AFTERGLOW.| CYJ

afterglow

Dance to this_ Troye Sivan , Ariana Grande

Heeseung returns home late from practice.

Joohyun invited him over to her apartment. His breath is mixed with the air of anticipation as he climbs the staircase, his vocal footsteps ascending each stair as the veranda lights greet him. His tall shadow wedges against the staircase. His fingers lift up on the knob of the door, his fingers softly twisting it open as he walks inside. There aren't any lights on to help him navigate inside. It adds to his own confusion. His best friend was nowhere to be seen in the dim apartment.

"Hyuna", he calls as he steps forward randomly through the dull environment his irises were adapting to. He could see pretty fairly in the dark, but his vision is drawn to a light emerging from the kitchen straight ahead with Joohyun standing by the dining table. She's wearing a short, flattering peach two piece dress hugging her slightly plump torso, her legs exposed from knees down. He admires the way youth lines her figure and kisses her curves as she embraces her posture. He notices her smiling at something on the table that the wall joining the kitchen hides and in this confusing game of hide and seek, he wishes that he were the reason behind her smile.

She glances at him at the door and finally lifts up the thing her eyes were appealing to. A candle lit cake. She walks towards him holding it with care, her footsteps are gentle, the light leaving behind. In his eyes, she looks like an angel walking towards him, her pure and genuine smile glowing under the candle light. She had little to no makeup on, but she still looked beautiful, the texture of her dewy skin adding to her beauty. His eyes are drawn to her lips, both pressed together and curving for a smile, his gaze moves up to her eyes gleaming at him. He loves the way she smiles , there's excitement, an overflowing excitement in it.

"I've never waited for anyone else's birthday more than yours", she says as she locks her eyes with him. The lights in the apartment flash on. By magic or not, Heeseung is still staring at his best friend excitedly looking at the cake. It has a lavender colour frosting , swirls veiled around the round cake. It has three candles lit waiting to be blown in exchange for a wish.

"Happy birthday, my beloved", she says, stepping forward to kiss his cheek. He observes her as her lips leave his skin, warmth laced in the contact.

She pulls back, noticing his serious expressions softening. She slides her hand under his cheek adoring his surprised face.

"You remembered?", he moves her hand over his lips and kisses her fingers.

"Ofcourse", she whispers, slowly observing the details of his face. She had never really  noted his features despite being his best friend. Up close, he's beautiful. In his eyes there's passion—the never ending vigor to prove his talent as an idol. The tip of his nose is cute, like a bambi's. His upper lip is a little thinner than the lower. His lower body is a little plump and holds more innocence in it. He is tired from practice and it's visible from his disinterest to look at the cake. He was only staring at her wondering what he did to deserve her, but she only smiled assuring him that she was proud of him for working so hard.

"Make a wish", she prompts as she holds the cake towards him. He is a little hesitant. He doesn't believe in wishes.

"Make one, quick", she encourages again patiently waiting for him. Somewhat convinced, he clasps his hands together to ask for something. He opens his eyes and blows the candles out in a single blow, smiling shyly after. He scoops a little of the cream and  smears it over her lower lip. He dives in for a kiss holding her cheeks, his other hand snaking around her waist.

"I love you", she whispers as he  pulls away. She couldn't eat frosting but he managed to make her taste it, along with his lips.

"I have another gift for you", she says as she places the cake box on the tea table by the couch. She reaches out to strip his jacket from his shoulders. He follows her without complaining and now stands bare just in his black turtleneck and pants.

She grabs a designer warmer from the box on the couch enthusiastically. She walks around and drapes the warmer over his shoulders, "It'll keep you warm whenever you put it on"

He glances at the warmer. It had a denim overlay and faux fur lined on the corner. It was a little out of his dressing comfort zone compared to his usual flannels, but he was willing to experiment with denims.

"And then", she holds the two ends of the warmer slowly pulling him to the centre of the living room.

"What else, Hyuna? ", Heeseung chuckles as he follows her.

Joohyun's ambitious smile is never ceasing. She steps forward to press her lips on his, and before departing , she shyly murmurs, "Dance with me"

She paces to the light switch board and lifts the switch up before reuniting it with him. It was just him and her in the dim apartment embracing each  other for a slow dance. She grows closer and rests her head over his shoulder , their hands intertwined as light music plays from the kitchen. Heeseung still doesn't know how she's doing that but for now he's focused on soaking up her warmth, her heart beat escaping out of her chest to awaken his. 

Her smile hasn't left her face as she departs from him. She's actually more curious to  see him dance. He on the other hand is nearly freaking out because of the darkness , but he gives himself a chance to overcome his fear. He breaks into a random shuffle on the spot he stood, but it is elegant and smooth. He throws his hands up in the air as though he were enjoying himself in some late night bar swaying his hips.

She quits the need to be perfect and starts smugly moving with him. He would have to navigate to her only by her scent. The energy was alright but she couldn't tell if he was enjoying it or not.

"Okay, hold on", she interrupts and walks over to the switchboard to switch the lights on.

Heeseung glances at her as she walks past him toward the dining table. She stands in front of it for a moment, analyzing its strength before climbing over it. She twirls around in her pretty peach dress and bends down to hold her hand out for him as he approaches her. He has a soft smile on his face.

"C'mon over", she invites. Heeseung  holds his hand forward and hops on the table to stand over it.

"Oh, Fuck it", he grabs her waist closer, as though he were dying to swear atleast once.

"What are you gonna do, bastard?", she chuckles. There. That's the word he wanted to hear from her.

"Let's fuck this dance party", he  says, twirling her around. She falls back in his embrace. His arm slides around her belly , his other hand clutching her free hand. He sways on the dance floor taking full control of her hips. Joohyun loves it and allows him to move her. She turns around getting into the momentum and glides her hand down his chest while dropping it down.

"What are you doing?", He laughs seeing her going down on him, quite baffled. She smiles as she raises up, breaking into a random dance to fit the music, she was mostly swaying her hips and Heeseung was stealing glances of her enjoying herself.

While doing so, she reaches the end of the table and trips backwards. She shuts her eyes close and yelps, but her yelp is cut short as he rushes to catch her from falling, his arm is wound around her waist, his other hand grabbing her arm.

Joohtun could see the slight panic in his eyes as he held her steady. In this instance, he looks even more charismatic and cute. He gently raises up with her, gazing at her. The tension between them cuts through the air—Heeseung's smile is widening , he's thinking things he's not supposed to be thinking.

"Guess, I got too carried away", she says, moving the lock of her hair behind her ear. He smiles pulling her close to him.

"We haven't even gone crazy yet ", he says, smiling as he takes a step back and bursts into random dance. Joohyun follows him, impressed by his enthusiasm. She copies his move , at times grooving on to the beat on her own while observing him swaying his hips. She crashes against him because of the small space but continues dancing with him as he grasps her intentions.

They dance and dance until they could no longer feel their legs.

-

a/n : words feel small to describe how much i adore you Heeseung. you're just turning 23 but i feel like I've spent a lifetime with you. thank you for being born ,thank you for lighting up this world with your smile, thank you for showing how beautiful hardwork can look. I love your simplicity, i love how you look at love so honestly and sincerely. you're so pure and precious , everyday seeing you makes me feel like its your birthday.