Birthday cake surprise, Huta/Minhyuk your present.
Stripper AU. Suggestive.
Word count 510
Birthday cake.
The surprise birthday party is in full swing.
Alcohol flowing freely, food consumed at a fast pace.
Laughter and conversation light.
The mood is full on party mode.
The birthday girl received and opened her many gifts with delightful glee.
Her bestie who painstakingly organized the party has a secret she is about to reveal.
She motions with a wave of her hand.
A large tiered birthday cake is ushered in.
Everyone now has eyes on the cake.
Music filters through the speakers, lights shine on the cake.
♡Hot, burning, heat up the track
Take a easy step
Leave it to the rhythm
(Uh, uh, uh, uh)
Fell down naturally
I'm sorry, there's no way out
A big welcome, welcome
(Uh, uh, uh, uh)♡
The party guest look at the cake with anticipation, the birthday girl looks at the scene and takes in the atmosphere, a feeling of nervousness and curiosity.
As the music plays the tiers of the cake, rumble.
The cake walls fall, to reveal a handsome, chiselled man wearing all black leather and cowboy hat.
Giggles fill the room.
Huta or Minhyuk if you prefer, moves to the rhythm, every gesture seductive and dripping masculine sex appeal.
The female guests cheer and clap their eyes fixated on him.
Slowly with purposeful allure he removes his shirt revealing his well toned arms and abs.
Squeals of approval are his reward demanding more.
Turning his back to the audience, revealing his shoulders and back, his defined form on show.
He dances to attract his body swaying.
Turning, he focuses on the birthday girl.
With a swiftness not expected, he is at her side.
Rubbing his body against hers.
He whispers in her ear,
♡Oh, baby, a'ight I'm worth it
It's okay, don't be shy
One more time, a'ight, just feel it
Oh, deep in my eyes
I'll give you all the thrill and sweetness
Everything is for you♡
Goosebumps cover her body, his face so close to hers.
Dancing his seduction, the birthday girl is captivated.
Placing the cowboy hat on her head, his arms surround her, consume her.
Gently he
places her hands on his chest, as he stands behind her, his hips swaying left and right.
He navigates her hands with his, roaming and exploring his form.
Little by little they edge lower and lower.
Whispering in her ear.
♡Boom, shaka-laka
Boom, shaka-laka
I'm ready, you ready? Uh♡
Feeling immensely turned on, inhibitions gone.
Her hands touch his crutch and she lets loose and explores.
The guests are going wild, her friends jealous but enjoying the show.
He grinds his hips into her ass, turning her around, he proceeds to bump and grind.
With a wink, he unclasps his black leather pants, swinging them above his head.
Naked as the moment of his birth, masculine confidence oozing, he goes back to the cake.
BtoB reacting to their S/o speaking their native language
Not too long ago I got a requestor who asked for a bunch of BtoB reactions! I’m SO excited for these reactions since I don’t have BtoB on my page yet!
!NOTE!: After doing research I’ve decided to keep Ilhoon in my reactions. If him being mentioned bothers you, feel free to skip past his section~ no harmful feelings💕
Eunkwang: As a couple, you’re incredibly petty when it comes to arguments/bickering. Like, you’ll bicker over who was supposed to take out the trash type of petty, then eventually Eunkwang will stop speaking and you’ll only speak your native language until he cracks. This could go on for hours, but when he feels like he’s going crazy, he’ll crack. He can’t say no to you either, so he’ll take out the trash and you’ll speak as you normally would~
Minhyuk: You are a crafty/artsy person and when you really get in the zone, you have a habit of talking to yourself in your first language. It’s out of habit. Through your projects, you’ll lose track of time and Minhyuk will stop by your art room to remind you to take breaks. You’ll mumble to him as he’s trying to get your attention and he’ll have to physically shake you to break your focus. Minhyuk will chuckle at you, thinking your mumbling is sweet, and he’ll give you a snack and ask about your project.
Changsub: Btween you two, you’re the organized one, so you’re the guru that plans everything when you two travel. When work kept you too busy to plan your next vacation, Changsub plans the trip. ..Everything goes wrong. You miss your flight, the hotel wasn’t properly booked, so you have a bit of a breakdown and rant/snap to Changsub in your native language. Changsub may not plan trips very well, but he’s amazing at calming you down, and he’ll apologize for creating chaos and he’ll work with you to get your ducks back in a row~
Hyunsik: We know our boy here is all about respect- so when it’s time for him to meet your parents, Hyungsik wants to be PREPARED. He’d ask you for some basic conversation etiquettes so he can impress your parents and be respectful. Fast forward to him meeting your parents- your parents get so excited he knows their language, your parents overwhelm him and he’ll need your help translating. Which he apologizes for the trouble and express how appreciative he is of you.
