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It was only an hour since he'd arrived but somehow Jae-Ha was already finding himself nearly two cups into his drink of choice for the night. Sleepy but still coherent, he found it hard to keep his mind from wandering away from the conversation at his table and out the dance by the campfire instead. Or rather, the individual still sitting sullenly out at the furthest picnic table.
“You’re staring again.”
Jae-Ha nodded blankly, taking another sip of his beer before setting the half-empty cup onto the picnic table. “I’m gonna invite him to dance.”
“I told you, he doesn’t dance.” Yoon snatched the cup off the table before Jae-Ha had the chance to grab it for another half-hearted sip. “You come here night after night and flirt with everyone else. Why do you insist on bothering the only one who doesn’t want your attention?”
It was true; Yona corralled her haphazard group of friends every weekend into a small park where a local band played for free to those who would listen. Each weekend she watched as the two park stage hands helped set up the amphitheater and casually assist them in setting out amps, as if she didn’t hold interest in either of the two men. Every weekend he listened to her gush about Hak and Soo-Won, Zeno excitedly yank out each person for a dance under the summer sky, Yoon complain about how he could be using this time to read and what did he fixate on? The one individual who Yona invited but firmly sat himself across the park and away from the group.
Jae-Ha shrugged. Yona would get him another drink if he asked politely. If she ever came back off the dance floor, laughing as Zeno twirled her for the fourth time that night. Zeno was an excellent dancer. Zeno wouldn’t have failed at inviting this man out. He sighed again. “I’m going to ask him out to dance.”
“Suit yourself,” Yoon muttered, returning to his game of cards with Shin-Ah. “It’s your self-esteem that’s being slaughtered, not mine.”
“Can’t be disappointed if there’s nothing to disappoint,” Jae-Ha claimed, tapping his temple wisely. He reached for his cup but Yoon, expecting this, pulled it further towards his game. “I know he sits alone for a reason. He’ll come sit with us one day.”
“He only avoids us because of you.”
“He barely knows me.”
“You have a reputation.”
“Thank you.”
Shin-Ah frowned slightly from behind his cards but remained silent.
“Inviting him to dance is not the solution. Just leave him alone. In fact, don’t say anything at all. Maybe then he will come and sit with us.”
“Yona shouldn’t be the only one having fun,” he replied, watching as Zeno dipped Yona so low her hair nearly grazed the grass. One would think she was being courted by him and not the two stage hands. But then again, one would have to know Zeno to know that wasn’t true. Jae-Ha reached for his cup once again, only for Yoon to toss the remainder of his beverage out onto the well-manicured lawn. “Alright, I guess I’m done drinking for the night.”
“You’ll get another when he rejects you again. I’m preparing for the inevitable.”
Jae-Ha chuckled, shaking his head. Clapping his palms against his knees in self-encouragement, he rose to his feet. “Watch me.”
He made sure to make a spectacle of crossing the fairly short green, noting how Yoon rolled his eyes as he danced around Zeno and Yona, making sure to spin her at least once himself. Three feet away from Kija—who was most certainly ignoring him at this point—he waved widely and announced himself with a loud shout over the booming amps. Kija had learned at this point; the closer he was to the amps, the less he would have to hear. Clever.
“You should come out to dance,” he bellowed over the live band. “It’s such a warm night out today. It’d be a waste to stay seated here.”
Kija made a show of pointing at his ear, mouthing ‘can’t hear you’ before turning his gaze back out to the peaceful sound. Still, Jae-Ha had said to watch and regardless of how many nights he’d been turned down before, he wasn’t about to quit trying now.
“You really aren’t going to sit out here all night, right?”
The music boomed behind him, most likely eating the majority of his words. The band would take a brief intermission soon, that he knew by the way Yona was slipping away from the dance floor to guzzle down her water. She’d be busy getting flirted with herself soon. Slipping into the seat beside him, Jae-Ha grinned widely, leaning onto his arm over the old picnic table. “Are you still mad?”
“What?”
“Are you still mad at me?”
“I don’t know you.”
“You can be mad at me and not know me.”
“I don’t trust you.”
“Why not?”
Kija replied quietly but the way his nose wrinkled in distaste made it obvious it was meant for his ears. “Couldn’t hear you!” He replied loudly.
“You’re a flirt and I’m not interested in being your fling!” Kija shouted just as the music petered out. A few couples giggled behind them, Kija’s ears burning fiercely as he snapped his gaze back to the peaceful waterfront. The band made a muffled announcement of taking a recess but Jae-Ha was too enthralled with how the sunset shimmered against his platinum hair to note their words. Leaning closer over the table, he peered up beyond Kija’s palm plastered against his cheek, failing miserably to hide his embarrassment.
