RED ROOM

yoo kihyun . twenty-four . sous chef . freelance photographer .

[247kihyun]

before the night ends

[247kihyun]

247hana‌:

( ... )

Kihyun made her cry three times. One, when he teased her about the minuscule mole on her left cheek. He told her that it will slowly become enormous, enough to cover her whole face. Two, when they were riding a bicycle. She was at the back when they fell down on the ground after a sharp turn, leaving her with gashes on her palms and knees. Three, when they said farewell to each other. A sudden decision from her mother to move away from their old home, the beginning of their unbreakable bond to wither.

Perhaps there was a fourth. When she saw him in the same academic institution, Hana wanted to run towards him to catch up over the years of absence. However, he had already made a pack of his own, abandoning her all alone until she found others who managed to force themselves inside her fortress made of ice. She could have easily melted a door for Kihyun to enter, but it never happened.

Perhaps there was a fifth. It was their graduation day. Besmirched with the lack of a parent to capture a photo with Hana holding her high school diploma, it was their last chance to greet each other, even with a simple hello. But there was still radio silence from his side (or was it from her?). Instead, it was his mother who congratulated her with flowers, even went as far to offer their home for her to stay in while she attend a university. It might have been the chance to reignite the friendship they have lost over the years, but she has plans where a modest yet so irresistible proposal was not enough to impede her from boarding the plane.

Hana immediately halted her train of reverie, despising Gossip Girl to make her melancholic with nostalgia. As she went out of the bathroom, determined to reach her bed and shun his presence, she stopped on her tracks when he spoke her name and made her chest hurt more than ever. Of course, I remember you. I never forgot you. Those words were what she wanted to utter, but they never came out. She was stubborn, always have been, filled with pride to accept defeat over this war of silence they have started. Overwhelmed with her nerves, she started fidgeting her fingers, a quirk she has ever since she was younger. Realizing that perhaps Kihyun still knew about it, she stopped and turned her attention towards him, keeping her facade stoic and barren from expression, a contrast to the countenance of her former best friend was emanating. “What do you want?” she coldly replied.

out of all the lessons he learned in the army, there is one that stood out the most at this moment: it’s never you, but us. once he was grouped up, he was no longer one person, but a whole team. there was no more “i” and every good and bad situation had to be dealt together. knowing this angered him because hana was his team. even if they had to be separated for a while, it never meant they stopped being one. he never forgot her. and those moments where he’d notice her walking through the halls alone, he let his own emotions take over and follow someone else rather than catch up with her. as much as he wants to blame this all on her, his subconscious just won’t let him. because it knows it’s wrong. if anything, he is to blame as well- probably even more.

he won’t let her go this time. even if they couldn’t be the team they used to be, he didn’t want words left unsaid. neither of them deserve that. not after all they have been through.

her cold words run a shiver down his spine. he wasn’t sure what he was expecting, but somehow this never crossed his mind. if she was mad, upset, he understands. he feels it all as well. just that... he wishes things didn’t change the way they did. his mouth opens but nothing comes out. he just looks at her, the little girl he used to know all grown up. looking the same but looking like a stranger at the same time. ‘what do you want?’ it replays in his head. 

i want us to be friends again. 

kihyun runs his hand through his hair, his hand shakes throughout as nervousness begins to kick in by her stare. “i want to talk, about everything.” his hand motions through the air, stepping a bit closer- wanting to have more of a connection before she decides to go away. “from the moment you left till now... i want both of us to understand how this- us... what happened to us?”

[247jiyong]

— Brink Of Disaster

[247kihyun]

247jiyong‌:

There isn’t much philosophy to partying and he never tried to assign any complex ideology to something so trivial but terribly enjoyable. Before high school he wasn’t half as gregarious, and oddly enough, back then he didn’t really see a point in extending his group of scarce acquaintances. When he stepped into this lofty environment where everyone was straining to make a name for themselves, not caring whether the hearsays surrounding them would be uplifting praises or icky disdains, the foregoing lone wolf changed into a social butterfly. Somewhere along the line he was almost like Kihyun. Reserved, blundering, uncertain of what was the right thing to do. But during his first actual party that for once wasn’t a stiff family gathering, settling into the new reality came strangely effortlessly for him. Perhaps due to the indispensable alcohol, which his timid companion will warm up to more and more, hopefully.

He wasn’t always accustomed to having his personal space invaded, but currently he barely feels people’s heated bodies brushing against his as they pierce through the swelling crowd to reach their destinations in different nooks of the cavernous house. His eyes unceasingly bore into the younger and he doesn’t fail to notice the boy keeps his cool at least outwardly in the situation that probably isn’t the most convenient for him. Yet a quite vile notion suddenly crosses his mind — Kihyun must be more or less familiar with others accidentally bumping into him as if nobody’s standing there. At that thought Jiyong instantly nibbles his bottom lip gently in order to stop the sneer from crawling onto his lips.

