Work Text:
"That's the wrong chord"
Euijoo groans, looking up at Taesan. It was his 9th day of joining the music society, and he was struggling a lot with picking up the chords.
Taesan, the society's president had offered Euijoo lessons after their usual classes upon his polite request to learn the instrument as fast as possible.
"Ah Euijoo, you need to slow down. What's the rush" Taesan says, sitting down beside him.
Euijoo sighs loudly, putting his guitar aside. "You don't understand Taesan"
"What?"
"I need to propose someone"
Taesan pauses for a moment. He thinks he misheard Euijoo, because that came out of nowhere. Euijoo was one of the shyest people he had ever encountered in his life. There's no way Euijoo was learning guitar for a proposal.
Who was this lucky person?
Taesan gives a faint laugh in return. "Who are you proposing?"
"That's a secret" Euijoo answers, shrugging.
"If you're planning to propose someone with this skill level, I can't promise it will go well" Taesan says, laughing.
Euijoo gasps, pretending to be hurt by the comment. "I know it has hardly been a week but I hope I can at least learn this one song-"
"Hey, are you done yet?" Nicholas barges into the music room, unannounced walking towards Euijoo.
Euijoo looks up, panic flashing his eyes. He puts up a smile as Nicholas sits on the opposite side looking over at him and Taesan.
"Not yet" Taesan answers. "What song were you talking about-"
"That's not important right now. Just teach me the chords. I can manage the rest myself" Euijoo answers, ignoring Nicholas's presence.
"Come on juju, we're all going for playing basketball" Nicholas says, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"I can't come" Euijoo replies.
"Why not!"
"Because apparently your best friend is learning guitar to propose a special someone!" Taesan exposes, looking over to see the look of pure horror on Euijoo's face.
"Shut up" Euijoo elbows Taesan hard, glaring at him.
"Oh" is all Nicholas says, frowning in confusion. Euijoo was proposing someone?
Euijoo was learning guitar..to propose someone? Nicholas suddenly felt an uneasy feeling settle down in his chest. He couldn't explain it, but his heart felt heavy all of a sudden.
"Who are you proposing?" Nicholas asks, looking at his best friend.
"Oh forget it" Euijoo pats his shoulder, forcing a laugh. "Taesan was just saying that for no reason"
"Hey you literally told me you're planning to propose! Why can't you tell Nicho-"
Euijoo puts the guitar aside before he starts strangling Taesan, attempting to headlock him with his arms. Nicholas meanwhile sat there beside them both, the weird sinking feeling returning once again.
It seemed as if Euijoo didn't want to tell Nicholas about his special someone.
Weren't they best friends? Why was Euijoo keeping that information from him?
"It's fine" Nicholas says, his tone slightly bitter. "I don't care who he is proposing. Not my business"
Euijoo stops hitting Taesan for a moment to look back at Nicholas who was now on his feet. "If you want to spend your time here and not with the rest of us, I am leaving for basketball"
"Hey, Nicholas-"
Euijoo couldn't finish his sentence as Nicholas rushes out of the music room, shutting the door loudly behind him.
There is silence for a while before Taesan looks at him.
"Is he mad at you?" Taesan asks.
Euijoo just sighs, facepalming.
Nicholas made his way towards the basketball court, huffing and exhaling breaths the entire way. He couldn't even understand why he was so pissed.
Perhaps because Euijoo was ditching playing with the group for his guitar practice?
Euijoo prioritising the fucking proposal over all of them?
Or maybe Euijoo trying to keep the whole entire thing a secret.
Whatever it was from all of these possibilities, Nicholas was pissed and his mood for the entire day was ruined.
"Hey Nico" Maki calls his name from the other side of the court.
Nicholas quietly walks over before flopping down on the bench. Maki and the rest of the group give each other looks before walking over to Nicholas.
"Where is juju?" Maki asks.
"Go ask him yourself" Nicholas scoffs.
Fuma blinks, looking between both Maki and Nicholas. "Wait, didn't you go to pick him up from guitar practice?"
Nicholas exhales loudly in annoyance. "Do you all know why he's learning guitar?" He asks, looking at his 4 friends Maki, Fuma, Jo and Yuma.
"I mean" Maki says, playing with the basketball. "I thought we all know he is interested in learning instruments"
"That's what I thought too" Nicholas says, shaking his head in disbelief.
