⟼ hitch

@m. sakura .ᐟ The bass thumped through the floor, the rhythm vibrating through Yeonjun's legs as he leaned back against the bar, a half empty glass of cherry juice and sprite being nursed. Neon lights flickered around the room, casting vibrant streaks of color over the crowd that pulsed with energy, loud and wild. It was the kind of scene he didn't usually seek out, the music, the lights - he could appreciate the carefree chaos of people dancing and laughing, at least. The usual buzz, whether normally annoyed or not, felt hollow.

His birthday.

The thought made the carving on his skin ache, reminding him of why he'd stopped celebrating when he stepped foot on Earth.

He let out a faint, dry laugh and shook his head before taking another sip of his drink. It wasn't like he expected things to suddenly be different, but the weight of the night pressed down on him more than he cared to admit. The people around him were having the time of their lives, even celebrating one or two other birthdays, but for Yeonjun, it all felt like background noise, distant and far off.

His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he pulled it out, staring at the screen before unlocking it. No new messages. What had he expected? He didn't exactly have a long list of friends. As he stared at the random app notification, he sighed before glancing around the club. On impulse, he opened his texts and began typing.

╰➤ to: little monster ♡
   ✓ wanna make out in a club bathroom?
   ✓ to celebrate with me
   ✓ it is my birthday, after all :wink:

He hit send before he could overthink it, tapping at the edge of the bar. Sakura. She always knew how to make him feel better, even on nights when the world felt too big and he felt too small. She'd already given him a wonderful birthday surprise, one he'd never remember, especially as he spun the keepsake ring on his finger. Maybe she'd have time to show up and drag him out of his funk - hopefully he wasn't interrupting her work. Maybe she was too busy but texting was something. Something to hold onto in the middle of the noise.

He stared at the screen as it dimmed before shutting off completely, before slipping his phone back into his pocket. The drink in his hand suddenly felt heavy and he swirled it, gaze shifting to the dance floor again. The neon lights flickered, making it seem like everyone's features were simply blurred. The group closest to him erupted into laughter, their joy almost contagious.

Almost.