Eventually he breaks into a smug smile, but at the sight of Kihyun smoothly emptying his glass, then he emits a low snort at the abashment caused by his jocular comment. And he isn’t going to delve into that now, though his gaze also wanders towards the nearest bathroom. Off the top of his head Jiyong could enumerate several times he was in the identical scenario and who knows how many of them faded into oblivion. Teenagers with raging hormones and gallons of liquor within reach is not a good combination. It makes him ponder if tipsier Kihyun will abandon his morals and values. The night will show and he just cannot wait to sit back and watch what this poor thing is capable of.

His unsurprising claim elicits a little chortle from Jiyong. “As they say, Rome wasn’t built in a day,” adopting a reassuring tone, he pensively hums at his question whilst he scans the beverages they can try next. “Stepping out of my comfort zone helped me a lot.” His eyebrow curved up a tad when he spared Kihyun a quick glance; the imitation of a cordial beam still lingers on his face. “But don’t rush, you’re already doing well,” he bluffs without twitching before laying his hand on a bottle of sweetened rum. “It’s a bit stronger. We can leave it for later if you want.” In truth, Jiyong is getting impatient.

thinking of jiyong ever feeling out of place in scenarios like this fuck up his mind. to perceive that guy as someone other than himself seemed like a humorless bit from life. it was easier to believe he was born that way. lavished in parties and attention. in confidence and money. even he knows well enough that seeing jiyong as high and mighty is stupid and childish. he was never one to idolize anyone, but the pain in his heart just yearns for something different. a different path in life. a path that will make him known, especially in the eyes of yoori. it’s pathetic to change himself for the sake of someone, but she isn’t just someone. she is one of a kind and the person who treats him like he matters. he just wants to matter in a different way; someone she is afraid to lose. irreplaceable. just how she is to him.

he hears cheers from behind. clinks of glasses and a few groans from people, probably making the noise from the burning sensation in their throat. if he wanted to be anything but himself, if he truly believes in jiyong’s words, it is his turn to get out of his comfort zone.  he looks at the bottle. he feels like a child as the other spoke. complimenting him for something so small. “no, let’s do this now.” as if something in him woke up, he truly wanted something different. it’s been long enough where he stayed in the safe side of it all. “i think we could even try something stronger than that. i mean, i’m not against it.” as much as he goes back on his words at times, he is so sure at the moment. so forward with his decision it actually scares him. 

he extends his cup towards the bottle, wanting to try that one out first before going into something else. maybe it could help him get tipsy and enjoy himself a little more and forget why he was even here in the first place. he could possibly forget his troubles and maybe find the confidence to chat someone up in the party. luckily for him, this party doesn’t contain many people like him. people here do not know of him and vice-versa and he loves it. this could be something new, he thinks. maybe all the worrying is for naught and the outcome of this situation will be even better. “i think i’m going to give this whole thing a shot.” he muses to himself, yet looks a jiyong for some form of approval. despite his newly found courage, this is still unknown territory and jiyong is his only guide. the only one he trusts.

[247kihyun]

Lynne Luna ‘KING’ 1st Mini Album Concept Photos

Track-list:

01. KING 02. Kingdom of Doom 03. To the Moon 04. KING (inst.)

@247kjisoo

[minseok247]

350 Degrees - Minseok and Kihyun

[247kihyun]

minseok247‌:

He had been in the talks for weeks to be a contestant on this Cake Challenge. something akin to Iron Chef but the focused was on baked goods instead of full course meals. In the past he didn’t have  the time for it, with him running  bakery, doing music, and theatre he could only strecth himself so far. Since 2 out of the 3 were on hold at the moment he had to real excuse to say no. He had filmed his promo material weeks ago and when word got out about the trip to Yuseo the company took advantage of it. Somehow they had a connection to the place and decided to do some filming there. Minseok could knock that self-promotion. He was asked to pick a partner which he had a feeling the stakes would be higher. His options weren’t that wide to pick from Seokjin was a sure bet but he mostly was doing his own thing. Kihyun was someone he had heard through word of mouth that he was a very capable chef and he worked at Gosang. The young man was well aware he could lose but that was beyond the point. “Contestants you have to 90 minutes to make a 3-layer and a dozen cupcakes. You’ll be given 15 minutes to plan.” the announcer spoke into the mic, “As for the theme… .” her voice trailed off as she pulled the giant cover revealing a table full of tropical fruits, boxes of chocolate, and some cheat items like canned milk.”Tropical Paradise!!!” Minseok had to fight to roll his eyes but seeing what was offered did give him some ideas as to what flavors to pick that would fit the theme. “You’re 15 minute to plan begin now!” “We should bake the cake 1st then the cupcakes. As far as flavors I’m thinking coconut and chocolate…maybe orange. What about you?” He spoke at a quick pace to save time and allow them to bounce ideas of each other before coming to an agreement. Guess Minseok wanted to win afterall…

kihyun covers his mouth as he yawns, regretting staying up late watching baking shows the night before the competition. he had dabbled a bit with baking a few times; baking chocolate chip cookies and a simple vanilla cake, but nothing more than that. it isn’t that it never interested him, but he was more invested in cooking and getting a job at gosang, somewhere prestigious and payed well. after meeting minseok however, he regrets not learning more about baking in the past. the invitation came sudden. he had no idea there was going to be a competition at the hotel and he couldn’t reject someone who deemed him worthy to be a baking assistant. he could have invited kihyun’s boss but he didn’t. what also made him nervous was being recorded.

