⊹ 𑁍 beach.

@ꕤ ⋮ ❛ l. dongmin｡ [h] “hey! I have you know I haven’t repeated that incident with anyone else!” he couldn’t help but the emit a bubble of laughter into the night. however, it was only soon after the genuine smile in his eyes and lips would wilt ever so quickly like a daisy meeting its fate in fall. it was when his lips parted to retort once more, but he was rendered speechless upon the confession. “oh,” he’s taken back, but he quickly forces a smile, timbre softer than the previous, “our golden boy’s booked and busy in america. looks like they need you, huh?” he bites back the ‘I need you,’ that dies in his throat time and time again because it’s not like it mattered anyway.

he knew this talk was to be discussed sooner or later—a forever with dongmin was never guaranteed. he was leaving, again. taehyung could only draw back into his spot on the ground, both hands perched behind him as he stared at his shoes in thought. he thanked himself for not hurling his wishes; however, there’s no denying there’s a bit of shame knowing his wish garnered no possibility. a fool, again.

he emitted a breathy quiet laugh with the shake of his head, succumbing to his pitiful thoughts. albeit evidently saddened, he returned the delicate gaze with a murmur, “what did you like here the most?” he prays for his voice not to crack from how much he holds back nor the devastation that continues to sink in. for some reason, his flight a month away meant nothing because in this moment it seemed like he was bidding his early goodbyes. “it was nice having you here, really. I…” but with his eyes slowly feeling the burn, he looks up to the star-littered sky with a couple blinks, “I’ll miss you.”

@ꕤ ⋮ ❛ k. taehyung｡ after staring at his lantern for the longest time and wracking his brain for a wish, dongmin scribbled down the word ‘purpose’ on a whim. over the last few years, he began to lose joy in the process of filmmaking. “good point,” he chuckles, gazing at taehyung fondly. “then i guess you could say mines was also nothing special.” it’s his fault for being a romantic, for associating taehyung with a golden past filled with unfettered optimism. just the very sight of taehyung reminds him of his youth, of what it meant to create simply to create. to roam the streets of paris without a care in the world, surrender to one’s desires and cry over one’s mistakes. to love and to be loved. that’s what it means to live. maybe things would be different if he realized his wish a little sooner.

“hey, i’m not that old,” dongmin huffs in feign offense, reaching to grab taehyung’s hand away from his hair. “thank you, but i’ll pass,” he laughs, remembering how mortified taehyung looked the moment he cut a little too much, exposing a whole patch of dongmin’s scalp right on top of his head. it looked goddarn awful and dongmin’s friends wouldn’t let it go for weeks. if it was anyone else, he wouldn’t have hesitated to give them a piece of his mind. but because it’s taehyung, he can look back at it and laugh. “i’m sending my condolences to anyone you’ve been practicing on,” he hums playfully as he softly runs his thumb over taehyung’s palm and the lines he once memorized.

after a few moments of silence, dongmin takes a deep breath and prepares himself. “by the way… you know how i mentioned i wasn’t going to stay around for too long?” he slowly lets go of taehyung’s hand and leans in a bit closer to face him. “i'm leaving next month,” he planned to state with definiteness, though it comes off as an insecure whisper. he forces a gentle smile when he realizes that it hurt much more to utter those few words than he thought and carefully observes taehyung’s face for any reaction. “i’m…” instinctively, dongmin begins to apologize until he realizes there's no reason to. there were no promises this time, nothing to regret. at least, that’s what he tells himself.

@ꕤ ⋮ ❛ l. dongmin｡ time seems to be slipping away from him fast, but at times, too slow to be true. it wanders and paces in intervals like when it seems to halt when they look at each other too soft and too intimate behind the façade. he follows his steps away from the crowd, unhooking the shades on his eyes onto his shirt, hushing out a near breathless thank you. taehyung hopes he isn’t reading too much, but he’s no fool—he knows dongmin’s response falters much deeper than the surface. it’s what he gets for memorizing his frown lines when he would wake up first… remembering each expression like an author knew their books and series to the spine.

but he’d be in denial for the sake of shielding hope… despite the way his breath hitches at the request and despite him biting back the response that the only star he’d ever sought out to see was holding his hand in this very moment. taehyung settled down beside him on the grass with a smile, eyes glued to the moon and her gleam against the waves that kissed the shorelines. he couldn’t help but to laugh at the question, tipping his chin near his chest with the shake of his head. “didn’t they say that if you expose your wish, it won’t come true?” he asked, a brow raised in amusement as he peers at the director. in the same moment they meet eyes, the breeze cards drifts past them in a whisper, calling him a dunce for wishing such a wish. “nothing special,” he utters with his world in his eyes when the wish meant the universe, “how about you?”

