CUPID (hyunho)

TWENTY-TWO

They now sit before the fire they had kindled earlier for their campfire. The fire's welcoming warmth envelops them, a comforting contrast to the cool embrace of the night breeze.

Their laughter invades the natural setting to the point that they feel obliged to apologise to the sleeping creatures nearby. With the crackling of the campfire, they laugh and talk nonstop as they try to grill the perfect marshmallow. But not everyone is successful, some marshmallows burn while others have the misfortune of falling to the forest ground.

"Wait lemme get the guitar inside." Changbin said, handing his marshmallow stick to Felix, who was seated beside him. He was gone for only few minutes then came back with a guitar on his hand.

"Who know how to play?" Changbin asked as he settled back beside Felix.

"Why are you asking? I thought you would play? How could you have a guitar if you didn't even know how to play?" Jisung threw a lot of questions to Changbin that makes everyone laughed and Changbin just chuckled and shook his head before answering all of those questions of Jisung.

"First of all i know how to play that's why i have this." Changbin said then strum his guitar. "...and i was just asking if ever somebody wants to play." He continued as Jisung only nodded his head while scratching his nape.

"So?" Changbin raised his guitar a bit while looking at everyone.

"Can i?" Then, all eyes turned to Seungmin, who was seated between Minho on his left and Jisung on his right.

"You know how play?" Jisung asked Seungmin with his shocked expression.

"I wouldn't ask if I didn't know how." Seungmin remarked as Changbin handed him the guitar.

"Right." Jisung responded before returning to grill his marshmallows.

Amidst laughter at Jisung's antics, Hyunjin struggled to avert his gaze from the other side of the fire. If he were ice cream, he might melt faster under Minho's gaze than from the heat of the fire before him.

Since they started their campfire, Minho had been staring at Hyunjin. Initially, it was stolen glances as they prepared what they needed, but now Minho's gaze was fixed on him entirely, as if trying to communicate with his soul. This made Hyunjin increasingly restless, especially since some of their friends had already noticed. Jisung and Jeongin had whispered to him earlier about Minho's constant gaze, while Felix gave them both a knowing look and smirk. Fortunately, the warmth of the fire masked Hyunjin's red cheeks.

With one last glance at Minho before deliberately avoiding his gaze, Hyunjin's attention shifted to Seungmin as he began to strum the guitar. As he watched Seungmin, Hyunjin couldn't help but notice Jisung's restless eyes and hands, particularly when Seungmin started to hum a song.

"I didn't know you were so good at this Seungs." Felix remarks with a little chuckle that makes Seungmin smile then started singing.

Everyone seemed taken aback by the angelic voice emanating from their friend, especially Jisung, who now stared wide-eyed and open-mouthed at Seungmin. The shock was evident in everyone's expressions, except for Minho, who continued to gaze at Hyunjin while swaying slightly and seemingly humming along to the song as well.

Seungmin's voice is mesmerizingly beautiful, perfectly suited for the ballad. The earlier loud noises have faded away, replaced by the enchanting sound of Seungmin's voice, enveloping them all in the moment. Hyunjin closes his eyes, savoring the present. He feels the warmth of the fire in front of him, the cool night breeze brushing against his nape and back, and Seungmin's angelic voice as the backdrop. Despite the unexplained intensity of Minho's gaze, he finds himself immersed in the moment, still enjoying every bit of it.