Fuma sat down beside him. "Wait what happened"
"He's ditching all of us to propose to some bitch!" Nicholas scoffs.
"Woah calm down" Yuma says, widening his eyes. "That is such a false allegation. Why would juju do that"
"Taesan told" Nicholas says. "That Euijoo is learning it to propose to a special someone"
"And what makes you think the special someone is some girl" Yuma says. "It could be a guy too"
"It doesn't matter!" Nicholas says. "The point is he is ditching all of us! And not even telling who he is proposing!"
"Maybe because he doesn't trust us" Jo adds in. "And I don't blame him. Y'all will go around announcing it to the whole school and he will loose his chance with the person"
Nicholas rolls his eyes, clicking his tongue. "You guys always have reasons to defend him. But you know what, he can fuck off. If he doesn't care about us, why should we?"
"I am with Nico" Maki says. "Juju is being a traitor"
"You guys are acting so immature" Fuma says. "We should rather wish him luck so he gets the one he loves"
Something burned in Nicholas's chest hearing Fuma's words. Wish him luck? So he gets the one he loves?
His heart was getting heavier, and he didn't understand why he felt like he would throw up right there.
The thought of Euijoo giving all his time to someone else. Euijoo putting effort in learning guitar just to propose the one he likes.
Nicholas felt absolutely sick to his stomach.
He inhales a deep breath in, before standing up. "No more Euijoo talk, let's start the game" Nicholas says, clapping his hands.
For the rest of the day, Nicholas doesn't think much about Euijoo, and focuses on playing.
An hour later Euijoo had joined them in the basketball court but by that time, Nicholas had excused himself and left.
He didn't feel like talking to him.
"So you're participating in the music society's upcoming gig night?" Fuma asks, as Euijoo settles down on the bench.
After Nicholas had left, Euijoo gathered everyone around him, giving them the news that he will be performing live.
"So are you going to dedicate this performance to your special someone?" Yuma asks, raising an eyebrow.
Euijoo widens his eyes, face turning red. "Hey! Who told you that?"
"Your bestie. By the way he's mad at you" Yuma tells.
Euijoo frowns. "Nicholas is mad? Just because I came a bit late for the match? Is that why he left when I arrived? Oh god"
"Can you at least spend some time with the group?" Maki complains. "Nico is right. You are neglecting us for that bitch you're proposing!"
"What the fuck? What bitch are we talking about here?" Euijoo asks, surprised.
"Seriously, who is it Euijoo?" Maki asks. "Why are you treating it like some top secret that would get you into trouble if it's exposed"
Euijoo facepalms, before looking at his friends. "I just want it to be a surprise! After I perform the song, I will propose on stage!"
Yuma gasps loudly. "And what if the bitch rejects you in front of so many people? Are you ready for that!"
"Oh my god" Euijoo groans. "Can we take this 'bitch' out of the conversation?"
"I mean how can we" Maki adds in. "After all you're proposing to one-"
Euijoo slaps his arm hard, glaring at him. "I won't be telling y'all who is it. But it is not a bitch! Come to the gig night. And yes bring Nicholas too."
"Ask him yourself" Yuma says.
"If he's still mad at me he won't listen. Please bring him guys" Euijoo requests. "I want all of you to be there for my performance"
"Fine! We will!" Jo answers.
"I am not going to watch his performance" is the first thing Nicholas had said the next day.
Everyone was sitting in the campus cafeteria (except Euijoo who was once again in the music studio along with Taesan). Maki was the one who started the conversation about Euijoo's performance at the upcoming gig night.
"But we should be there for him" Fuma says, sighing. "He needs us to cheer for him-"
"Cheer for him when he's proposing to the love of his life?" Nicholas says, annoyance dripping in his tone. "What do we have to do with it?"
There is silence on the table for a few seconds. Maki leans in next to Yuma.
"Is it just me or he seems way too irritated by this?" Maki whispers to Yuma.
Yuma raises an eyebrow before looking over to observe the look on Nicholas's face. There was a visible frown plastered across his face as he shoved food down his throat.
"I guess maybe" Yuma whispers back.
"But look Nico" Fuma starts. "Euijoo is your closest friend. He would get so upset if you're not there to watch his first ever performance"
Nicholas mindlessly stares at the plate in front of him. It's not like his performance is for me.