he walks into a room with a couple of people walking around, some setting up cameras and lighting. kihyun had never been recorded for anything. as the man behind the lens for years, being in front of it is forever daunting. he looks around for minseok, his eyes landing on a male already behind the counter. he takes a moment for himself, takes a deep breath, then heads towards the other. he greets him, but it wasn’t long until everyone starts scurrying out of the set as they all hear the producer scream to start.

he doesn’t know where to look. the cameras where rolling, the host began to talk, and minseok... well, minseok looks ready. 3 layers? dozen cupcakes? as kihyun smiles, he panics inside. is that really possible in 90 minutes? at times it took an hour for kihyun to just bake a single one, but now 3? luckily he has minseok, who to kihyun, is the best baker in seoul. as the announcer starts the timer, he quickly looks for aid from minseok, and the other was way ahead of him. “yeah,” he nods his head, letting the pressure of the cameras and lack of experience get the best of him. “coconut sounds good.” he quickly responds and moves towards the fridge to look for a coconut...? minseok couldn’t have picked a better assistant.

[247kihyun]

inside the KINGdom

@247kjisoo

kihyun rests in his car in the parking lot, looking up at the building before him. if he had known that he was going to be working in the aomg building, it’s possible he would have rejected the offer. or maybe not. shooting for an upcoming artist in such a popular agency is only a greater boost in his photography career. as much as kihyun loves cooking, photography ends up taking the number one spot in the end. the consideration stems from the fact that it’s a building owned by someone he dislikes and a second encounter is least ideal for his day. kihyun takes a deep breath. his charm and his curse is being a man of his word, so he gathers his smaller equipment from the car (fortunate for him, they provide the larger equipment), and walks towards the entrance of the building. no matter how desperate he wants to leave, he could not leave the artist waiting.

the front desk directs him towards the 6th floor. the elevator door rings and kihyun makes his way through the halls, his eyes shifting around the different rooms, hoping not to see him or someone remotely like him. it’s a grudge that’ll never disappear. the photoshoot room is spacious. the extra hands were finishing up setting up the lights and the backdrop, and they greet him as their eyes meet. “she’ll be here in a bit.” they inform him, and with a nod, kihyun sets his things on the free table. there isn’t a lot that he knows about idols these days, so despite the constant look over his shoulders, he’s pretty excited to meet someone famous- famous-to-be. he sets up his camera and stand in front of the formed set and looks at the door anxiously. kihyun doesn’t know how anything in this situations work, but if he walked in along with the artist, he is sure to walk out at an instant.

[247kihyun]

“ they’re totally checking you out right now. “

past and present responses below.

past .

kihyun is never to be seen without a camera in his hands and it’s difficult to grab his attention once he’s completely in a trance with it. but once he hears her voice after moments of silence, he looks up at her, then to the direction of where she’s looking at. he sees a group of girls talking among themselves, never looking back at him- unless they never were.

“don’t play around like that.” he scolds her, looking down at his camera once again, his head lowering for getting some part of his hopes up. he didn’t even know why he did so in the first place. “you could’ve just said my name if you wanted my attention. it’s not that hard…” if it’s you. he thinks to himself. nothing about him is difficult if it’s yoori. just a tap or even if she tried masking her voice, he’d know its her and he’d immediately search for her.

she has his everything at the palm of her hands without even realizing it. 

present .

kihyun lifts his gaze from his phone and looks towards one of the girls sitting a few tables over. their eyes meet for a moment before she looks away with a shy smile. he couldn’t help but smile either, but it falters the moment he looks back towards yoori who sits in front of him.

the girl was obviously cute, but kihyun worked differently than his other friends. when he likes someone, he really likes them- so after things not working out with octavia, he didn’t feel exactly ready to jump to someone else. plus, he didn’t want yoori to see him interested in someone. saying something is one thing, but showing interest is another. it felt wrong and he doesn’t understand why. he’s clearly (indirectly) told her he’s moved on, so why couldn’t he be honest?

“she’s not my type.” he comments nonchalantly, looking back down at his phone, searching for the article he’s been wanting to show her for a while.

[247kihyun]

“ is this a gift for me? “ (gonna request a drabble instead about little kihyun and hana because we need some cute shit around here uwu)

kihyun quickly stuffs his chubby hands into his pocket and shrugs his shoulders at her question, avoiding hana’s gaze. again, they were together at kihyun’s place awaiting for their mothers to come home, and kihyun thought it was the perfect moment to gift her a little rectangular box. what he didn’t know was how shy he could become in front of someone that had seen him wearing only underwear (it was an accident). 

