⥽ 　alpha epsilon omega.

@⁰⁴ jungkook j. He doesn't feel like laughing, but Seungcheol makes himself breathe out a soft giggle at the mantis shrimp fact anyways. It was such a unrelated thought, one, innocent animal fact cornered by dark clouds and a bloody mess, but he doesn't want to think about those. Because those hold his emotional barrier too close to the edge of the cliff, but Choi Seungcheol doesn't cry. Not for anyone, including himself. "Sure." He agrees easily, a barely audible rasp in the quiet room, sounding perhaps too much like the breakdown he was attempting to avoid. "It would be a brighter world... I guess. A thousand new colors, the sky like an oil painting... Maybe we'd all have a better time if the world looked like less of a hellscape." His words mean as much as whatever random thoughts Jungkook must be scraping together- and its another twist in Seungcheol's gut to think that he was pushing his own frustrations out onto the other when he hadn't done anything to deserve it. "I know." he does, truly, and guilt crawls up and chokes his throat even hiding against the other, fingers bunched up in his own sweatshirt. "Sometimes I think you shouldn't."

@⁰⁴ jungkook j. maybe it was the influence of alcohol taking complete control of her body, or maybe it was the accumulation of bad fortune that struck her way that night. but, for the first time since she’s met jungkook, jinsoul could feel this foreign feeling, ugliness shrouding her thoughts, despising being in his presence, filling up her body at each word, it had her face contorted into a look of disgust. and that’s when she knew — she hated him. hatred was a strong word, jinsoul was aware of it. she didn’t hate him when he struck his first dagger into her heart in the form of a fleeting kiss. she didn’t hate him when he avoided all and any form of interactions, refusing to even look her in the eyes when they crossed paths on campus. she didn’t hate him a few seconds to this moment, when he showed no care, no interest in what she had to say. but she knew she’s reached past her point of acceptance and self guilt.

she lets his bullets wound her in silence, eyes that were downcast onto her shoes in embarrassment for turning up before him now gazing intently into his darkened irises. jinsoul didn’t want to admit it, but even now, she was seeking for a morsel of empathy, a sliver of sign that could show her that maybe— just maybe— he really wanted to understand who she was, why she did what she did, what led her to such extremities. but all that laid in his eyes were emptiness, barren of anything but pity? she hates being pitied. hate was a repeating motif for tonight, she surmised, because in the next second, jinsoul swore the scent of his cologne that previously had her tummy lurching into flutters was causing it to sink, queasy and churning all too unpleasantly as their proximity decreased. she’d very much rather be pushed and bumped into by strangers than to hear cruel words being spoken amidst a sickeningly sweet smile, hand holding hers so tenderly it was a juxtaposition to how he made her feel.

within seconds, jinsoul was shoving his hand off just as the latter loosens his grip, taking a step back to wedge distance between the two, needing space to breathe with the way her heart stammered against her chest. the severity of everything said finally sinks in, tears that have been bottled up and swallowed now resurfacing, lining the brims of her eyes as she stared at him in disbelief. “you make it seem like you care enough to know, but it’s obvious you don’t,” she spat out, hurt evident and dripping in between each word. “you have all sorts of conclusions and assumptions made about me already, you clearly don’t want to change them anytime soon. or at all.” her voice trembles, she’s choking up— and it took one drawled out exhale, a release of pent up frustrations that clog her lungs, for a single tear to begin its descent down her cheek. she’s hastily brushing it off with the back of her hands, refusing to appear weak infront of him — she wasn’t sad. she didn’t want him to think she was sad, or feeling as if she’s losing anything. she’s crying out of disappointment, out of annoyance at herself for expecting so much, for seeking worth and validation in another’s words when she’s been reminded time and time again no one else’s thoughts should matter but hers. yet, here she was, an absolute fool.

“does it matter to you if i explained? if i told you how ed up gets at home? would you — would you even care to consider the fact that i have no ing choice and this isn’t some screwed up game where i put up an act for my own enjoyment?” her words come out in a flurry, the heat of rage at everything that’s gone wrong running through her veins like wildfire. but just as the flame ignites, it dies off. ‘what was the point?’ “sorry for wasting your time then. but thanks for being an to remind me why i’d never do this .” why she never opened up, never allowed anyone to be a part of both her lives unless they’ve seen first handedly just how messy her authoritative and manipulative mother was. the grimace upon the latter’s visage was mirrored onto her own, and in an impulsive jolt of anger she lifts her cup to throw whatever content was left onto his face, too far gone in her own jumbled up emotions to care of the consequences. “i hate you, jungkook.” she’s tossing the red solo cup aside before swiveling on her heels, trudging into the crowd of sweating bodies to simply squeeze her existence out of his life entirely.

