D!CKHEAD | Lee Haechan

two steps back

"I can't believe she's leaving" Minjeong breathed out with a sigh as she listened to what Haechan had told her just now

"You didn't know either" Haechan said in realisation that Arin had kept this whole thing to herself

"I-I would've said something if I knew...really" Minjeong said and Haechan nodded slowly

"I'm uh...gonna look for her" Haechan said, running a hand through his hair as he took a step back from Minjeong

"Hey listen uh...for what it's worth I'd still tell her if I was you" Minjeong said with a comforting smile and Haechan shrugged

"Tell her what?" He asked playing dumb and Minjeong challenged him with a look. His hand awkwardly scratched the back of his neck as he looked up at the girl again

"She already thinks she threw her life away because of Jeno after their breakup...I can't make her do that again" Haechan sighed, walking away from her before passing the group and exiting his house.

His mother smiled at him as she finished rearranging the pots by the patio and Haechan sighed, his hands toying with the lighter and cigarette hidden in his pocket knowing he couldn't smoke in front of his mother.

"I'm working down here, go to the roof if you want some air" his mother said and he hummed

"Need some help?" He asked and his mother shook her head

"Go to the roof" she repeated in an knowing tone and he slowly took himself up the stairs, his feet passing every plant pot carefully until his eyes finally landed on the girl who was leaning against the wall, her back turned to him as her face looked up to their stars. Haechan turned his head back around to look down the stairs, seeing his mother nowhere to be found doing the work she said she was going to do. He let out a light chuckle, turning to look at the girl who was now facing him upon sensing his presence.

"How did you know I was here" she asked and he hummed. He had a few potential answers to that question;

'who said I was looking for you?'

'you can't drive so how far could you have really gone?'

'spidey senses.'

But seeing as how he had just discovered the crushing truth of her impending absence, he chose another route.

"Had a hunch" he said softly, his finger pointing up towards the sky and her eyes followed to look up at the stars above them. She let out a small sigh, bringing her head back down to face him. The distance between them seemed astronomical, and the thought of their trip ending tomorrow with no foreseeable way of making things work out in the long term only added to Haechan's sense of despair.

He picked up his steps and walked towards the centre of the roof where the raised platform was, taking a seat against the cement as leaned backwards to rest against it completely.

"Coming?" He asked, patting the space next to him. She widened her eyes with slight surprise, blinking a few times before taking on his invitation. He looked up at her expectantly as she looked down at him with concern. He smiled a small smile and outstretched his right arm, his left hand patting the space again and silently asking her to light down. She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion but nonetheless did as she was asked.

"What's up?" She asked with a sigh, laying her head against his outstretched arm, the small platform making the two come closer to a position that still felt more comfortable than they thought it should have.

"Nothing...what's up with you?" He asked, his mind hoping she would at least feel comfortable enough to tell him, yet he wouldn't exactly blame her if she didn't.

"Nothing really...gonna miss seeing the stars like this" she said, sinking into comfort against the concrete as she brought her knees up.

"I'm sure they have stars like this in America" Haechan said, trying to ease into the topic but she only furrowed her brows and shook her head at his randomness

"Yeah...I'm sure they do...just like every other part of the world" she chuckled and he rolled his eyes yet the smile that crept up onto his lips was not as easy to hide

"Alright smart ass, just trying to be nice" Haechan said and she turned to face him instead, him doing the same slowly and meeting her face with his lowered eyes

"That's new." She said, raising her brows and he nodded, his outstretched hand wrapping around her back to pull her in closer to him. She shuddered under his touch before carefully placing an arm over his torso and a leg over his. She was almost surprised he wasn't pushing her away or even off the roof.

"What if someone comes up right now?" She asked cautiously, knowing their position was far too vulnerable to be played off as 'nothing'

"I don't care." Haechan said simply, humming as he turned his head back up to the sky. His eyes taking in the breath taking view of over a thousand blinking lights above him while his heart only screamed for him to turn back to look at her and ingrain her face into his brain forever.

"Can we just stay like this for a while?" Haechan asked and she breathed out lightly, her fingers tapping against his chest awkwardly at the sudden moment

"Yeah of course" she said, inching closer towards him until her head was placed against his chest, her ear pressed up against the sound of his heart beating fast as if in a horse race. She smiled a little at the silence of the moment, finding only comfort within it as his fingers lightly traced random shapes against her back comfortingly.

This was bliss. This was something neither wanted to end.