smile!! [yugbam]

exhibit 16

balloons and colorful banners were scattered around the walls. a row of pop up shops aligned each end of the four walls next to each other. the most notable stores was a floral, plushy, sand art, caricature, and kissing booth shops. the kissing booth stand had many pictures of fireworks all over the counter.

on the middle of the room was a photo sticker booth. the machine is actually usable, but on the seat was one of the sticker sheet with two boys dated '950409' and journal entry 16. the home screen was a video of bright fireworks in the night sky.

-

1995 ANNUAL FESTIVAL MARKET

the red banner read in the front of the marketplace entrance. the area was filled with fun thrift booths, attractions and rides, delicious aromas of foods and desserts, stages occupied by various entertainment acts and performances... there was so much to do here.

the best part was the fireworks show when it hits night. people were already saving a spot in the giant field to get the best spot of the sparkling lights.

bambam played around with his bracelet. "wow! i've always want to come here. but i never thought to go because i had no one to go with."

yugyeom tried to keep his distance. "same. it's just not the same going alone, right?"

bambam nodded, noticing yugyeom trying to stand quite far from him. he gave up on the idea of holding his hand the entire time on their date. he got a tad upset from the idea. "ok then PAL. what should we do first."

yugyeom noticed the little attitude in that one specific word. "whatever you want to do, i'll pay for it."

"woah BRO. you're so generous to me." bambam skipped along into the front entrance.

"i swear you're so-"

"what's wrong, my dear FRIEND. is there something bothering you?" bambam pushed his tease further.

yugyeom let out a sharp breath. "i will beat the shit out of you if you don't stop that-"

bambam giggled at his reaction. "huh? what am i doing wrong? i'm not saying anything weird at all..." he spoke so sarcastically.

people were surrounding them left and right. at first, it felt like all the eyes were somehow staring so deeply at him, watching his every move that he does from the twitching of his fingers to all the times he blinks with his eyes. he could barely be recognized from the hoodie and mask he was wearing, but somehow he still felt extremely anxious he was being stared down like a hawk.

but...

every time he looked at bambam, so much of his worries float away out of his body. and it didn't help when he looked right into his precious eyes, laughing so cutely at teasing yugyeom in the moment.

"babie." he intentionally let out.

bambam was totally caught off guard, eyes popping out of their sockets almost. "h-huh?"

"i mean, you're acting like a babie." yugyeom took bambam's hand and shoved both of them into his hoodie pocket. it wasn't fool proof, but one small glance couldn't tell they were holding hands. "don't get the wrong idea now." he gave a slight wink.

bambam's joke somehow turned on him, now he being the flustered one. "s-sure." he stuttered embarrassingly.

"you're stupid." yugyeom rolled his eyes playfully. "stupid for me." he whispered in his ear.

"shut up!" bambam stomped his foot while squeezing yugyeom's hand inside his pocket tighter. "you're lucky i didn't go too hard on you."

yugyeom chuckled. "well this is our first 'hangout'. i didn't want to ruin it because of the stupid public eye."