“open it.” he tells her, watching as the lid lifts up and reveals a pink crystal bracelet he had bought not long for her. “i saw it when i was at the market with my mom… i just thought it’d look pretty o-on you.” he shrugs again, looking at her eyes for a quick moment before looking back down at his feet that shifted from side to side.

“no- i mean you said you were scared of going to the doctor, so just wear the bracelet and you won’t be because i’ll be there with you.” still avoiding her gaze, he sits besides her before his knees gave out of nervousness and took the bracelet from the box. “gimme your hand.” he stretches the elastic just enough for it to slip right onto her wrist. 

“do-do you like it?” there was so much more he wanted to say to her. to thank her for not pushing him away like the others. for understanding him and for being his only true friend. but as he looked up at her smile, he knew she understood and he smiled back at her too.

[princessbusybody]

Don’t cross the line

[247kihyun]

247yoori‌:

@247kihyun

Long legs carried the tall woman past those who only gawked at how a bowl cut could look so chic on someone, as she kept her eyes in front of her despite the stares and hoping to god she didn’t run into anyone she knew. Glancing up at the giant scoreboard telling her which terminal was for the plane departing for Yeosu before pulling her luggage along the hallway as he heels clicked against the tile flooring of the airport. Yoori had already been on these GG funded trips and she knew better than to decline or expect anything than the worse. “Oh sorry.” Yoori apologized to the person she seemed to bump into someone as she making her way to her seat as she glance over at the person beside her before pulling down her sunglasses. “Kihyun-ah.” She said his name like it was a hard pill to swallow, probably because he was. 

Wasting no time, she sat down beside him and adjusted her carry on so it laid on her lap as some sort of protection against her heart beating rapidly as it always did when she felt guilty about something, and Kihyun was the epitome of all that guilt combined. “You were invited too..of course.” Gossip Girl had done him dirty in the past as well and it was no shock to her that he was there, just that he was there at the same time she was. “I wonder what tricks Gossip Girl has up their sleeve this time,” she noted in a chipper voice, how funny it was that anyone within their years of high school would see this as a casual conversation, almost like talking about the weather. “I presume it’s because the deadlock has been well…dead, they need something to spice things up.” Nodding she glanced at Kihyun, she hadn’t seen him since their last meet-up which ended mutually, it was still awkward between them for reasons she wasn’t sure of since things ended semi-ambicially between them. “With you here, it almost feels like a school trip.” Like the ones they had before where the group of them would eat snacks and joke on the bus, she would always sit by the boy who let her sleep on his shoulder. “You gonna let me sleep on your shoulder again?” She joked before remembering his old crush on her and quieting again, maybe he was over her and she didn’t need to tip-toe around his feelings. But she wasn’t going to take that chance. 

it is common for him to travel on his own. not taking into account of his past, he’s always found himself alone whether by choice or by chance, most of the time he’s traveling alone with camera in hand. it’s always on him as a trusty companion. he pulls his luggage as the lines begin to move. it’s early in the morning, so his waiting time isn’t as severe. he looks down at his phone, avoiding any eyes that might recognize him. the last thing he wants is to encounter someone from cheongnam at such early hours- he’s not really in the mood to sour this relaxing trip into hell. pushing his earbuds in, he shuts out the noise around him and makes his way towards the terminal.

he finds his seat with ease, pushing his carry-on under him before relaxing his body on the seat. sadly he wasn’t by the window, but for the moment he looks out, taking his phone out to snap a quick picture. his phone shakes as it encountered someone making their way to their seat, leaving a blurry photo of the outside in his screen. he opens his mouth to apologize, but the moment his name comes out of her voice, he looks up at her with a gentle smile. “hey.” he leans away from her seat, a bit farther than needed because in such a small area, she’s going to need the space. or maybe he needs it too. “that’s probably it. i thought of not coming, but i’ve grown a morbid interest in all of this.” he leans back into his seat, easing into the imaginary comfort he’s trying to portray right now. kihyun’s always been on his toes around her, not wanting to be obvious of his feelings and always wanting to be there for her, and not wanting to say the wrong things. he’s always wanted to be her knight in shinning armor, but his armor was dull and courage was nowhere to be found.

He snorts, unable to hold it back. thinking back, there were some good memories between the gents and ladies. little food fights with potato chips and gummy bears and sharing music with the girl who rested on his shoulder after a long day together. “if you’re going to continue drooling on me, i’ll pass.” he takes a playful jab at her, masking everything else her statement made him feel. a rapid pulse, sweaty palms, a dozen memories barging in. he’s been meaning to tell her that it was all in the past. that he did have some feelings, but it was all puppy love. yet telling her this is almost impossible. he doesn’t know why he’s holding back. “i’m kidding, but i have been seeing someone...” close enough. “... i don’t think it would look good on my part if i did.” he says, a smile barely visible.

