♡︎|18

chapter eighteen —✧♡︎✧—

Hyunjin was exhausted.

Not physically—he'd gotten some sleep in class (thanks to Felix's shoulder, which was a very comfortable pillow, by the way)—but mentally, he was fried.

And yet, here he was, at the mall, trailing after Haeri as she marched into Sephora like she was about to go to war.

"Babe, focus!" she whined, snapping her fingers in front of his face. "I need your opinion on these shades!"

Hyunjin blinked, "Uh—what?"

Haeri huffed, holding up two lipsticks. "This one or this one?"

Hyunjin stared at them blankly.

They were both pink.

"They're literally the same," he said flatly.

"Are you insane?!" Haeri smacked his arm, exasperated. "This one has warm undertones and this one is cool-toned—God, why do I even ask you?!"

Hyunjin sighed, rubbing his temples. "You don't. You just make me stand here and suffer."

"Exactly, so shut up and be useful," she snapped with sass, turning back to the mirror to test the colors.

Hyunjin crossed his arms, exhaling through his nose, his patience thinning.

"Babe."

He turned, realizing she was staring at him with narrowed eyes, hands on her hips.

"What's wrong with you today?" she asked suspiciously. "You're so spaced out."

Hyunjin forced a tired smile. "Just tired."

Haeri rolled her eyes.

Hyunjin frowned, "What?"

"Don't act clueless." She scoffed, grabbing a setting spray. "I saw you with Felix in class today. Clinging like little kids."

Hyunjin forced out a laugh. "We always do that."

Haeri turned to him, crossing her arms. "Yeah, babe, and it's getting annoying."

Something in Hyunjin's stomach twisted. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means," she said sharply, "that you're my boyfriend, but sometimes it feels like you're more focused on him than on me."

Hyunjin blinked.

His chest tightened. "That's not true."

"Isn't it?" Haeri raised an eyebrow. "Because, Hyunjin, I see the way you look at him."

His breath caught. "What?"

"You heard me." Haeri's voice was lower now, careful, sharp. "You look at him differently than your other friends . And honestly? I hate it."

Hyunjin felt the weight of Haeri's words settle deep in his chest.

He didn't want to upset her. He didn't want to be a bad boyfriend.

So, he sighed, running a hand through his hair before stepping closer and slipping his arms around her waist. "You know you're the only one I love, right?"

Haeri pursed her lips, clearly still annoyed, but she let him hold her. "Then stop acting like Felix is your boyfriend too," she mumbled. "It's weird."

Hyunjin rolled his eyes playfully. "Okay, okay. I'll be less clingy, promise."

"You better," she huffed, poking his chest. "Now, be a good boyfriend and pay for my things."

Hyunjin snorted. "You're so spoiled."

"Yeah?" Haeri tilted her head, batting her lashes. "And whose fault is that?"

Hyunjin groaned playfully but tightened his arms around her anyway. "Mine. Definitely mine."

Haeri smirked, clearly pleased, and leaned up to press a quick kiss to his cheek. "Good. Now let's go, my rich boyfriend."

Hyunjin rolled his eyes but let her drag him to the counter, swiping his card for the makeup haul she had picked out.

Haeri was practically beaming as they walked out of Sephora, clutching her shopping bag like it was the most precious thing in the world.

"Babe, you don't understand," she gushed, pulling out the overpriced lip gloss she had desperately wanted. "This shade was sold out everywhere. I was about to start a war for this."

Hyunjin smirked, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Good thing you have me to fund your expensive taste."

"Exactly." She linked her arm through his, pressing herself closer as they strolled through the mall. "Ugh, I love this color. It's gonna be my new signature gloss—look, look!"

She let go of him just long enough to take out her compact mirror, carefully applying the gloss over the lip combo she had already done earlier. Hyunjin watched as she smacked her lips together, tilting her head in satisfaction.

"Mmm, perfect," she murmured. "What do you think?"

Hyunjin took one glance at her lips—shiny, plump, slightly parted— damn.

"Looks good," he said, voice lower now.

Haeri grinned, obviously pleased. "Right?! I swear, this gloss is—"

Before she could finish, Hyunjin leaned in, gripping her waist as he pressed his lips to hers.

Haeri made a surprised noise, but she melted into it almost instantly, hands sliding up to rest on his shoulders.

It was supposed to be a quick kiss—just something playful, teasing.

But the second Hyunjin felt her press closer, the warmth of her body against his, the soft hum she let out—he lost track of everything else.

Haeri gasped slightly as he deepened the kiss, tilting his head to slot their lips together perfectly. One of her hands moved up to cup his jaw, fingers curling against his skin as she pulled him in.

Hyunjin smirked against her lips before pulling back slightly. "Oops," he murmured, eyes flickering down to her mouth. "Lip combo ruined."

Haeri opened her eyes, dazed for a second before she registered what he had just said.

"BABE!" she shrieked, swatting his chest. "You—I just did my lips! I spent so long making them perfect!"

Hyunjin grinned, absolutely unbothered. "They still look pretty," he said smugly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Besides, I think I made them look better."

Haeri narrowed her eyes at him. "You're so annoying, oh my God."

Hyunjin laughed as she huffed dramatically, digging through her bag to reapply the gloss.

Haeri finished fixing her lip gloss, giving herself one final check in her compact mirror before snapping it shut. She turned to Hyunjin with a playful glare. "You better not mess it up again," she warned, slipping the gloss back into her bag.

Hyunjin smirked, tilting his head. "Can't promise anything."

"Hyunjin—"

Before she could finish, he tugged her closer by the waist again, but this time, he just leaned in like he was going to kiss her—letting his minty breath fan over her lips, watching as her eyes widened slightly.

"Relax," he murmured. "I'll be good this time."

She rolled her eyes but bit back a smile, finally stepping away before he really did something to ruin her lip combo again. "Let's go get something to drink before I die of thirst."

"You're so dramatic."

"And?" she quipped, already pulling him along.

Hyunjin let her drag him, their hands now  linked.

They ended up at one of the cafés, Haeri immediately scanning the menu while Hyunjin leaned against the counter, watching her. She tapped a finger against her chin before looking at him. "I'm getting a strawberry matcha latte with oat milk. What about you?"

"I'll just get an iced americano."

"Ugh," she groaned. "You're such a dad."

"And you order like a teenage influencer," he shot back.

She flicked his arm, making him chuckle. "At least I have taste."

"My taste is just refined," he argued, earning another dramatic eye roll from her.

After ordering, they found a small booth in the corner of the café, Haeri immediately sliding in next to him instead of across from him. "What, I don't even get my own side?" Hyunjin teased.

"Nope," she said, popping the 'p.' "You're my personal heater now."

Hyunjin shook his head but let her rest against his shoulder, her head fitting comfortably there. The moment was nice—the warmth of her next to him, the quiet hum of the café, the way she absently traced patterns on his arm with her fingertips.

"Hyunjinnie," she murmured after a while.

"Mm?"

"I like today."

He glanced down at her, seeing the content little smile on her face. It made something in his chest ease—like he was doing something right.

"Yeah, me too, baby," he admitted.

She sighed happily, shifting closer. "You're gonna keep your promise, right?"

Hyunjin hesitated but nodded. "Yeah. I will."

Haeri grinned, finally looking up at him. "Good."

She pressed a quick kiss to his jaw before returning to sipping her drink, completely content.