he’s unsure of when he leans over so close that his chest brushes against his arm, but he finds himself squinting briefly at a strand. he lets his fingers graze over it with a mumble, “haven’t seen you in years and you’re already growing white hai—oh.” but when the shadow of his hand reveals the strand to be a fluke, he breaks out into a wide smile with a soft laugh, hand rested on his shoulder with his chin layered on top. too comfortable but also too drawn, he’s always been touchy and affectionate so he knows this isn’t anything new to dongmin. he stares at the side of his face, gaze probably dreamy as he mumbles, “your hair is getting long. do you need a haircut? I swear I’m better now… I won’t give you a bald spot like I did that one time and you had to wear a hat for two weeks.”

@? ⋮ ❛ k. yoojung｡ [ February 13th, 2022 – the start of the lantern festival ]
the lantern festival was always a time for celebration and a way to bond with close friends and on occasion, acquaintances. he loved the festivity of decorations in vibrant hues of red, among the expanse of the sandy shore of yeongwon’s beach. it’s not beyond him to long for the grainy feel underneath his feet as he steps onto the sand, swept by the waves as he dips his toes into the water.

but this year’s lantern year felt more like a somber reconciliation with his past. even with the sunset meeting the horizon, sending a fiery kiss to the night right as it arrives at the same time as he did, there wasn’t a sense of calm. uneasiness took its place, worry about the person who he once kept around his finger would slip out of his grasp once again. why does he let his uncertainty talk him into this, as if they didn’t clear up the misunderstandings already? it certainly didn’t help that he kept his meetings with her under wraps from his friends, though, he wouldn’t be surprised if some of them had an inkling of what’s bound to happen, not with the quips made about him having multiple outfits prepared for the occasion.

but at the moment, yoojung mattered most to him, and the possibility of being the of his friends’ jokes mattered to him less as he held onto the image of her nestling in his arms.

he smoothed down his black sweater a couple times to make sure there were no creases, adjusting his matching cap as well. as he felt ready enough, he ambled over to where he caught a glimpse of yoojung, a sliver of her silhouette never failing to catch his attention. once he started to speak, act two of their (awkward) beach meetings began. “hi yoojung. you mind if i accompany you for tonight?”

@ꕤ ⋮ ❛ k. taehyung｡ “did i ever stop?” dongmin replies without a beat, sincerity laced in his words despite the look of regret in his eyes. in all honesty, he wishes he did— wishes he didn’t spend so many sleepless nights yearning for something long gone, haunted by the image of taehyung’s knowing gaze the night he foolishly confessed his love for someone else. although dongmin doesn’t show it, he’s just as surprised as taehyung when the familiar pet name accidentally slips past his lips. there was a time when they could whisper sweet nothings to one another unapologetically. now, it stains taehyung’s ears with embarrassment and leaves dongmin with a bitter feeling in his chest. he wants taehyung to say it again. to say it again like he means it.

for the first time in a while, dongmin is scared to voice his thoughts. “i want to watch the stars with you,” he admits as a matter-of-factly even though it’s only half of the story. he takes off his sunglasses and clips it onto his shirt collar. reaching into his wallet for some change, he leaves enough money on the table for their accessories and more before gesturing them to continue on with a nudge of his head. it’s hard for him to gather his thoughts when they walk through the crowds of people and make their way towards the fields beyond the beach. the sound of the lively crowds is enough to fill the stifling silence between the two of them. when they’re far enough from the festival, all that’s left is the quiet night air, the faint sound of crickets, and their light steps as they make their way up a small hill by the coast.

“this is my favorite spot in the village.” dongmin sits down on the grass and pats the spot besides him. unlike the polluted city sky, the stars glimmered with life here. he takes a moment to appreciate the beautiful night sky before diverting his attention to taehyung. “by the way, i’m curious… what did you wish for?” although dongmin was genuinely curious, it was also a half-assed attempt at small talk. anything to delay the imminent goodbye he planned.