[247kihyun]

RE:#180701

deadlock (before confrontation) // 2018 . fitness club . mvl hotel . yeosu . 09:00 am

his steps are heavy as his breath from the current speed he’s going on the treadmill. as if he’s running away from something, these days he feels restless and somehow his usual speed just wasn’t enough.

it took a interruption from his music lowering for him to pay attention to his body screaming for him to stop. he presses the down facing arrow on the control pad and lets his feet slow down as the machine. there were more people now compared to four hours ago and it’s his cue to leave. if it were at his local gym, he wouldn’t have minded, but kihyun couldn’t help but feel disturbed at the hotel. the only reason he is here is because he couldn’t be in the room-- more-so he could, but neither of them wanted to be there at the same time.

he takes his phone out from his pocket and sees a notification he dreads appear on his screen along with a few texts from friends. he hesitates to click it, he even thought of simply ignoring it, but the preview text he can see his nickname and it picks on his morbid curiosity. quasimodo, how long had it been since he last heard that? it’s silly, he now thinks, how such a childish name affected him extremely to the point of almost ruining his own life.

his eyes follow each word down the the period of gossip girl’s blast. so it is because of you. kihyun couldn’t help but scoff in disbelief, or maybe irritation by the fact that her little game with him is far from ending. digging up the past is a step he didn’t think gossip girl would do, but for the sake of gossip, why is he so surprised?

but why is this so important? life goes on and sometimes friendships end... but do they have to? the more kihyun thinks about it the more he begins to miss it.

to miss her.

[247kihyun]

light up the night

[247kihyun]

247hyo:

People might not know it, but Hyojong likes those things. Walking by the beach, like a cliche, he loves flowers, he likes small animals and colorful things. He enjoys sweets and talking about music or funny stories. Kihyun knows that to some extent, or else he’d always say no. 

He also likes being photographed, and he stopped being shy under Kihyun’s lenses a while ago, even though some of the pictures can still capture Hyo’s bashful smile that doesn’t show up very often. Kihyun has a good eye and Hyojong feels handsome when he looks at the pictures his friend takes of him, he looks more polished and put together than he is in real life. 

“Never thought you’d be such a great shell holder, hyung.” Hyo nudges kihyun’s shoulder with his own, kicking some send to try and find more pretty shells. “I don’t even know what to do with them, but they are pretty.” 

he stumbles slightly, maybe more exaggerated because somehow it just works between them. hyojong doing something and kihyun reacting in some dramatic way. but it is all justifiable because some of the things the other comes up with are sometimes too extreme for kihyun. still, he follows through at times, just like times like these- even if he doesn’t get the end of the stick at times. kihyun just wants what is best for hyojong and if going out with him at the beach, being the shell holder is something that could get his mind off things, he will gladly lose his shorts and use them as a bag for the more shells the other will find.

“ha-ha, very funny.” he rolls his eyes, looking down at the ground himself in hopes of finding something hyojong will like. “we could probably put them somewhere and pick out the best ones. we can’t keep them all.” he adds, kicking some sand as well and pointing at one in front of him for hyojong to pick up. “we should do it fast since it’s going to be night soon.”

[247jung-deactivated20230820]

STUCK

[247kihyun]

247jung:

timeline: 9th july 2018, monday, 9:08 a.m. location: the hotel’s elevator. mood: distracted… attire: see this post.

@247kihyun

It had been one weird morning for Jung. He woke up with a massive hangover after drinking all night with Tae - Which by the way, he couldn’t remember much of the evening and their private party… He knew he had fun, maybe too much fun… And got waaay too drunk, that caused his head to feel like it’s splitting in half. 

Still, an early riser, he woke up before the sun was up. He didn’t see Tae in the room so he decided he’d head out to get some coffee and breakfast right after showering. He was about to ride the elevator when he realized he’d forgotten his wallet and cellphone in the room. He went back but found out he couldn’t get in because he also forgot his key card… He had to go to the front desk to get another key to open his door. It was a hassle and made his head throbbed even more but he was glad when the ordeal was finally over. 

Jung started over again, this time with a more positive attitude, standing in front of the elevator and already planning the day. Maybe he’d ask Tae to go sight-seeing. Weren’t there popular tourist spots in the area? That’s a good idea, he thought to himself as the door to the lift slid open. 

He stepped inside, nodding at the person already inside. He took the other side and hit the button for his floor. Releasing a sigh, he leaned on one side of the car and waited for the elevator to move. They’ve gone a couple of floors when suddenly, the lift jolted, lights above flickered, and a screeching sound followed before the car stopped. He felt the cable tugging the elevator from above that his body jumped a bit from the force. The lights flickered once more before they finally died. 