Peniel: He’d tag along with you to a trip to your hometown! Peniel is able to see you chat and laugh with the locals, navigate where to go while taking public transportation, and read tourism plaques! He’d be super impressed and in awe that you’re still quick to find where you’re going and you’ve always kept your language/culture close to your heart. He’d also find your sense of direction to be super attractive and with him being in a foreign place, the native language only adds to it!
Ilhoon: Prior to being in a relationship with Ilhoon, you’ve had a pet that you talked to exclusively spoke your native language to, which the pet only follows commands that way. When Ilhoon would start coming over, your pet would steal food off his plate, and with a simple scold you were able to prevent it happening again. Ilhoon would be super impressed when your pet would back off- since the pet wouldn’t back off at his requests. He also would’ve forgotten the fact pets can pick up on the way you speak to them.
Sungjae: My personal fav situation- your new furniture manual doesn’t have instructions in a language you both know. So it’s up to you tell Sungjae how to put the closet together. Your reading skills are a bit rusty and one piece was put on backwards which derailed the whole project. But luckily you went back and you realized where you goofed, and luckily it was a quick fix! Sungjae would be so happy you were able to help translate the instructions, because him trying to guess where the pieces would go would be an absolute disaster, lol.
Prompt: “Will you come with me?” - #46 of Idea Starters
Word count: 2053
“Will you come with me?”
“Where to?” you asked, already reaching out your hand towards him. Hyunsik took your willingness in his stride, the scrunch of his eyes as he smiled warmly, causing your heart to beat erratically.
You would follow this man into the depths of hell if you had to. Addicted wasn’t even the right word to describe how you felt for Hyunsik, but it came pretty darn close.
You couldn’t go without him for too long. The withdrawal symptoms were too potent, too arduous to endure.
And so, it didn’t matter what his answer to your question would be. You would go anywhere with him.
But you were the tiniest bit of intrigued.
“You’ll see when we get there,” he offered, knowing full well that wouldn’t satisfy you at all.
It was almost as if he wanted to hear you whine.
“Not even a little hint?” you asked with a pout as you shook your linked hands back and forth.
If someone had told you ten months ago that you would be full-on pouting as a grown woman, you would have socked them one. Perhaps you needed to smack yourself just once and see if that would help shake you free from this spell he held over you.
You were doing so many different things these days that you hadn’t with other men. Not that you hated it, of course. Everything felt natural, giddy, and entirely satisfying at Hyunsik’s side.
It was just that you hadn’t experienced anything like this before that made you stop and wonder why you acted like this now. Was this true love? You weren’t sure just yet.
Neither of you had uttered the three little words at each other, and whilst you were certain your life would always have him in it now, you didn’t want to rush them out into the universe. The right time to say them hadn’t arrived yet.
It was weird to hold onto something that you had thrown out to others before. But this time, you wanted to make sure that even if you felt indescribably connected to Hyunsik, that he too was in it for the long haul.
Leading you over to his car, Hyunsik opened the passenger door, even leaning in to buckle you in once inside. You chose to use this moment to brush your lips over his, a token of gratitude towards his caring nature.
Chuckling, Hyunsik shook his head. “I’m not telling you anything.”
“It was worth a try,” you admitted with a playful scowl, having kissed him just because, not with an ulterior motive.
It didn’t take him long to round the car or pull it out of the parking lot and head for the highway that took you out of the city. You were surprised that wherever you were going wasn’t within the city limits.
Eventually, you looked around yourself before pointedly catching Hyunsik’s brief glance in your direction. “Should I have packed an overnight bag?”
“I’ve got everything we need sorted. Don’t worry.”
Of course, Hyunsik came prepared. He was the detail-oriented type, another thing you loved about him. He seemed to know right whenever you needed something, or him, appearing with arms open and goodies to spoil you with.
But tonight, when he arrived on your doorstep, he had nothing with him except that request. Nerves strangely filled your stomach, fluttering around with confusion. You weren’t hugely fond of surprises, but you knew whatever it was that Hyunsik would do everything in his power to ensure you were comfortable.
So, when his car finally stopped in a small village deep in the closest mountains to the city, you didn’t panic. In fact, you merely breathed out a sigh of awe. “This place is…”
“The one in that book you told me about. You know, the one with the wishing stones?”
You were surprised that Hyunsik remembered that book because you almost didn’t. When your recognition came a second too late, he cleared his throat and looked away, somewhat anxious now. It surprised you to see the emotion there, knowing Hyunsik was usually quite confident in all his decisions. It was yet another characteristic about him that you admired.
“I’m so glad you looked for this place,” you told him sincerely.
Hyunsik smiled, brushing his lips over the side of your head. “Shall we check-in?”
A little old lady ran the inn, her weathered face warm and comforting. She smiled at you both, a little chuckle rising when she stepped forward. “You both shine together.”
“Do we?” you enthused, grinning at her before looking at Hyunsik beside you. “I think he shines a little more than me.”
“Come on, Y/N,” Hyunsik objected with a smile, leaning onto the countertop. “We have a reservation under the name—”
“I was expecting you, don’t worry,” she cut in, her wrinkles deepening as her face broke out into another welcoming smile. “Everything is ready for you in your room. It’s two nights, right?”
