⇢ ˗ˏˋ Heart Attack ࿐ྂ

O, dear heart, this is not the time to go feral.

"How do I look?"

Please, slow down. You don't need to catch a train, let me catch my breath.

"A-amazing."

Oh no. Not the stutter, please. Now he will think I am weird. Bad Huening. Very bad.

"Close your mouth, you'll catch flies."

I oblige, finding myself in a blushing mess as THE Kang Taehyun chuckles, a hand over his mouth. God, he is so cute!

But then he stops, and there's a smile on his rosy lips— a beautiful one. I am not even surprised you decided to take a leap again, O dear heart. I can imagine even myself running around while smiling like an idiot. And no, I am not an idiot. Or maybe I am... Okay, this is not the time for inner conflicts. Focus, Huening.

"Happy Birthday, Hyuka." Am I dreaming? Am I hallucinating? Please tell me I am still awake and not in dreamland, at least not physically. Because even I know that mentally I am on cloud nine— that bit is obvious.

Wait, are those flowers in his hand?

"These are for you. I am sorry this is all I could think of."

I am just happy that he even thinks about me at all because, for sure, he never leaves my mind. Like that one time, I wrote down his name instead of mine on my answer sheet during a test. I still remember how the teachers were baffled with two tests with the name Kang Taehyun. Soobin Hyung had teased me for weeks for it.

"You...don't like it, do you?" he asks, rubbing his neck out of habit as his gaze lowers to the floor.

I guess I was silent for too long. Very bad Huening. Where are your manners?

"Oh no no! They are beautiful, really. They smell so nice~"

And the smile is back where it always should be, rightfully sitting on the face of its owner. He looks so ethereal with it, not to mention the prince costume he is wearing; the long and furry cape, the pretty chain, and of course, the glittering crown. Ah, he is so handsome— I feel like I am saying this a lot.

It was my mother's plan to host a costume party, and I couldn't help but say yes to it. I mean, how can I not? I wanted to match with the love of my life (he doesn't know it yet, though).

Yes, I am wearing no different than him, just that my boots are a little higher and a dummy sword rests against my waist, held up with my belt. Okay, maybe I hate the sword, it's too heavy to carry around.

"...So are we just gonna stand here?"

I snap out of my daze. No wonder I zoned out again. It has become somewhat of a ritual ever since I met Taehyun. Once, I had bumped into a pole while thinking of him and had to stay back at home for three whole days. Some say that my head still has a dent on it, but I know they are just making fun of me (for this I may or may not have spent half a day in front of the mirror with a photograph of me from not long ago. I found no difference).

Embarrassed, my blush goes a shade darker. "Please, come in."

You really are an idiot, Huening. And so are you, dear heart.

°•°•°• heart attack •°•°•°

I don't think I will survive this evening. There's no chance.

"Someone is pining again."

"Soobin Hyung!" I whine, hitting the boy in the bunny onesie.

"Ow! Calm down, it's not like I am lying."

"But, you are not helping!"

Taehyun is on the other corner of the living room, happily chirping to Choi Yeonjun who, by the way, is wearing a white gown with his pink hair half up. I won't deny that he looks pretty, and Soobin Hyung definitely agrees with me.

"You are hopeless."

"Hopelessly in love, yes."

Soobin Hyung laughs, his dimples popping up. "Even the spider chilling on the ceiling of your attic can see that. You are so obvious."

I glare at him. I swear to god, sometimes I hate this giant bunny. "As if you aren't obviously and purely in love with Yeonjun Hyung. Have you seen yourself? Always with the gooey eyes for him."

Soobin Hyung has the audacity to chuckle again. "Oh please, I am not THAT obvious, am I?" But then his smile grows a little nervous. "I am not really obvious, right?"

"Very."

The boy visibly gulps, straightening his back and looking over at Yeonjun Hyung, his smile nonexistent. "Not a word to anyone."

I smirk, crossing my arms. "You are forgetting something."

He clears his throat, looking away. "Please."

I am in a no different situation than him. But can you blame me? Only a person without tastes would ever not fall for Kang Taehyun. And I certainly have those tastes.

I look back at the boy, and oh boy, there goes my heart again.

°•°•°• heart attack •°•°•°

Is selective hearing a thing? Is it a disorder or a skill? Because if it is a skill, I am acing in it.

"Happy birthday to dear Huening Kai~"

They are all singing, yet the only one I can hear...

"Happy birthday to you~"

...is him.

Even in the crowd of thousands, it would always be him for whom my eyes would search. Or maybe I won't search. I know myself, my eyes will find him automatically.

And, oh yes, I think I died a little. That smile is absolutely contagious for my entire existence. At this point, I can expect a heart attack. Or arrhythmia. Dear heart, you are so cruel to me sometimes.

I want to hold hands with him. Maybe even give him the tightest hug. I want to poke his cheek someday, especially the dimple on his right cheek— it is endearing in itself. I want to touch his hair, they always look so soft and nice, appearing like silver under the soft light.

But when? I don't know.

The guests all shuffle away, the music goes soft and the light goes a little dim.

But he still stands there, his eyes never leaving mine.

Wow, Huening. Why do you suddenly feel so brave?

I take a step ahead, and so does he on the other end. I take another and he follows. I gulp, urging myself to not mess up anything.

Am I ready to say it aloud? Does he love me back? Or at least like? Minor admiration would be fine as well, I won't judge.

But what if I am reading it all wrong? What if he just thinks of me as a best friend? What if...what if...

"Stop thinking, you are so loud."

I blink, tilting my head in sheer confusion. "What?"

"You know, I am sometimes very concerned for you."

That baffles me further. But I can hardly care, not when he is standing right in front of me, looking like he walked straight out of a fairy tale.

"You zone out a lot." He says with a sigh and I silently wonder if he hates me.

Maybe he does, who knows?

"I-I do..." I let my gaze drop to the floor. Oh, hey there Mr Ant, are you having a good day?

"Hyuka..."

My eyes snap up as I feel his hands slowly taking a hold of mine. They are warm and soft, softer than I have ever imagined. There isn't a smile on his face, but he isn't mad either. This expression is hard to read.

"Oh gosh, you are so cute."

Did I hear it right? Am I imagining things again? Am I daydreaming?— probably not, it is nighttime. Oh, well, am I dreaming with my eyes—

He pulls me into a hug, putting an end to my thoughts and my ability to breathe. I stare right ahead into nothingness, my mind going haywire. I might actually die, doesn't matter if it is through a heart attack or arrhythmia or Kang Taehyun. I bet on the last one—

"I like you so much."

A balloon in my head pops and I feel myself losing all of my contacts with earth. I look down and oh.

Oh my god.

Oh. My. God.

Am I actually floating in mid-air?

Taehyun retracts and looks down as well. I hear a gasp.

"A-are we—"

His gaze comes back up, hands still laced with mine. His already enormous eyes are wider, surprise and glee written all over his face.

And I take this moment to finally say it.

"I...like you too."

Finally, the smile is back.

"Hyuka."

"Taehyun."

He hugs me once again. "Thank you so much!"

And what about me?

My heart explodes.