"But he could at least tell us who he is proposing" Nicholas says, finding it hard to swallow the food down his throat now.
"Well it's a surprise, the least we could do is respect what he wants and cheer for him" Fuma says, patting Nicholas's shoulder.
Nicholas releases a shaky breath, clutching the utensil in his hand tightly. Why was he being forced to witness his best friend proposing to someone?
He really didn't want to.
Because that is something he wanted.
He even expressed that to Euijoo.
It didn't make sense why was Euijoo proposing someone else the way Nicholas wanted?
Few months back.
"Hey have you heard this song?" Nicholas said, nudging Euijoo's shoulder. They both were taking the bus back home, and Nicholas had offered one of his earbuds to Euijoo.
He played the song, waiting for Euijoo's response. After a few seconds, Euijoo shook his head.
"No I haven't, but it seems nice. What's it called?"
"Say you won't let go by James Arthur" Nicholas had replied smiling. "I love the guitar instrumental of this song"
Euijoo smiled back at him, seeing the way he got excited. "Is it your favourite song?"
"Yeah" Nicholas answered. "I swear if someone proposed to me with this song I would fold on the spot"
Euijoo laughed, slapping Nicholas's leg lightly. "You love this song that much?"
"I do" Nicholas said. "I wish I knew how to play guitar. This would be the first song I would learn since I know no one's gonna propose me with that"
"Who knows" Euijoo said with a chuckle. "Someone might fall for your dumbass and do it"
"Seems too far fetched" Nicholas said, wiping his invisible tears before laughing as they listened more songs the entire way.
And now the entire idea of Euijoo proposing someone by serenading them was making Nicholas feel way too upset.
He had to admit that he clearly didn't like it. Even if his best friend did end up learning guitar, could he have not learned the song Nicholas liked and only played it for him?
Does Euijoo even care about him?
Did he seriously have to learn it for proposing someone that's not Nicholas?
The day was almost over. Nicholas slung his backpack over his shoulder before walking out. These days he and Euijoo were not even going back together on the same bus, because Euijoo would spend extra hours in the music studio for his upcoming performance.
He was passing by the music studio when he hears the sound of a girl giggle inside. Nicholas pauses in his tracks, to peek inside.
A girl was standing next to Euijoo, constantly laughing about something. Nicholas squints his eyes at her.
It was Minju. Their class fellow.
In that moment, Nicholas could feel his heart drop to his stomach. The realisation was slowly hitting him.
That she was the one Euijoo was most likely proposing.
Because there was no other explanation as to why Euijoo was laughing so hard with her like that.
Nicholas feels another painful sting in his chest the longer he stood there and stared. So to not make his day even worse he turns around to walk away.
On his way out of the building, he stumbles into Taesan but doesn't respond to him, which confuses Taesan, who walks back in the music studio, sighing at Euijoo.
"Are you and Nicholas still fighting?" Taesan asks.
Euijoo turns his attention towards him, shaking his head. "We're not?"
"Did he come to see you?"
"No?" Euijoo replies, even more confused.
"I saw him walk out of the building" Taesan says. "Thought maybe he came to see you"
Euijoo sighs loudly, falling back on the couch. "I don't know what to do about him"
"Maybe just talk?" Taesan suggests, shrugging.
Euijoo folds his arms, pressing his lips together as he goes in thought. He had to make sure his best friend wasn't upset with him and showed up to his performance.
He pulls out his phone to text Nicholas.
Euijoo:
Hey
Long time no see
Come see me in the music studio tomorrow
Please?
Nicholas sees his phone buzz with Euijoo's texts. He flips it around after seeing the messages through the notifications.
Why was Euijoo making it so much harder for him?
Was Euijoo going to force him to come at that gig night and cheer for him while he serenades someone with that voice of his and plays guitar?
Euijoo was so cruel.
And Nicholas absolutely hates him.
There is no way Nicholas could genuinely be happy for him from the bottom of his heart, if his proposal goes well.
Euijoo already ignores him for guitar practice, if he got a girlfriend then Nicholas would totally be out of his life.
His chest physically hurt thinking of all this. He rolls over in bed, pulling a blanket over him.
Sleep was the only way to escape his despair.
The next day unfortunately when Nicholas was walking to class, Euijoo gets a hold of him. He grabs Nicholas by his wrist when he's passing by the music studio and pulls him inside.