@ꕤ ⋮ ❛ l. dongmin｡ “always,” taehyung smiled, squeezing his hand as he’d never miss a chance to be with his beloved. he ignored the way his heart skipped a beat like the way they once skipped and kissed in the rain like their days were endless. he let his soles dance behind him like the way they danced in his paris apartment before making love on a red wine high with stars in their eyes. he watched the way the light bounced and dimmed off of dongmin’s face like when the windows of the european trams were hit with the shadows of buildings and beams. his breath shuddered with the wind when he saw all the colours of the skies, stands, and lights illuminate the film director’s eyes. his own nearly burned, overwhelmed with the beautiful sight in his grasp.

“a puppy,” is all he could find himself uttering, cluelessly and evidently as if he’d been daydreaming. “do you still see me that way, min?” a wide smile brimmed upon his face mere seconds later as he quickly reached out to grab a winnie the pooh headband—the bear laid on his tummy on one side with a bee on the other, to place on dongmin’s head. he bites back the urge to pinch his cheeks but he hushes without a thought, “honey.” quickly his face lifts into shock with his ears tinting of strawberries, mortified from the slip of his tongue that followed with the love in his heart, “I mean—“

on the other hand, taehyung was no actor nor did he bother to shield his expressions, but he looked away. with a huffed breath, he glanced down at the trays, carding out a pair of heart framed shades to cover his vulnerable gaze. but there had been a question on his head between the daydreams and he knew him enough to know there was something beyond the horizon to bring them together on this night. “what’s on your mind?” he raised up a matching pair to place on the bridge of dongmin’s nose. “handsome—did you bring me out here to tell me something?”

kang hyewon thinks yeongwon is the most beautiful during sunset, with the way dusty pink and orange hues painted over the regular blue skies, the lighthouse glistening proudly in the background of the wispy clouds. the festival is already in full swing, indicated by the chatter filling the air and the occasional joyous laughter in between. the smell of savory food from the night market next to the beach wafts over due the the gentle breeze, along with the occasional flower petal in its tow. although it's not exactly night time yet, there is already a big crowd waiting along the beach's shore for the lantern festival to start.

she, like many others, is one of them. for as long as hyewon could remember, she had always loved the lantern festival. the lanterns symbolized hope for many people and the beginning of a new year within the town. the lanterns held the wishes of the townspeople and gleamed as brightly as the dreams encased in them as they floated away into the night sky. and yet, amidst the bustling crowd, she feels an loneliness at her side, a void that someone had once filled.

she's wandered off from the rest of her friend group, wanting time to herself, as her own lantern remains undecorated by her side. she's not sure what to wish for. or, more precisely, she's not sure if she would wish for someone in particular. not when she's spent two lanterns on him already. so, instead, she's left gazing at the sun as it sets, wondering if he's somewhere in seoul doing the same.

at least she found solace in the idea that they share the same sky.

@ꕤ ⋮ ❛ j. changmin｡ Always.’ Jiwoo wants to say. She’s not one to focus on someone’s appearance but changmin has always looked exceptionally good, be it in his usual postman attire, or even in his casual clothes, he’d always look spot in. And tonight, there was no doubt he was dressed to his nines, nothing short of impressive. it’s somewhat funny considering how much effort they both put into this date even if they pretty much see each other everyday. And jiwoo’s heart skips a beat as his lips curl into that very smile that she loves seeing him with, then again, there’s nothing she doesn’t love about him, her finger twitches in his gentle hold within his pocket as she tempted to reach up to brush his fringe aside, to gently trace his features, and to give those favourite dimples of hers a little poke, but she was what she was, a coward. Afraid a step too big might ruin whatever they had between them, those years of friendship.

“hmm?” She barely gets a chance to reply, fingers squishing on the warm pack changmin leaves securely in her hands as she looks up at the other walking further away from her, his figure getting smaller as he walks into the crowd. And it hits her that very moment, while the hot pack is warm within her palm, it’s not the same warmth she actually yearns for. And what she really misses is the warmth of changmin’s hand around hers, the way he body would radiate warmth and security from the multiple occasions he held and would hold her time after time. How had she not realise after all this time, while stuck in her own little bubble that she had perhaps started falling for him, a little by a little and what she was feeling right now, was the fear that one he too, might slips through her fingers like someone else did.

