Philophobia ❧ JEONGCHAN

12

Swim-Chase Atlantic

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How Jeongin had convinced Chris to join him at the club was unknown. The Australian had his eyes set on his boyfriend while he pleaded to go because he'd never been with a significant other and apparently it made all the difference. Famous artists' songs boomed out of the speakers in the corners of the building and above their heads; Chase Atlantic, The Neighborhood, Ava Max, Dua Lipa, and Bebe Rexha were some of which Chris recognized. Maybe it had been when Jeongin said he was going with or without him. That wasn't a smart move for his boyfriend to let him go clubbing alone.

He'd been tricked him, because Selena and Alex were there when they arrived and it seemed to be planned. They gave him birthday wishes, hugged him, handed him a drink, and then talked until they were intoxicated. After that they were gone and off to the dance floor, tugging his tipsy boyfriend with them. He was left to watch them throw their hands in the air and spill their drinks all over each other with loud laughs. Who knew what they were talking about or if they were even talking at all. Their lips were moving but all Chris could hear was the thumping bass in his ears.

Not that he minded. He enjoyed it. Not usually, but the bass amplified the sound of his beating heart as he watched Jeongin twirl Selena around. He wasn't jealous. He knew it was just friendly dancing. As friendly as club dancing could get. At least neither girl was grinding up on him, and anyone that tried to slip in was shooed off by Alex. Chris would buy her a thousand drinks as long as she kept the sharks out of his ocean.

He liked Alex. A lot. She knew how to handle herself and she knew how to handle others. He'd seen plenty of guys eyeing up her girl and every time she caught it she pulled Selena close by the waist and kissed up her neck, fingers entangling in her hair, chest pressed against her fiance's. Then she'd flash her engagement ring and laugh at all the guys that scattered off. He wasn't sure if Selena knew she had men prowling. Either way Alex's actions always earned her a sweet passionate kiss.

Honestly Chris could go into the crowd and shove off anyone he caught trying to get in Jeongin's pants if he wanted. He didn't do it because Jeongin could handle himself and he liked watching from afar. His intoxicated boyfriend danced all the stress away and he simply leaned back to enjoy the process. Certain songs got different reactions from him. He seemed to like Dua Lipa a lot. Everytime one of her songs played he'd mimic the lyrics with some type of abrupt choreography he'd made up in the heat of the moment. His smile was especially bright when Selena and him clapped their hands to the beat.

It made Chris feel light. Seeing Jeongin live life out in the open was refreshing to him. Maybe because Chris had never experienced it. Vivian was diagnosed before he could even dream of going to clubs and then it hadn't been a thought afterward. He didn't drink to numb the pain and he hadn't taken anyone home to pretend it was her for a night. He just repeated the same day over and over.

He should have lived. He should have gone out and taken a few girls home but he just couldn't make himself. Regretfully he didn't know how to dance. Which made his time at any club useless. He could say that club dancing wasn't real dancing because all one did was throw around their hands and sway. They bopped their heads and rubbed their bodies together. Chris was too sober for that kind of thing; someone had to be responsible.

So he stayed back and he watched Jeongin's hips sway, and when a specific song came on his body shot up straight and his movements were that of a adrenaline rush. Alex looked just as happy if not more so and Selena was moved out of the way to clear up some space on the floor. Chris was amused if not confused. It all came piecing itself together when he and Alex's feet slid across the floor, legs spreading open. Jeongin-he was sure Alex was copying him but Chris only focused on his boyfriend-tilted his head back a bit to expose his neck.