The City of Seoul // Bang Chan [EDITING]

✧.* Chapter 9 *.✧

After everyone had a full stomach, they decided to go for a walk along the Han River. It was late and the chances of being recognised were slim. Still, everyone covered their faces with a mask and some a hat. 

Chan walked next to Danbi. His hands were buried inside the pockets of his jacket. It was only the beginning of the year and even colder after sunset. "Can I ask you something?" He turned his head towards the smaller female, waiting for her to say yes.

Danbi had watched Minho and the Members of StrayKids walking in front of them but turned her head as soon as she heard his voice. They seemed deep into a conversation, listening intently.

„Sure." She smiled and nodded.

"Earlier," Chan carefully chose his words. "you told us that you work behind the camera." Danbi knew in which direction his question would go but let him continue. "Does it have to do with who your brother is?" His eyes never left her.

Danbi thought about how to answer for a moment, leaving them in a moment of comfortable silence. "I barely remember the time before he debuted," she began. "We have almost a decade in age difference and so our parents decided with him becoming a trainee that they would shelter me, so I could grow up without the negative side effects."

"You can't completely hide who my brother is due to the career of our dad but they did everything they could and for the most part it worked." Danbi watched Minho laugh and smiled. "And so I decided to study aboard after finishing school here to start fresh in a way."

Chan nodded, listening. 

"I love him to pieces and always have and will support him and the members but I had the urge to have something for myself in a way. So no one could say I have certain opportunities due to him being my brother." Danbi further explained. She looked away from her brother and up to the man beside her. Their eyes met again under the dim light of the streetlights.

"I adore their fans," Danbi told him, "I think I do not need to explain to you how some fans don't know boundaries when it comes to privacy." Chan shook his head. He knew.

"Are you concerned about the reactions and if people connect you to him when the show airs in a few weeks?" Another carefully articulated question. Danbi had noticed, Chan had a way of knowing what or how to say something. He picked up on small details and thought ahead. 

She let her eyes drift from him over to the sight of the skyline on the other side of the river. She had missed her home deeply.

"If I'm being honest, it will be hard not to listen to any negative comment in general and even if they find out who my brother or father is, at the end of the day I know what got me there and nobody can take that from me." A sigh escaped her.

"But it would be a lie if I said I wouldn't want as much privacy as I can get." Chan noticed the sad look in her eyes when she turned her attention back to him. Before he had the chance to say anything, Danbi added;

"I'm grateful for the opportunity to meet and work with you today. Even if it pushes me more into the public eye." He could tell by the way her eyes crinkled at the sides that she smiled under her mask. "Being pushed outside your comfort zone is something positive."

"I'm glad to hear that." 

The silence between them did not feel uncomfortable as they continued to walk next to each other, watching the eight in front of them talk, laugh and even bicker. Even with a busy day ahead, this felt like a small break for the Idols.

It didn't go unnoticed that Danbi rubbed her arms every now and then by the leader, especially as the breeze picked up. "Are you cold?" he asked concerned. Her heavy coat didn't keep the wind out even with how tightly she had wrapped it around herself.

"It's alright," She tried to assure him. "It's just the wind that makes it colder." He had already taken off his jacket, an oversized black bomber jacket.

"Here." He offered her his jacket. "It will keep you warmer." Danbi stopped to look at his outstretched hand with the heavy jacket. "Give me your coat."

"Then you will get cold." Danbi hesitated. Chan wore only a sweater underneath. He couldn't help himself but smile. "Please," he held out his other hand for her coat. "I wouldn't offer it if it wasn't okay. I don't get cold that easily. I promise."

Danbi watched his eyes form into the half-moons, she had seen so many times today and opened her coat for it to slip down her arm and handing it to him. He helped her into his. The sleeves were too long, having a warming effect as they covered her hands. The fabric held his body temperature. 

"Thank you." Danbi watched him close the jacket for her. The sleeves kept covering her hand when she tried to do it herself. The growing blush was luckily hidden by the mask that covered her face and darkness. 

Chan took a step back and let his eyes wander over her figure throwing in his jacket. It looked adorable to him ."There you go." Chan smiled.

Unnoticed by the two of them, the rest of the group had stopped and watched the interaction fondly. Everyone was smiling underneath their masks.

"He likes her a lot already," Han whispered to Felix.