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"You know," You huff as you adjust the large stuffed quokka in your arms, "as cute as it was to win me this, it probably would have been cheaper if you just bought this from the vendor outright.."
"My pride would have never allowed that," Jisung says casually as he continues to pull you through the crowd, his grip on you tighter than you thought impossible for him.
When did he get so strong?
You haven't seen your best friend Jisung in months. He's been off traveling the world touring and promoting his music while you were busy working. You knew that when he came back, he was going to want to spend as much time as he possibly could to make up for lost time. You thought it would be how it always was: nights in either at your apartment or his dorm with movies and whatever food you wanted. When Jisung told you that there was a festival he wanted to go to, you were shocked. It's loud, crowded, and overwhelming; all the things that Jisung normally dislikes when going out into a public space. In all honestly, you've spent most of the day checking out for his warning signs in case he became too overwhelmed. Not that you minded staring at his face.
"How does your pride feel about how much you just spent right now?" You giggle, because you can't help but laugh. The whole idea of Jisung spending over an hour trying to win you a stuffed quokka because you turned to him and said "Look, it's you" is completely silly. His response after he won the oversized stuffed animal is even sillier.
"There, now you'll have me around when I'm away on tour,"
You weren't sure what he meant by that. Ever since the creation of the skzoos, he's always made sure you had every variation of Han Quokka. At first, it was to "keep you company" while he was away and then it became, to "add to the collection." And still, you're not sure what it was about what he said this time that made your heart race around your entire body and your breath hitch in your throat.
Maybe it's the fact that you've hardly seen him in over a year. He was on tour for most of the year last year, only coming back for the holidays, but you went back home to spend time with your family. And then it felt like he was only free for a week when the world tour ended. The boys almost immediately went back to work on their next album. And then promotion for that album, followed by the creation and promotion of a Japanese album, and then yet another creation and promotion of another album. On top of that they have various schedules for interviews, award shows, content for their fans, and so many other things, that you're surprised Jisung even has time for you right now.
And yet, here he is, wearing a black, oversized ratty old Wu-Tang Clan shirt that he said he thrifted while he was on tour in the States, a pair of baggy jeans that dragged on the floor, and a pair of off-white sneakers that made him a little taller than he actually his. With his face concealed by a black bucket hat and a face mask that spent more time on his chin than it did on his face. It's almost like he wasn't international superstar Han Jisung, but your best friend. The first friend you made when you moved to South Korea to start a new life.
"Are you happy?" He asks suddenly, carefully pushing his way through the crowd of people.
You're quiet for a moment, confused as to why that question would even cross his mind. "Yeah, why?"
"Then my pride doesn't care," Hey says simply.
Has he always been like this?
Bold isn’t a word you would use to describe. Confident? Yes, absolutely. He wouldn’t be where is he today if he wasn’t at least a little bit confident in himself. But bold? You were always more of a risk-taker of the duo and made more decisive decisions. Jisung has always been more cautious, only taking risks with his career. Even then, that was more confidence than him being bold. After all, being confident is the only way anyone could survive in the industry.
Finally, there's a break in the crowd as Jisung reached the front of the crowd. The festival hasn't been too crowded the entire time you've been there. The two of you went earlier in the day to avoid the crowd so Jisung could walk around comfortably without being recognized. But as the sun began to set, more people came making you feel more anxious. Not because you dislike crowds and the havoc that they bring, but because Jisung does. And he's been having such a good day, you didn't want it to end.
You've caught yourself starting at Jisung more times than you care to admit. Small glimpses throughout the day. Little things about him caught your eye. The way his skin would bronze in the sunlight. Or how his eyes would become a fine line when he laughed, really laughed. And how his large, gummy smile took up most of his face. And the little pout he would do when he was doing poorly in a game. Or the way his face would turn red when you would turn to steal a glance and he was already looking at you. And the small smile he'd give you when he would catch you staring.
It's normal, right?
How happy you are spending time with Jisung. How your heart hasn't stopped pounding since he grabbed your hand 5 minutes ago. And the way your stomach has been doing acrobatics every time he laughs. You've just missed him.
And here he is, standing in front of you without the barrier of a screen.
"Do you know what the Japanese word for firework is?" Jisung asks suddenly.
The two of you are sitting comfortably on the grass at the front of the crowd, and yet he still holds your hand. Not that you mind. You can hardly see his face in the dark of the night. The stalls and surrounding buildings started turning their lights off or dimming them as the crowd started to settle down for the fireworks show.
"I barely know the Korean word for firework," You chuckle softly in response.
"Fair enough," He chuckles back, "It's the same concept in both Korean and Japanese so I guess I could have just asked if you knew the Korean word."
"Same concept?" You tilt your head to the side while looking at Jisung. Your eyes slowly adjust to the dark, allowing you to make out the familiar features of his face. "What are you talking about?"
Jisung turns his attention in front of him. Nothing is happening, and yet he stares off into the distance. "Bulkkoch. Hanabi. In both languages, firework is made up of two characters. Bul and hi both mean fire in their respective languages. Then kkoch and hana mean flower. So in direct translation, firework is either fire flower or flower fire."
"It's prettier than the English word, that's for sure. Seems lazy in comparison. It's literally just a work of fire for us."
"I think so too. But of the two, I think hanabi is the prettier." Jisung turns his attention back to you. "Reminds me of you, somehow."
You're not sure why, but your breath hitches in your throat and your heart starts to flutter like the wings of a hummingbird. He's just your friend. But maybe, just maybe, you have feelings for him.
You don't know when it started or if there was even a starting point to be had. Maybe you've always had feelings for him and you just didn't realize it. Spending time with Jisung is the happiest you've been in months. Your stomach and cheeks hurt from laughing so much. And maybe your feelings for him were there in the subtext of it all. You've never laughed this much with any of your other friends. You can't remember the last time someone made you so much in one day. Nor do you think you've never felt such joy hearing someone say your name before. Out of all the things he's ever sung, your name is your favorite song.
"Y/n," Jisung mumbles. You're certain your eyes are playing tricks with the light.
You freeze as Jisung's face slowly gets closer to you. So slow that you're not sure he's moving. Still, as the scent of his cologne becomes increasingly stronger, you stay completely still. As if any sudden movement will scare him away. And he might. You're not sure where Jisung's confidence is coming from but you know better than anyone it's just a facade that can be easily shaken. And, if what you think is happening is happening, you don't want to deter him from continuing.
You should stop him. Remind him that the two of you are in public and anyone could see. Anyone could take a picture and send it to dispatch. But part of you is selfish, wanting a part of him for yourself after sharing him with the world for so long. A part of him that you know he can't share with his fans.
Your eyes close instinctively as he's only inches away from you. You slowly lose your nerve as he stops moving closer, his breath tickling your face. Maybe he realized what he was doing. Maybe he--
Your mind stops racing as Jisung's lips gently graze yours. So softly at first, you think you imagined it until he leans in more, closing any and every gap between your lips.
It's a simple kiss, in an innocent way. And yet, you feel a jolt of electricity run through your body. Like Jisung is an outlet and you're a kid who just shoved a fork in it. So innocent and yet, your entire body is on fire, tingling like all of your nerves are miniature fireworks going off all at once.
Hanabi
Jisung slowly pulls away, leaving you breathless and your head spinning.
You're no stranger to kissing. Neither of you are. You've done it more times than you care to count throughout your life. Some with people who've meant significantly less than what Jisung means to you. And somehow, you've never been left so breathless from a peck on the lips before. Judging by the look on Jisung's face, illuminated the various colors of the fireworks you didn't know were going off, neither has he. You want to kiss him again.
"Wow," you both mutter in unison.