@⁰⁴ chaeyoung p. he shoots, he scores. sometimes, all it took was a little bit of blind liquid courage. he gets his kiss with her, and it's sweet and chaste. modest, but in way that doesn't seem to make chaeyoung mind, as jaemin's ears delightfully revel in her delicate hum and sigh. the gentle touch of her hand on his chest does the opposite of what he expects, subduing his heartbeat, rather than provoking it. her lips were soft, perhaps perfection. if this was only in the slightest, a teaser of what were to happen next, then jaemin was looking at everything through rose-colored lenses. his eyes slowly come to an open, as their sweet kiss unfortunately ends. his eyes admire the dreamy girl before him, his lips smiling once more at her compliment, /and/ her offer. his mind already possesses an answer, but it's sealed secret as another guy arrives to chaeyoung's side.

they aren't on a leveled playing field nor league, the intrusive male student being a good 3 inches taller than jaemin was. not only did he clearly have a model height and physique, but the vibe of a high fashion editorial as well. together, chaeyoung and model student looked like they could embrace the cover of vanity fair. he observes their interaction, which from any other, sober third perspective, would have likely deduced that the two were an item, but jaemin instead ignores the clear sign for resignation and competition. initially, he was confused at the male student's random appearance, but now, he's more amused—intrigued, interested and curious. not about the two as a whole, but more about chaeyoung. maybe the playing fields weren't even, but to jaemin, he seemed to be in a better position then the other guy was. "i definitely will." he says, his lips twisting into another all-too-knowing smile.

@⁰² jaemin n. interrupting her conversation with jaemin, she turns her head towards the sound of voice that registers in her mind and immediately, her eyes twinkle in evident interest. "hey cutie," she greets easily, not exactly caring about how that would appear to jaemin, who was still probably ogling at her from their shared kiss a few moments, prior to kang's arrival. she arises from her spot, kang's hand naturally pressing against the small of her back as her own winds around his waist in a comfortable stance, peering up at him with a nod. "yeah, i'm ready. couldn't find you, forgot to give you those kisses i promised." she says all too coolly, now pressing her head to his chest. "mmm, thank you for the nice night..."—, what was his name? "jaemin. stop by the bar more often, yeah?" she bids him farewell with kang in tow, flitting her hand to wave before sauntering off with tipsy giggles emitting from her.

@⁰⁴ chaeyoung p. the eighth shot of soju goes down the hatch yet it’s still not enough to make him feel notably different. maybe a little warmer in the face and lighter in mood but nothing drastic that’ll get him to make any decisions he’ll regret in the morning. after he tilts the cup upside down to get the last drop, only to see that nothing is left, he splits off from the conversation with a couple friends to get a cup of somaek this time. his gaze flickers over different parts of the party while he goes for a heavier pour on the soju, not paying much attention to the drink when he catches sight of chaeyoung cozying up with an underclassman nearby. it’s quite a brief sight to watch with a new drink in hand, especially when he knows how flirtatious she can be and added with the presence of alcohol, it makes the scene a bit more entertaining. after he checks the current time on the omega watch fastened around his wrist, he takes his time passing through the dozens of people to approach them. "hey lovebirds." the evident smell of alcohol radiates off of him as his hand comes down to press against the small of her back. he gives the underclassman a brief 'hey' to acknowledge him but soon diverts his attention to her while the corners of his lips tugs up into a teasing smile. "ready to go back to your place?"

@⁰⁴ jinsoul j. he braces himself for whatever conversation they may hold, but he knows it himself it’s no good one especially when he confirms that the glimmer in her eyes had lost themselves—that the only shine in her gaze was nothing short of a sense of devastation and hurt. it’s common to know that the gut never lies and for someone born under the planets that marked that place as his designated place, this exchange will be turbulent. he knows he took a shot at the stars in her irises with his bow and arrow after his quick flight kiss—it’s easy for him to say but he doesn’t take pride in it. on other days when jungkook was completely sober and perhaps not drained nor annoyed of out his mind, there was a chance he would hold this conversation to a profound level… just maybe.

