#Tae's POV…
It was the last day of eighth grade. The day of the grad dance. My Papa had gotten me a white jacket which had lilac buttons and a lilac shirt, to Jimin Uncle's advice. I wondered what Kookie's outfit looked like. It didn't matter what he wore, though he'd look stunning.
❝Come here Tae, let's get a photo before we leave to get Kookie!❞ My papa grinned brightly at me. I decided it was best to just do it. Protesting wouldn't get me anywhere.
And I think today Papa is looking happy. And I'm glad you see him happy.
So I did in front of the staircase while he grabbed the camera. ❝Say cheese!❞ I plastered a smile on my face. The camera shutter clicked. In certain I looked incredibly nervous in the picture. Like, terrified. ❝Okay, I'll go get in the car if you want this walk over to Kookie's house and knock on the door.❞
And I walked across the street in my outfit and white flat shoes. I had barely tapped my knuckles to the door when Kookie swung it open. He wore a light blue, semi-sheer jacket worn over a matching lilac collared shirt. He is also wearing white pants and a beaded necklace with a dark, possibly purple, pendant or charm. His white shoes matched with his white pants. Light curly pieces of hair framed him like a cute boba ball.
❝Holy…woah,❞ I mumbled, now incapable of forming a full sentence. He looked perfect.
❝Um, hi,❞ he replied, furrowing his brow. ❝Are you okay?❞
I nodded. ❝Yeah, I'm fine, it's just…you're…❞
❝I knew it! I look stupid, don't I?❞
❝…pulchritudinous,❞ I said because it was the biggest word I knew and I couldn't stress how beautiful he looked.
Kookie seemed very confused. ❝What language are you speaking?❞ We laughed.
❝Sorry, it's just that I couldn't find a word long enough to explain how pretty you look,❞ I replied bashfully.
❝Where did you even learn that one?❞ He smiled, and I was glad he was no longer underestimating his own elegance.
Well, I couldn't tell him that I was reading a thesaurus to find a word that would impress him and also describe how I had predicted he would look. Somehow, he was still dreamier than I had imagined.
I bit my lip. Play it cool, Taehyung. ❝I, uh, picked it up from a book I was reading.❞ Technically not a lie.
❝Oh,❞ he responded with a shrug. ❝Cool.❞
Then I remembered why I was here. ❝Right, uh, my Papa's got the car ready, since you're riding with us.❞
❝Yes, gimme a second,❞ he answered, ❝I've gotta go say bye to my parents.❞
He disappeared and I heard someone, probably one of his brothers, yell from inside the house. ❝You better treat him well or you won't live to see the light of day!❞ Great. No pressure at all.
❝Sorry about them,❞ Kookie apologized when he came back. ❝They're overprotective.❞
❝I can tell,❞ I reacted with a laugh. ❝We should get going.❞
Picking up a ring, he followed me out the door and across the street.
Remembering every little thing my noona had complained that Kai Hyung didn't do, I rushed to open the car door. ❝Thank you,❞ Kookie said as he stepped in. ❝Good evening Mr Kim, how are you?❞ His politeness never failed to show.
❝I'm good, thank you for asking. And you?❞ Atleast they got along. I sat down next to Kookie and closed the door.
❝Oh, same as usual,❞ replied Kookie. ❝Always busy with something.❞
❝I know what you mean,❞ my Papa said as he backed out of the driveway. ❝I'm picking you two up at nine, alright?❞
❝Okay,❞ I answered, hoping that Kookie would talk to my papa and not me.
He pushed a spiral lock of hair behind his ear. ❝So Momo and her date asked us to meet them at one of the tables so we'll have somewhere to sit if we aren't dancing. I think she'll be there early because her mom is volunteering, so she's saving us seats.❞
Planning ahead seemed to be something Kookie did. I can't say I hated it, though. ❝Okay, that'll be fun.❞
❝Yeah, and we can show Wooshik Hyung that you're better off without him,❞ he said with a laugh. It's very true. Wooshik was, to put it in a word, Toxic. But my Papa didn't know what happened.
❝What about Wooshik?❞ He asked, just as I expected.
I tried to think of a good explanation that didn't say too much. ❝Uh, umm, yeah, papa, I forgot to tell you that Wooshik and I had a little, umm, argument.❞
❝Do I need to call his mother and tell her that Wooshik was being rude? Or was it you?❞
❝No! No, it was just over, um, an, uh, a little thing, it's not a big deal,❞ I said hurriedly.
❝I was just joking, anyways,❞ Kookie intervened, saving me from making this issue worse than it needed to be. ❝Wooshik Hyung was just upset that Hyungie got a date to the dance and he didn't,❞ How did Kookie always know what to say?
❝What, that's so childish thing.❞
❝Indeed uncle.❞
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The schools gymnasium was decorated with purple and yellow banners and balloons. Intertwining my fingers with Kookie's, we walked over where Momo was watching from.
❝Aww! You two look adorable together!❞ Momo squealed. Girls. Well, most girls. Thank God my Kookie got this habit from them like a mouse.
I just smiled. ❝You look great too, Momo,❞ Kookie replied. Momo wore a yellow dress with white shoes.
❝I think I'll go get us something to drink,❞ I told Kookie. ❝Do you want some punch drinks or something simple?❞
❝Yes, I need punch drinks, thank you.❞ he replied politely.
Walking over to the tables at the back of the room, I spotted Wooshik talking with some other boys. When I neared the punch station, he approached me.
❝So, you came with your little boyfriend, I see.❞
❝Yup,❞ I said plainly. ❝And I see that no girl agrees to come with you.❞
❝Hey, I'm not the one who's had a boy kissing up to him since second grade. It's not shocking you had to go with him,❞ Wooshik spat with a smirk.
Of course he was acting like this; he was jealous. ❝Okay, let me know when a girl who cares about more than her hair and clothes likes you. Heck, let me know when any any girl likes you!❞
He scowled at me and walked away. At least he admitted defeat. I poured two cups of punch and walked back to the table. Momo was walking away with her date, leaving Kookie alone.
❝Here's your punch,❞ I said as I handed him a cup.
He smiled gratefully. ❝Thanks.❞ I sipped from mine. It was fruity and somewhat sweet.
❝Do you wanna go dance?❞ I asked, hoping to make this less awkward.
He swallowed his drink. ❝Yeah, sure.❞
The floor was covered in people. Conversation was loud but didn't drown out the music, blasting from the speakers.
After sometime of jumping and belting the lyrics to our favourite pop songs, a slow tube began to play. My eyes met with Kookie's, and we naturally assumed the slow dance position. Resting one hand on his shoulder and another on his waist, we began to sway in sync with the melody.
Side to side, back & forth. It was repetitive but oddly soothing. I think it was something about being there with him.
Another passive piece began to fill our ears. Kookie had pulled me closer; we were practically hugging. His head rested on my shoulder and I felt peaceful. Pressing my lips to his hair, we stayed there and moved slowly with the music. I wrapped my arms tighter around Kookie.My Kookie.