“Yes.”
“You can square me up at the end. Do you want any dinner? I’m almost finished with preparing for my family, and there’s always plenty to go around.”
Glancing at Hyunsik, you nodded. “That would be wonderful.”
“Come. I’ll show you to your room so you can freshen up from your trip.”
You followed the small astute woman across the courtyard of the inn as she slotted a key into the door of a unit. After flicking on the lights, she then left you both to it, with instructions on where to find the dining hall.
Looking around yourself as Hyunsik clicked the door shut behind him, you slowly turned until you were facing your partner. “This is just magical.”
“I thought you’d like it,” he agreed, coming to your side and encircling your waist with his hands. Pecking your lips softly, he grinned. “And I beg to differ about who shines more.”
“We’re not going to argue over it,” you replied before looking around again. “I would have never thought to seek this place out as you have.”
“I wanted this weekend to be perfect,” Hyunsik confessed, his eyes flashing with hesitance. You watched the emotion curiously before registering the words he spoke.
“Wait, weekend? If you told me I would need an overnight—”
“Like I said earlier, I’ve organised everything for you.”
“How?”
“You leave so much at my apartment lately that I had no problems sorting you out stuff to wear for the next couple of days.”
“Have I ever told you how thoughtful you are?” you wondered, brushing some of his hair away from his face before cupping his cheeks in both hands. “You’re too much.”
“I’ll do anything for you,” he murmured, leaning in to catch your lips, the kiss sweet, lingering.
“We better go to that dinner,” you whispered when he pulled away, your senses tingling all over.
The last thing on your mind was food right then.
Dinner was comfortable and full of laughter. You learned a lot about the small village and were given several locations to check out when the sun rose. And after the way you and Hyunsik spent the night writhing together under the sheets, that sun was high in the sky when your eyes opened.
“Morning, beautiful,” Hyunsik greeted into your skin, pressing gentle kisses into your bare shoulder. “Well rested?”
“Surprisingly,” you answered, lazily grinning up at him. “Especially after how many times you made me see stars last night.”
“We better go see some of the daytime then before I rain more galaxies down on you,” he teased seductively, and you stretched forward to capture his lips in three more kisses before following him out of bed and getting ready for the day.
The little old lady had kindly left breakfast for you on the doorstep and after enjoying the meal together in your room, you headed out onto the tracks around the village to explore.
It was an old township, and there were even older ruins all around. Overgrown at some points, the stone that remained from crumbling buildings seemed to be all over the sides of the tracks you and Hyunsik were taking. It gave the perfect excuse to hold hands as you hiked the terrain, helping each other over the obstacles sticking out in strange places over the earth.
“Do you know where we’re going?” you asked after an hour of exercise, the sheen of sweat on your forehead indicating the heat of the sun was at its hottest for the day.
Hyunsik nodded. “I came prepared, remember?”
“So long as you don’t get us lost,” you replied with a grin, and Hyunsik rolled his eyes.
“Even if I did, would you stop following me?” he wondered, coming to a stop. You stumbled into his arms, no doubt part of his sudden plan. Hooking his spare arm around your waist to balance you, he gazed at you deeply.
Struggling to breathe with the way his eyes captivated you, you shook your head loosely. “Never.”
“Good,” he answered with a kiss, gently pulling you along the track.
It wasn’t until you reached a body of water nestled into the mountainside that you realised where Hyunsik had brought you.
“Wishing Stone Creek,” you murmured, watching the water cascade from a higher part of the mountainside, pooling into the creek before it continued as a stream downward.
Taking a seat on the stone wall that banked a side of the large creek, you retrieved a bottle of water from your bag on your back as you took in the stacks of stones waiting for people to make wishes with.
Hyunsik was quiet as he observed the area for a few minutes, and you soon found yourself staring at him. It was already picturesque without him there, but being able to see this magical spot in the mountains at his side was overwhelming.
You almost didn’t feel right picking up a stone and casting a wish upon it when you already had so much sitting beside you.
Still, you grabbed two stones, holding out both your hands at your partner. “Which one do you want?”
He decided on the smaller, smoother stone, clasping his hands around it and closed his eyes. When he was done, Hyunsik tossed it into the water, his smile growing as he watched it sink.
“What did you wish for?” you inquired, and Hyunsik smirked.
“That would make the wish pointless, wouldn’t it?”
“Fine. I won’t tell you mine!” you exclaimed, mirroring his actions of wishing onto the stone before you tossed it towards the rainfall of water at the back.
You had wished for a life long of loving Hyunsik. You knew you were capable of doing that without making a promise upon a stone, and in that moment, you wanted nothing more than him for the rest of your life.
Comfortably silent for a while taking in the nature around you both, you eventually clambered back to your feet to make the trek down to the village before the moon rose in the sky.
However, Hyunsik stopped you, slipping his hand into his pocket. “Wait.”