Nicholas groans loudly, releasing his hand. "What is it"
Euijoo stares at him for a few seconds, not understanding his annoyed tone. "Why are you ignoring my texts"
"I am not interested in your gig night thing if you're gonna force me to come"
Euijoo looks at him, with an expression of hurt masked across his face. "But why? You out of all people..should be there"
"You're proposing to the love of your life. What am I supposed to do there?" Nicholas asks, folding his arms.
Euijoo stays quiet for a while, finding it hard to meet his eyes. He looks down at his hands, before sighing.
"I just...want..you to come..you have to come.." Euijoo says, sulking.
Nicholas absolutely hates it when Euijoo starts acting like this. It's impossible to refuse him when he sulks and gets all sad in front of him.
Before Nicholas could give a response, his eyes fall onto Euijoo's hand, and he doesn't fail to notice a huge cut, bruised red on his finger.
He immediately reaches to grab it. "What happened"
Euijoo widens his eyes, not expecting the sudden contact. "Oh, it just happened cause of guitar strings you know"
Nicholas stares at him in disbelief before pulling him towards the couch, pushing him to sit down.
He then reaches over in his bag to pull out a band-aid.
"Are you serious?" Nicholas exhales, shaking his head as he peels off the paper from the band aid. "Who is this person that you're bruising yourself for? Do you love them that much Euijoo?"
Euijoo stays quiet, staring at his hand which was in Nicholas's hold as he gently placed the band aid on his cut.
"Yeah, I do" Euijoo answers, in a soft voice.
Nicholas slowly releases Euijoo's hand. The ache in his chest gets worse after hearing it from Euijoo himself.
Euijoo really was in love with someone like crazy. Because why else was he trying this hard and bruising his fingers like that?
Nicholas stands up immediately, his head and heart feeling heavier than before.
"I ll come to your gig night Euijoo"
Euijoo's eyes light up immediately. "Really"
Nicholas nods, swallowing the lump in his throat. "After all you're bruising yourself for the performance. Must mean a lot for you"
"It sure does" Euijoo's smiles.
"Best of luck" Nicholas manages to choke out, with a heavy heart. He forces a smile at Euijoo while waving at him as he leaves.
And now he felt even more sick than before.
The days leading up to the gig night, Nicholas avoided meeting Euijoo. He often found Minju in the studio with Euijoo.
It was so obvious Euijoo had a thing for her. And he was basically learning the instrument for her.
Even in group hang outs, Nicholas had gone non verbal, which the others totally noticed but did not make a comment on.
By now, everyone was able to tell that something was up with Nicholas. But it wasn't their place to bring it up, so everyone stayed quiet and ignored it. Except for Fuma.
He could tell that Nicholas didn't like Euijoo proposing someone. He tried asking Nicholas about it, but was always ignored by him.
Everyone continued to hype Euijoo up for his performance and also for his proposal, except for Nicholas, who would vanish whenever Euijoo came to sit with them.
It was killing him totally, because Euijoo was in love with someone else. And now was about to propose the one he loved in the most romantic way ever.
Right in front of Nicholas's eyes.
The dreadful gig night, also renamed as 'about-to-be-the-worst-day' of Nicholas's life was finally here.
Everyone around him was bursting with chatter and excitement as they all stood in the crowd. Euijoo's performance was at second number.
"The wait is killing me" Yuma says beside him. "I wonder who is it that Euijoo will be serenading tonight"
Nicholas doesn't respond as his friends break into chatter. He could not focus on anything. All he could think of was Euijoo's upcoming performance and then the proposal.
It hadn't even been 10 minutes into the function and Nicholas already felt like he would collapse. His breathing was uneven and hands constantly sweating as he stood leaning his weight against Fuma.
"Yo Euijoo is next!" Maki calls out as the first performer steps down.
Nicholas feels his breath hitch for a moment, as Euijoo steps out on the stage with his guitar. He was dressed in light blue denims, with his light brown hair falling on his forehead. He waved at his friend group and immediately smiled when he saw Nicholas came too.
Nicholas forces a smile back, giving him a little thumbs up while all his friends beside him start cheering at the top of their lungs. Euijoo's ears start turning red due to their loudness. He laughs before adjusting his guitar, testing a few chords.
"Hi everyone!" Euijoo speaks into the mic. "It's Euijoo here!"
