FLAMES - A KimChay AU

nine

Chay woke up to the sound of his phone's alarm at 6:30 AM. He reached over, turned it off, and rubbed his eyes. The soft morning light was already filtering through the window, and for a moment, he just lay there, listening to the quiet. It was Sunday, which meant there were no classes today. It should have been a relaxing day, but something about it felt different.

Chay had agreed to meet Kim for a guitar lesson later, and now, with the day starting, he found himself feeling a little nervous. What would it be like? Would it be awkward?

He picked up his phone and saw a message from Kim "Good morning! I'll pick you up at 8. Get ready!"

Chay smiled to himself and quickly typed back "Okay, see you soon!"

After sending the message, he stretched and got out of bed. He shuffled to the bathroom, splashing his face with cool water. The grogginess from just waking up slowly faded, and he felt a little more awake. He quickly showered, threw on a T-shirt and jeans, and grabbed his guitar. He didn't want to overthink it. It was just a guitar lesson.

But as he tuned his guitar, he couldn't help but think about Kim. What if he wasn't good enough? What if things turned awkward? His nerves were still there, nagging at him.

Just then, his phone buzzed again. Another message from Kim "I'm on my way to pick you up, See you soon Chay"

Chay took a deep breath and replied "See you!"

Before long, there was a knock at his door. He grabbed his guitar and opened it. Kim stood there, smiling warmly. "Hey, Chay! You ready for your guitar lesson?"

"Yeah, I'm ready" Chay replied, feeling a bit of a flutter in his chest.

Kim smiled again, giving a quick nod. "Great! Let's go"

Kim led the way out of the dorm and down to the parking lot. A sleek black car was parked just outside, the engine humming softly. Kim walked around to the passenger side and opened the door for Chay.

"After you" Kim said with a polite smile.

Chay blinked, surprised by the gesture, but smiled back as he climbed into the car. There was something simple yet thoughtful about it. Kim didn't rush him, just opened the door as if it was nothing.

Once they were both inside, Kim drove smoothly, and the short trip to his house was calm. Chay glanced out the window, letting the quiet of the drive help ease his nerves. It was strange. The drive was so simple, but somehow it made Chay feel at ease. Kim was just... different from what he had expected.

They soon arrived at Kim's house, a large, beautiful home with a well-kept lawn and a modern yet comfortable design. The house had a certain warmth to it, despite its size. Kim parked the car and got out first. He walked around and opened the door for Chay again, that same easy smile on his face.

"Here we are" Kim said, holding the door open.

Chay stepped out of the car, taking in the house in front of him. It was impressive, but there was something about it that didn't feel intimidating. Kim had made sure it felt welcoming, not like a show-off mansion.

Kim led Chay inside, guiding him through the front door into a spacious living room with large windows that let in plenty of natural light. The place was well-furnished with comfortable couches and sleek decor, but it still felt like a home, not a showroom. It was clear Kim was used to this kind of space, but he didn't act like it. There was no pretension.

"Make yourself comfortable" Kim said, motioning toward a cozy armchair as he set down his guitar.

Chay sat down, taking in the peaceful surroundings. It was nice here-calm, quiet, and inviting. Kim soon returned with his own guitar and sat next to Chay. "Alright, let's get started" he said with a reassuring smile.