“Hm?” You watched him expectantly and gasped when he pulled something out of his pocket. “What are you doing?”
“I wished for you,” he announced, holding up a necklace with a similar grey stone with a belt of white quartz embedded in the center of it. “And I’m always going to wish for just you.”
You were shaking as he placed the necklace around your neck, the stone settling upon your skin. Pulling you back against him, Hyunsik’s mouth lingered around your ear. “I love you. I’ve wanted to tell you for weeks now.”
“Why did you wait?” you breathed, slowly turning around to hook your arms around his shoulders, linking them behind his head. You smiled at him. “You know I love you too.”
“Do I? You haven’t told me yet.”
“I followed you here. I would follow you anywhere,” you pointed out, and his smile grew.
“I wanted the moment to be as perfect as it is now,” he confessed, gesturing to your surroundings.
You looked around yourself and smiled.
It was pretty perfect.
“I love you, Y/N,” he repeated, leaning in to brush his lips over yours. “I’m going to always love you.”
(previously uploaded under killingmebtob, this is a revised edition)
Thursday, 5 October 2017
"Believe in me and wait. I promise... I'll come back to you..."
I can barely hold back from rolling my eyes at the cliché dialogue. Sometimes, I really question my editor's intentions. For the nth time today, I wonder how she expects me to gain inspiration from a coming-of-age novel but then again, she knows best when it comes to melodrama. Sighing, I return to the passage, fervently hoping that something interesting will come up to distract me from the cold. It is now the middle of autumn now and I did not expect it to be chilly this afternoon in the park, especially after the weather forecast earlier.
"Hi, sorry is this seat taken?"
A low voice interrupts my thoughts. Without looking up from my book, I shake my head while gesturing to the stranger to take a seat. With a murmur of thanks, he sits slowly and softly as if he is afraid of interrupting me again. Cute, my mind whispers before I lose myself to the story, the ambient noise as a wonderful soundtrack to accompany me.
It is only moments later when I notice that the sun is setting. I barely registered the stranger leaving but then again, he had been very quiet. I keep my book in my bag before bringing my hands up to my lips to blow on them. As I am about to leave, I notice a pack of new hand warmer by my side. Did he leave it behind by chance? Or did he notice that my fingers are freezing? Smiling to myself, I thank the stranger in my heart while I take the pack.
I guess my questions will remain unanswered, I think as I walk away from the bench.
It takes one Thursday to cross paths.
Thursday, 12 October 2017
I find myself at the park again, sitting on the same bench while writing out a brief plot for my new idea. It is not much but definitely better than last week. I smile to myself as I recall the act of kindness last week. I guess chivalry is not really dead, I think wryly.
As I write, I hear the crunching of leaves which make me look up to see a person approaching the bench.
"Hi again. Is the seat taken?"
A familiar voice breaks the silence around me. Finally, I am able to put a face to the kind stranger from last week. He is pretty tall, his black coat accentuating his silhouette. His messy black hair almost covers his eyes which light up as he smiles.
"No, it isn't," I answered, still reeling from the surprise that I am seeing him for the second time in the two Thursdays I am here.
With a muttered thanks, he sits and relaxes against the bench. Crossing his legs, he takes out a notepad before plugging in his earphones. A look of concentration crosses his face as he writes. Soon, he looks as if he had lost himself to the music as he remains engrossed in his work. I catch myself studying him, mentally berating myself for staring. All of a sudden, I remember that I have to thank him for the hand warmer. However, I hold back for I did not want to disturb him. Maybe later, I think and I turn to write.
Later finds me nearing sunset. I hear him moving as he starts to pack his things. Gathering up the courage, I clear my throat before turning to him.
"Hey, umm... thanks for the hand warmer last Thursday," I croak out, my throat dry from not talking for an hour.
He looks up, as if my voice had jolted him from his task.
"No worries, I have a lot on me," he answers.
He breaks into a smile and the corner of his eyes crinkle along with his smile lines, making his smile contagious to those around him. I can only nod, unsure of how to respond. As he stands, he suddenly turns to me and hands out a new pack of hand warmer.
"It's going to get cold tonight. Keep warm yeah?"
With a parting wave, he turns around and leaves.
It takes two Thursdays to smile.
Thursday, 19 October 2017
Perhaps my continued fascination with the park is that it is a good place to observe humanity's interesting antics. It is one of the few moments where their uninhibited emotions are clear on their faces as they enjoy themselves.
"Maybe I can use that little boy for a character model," I mumble to myself while scribbling in my notebook.
Satisfied with what I had written, I look up only to see Mr. Stranger approaching my vicinity. He is certainly a good model, my thoughts creep up before I dismiss them.
"Hello again," he greets as he stands before the bench.
"Hey, and no this seat isn't taken," I respond while moving my things away to make room for him. I close my notebook and place it by my side.
Chuckling, he takes off his bag before sitting carefully at his usual space.
