't wipe off the stupid smile threatening his face. Jisung mimed gagging from the other side of the room. Seungmin threw a pillow at him.

Nayoung sent another question:

> Minnie_: WHAT'S SOMETHING YOU'RE EMBARRASSED TO ADMIT?

He hesitated. His thumb hovered over the screen.

That I like you more than I should? That talking to you feels like the best part of my day? That I want to keep you to myself, even though you don't even know my real name?

> Hater: I once cried because my mom left me at daycare for five minutes when I was six.

There. That would do.

Nayoung's response was immediate:

> Minnie_: I WOULD HAVE CRIED TOO!!! YOU'RE JUST A BABYBOY!!

Seungmin groaned into his hoodie. "Stop calling me that," he muttered at his phone.

Jisung collapsed laughing again, face red. "Bro, just accept it. You're her babyboy now."

"I'm gonna kill you."

"No, you're gonna FALL IN LOVE."

Before Seungmin could murder Jisung with a look, Nayoung sent another message:

> Minnie_: DO YOU WANT ME TO HAVE YOUR BABIES???

Seungmin dropped the phone on the couch like it burned him.Jisung screamed with laughter. Red-faced, Seungmin snatched the phone back, heart pounding. "She's insane."

> Minnie_: JK JK JK... unless???

Seungmin rubbed a hand down his face, embarrassed but impossibly fond. She's a lunatic. And somehow, he liked it. Finally, Seungmin typed, pretending to be nonchalant:

> Hater: I can't with you, Nayoung

> Hater: What's your dream job?

> Minnie_: TO BE A PROFESSIONAL CUDDLER

> Hater: You're not serious.

> Minnie_: I'M SO SERIOUS

> Minnie_: Also to be a writer but cuddler sounds more fun.

Seungmin smiled into the sleeve of his hoodie, heart thudding stupidly.

> Minnie_: okok my turn...

> Minnie_: WHAT'S YOUR NAME????

> Minnie_: been DYING of curiosity

Seungmin hesitated, glancing at Jisung, who grinned and whispered, "Just tell her. There's like a thousand Seungmins out there."

Sighing in disbelief at himself, Seungmin typed:

> Hater: Seungmin.

> Minnie_: HOLD ON. SEUNGMIN???

> Minnie_: like KIM SEUNGMIN???? THE super famous idol??? the adorable grumpy puppy??? the man who looks hot in hoodies and devastating in suits??? the menace with the sweetest laugh???

> Minnie_: YOU CAN'T BE HIM.THE REAL SEUNGMIN WOULD NEVER BE THIS LAME.

> Minnie_: OH MY GOD I GOT MY OWN SEUNGMIN FROM TEMU I'M SCREAMING

Seungmin read it, cheeks turning pink, a shy, crooked smile tugging at his lips. They went back and forth-- her questions getting bolder, his staying sweet but guarded-- until they weren't even counting anymore, just talking.

Teasing. Laughing. Seungmin catching himself staring at the screen for too long.

When Nayoung said she was getting sleepy, Seungmin sent a goodnight text.

> Hater: Goodnight, weirdo.

> Minnie_: GOODNIGHT, BABYBOY.

> Minnie_: SWEET DREAMS OF ME.

Seungmin grumbled. Jisung cackled.And when Seungmin locked his phone and set it on the couch, he realized he was still smiling. Wide, soft, and stupidly-- and maybe, just maybe-- ready to admit it soon.

But not tonight. Tonight, he'd let himself just be a little happy.

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I may or may have not giggled a little while writing this chapter

Last chapter's answer:Changbin

Quote of the day:I don't get you guys

Anyways hi, how are you?

As always Lee (> •-•)> will be taking your votes and comments

Thanks for readingCya🤍