⟟ beach

@♀ baek wonhee as he leaned back, indulging in a sip from the carton of milk, he couldn't help but smile as wonhee described his aura. midway through his drink, however, his amusement caused a misstep, and he found himself choking on the milk. quickly recovering, he turned away, cheeks flushed not just from coughing but also from embarrassment. after ensuring he was alright, he redirected his focus back to her.

"i'm okay, i'm okay." he assured her, clearing his throat and edging closer once more. "you think so?" he inquired, his smile returning as he listened to her observations. "well, that's good for you. i feel like everyone's kind of seen me already. maybe i'll invest in a fake mustache and bald cap so nobody would recognize me when i go out." he joked, a chuckle escaping him as he glanced out at the rhythmic movements of the ocean waves.

suddenly, a chill breeze swept by, prompting him to realize the temperature drop. concerned, he turned his attention back to her. "hey, are you feeling cold?" he asked, genuine concern evident in his tone as he considered her comfort.

@α ryu hajoon she elicits a gasp when he offers her a carton of banana milk, reaching out to hold them with both of her hands before her lips close around the tip of the straw. the first sip made her sigh contentedly, the bottom of the carton later propped on her right knee. she finds him still staring at her with a smile on his face when she looks back; this causes a blush to spread on her already flushed cheeks. it's a good thing that he probably couldn't tell it apart by merely looking.

“it's the best combo i could think of at the moment,” she tells him instead, shaking her head to ease him up— as well as herself. she wouldn't even mind if he brought nothing. in actuality, she'd already planned out on asking him to go eat something warm before they head back home. “also, it's really hard not to recognize you. you have this—” she waves a hand in front of him, drawing an invisible circle, “— certain aura around you that no one can't replicate. as for me...” she pauses this time around, sniffing loudly again and using the same hand to rub her nose using the back of it. “no one's seen me go out. i also made sure that i'm kilometers away from the dorm before i notified mika that i'd be going out. that way, she won't be able to block the door and keep me in.” she smiles proudly to herself, much like she's outsmarted a sly fox. “all in all, i've been doing great so far. thank you for asking.”

@♀ baek wonhee settling onto the soft sand, hajjoon edged nearer to her until the blanket enveloped them both, its warmth cocooning them in a comforting embrace. retrieving a carton of banana milk he had picked up from the store earlier, he deftly inserted a straw before offering it to her with a gentle smile, a silent gesture of comfort amidst the chilly night. as he heard her response, a wave of relief washed over him, dispelling the nagging worry that she had endured the cold while waiting for him. "that's good. i was worried you might get too cold," he confessed, his concern evident in the furrow of his brow, his gaze lingering on her with a mixture of fondness and relief.

a fleeting shadow passed over his features as he recounted the encounter with the cashier, a momentary frustration breaking through his typically composed demeanor. yet, refusing to let anything dampen their reunion, he swiftly refocused his attention on her, cherishing the precious time they shared together. "someone just noticed me, even when i was wearing my mask and beanie," he explained, a hint of annoyance lacing his tone as he recalled the incident. with a sigh, he shifted gears, aiming to lighten the mood with a small confession. "i bought chips and banana milk for us to snack on though. it's not the best combo, but yeah," he admitted with a self-conscious chuckle, his fingers opening his own carton of banana milk. "anyways, how have you been?"

@α ryu hajoon her head turns the second she hears the sound of his voice, the street lights behind him creating somewhat of a halo that blinded her for a split second. by the time she's able to see clearly again, he was next to her— and wonhee is once again struck by the beauty that is ryu hajoon. in the years that they've known each other, way before they were on speaking terms, he'd been dubbed as one of the best looking artists in the company. to know him personally has only added a charm that wonhee wasn't immune of. he was supportive— his presence calming. there is a certain allure to him that even he is not aware of. and, like an animal caught in a snare, wonhee couldn't find a way to save herself from it; she'd long realized that she also didn't need saving.

smile widening, she shifts closer to him, one arm extended so he could get under the blanket where it's far warmer, her fingers pinching the other end of it. “you didn't. i wasn't here that long,” she lies easily, scrunching her nose when it felt a little harder to breathe from the cold. her eyes turns sharp then— teasing, “where were you, anyway? had to detour because someone was following you?”

@♀ baek wonhee his footsteps echoed in sync with the hushed rhythm of the night as he raced towards the beach, enveloped by the soft embrace of twilight. his limbs felt heavy, weary from the unrelenting demands of a twelve-hour rehearsal session at the company studio. before leaving, he made a conscious choice to cloak himself in nondescript attire, seamlessly blending into the bustling urban landscape to avoid the prying gaze of curious onlookers. driven by the persistent growl of hunger gnawing at his stomach, he veered into a nearby corner store, the fluorescent glow casting elongated shadows across the aisle. amidst the muted hum of refrigerators and the faint rustle of plastic packaging, he sought solace in the familiar comfort of snacks. with practiced ease, his fingers traced the contours of his favorite indulgences: a chilled carton of banana milk nestled beside a crisply folded bag of savory chips. yet, as he approached the checkout counter, his carefully constructed facade crumbled beneath the penetrating gaze of a sharp-eyed fan girl. despite his instinctual urge to slip into anonymity, he found himself ensnared in the spotlight of recognition, begrudgingly conceding to the weight of his celebrity status as he exchanged currency for sustenance. with a terse nod and a fleeting glance, he hastily retreated from the confines of the store, his pulse quickening with the urgency of their impending meeting.

as he emerged into the cool night air, a sense of apprehension gripped his heart, punctuated by the rhythmic cadence of his hurried footsteps. though aware of his lateness, he clung to the fragile hope that wonhee would forgive his delay, her presence a beacon of comfort amidst the darkness. with each stride towards the shore, he reached for his phone to find her contact until his gaze fell upon a familiar sight: the blanket they always shared during their beach meetings. "wonhee!" he called out, his voice carrying across the sand in hope of reaching her. drawing nearer, he settled beside her, a sense of relief washing over him. "i'm sorry, did i keep you waiting?" he asked, concern etched in his voice. with a quick motion, he removed his mask, revealing a warm smile while his heart raced at the sight of her face.

@α ryu hajoon she missed this— missed staying past midnight just to smell the familiar breeze of the sea; liked how quiet the night is as she huddles under the blanket that she'd brought with her. it was too big for her, but, considering the other person she's waiting for, it would be enough. she couldn't even count how many times she'd found herself pressed up to him with this blanket draped over their shoulders, hiding the many secrets they shared in whispers, in places no one would find them together.

tonight will be no different, wonhee convinces herself, but as the minutes pass, she begins to worry that he might bail on her this time around. they hardly every talk these days, after all, juggling between schedules and practices as the company scramble to provide necessary promotions for their artists to continue being relevant to the industry. while she can't fully fault him if he does so, she'd hoped that he'd message her at the very least— or give her a hint considering that he was actively chatting on the company chat. it was as if he'd read her mind, however, and since then, the smile on her lips never faltered. with another shift under the blanket, wonhee watches the sight before her serenely, eager and waiting, her chin digging on her left knee.