@ꕤ ⋮ ❛ k. taehyung｡ the sea of yellow lights carrying the wishes of people that had carved out little spaces in his memories warmed his heart. he was going to miss the calm of the sea and the quiet air where he found peace after wandering for so long. a hand on his shoulder pulls dongmin from his reverie. when he turns to see who it is, he’s reminded of what he’ll miss the most. kim taehyung had the kind of smile that could cure him at his worst and rip him apart from the inside the next moment. “yeah,” dongmin mumbles, gaze trained on the other male as he observes his beauty in the evening glow. he turns to watch the lanterns floating away in the distance for a few more moments before gently tugging on taehyung’s hand.

“let’s go explore.” despite his troubled heart, he maintains an upbeat expression as he guides his friend towards the various stands lined up along the coast. if he had a chance, he would take taehyung exploring across the world— take him to his favorite hole in the wall restaurants and traverse together through snowy mountains, lush green fields, quaint villages, and dazzling city lights. today, he will settle for once last trip together around yeongwon. dongmin had decided from the beginning that his time here would be short. there was so much left for him to finish, so much left for him to accomplish. the longer he stayed, the more it would hurt. not just for him, but for taehyung as well.

dongmin has always been good a good actor. thus, it’s easy for him to pretend like the kiss from last night never happened, like there weren’t any unresolved feelings brewing between the two of them. he peruses through the various stands filled with various sweet treats, savory snacks, and homemade goods. he pauses when a particular headband catches his attention. “hey, this really suits you,” dongmin laughs, fitting the dog ears atop of his friend’s head. he always joked about taehyung looking like a puppy, not just in the way he looked, but in the way he acted. he was too cute for his own good.

— random starter, feel free to reply <3

usually not the type to hike, hyunjung found she chose the wrong kind of shoes for this sort of excursion. she wore short heels so she will give herself that, chunky platforms, but the usefulness stopped there because walking on the sand just made it worse. feeling the grains against her soles and it just being pressed into the skin. it hurt, but hyunjung had been so used to wearings things outside of her comfort zone. she kept trudging through the beach before turning to look at the sea.

it was a cold day, not one to go into the ocean for a swim. and hyunjung wasn't dressed for a fun day at the beach, instead, she wore a pant suit she would reserve for special occasions back in seoul. here, in yeongwon, there was no need for clothes like this, but today was a special day.

"happy valentine's day," hyunjung said to the crashing of the waves. she was bitter, it could be heard in a words. colder than the wind that whipped at her hair. "this isn't about him, no, it's about my mother. i bought these flowers for her." she squatted down on the sand, trying not to think about how the sand would ruin the material. "mother, another year has passed. i have spoken to you in extent about how he broke up with me. you liked him. but now, on the first valentine's i've had to spend without him... i can't help but feel bitter. it's only been two months and i still feel like i'm being torn from the inside." hyunjung didn't even realize the tears in her eyes until she felt them rolling down her cheeks.

"can you believe it? i'm crying over some... some *guy*... you would be so disappointed." she made to stand, leaving the lone roses on the beach. but when she stood, her heel broke, somehow, making her nearly fall over from having the world under her fall. "god, i'm such a mess." she grumbled after regaining her balance, turning to the side to leave. she made a face, and curled her nose in distaste, ignoring the tears on her cheeks as she spoke with ice in her tone.

"what are *you* looking at?"

@? ⋮ ❛ y. jimin｡ he fixes his gaze onto the decorations jimin had pointed to, allowing the corners of his mouth to lift up to a boyish grin as he admires how the lights scatter and dance along with the paper string. an audible 'wow' escapes, although yohan had never even intended to hide his face alight with enthusiasm in the first place. while it was the same few decorations every year, there was no doubt that yohan's eyes would reflect every paper lantern as he fawned over the finer things. he glances down at jimin, showing a cheeky smile that reaches his eyes, the tips of his ears heating up easily when she compliments him, "nah, you should visit one day and see how much they enjoy making fun of me." as if it was an instinct, he reaches for the spare mitten and slides it onto jimin's reddish hands, tugging from the hem to make sure the clothing was secure. "wait one sec," he says with a hum in his voice, cupping both her mittened hands with his, letting the seconds linger before letting go, "just making sure your hands are extra warm since you were working out in the cold for so long. we're good now!" turning on his heel, he traverses back through the crowds of festival goers with jimin, making their way towards the booth selling paper lanterns. as nightfall had settled, it didn't take long for them to become first in line. "so yooji, which lantern are you thinking of getting?"