With every passing second, it was getting harder for Nicholas to breathe like a normal human being. Euijoo looked so ethereal standing there on the stage, ready to give that performance. Whoever was going to get proposed tonight was so damn lucky.
Nicholas felt his chest tighten all of a sudden. The sinking feeling returning to his gut.
Euijoo was going to get the love of his life tonight, right in front of Nicholas.
And all he could do was be happy for him, as his best friend.
"Tonight's performance is for a special someone" Euijoo says into the mic shyly as the crowd erupts into teasing noises. "After the song is over..I will be proposing to the one I love..by calling out their name on this stage"
"Wooooo go juju!" Maki screams at the top of his lungs.
Nicholas looks towards all of his friends, who seemed genuinely happy for Euijoo. And then he felt pathetic, because he was not happy.
He couldn't be happy for him, because it was hurting him.
Euijoo places one hand on the guitar fret, and the other ready to strum before he faces the crowd with a smile.
Once he starts playing the strings, Nicholas felt goosebumps across his entire body.
The instrumental was so familiar.
Wait, wait, wait.
Was..was Euijoo singing—
🎶I met you in the dark, you lit me up
You made me feel as though, I was enough 🎶
Nicholas felt his heart drop to his stomach. No way. No way this was happening.
Why was Euijoo singing Say you won't let go?
Why was Euijoo singing his favourite song?
Why the hell was Euijoo proposing someone with Nicholas's favourite song.
He watched the way Euijoo sang, the visible love, admiration and desire in his eyes as he sang passionately while playing the guitar. Nicholas felt like someone shot him in the chest. His head was spinning in spirals.
Euijoo was so cruel to propose someone with Nicholas's favourite song.
🎶 I knew I loved you then, but you'd never know
Cause I played it cool when I was scared of letting go
I knew I needed you, but I never showed
But I wanna stay with you, till we're grey and old 🎶
Nicholas's vision starts blurring as tears form in his eyes, and before he knows it he's crying and sniffing, trying to inhale breaths in while standing there.
Fuma turns to him immediately in concern, putting a hand on his chin. "Hey, why are you crying?"
Euijoo meanwhile was almost done with his performance, singing the last line.
🎶 just say you won't let go 🎶
Nicholas wiped his tears immediately, shaking his head while pushing Fuma's hand away.
"I am leaving" Nicholas says.
"Hey, we still have to see Euijoo's proposal-"
"Let me go" Nicholas frees himself and runs off and away from all the crowd. Maki, Yuma and Jo look back to see Nicholas leaving and frown at Fuma in confusion.
"Where'd he go?" Maki raises an eyebrow.
"Oh my god" Fuma sighs, facepalming.
"Okay everyone hope you liked that!" Euijoo says, after everyone gives him a huge round of applause for the performance. "Now is the time, I propose to the love of my life"
He starts searching for a familiar face in the crowd, but frowns when he doesn't spot him.
He looks at his friend group. Maki, Fuma, Jo, Yuma..
But Nicholas was suddenly missing.
He was there a minute ago. Where the hell did he vanish? Right at this moment?
Euijoo looks around, but Nicholas was nowhere in sight.
How was he supposed to continue? The host comes up to him, tapping his shoulder.
"Why aren't you going forward with your proposal?" The guy asks.
"Because the one I was going to propose just vanished! How the hell am I supposed to continue!" Euijoo whisper shouts. His entire plan was ruined.
Euijoo taps the mic, laughing nervously. "Ahahah, guys a bit of an issue. The proposal is postponed until further notice. The next stage will be taken by Han Taesan!"
With that Euijoo grabs his guitar and runs down the stage to find his group.
Fuma, Maki, Jo and Yuma rush towards Euijoo who came panting towards them all. "Where the hell is Nicholas?"
"He ran off" Fuma informs.
"Why?" Euijoo asks.
"I don't know. He started crying mid performance and then ran off"
Euijoo runs a hand through his hair, in frustration. Did Nicholas not like it that Euijoo sang his favourite song? He was extremely confused by his behaviour.
"What about the proposal" Yuma asks. "Why did you cancel that"
"Because the one I was supposed to propose ran away!" Euijoo reveals.
The only person who was not surprised hearing this was Fuma. The rest of them clapped their hands to their mouths, gasping in shock.
"Nicholas!!?" They all screeched.
