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Seungmin sighs as he takes a glass of champagne on a tray passing by next to him. In all honesty, he does not even like that much the taste of alcohol but tonight he really prays for the sparkling bubbles to save him from the awkwardness he is feeling and the overall uncomfortable feeling tightening in his guts.
Gosh, he wishes he were anywhere else but here. He gulps down entirely the drink, wincing at the taste but immediately grabbing another one.
Usually, Seungmin is good at finding excuses to not attend this genre of party, his parents would hate it every time but without being able to contest it, so he had not been attending those parties in a few years now. Thus the incredible discomfort he is feeling right now, surrounded by people he vaguely knows and remembers but not enough to have conversations with, in an atmosphere that feels like it is suffocating him and pointing out all the way he does not fit in. The bright lights hurt his eyes, the music is too loud, his clothes too tight and the multiple layers are making him sweat.
But a deal is a deal, and he promised his parents he would attend this one if they would let him attend his literature courses, that they judge too much of a distraction for someone his rank and obviously, not useful enough for when he would inherit his parents company. He lets out another sigh, he looks forward to that moment, to the sweet taste of freedom.
He locks eyes with some people as he drinks his second glass of champagne, this time slower, he has a very low tolerance to alcohol and he wants to keep his head clear enough and act his best behavior so he can go home to his parents as soon as the party ends with a fake sulky face, telling them no one was interested enough in him anyway. His parents would be disappointed but he’s gotten used to that with time, it does not hurt as much as it used too. He can deal with the disappointment, definitely not with a relationship – and then worse a marriage – he does not want with someone that he would probably find dull, at best, or hate, at worse.
Because this is what all this is about after all. Rich, or high ranked kids, of their town getting in together, once or twice a month, since their youngest age, so that the connection would be made and they would marry well (hear there, in the appropriate social rank) when they reach the right age. And Seungmin is dangerously reaching that age, thus the pressure of him attending growing. He hates everything about this and he hates everyone in the room, except for Minho, his best friend since he was a kid, that is probably mingling somewhere in the crowd. Minho hates these kind of parties as much as Seungmin does but he always manages to fake his social skills a bit better and he often tells Seungmin to focus on the good parts, alcohol, good food and decent hookups. Seungmin does not really think that those are good parts for him, but if Minho finds his fun, then good for him.
His glass is getting emptier by the second when he locks eyes with someone he is positive he has never seen before. Seungmin’s never been very attracted to people in general, sure, he would know when someone is objectively pretty, has a nice smile, or eyes, but it is not the kind of things that would stuck up to him, but for once he has to admit that this person is the most beautiful person he has ever seen, and he does not think he could have forgotten a face like that. Long delicate blonde hair falling down, framing his face, plump lips tinted in a soft red lipstick, and dark eyes enhanced by dark eye shadow and liner. Seungmin feels like his breath has been taken away.
It is very subtle but he notices quickly that he does not fit in the scenery either. From the way his jewelry do not shine as brightly as real gold should, the way his clothes do not fit them correctly, like a bit too lose over the wrist and slightly too short at his ankles, and finally the way his shoes seem to already have been used before, especially outside. This with the lost puppy look on his face and the obvious surprise then delight in his eyes every time he eats something. It makes Seungmin smile softly, although it makes him curious.
The stranger gets how Seungmin has been analyzing him from head to toe, and blushes. Seungmin catches himself swooning, feeling himself being pulled toward this person without explanation.
“Seungmin,” he hears Minho call him.
It is enough for him look away, breaking whatever tension he was feeling, and when he tries to find the stranger with his eyes once again, he is nowhere to be seen. He sulks.
“Yeah?” he answers to Minho, dryly.
His friends rolls his eyes, “you’re a delight as usual. I was just checking up on you.”
Seungmin is still scanning the room. He feels greedy to have just one more look at the beautiful stranger, he can not control it, he just wants to see him just one more time.
“’m fine,” he says distantly.
He does not see how Minho is staring at him, nor the smirk on his face, “you seen something you like finally?”
He blushes, “don’t be stupid, of course not, I’ll go get some air okay?”
And before Minho can ruin anything else – even if he can not be aware of it -, he disappears into the crowd. He excuses himself politely as he pushes people to make his way out of it, he vaguely hears the conversation, some people even trying to greet him, but he ignores it, almost running toward the big archway door to the balcony.