“So, I’m a flirt, am I?”
“A shameless one,” Kija muttered, words muffled through his hand but the bite behind it audible all the same. “You can go find someone else to flirt with. I’m not interested.”
“But I am.”
Kija huffed loudly, refusing to make eye contact.
“You’re looking awfully red there, need a drink of water?”
“Sunburn,” he snarled back. Jae-Ha noted the embarrassment reaching his eyes, ever so vaguely watery, and took pity on him.
“While I’m not rescinding my offer out to the dance floor, I do think Yona would appreciate it if you joined the rest of us at the other table. You must want some kind of friendship between us, otherwise you wouldn’t come down with us every weekend.”
Kija peered over at Yona, both of them watching as she beamed between Soo-Won and Hak by the stage. “I don’t dance. I just want to make sure they’re up to standard.”
Jae-Ha snickered. “Well, that’s one thing we all have in common. If you’d bother to look at us once in a while, you’d see that we care about her too.”
“I know,” he mumbled, turning his mouth back into the confines of his palm. “Don’t need to be in a group to watch out for your friend.”
“But it might be nice anyways. Aren’t you a little lonely out here?” At this Kija blinked, hand pulling away from his face just enough for Jae-Ha to catch his surprise.
“I like being alone,” he answered quietly, surprise slipping away just as quickly as it had come. “It’s peaceful.”
The red hues of the sun gleamed beyond the strands of hair that framed his face, glowing against his pale skin. An honesty sparkled in his eyes and for a moment, Jae-Ha forget why he’d come over, too caught in the innocence that could be heard behind his response. He almost felt guilty for teasing him so relentlessly. Almost.
“I can respect that.” He replied instead, ignoring how the words caught in his throat. Instead, he turned back towards the makeshift dance floor, pretending to care about the matted grass and how irritated Yoon looked at losing yet another match to Shin-ha. “I can leave you alone if that’s really how you feel.”
“I don’t mind company.” Kija mumbled, nails scraping loudly against the old boards. “I just don’t dance.”
“Neither do I. Zeno makes it work though.”
“Zeno doesn’t have an embarrassed bone in his body.”
“What about you?”
“I’m not about to embarrass myself out there in front of strangers.” The mere mention of it seemed to raise Kija’s voice an octave higher. Jae-Ha laughed, leaning his back onto the picnic table once more.
“So, what about private dances?”
“What about them?”
“If your issues are strangers, then you should have no problem dancing one on one? Alone in a room with another person?”
“You mean a couples dance.”
“Why not? If dancing in front of strangers is a problem, then dancing in a room with just one other person should be no problem.”
“You mean dancing with you.”
“I see you’re catching my drift.”
Kija made a strange expression, something between a smile and grimace, and shook his head. “I don’t dance.”
“Have you tried?”
“No, because I don’t dance.”
“How would you know if you don’t try?”
“I just know.”
“If Yona asks you to dance, would you?”
Kija glared, this time turning to face him fully. “I am not about to change my mind just because our mutual friend said I should dance!”
“How much would you bet on it?”
Kija gaped. “What?”
“Let’s bet on it. I think you’ll cave instantly. If you cave, let’s say...one dance. If you don’t cave, I’ll never ask again. Deal?”
“I’m not going to cave!”
“So, you’re certain?”
“Absolutely!”
Jae-Ha pulled out his phone, quickly typing out a text to Yona knowing fully well she was too far to hear him shout. He watched her across the field as she pulled out her own phone, read the text, then turned to find them seated together. Kija flinched beside him, as if the gravity of the bet were just hitting him. Jae-Ha snickered, nudging him lightly in the side. “You sure you won’t cave? I haven’t met anyone who can say no to her.”
“Shut up.”
Yona waved wildly as she ran over, glittering phone case catching beams of sun from her hand. “Kija, Jae-Ha said you’ve been sitting here alone this whole time. I thought you said you would sit with them this time?”
Kija flushed for the second time that evening, suddenly unable to look at Jae-Ha or Yona’s gaze. “I-I was enjoying the sunset. The sound looks lovely at sundown.”
Yona shook her head tiredly, though the smile didn’t leave her face. “Well, it’d be nice if you joined us for a while. The band is going to start up again in a minute. You should come out and dance with us. Zeno makes it really fun.”
“You’re a much better dancer than me, I couldn’t—”
“Oh hush, I’m not that good. It’s really just Zeno flipping me around.”