@? ⋮ ❛ k. jiwoo｡ soft chuckle spills from changmin's parted brims, unfurling into white puffs in the cold february air; they float gently, before shortly dissipating along with the remaining trace of tension between them. "i put in extra effort getting ready for tonight. aren't you proud of me?" his lips curl into an all too familiar grin, bright enough to rival the midday sun. he has learnt that the brighter something shines, the easier it is to hide something beneath its surface. and changmin has always been a museum of secrets and buried feelings. "wait here, okay? i'll get our lanterns." not giving her a chance to reply, changmin soon releases his hold on jiwoo's slender hand; pressing a hand warmer packet onto the open palm before jogging off towards a nearby stall. as distance grows between their figures, he tries to tell himself that it's fine. this much distance is comfortable. safe. it's ironic, how he masquerades as the sun when truly he's no more than a moth drawn towards the incandescent glow of kim jiwoo's fire. 'don't get too close, you'll burn' is a mantra he keeps repeating to himself. funny how with every passing days, his yearning to get swallowed up by the flame only grows stronger.

@ꕤ ⋮ ❛ l. dongmin｡ it was the day of the lantern festival, but even standing at the line where the shore kissed the sea, taehyung wasn’t sure what his wish was going to be. there wasn’t much calamity in his life where it left him pleading to be healed—he simply wished his loved ones were happy in the lives they lived, but such a wish left him in discontent. it was like he wished just to wish rather than putting his heart into it. he stood with the blank lantern in hand besides his friends, watching them kneel and leave their wishes afloat along the mother sea with the light illuminating their happy eyes. “don’t know what to wish for?” one of them asks. he just smiles with a light nod of his head, “you could say so.”

it’s not up until he sees a familiar face tainted in the crowds beneath the oranges and yellows of the horizon. he watches dongmin release his wish and time seems to stop in the same moment the breeze carded past their frames. the last time he had seen him was when they had kissed that prior night… or at least taehyung kissed him when they were wine drunk. he ended up sleeping over, but when his memory relayed that scene crystal clear, he left the next morning with his next days acting like it never happened. but taehyung can’t help but smile as he watches him. however, there’s no denying there’s a solemn glint in his gaze when he finds himself kneeling and writing his wish on his lantern.

‘I wish you’d stay.’ it floats along with the others that have hearts, smiley faces, silly little doodles here and there. a wish that’ll never happen, but he wrote it anyway. he prays his friends don’t see the lovesick fool he is.

the same force of nature had brought him towards dongmin after the release—if it wasn’t the best idea to waste his wish already. taehyung ends up nudging dongmin’s elbow lightly with his own, eyes set on the lights with a wide smile graced on his face. “pretty, huh?” a pause and he finally turns over to look at him. “having fun?”

@ꕤ ⋮ ❛ k. yohan｡ it was easy for jimin to lose track of time, alongside her natural ability to immerse herself into any responsibility that's been given, she was especially prone at forgetting almost everything else when it came down to the lanterns. having spent hours busy fixing up the decorations, helping in lighting up the vast beach from one end to the next, it completely slipped her mind that 1) her phone had buzzed in her pocket just a few minutes ago and 2) the weather had dropped a couple of degrees, and the tips of her fingers were turning just a little too pale. if it hadn't been for the familiar voice that called her by the name she's so fond of, and a quick peek into the shopping bag, she wouldn't have noticed either. "kimyo! oh my god, i'm so glad you found me. i just managed to put up . . " she lifts a thumb to point over to a string of paper chain now hung up between two light poles – nothing too extraordinary, but she'd thought it'd pull everything together. a sheepish laughter spills past her lips when her eyes finally notice the bluish tones upon her fingertips, and she's tentatively reaching into the bag to wrap the scarf around her neck, letting it bunch up her dark strands right against her cheeks. "you really know how to take care of others, huh? no wonder the dojang kids adore you." her compliment was half muttered into the material of the scarf as it covers up to her chin, fingers finally easing into the warmth of one mitten before she holds her other hand out to her friend. "can you help me put the other one on? and then we can go to that stall over there to get our own lantern." maybe if the night wasn't illuminated by orange and yellow colors, the redness that blooms from her cheeks from her request would be all too obvious. . .but it could also be brushed off as the winter's breeze. at least, she hoped the latter saw it as that.

