the bridge - changki

the club

songs for this chapter:
stay - palaye royale
resurrect the sun - black veil brides
beautiful pain - andy black

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January 11th, 2022: The third meeting

The music that played in the underground bar was nice and somewhat to his liking. It was some other indie group who had scored the other set for the night. He genuinely liked the other band. They were called N.Flying or something similar. They had slightly lighter music than them but it was still nice to listen to from the back.

Changkyun grabbed his guitar, strumming it a few times. It wasn't connected to an amplifier but it sounded in tune. It should be as he did as he had said the other day; practiced the whole night. Though the old thing had a habit of easily falling out of tune. His fingers hurt but it wasn't anything he couldn't handle. 

Alongside practicing he had thought about many things. Well, not many. a single thing. His birthday was approaching, meaning his doomsday was coming. Seeing his parents again. That would be so much fucking fun.

It was hell every time, seeing them. Whether it was for birthdays or any other family party. Pure hell.

The door to the dressing room opened and in walked the rest of his members. This caused Changkyun to snap out of his thoughts or probably the lack of those. "Oh. You're already here?" Hyungwon asked, raising his eyebrows. Changkyun nodded slightly. "I came early to see the set." He responded lowering his guitar onto its stand.

"Who's playing?" Jooheon throwing himself on the couch and sighing in content. "N.Flying. They're good." The youngest responded in a quiet tone, pulling out his phone to check his social media accounts real quick. There was really nothing except some flirty DMs from some fangirls that h didn't even bother checking.

"Oh. You put your piercing back on." Jooheon commented, poking at the piece of jewelry. "Ow!" Changkyun hissed, cupping his hand over his eyebrow. He sent a small glare the other's way. "I had to get it re-pierced..." he mumbled. The hole from the piercing had closed in the year he hadn't worn it. 

After he re-pierced it earlier that day he realized that he might have fucked up. How was he supposed to care for a piercing when he can't care for himself?

"With what money?" Changkyun pulled his lips into a line. Clearly, the others were aware of his shitty financial situation. "I asked my grandparents... They understand that I need money for something else that's not just the basics..." He straight out lied. His grandparents understood, but he still wouldn't go to them even if it was a dire situation, so he had forced himself to look in the mirror for once and pierced his skin with a well-sanitized safety pin. It hurt like hell.

"Guys, you're on in twenty!" Hyunwoo exclaimed from the door, getting a few hums of acknowledgment back.

Changkyun sunk in his seat, nerves finally catching up to him. Maybe it was the buzz from alcohol wearing off finally. "We haven't been on stage in a while, huh?" Minhyuk hummed, placing a hand onto the youngest's thigh, his fingers pressing down in a calming pattern. The blond man could probably tell he was getting nervous. 

"Let's just do what we normally do. It's always been fun and the crowd is amazing in places like this." Jooheon exclaimed, smiling widely. Changkyun poked his finger into the man's dimple, not being able to resist the urge.

The door suddenly opened. "I'm bringing snacks as per the request of Chae Hyungwon." Kihyun's voice echoed in the space as he carried in a bag. Changkyun's eyes turned to the guy almost immediately when he heard his voice. "Hell yeah. I knew I could count on you, Hyung!" The pink-haired man exclaimed, obviously feeling much better than the day before.