It was your last summer here for a while, chasing pretty sunsets and gazing into the ocean underneath dark skies.
This was the most peace you’d known in a while until your phone goes off.
“Where are you? It’s midnight already!”
Your brother knew that you intended to stay out late, but he’s always been worrisome. Although granted, you’re out by yourself at such an odd hour in a city you only claim to know.
But you couldn’t help it, you loved how the city sparkled after nightfall, and so you wanted to take in as much of it as you could in the quiet of the night.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be back as soon as I can. You don’t have to stay up waiting,” you reply.
For a person wanting to enjoy the stillness of the midnight air, you sure were booking your way past downtown with music blasting through your headphones.
It’s the most bittersweet feeling as you let yourself fall to the stairs of the deck that overlooked the bay, your eyes tracing the city’s skyline. You were used to spending every summer since middle school visiting your brother. And just like all the other times, at the end of the night, you always found yourself here. This city had grown to be your second home, to the point you would recognize the place as it showed up in the background of any movie or video, it always felt familiar.
You’re snapped out of your trance when a taller figure approaches the steps, seating himself right beneath the level you were at. His broad shoulders turn in your direction, and you watch as his mouth moves. Instinctively, you turn around looking to find which individual he was interacting with, except there was no one there. Your eyes slightly widen as you pan back to him, slipping the headphones off your head.
“Sorry, were you speaking to me?”
He stifles a laugh before he continues, “Yes, unless you see anyone else around here that I don’t?”
Stuttering, you finally manage to say, “Nooo? I just don’t personally know you, so I assumed when you spoke that it wasn’t directed at me. But do I give off the vibe that I can interact with spirits?”
Fuck. Why did I have to include that last bit? He probably thinks I’m weird.
The man was beautiful, in all the sense of the word despite the fact that the only illumination was from distant streetlights and the faint glow of the moon. But if anything, it added a sense of mystery, which only added to your intrigue. But of course, this is how you deal with an encounter with a good-looking stranger.
“I mean, it would add to your aesthetic, not going to lie. But no, I didn’t think so, at least I hope not. I don’t deal with the concept very well,” he admits.
“So, you’re scared of the dark is what I’m hearing,” you lightly tease.
“Yeah, and this place gets so eerie in the dead of the night. It wasn’t the same vibe earlier this morning.”
Not what you would’ve expected from him, he seemed like he wouldn’t be afraid of anything, let alone the dark.
“I kind of like that about this place. It goes from being so lively, like the most scenic painting to such quiet stillness, almost like a sketch of nighttime.”
The silence that follows your statement makes you rethink why you say the oddest things at the most random moments.
“I swear I’m just a regular human lol,” you awkwardly follow-up.
“Now that’s odd,” he remarks.
“What is?”
“I’ve never heard a person say ‘lol’ while speaking…” he trails off. “But no, I just was trying to picture what you said about the painting versus a sketch, and I think I agree.”
You could make out in the faint light that he was trying to concentrate on that picture in his mind, and something about him was eerily familiar. But then again, everything about this place was.
“So, anyhow, the reason I spoke initially was to ask you if it was alright that I sat with you.”
“Oh, yeah no, it’s all good. This is a public place after all and you’re free to sit anywhere,” you remark.
“Yeah, but it’s late in the night. I didn’t want you thinking I was a creep or was about to murder you or anything.”
You laugh at this, not because it’s funny but because leave it to you to not realize any potential danger or threat. But to be fair, this is one of the safest cities in the world.
“I mean I feel like you had the chance to but haven’t, so I’ll take your word for that, I guess.”
You look at the moon’s reflection on the still water, wondering how you got to this point to begin with. You didn’t just have full blown conversations with strangers, no matter how good they seemed to look.
“I should probably get going,” you state, grabbing your bag.
“Crap, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.” He looks at you apologetically.
“Oh, not at all. My brother just didn’t want me staying out too late is all.” This was probably a good move, right? At least he knows there’s someone who’s keeping tabs on you.
“Ah, so you’re from around here then?” he inquires.
“Yeah, I guess you could say that.” It wasn’t the truth, but it was close to it. You probably also don’t want a stranger knowing that you’re not a local.
“Okay, good because I’m not. And I’m a little lost,” he finally admits.