That was a blatant lie, Jae-Ha knew, having seen her dancing around more than once as she cleaned her apartment. Still, Yona’s smile grew wider and the sun bounced off her lavender eyes and he knew. He could see Kija wavering, shoulders slumping as if he knew he’d already lost. No one said no to Yona after all. He wondered if she knew and that was why she’d bounced over instead of ignoring his plea for support. “It’s fine, I’ll just watch the sunse—”
“No, you promised you would try to make nice with everyone this time. Go dance. It’ll be fun.”
He felt a bit of twisted satisfaction watching Kija wither in his seat but remained silent up as Kija glumly agreed to dance at least one song. “So…you wouldn’t cave, huh?”
Kija didn’t respond but the daggers he glared spoke volumes. Rising to his feet, he crossed the field with surprising speed, barely giving Jae-Ha time to react. Sprinting after him, he balked as Kija ripped took one of the empty cups and filled it with the spiked lemonade he’d brought as a joke and poke at Yoon’s healthy spread of foods and drinks. Shockingly, Kija inhaled the cup in one go, quickly reaching for a second serving, interrupted only by Yoon’s outstretched hand, blocking him from the handle. “Woah, what are you doing?”
“Getting drunk,” Kija grumbled, attempting to push Yoon’s hand aside only to be met with more resistance. He sighed audibly. “Yona asked me to dance for a song. I’m not dancing sober. Let me get drunk Yoon, please.”
“Hell no, not at the rate you drank that one.”
The band began retuning their instruments and Kija whined in response, visibly nervous. Jae-Ha was starting to feel a bit ashamed at his underhanded trick. He would have to delete the original text to Yona later. Kija would never forgive him if he knew that he’d essentially begged Yona to ask him out to the dance floor. Beyond his guilt, Kija wrestled Yoon for the cup, Shin-Ah having discarded his hand and attempting to pull the cooler back towards the other side of the table. Shaking his head, Jae-Ha stepped forward, placing a hand over Kija’s arm and pulling him back off the cooler.
“What are you doing—”
“You’ll be fine, come on. The song is going to start. Just rip off the band aid.”
“Or better yet, don’t go,” yelled Yoon.
“She’ll know,” Shin-Ah stated, as if everyone didn’t already know that Yona’s word was law.
“It’ll be fine,” Jae-Ha consoled, dragging Kija back towards the field. “Just one song and you can go back to your dramatic musing.”
“I am not dramatic—”
“I’m literally dragging you to the dance floor.” He stopped firmly in the middle, hands folded over his chest. Kija stood stiff, finally catching the sound of band’s announcement. The inevitable would happen soon. He looked to the right, as if begging Yona for an excuse but either on purpose or by chance, she happened to be busy speaking with Hak and Soo-Won once more. Kija whined again as the song started, looking away as people began filling the dance area once more. Without another thought, Jae-Ha reached forward, grasping Kija firmly by the hand. Self-pity interrupted, he looked up.
“No one is looking. Just you and me. It’s easier if there aren’t any strangers, right?” Kija blinked, as if he didn’t know what to make of his words. Jae-Ha gave his best confident smile, despite the appearance of butterflies in his stomach, the clamminess of his hands that Kija was sure to feel between their pressed palms and the drumming of his pulse in his ears. “Trust me, it’ll be over sooner than you think.”
The upbeat intro strummed through the ear, but Jae-Ha was too wrapped in the heat of their shared grasp to notice. Grabbing the other free hand—as if it would hide how nervous he suddenly felt—he began swaying them to the beat. Kija stared at him bewildered, eyes darting from side to side in quick intervals, as if afraid someone would tell them to stop. Yanking him closer, Jae-Ha yelled over the bassline. “Relax, I don’t bite!”
At this Kija laughed, shoulders shaking with each peal that was buried under the chorus. Jae-Ha could feel his face heat slightly, but chalked it up to the exertion of pulling two bodies in dance instead of just one. Instead, he worked harder, spinning Kija in small tight circles and pulling him closer as they swayed to the beat. Kija burst into nervous laughter, griping their hands tighter. “What are you doing?”
“Enjoying the moment!” His shout was a symptom of the volume, or so he told himself. Kija chuckled authentically, the nerves slipping from his voice as quickly as they came.
“You’re crazy!”
Jae-Ha shrugged through their linked arms, releasing him into another spin that was utterly inappropriate for the type of song they were dancing to. It didn’t matter. Zeno made it work after all, why couldn’t he? “Just enjoy yourself!”
