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In-ho felt strangely alive, driving through the thin and windy roads of Ssangmun-dong with Gi-hun in the passenger's seat. A persistent energy thrummed through his veins as he cruised. It was a strange sensation, something similar to an adrenaline rush.
In-ho pressed down on the gas. Thankfully, the backroads were mostly empty at this hour, perfect for late night college escapades and dates.
"I'm guessing you don't want to go home just yet?" In-ho asked, hoping for a specific answer. He let go of the steering wheel with one hand to cross his fingers.
"Nope,"
In-ho sighed with relief that Gi-hun didn't notice. He said exactly what In-ho had hoped he would. Gi-hun seemed adament about his words, despite his head already lolling towards the window and his eyelids drooping.
They drove on, In-ho focused on the road and Gi-hun staring out the window wistfully. The drumming of the engine providing a soft hum for them in the background. Their silence was nothing but comfortable, despite only knowing each other for three days at most.
Their first date had been a pleasant evening to spend with Gi-hun. They'd both finished their homework early enough (well, Gi-hun was always finished early since he 'only studied on Tuesdays'. In-ho was sure his missed assignments agreed with him).
They'd visited a restaurant and went for a walk across the city's promenade. It was good to learn that Gi-hun wasn't above a good old-fashioned restaurant date. In-ho wasn't sure what made him doubt that in the first place, but Gi-hun just hadn't seemed like the type.
There was live music playing at the promenade that Gi-hun enjoyed enough to stand and listen to. It had been a man with a violin balanced on his chin.
The scene was so romantic that there might as well have been red hearts floating in the air between them. They stood straight in their long coats, so close together that their hips were touching, even though there was plenty space to stand in the small crowd of people. The air wasn't thick with anticipation or tension, but neither of them dared to move.
And despite it being nearly summer, the evenings got cold and Gi-hun hadn't brought a scarf.
In-ho held the steering wheel with a white knuckled grip as he thought back to how cute Gi-hun looked wrapped up in his scarf. It was a memory he would savour forever.
Gi-hun had even let In-ho hold his hand on the walk back. The evening really couldn't have gone any better.
In-ho glanced back to Gi-hun, who now snored lightly with his cheek pressed against the window. In-ho was glad he was catching up on some much needed sleep. They haven't known each other for long, but the persistent dark circles under Gi-hun's eyes were a dead give away of his sleep schedule.
In-ho couldn't help but think of a time in the hopefully not so distant future where he and Gi-hun would spent their nights cuddling in bed for Gi-hun to get sleep rather than driving halfway across Seoul.
He looked absolutely adorable, and him being still bundled up in In-ho's scarf was the cherry on top. What he had done to deserve such an angel In-ho would never know.
Just then, In-ho realized that he had spent the last half an hour driving in a daze, head completely in the clouds, swirling with thoughts about Gi-hun. The sky had gone from navy to purple to black in what felt like a couple of minutes.
Gi-hun stirred with a yawn and a stretch that made him look suspiciously like a cat. The glass of the window left a red imprint on his cheek. "Where are we?" He asked, his voice lightly rough from sleep.
"I haven't a clue." All In-ho could tell was that the road they were on led back to the city. He stole another glance towards Gi-hun, "And your hair is a mess." He— very helpfully— added.
Gi-hun blushed at that, his hands coming up to cover his face. "Shut up."
Neither of them minded though. They both didn't want to go home or leave each other's company just yet. The unspoken understand hung in the air between them, but it didn't weigh them down half as much as In-ho thought.
Suddenly, Gi-hun broke the silence. "It's beautiful, isn't it?"
"What is?"
"The sky," Gi-hun pointed through the windshield. "You can see the stars. They'll start to fade the closer we get to the city. Light pollution and all that."
"I suppose it's good we have our own stars right here on earth."
Gi-hun raised his eyebrow. "Oh yeah? And what would those be?"
In-ho stiffened his jaw in an effort to suppress a blush. He was so dumb God save him. "I know it sounds cheesy, but dare I say— you?"
At that, Gi-hun turned sharply to the window and In-ho couldn't help but laugh.
And just like Gi-hun said, the city's lights bloomed in the distance as they reached inner Seoul.
Then, In-ho spotted it. He squinted his eyes to get a better look at... a school bus? At this hour? And a yellow double-decker at that. The massive thing stood out in the middle of a mostly empty road.
Just as they were about to pass the bus, it swerved right into them. In-ho froze and Gi-hun screamed, his hands flying to the steering wheel— but it was no use.
The sickly crunch of metal was the last thing they heard.