Chapter Text
The beach is a long ride from here. We've been stuck at the back of this van for more than two hours, yet our friends don't seem to get tired of wildly jamming to whatever 2000s song is on the radio. This could have been fun if only the speakers reached this portion of the car.
I glance at you tucking your shoulder length hair behind your ears, fixing that signature cap you wear backwards. Our eyes meet and we smile at the sight of our friends doing the singing for us. I broke our eye contact and resumed staring at outside the window, the expressway fading in a blur at the speed we're running. Of course, I had to break the eye contact.
It has been two weeks since our graduation. We specifically planned to go out on a trip after the because, as the old ones say, accidents happen if you try to have fun before graduation.
Actually, I'm nervous for this trip, not because of any possible accident but because this may be the last time we get together like this. You and me, specifically.
I could have dreaded our graduation day, when we took photos in front of the university statue and quietly brushed our fingers when everyone was looking at the program on stage. I could have dreaded that day, if not only for this trip.
It took a few more hours before we get to our destination. I can smell the beach from our accommodation, a humble house rented from AirBNB with two rooms fitting for the seven of us.
Of course, we get to be roommates like the usual. Nobody has ever questioned that since we started getting close and sharing dorms since sophomore year. We took the smaller room fit for three people and set our bags on the floor.
Nothing much has happened in the afternoon as everyone took a nap, exhausted from the long trip since early morning. Like muscle memory, we lied down side by side in this double bed, shoulders glued to each other and foreheads almost touching.
"Sungjin hyung, you think this shirt would go well with my pants?" I ask you as I hold two pieces of clothing against my body. We are getting ready to go out for the night as a whole group.
You pause rummaging your duffle bag to look at me. After a minute of looking me up and down, you nod. "Uh huh, floral looks nice on you."
I beam at you. "What are you wearing?"
"I have this blue polo with me." You pull out a navy polo and a black tank top.
"Why do I feel like you've also worn that last year?" I chuckle. "When you dragged me to go hiking."
""Cause I did," you smile. "This is actually my new favorite shirt."
We change clothes silently except for the rusting of fabric and some light clanging of products on the vanity. I peek at you tying your hair into a man bun, your arms peeking behind the polo and over the tank top. I wonder why you don't wear sleeveless tops as is. It would definitely fit you.
This place is known for its rave parties at night, and I finally get why as we enter this pop up bar by the beach. Instantly, banging music hit our ears the second we enter. We immediately dance to the beat as we step closer to a vacant table by the corner. Thank god there's still one tonight.
One of our friends treat us to our first round of drinks. He says it's for his birthday which was the day before our graduation. We cheer loudly and continue dancing to as three towers of mixed cocktails arrive at our table.
I look at you and see you slightly swaying to the music, eyes scanning the whole place packed with drunk partygoers.
"Hey, are you okay?" I almost shout close to your ear amid the loud music. "Are you not comfortable here"
"No, I'm just warming up." You shout back at my ear and we laugh. "Teach a newbie here how to properly enjoy all this." You form circles with your finger, pointing at the whole scene.
"I'm not the expert you think I am, though."
"Don't you always go to bars?"
"No?" I look at you, lips curling up at your impression of me. "Just sometimes!"
"You mean every week?" You laugh against my ear and I shiver.
"I thought you knew me all these years." I lightly punch you on the chest. "Come on, I'll show you."
I drag you to the dance floor before you can answer. We squeeze between the crowd, our bodies a few inches away as we jump to the music.
"Loosen up," I shout at your ear. "Nobody will see you."
"But you will."
"I think you dance well."
With that, you start shaking your hips to the beat. Or should I say, to your own beat. We laugh at each other and continue moving. Everything else is a blur except for us.
Suddenly, someone bumps me behind my back and I fall forward. I hold on to your shoulders and look back. A tipsy guy slurred an apology before going back to his business.
"Younghyun-ah," you call out. "Do you wanna get out of here?" You breath against my ear send shivers down my stomach. Every time.
I nod and it's your turn to drag me out of the crowd.
We settle on the bar and order shots. You put your hand on my thigh as you gulp down the strong alcohol. The sounds you make tell me the drink's too bitter even for your taste. I gulp down and make a face.
You lean towards me. "I didn't know you could dance like that." You motion your head towards the dance floor.
"You would if you joined me when I go."
"Nah, it's better when I'm surprised like this."
"Surprised?" I chuckle. "That big of a discovery, huh?"
You laugh. "I'm surprised nobody has hit you up tonight."
"Better if no one does." I gulp another shot, at least half of it.
"Loosen up tonight, will you?" You smile at me.
Just now, I noticed how intense your eyes look tonight. Probably becuase there are a ton of light you could reflect.
I roll my eyes dramatically. "You go loosen up," I poke you.
You take down another shot. "Fine, don't scold me if black out tonight."
"Oh I bet you won't," I lean more towards you as the alcohol starts kicking in. "You're too stiff for your own good."
You suddenly squeeze my thigh, fingers burying against my pants. I curse at the surprise.
"Not as stiff as you," you raise one eyebrow, mischief glinting in your eyes. "Don't challenge me, Younghyun-ah. The alcohol's getting to work." You slap my thigh hard enough for me to slap your back on the shoulder.
We laugh louder as the music gets hazy in the background. Suddenly, a girl in a beach dress taps your back. She sits on the other side of you.
You pull out your hand and shift your whole body to face her. Not long enough, you are leaning towards her almost as close as you did to me. I look away and gulp down another shot.
Minutes later, someone taps my shoulder. I look up and see a bulky man smiling down at me. He sits beside me and orders a drink.
"Can I get you something too?" He whispers close to my ear. "I think a cocktail would suit a pretty guy like you." He grins and I smirk.
"Sure, get me whatever looks perfect for me, gentleman." This is such a familiar scene when I go to bars. Playing along for fun amuses me.
We exchange jokes over drinks and we get a bit touchy as the alcohol reaches our heads. He pulls me to the dance floor as we finish our glasses. I glance a split second to Sungjin-hyung to see if he notices. He does not.
As we get to our spot, he positions my back against his chest. I realize he's a few inches taller than me.
He doesn't let go of my waist as we move with the music. He whispers something I couldn't make out but I laugh back at him. He gets closer slowly and moves his hands to my stomach, close enough to that dangerous zone. If I weren't as wasted, I would have minded. But I'm enjoying that feel of skin against my body.
We go on like this for the next few songs, him getting comfortably close whenever he talks to my ear. Sometimes, I feel him brushing his lips against my ear. I hold on to his arm as I get more drunk on the vibe. I close my eyes to savor the touch.
A hand suddenly grabbing my arm wakes up. It pulls me tightly and hurriedly away from the dancing crowd, past the bar and the tables and towards the exit.
I glare at you and yank my arm away. "Hyung, what the fuck?!"