"I've come prepared today," I remark, indicating to the hand warmer on my lap.
He gives a small laugh in his low voice and I grin along with him. There is really something about this stranger that lights up the atmosphere around him. He leans back and breathes in deeply as if he is soaking up the atmosphere around him.
"You're not reading today?" he suddenly asks, breaking the momentary silence.
"Yeah, not today. I'm collecting materials instead."
"Materials?" His eyes narrow, clearly confused about the term.
I grin while gesturing to the people around us.
"Yeah, materials. Everyone here is a potential subject."
He nods, finally understanding what I am referring to. He crosses his arms behind his head as he observes his surroundings.
"You're a writer."
It is not a question and I just incline my head in return. With a heavy sigh, he tilts his head back against the headrest and closes his eyes. I glance at his calm face, a question lingering at the tip of my tongue.
"Are you a writer too?" I blurt.
With his eyes still close, he smirks and mumbles, "Somewhat, I guess."
All of a sudden, his phone rings. He sits up, excuses himself as he leaves to take the call. I take the moment to register our conversation, rolling my eyes at his last cryptic response. He comes back soon, an apologetic look on his face.
"I have to go now," he starts as he takes the bag that he had left on the bench.
I nod in response as I wave him off. As he adjusts the bag on his shoulders, he appears to remember something and starts to dig in his coat pocket. He takes a pair of gloves out before turning to me.
"See you around," he says clearly as he offers the gloves to me. "Take care of yourself, yeah?"
I accept them hesitantly, confusion and questions clear on my face.
"Don't catch a cold. Thursdays will be boring without you," he answers, grinning with a mischievous glint in his eyes before walking away.
Leaving me sitting on the bench holding the pair of gloves in my hand and a million questions running through my head.
It takes three Thursdays to talk.
Thursday, 26 October 2017
On Thursday, I find myself staring at a familiar handsome stranger writing on the bench. This marks our fourth meeting and I still don't know anything about him, I think dryly. As if he senses my approach, he looks up from his work and his face break into the warmest of smiles as he notices me. He shifts his bag to make space. Wordlessly, I walk up and take my place next to him. Somehow, this is beginning to feel like a routine.
"Thanks for the gloves last week," I start as I hand them to him.
"No worries, I'm glad you look well," he responds before returning back to his writing.
Despite it being our fourth meeting, there is something comfortable about meeting him here to the extent that I have started to look forward to Thursdays. A calm silence settles between us as we each turn to our own individual task. Once in a while, I steal a glance at him from the corner of my eye. He does not write much but he plays with his pen a lot by tapping it against the armrest in a constant rhythm. Sometimes he murmurs under his breath and gets ready to write, only to shake his head and continues tapping. I smile to myself, acknowledging that I do enjoy this weird company that we share.
"So, I tried to look you up..." he remarks all of a sudden, pulling me away from my reverie.
I frown at his revelation as I try to recall the instance that we introduce ourselves.
"I didn't tell you my name," I counter.
He laughs softly as he points to the notebook on my lap. On the notebook, my name is spelt out clearly in cursive, a grim reminder of that one attempt where I had considered calligraphy as a job switch.
"That's a little sneaky and creepy actually," I respond.
Like a defence mechanism, I turn the notebook face down. He laughs louder now and apologises.
"I wanted to ask you last week, but work pulled me away. I'm sorry," he supplements, the ghost of a grin flittered across his face.
I tried to maintain my frown but I crack a smile at his embarrassed expression.
"Good thing I'm in a good mood today," I smirk, turning away from him to focus on the people before me.
"Oh, why so?"
Someone is chatty today. I keep my notebook in my bag before replying to his question.
"My editor gave me the green light to start on a new novel."
His smile widens as he offers his hand to me. "Congratulations! So what is it going to be about? Another thriller?"
"Nope, I choose to experiment on melodrama instead, with a mix of science fiction," I reply, secretly amazed that he knows my recent works, even if it had been an online name search.
He considers my response, nodding as if in agreement with my choice of direction.
"So who and what are you? You already know who I am and I think your introduction is way overdue," I ask, turning to face him fully.
He turns as well, placing his arm on the headrest, a serious look on his face as he contemplates my question.
"Well, I'm a composer and lyricist. But I'm not as big as you."
I raise an eyebrow at the obvious downplay of his abilities.
"So what have you composed?" I ask, a weak attempt at making him reveal himself.
"Few things here and there," he replies in a tone that implies he does not want to continue.
Shrugging, I look away from him. Secretive fellow.
Silence blankets us for a moment as I catch a scene in front of me. With a burst of inspiration, I am about to take my notebook when he interrupts me.
"You're not curious about my name?"
I cock my head at the question, my eyes glued to the family that I picked out.
"I'm just assuming you don't want me to know," I state, ignoring his chuckle at that answer.
"So what are you writing now?"
"Hmm... character profiles. The park is a good resource for that," I answer distractedly as I fix my gaze on the way a mother picks her child up after falling.
