The City of Seoul || Bang Chan

✧.* Chapter 27 *.✧

"My feet hurt," Danbi pouted, her face flushed and hot. She was drunk. "I want to take them off." The heels were surprisingly comfortable but still after a few hours of dancing, they started to dig into her skin.

"Let me help you," Chan was beside her and noticed the discomfort. He crouched down next to her, keeping his eyes on her ankles.

"Hold on to my shoulders," he gently pulled her hands to his shoulder and made sure she grabbed onto the fabric, swaying slightly before he began to open the small buckles around her right ankle.

His hand held her calf while raising her leg to slip off the first shoe. The hands on his shoulder pulled the fabric tighter. A smile appeared on his lips while repeating it and freeing her second foot.

Danbi felt like her face burning up. It had been flushed for a long time now with the alcohol in her system but after watching Chan crouch before her and feeling his finger graze her skin, it took over her body.

"There you go," Chan rose to his full height again. He was towering over her, her shoes in his hand tangling next to his body.

He was so close. So close, that all she could smell was him. Her head spun. His cologne was rich and husky with a note of vanilla. It wrapped around her like a hug.

Her heart was beating fast, too fast. She took a step back, lowering her eyes to her now-bare feet. These unspoken feelings lingered inside her chest.

"Thank you," she wasn't sure he could hear her over the loud music. Danbi reached for her shoes. Chan moved his arm behind his back, causing her to meet his eyes again.

There was no need for words, seeing the emotions lingering behind their eyes. Still, the mind won the war against the heart.

Both knew that eventually, they would need to talk about everything.

He inclined his head with a smile. It didn't quite reach his eyes, she noticed. After handing her the shoes, the idol turned and walked away through the crowd of people.

Space, they needed.

✧･ﾟ: * ✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧ *:･ﾟ✧

„Good morning, everyone!," Minho beamed as he placed a tray with cups of coffee in the center of the table. He had invited everyone who was available to brunch the following day. Now, sitting in the living room, his cheerful greeting was met with smiles, though some looked a bit hungover.

"Felix?" Minho glanced at the younger artist. Felix nodded and looked up from his phone. "Could you go and tell Bi that everyone is here? Her room is down the hall, last door on the right."

Felix did as he was asked and set out to find her. He noticed that the door was slightly open, allowing him to see her on the bed, watching the rain running down the floor-to-ceiling windows.

"Bi?" Felix knocked gently before pushing the door open.

Danbi turned her head. Felix could easily see that she was struggling with something on her mind. Her smile didn't reach her eyes, and she tapped her fingers nervously against her knee.

"Minho wanted me to get you," Felix said as he stepped inside the room. "I can tell something is bothering you. What's wrong?"

He walked over to her bed and sat down on the edge. Danbi searched for the right words to express her inner turmoil.

"Is it him?" Felix asked softly. The rest of the group, excluding their leader, had noticed the glances exchanged between Danbi and the older Australian.

They had seen Chan struggle when the rumors began and her name was mentioned, worried that he might hurt her image and possibly damage theirs as well.

Danbi looked at the freckled man beside her, noting his concern.

"What are you thinking?" Felix reached out and rubbed her knee gently. "Just let it all out."

Danbi covered her face with her hands before pushing them through her hair. "Lix, I don't know. It's just a lot right now." She looked at him, her expression heavy.

"New projects at work, the sudden attention I have, and I don't want - to be completely honest," she sighed. "And I miss spending time with Minho. His comeback is just around the corner, and he's constantly at the company."

Another sigh escaped her lips. "I genuinely miss being around you guys." She smiled faintly and looked down at her hands.

"Then come over again! After work or visit us at the company," Felix urged, pouting slightly. The other members missed her too; they all adored her. "What's holding you back, Bi?"

"I feel like I'm breaking my promise, Felix." She looked at him, and he understood the meaning behind the look in her eyes.

"You're falling for him," he whispered.