"Everything is ruined" Euijoo says, sighing.
"Dude! Is that why Nicholas had been sulking since days?" Jo asks, eyes wide.
"Because he likes Euijoo and we all thought Euijoo was proposing to someone else?" Yuma says.
Euijoo raises an eyebrow at them. "What?"
"Hang on" Fuma starts. "Nicholas obviously ran away because he knew Euijoo was going to ask someone else out on stage"
Euijoo widens his eyes in disbelief before laughing. "Is he stupid? I sang his favourite song!"
"Maybe that's why he was crying" Fuma says. "He probably thought you were proposing someone with his favourite song"
"Oh my god" Maki groans. "Both of you are so stupid"
Euijoo leans against the wall, holding his head in his hands. "What the hell is wrong with him" He sighs.
"Bro go find him" Maki pats his shoulder.
Euijoo slowly straightens up, turning around to look for his best friend.
Euijoo roams the entire campus for half an hour. His legs were giving out by now. Nicholas wasn't picking up his calls and he was worried sick.
It's possible that Nicholas might have left the campus. Because where else was he hiding.
Euijoo walks over towards the backside of the cafeteria, to sit down on the stairs. He had been walking around since half an hour in search of Nicholas.
The moment he sits down, he hears a loud sneeze. He whips his head to his left to find Nicholas sitting leaning against the wall. The moment he locks eyes with Euijoo, he freezes.
"Nicholas" Euijoo exhales. "What the fuck? Why are you hiding here?"
"I just" Nicholas sniffs. "Wanted to be alone for a while"
Euijoo stands up and sits down next to him, leaning against the wall. Without a word he reaches for Nicholas's hand, interlocking their fingers.
Nicholas looks at their hands in confusion before meeting Euijoo's eyes. "Why are you here? How did the proposal go?"
Euijoo stares at Nicholas without a word. Nicholas really was clueless about everything. It made Euijoo want to smash his head somewhere.
"Are you stupid!" Euijoo asks, his voice louder than usual.
Nicholas blinks, even more confused. "What"
"Why the hell did you run off!" Euijoo complains. "You ruined everything I had been planning since weeks!"
Nicholas frowns. What did he ruin? Why was Euijoo blaming him for ruining his proposal plan?
"I didn't do anything!" Nicholas defends, hot tears forming in his eyes.
"You ran off! After I sang your favourite song!"
"Because I knew it wasn't for me-"
Euijoo lets out a deep exhale of frustration before harshly reaching for Nicholas's nape and pulls him closer to his face. The action makes Nicholas pause mid sentence to stare at him, with eyes wide and face flushed red.
"You're so stupid! And annoying Nicholas!" Euijoo says, breathing against his lips while Nicholas is frozen on the spot. "I can't believe you could be that dense!"
Nicholas opens his mouth to say something but before he could say a word, Euijoo crashes their lips together harshly, making Nicholas loose all the air in his lungs.
For a good 10 seconds, Nicholas's body is stiff and frozen as Euijoo kisses the life out of him, caressing his hands on his nape as his lips eagerly chase for Nicholas's.
A minute later, Euijoo pulls away to breathe, staring right back at a breathless, flushed red Nicholas who still had tears in his eyes.
"I can't believe you couldn't figure out that performance was for you" Euijoo says, breathing hard. "I spent weeks trying to learn your favourite song, and I was so excited to propose to you in front of the whole school. And you..decided to run away?"
Nicholas blinks furiously, a loud gasp of shock escaping him. "For me?!"
"Of course Nicholas!" Euijoo answers.
"But then what about Minju?" Nicholas asks.
Euijoo's face scrunches up, before his eyebrows knit together in utter confusion. "What the fuck does Minju have to do with any of this?"
"Weren't you proposing her?"
Euijoo facepalms so hard, that a loud slap sound echoed with the impact. "Oh my god"
"No seriously" Nicholas continues. "I always found you two laughing together in the studio"
"Nico, she was helping me pronounce the lyrics correctly in the song. I wanted the performance to be perfect! All for you!" Euijoo expresses, shaking his head. He had no clue Nicholas could be this big of an idiot.
It takes a while for Nicholas to process everything. And once it settles in, his heart starts beating loud and fast.
Euijoo likes him.
Euijoo sang that for him.
Euijoo was proposing him.