Kija’s eyes rolled but he danced all the same. Together, they made an absolute embarrassment of themselves, Kija sputtering whenever they bumped into another person and Jae-Ha laughing as he pulled them away once more. Kija didn’t seem to notice when the song ended, nor that they continued for yet another. As the guitar hit its final chord, Kija’s arms dropped like weights, landing firmly on his knees as he worked to catch his breath. Jae-Ha snickered, though he was barely in better shape. “Well, did you enjoy yourself?”
Kija scoffed, shaking his head. He stood alarmingly still for a moment, slowly bringing a hand to his mouth before shaking his head again. Jae-Ha hesitated, forgetting his own air intake and placing a hand on Kija’s back. “Are you alright?”
“Nauseous. Need to sit.” Kija muttered through his hand.
“Oh, uh. Alright.”
Carefully leading but quickly guiding him out of the crowd, they made for the picnic table where Yoon already awaited them, foot tapping incessantly. “He’s not feeling well,” Jae-Ha explained sheepishly, aiding Kija as he sat on the open bench.
Yoon scowled. “Of course, he doesn’t! He didn’t eat anything, inhaled your lemonade, and then you spun him like a top around the field. I’m surprised he made it through two songs.”
“I get headaches,” Kija mumbled, looking positively pale compared to earlier. “Used to feeling nauseous.”
Irate but too motherly at his core to let it, Yoon threw his cards on the table. “I’m going to the car to get the water bottles and some more food. I don’t care how nauseous you feel, you aren’t leaving this park unfed. Shin-Ah, come help. Don’t. Move.”
Jae-Ha held his hands up surrender, struggling to hide his smile as Yoon stared him, walking away at top speed with Shin-Ah looking back worriedly from time to time. As they left the near vicinity, he took the opportunity to take a seat beside Kija, who’s head still leaned forward, continuing to breath in slow increments. “I’d hold your hair back if that would help?”
Kija grunted quietly, clearly not in the mood for idle chatter. Jae-Ha sighed, placing his hand on the others back, rubbing small circles. “Sorry, I uh. I’m not great at apologies and I can be a bit stubborn. I shouldn’t have goaded you out to dance like that.”
He looked out to the stage. Yona and Zeno were still hanging out with Hak and Soo-Won, pointing out people in the crowd as if they recognized their faces. She always had a strange charisma to her, grabbing attention so easily. He envied her at times like these, when words came so easily to her. He began pulling away, well aware he’d overstayed his welcome. “I’ll leave you alone if you want. Just wanted to apologize.”
Kija’s hand landed firmly on his knee, sending a sharp chill up his spine. Staring blankly, he slowly sat back down. “I can stay,” he replied softly, though the chill still lingered on his arms.
The sun had almost set by now, a noticeable chill filling the park. Surely, he was just cold. They sat together in silence, the band vibrating the very air around them as they watched the bay waves shimmer in the distance. Halfway through the song, Kija sat up, still pale but no longer grimacing. “I should have eaten something.”
“Yoon was hurt,” Jae-Ha teased lightly, still vaguely guilty. “His whole thing is mothering you to death. You deprived him of the opportunity.”
“You’re a decent dancer,” Kija spoke, as if he’d barely heard the conversation. He turned slightly, examining him carefully. “And less good of a flirt than I initially thought.”
Jae-Ha stared, unsure of what to say. Pink still lingered beneath his pale cheeks, bright from the exertion of their dance and his lips seemed brighter against the frost of his skin. Swallowing back the reemergence of the butterflies, he shrugged. “What can I say? I found someone that caught my eye.”
They stayed locked in each other’s gaze for a moment, before the blush caught up to both of them, forcing their eyes in opposing directions. Yoon was already halfway back, having stopped by Yona to point them out, finger jabbing in their direction with such ferocity Jae-Ha knew they were about to be reprimanded again. Despite how clammy he felt, he placed his hand over Kija’s, grabbing his attention once more. “I’m going to keep Yona from running over here. Someone deserves to get flirted with properly tonight. I’ll talk to you later?”
“…Are you going to take me out dancing again?”
Jae-Ha chuckled. “Is that what you want?”
“It wasn’t…truly awful.” The blush had reached his ears again.
“Save the last dance for me.”
“If you say so.”
Jae-Ha laughed, releasing his hand and rising from the picnic table. He waved his farewell over his shoulder, an effort to hide the intensifying blush that was spreading to every inch of his face. Speeding up into a healthy jog—surely Yona wouldn’t catch on—he hurried to Yoon, who was already livid that his patient had been left alone.
Perhaps one more dance wouldn’t hurt.