unluckily enough, jinsoul seemed to stumble on a night he could no longer bite his tongue back, evidently clouded with his valid frustrations. “it’s crazy to me that you don’t see anything wrong with what you’re doing—if not wrong, I don’t know how you can’t see how people can be off put about the way you are.” he feigns a sweet enough smile, cheek rest in his palm with his elbow perched on one knee. he lifts up the cup, raising it up enough to encompass her imagery through the glass. “am I talking to morning soul or night soul? we’ll start there because your question about me hating you varies depending on the answer,” he pauses, but continues with a light shrug as he lowers his glass to look at her properly, “actually, I’m not so sure myself who’s the real one at this point. you tell me. maybe tell me why you do all of this since you’re so inclined about me giving you a chance—but wait, I did. it’s called a first impression, soul.”

he tips the rest of the drink into his mouth, sliding the glass to the other side of the counter as he felt the urge to crush it. he tilts back his head with a much-needed sigh, scuffing his fingers in his jet black strands with the slight slump of his frame. “because you’re great and I genuinely liked you,” it’s a repeat of the moment they shared in her car seconds before he shoots the arrow—the antithesis of cupid, but he says it so soft you’d almost mistaken it as eros himself. he looks back at her still expressionless, but he takes her hand in his his when a stranger nearly stumbles into her. they’re close enough that jungkook could mellow the stress behind her forehead with his lips and leave chaste kisses to her pretty lids to reassure this was nothing more than an unpleasant dream, but he mutters, “but do you expect me to trust someone who’s like hannah montana? I don’t know why you do it. at least she got paid,” he lets her go, now grumbling, “what do you get paid with? is it worth being someone you aren’t? at what cost?”

but enough of this —the ambience of the bass and the party don’t change, but his head is pounding off beat as his mood sours beyond battery acid. he finally lifts himself off the seat, standing on his two feet with an evident grimace. “if I wanted to interact with puppets, I would’ve moved back to new york where they show after show like their lives depended on it. do yourself a favour—figure who the you are first and not waste my time nor yours.”

@⁰² jimin y. the music drowns out into the background and he forgets the horde of people surrounding them. all his attention is focused on her and only her. her touch is tantalizing, leaving his skin feeling warm and prickly with every touch. it takes every ounce of his self control not to connect their lips in a heated kiss when she says his name, the sound of her voice so close to his ears making him melt. "i'd love to." he exhales in a bated breath, slightly brushing his lips against her forehead. his hand falls from her hips and finds her own, interlacing their fingers together as he leads her through stream of party goers and outside the frat house.

@⁰² donghyuck l. "i see." she murmurs back, ultimately cutting their talk short. apologetically, she wasn't looking for much of exchanged words, more so something to fill the void that he had left. perhaps she should express this to haechan, but she finds herself distracted upon his gaze, that familiar fire ignited within the depths of her chest. does he want her? to further confirm this, she daringly hooks a finger beneath his chin, guiding him a tad lower for her to rest her forehead on his, the tips of their noses brushing. "haechan?" she softly calls out. "would you like to go back to your place?"

@⁰⁴ kang s. @⁰² jaemin n. @⁰¹ minjeong k. as he closes the distance between them, her head tilts in the slightest to slot their lips together, her palm splaying across his chest to smooth his shirt. melodically, she hums against his tiers, soon allowing for a content sigh slip past, before pulling back. the kiss was chaste, innocuous in all ways that a kiss could be. of course, she sort of expected more in their mutual state of inebriation, but she supposes that her sense of rationality was still there, so she doesn't mind the briefness of it. "mmm, you're cute," she says, that same flirtatious smile curling her lips. she doesn't mean it offensively, obviously, more so in the sense that he gives her that high school flashback — awkward flirting and fleeting kisses — but she couldn't really care how he'd take it. "think over that offer." about the private shows, she means, but she's sure he knows.

@⁰² jimin y. his breath hitches when she pulls him closer,reciprocating her touch by tightening his hold on her waist. the feel of her body on his making him feel more drunk despite having sobered up. jimin was definitely an attractive woman, he knew that much but tonight she seemed more alluring. maybe it was the effect of the strobe lights blurring his vision, maybe he was actually still drunk, or maybe it was the way she was pressed up against him, flushed against his skin. he was after all, still just an easily swayed man. "yeah, i've seen you with mark and on campus a few times."

@⁰² donghyuck l. oh, . she takes in a deep breath, his revelation nearly enough to sober her. god, she didn't want mark knowing she was using his friend to get over his—enemy, she supposes. but as haechan returns the embrace, his arms fitting around her waist and his hips rocking with hers to the sweet rhythm, the thought of mark's disappointment flutters away and she's pulling him closer, as if they could. "right, sorry. you know me, i'm guessing? since you agreed to dance with me."