It is a spring night, and the darkness has just fallen, the stars are bright and numerous in the sky, the air is warm yet the breeze helps him finally exhaling. He had not realized he had held up his breath all that time. The balcony leads to the big garden, and if the patio itself is lit up, this part of the mansion that is so well maintained during the daylight gives off a gloomy atmosphere during the night. Their parties always happened in the same places, so Seungmin is familiar with it, and so are the rest of the guests. However, it is not the same for the stranger who he spots awkwardly walking down the stairs to the garden.
He feels his heart dwell in his chest and he does not think when he almost runs toward him. He probably hear his footstep because he stops and turn around. In the dim light, Seungmin can see the blush has not left his cheeks as he is trying to look everywhere but in his eyes.
“Listen,” he says, like he is surrounding for something, “I really don’t want any problem.”
He can not help but notice how soft his voice sounds.
Seungmin raises an eyebrow, “and I really don’t want to cause you any problem.”
“Really?” and finally he stops looking away to stare directly at Seungmin with round curious eyes, and he looks so beautiful, “oh.”
Seungmin has never been the impulsive kind, not the talkative one, but he sure does like to tease so he tells him, “you thought I would throw you out because you were certainly not invited here?”
He hopes the stranger can see the amusement in his eyes. For a moment, he thinks he did not catch the teasing as his face turn into a terrified expression, “is it that obvious?”
“Well,” Seungmin starts wondering if he should teaser him even more, “for someone observant, but you’re pretty enough to blend in.”
He blinks several time, “you think I’m pretty?”
Now it is Seungmin’s turn to be caught off guard, he had thought the stranger was already well aware of that, or have been told so for all his life, enough for him to not notice it in his speech. He coughs awkwardly.
“I think you’re pretty too.”
Seungmin blushes so much he hides his face behind his hands, it makes the stranger laugh.
“I’m Hyunjin, and you are right I’m not supposed to be here at all, but I lost a bet.”
“Seungmin,” he mutters, still embarrassed by the sudden compliment. He takes his hands off his face. It is not like no one has ever told him that, but it has a whole different meaning when the feeling gets reciprocated, “and I am unfortunately supposed to be here.”
“Unfortunately?”
He shrugs, “I’d rather be anywhere else but act like I have any interest being here.”
“I thought this was the best parties for people like you.”
“Like me?” he asks even if he can guess the answer.
“Rich people.”
Seungmin sighs, he leans on the banister rail, “my parents wish it would be, but to me it is just tedious and boring,” and before Hyunjin asks any other question he continues, “how did you lose a bet like that?”
Hyunjin seems to understand that Seungmin does not want to talk about himself more and he does not push, “well my friends and I heard about those kind of parties and we could not believe something like that was real, so we played a game to see who would crash in and I lost.”
He takes his phone out of his pockets, “was supposed to take pics as proof.”
“How did you get in here?”
He knows for a fact that a security service is employed for these parties and checks the name and ID of every guest.
Hyunjin laughs awkwardly, “I climbed the fence,” he confesses.
Oh, that explains the mud on the shoes, Seungmin thinks.
“I know it is childish,” he continues, embarrassed, “but I’ll leave now and never do something like that again. It’s just that I could not believe people actually lived this kind of rich and almost, medieval, if that makes sense.”
Seungmin sighs, it makes way too much sense.
“I’m sorry,” Hyunjin immediately mutters, probably misinterpreting his sighs and silence for something else, “I don’t want to judge you or your friends.”
“No, no, don’t worry,” Seungmin clears up, “I do judge us, that’s why I hate being here so much, everything is just so fake and privileged, and I know I still enjoy the benefits out of it. That’s probably why I hate it so much, it is hypocrite of me I guess.”
He catches Hyunjin staring at him for a bit too long, once again he hopes he would not ask any other question because he really does not feel like exposing all his thoughts and contradictions right now, to a complete stranger.
“Will you hate it, if I asked you to dance?” Hyunjin blurts out.
Seungmin blinks several time, “actually I’d like it a lot.”
Hyunjin smiles and it is brighter than the stars above them.
*
When they enter back the room, Seungmin does not feel as overwhelmed as before. Suddenly, he feels like the music is just right, as the live orchestra is now playing a soft ballad song, and some people are already slow dancing to it. The lights are perfect because he can fully see Hyunjin’s face and the details of his features, his make up and his accessories. If Hyunjin’s not as rich as he is, he probably still has taste when it comes to enhancing himself, as if he needed it in the first place isnce he also seems like the natural kind of beauty. There is not enough layers of clothes on him as he can feel like Hyunjin is touching his skin directly when he takes him by the waist, his eyes asking if it is okay to touch him like and Seungmin just nods. He feels like he is burning up, but it is oddly the only sensation he could ask for.
