DAYLIGHT | taehyun

08

If you told me a few months ago that I'd be using my last two free drinks on Akira, I would've gone, 'Who the hell is Akira?'

I keep switching my eyes between the barista in front of me, brewing up my orders, and Akira who's all alone at the booth, probably judging everyone who passes by.

"Hey, bud, here's your apple juice and a cold glass of water, have fun," The barista nods as he slides both glasses across the counter.

I flash a small smile as a little sign of gratitude, then I make my way back to our booth, almost even bumping into a few people while doing so. I place the two glasses down before Akira and see her glare falter, but not vanish. Brushing this off, I return to my seat on the other side of the table and motion towards the water and apple juice, prompting her to drink either one.

Her eyes narrow as she scrutinizes these before she abruptly looks back up at me, "How do I know these weren't tampered with?"

"If they were, the ice cubes would've sunk to the bottom of the glass, it would be fizzing up, and the glasses would've been fogged," I answer and cross my arms, unintentionally mirroring her posture for the hundredth time again, "And I don't know how to spike a drink. You're good."

"What's this other thing? Why does it look like beer?"

"It's apple juice."

"How do I know if it's apple juice?"

"... Drink it?"

"Why are there two drinks?"

This girl must be obsessed with the Socratic method.

I heave a sigh, "I didn't know if you liked apple juice so I ordered water as well, just in case."

"So you used up all of your free drinks?" She furls up a brow, the way she always does.

"Yeah," I can't believe it either.

"For me?"

"Well... yes."

Her squint dissipates back to normal. She looks down at the drinks I got her for a few more moments and I see the slightest smile crack through those intimidating lips which knew nothing but to shoot questions and spur out point-blank statements.

"Thank you." Her gaze comes back to me, "And for your information, I like apple juice just fine."

A smile also almost cracks through me, but I'm confident that I hid it better than she did.

Akira takes the apple juice to her lips and chugs down half of the glass's content, the flashing array of LED lights paints her face in hues of countless colors, intently looking at the currently empty stage and the moshpit of a 'dance floor'.

The two men earlier ended up getting escorted out of the place. I would've asked her why she was tearing up but that would be such an off-color thing to do. All I knew at that moment was that I needed to get her out of there.

I find it in myself to just not talk at all and give Akira the silence of her desired longevity. I'm also cool with the silence for now. And to have it with her wasn't something I thought I needed until now.

"Hey, people of the night. Is everyone having a good time?!"

Yoweon's voice speaking into the mic catches both of our attention and brings the crowd back into a deafening uproar, answering in all sorts of ways.

On stage with her, was Kai. Silently setting up his keyboard not far from Yoweon who had her guitar hanging in front of her and a ridiculously tall mic stand, I think this was the highest I've seen it become tonight. How have I not realized how tall Yoweon was?