fatal love // monsta x

13. Innocent Thrills Pt. 2

The smell of fried food wafted from the chicken booth in the food court. After swallowing our pride (except for Kihyun), we ordered our food and when it was served we searched for a secluded table.

We rounded the open levels surrounding the ice rink on the bottom floor. I stared mesmerized at the ice rink and watching the people glide along. The cold air rose from below and I could feel it pinching at my cheeks.

I turned to Shownu who was walking beside me. "Do you think we can go ice skating after we eat?"

"I don't see why not." He smiled.

We found a table and seated ourselves. It still felt so surreal to be eating with them even now, and also like deja vu. That heaviness of guilt panged in my stomach after scanning the table and finding Kihyun sitting quietly. He didn't need to eat like the rest of us of course, but he was still enjoying a small serving of fried chicken by himself. I wished I could just make things the way they were before, but that was out of my power. 

My thoughts were interrupted by someone brushing their shoulder against mine.

"Why are you staring at Kihyun's chicken?" Shownu asked.

I laughed at his unintentional joke. "Sorry, I was just staring off into space."

He nodded and continued back to eating his food. I remembered all his mukbang videos and realized how lucky I was to be privileged enough to see this in person. Thank you, universe. 

Minhyuk across from me, was biting the inside of his cheek as he glared at Shownu. I gave him a reassuring smile. I didn't expect him to get jealous so easily, but at least he wasn't acting upon it. But I expected that he could read my thoughts about Kihyun, as his eyes lingered on mine. Their golden hue turning orange from the approaching red color of his hunger. I couldn't read his mind, but I knew his eyes were telling me, stop worrying yourself with him.

"I don't know how everytime Kihyun wants fried chicken, we all end up eating it." Jooheon whined in a playful manner, earning smiles from everyone around the table.

"It's gotta be his power. If I had a power like that, I'd use it too." said Hyungwon.

"Hey, I didn't use it back on that beach!" Kihyun piped up, a smile pulling at his lips. It was a reference back to a trip they filmed where they all wanted to eat sea food while Kihyun wanted fried chicken.

 I stopped my thoughts by looking around to the others laughing at the table. My heart was lifted at the more cheery mood that overtook, alas except for Minhyuk. I met Ahli's eyes and a smirk crawled onto my face. Ahli was coincidentally placed between Hyungwon and Wonho, two of their favorite members. Totally not at the fault of me and Changkyun. The visible difficulty they had being between them and trying to eat neatly was very hard not to laugh at. They caught me sneaking a glance at them, and they flared their nostrils and widened their eyes at me, giving me the 'help me' face. I quietly giggled at them and started eating my food.

"I don't think I'm built for this kind of thing." Minhyuk said as he wobbled onto the ice with skates on. I held his hand to support him and his grip tightened on mine everytime he felt he was close to slipping.

I giggled at him, "Of course you are, you're a professional dancer. Shouldn't you have some grace?" I asked teasingly.

"That's when the floor isn't wet." He said, eyes shaky as he tried to push himself forward.

"No, no, like this." I swept ahead of him to demonstrate how to glide on skates. While I wasn't a professional, I've been ice skating multiple times when I was younger. I loved skating for the fun of it.