@? ⋮ ❛ y. jimin｡ the stars hang suspended against the night sky but lose their reflection on the water as people suspend their glowing lanterns on both the water and air. it may have been a while since yohan saw this sight properly - but it still left the young man in childlike awe. as he maneuvered through the stalls, yohan spots an old woman selling knitwear and purchases a set of lilac colored mittens and scarf – worrying that jimin would have become a block of ice after working in the cold for so long. as he continues to weave through all the colorful stalls, a smile naturally lifts up the corners of his lips when he spots his friend. with his strides becoming longer, it doesn't take long for him to approach her, calling out her nickname to catch her attention. "yooji! were you waiting long? i got you this just in case you got cold while helping out." he says, holding out the shopping bag with knitwear he purchased from one of the stalls.

@ꕤ ⋮ ❛ j. changmin｡ even when changmin nags, jiwoo can only look up at him quietly, her dark brown orbs filled with pure adoration, as little smile tugs at the corner of her lips. There’s was always something endearing about her best friend when he gets all fussy about even the most minuscule things about her that makes her heart skip a beat. “.. in my defence, i told you i was rushing out and might have left it in eunyoung’s baby stroller.. ” the pout is evident in her voice as she watches as changmin slips his own gloves onto her freezing hand and for that brief moment, she allows her mind to drift off as she wonders if she even deserves this much concern over the years from someone as sweet as changmin is. But at the sound of his short chuckle, jiwoo snaps out from her current thoughts almost immediately. she wasn’t going to let negativity plague her mind, not tonight at least. Perhaps, jiwoo is and will forever be too much of a coward to ever admit, but it was always his smiles and laughter that has kept her going all these years, all the years she was alone. “You sure?” She gives her nose a little scrunch. “Because you do know that your rosy nose is a total give away.” a sigh following as she reaches up to cup his rather cold cheeks within her gloved hands, in hope to warm them up with whatever she could had before allowing him to take her hands into his.

A comfortable silence settles between them save for the occasional soft giggles coming from between her lips as she (not-so) subtly tickle changmin’s palms within his coat while they make their way to the water’s edge. “it’s so pretty tonight.” she breathes a soft happy sigh as she takes in her surrounding. It’s that same exact moment as the male leans over that she turns her head in his direction, her eyes widening by the slightest fraction at the close proximity between them. And in that split second, it’s as if time came to a sudden halt as their eyes met. Jiwoo wonders if changmin can hear the way her heart is racing, thumping loudly against the confinements of her ribcage. And jiwoo for once, in a very long while, is tempted to close the gap between them, to put everyone and everything ( including her conflicted feelings ) aside, to not think about it. But she doesn’t and she can’t. Jiwoo isn’t dense when it comes to feelings. She isn’t a hundred percent sure if changmin holds affections for her, but it’s not everyday, your best friend is there ninety-nine percent of the time when you need him, even if it means taking care of her on behalf of his ‘brother’. And the last thing on her list is to ever hurt him is by making a move on him, not when she wasn’t over eunyoung’s father. It’s only a couple of blinks later when she finally releases the breath that’s she’s be holding, and his words her brain has finally process does she offer him her signature grin. “You too changmin, then again, you always do look good.” She chirps a little too happy for the storm brewing in her head. “Just a little more extra dashing tonight.”

[post deleted by owner]

@? ⋮ ❛ k. jiwoo｡ it might not look like it, but changmin does know quite a few self defense moves. it's one of the basic survival skills he's cultivated back when he was still traveling with his parents. and while he's not exactly a taekwondo master like kim yohan or a towering bulk of muscle like their town sheriff, what he lacks in size and strength, he makes up in agility and lightning fast reflexes. as such, it's generally a bad idea to sneak up on him, even more so in crowded places like this, lest you end up on the ground with a few broken bones. and such fate would have fallen to jiwoo had changmin not, out of pure luck, managed to curb his reflexes at the very last second; the familiar scent of her perfume and feminine giggle tipping him off and consequently delays his reaction. "jiwoo," he breathes out when he regains his sight. within his rib cage, his heart still races a thousand miles per hour, pumping adrenaline tinged with fear into his veins— he would never forgive himself if he ever hurt her. "never do that again. i might hurt you on accident," he chides, back of his knuckles gently rapping against her forehead.

