Hyacinth 🪷 || JaeDoTae

• 2 •

It was nighttime in Busan, South Korea. Taeyong stuffed his hands into his coat pockets, keeping them warm from the winter air. Any day now, it would snow.

Taeyong loved the snowfall and winter season. But this time of year meant no flowers, so he'd make only half of the profits he usually does. Now, he has to rely solely on his Cafe.

Taeyong pushed through the crowds of people gathering to watch the busking on the street corners or sometimes even in the middle of the streets. Everywhere around him, laughter and talking filled his ears. His eyes watching the merriment of everyone in the holiday spirit as the warm glow of Christmas lights lit up the storefronts. He inhaled the scent of cinnamon and maple hanging in the air, walking by local bakeries that had their doors wide open, welcoming customers with open arms.

This was one of his favorite times of the year.

But, again like the years before, he'd have no one to spend the upcoming Christmas and New Years with. It'd be nineteen years alone of watching the first snowfall. Nineteen years alone of counting down the New Year and watching the ball drop in New York City.

He just couldn't help but wish that he'd have someone special to spend this time of year with. Someone to make and share new memories with.

But life hardly ever works out the way we want it too.

A sudden chill blew against the back of Taeyong's neck. His shoulders rose and the hair on the back of his neck stood up. He turned to look behind him and, admist the crowd of people, he locked eyes with someone in all black. The person pulled down their cap and turned away, dipping into a random alleyway.

Taeyong's eyes widen, then continued walking but at a faster pace this time.

Am... Am I being followed?

He hurried down the street, crossing at the nearest crosswalk and turning into a crowded plaza full of people. He looked behind him again. Way back in the crowd, Taeyong saw him again. The man in black.
And he was walking this way.

Taeyong picked up his pace even faster, this time running blindly through the people, apologizing as he pushed people out the way, struggling to get through. He could feel the presence of the man still behind him. He had watched too many crime thrillers to know what was going on right now.

He was being targeted by a killer.

But, why me? he thought. Is it maybe my hair? It stands out to much and makes me easy to spot.

Taeyong pulled his coat's hood over his head, following the steady pull of the crowd until he found his way into an underground club. Inside the club, he suddenly felt very warm. Almost over-heated. The loud rhythmic pulse of the music. The bright LED lighting mixed with hundreds of dancing sweaty bodies. It felt overwhelming but almost... welcoming.

Taeyong looked over his shoulder once more to see if the man had followed him inside. But, Taeyong couldn't spot him at all. He breathed aloud a sigh of relief and removed his coat and mittens. A waiter suddenly came to his side, asking if he could put away his things. Taeyong nodded, stuffing the mittens in the coat pockets before handing his coat over to him.

Taeyong stood around on the side, unfamiliar with his surroundings. In his young life, he had never once taken a step inside a club. He just always felt like it wasn't his scene. He was used to being alone. It's just the way things were for him.

His eyes drifted to all the bodies rubbing against each other, partying. Dancing. Living. He felt the sudden urge to join them. His eyes eventually wandered over to the bar lit up with LEDs all along the ceiling, shelves and bar countertop. One of the bartenders spotted him and beckoned him over. Taeyong pointed at himself, confirming. The Bartender nodded and then went back to mixing together a drink. Taeyong walked over, reluctant.

He sat down on one of the barstools. The Bartender continued mixing together the drink, swirling around the bottles, shaking it like it owed him money. Taeyong watched in amazement as the clear liquid he had dumped inside the canister seconds before, was now blue. The Bartender skillfully poured the blue drink inside a Martini glass crusted with salt around the rim. He lit a piece of dry ice on fire and set it inside the drink. The fire turned purple for a split second inside the glass before going out, turning the drink an almost neon green color. He then, stuck a lemon slice on the side and then slid the glass towards Taeyong.

Taeyong reached out to grab it but then the Bartender stopped him, grabbing ahold of Taeyong's hand. He leaned forward, leaning so his mouth was touching Taeyong's ear. "Careful", he whispered. "It hits hard from the back".

Before Taeyong could process what that meant, the Bartender stood up and walked away. Taeyong was silent for a split second before raising the glass to his lips and taking a sip.

Welp, he thought, it's a new year soon. Might as well try new things.

Taeyong winced hard at the strong flavor of the drink but a heartbeat later, his tounge felt like it was on fire by an overwhelming sweet flavor. He felt the alcohol hit his brain hard. His head started throbbing. Taeyong shook his head, trying to shake it off.

Then the pain lessened and all he felt was pure escasty. He gasped, throwing his head back. He couldn't quite explain what he felt at that moment. He reached for the glass hungrily and winced hard as he chugged the drink down, coughing hard as he finished the glass. He wiped his chin with the back of his hand, eyes squinted as looked around. The LED lights suddenly seemed as if the were dancing themselves. The people on the dance floor started getting smaller and taller simultaneously. He giggled loudly before bursting into a fit of laughter. He stumbled out of his chair, making his way to the crowd to join them.

He felt people press up against him from all directions. He raised his hands, letting the dull thud of the music take over. He kept shaking his head as the fuzzy feeling crept into his brain, taking over every fiber of his body and creeping into the dark cracks of his soul. Just then, he felt somebody's arm wrap around his waist, pulling him close. He tried to blink and look up at the person in front of him but his vision wasn't cooperating.

The face in front of him was so blurry. But the strength of the grip holding him was definitely male. His hands reached up, clumsily touching the man's face. His skin was smooth and his hair was soft. Then he felt his fingers graze the person's lips accidentally. He removed his hands but the man's hand grabbed his wrist. He slowly moved Taeyong's hand back onto his cheek, pressing it against his face. Taeyong was silent. He used his free hand to wipe his eyes aggressively and look again.

Then he felt it. The drink was making its grand reappearance. He pushed the man away but the man's hold around his waist remained strong. Taeyong hit the man's chest softly. He felt the man's grip loosen with hesitation before letting Taeyong go fully. Taeyong bowed his head slightly then stumbled away into the crowd. But he didn't get far before he upchucked his drink right on the dance floor. Then, he felt his vision swim before his legs gave out from underneath him and the world went black.