They start dancing, and Seungmin has never danced before during these parties. He has learned the basic of slow dancing because his parents made him, and it is stuck in his head like an automatism, but usually he does not like it that much. Hyunjin takes the lead, obviously comfortable with the movements, Seungmin wonders if he dances a lot in his life because he sure seems like it, pulling Seungmin closer, while still making sure Seungmin is okay with it. It feels easy, to follow Hyunjin, and he is not overthinking the steps or walking on his foot like he had thought he would while dancing, it feels light and airy, like Hyunjin makes him float above the floor. He holds on to the other man with strength, although not hurting him, because he feels like if he were to let him go, he would fall, his heart is beating like crazy in his chest, and he can hear Hyunjin’s doing the same.
The crowded room is distant, he does not notice the other couples dancing around them, all he sees his Hyunjin’s face and his eyes, the way he is also staring at him, and the beautiful pink blush on his cheeks and nose. All he hears are the notes of the music that is swaying them around, not the chatter of the room. All he feels is the way Hyunjin holds his hand and his waist, the way his fingers digs a bit tighter every time he brings him closer. All he thinks is how beautiful Hyunjin is, how attracted he feels for someone he knows nothing about and the shock of such strong feelings for the first time in his life. He wonders what Hyunjin thinks.
They dance for the entirety of the song, and Seungmin does not feel any tiredness but it eventually comes to an end, and the music goes back to more upbeat songs. Hyunjin lets go of him, and he tries to understand if Hyunjin really is as disappointed as he is or if his mind is making up story.
He wants to say something, he wants to find a reason to keep Hyunjin close but nothing comes up and he is struck down by the awkwardness, and before he can force himself to do anything, Hyunjin’s phone buzzes. He checks it and pouts.
“I have to go,” he tells him.
“Oh,” Seungmin answers. His disappointment obvious, “let me walk you to the entrance, with me they won’t ask anything.”
It lights up Hyunjin’s face, Seungmin hopes that it is because of him and not just for the safety of leaving peacefully. He decided not to think anymore and grabs Hyunjin’s hand to once again go through the crowd, he pulls him without looking at him, too afraid to see him dislike the contact.
As he had expected it, the security does not stop them when they get out, recognizing Seungmin who confidently look at them with a nod. He brings Hyunjin toward the big portal, where several cars are parked.
“My friends,” Hyunjin says pointing a car at the very end of the parking.
Seungmin nods and then the situation hits him and he starts laughing. Hyunjin just stares.
“Did I say something funny?”
“No I’m sorry, I was just thinking and I thought this gives such a Cinderella vibe.”
Hyunjin opens his mouth, then closes it, and thinks. Eventually, he laughs.
“Well, is my prince okay with kissing the lonely princess that I am before sending me off to my evil step sisters? Or do I have to wait until I see you again?”
Seungmin feels once again the blush heating up his face, he has wanted to kiss Hyunjin for a moment now but hearing it is different.
“I could not let you go back to the evil without a kiss goodbye,” he whispers, impressed at his own boldness.
Hyunjin is slightly taller than he is so he pulls him a bit lower by his tie knot, shutting down any other thoughts in his mind when he feels Hyunjin’s lips on his. Hyunjin lets one of his hand cup Seungmin’s cheek so he can kiss him properly, a bit chastely but charged with things he does not need to say out loud. It ends quickly because Hyunjin’s phone vibrates once again, so Seungmin pulls back.
He feels like his heart is at the tip of his lips. Hyunjin rummages through his phone like he had not left Seungmin out of breath, like he had not shaken up his entire world with a simple kiss.
He almost turns his heels around when Hyunjin gives him his phone, “please, I don’t want you to go through the entire city to find me again, these parties are medieval in spirit but we do have technology now.”
Seungmin snickers and he puts in the phone his own number, “here.”
“Then, I’ll see you again Seungmin.”
Without notice he leaves another kiss on his cheek and then waves him goodbye, disappearing in the parking lot.
Seungmin gets hit with how cold the spring breeze is now without Hyunjin. He wants to run to where he had left his phone and check immediately if Hyunjin had texted him, but maybe he is getting his hopes high for nothing. Hyunjin could not know his behavior tonight was so out of character for him, that he would have never thought he would dance so intimately with a stranger, even less kiss them, but maybe it is something Hyunjin would do easily. He could not know how wonderstruck he had left him. He touches his lips where he had just been kissed, he wonders how long he has to wait before seeing him again.