If this didn’t seem like a death wish already, it lowkey was beginning to look like one now. This is literally what all the thriller/mystery movies you love have prepared you for.
You awkwardly laugh as you stand up, patting your dress clean.
“Actually, I was hoping you could help me find my hotel? It’s the Fullerton Hotel,” he asks hesitantly as he mirrors your action.
“You’re kidding right?” You twirl around in your place. “This is where your hotel is,” you state, stopping to point at one of the huge buildings behind you.
He climbs up a level to follow your line of sight. “No way, you’re kidding right? I spent the last forty something minutes trying to figure out how to get here?”
You laugh heartlessly, this had to be one of the best moments of your summer.
“Yeah, looks like it,” you say as you walk up to the top of the deck before you look back to him. The light from the buildings now catches his face and you’re taken aback. His face wasn’t just eerily familiar, he looks exactly like-
“I’m Jin, by the way,” his arms extend toward you for a shake once he’s made it beside you.
There was no bloody way this was happening.
You take his hand and hope that he doesn’t notice how sweaty your palms got.
“I think I know you?” you say as your face slightly contorts, trying to decipher if you were trippin’ or not.
“Right. Yeah, you probably do. I’m a part of this group, we make music. Actually, we just had a concert earlier in the evening.” He looks a bit flustered although how you aren’t the one blowing up into fumes right now, is beyond you.
“Yeah, I love your guys’ work!” You feel your eyes get wide and your cheeks rise high the way they do when you talk about something you genuinely like, and you hope that’s enough to relay the feeling than just that simple statement.
“Oh, so you do know who I am,” he states, almost like the observation was just made.
“I doubt anybody doesn’t. Everybody loves you guys! At least, everybody with taste does.”
“Well, I appreciate that you love our work. What about us though?” His question was confusing to say the least.
“Sorry?” is all you can manage in response.
“You just like our work orr…?” He ducks his head in embarrassment, as if that was the dumbest question he’s had and can’t bring himself to finish it without losing some ounce of his self-respect.
“Ohhh, you mean, do I like you guys in addition to enjoying your music? Of course, from what I see, you guys seem super chill.”
Super chill? You’ve never wanted to facepalm any more than in this moment. Did you suddenly forget all the adjectives known to mankind?
You hear his strained laugh and walking away right now to go jump into the water doesn’t seem like a bad idea at all.
“Well, I’m glad you think we’re chill. We are, for the most part.”
“Yeah, I bet. Sooo…. it was great meeting you, and I’m glad I could escort you to your hotel,” you tease once again.
“Please let’s not mention that I feel like an idiot already,” he sighs.
“Don’t worry about it, I’ve been worse. Well, I shall get going then,” you smile trying your bet to hide the shock and the tiredness on your face.
“Actually, uh, would I be able to take you out to lunch tomorrow?” Jin’s ears were burning red and while it made you feel a little more at ease with him, you were glad you didn’t have any such evident tells.
“Oh wait, was that you trying to flirt when you asked me if I like you guys?” you giggle helplessly.
“Not exactly. I was trying to gage your interest. Usually if I’m ever speaking with a girl, they’ve almost always told me that they love me already.”
You didn’t know if he was just inherently being cocky or if you just caught him off guard, but either way, you wanted to clear the air.
“I don’t really know you to claim to like you, but I know the work you’ve put out which was why it was easier for me to speak to that. Don’t take it the wrong way though.”
“I see, that’s fair. I can work with that. So would that mean you wouldn’t mind if I took you out?” he tries to confirm.
“I thought you’d have more game, homeboy, not gonna lie,” you joke as you lightly swat his shoulder. How very typical.
“Homeboy huh? Is this like the subtle way to turn down such an offer around here?”
“Oh, I wouldn’t know. I’m not really from here. But no, lunch would be great! You can have my number, here!” you say as you spin your phone towards him so he can note it down.
“Let me know what time works for you, I’ll see you then!” You hurry back home but not before you stop and wave at the boy before leaving.
The look of confusion and delight on Jin’s face is the highlight of your night. This was going to be one hell of a summer.
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A/N: I've been slowly getting back into writing and so I'll try to be more consistent with my uploads. For now, I just got started on this small and easy-going piece, it isn't much but I hope you guys like it!