"So am I a part of that resource too?"
Pause.
I stop writing, my hand lingering in the air as I consider the implication behind his question. Deciding not to think too much on it, I turn to him to meet his eye and shrug.
"Maybe."
A moment of uncomfortable silence stretches between us as we both hold each other's gaze. I remain transfixed, not daring myself to look away from him. At the same time, there is a weird and indescribable look on his face, as if he is holding back from saying something. Fortunately, his alarm beeps and shatters the awkwardness that had settled between us. He looks away first and reaches for his phone. Sighing, he keeps his phone away and starts gathering his things.
"See you," I say weakly, still uneasy with what had transpired. He nods in reply and turns to walk away. However, he stops and faces me.
"I'm Im Hyunsik by the way, to answer your other question."
It takes four Thursdays to get to know one another.
Thursday, 3 November 2017
"So... you're the genius composer."
Hyunsik widens his eyes before grinning, remembering that he had told me his name last week.
"Guess we're even now since you looked me up. I'm actually surprised you didn't know me beforehand," he admits shyly while sipping his coffee.
He had arrived a bit later than me today, with two cups of hot coffee in his hands. He gave the excuse that the barista had given him an additional one as a mistake but even that lie sounded weak to my ear. I am thankful for his sweet gesture though, it really is getting colder with autumn ending so soon.
"Sorry, I don't really listen to music much," I apologise, a little embarrassed at my ignorance.
I remembered feeling extremely shocked when I had looked him up after last week. I did not expect him to be that famous as he did not even give any indication of it. He shakes his head, saying that it is nice for a change to not be famous to someone.
"How's your writing going?" Hyunsik asks after a while.
I look up from my notebook and smile happily as I recall my progress.
"It's going great! I'm thinking of exploring the idea of interconnectedness, like I want to experiment writing multiple perspectives and linking them up to a singular major event. I think it's really interesting to show how coincidence brings people together sometime later in the future."
He meets my eye from the corner of his, the sides of his lips pulling into a smirk as if he finds something humorous in my ramble. However, he holds his gaze a little longer than necessary. Slightly uncomfortable, I look away and ask about his group's comeback.
"Soon... that is provided I get the song ready on time," he sighs. He runs his fingers through his hair as a gesture of exasperation.
"Is it something like a writer's block?" I asked, uncertain about the differences between our professions.
"Something like that, yeah. The song is actually ready but I think I should modify the bridge a little," Hyunsik admits before releasing a heavy sigh again.
In a moment of craziness, my hand reach out to pat the hand on his lap as a sign of comfort. He stiffens at the contact and I am about to pull away when he actually holds it in place with his other hand.
"Your hands are cold," he murmurs while giving my hand a squeeze.
I freeze, my stare burning on our contact. A million thoughts run through my mind yet I am unable to decipher any of them. Instead, my senses are heightened on our touch, on the feeling of his warm palm against my skin... on the heat that we share. I am at lost, torn between what I am supposed to do and what I really wanted. Do I pull away even though a part of me is relishing this? How do I...
Before I can even make sense of my internal conundrum, Hyunsik returns my hand to my lap but not before giving it a lingering pat.
"When will your book be published?"
His voice fills the silence between us. It takes me a moment to find my voice to respond.
"In six months, if everything goes alright," I whisper shakily, still reeling from what had happened.
"That means we have at least six months to continue meeting like this."
I look at him in askance, my eyes widening at his statement. When he offers no inclination of continuing, I ask, "Why so?"
"Because you said I may be a resource for your book," he grins as he recalls our last conversation.
I break into an awkward smile, still unsure of the hidden implications that surround this enigmatic man.
"Why do you come here every Thursday?" he asks, curiosity lacing his tone.
Leaning against the bench, I take a moment to consider my reply.
"I think it's because Thursday is a random day of the week. It's a day before the weekends and it's also the last day of the weekdays. I don't know honestly, maybe it's a good day to wind down. What about you? Why are you here on Thursdays?"
Still smiling, he mimics my position. "Same here I guess."
"What a coincidence," I say softly, a ghost of a smile teasing on my lips.
"Or maybe it's because I just want to keep sharing conversations with you."
Startling, I turn to him, searching on his face, and in his eyes, for his intentions behind the loaded statement. He stares back, confidently meeting my gaze. My breath hitches up in my throat as he drops his guard for a moment, revealing a glimmer of the truth. All too soon, he hides his emotions and fixes me a small smile.
"You should pick up your phone, it's been ringing for a while," he states, inclining his head at a particular buzzing source.
Before I can respond, he stands up and brushes the lint off his coat.
"Take care. I'll see you around."
It takes five Thursdays to be honest.
Thursday, 10 November 2017
For the first time in six weeks, I am late.
