The Days That Count

19. The Day Of The New Year Party (Part 2)

Baek-Hyun cleared his throat, as if getting a bit shy, and glanced at his friend carefully. "What..? "

Aliyah was so confused by how good that kiss was that she didn't even answer. She caught Baek's cheeks in her hands again. "Let me just check something. "

She was so drunk that all of this had no impact on her feelings of shame. She leaned in and kissed him briefly again before pulling back, looking at him wide-eyed.

"You're a good kisser, Baek-Hyun! Your lips are so soft. " she exclaimed.

His cheeks felt hot. "Is that what you wanted? To check if I'm a good kisser?"

Aliyah started tripping over her tongue a bit. She was under such good impression. "No, sorry, uh. I just thought that since you said you had no one to kiss as well that we could just kiss each other. "

"When did I agree to that? "

What?

Why is Baek-Hyun angry? Is this for real? Aliyah couldn't believe his serious expression. Maybe it's because he's from Korea. Consent is a very important thing there, expressed in words. She remembered he was just a good guy holding onto his principles and tradition. What did he say they do there? A couple tells each other about their feelings before getting together and kissing, commonly. She didn't know what to say.

"Uh, sorry if you hated it. Am I such a bad kisser?" She stammered.

Baek-Hyun was so shocked. What bothered him most is that his face was hot and he knew that he was red in the cheeks. He turned away.

"I'm gonna go get some water and fresh air. I think I'm drunk" he began walking off.

"Awh!" Elianna sighed in awe. "It's no big deal, Baek-Hyun! It's just a New Year's kiss! Don't need to feel embarrassed!"

Heavenly nags her. "Stop teasing him. " She then looks at Aliyah who was completely out of it. "Ally? You okay? What was that?"

Jordan finally acknowledges presence of people other than Yvonne and glances at them. "What happened?"

"Aliyah kissed Baek-Hyun at midnight and he got mad and walked away. " Thalia explains.

Joe's wide eyes gaze at Aliyah. "Is that true?" He breaks off from the girl he was making out with. "Where did he go?"

"To get water. Then outside. " Heavenly lets him know.

"I'm gonna look for him. " Jordan states but stops in his tracks. His eyes glance at Aliyah's worried face. "Wait, are you crushing on Baek-Hyun?"

Ally put a hand on her face. "It wasn't like that.."

She wavered a bit what to answer to that question. Wait. Why am I wavering? I don't have romantic feelings for Baek-Hyun! He is just my annoying neighbor. That's all. She couldn't think about it so she exclaimed that she was going to the kitchen for a drink.

"I'm gonna go after her", Heavenly announces, disappearing after Aliyah.

This was such a weird situation. So what if they kissed? Why would Baek-Hyun run away when he clearly, willingly took part in it? Heavenly could only wonder. Same with Jordan.

He walks out to the porch on the side entrance. At first nothing could be seen but the snowflakes rushing around competing which will get to ground first. They took it seriously, obviously, because they fell at a speed of light practically. Jordan's eyes had to squeeze to see through them and the dark night sprawling around. Once his vision was adapted to the scenery, Baek-Hyun appeared to be sitting on a stool on Joe's right. To his roommate's utter surprise, Seong Baek-Hyun was holding a cigarette between his lips which slowly burned.