after a few moments, the adrenaline wears off and it becomes easier for changmin to notice other things. like jiwoo's freezing hands, for instance. "and why are you not wearing gloves? you know it's chilly out here." he knows he's nagging again, and a frown is tugging on the corner of his brims, but there's no mistaking the tenderness in his gestures as he takes off his own gloves, only to then slips them onto jiwoo's slender hands. they look slightly bigger on her, and changmin can't help the slight chuckle falling past his lips. "for the record, you're not late. i had just arrived myself." smiling, he naturally takes her hand in his, before tucking them into the confine of his coat pocket. for warmth, he'd say in excuse while trying not to think about how perfect they fit together. his feet soon lead both of them closer to the water's edge. the town has installed some string lights on the beach for the occasion, and beneath their soft golden glow, jiwoo looks positively radiant. perhaps the festival mood is getting to him, or perhaps he has eaten something wrong earlier— but there's an uncanny courage coursing through his veins as he leans over to let her know that— "by the way, you look especially wonderful tonight."

@ꕤ ⋮ ❛ j. changmin｡ jiwoo’s almost fifteen minutes late into their date when she arrives at the location, the festival already well underway as sandy shores filled with familiar and unfamiliar faces, couples and families holding onto their free sky lanterns handed out by the council. Despite the huge crowd, it doesn’t take long before she spots the back of the figure she’s well and fully acquainted with and jiwoo doesn’t hesitate to creep up on her said date, her freezing hands coming round his face when she gets close enough to playfully cover his eyes. “guess who!” She says in an octave lower than her usual voice but it’s her giggle that follows after which gives her away. “did you wait long, min? sorry! i was just — “ jiwoo tries to find a convenient excuse but for some (not really) odd reason it’s obvious she spent quite a fair bit dolling up for this date, afterall, it’s been a while since she went on one. “— i mean.. you know how eunyoung is! i sure hope minsi isn’t having a hard time.” She grumbles beneath her breath but as soon as she’s done, she looks up at him with the brightest smile, eyes crinkling into little moon crescents. “should we go?” it comes almost too naturally as jiwoo slips her hand around the other’s arm, holding gently onto it.

@? ⋮ ❛ k. jiwoo｡ night has completely fallen by the time changmin steps into the sandy shore of yeongwon's beach. having set the meeting spot with jiwoo beforehand, he soon allows his feet to carry him towards a small bungeoppang stall. the stall is modest, draped in red to keep the festive spirit, and there are a few people milling about the area. although, he notices with a relieved sigh, none of them turns out to be his best friend. inwardly, he gives himself a small pat on the back for not being late, for once. around him, the other townsfolk have also started trickling in, sound of their chatter floats into the chilly night breeze, intermingled with the occasional shouts of merchants offering their wares. on most stalls, paper lanterns of various sizes and colors are hung on display. even unlit, their beauty still doesn't diminish, instead they whisper promises of a wondrous spectacle; of hundreds floating lights setting the night sky ablaze, carrying unspoken wishes into the heaven above. the winter air is freezing, and the tip of changmin's nose has long taken on a rosy hue, but the sight — festive, colorful, and familiar at the same time — sparks warmth within his chest. home, it seems to resonate. and changmin smiles in agreement.

•*´¨ ꕥ mini event three: sky lantern festival starting now!
⁺ ic duration: february 13th, 2022
⁺ ooc duration: february 6th - february 13th (kst)
⁺ more information: the sky lantern festival will be held in the beachfront and all attendees will be given a sky lantern to write their well wishes for the new year before sending them up into the sky.

@? ⋮ ❛ k. yoojung｡ hearing her confused response made him regret asking that question in the first place. where did his usual straightforwardness go? it’s a pity he crippled into cowardice the moment she entered in his life once again. that should be further confirmation that he was still under the spell she casted on him years ago, he further pondered as the fragrant ocean breeze brushed his skin.

“look.” he inhales deeply, frustrated at himself at this very moment, before proceeding to speak as soon as he found words to say. “it’s about time we stop speaking in circles. i have something to confess…” he draws a heavy sigh, eyes downcast on the sand briefly before refocusing on her clear ones. overcoming the brief yet painful uncertainty he felt earlier, he resumed with regained firmness. “i never wanted you to leave.”

@ꕤ ⋮ ❛ l. taeyong｡ Yoojung was taken slightly aback by his question, her face reflecting momentary bewilderment. Technically, wasn’t he the one who asked her out? surely he did have a reason for it, right? “Uh.” What could she say? Was there even anything between them worth saying? “..Right.” ‘I miss you? I still love you?‘ sits on the tip of her tongue, but instead, she gives her shoulder a little shrug. “I don’t really know, tae. You tell me.” her words a little too curt for what they had between them.

