hyojin has never been a paranoid person, but he swears the kid from smoke & mirrors consistently stares at him whenever they’re in the same room. it hasn’t been just once, nor twice, but AT LEAST ten times where he’s caught the other looking at him (and in turn, himself looking at the other). sure, he could be a fan of ekko or even ekko.ism, but hyojin’s pretty sure the guy’s glaring and yeah–definitely not a fan.
confusion floods him as he tries to figure out if it’s even him the other’s glaring at. almost nobody is in the dressing room aside from a few stylists who are too busy with their phones to pay attention to them, so it’d be stupid of him to think otherwise. anyhow, it’s been months of hyojin and miles (if he’s remembering correctly as they’ve never been formally introduced) exchanging glances. or rather, miles glaring and hyojin staring back trying to figure out what the other is playing at. either way, hyojin’s been desperate to talk to the other. usually he wouldn’t give a shit, but miles seems nice and hyojin’s a small fan of smoke & mirrors so the whole ordeal just … doesn’t sit right with him.
he decides to go for it before the window is missed.
“hey,” he calls, ensuring he has miles’ attention before crossing the room, “miles, right?” a grin tugs at his lips as he gives a slight bow to the other in greeting, noting that he’s far more handsome and (annoyingly) buff in person. “i’m park hyojin, or ekko–whichever. i’ve seen you around a lot and i figured i might as well introduce myself?” as he speaks, hyojin unknowingly continues to lean into the other’s space, not used to talking to people he isn’t already comfortable with. “you’re born in ‘94 too, right?”
it’s probably the most basic introduction he could have given, but sue him, he’s testing the waters. he’s just hoping miles responds in a kindly manner and sates his months-long curiosity. hyojin really doesn’t know why he cares as much as he does, deciding to chalk it up to the fact that he doesn’t have many same age friends.
honestly, he’d considered himself a big fan of ekko.
even from the days where he was simply ekko.ism, miles had diligently kept tabs on his work. what wasn’t to like? hip-hop vibes, electronic beats, smooth vocals — it was only a bonus that the man behind the name was incredibly attractive.
but even for someone with a tendency to forgive and forget, his opinion went entirely sour with the publishing of a single interview. miles isn’t much bothered with negative comments regarding himself — he’s seen one too many forum posts from high school classmates — but coming across any vitriol thrown in the direction of his members ignites an anger within him that usually remains stagnant under the surface. with a snide comment regarding smoke & mirrors’ music, his view on ekko nosedived into heated glares and purposeful avoidance.
and now they’re in the same room, everyone else preoccupied but the two of them. he prays to every god he knows that he isn’t approached — despite his anger, he’s still as frightened of real confrontation as ever, settling for a quietly distant irritation. with the initial hey, he knows that the gods have not listened to his desperate plea.
he offers a half-hearted bow in return, expression sitting firmly between suspicion and nervousness as hyojin presses further into his space. he can’t help but lose a few moments as he takes in all of his features. it only serves to make him angrier.
“yeah, miles kim.” his arms cross over his chest. he can’t help the momentary swell of pride in his chest at his own level of composure. “i know you.”
