Aman Banquet Hall

@lee dongmin the question astounded him—he did not think he was so obvious in his displeasure, but perhaps he shouldn't be too surprised. dongmin knew him, after all. perhaps better than most people. so, instead of denying it, he helplessly smiled and shook his head. "too many people," he simply stated. that was a lie. but he'd rather not tell his best friend that he wasn't having fun at his grand event, solely because the latter couldn't give him much of his attention. he'd feel too pathetic.

@hwang hyunjin "i've been dying to leave, actually." dongmin sets aside his drink and guides hyunjin through the crowds of attendees, mainly sticking to the side as to avoid any more invitations for forced conversation. he'd send the occasional smile whenever he met someone's gaze, though it was clear from the stride in his steps that he had places to be. mainly, the comfort of his own bedroom. heaving a sigh of relief once they make it to the elevator, he looks over at hyunjin knowingly. "be honest. you're not having a good time, are you?"

@lee dongmin the moment of silence that filled up the undeniable space between them evoked a feeling of discomfort from within hyunjin, who had already given up on pursuing dongmin tonight, convinced that he wouldn't have a chance at all. he was busy throughout the event—understandably so—so to have the latter be with him was quite... unexpected. let alone the question that had just been asked, because hyunjin was certain his friend would have more people to greet.

he let out a sound of surprise as his eyes traversed the sea of guests, before turning back to the male beside him with a small shrug. "if you'd like. lead the way."

@hwang hyunjin "oh, i would love to. it was a pleasure meeting you!" dongmin bows politely, watching her saunter into the crowd. the thought of having dinner with her was intimidating to say the least, maybe because he had a feeling that she could see right through him.

dongmin turns his attention back to hyunjin and clears his throat awkwardly. unsure what to say, he allows the background chatter and live music to fill in a few beats of silence.

"do you want to get out of here?" he was planning on leaving before he caught sight of hyunjin anyway, and judging by the way his friend had been boring a hole into the floor with his drink in hand, it didn't seem like he wanted to be there either.

@lee dongmin hyunjin had always admired his mother's spunk, her blatant disregard for formalities when it came to his friends was one of his favorite qualities about her. she was always warm to his friends; always loving and accepting despite meeting them for the first time. and she was do different, now, as she spoke to his best friend as though they had been friends for years.

he was smiling as he listened to their conversation, introductions with his mother always so amusing to him, because she never failed to bombard the other with questions. that smile waned a little, however, when dongmin spoke about his date.

"oh, i'm sure there's nothing i can tell you that hyunjin hasn't already told you," she chuckled, glancing at her son. her expression waned, too, but only for a second, before that warm, bright, motherly smile returned to address dongmin again.

"we should have dinner sometime, though. but for now, i should leave you two alone, hm?"

@hwang hyunjin 'i adore him too' is what dongmin wants to say, though he doesn't get a chance to speak before hyunmi begins bombarding him with a series of questions, her eyes crinkling with excitement. funnily enough, she reminded dongmin of his older sister— fiery and unapologetically direct.

he lets out a nervous laugh as he attempts to tackle each question one by one. "we met through his cousin, lin- i mean, minho." that was a close one.

"i got my undergraduate degree at cornell and i'm currently finishing my mba at nowhere. shame that hyunjin and i didn't really get to know each other until after he graduated," he says, looking at hyunjin knowingly.

dongmin ponders over her last question, not sure how to phrase his current relationship with nara. "and i am seeing someone, yes," he admits, unable to meet hyunjin's eyes this time.

"but enough about me! tell me more about yourself." dongmin clasps his hands politely, a sad attempt at changing the topic.

@lee dongmin "nonsense," hyunjin heard his mother say before he lifted his eyes from the floor, just in time to catch that smile gracing dongmin's face. he thought him beautiful like this—genuine smiles always made people look better than the ones they fabricate.

"of course he would have come, he adores you," hyunmi continued, reaching out to affectionately pat the male's shoulder.

"mum--" hyunjin sighed, to which his mother waved her hand at dismissively.

"anyway, tell me about yourself. how did you two meet? where did you study? do you have a girlfriend?"

@hwang hyunjin pleasantly surprised, dongmin leans in to envelop the woman in a welcoming hug. she was a lot more friendly than he had expected. "really? he's told me a lot about you as well." he glances over to hyunjin as he pulls away with an amused smile, noting that her exuberant personality was not a quality he had inherited. "thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to join us tonight. otherwise, i don't think hyunjin would have come."

@lee dongmin as quickly as the blink of an eye, his friend's façade dropped. a cheerful disposition gave way to exhaustion and potential unhappiness, to which hyunjin did not need to ask about in order to understand. this party was his family's presentation, not his. hyunjin knew him well enough to know that the party was more overwhelming for the older than he made it seem. he was probably exhausted—this was perhaps just another "work" thing for him, did he not have to greet everyone in the party despite not being well acquainted with absolutely anyone. but that was just a guess. what did hyunjin know, anyway? he never had to host a party such as grand as this.

he didn't realize he had lost himself in his thoughts until he heard his mother speak up from beside him, her delight radiant and unmistakable.

"oh, i know who you are!" she chuckled, opening her arms to welcome the man into an embrace, if only he wanted to. "my son has told me so much about you!"

"umma," hyunjin muttered, chuckling in embarrassment as he averted his gaze.

@hwang hyunjin it’s an empty compliment, dongmin knows. events like these were always beautifully staged on the outside and completely superficial in meaning. the trained smile slowly disappears from his face as he lets his guard down, just as he’s done so many times before in hyunjin’s presence. it was painfully evident that the younger was not enjoying his time, and dongmin could only regret not coming over to check on him sooner. “thank you, we try.” his gaze travels to the woman besides standing besides hyunjin. she couldn’t have been much older than him and possessed many of the same striking features. it takes him a moment before the realization dawns on him. “you must be hyunjin’s mother.” dongmin immediately bows in greeting, unsure why he felt so nervous under her gaze. “i’m lee dongmin, hyunjin’s friend… it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

@lee dongmin there's something so isolating about grand parties, hyunjin realized as his eyes flickered over the sea of people—most of them faces he did not recognize. and while he was used to attending parties where he felt out of place, nothing could compare to how he felt tonight. so he clung to his mother's side like a little boy, keeping her company just as she accompanied him, although she proved to be far more outgoing than her son. but hyunjin didn't mind; the people he did know were off conversing with others and surely having a grand old time. so he elected to remain silent, sipping on the same glass of champagne while he stared at the floor, mind wandering. that was, until he heard a familiar voice—the very one that he had only heard once that evening in greeting, and didn't think he would hear again before saying their goodbyes.

"happy new year, dongmin," he greeted, sending the male a smile that did not quite mirror the latter's, nor reach his eyes, but was convincing enough. "beautiful party."

@hwang hyunjin after a long night of dancing, overly excited greetings, and boring small talk, dongmin finally finds some time to rest. he finds solace at the drinks table in the corner of the hall, where for a moment, he doesn’t have to play the role of the lee family’s youngest son. sensing that he was tired, his date decides to attend to her friends on her own. he gives her hand a grateful squeeze when she pecks him on the lips and turns to pour himself a drink. dongmin’s debating leaving for his room when he catches sight of his friend and his feet shift in the other direction. “happy new year, hyunjin.” he greets with a smile bright enough to mask his exhaustion.