AFTERGLOW.| CYJ

45

Yeonjun stands on the narrow railings of the balcony. Joohyun holds her breath, standing close by the floor assisting him with the string lights. His feet shifted carefully on the narrow, cold metal railing, each step calculated, yet somehow casual. His body seemed at ease, as if he was immune to the dizzying height, while every inch forward made Joohyun’s heart pound faster.

Her arms hover close to his legs projecting support but not contacting him afraid that it would startle him. He's in his crisp white shirt, sleeves rolled up just enough to reveal strong forearms, and a slender black tie loosely hung around his neck, he looked effortlessly striking—like a scene out of a movie, cool and unflinching. She glances at his face, clear and absent of any fear, rested expressions but his pout prominent. His buff manly figure looping string lights through the entire length of the overhead balcony. She admires his steady gaze and confidence, despite the risk that has her gripping her dress in worry.

Joohyun lifts her head , her eyes shifting from his feet to his grip on the overhead balcony. His each step took her breath away, holding on until he landed back safe on the ground. Yeonjun had always volunteered to do risky stunts; it made him look cool but considering it could potentially land him in the hospital, Joohyun worried.

He signals her to hand him the entire bunch of string lights while she was offering him it by length. "I gotta put it through this hoop", he explains as she quickly gathers the wire into a bunch and hands it to him. Yeonjun liked spontanity while responding, so she needed to be quick. It could have been his natural instinct to sound commanding because he was the eldest, but it didn't necessarily mean that he was commanding. He loops the entire bunch of string and hands it back to her. He jumps down the railing to move to the shorter side of the rectanglular space.

Soobin walks out to balcony, runs his eyes at the looping. He could have helped to do it but took a step back considering the height, even his athletic skills demanded him to resign. "Hyung, just let it be there for the entire year long. Taking it out is a bigger hassle"

Yeonjun acknowledges as he pinches his pants up, preparing himself to climb the railing again. He swings his leg over easing up over the railing again. "God", Joohyun whispers under her breath, her heart beat delaying a second as she confirms his safety. She could never imagine doing the same job instead of him, she wasn't scared of height or anything but her natural balance was off. She fell embarassing amount of times on flat grounds, and Yeonjun would never allow it even if she did not fall.

"Taehyun!", Yeonjun's loud firm voice catapults, "Could you please come over?"

"He's probably in the kitchen", Joohyun chimes very softly, her words barely convincing him.

"He'll be here soon", Soobin informs as he walks out again, his hands resting om his hips as he glances at the wire from right to left ensuring they were in position. It brings a smile on his face. Christmas was finally here. It was a wink of an eye that his birthday passed and the month blessed him with more celebrations. Every year, Yeonjun volunteered to put up the string lights, despite the risk, like a superman.

And every year, he notices Joohyun clasp the fabric of her dress tighter, her claw grip about to yank the cloth out of anxiety. Perhaps, that was what love was about, embracing it unconciously at times. Joohyun’s fingers curled into the fabric of her dress, twisting tighter each time his foot inched forward. She stood rooted below him, arms instinctively hovering near his legs as if she could somehow catch him, though she dared not touch, afraid any sudden move might disrupt his fragile balance.

He gently moves his finger to tap the back of her hand. She turns toward him surprised by his gesture. His playful smile keeps her entertained for a moment , he doesn't say anything despite demanding her attention.