In the dark, Jung gripped the side handles, his voice firm and controlled, he spoke, “Hey, are you okay?” Pertaining to the other person in the elevator…

again he awakes in an empty room. on his bedside table, there are a few sea shells given by hyojong from the other night. it had been a while since he saw his friend so relaxed and without needing to escape from anyone or anywhere. they were finally settled in once place, talking about whatever came to mind. kihyun shot himself up from the bed and into the bathroom. he had been so tired yesterday that he forgot to wash up. it’s a rare occurrence, but somehow he did not mind. 

he had no plans for the day, so with camera in hand, he decided to spend the day working on his photography. mvl is such a beautiful place, but so is yeosu as a whole, and it would be a shame to not capture the beauty while he’s here. he takes his time packing what he needs for a day out exploring and flings his messenger bag across his chest before heading out of his room.

he enters the elevator when it arrives and he looks down at his phone as he searches for places to visit. the elevator dings suddenly and he looks up, nodding back at the person stepping in before looking back down. he wonders if it’s someone from cheongnam or simply someone here for a vacation. he doesn’t linger on it after that. the sudden jolt of the lift caused panic in kihyun, holding onto the rails and forgetting he had his phone in his hand. it slammed on the floor right when the elevator came to a full stop and lights flickered.

his quivering knees struggle to kneel down, somehow believing any small move could affect their position. he drops down, reaching around for his phone and turning on the flashlight. “y-yeah... i’m okay.” he stutters, still in shock. “what the hell just happen?” he slowly stands up, gripping the rails with one hand and his phone on the other. kihyun shines the light below the other’s face not wanting to blind him, but just to see the other person better and not leave him in the dark.

“are any of the emergency buttons working?” he motions towards the panel on the male’s side, his feet cemented where he stood. 

[247kihyun]

déjà vu

[247kihyun]

247jiyong:

Reminiscing wasn’t Jiyong’s favourite pastime, but once in a while he would catch himself going down the memory lane, which was extremely bumpy. When he still was the imprudent teen whose main priority was living it up to the max before he would fully step into the not too anticipated stage of adulthood, he could tell that in the future he would pray for those gone days to come back. But after going through some less meritorious events and causing damage that must’ve burned unerasable memoirs on the sufferers’ minds, he wished to leave past in the past instead of reliving it.

He had changed. Somehow. Not necessarily for better, he would admit secretly but never aloud. He had calmed down to a degree. Yet just recently. It wasn’t really due to his own volition. Managing a business like a record label required not only his time and passion but also utmost concentration, which he wouldn’t be able to rack up whilst continuously switching between intoxication and hangover. That didn’t mean he started abstaining from consuming excessive amounts of alcohol, though. From a certain standpoint, it seemed he didn’t stop having it all — the money, the success, the social life. The personal burdens he kept in the closet were making him blind to what he had, and his concealed miseries were everything he could focus on. But he would sooner bite the dust than let it show publicly.

Although they were haunting Jiyong even now as he was heading to the hopefully boisterous gathering held in one of the rooms in the hotel, a habitual smile was plastered onto his lips like a distractor. Absently looking around the hallway, where the stifled sounds were getting more and more audible, a masculine silhouette walking in his direction urged a cunning smirk to lay upon his mouth once he was close enough to distinguish the man who drew to an abrupt halt. Could they share the same destination? Hardly. “Look at what the cat dragged in.” Opening his arms, he then folded them in front of his chest and stood inches away from the other. “Kihyunnie, I have missed you,” the evidently false honeyed confession rolled off his tongue overly easily. What he clearly missed was sneering at Kihyun. Suddenly, he was ready to ditch the get-together or drag his old friend in there.

the sight of him is as bitter as the taste of alcohol and the memories he brings are as repulsive as the aftermath scent left on the body. kihyun had long forgotten what it all felt like, but seeing him is a reminder of it all. the dizziness, the tingling throughout the body, and the last moments before a blackout. if it weren’t for his self-control, he wouldn’t need the alcohol to bring out his violent side at him. as much as therapy taught him to forgive everyone, even those who have done him wrong, jiyong is someone he will never forgive. an enabler that had only befriended him for entertainment. that isn’t forgivable because it isn’t what a sane person would do. jiyong is deranged and simply noticing his lax demeanor in front of kihyun is enough to show how emotionless he truly is.

his mind continues to trace all of the anger he’s hidden inside, ready to push itself out right in front of his face. at this moment, kihyun could care less about who is behind the doors of the hallway or if gossip girl is listening in. in his position, all he sees is his worst enemy and the person who scarred his past for a long time til now. “don’t act like a fucking idiot, jiyong. you know what you did to me and i’m not going to act as if nothing happened.” he seethes, stepping closer towards him, towards the music, towards the memory. no matter the aftermath of the past, kihyun is not going to hold back as he did before. he isn’t the person he was and he is no longer under jiyong’s feet. the last thing kihyun wants to be is him and he isn’t afraid anymore to show it.

[247hana]

before the night ends + @247kihyun

i close my eyes, thinking that there is nothing like an embrace after an absence, nothing like fitting my face into the curve of his shoulder and filling my lungs with the scent of him.