@⁰² jimin y. albeit lasting for no more than a milisecond, he catches her sudden mood shift. his brows knit in a quizzical look, wondering if he'd done something wrong by agreeing to dance with her. girls are so weird. despite the weird exchange, he lets himself be led, weaving through the crowd seamlessly with her. "uh, mark's friend. donghyuck? i get called haechan too though." he quietly responds, draping his arms around her waist and swaying along with her.

@⁰² donghyuck l. does he know her? she's unsure. why else would he easily agree? do boys just see a pretty girl and go with the flow, truly? mmm. well, that's what san did, right? so whatever, this man was probably just like him. an inaudible scoff falls beneath her breath as she tugs him over towards the dance floor, turning around to then press her body to his in a sway, lithe arms wrapping around his shoulders to keep him close. "well, i don't even know your name," she muses out with a light tone despite her bad mood, wanting to just feel /something/. "i'm jimin."

@⁰² jimin y. the time on his watch read 12:00 am but it surely felt like it was way past that with everything that had just happened. maybe he should just go home, tonight was clearly not his night. with a sigh, he's settled on finally retreating back into his own frat house when the feel of someone's fingers tug on the fabric of his shirt. his eyes sweep over the strangers figure, taking in her appearance and vaguely remembering her as one of mark's friends. they've never formally met, infact, he doesn't think they've even talked before but he finds himself nodding anyway, muttering "sure" in a low voice. thinking maybe this was his last chance to actually have a little fun tonight.

@⁰² donghyuck l. her profound bitterness trumps over reasoning, slender fingers slyly reaching for another bottle of beer to then twist the cap open and flick it elsewhere. in a swift motion, she takes a long swig of it, her mind past dizziness and now onto irrationality. but who gave a , right? not him, she answers in her mind. the thought leaves a nastier aftertaste than the alcohol and impulsively, she takes another mouthful of beer and washes it down with a shudder, her breath purely smelling of liquor. despite her intoxication, she looks off to the nearest person she couldn't recognize, sauntering close enough for her fingers curl into their shirt and tug them closer. "hi, would you dance with me?"

@⁰³ mark l. inklings of paranoia bite at her as her revelation flows as if a prayer for forgiveness, an overabundance of embarrassment and guilt washing over her. she tells mark she slept with choi san, followed by a barrage of apologies, though she knows he doesn't need it. love means never having to say you're sorry, she believes, and they love each other. she knows he understands and that he isn't upset with her, but that doesn't stop the shame that clouds over her. so, to further ebb away the disgusting ghost of his touches, she takes a brief swig of beer, allowing for it's taste to grant her transient distraction.

there is one thought that reassures her though; even if she hates herself, at least he doesn't. that's all that matters.

but now, he poses his question for her and it takes a second for her to gather. does she regret it? previous flashes of san appear in her mind—his smile, his laugh, his kisses—and she grimaces. her immediate answer; yes. she regrets giving herself to him in more ways than he bargained for, and in more ways than her conscience would permit. she was foolish. just days ago, she was scolding mark for being incapable to distinguish between love and lust, and yet, she was also caught in her own entanglement. needing to physically drink it over, she takes another sip from her bottle and lazily rests her head onto mark's shoulder.

"all of it, i do," she murmurs out, talons felt in her heart. "i wish i told you sooner. maybe you could've smacked some sense into me so i wouldn't be so... y'know," her grip upon the neck of the bottle tightens as she practically smushes herself to his side for comfort—he was warm, he always was.

in their shared silence, jimin realizes she's always lived a fragile life, but he was her constant, her rock.

"it sounds stupid, but right about now, i wish that..."—don't say it, she warns, but with the alcohol that scours through her and stinging that pricks at her eyes, she can no longer subject herself to more withheld agony. "it was always easier with you. even now it is. so, i just can't help but think that... this all could've willed away if we had taken /our/ chance."

@⁰² jimin y. just as he turns around, abandoning the room of which he just saw his most recent fling liplocking with an older and sadly much more attractive (as well as experienced, probably) senior frat president, mark quite literally runs into the tall frame of his friend.

he recognizes the top of her head immediately and is about to roll his eyes, but the glaze over her eyes causes him to immediately freeze, stunning him in his place before he breathes out: “hey, what’s wrong?” they’ve known each other for years now, and there’s absolutely no way that he’d be so oblivious to the poorly-disguised turmoil displayed across her pained visage. it’s for that reason that he immediately pulls her into his arms, their frames fitting together perfectly like they had grown to over the years. if there anything the two friends know after their years of friendship, it’s how to read the emotions of the other at any particular time. though they would always make pointless jests and poke fun at the other, they would always be there for each other in any given time. it’s for that reason that mark immediately nods, leading her up the stairs and into a bedroom.