And this entire time, Nicholas made himself suffer assuming the worst, not knowing everything was for him, since the beginning.
"So.." Euijoo says, turning to him again. "Did you like the performance?"
Nicholas gives a slow, shy nod before smiling. "It was really good"
"So now can I continue my proposal? If you don't plan to ruin it this time?"
Nicholas laughs softly, as a faint blush starts creeping across his cheeks. "I won't ruin it. I am sorry Euijoo. I was just too caught up assuming stuff. I didn't know you could like me and it was making me go insane thinking you like someone else so much that you're learning a whole ass instrument"
"Which is why" Euijoo lightly flicks Nicholas's forehead. "We don't make assumptions"
"I am sorry" Nicholas says again, with a grin. "Also, do you know you're stupid too! You're supposed to dedicate the song to the person before the performance! Not after!"
Euijoo rolls his eyes at the comment. "I thought the song would give it away that it's for you! I wanted to keep the suspense for everyone you know"
"You're unbelievable" Nicholas says, breaking into a laugh.
"Now can I propose?" Euijoo asks, eagerly. "Do I have your permission?"
Nicholas blushes furiously before nodding.
Euijoo sighs before reaching for Nicholas's hand. "Nico, my best friend, the one I bruised and cut my fingers for and sacrificed my peace and sleep to learn your favourite song because I love you way too much..will you go out with me?"
Nicholas's heartbeat was exploding out of his chest hearing Euijoo's confession. His entire face burned hot. He smiles, nodding in response. "Yes, of course I would. I love you too"
This time, it's Nicholas who initiated the kiss. The first one was gone by in complete shock and disbelief. But this time, Nicholas was fully aware of it.
He reaches for Euijoo's chin gently before pressing their lips together. Euijoo breaks into a smile against his lips, pulling Nicholas closer by placing his hands on his neck.
After what felt like forever, when they longed for oxygen they finally separate, with their foreheads still against each other's as they break into shy giggles.
Nicholas finally felt at ease after weeks of suffering. The day which was supposed to be the worst one in his life, accidentally turned out to be the best.
Because he got asked out by his best friend, in the most romantic way he could possibly ever imagine.
"All that suspense for you to just date Nicholas" Maki comments. "You edged us for weeks just to propose this bitch from our group"
"Hey!" Nicholas looks at him offended.
All of them were sitting in the music studio, because Euijoo wanted to give a replay of his performance for Nicholas, since the proposal got ruined due to him running away.
"Shut up" Euijoo glares at Maki.
"I mean I saw it coming" Fuma says. "I could easily tell you both liked each other. I don't know why everyone else was blind"
"We had a clue too" Yuma adds in.
"You all are lying. Don't act like I don't remember y'all's shocked faces at the gig night" Euijoo says.
"Whatever" Yuma rolls his eyes. "Is this performance even necessary. You already confessed and are dating"
"You're free to leave!" Euijoo says, sarcastically. "It's for Nicholas anyway!"
"Alright alright" Fuma claps his hands together before a fight could break. "We're here to witness the performance and the postponed proposal"
"Go Euijoo!" Jo cheers for him.
Euijoo picks up his guitar, tuning the strings as Nicholas sat right in front of him, with the softest smile across his face. He clears his throat before he starts playing the opening instrumental.
"This song is romantic as hell though" Maki says as Euijoo starts singing. "Also juju really worked on his pronunciation"
Nicholas stares at him with nothing but love in his eyes. The entire time, Euijoo had his eyes fixed on just Nicholas as he passionately sang the lyrics.
🎶just say you won't let go🎶
The moment Euijoo strung the last chord, all of his friends clap loudly. Nicholas shoots up from his place, taking a couple steps towards him before enveloping him in a crushing hug.
The guitar slips from Euijoo's hands as he hugs back Nicholas, wrapping his arms around him. He places a gentle kiss on his cheek, before pulling him completely against himself.
"Is this how proposals are supposed to go?" Yuma asks, side eyeing the two.
"I love you" Nicholas says, smiling widely.
"I love you more" Euijoo says.
"Where's the proposal-" Yuma is cut off with Maki's loud screech as Euijoo pulls Nicholas in for a kiss, right in front of everyone.
"Thank god they didn't do this in front of the whole school" Jo says, looking at his lovestruck friends, who clearly didn't care about all the single people present in that room.