Not that we ever set a time or even promise to meet every week, I think sardonically. There is nothing certain between us, yet a weird routine had settled which makes our meetups work. However, deep down I acknowledge that one of the reasons why I am late is because of the lingering fear that had developed along with the anticipation of meeting him. And following last Thursday's 'incident', I know that our meetups are not coincidences. Coincidence works best in the first three weeks, but not for six weeks. Besides, after last week, I know for sure that the term 'coincidence' does not begin to describe us.
Us.
I shake my head as I try to stop myself from going down that slippery slope. I remember vividly how I had walked home after last Thursday, pondering over our exchange. Over his words and over...
I stop short when I notice that he is not there on the bench. I nibble my lower lip, wondering why he is not there when I am already two hours late. Shrugging it off, I make my way to the bench with the very intention of waiting for him so that I am able to demand some answers out of him. And perhaps, just maybe, get myself out of this limbo that we have subconsciously put ourselves in. I shiver slightly, wrapping my arms around myself in a half-ass effort to keep warm. Slowly, I start to recall how it all started with a pack of hand warmers.
It is interesting, to say the least, that we know almost next to nothing about one another except from the things online. Nevertheless, his little quirks have started to make their way under my skin. I find myself thinking of the way the corner of his eyes crinkle up when he smiles, or his deep chuckles as he laughs at our conversations. I recollect how he taps his pen, or how he bites the end as he thinks. I remember how his lips move wordlessly as he voices out his thoughts. I remember the light scent of his cologne that envelopes us and I definitely remember the feel of his hand against mine.
I bite back a sigh when I realise that deep down, he will not be here today. There is nothing to keep him coming and our time is up. As I am about to stand up, I hear someone running up towards me.
"Miss! Miss writer!"
I ignore the disappointment in my heart when I realise the voice is not his. A little boy, barely eight years of age, approaches me from afar. As he gasps for breath, he hands me a folded paper enthusiastically.
"He... He said this is for you!" he greets, smiling with a toothy grin.
"Who?"
"A tall mister!"
With that, the little boy runs off. My eyes follow him as he reaches his group of friends who are playing in the park's open space. Curious, I open up the letter, sentiment telling me exactly who the tall mister was.
Hey,
I'm sorry that I am not able to stay for too long today. We've started preparing for our comeback. It will be on the 16th so I hope you will look forward to it. Hope your book is going smoothly. I'll see you soon. Take care.
Hyunsik
Attached is a pack of hand warmer. I take it in my hand, allowing a sad smile to cross my features momentarily. And now I know another thing about Im Hyunsik: his neat and clear handwriting. A clear reflection of the man that he is.
It takes six Thursdays to be confused
Thursday, 17 November 2017
On the seventh Thursday, I find myself sitting on the bench. My notebook lays untouched by my side. On my lap is my phone, playing a recent ballad. Playing his ballad. My wrist is slowly feeling a little numb from having supported my head since earlier. As I listen to his mellow and baritone voice, I note that he really lives up to his name as the 'genius composer'. The song is nothing short of amazing and yet... it makes me even more confused than our last meeting. Putting the song on repeat since yesterday did nothing to clear my mind. Instead, it only creates more questions as the implications of the lyrics sink in.
His lyrics which tells a story of two strangers.
About love found in coincidences.
I frown as the song reach the bridge, the part that he had admitted having problems with and the part that makes me question the man even more.
So when I next see you
I hope you'll wait for me
For this song is never enough
Not for the words that I want to share with you
A shiver runs down my back, not from the cold but from the raw emotions in his voice as he sings the bridge. Even though there is a slight drizzle, I barely register the raindrops. It is as if his song is keeping me warm.
Suddenly, I notice that the raindrops have subsided, not because the rain has stopped, but because there is a navy umbrella above me. I blink the water droplets away from my eyelashes to finally notice the black boots in front of mine.
"You're here early."
I look up and sure enough, Hyunsik stands before me, his hand outstretched as he shares his umbrella with me.
"Hey you," I greet, smiling weakly at him.
"You're listening to our song."
I look down at my lap and see that his group's album is clear on the screen.
"Yeah, I just remembered today." A lie.
He shifts his weight on his feet as he brings the umbrella closer to me. I did not make any move to stand. Nor did I give any indication of moving away.
"So what do you think about it?" A slight apprehension laces his voice as he nervously waits for my response.
I look up and meet his eyes, eyes that are filled with worry and expectations.
"It's a loaded song," I mutter, breaking our eye contact when I notice the way his eyes shift to read me.
A stretched silence comes between us, each of us wanting to say something but holding back out of fear.
"What does the song mean?" I manage after the prolonged stillness, still looking down on my lap.
He takes a deep breath as he considers my question. Clearing his throat, he tries to find the proper words to answer.
"I... I want us to end our Thursdays."
My head shoots up as I eye him suspiciously over his unexpected statement. He sees the look on my face and laughs under his breath before continuing.
"That's not what I mean. I want us to stop meeting on Thursdays in exchange for the rest of our days. I want us to stop meeting at the park so that I can take you out for dinner after this. I want to meet you on any days and time that we can. I want to stop looking forward to Thursdays and instead, I just want to look forward to all the other days that I can share with you."