“yeah, let’s go somewhere else.”

-

that’s how mark finds himself in the corner of some random frat dude’s bedroom, his head leaning back against the plaster wall whilst contemplating both their situations. choi san … she slept with choi san?

his first thought is: he knew it. honestly, even if he wanted to deny it just for the sake of his soul, just so he could sleep soundly for a moment at night, that earlier argument with choi san showed just about everything he needed to know. he twists the beer bottle in his hands mindlessly as he gazes up at the ceiling, lips pursed. but he could forgive her for that… it wasn’t as though he were the most chaste, god-loving of them all himself.

but damn, they had both ed themselves up. he with ningning, and her with san. both of them they had caught fooling around with other people, and it was clear that neither of their respective friends with benefits had any regard for their feelings. in that moment, head against the wall and her presence in his life, he finds himself pondering the possibilities, of how much easier it would have been on both of their hearts had they just ended up together after all.

but it was far too late for that now.

he has one question now: “... do you regret it?”

that was a problem he had posed toward himself, in fact. now that everything had been spread across the table, all cards revealed, and mark could see truly for himself now that he was just another notch in her belt… did he regret it? does she?

ANN. ᴍɪɴɪ ᴇᴠᴇɴᴛ ᴏɴᴇ!
― event: frat house party.
― mini event one is finally coming to an end. thank you to everyone who has participated!
you may continue to wrap up your threads!

[post deleted by owner]

@⁰² aeri u. when was the last time he'd been at a party that wasn't work related? jimin heard about the fraternity party in one of his classes (and then eventually all over school). he hadn't planned on going but because it seemed like the whole campus was talking about it, he wanted to check things out. how great of a party could it be, huh? the last time he'd been to something on his own accord was probably the summer before the constant relocating. he was a bit of a party animal back in his day, but who isn't? if university wasn't about rigorous courses to set your future up, then it was about the crazy mistakes you made with your friends. he kind of missed that lifestyle actually. it was one of the reasons why he told himself to go to the party.

by the time he shows up to the alpha epsilon omega house, he's dressed in something simple. it's nearly an all black outfit, an oversized sweater with colored font and a distressed pair of jeans, some stylish sneakers and his favorite silver accessories, shining studs, five rings on alternating fingers, a thin chain and a bracelet to match on each wrist. he doesn't want to stand out, just blend in and observe. that's what he told himself anyway. things always ended differently than expected at functions like this. he knew first hand.

as he walks across the yard, he makes note of the large crowd. it's been a while since he's seen this many bodies, all moving and grooving to the beat that blares through the speakers inside the house. they were so powerful you could hear it all the way out here. he makes his way along the path, smiling politely at the people who stare at him and giving little nods of acknowledgement before finally finding himself inside the house. the strong smell of alcohol wasn't hard to miss and sort of motivated him to keep walking, not to turn around and bail. he pushes his way through to some comfortable seating (which happened to be at the makeshift bar). immediately, he grabs the only empty seat available, at the very end. a drink would ease him for sure. "rum and coke, please?" he orders after a friendly introduction to the bartender. he was in one of his business classes so it was always nice to see a friendly face. it took him a while to notice the woman next to him. was she alone? wait, was she waiting for a friend? how rude of him to steal a seat.

"Damn, excuse me. I didn't even ask. Was this seat taken?"

@⁰⁴ jungkook j. there was a seed of anxiousness growing in the pit of her stomach. the kind that serves as a warning, that's alerting all her senses, all rational thinking, screaming at one's intuition to turn around and walk away because what awaits would be nothing good. jinsoul was aware of of the feeling, creeping up her chest, growing into thorns that weighed down onto her lungs, unpleasantly saving her from . . . well, herself. but the second his eyes met hers, she found herself spiraling back into the pit of emotions — adoration, twisting into pain, confusion, then finally, hurt. words uttered from that night unravels inside her mind, and she's in her breath, preparing for another harsh taste of reality. it didn't help that he looked so unamused, unlike the times when she's approached him before, and that itself was enough to open unhealed wounds. jinsoul had planned to pull him aside, to somewhere a little quieter, more privacy for her to be vulnerable infront of him like she usually was. yet, his body language was anything but inviting — completely closed off, she concludes. 'he's probably saying yes because that's the kind of person he is.' the thought was supposed to be comforting to her in the sense that, despite what was said, maybe the latter still had some morsel of affection (attraction) towards her, enough to want to listen to what she had to say. but, it wasn't comfort that she felt. it was an ugly mix of perplexity and unfairness all muddled into one.

