BALMAIN [NIELWINK]

1. INTRODUCTIONS

introductory chapter is a little boring but i promise much more action next chapter! - hyonseok

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When his breaths had escaped his lips in harsh white puffs of air, there was a part of him that yearned the safety of his home once more. His soft chestnut tresses fell into his eyes as he was gazing down at the piles of snow which crunched under the weight of his feet. Amidst the crowd that are travelling down both sides of the path, Jihoon stood in the middle, unsure which direction would take him where since he had never stepped foot outside until just a few minutes ago.

He took in the sight of a busy Hongdae, the nightlife encapsulating him as soft pink and blue lights from outside a nightclub reflected onto his warm milky skin. His hands gripped each other, trying to find his way since the familiar seemed foreign to him and when he tugged on his jacket, there was a part of him that once again yearned to seek out home again though the moon's soft smile grimacing on him had coerced him into thinking otherwise for a few moments as he drew himself down the path again. He continued to walk down the path, his eyes glues to the ground with some sort of hidden fear to gaze up at the people who would look his way.

When he collides with something firm, it makes him freeze, his hands locking behind his back as he keeps his head on the floor. His poise drops, his shoulders slouching as he shows his small frame to what had hit him or rather "who" had hit him. A hand sets itself on his shoulder, making Jihoon lift his gaze from the snow and for the first time he's looking up to a pair of dirt-coloured eyes that are looking back to him with a strong and brooding gaze. He says nothing, silenced by the bold gaze and the way the stranger blinks his eyes in such a seemingly cold manner, even colder than the air piercing his face.

"Watch where you're going." Jihoon grimaces not expecting the voice that follows along with the smell of soju lingering on his lips. He shivers slightly and when another stranger pushes him forward in a hurried run to the station near them, Jihoon is closer to the stranger, taking in the smell of musky cologne along with the soft notes of alcohol. "Sorry..." The male mumbled. The stranger is about to move and walk past him though he's quickly stopped by the smaller's squeak that leaves his lips.

They look to each other, exchanging a glance while Jihoon's eyes softly seduce the stranger into keeping him glued to his place, instead awaiting for the male to move. He's a little interested, he'd admit it but he wouldn't show it to Jihoon at all. That is, until Jihoon speaks.

"Do...you by chance..know how to get to Haeundae Beach?..." When he asks the stranger, his tone is soft, feeble even since he's rather shy at first to ask while facing such a cold stranger. The other's lips purse, his eyes locked onto Jihoon's figure while he's thinking to himself. "Take the KTX...but the beach isn't somewhere to go now...it's freezing.." That voice sends a shiver down his spine, makes his body curl slightly fervour with its huskiness while he nods to his instructions quietly. He refuses to swoon so easily and succumb to his voice though the dark chocolate gaze looking back at him deadpan make him halt his thoughts. Jihoon's lips couldn't help but curl into a smile from his seemingly carelessly said warning. The care was enough to warm him from the stranger's previously said words. "It's okay...I actually like the cold much better." He replied, still grinning sweetly before bowing his head as a sign of thanks. Their conversation is brief but that's enough for Jihoon to go searching as he wishes for the station.

He shuffles past the larger figure, leaving the stranger behind him though the stranger, enticed by this new boy he's never seen before keeping looking to Jihoon's fading figure before following a few steps behind him. He's been around this city ever since coming here from Busan and yet he had never seen this boy's face in his life so the more he follows him, the more he convinced himself that he might be more and more intoxicated as he descends the steps to the station, stopping near a bookstore where he finds Jihoon inside, looking over a book in particular that he puts down and he notes it lightly.

It'd be weird and completely out of his character. As he saw the head of dark hair amongst the crowd, he made his way over to him and stood a step or two behind him. He was about to reach forward and tap the stranger on the shoulder to hand him the book but he froze and stopped himself. He couldn't bring himself to do, to be so hospitable and kind. It made his body burn. His skin itched to do something nice like this. He hated the thought of submission into a kinder side of himself, he was never nice so why would he have started now? It wasn't a love story and nor was the stranger going to make himself become a blind lead for a stranger he barely knew. He cursed himself for even having followed the boy in the first place. 'Daniel...just try atleast..' He prods himself on.

The dark haired male shuddered, tousling his already disheveled raven hair with one hand and went over a group of much younger kids who looked like they were all about to head home and handed a large bill to one of them, along with the book, instructing them to go over to Jihoon who he had tried to approach and hand him the book with a small note scribbled on it that he had messily done in the confines of the book shop, simply saying that he wanted the boy to say that,"he wanted me to give this to you.".

When he had given the book to one of kids, he left and didn't look back that time. Daniel let the children do their job, letting the child stumble his way over to Jihoon and tap his leg, calling out to him to hand him the book and as Daniel was walking, he could hear it over and over again.

He stopped for a moment, about to turn back but shook his head but couldn't allow himself to glance again and shook his head, going up to the street to go back to his apartment.