[247kihyun]

forget your troubles

@247octavia // 2018 . lobby . mvl hotel . yeosu . 12:00 pm

he was left alone once he and yoori arrived to the hotel. he said his goodbyes as if he wouldn’t see her again, but part of him felt like it was the right thing to say during that moment. something that tied to everything else from his past and kihyun felt a short moment of relief as the elevator doors divided them for one last time. after leaving his things at his room, he sits with his phone in his hands, starring at the screen with octavia’s messages displayed. they had been planning to meet ever since the invitation arrived to everyone in cheongnam. he couldn’t help but feel nervous being around people he had history with (history he wishes to forget) and be with someone he actually likes. he doesn’t want her to tie into his past and he only hopes she doesn’t want to see him anymore if something ever does come out.

[ txt ➟ octavia ] hey i’m here already. you? [ txt ➟ octavia ] i’ll be waiting for you at the lobby.

he could not help but smile as he sent the messages. every little thing he does involving her brings a smile to his face, even if it’s sending a simple good morning text. smitten he is, and he really isn’t afraid to show it. there were many things kihyun regretted and one of them is hiding his true feelings for someone. there were some things that could never be changed, but if he could be different now, then he is going to take that chance. octavia is someone special to him and he isn’t going to let her pass him by without giving it his all.

[247kihyun]

before the night ends

[247kihyun]

247hana:

The cold breeze of a summer night blew past her as she walked down by the beach, leaving footprints at her wake before the ocean comes and take them away, as if she was never there. She was supposed to take a swim, but resorted on appreciating the stillness of the late evening in respect to her long dark tresses that has been exposed to saltwater and chlorine for several days. Her eyes shifted to the colossal building a few yards away from her and wondered. Was he already sleeping? She hoped so. Just a bit more and she can finally escape the entity that has been haunting her in the hotel suite.

The journey back to the room was quicker than expected as she has already familiarized herself with the halls of the hotel. Hana took out the key card from her tote bag and slipped it at the console by the door, emitting melodic beeps from the device as a granted permission to enter. There was a faint light within the confines of the room, which was quite an anomaly as she tends to return to it with nothing but darkness.

She saw his figure at the corner, sitting and fumbling with his camera. Hana never knew that he would be interested on this kind of medium, but perhaps she wasn’t a part of his story anymore, and him to hers as well. Separated into two different paths that used to be one. She averted his gaze before he could cast it on her. The same eyes that used to look back at her with such innocence and trust as she messily applied her mother’s red lipstick all over his soft chubby cheeks.

Hana placed her bag down on the neat white linen-covered king-sized bed that she claimed to be hers on the first day of their vacation. They used to huddle together under an old yet flower-scented comforter, their tiny bodies hugging each other as they fell asleep waiting for their mothers to finish their little soiree. She kicked off her sandy flip-flops from her tired feet. He was the one who taught her how to properly tie the laces of her first set of trainers.

She went towards the bathroom to wash her face, planning to retire for the night, never regarding his presence as she closed the door behind her. Hana used to bother him with adventures just to make him stop crying and forget about his tormentors even just for a moment so he could go home smiling.

What happened to us, Kihyun?

his thoughts obliterate the moment she walks into the room. how could someone so unchanged from the outside feel like a stranger?

kihyun’s eyes follow her, pleading for hers to look back at them because it’s so difficult for him to speak right about now. no matter what his thoughts were, he found it useless because nothing could have prepared him for this. hana was his happiest memory and that memory treats him like a ghost from its past. one that is worth ignoring, not worth a first glance even less a second. before her eyes would immediately look for his even before he ever noticed her in those warm summer days their mother’s decided to get together at the park. they had both missed huge chunk of each other’s lives that he couldn’t imagine why the outcome had to be like this, but was it really worth throwing their friendship away?

he continued to sit there with his camera in his lap as she shuts the door behind her. he says nothing and just listens to the running water at the other side of the room. their small hands used to push one another as they tried to hog up the sink water after a long day of playing outside after being called inside to eat because the fastest had the chance to eat first. kihyun always retreated in the end, claiming to be tired and letting her win. but this is different. he wasn’t going to let her win and let her go on with her life. he wants to know what happened. and if it needs to end this way, why does it have to be? 

when he notices the door opening, he stands up, placing his camera on the bed before looking back at her avoiding gaze. “i just want to let you know now i am not going to let this go, hana.” his throat closes up as her name leaves his lips. he wasn’t sure why it had to be her name, but it took out so much out of him. “so you better look at me right now... and talk to me.” he pleads and his voice strains his last words, desperate for a reaction from her just to show that he isn’t someone she used to know. or even less than that. “i’m finally standing right in front of you... don’t you remember me?”

[247octavia-deactivated20180806]

when the flowers bloom | kihyun & octavia

[247kihyun]

247octavia:

@247kihyun | sometime during january-february/2018

It was always of her nature to be friendly even if people around her proved to be jerks at some point. It was part of her job to be nice and presentable and even in high school, her social status more or less forced her to have a different approach around the other kids in school. She was the pretty kid who lurked people to the parties she planned, brought them to the dark side, whatever one wants to call it.