"why was it so easy for you to assume. . .things about me?"

a twinge of regret pierces her chest as her thoughts finally spill out amidst drunken reasonings. but god, did it feel so freeing. a soft scoff makes up for the brief silence between her thoughts, eyes drifting away from the latter to glance aimlessly into the crowd behind them. "i mean i know, it's ed up how i'm practically acting during the day time. but, you never even gave me a chance." a chance at what, she wasn't quite sure herself. a chance to explain? to change out of her ways? was that itself even an option? she hated who she was in the mornings, but there was never room for her to grow out of it after years of manipulation, a puppet in the hands of her mother the puppeteer who /still/ oversaw almost every bit of detail occurring in her life. and maybe this was something she should be taking up with the woman who gave birth to her. maybe she was projecting. but in that moment, jinsoul realized she likes jungkook a little more than she had thought. she likes him enough to feel hurt that he wasn't able to see the true her— liked him enough to question whether what she was doing was even right, even if it's been the only correct way her entire life. but what left her in complete shambles wasn't simply that, it was . . ."and why would you kiss me if you're just going to hate me?" she sounded pathetic. small. she /felt/ belittled, the crown that she usually wore proudly upon her blonde head, now slipping down when placed onto her darker strands. was jinsoul even jinsoul anymore? she wasn't sure. she wasn't sure why any of this matters. . . but it does. he does, unfortunately.

@⁰³ seulgi k. parties were not his thing. he disliked being around a large group of people, having to share such small spaces with multiple bodies making him feel a tad bit claustrophobic — but then the girl on his arm /insisted/ that he accompany her to the frat part, he couldn’t say no. he couldn’t say no even if he wanted to — which was ironic, because he had turned down his best friend’s invention earlier that day. as they ascended the stairs to the building, his head turned to grant her his attention, the brunette expressing her gratitude towards him about tagging along. with the corner of his lips curling into a small, bashful smile, he soon dismissed her words with a small shake of his head. “i normally don’t go to these things — they make me too fidgety. but, i couldn’t let you go alone.” ‘and if it meant spending more time with you, it’s worth it’, he thought to himself. lifting his hand, he placed it over her own as it curled around his upper arm, fingers gifting the side of her palm with a taught squeeze. the smile that adorned her features caused a warmth to spread through his body, the plushness of her brims distracting him for just a short second. hours prior, during his assistance with her performance at the auditorium, they had shared a kiss. one that left him feeling slightly bewildered … yet craving more. when they reached the double doors, he reached out to grab hold of the handle, tugging it open before guiding her inside. as soon as they entered, the sound of blaring music and shouting voices drowned them, the smell of alcohol rich within the air. scrunching the bridge of his nose, his arm fell from around hers, opting to fit it around her waist in a protective hold instead. “this is going to be a nightmare.” he murmured to himself, soon guiding her form in front of his taller one. “come on, lead me to wherever you want to go. i’ll follow.”

The hours of the night seemed to fly over her head so fleetingly, time flowing by quickly that she hadn't registered the numbness beginning to course through her legs as she leisurely sways to the bass felt in the soles of her feet, one hand preoccupied with a red solo cup. All she knew was that the buzz was certainly getting to her and that she didn't want the night to end — it felt nice. Escaping the torture of assignments for just one night, not having a care in the world, and being in an environment where anyone could do just about anything and everything; it was a much needed change of scenery. And so, impulsively, she was going to take advantage of this and do whatever she wanted — starting with Choi San, she decides. Just as nightfall was, the dance they shared had ended as fast as it began, and she wanted more. She was to make up for lost time from the night they met — an early July day spent at the nightclub where they became too acquainted with each other's bodies — to tonight, where she coveted for nothing more than to feel the warmth of his hands on her and his kisses... God, his kisses. Soft yet insatiable, as if he was trying to express something to her, something that stemmed further than the mere carnal desire that brewed between them — he kissed her like he needed her. Like she was more essential than oxygen itself, like he /burned/ for her like how she was beginning to for him.

