THANK YOU // DEX ✔️

12.

UDT soldier

Hi
Do you have time now?

I just got back from a photoshoot
...
So yeah
I have time
Why?

I'm waiting downstairs
Giving you five minutes

What?
You're waiting downstairs?

Yeah
We're doing something
Don't worry
You'll like it

You sound quite ominous even through those text messages

You're just imagining things
Only four minutes left

Alright
I'm on my way
God!

~•~

"Why are you dragging me out of bed at eleven at night?" That was the first sentence Siyoung uttered when she stepped outside the house and saw the smiling Jinyoung. He was dressed casually, just in jeans and a shirt, but despite that, he looked good. The moment she caught sight of him, Siyoung was glad she came after all, even though she had resolved to ignore Jinyoung and erase him from her life. So why did she reply to his message? Does she really have such weak willpower?

"Because I missed you," he answered. The singer shot him a glance that could burn holes.

"You do realize I've been up since five, got back half an hour ago, and I have to wake up at six tomorrow for another photoshoot?" Siyoung told him. She would have preferred to lie, but unfortunately, it was all true. Her time off had ended, and she was slipping back into work mode, which was killing her, as she'd end up sleeping for only three to five hours (on better days). And now, with the nightmares returning, she's sleeping even less.

"We don't have to be out for long," Jinyoung laughed and walked somewhere. Siyoung rolled her eyes but followed the former soldier. "Do you mind motorcycles?"

Suddenly, a memory of Seojun and his motorcycle came to Siyoung's mind. They often went for evening rides together, when they didn't have to worry about being seen. Only at night could she be a normal person – though even then, she had to be careful of highly frequented places because fans could be everywhere. That memory involved racing through narrow alleys at too high a speed. Seojun's maniacal laughter and other people yelling as Seojun rode recklessly past them. Siyoung was afraid of that machine.

"No, I'm not scared," she replied. She felt like punching herself. She was afraid of motorcycles. Why did she lie to him?

"You're scared, I can see it in your eyes," Jinyoung chuckled. "You don't have to lie to me to impress me."

"I didn't lie. I'm not scared...I just have a few bad memories connected to them, but I'll manage," she crossed her arms over her chest and looked sternly at the older man. He just smiled and nodded.

"May I?" he asked, lifting a helmet. Siyoung nodded. Jinyoung walked slowly towards her and gently placed the helmet on her head. Then, with another slow movement, he fastened the helmet and made sure it fit properly – safety always comes first.

"When did the walking red flag become the most walking green flag?" Siyoung asked. Jinyoung laughed at this question, because he knew exactly what she was referring to.

"I admit, I might have made a few stupid decisions during Single Inferno and may have looked like a complete idiot. But I'm not like that. The show was about making an impression, so I tried to impress those who caught my attention and maybe even appealed to me. In real life, I'm not like that," he argued. "I could say the same about you. When I saw a few videos of you, you acted differently too. You know that your personality changes a bit on camera."

"Yours changed 360 degrees," Siyoung smiled.

"And?"

"And nothing. I just mean to say that I prefer this Jinyoung, and I'm glad you're like this in real life," she smiled. There was a moment of silence between them as they looked into each other's eyes. "Are we just going to stand here, or are we going somewhere? Because if it's the former, I'm going back inside and going to sleep," Siyoung pointed back at the entrance door.

"No such thing, get on," Jinyoung tapped on the motorcycle.

~•~

"We bumped into each other not far from here," Siyoung said as they got off the motorcycle. Jinyoung had initially been riding fast, but when he felt Siyoung holding onto him tightly and sensed her trembling against his back, he slowed down.

"Yes," Jinyoung nodded. "As I told you that day. I live not far from here and come here to jog. I like this place because it's peaceful and offers a beautiful view of the Han River."

"You're right about that. The view is indeed beautiful, but I prefer hilltop views. Only on a hill do you feel like the entire world belongs to you. Everything is beneath you and small. You feel as if everything is yours. You feel like you're the master of the world," Siyoung wanted to smack herself for talking so much and for saying that to him. This was a part of her mind only known to Jiwon, who sometimes told her to shut up, that she was being annoying. But Siyoung couldn't help it; she could sometimes be chatty – sometimes she needed someone who would just listen.

"Once, I even skipped school and went to the countryside, where my grandma lived. I always loved being there with her, but what I adored the most were the hills surrounding the village. I just got off the bus and headed straight into the woods, from where I climbed the highest hill. Nobody knew I was there, not even her. I sat there and just stared at that magnificent view for hours. Then I got grounded for two weeks, but it was worth it. At that time, I was very stressed because everyone around me knew what they wanted to do, and I was still uncertain. From a young age, I loved soldiers and wanted to be one, but at thirteen, I fell into singing. When I skipped school like this, I was sixteen, and my mind didn't know if it wanted this or that. Fortunately, on that day, when I got off the bus, a StarShip agent stopped me and asked if I wanted to be an idol. In that moment, I decided that I wanted to be a singer, as destiny probably intended," Siyoung turned to Jinyoung, who was sitting facing her, attentively listening. "I'm sorry, I'm probably boring you."

"You're not boring," he replied. "I'm glad you're confiding in me, even if it's about such small things. It makes me feel like I know you better. And most importantly, I enjoy listening to you."

Siyoung blushed.