I blink slowly as comprehension sinks in. Finally, I am able to register the unexplained tension that had settled between us since a few Thursdays ago.
"Where are we right now, Hyunsik?" I ask softly, my voice barely a whisper but he hears it nonetheless.
"A crossroads of sort. I've stepped on my path and I think it's your turn now to make the choice."
"And what if I choose something else entirely?"
"Then I'll be happy with the seven Thursdays that I was able to spend with you."
A sad smile crosses his face as he considers the possibility of that happening. I nibble my lower lip, unsure of the words that I want to say.
"This is not supposed to happen. Everything is supposed to be a coincidence," I whisper as I hold his gaze.
With his usual eye-smile, he responds, "And some coincidences are made after the first one."
When I can only see determination staring back at me, I take a deep breath and make a move to stand up. Noticing this, Hyunsik offers his hand but I do not take it. Instead, I plant my feet closer to the bench to create a small distance between us. I ignore the flash of hurt on his face and take a step closer.
"There are a lot of things that we don't know about each other," I state clearly, proud that my voice is stable enough to not betray my decision.
"And that's the beauty of this. Of us. So will you take the chance with me?"
Appearing as if I am considering his question, I take a step closer to him until we are only a breath away from each other. And for the first time, I am able to see his face up close. He really is handsome, and the pictures are nothing in comparison. Hesitatingly, I reach a hand up to cup his cheek, my thumb barely stroking his smooth skin. He stands utterly still, as if afraid that by moving, I may run away. I lean my head closer, until our foreheads touch and I can feel him shiver from the cold and our close proximity. Slowly, I bring my lips closer to his, stopping an inch away so that we share the same breath. He did not move and I silently thank fate that he is giving me his trust along with so much more. I press my lips lightly against his, a ghost of a kiss before pulling back. With our foreheads still against each other, I whisper the answer that I had chosen since his confession.
sillage (french, n.) - the scent that lingers in air, the trail left in water, the impression made in space after something or someone has been and gone
Note: mom roasted me for being emotional over Sungjae’s enlistment like she doesn’t understand true love 🙄😂
Because it would only worry Peniel to learn that you haven't fully adjusted to Sungjae's enlistment, you always offer your best smile when meeting him for lunch. You don't mention the reluctance with which you finally changed the bedsheets or how relieved you were when Sungjae's scent somehow lingered on the pale yellow sheets retrieved from that closet in the hallway. You don't mention that your unseasonably warm green hoodie came from Sungjae's side fo the closet. You aren't even the first to say Sungjae's name.
"I think I'm technically not supposed to tell you this," Peniel speaks through a mouthful of pizza, "but obviously I'm gonna. By now, Sungjae should know that anything he tells me will make its way to you. So, really, in a way, it's his own fault that his surprise is being spoiled."
Probably turning green with envy, you ask, "When did you talk to him? I haven't heard from him in a little while."
Obviously, you aren't angry. Aside from understanding that Sungjae is as busy as ever, it isn't as if you have locked yourself in your apartment to sit by the phone from sunrise to sunset. You are old and wise enough to know that life goes on even when you are separated from somebody you love. Still, your eyes narrow instinctively at Peniel.
"Maybe two, three days ago? I can't remember." Peniel shrugs. "Sungjae probably knows that if he talks to you, he'll slip up and admit that he's coming home this weekend. He can't keep a secret, not even his own, to save his life."
Your heart swells as you parrot, "He's coming home."
Just as Peniel predicted, Sungjae appears on your doorstep early Saturday wearing the smile you haven't put out of your mind since seeing it for the first time.
"You're wearing my shirt!" He cheers, pointing at the depiction of Mickey Mouse on your chest, in the moments before you throw your arms around him. As you rise onto the tips of your toes to peck at his cheek and bury your face in the crook of his neck, savoring— memorizing— the comfort of being tangled in his embrace, Sungjae giggles. "Does that mean you missed me too?"
"Of course!" You tell him. "I've missed you in every moment of every day, but— it's funny— I also found you everywhere I looked."
Practically carrying you into the living room where he landed with you on the couch, Sungjae pouts, confused. "What do you mean?"
"Your traces—" you try to explain as he traces around your lips with his thumb— "they're everywhere. And not just in the apartment. They're all over the place: in the sky, especially in the clouds, in the flowers. And I'm starting to think that the only explanation is that I carry you everywhere with me."
Sungjae blinks and drops a kiss on the tip of your nose. "It's like I always tell you! Where you go, I go!"
okay uh College Au for Peniel and Sungjae because I can totally see Peniel as a photography student and doing a whole bunch of cool projects etc. Sungjae would be a music student or a theater kid for sure.
Mafia au.... Minhyuk and Changsub because these two have such duality. Like Minhyuk would be more of like a mafia boss and Changsub would be the regretfull one, wanting to get out of the mafia etc.