In a dwindling fire lit for him, she was burning. But she didn't care — she could burn to ashes for him.

"Have you seen San?" She asks her friend, voice rising above the music. In a swift movement, her friend gestures towards the sea of bodies and Jimin is left dumbfounded. "Huh?" Her face flushes into a look of confusion until the crowd clears up enough for her to see Jinsoul atop of another on the couch, visibly touching and being touched. The first thought that crosses her mind is, 'Good for her', but where was San? She deduces that her friend must've misheard her and she's quick to avert her gaze elsewhere, discomfort shooting up her spine as if she'd been caught ogling at a couple's intimate act. But her eyes flit back to Jinsoul as the girl then maneuvers herself off of the man in apparent dissatisfaction, traipsing away. Seeing the blatant show of boredom in Jinsoul's rash movement, she wonders if she's alright—but also /who/ she was with.

And so, she looks.

She makes clear eye contact with San from across the room as Jinsoul abandons him, his hair unapologetically disheveled and shirt ed. Tiredness is evident on his visage, but so is pleasure, and she feels close up, absolutely speechless.

In this moment, it seems as if time betrays her, torturously stopping to have the crash of reality sink in.

He didn't want her in the way she did him. He never did and he never would. She was nothing more than another girl to , another girl succumbing to his every move and flocking to his beck and call; she was nothing. The onslaught of the harsh reality comes weighing down on her and she finds herself unable to move nor shift her eyes from him, wishing none of it was real — the way he made her feel as if she Could be special to him and the pain that bubbles in her chest from such hope. She wishes it wasn't real.

But it is, the hope and the pain, walking hand in hand as if her knees weren't going to buckle and she wasn't going to break. Her heart seizes in pure torment, but her gut lurches at her in clawed desperation. ... She needs to leave. She needs to leave now. She snaps her head to the side, no longer induced in his trance, and the world simply resumes. The music, incoherent cheers and yells — it all continues and she receives the whiplash of it, feeling overwhelmed from the noise, dizziness, and emotions that bombard her. She doesn't have a plan, she doesn't know where to go. All she knew was that anywhere was better than here.

Haphazardly placing her cup on the counter, she shifts around a little too quick for her dizziness to catch up, nearly throwing herself against the passerby that stands behind her. ", I'm sorry—" She starts, tears of frustration beginning to prick at the corner of her eyes as she narrows her gaze up.

"Mark..."

She can't tell if she's embarrassed to look so utterly unkempt in front of him since it's been so long since he's seen her on the verge of breaking... But in this moment, his arms feel like comfort in the flesh, like a safety net that she's been gifted in the midst of her fall. With the sobering consolation of his presence, relief begins to surge through her and she clings onto him, but his own evident expression of sullenness doesn't pass her. Worried, she parts her lips to voice out her concern, but she ultimately decides against it—they didn't need to talk about it. No, they didn't need to say anything. All they needed was each other.

"Let's get out of here," she tells him, the hitch in her breath audible. "Please."

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@⁰³ san c. the monotonous response, it was exactly what she wanted. she didn't want any warmth coming from anywhere else but the kiss itself. emotions — jinsoul's had enough of that for tonight. the stranger's tug had her clambering onto his lap, arms easing her way around his shoulders to pull him in despite the already minimal proximity. and within seconds, his brims blanketing hers. she's letting go of her inhibitions, bitter taste of alcohol from both of their lips seeping into the kiss, bared of any sweetness. nimble fingers rake across his hair, finding purchase within dark strands to eventually tug onto it, no gentleness present with the way wet muscles lave across the other. it was messy, riled up by nothing short of superficial lust and alcohol as her vacant hand slips from its' prior position to tend to his shirt. was it a little too much for her to do this? the face of another male, one whose attention she was deniably prying for, flashed across her mind — and in that moment, nothing else mattered. why should she care what he had to think? she /hoped/ he'd see just how much it didn't bother her. she hoped. as she shifts closer upon the latter's thighs, her hand flits down the midline of his shirt, swiftly ing the first four, fluttering touches left across the built of his chest. and although skin to skin contact had always been her favorite, the excitement in her was close to nonexistent. eyes peer open to glance at the messiness she's caused, too distracted to truly invest in the little lip lock, the passion that appeared in the pit of her stomach dissipated as quickly as it came. she's parting away with one last tug onto the lower plush of his brim, slightly breathless, yet her gaze was as empty as the ones that mirrored back into hers. this isn't what she wanted. /he/ wasn't what she wanted. ". . ." jinsoul grumbles as she's pushing herself off, hands immediately smoothing out the wrinkles of her shirt. "that was nice. thanks." and without another glance, she's leaving the stranger behind to seek for the man she's pathetically yearning for.

