Amor, tam pulcher | KTH

16| «It's Daphne»

—Now playing: Maniac - from "Flashdance" by Michael Sembello ✫

As the bikes were placed aside, their bodies lit up with warm colours reflecting the lights peaking through the house's windows.

Once Asher had chained his bicycle properly, Cleo linked her arm with Daphne's and they all proceeded to the open front door a few feet away. Nick and James were commenting on the looks of the building—wasn't their first time there but one could never help it. Asher agreed with their opinions just as Cleo simply listened. Daphne wasn't doing either of them. Whenever she indulged in an activity like this, she never could muster enough energy or have enough time or concentration to formulate a coherent sentence. Her eyes were as greedy as her brain and they wanted to see more just as her brain wanted to know more, store as many pictures as possible.

The bright complexion of the house reflected against her brown leather jacket. The glitters on Cleo's eyelids copied the brilliance of the glimmer in Daphne's milk-chocolate eyes.

The further they went, the heavier the music resounded and the faster their eardrums vibrated. No one was at the entrance like there was at the gate.

The wooden door leading inside was broadly open, giving way into the hallway. On each side were slim and tall windows and flower pots. A few steps led up to the entry and soon Daphne was within the walls of the enormous building.

If anyone were to negatively judge her for moving from the city to the countryside considering it a downgrade, she would've full-heartedly laughed in their face. Downgrade? She'd never seen something like this there or, at least, if she did, it was most likely a museum or a tourist attraction. Funny.

They came a quarter to seven, just a little before everyone would head outside to the backyard for dinner. They didn't think they were late but were proven wrong when they walked in and noticed how many people were present.

"Holy shit, man. Jungkook never fails to deliver." Nick chuckled after moments of silence—Daphne surely wasn't the only one stunned. Before the boy could turn around to comment further with his friends, a voice, or better, two voices, interrupted him.

"Welcome!" they sang in unison. The five friends looked to their right and found Jimin and Jungkook approaching them. With a smile from all, they replied and shook hands, compliments flying left and right. When Jungkook moved to shake hands with Daphne, it seemed like he wanted it to linger as if he was shaking hands with a sneaky rival he had to examine and be wary of. His warm hands held hers just as his eyes stayed on hers. She didn't suspect a thing though. She smiled, shaking her head a little to get some hair out of her face.

Before their handshake came to an end, Jungkook thought to himself that her looks that night would certainly snap some necks out of place and he made a mental note to be ready to help Taehyung get his neck back in place when that would happen.

His little exchange with Daphne was the polar opposite of the one with Cleo who he almost lifted off the ground as they hugged, gaining a little side glance from Jimin, another subject in his life that believed he saw Cleo as more than a friend.

After telling them where they could keep their belongings, notifying them of when dinner would be and welcoming them one last time, the two friends took their leave.

"I'm really liking this," James chuckled as they proceeded to the living room. They didn't know he wasn't referring to the general vibe of the party but to the three girls that walked past them.

Just like it was at Margot's sixteenth birthday, the heart of the party was in the parlour. The attendees weren't overdressed or underdressed and the five friends blended in perfectly. Daphne recognised only a handful of the students from her walks in the hallways at school and she mentally complimented their fits, briefly staring if they looked extra gorgeous.