Pop Star || Yoongi x Reader

24. Children of the City

"Watch your head - it's a bit - bit -,"

"-cramped?" you complete the sentence.

"Yeah."

"It's cute," you say when you notice that beyond all the boxes is a small window, next to which is a small table and four chairs. There's just enough space for you all to squeeze into your places.

You're considerably uphill, you realize because you can see the city and the hills from the window. The setting sun lights everything up. It's greasy and cramped, and warm and pretty.

"This is so adventurous!" Rhea giggles.

"Yeah? You having fun so far?" Suga asks her with a grin.

"It's the best day of my life!" she responds, clapping.

You chuckle at that. He looks at you then. There's a question in his eyes alright. One that can't be asked, it just is there, waiting to be felt and be responded to in feeling. A question of connection -
This is me. Can you see? Can I find you here too?

You look away. Your hair is bothering you, so you tie it up in a bun.

"What are we eating?" Rhea asks.
"The best chicken wings in the world," Suga answers, "and a no-alcohol drink of your choice."
"Oooooh I cannot wait, I'm starving - you know, we walked so much today, in Bullo-dong tomb park and we also went to Buinsa temple..."

You're glad at Rhea's infinite capacity to talk. It gives you a chance to look at Suga for longer. The proud eyebrows are hidden behind a curtain of unstyled blonde bangs and thickly rimmed glasses. Maybe because he smiles less, when he does smile - or laugh - it feels like it's from the heart.

He knows you're looking at him. It's nerve wrecking - he can't figure out what you're thinking - but you're definitely withdrawn. Not cold. Not like that. Just hesitant.

"...but I love to walk." Rhea finishes and takes a deep breath.
"Ah, I'm not a fan of walking much. Most people I meet seem to like it however," Suga says.
"Y/N doesn't like it either," Rhea comments.

You don't answer immediately, but he notices that you seem to have come to a realization of some sort. You fling your purse onto the only empty chair and lean forward. So you've decided to take a chance.

"It's true, I don't prefer walking. But it's growing on me thanks to someone," you tap Rhea's head lightly. She grins with satisfaction.
"See if she can enjoy it, you can do it too!" Rhea says as a matter-of-factly.

"Yeah, who knows..." Suga's voice trails away.

You didn't think that you could enjoy watching the sunset over a regular Korean city from the tiny window of a common dinghy chicken shop - but you do. It's not quite your regular brand of enjoyment. Somewhere in between the noise of the customers downstairs, the scent of fried chicken and this unusual situation, time seems to have slowed. You're away from your everyday life.

Cut off completely.

Your head is running towards long-forgotten horizons. Like when you dreamt of travelling and writing your whole life in high school. Like when you still sometimes thought about retiring at some beachside cafe. You wish you're not alone by then but it feels like wishful thinking more often than not. Yet, you always thought you would be alone in the future but when the future does come, it brings people along.

Like right now.

Right in front of you is a guy asking you if his world and your world are similar on some level. Even though you both are so different on the face of it. Maybe life is giving you a chance in a way you didn't see coming. That's what you thought before you flung your purse onto the side and decided to live the moment. You let your eyes answer. I got you.

"You know, sometimes I don't get life at all - when I feel lost and all those deep feelings of hopelessness - and I'm so done with everything that nothing makes sense - but then I see food -" you gaze longingly at the doorway where your chicken is about to appear, "- and I go - yeah. This is it. This is what I live for."

"There is nothing like it," Suga replies, with an uncomplicated smile on his face.

Right then, the uncle from downstairs appears in the doorway with two trays laden with food and drinks.

"Oh, the timing was perfect!" you exclaim.

Twinkling lights appear outside the window as the night comes alive in Daegu Town. Inside the little loft, you all eat and laugh under the golden glow of an old fashioned bulb. You realize that he's a good storyteller with the way he talks about how he'd make deliveries for this place after school, and the old couple would give him free meals sometimes.

"I worked as a waitress for some time after leaving school," you reminisce.
"How was that?" he asks with a chuckle.
"Annoyingly difficult."
"You or the job?"
You scowl. "That whole period sucked. I was new in a big city and - I barely managed it."
"Seriously?" he gives you a surprised look.
"What? You thought I landed where I am today in some golden chariot?" you snap.

"Kind of, yes," he replies.

You roll your eyes at him.

"No, it's just that - you are normal. People who become - people like us, they are messed up. It messes you up - when you do everything it takes to get what you want. But you're normal."

You give him a long look before replying, "What makes you think I'm normal?"

It's his turn to stare at you. "You honestly enjoy the - little things. Ah, I don't really know how to say it," he looks away with a shake of his hand. "You haven't lost that - easy going vibe, the genuineness."

"What on earth makes you think that?," you laugh, "And didn't you call me a people-pleasing prom queen not too long ago?"

"I did," he rests his chin on his fingers before continuing in a careful, slow way, "you're honest about that too - pleasing people. And sure - I may be presuming this - but you can still trust people. It shows in the way you talk to your manager and that other girl -"

"-Lily..." Jeez, when did he notice all of that? You try to remember all the time you've spent with him so far - it shouldn't be hard because it isn't a lot. You don't know that he formed this opinion of you way back when he first saw you. He noticed you a lot more than you noticed him that night at the airport.

"I'm not that honest, Suga...but I do get what you mean about people like us being messed up - I'm the same," you mutter.

"I don't know what you both are talking about but I think both of you are normal and not messed up at all," Rhea shares her opinion, shaking her head vigorously.

Her sincere expression makes the both of you burst out laughing.

"Thank you for saying that, Rhea," Suga replies rather seriously.

"Can we please talk about fun things..." she continues as you dig into your remaining chicken wings.