God, does she hate how things are between them right now. how they used to be able to talk about anything and everything under the sky without the need or worry about anything, and even if they saw each other daily, there was always something new to be share between them, there was never a dull moment, not with him at least. Yet, it’s been five years, five long years of no meeting, no talking nor catching up but there was nothing much left between them to talk about, only regrets.

@? ⋮ ❛ k. yoojung｡ his ears perked up as he heard her gentle voice, and he turned to face her, the beautiful face he had been yearning to see for the past five years. and yet he didn’t feel the sparks of delight he expected to feel, gloom taking its place instead as he saw the desolate expression sitting her visage.

“hey… you’re here.” a moment that should’ve made him feel delight felt more somber. taeyong’s initial confidence through text was completely gone with their awkward greetings to each other. maybe the distance between them caused both of them to espouse feelings of guilt, but more so loneliness. even when they’re right beside each other, there seems to be a distance between them.

“so, why did you decide to come here?” he inquired as an attempt to initiate conversation, and also out of curiosity. it was funny, no, incredibly hilarious how he asked her to come here just to talk, but that’s the one thing they were struggling to do. he felt overly present in the moment, but wrapped up in his own thoughts all at once, evident in how long it took him to realize just how /close/ they were.

[] hey don’t feel compelled to mirror pls

@? ⋮ ❛ k. sijia｡ jiwon squeals lightly at the sudden call of her name, snapping out of her thoughts in the process. her eyes blink as she catches sight of her friend waving at her. "hey, sijia! you're around for today, huh?" she chirps out after striding over to where the other is. "I'm actually..." she pauses to rub her nape as she smiles sheepishly, debating internally on telling about her curiosity on the surfboards. "...just here for a walk, you know? I wanted to visit the beach today." she clears before asking, "what about you? I assume you're almost done with work?"

@? ⋮ ❛ k. sijia｡ Heeyoung does a victory dance when you agreed with the invitation while I shimmy with excitement.
I'm so happy to hear it, sijia! Definitely tonight since we haven't ate since we got there-Oh wait is tonight available for you? If not, we can do it whenever you are available.
I nod quickly with a grin upon my lips while heejung nods in agreement, meaning she isn't gonna back down for giving you the invitation.

@? ⋮ ❛ p. jiwon｡ The wind started to whistle more softly now, and the waves calmed down a bit. Sijia dusted off her hands as she pulled up the last of the boards. Hands on her hips, she took a look at the arrangement she did out of boredom and her eyes went to wander around the beach. Some surfers were starting to pull up to the shore and this made her even more excited to end the shift. There was a sound of a sigh and Sijia turned her head as she heard it, spotting a familiar face. “Heya, Jiwon!” Her arm raised up to a wave as pulled up to a small smile. “Whatcha up to? Here for work again?”

@? ⋮ ❛ m. jia｡ “Haha you flatter me too much,” I shift my eyes to the little girl, “and Heeyoung could definitely do it. I just know it!” I gave two thumbs up to the kid with a grin as an encouragement, muttering ‘how cute’ as you pulled her cheeks. My mouth forms to an 'o' at your invitation, feeling surprised and delighted at the thought. “Dinner? Sounds fun, of course! That’s thoughtful of the both of you, would that be tonight or?”

@? ⋮ ❛ k. sijia｡ I gasp in surprise at how old you were surfing especially even hee-young aka the kid overheard that.
woah, that's amazing, sijia! oh no please, if you have been surfing for that long, it makes sense why you so talented in surfing! if you can do it, so can hee-young!
I grin at you then at hee-young, who was standing up proudly in a hero-like pose. i reach over to grab one of hee-young's cheeks, cooing while she was pouting because she didn't like being pinched.
While you were drying yourself, me and hee-young thought would invite you to dinner as appreciation! aha this wasn't my idea, it was hee-young's and i agreed.

@? ⋮ ❛ k. sijia｡ after arriving at the beach, jiwon squints to check the vast land of sand and sea. the tourists and the other townspeople that chose to visit like her are all scattered. it made her smile to see people around spending their day in this beautiful place. "now, let's do this," she mumbles to herself as she claps her hands once before walking around. while doing so, the sight of the surfboards that rest on their shop makes her pause. after living most of her whole life in here, her want to try surfing never subsided, but how could she when she was nervous to even do it? a soft sigh leaves her lips as it catches the attention of the other female that was arranging the items.