@⁰⁴ chaeyoung p. @⁰² jaemin n. giggles continue to spill out of her lips as she rewatches the video of heeseung turning into a drunken mess for the nth time. there was just something about him acting way out of pocket, driven by the many shots they had unintentionally taken, that was so amusing to her. or maybe it was the alcohol in her own system as well. she lifts her gaze away from the screen, blinking away blurry white spots that appear as they fixate onto the sight before her. but maybe she shouldn't have. she wished it was just her mind playing tricks. oh, how minjeong wished she was too far gone, brain completely melted from burning liquid, that the sight before her was merely a hallucination. because amongst the sea of unfamiliar faces, she spots one she recognizes all too well. a face whose features she's memorized, she's doted on, she had been aching to see all night all — a face she had wished to kiss once more upon meeting. yet, that exact face was now kissing someone else. how cruel. her laughter has ceased completely as she stood in place, a figure harshly bumping against her shoulder with a crude "move it, ." as they sauntered past, drunkenly. yet, her feet remained cemented onto the floor, throat running dry, heart palpitating and she almost felt breathless. "jaemin. . ." she's calling out to him, but he was too far away to hear her.

@⁰² yunen z. (it's okay !!!)

"did you say something?" yeonjun tilts his head slightly while looking at the girl sharing the couch with him - he felt as if he had heard something, but it was too light for him to make out any of the details.

"oh." a little frown appears on his face at her answer, a small spiral of thought unfolding. had he lost his sense of style to the point that it made him try something which couldn't even stand on equal footing with his previous look? "i don't think that's how this works, yunen? that just sounds like i'd be conditioning you into liking it.." knitted brows accompany his hesitant words, although he tries to keep the corners of his lips raised into a pretty smile, refusing to look directly at someone while frowning, of all things.

"i mean, i think it's worth trying." yeonjun shrugs a little before continuing. "you'll never know if it looks good or not if you don't try... and if it looks bad, you don't really have to commit to it either? thing about blonde is that you can easily dye it into any other colour, so you could always try something else or just go back if you end up hating it." a small laugh leaves him at the thought. "just that your hair would probably hate you for making it suffer for zero reason if you do go back."

@⁰⁴ chaeyoung p. shivers tremble down his spine when she says his name. the heat from intoxication and chaeyoung's fixed attention makes his skin feel warm; heat radiating throughout. chaeyoung is absolutely, and at close proximity, just inches away, how they were just now, she was even more attractive—alluring, captivating and enticing. he gazes into her eyes, their smoldering gaze making his mind entranced—pleasantly dizzy and light. "chaeyoung.." he softly states, his voice dropping lower in both pitch and volume. humming quietly at the feeling of her fingers that weave through his hair, he too reaches out for a careful touch, tucking a strand of her hair back behind her ear. jaemin then traces the prominence of her cheekbone with his finger, ever so gently, before his eyes cast down to her lips. "the pleasure is all mine.." he mumbles, closing his eyes to a slow shut, before he leans in to fill the miniscule bit of space between them and kisses her.

@⁰² jaemin n. "oh?" she's well amused as he etches himself a tad closer, not thinking he would advance any more than they already have, but while he's here, she might as well make the best of it. her head slants back as he stands before her to take a better look at him, her eyes shamelessly laying careful scrutiny over his physique, before she daringly outstretches a hand to curl her fingers into the near collar of his shirt and lulls him closer. "jaemin," she says, tasting his name upon her tongue. once she's able to tug him low enough to almost brush the tips of their noses together, her digits delve into his hair to softly rake through, her breath barely feathering his lips. "name's chaeyoung. we're no longer strangers, so now i don't have to feel too bad about kissing a friend."

@⁰⁴ chaeyoung p. taking back the passed beer, jaemin takes another swig before reckoning closer to the latter at her motion. the corner of his lip tugs into a smirk of his own, matching hers. he gives his shoulders a shrug. "i don't know, maybe you should just kiss me, find out for yourself?" he questions, pretending to genuinely clueless. "i'm jaemin, by the way. figured you should know, just so i'm no longer just a stranger to you." shoving his hand in his pockets, he then mirrors her action again, raising his own eyebrow. "and you are?..."