Her social skills developed over the years and not only that, Octavia knew how to show interest when something (or someone) caught her eye, even if not reciprocated, bashfully flirting never hurt anyone as far as she knows.

Octavia didn’t even notice when she started this. She was at Gosang and she wouldn’t take the place as ideal for an exchange of compliments that went beyond of how good the food tasted. She saw Kihyun some times before but it was the first time she was actually paying attention to the man. Among smiles, chuckles, and words she meant but may or may not have a secret meaning, Octavia was pleasantly entertained by the end of her dinner that the next most obvious step was asking him out to grab a coffee with her sometime.

Octavia was waiting for him in front of their chosen café. The weather was still cold for a beginning of year, there’s snow everywhere still, so she was under a few more layers than she’d like. She always liked the cold over the hot weather but such temperature was just perfect to remain under blankets, but thinking through it, if she didn’t have this date set, she’d probably be working at a time like this, and that prospect wasn’t as pleasing as going out with someone new.

She saw Kihyun arriving and waved at him just in case he didn’t see her. She smiled and went to meet him midway. Once they were close enough to stop in their tracks, Octavia took her time to look at him, “Never thought I’d see you in a different outfit other than your kitchen uniform Kihyun. You’re looking good”.

kihyun’s only reason for wanting to become a chef was sorely because he enjoys it. the flavors, the heat, the fast pace environment: he enjoys every single part of it, even the bad if there is any. what he didn’t know was that being a chef had more perks than simply doing what he loves. women in particular take glimpses at him ever so often. he sees their cameras up to cover their faces, taking a picture whenever he’s not looking. he’s given hints of interest or just flat out confessions that he quickly refuses and he doesn’t know why. all these opportunities to give himself a chance for love escape his grasps just because of a reason unknown (or maybe he does know. he’s afraid to admit it). so one day, he gave himself a chance. 

he wasn’t expecting something to happen despite giving himself permission to explore other people. thinking it was different from executing it, so when octavia asked him out one night, he looked dumbfounded and surprised that someone like her wasn’t just feigning interest but was actually interested. kihyun wasn’t new in dating or relationships, but his view on himself wasn’t the best and someone as beautiful as her showing interest in him has got to have some screws loose. of course he doesn’t admit this and agrees to her request with a cheeky smile.

he couldn’t remember the last time he freaked out like this. everything in his closet suddenly doesn’t fit the image that he wants and he wasn’t even sure if he has been dreaming this whole time and now he’s going to a cafe to only end up alone. kihyun took a deep breath, taking a beige blazer over his black dress shirt and jeans. whenever in doubt, wear black. when arriving, his eyes immediately direct towards octavia’s waving hand and a smile appears just as quickly as hers does. she looks amazing. adorable even. the blush from the cold on her cheeks were bright over her fair skin and kihyun found the restrain from pinching them. compared to her, kihyun was not dressed for the occasion because fretful kihyun only thought of looking good rather than feeling good.

he looks down with a sheepish smile when she compliments him. it felt a little too good. “ahaha, thank you. you look...” he takes his own time to look at her as if he didn’t notice in when he arrived. “... amazing.” he says, almost breathless. octavia was a beauty unlike any other and he still can’t grasp, why him? “let’s go inside.” he suggests, stepping in front of her and opening the door. once inside, he looks towards the cashier and the huge menu above them. “you know, i instantly liked you the moment you mentioned this place,” he takes the initiative and nonchalantly speaks up as they decide on what to order. “this is one of the few cafe’s i approve of.”

[247kihyun]

light up the night

@247hyo // 2018 . near the shore . yeosu . 7:53 pm

“you told me we weren’t going to pick up so many.” kihyun groans as he walks with his hands on the band of his shorts, trying to keep them from falling down from the weight of the sea shells given to him by hyojong every minute he sees a decent looking one. these types of activities never cross his mind along with the majority of activities done with hyojong. he’s always the mastermind of it all and kihyun could decide to play either the henchman or his mediator; he decided it wouldn’t hurt to go along with his plan. it’s a vacation, it should be enjoyed even if it was planned by gossip girl and nothing good could come out from that. “i should have bought that bucket...” he mumbles to himself, watching hyojong and seeing such a great shot during the beauty of the golden hour. 

“hold on.” he removes one hand from his shorts and takes out his phone. ideally he would prefer his camera, but he didn’t have it on him and it would be impossible to do it without the chance of his shorts slipping down. he just had to get a shot. he let his finger sit on the button for a second and captured multiple shots of hyojong moving. his silhouette alone was captivating and the glistening water only enhanced the whole mood. of course these are the things kihyun would not admit out loud. it somehow became his role to act tolerant towards hyojong while in reality he does not mind him, no matter what odd ideas he comes up with. “should we head back? at least to put these somewhere other than my pockets?”