Driven (BIGBANG)

Chapter Fourteen: Lips Sweeter than Liquor

POV: Daesung

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The music is way too loud, but Taeyang seems to like it here. We got ourselves into one of Ri's favorite clubs - since he is the only one of us who really goes out and parties. Taeyang has Ri on the floor and they look to be having fun dancing. I'm sitting with TOP and Ji. It's rather uncomfortable for me, but at least they're being civil. I don't mind dancing, and neither does Ji, but neither of us are really in the mood. TOP, on the other hand, can not and probably never will be able to dance. So we're all sitting here, sipping our drinks.

TOP has been drinking some type of tequila and Ji some beer. I'm not a heavy drinker myself, so I just sip on some liquor. "Who do you think they'll ask for next?" Ji says out of nowhere. Well, more like shouts because of the music.

"What are you talking about, Jijong?" TOP is just as confused as I am.

"I mean, it's strange Taeyang got drafted first, so who do you think they'll pick next?"

I look down at my glass. I have no idea, but I don't want it to be me. Or TOP. Or Ji. Or Ri, if I'm honest. "I don't know. It could be anyone, and I feel bad Taeyang had to go." Taeyang didn't look like he felt bad for himself. He looks like he feels pretty good about himself - after about seven martinis.

TOP nods sympathetically, taking another swig of tequila. He motions for a young looking girl to come over and hands his empty glass to her. She nods, and strides off. "It's a shame we can't go through with the tour now." He hollers. His words slur slightly from all the drinks he's had. I haven't even finished my first drink.

Surprisingly, Ji agrees and doesn't call him out on being insensitive. "Yeah, I know. It sucks - but the only reason they wanted us to do another tour so everyone could see that you and me," he gestures quickly back and forth, "could get along. At first, they were going to make us do an album together--"

"What?" TOP cuts him off. It's obvious Ji overstepped his boundaries and said too much while on his feel good buzz.

Ji blinks. "Oh, I wasn't supposed to say anything." The air around our table becomes tense and where is that waitress with his drink?

"What?" TOP seems to be stuck on repeat. His voice is crisp, all traces of alcohol gone.

"The company first thought that it should just be an album - you know, another album - of GD and TOP to show everyone everything is good."

"So why didn't we do that?"

"Well, um, I wasn't sure that would be a good idea." Ji fidgets.

"Why is it only your choice?" TOP is actually yelling now, but the music makes it less harsh. The waitress finally returns with his drink and he nods at her, his eyes looking disgusted towards Ji. Ji takes the chance of her coming over to slip away from the table.

We sit and drink in silence for a few minutes. I can sense TOP becoming less and less restrained as he downs his tall drink. "I mean, I wouldn't care to work with that ass. He's, well, an ass but we would've got the work done." I nod in agreement, attempting to keep his mellow vibe. "Am I really that bad?" His voice is incredulous.

"What do you mean?" It's startling that TOP could have any insecurities. Especially when it came to his personality.

"Am I really unbearable to be around when I'm upset?"

I hesitate for a hair of a second. "Most people don't know how to handle you. Like, they-" I gesture out to the floor, meaning the other members of our group. "They don't know how to talk to you, and so they don't and I guess it could be frustrating but it shouldn't be." I do something instinctual, but dangerous.

I stretch my arm across the table to splay my fingers on his hand. He looks surprised for a moment and glances down. I reluctantly reconsider my actions. "I mess up the group a lot though. We can't work when I have my head up my ass. I just don't like Jijong being an ass either. You know what I mean?"

He's really sad as a drunk. It kinda hurts to see but I give his hand a comforting squeeze. "Everyone kinda has a little bit of mean in them and we're just concerned so we don't say anything and it makes it hard to work when we can't talk to you."

His head looks up. "But you talk to me Dae."

I flash him my smile. "I'm not scared of your anger."

"Why not?" He's not asking in a whining tone, like I should be scared, but more like a confused-and-grateful voice.

"I have a lot of happiness in me. And I'm not dissuaded by things like passing moods. Besides, in high school there were a whole bunch of negative people. So how you get, it doesn't really bother me, TOP." I shake my head playfully. It ain't ever going to scare me.

"Don't call me that." He blurts out. I pull back some (and stop shaking my head), but not enough to drag my hand off of him. He hurries to explain. "It's something that everyone addresses me as and it's like what I get them to call me because it keeps everyone at arms length. Call me SeungHyun."

"So you don't want to keep me at arms length?" I say suggestively. He starts to stammer and blush, and I don't know what brought it on - if it was the alcohol - but I can't believe I'm actually flirting with TOP and embarrassing him. I can't believe he's allowing this. Usually he's too focused on work but right now, I want him focused on me. I drag my hand closer to him, pulling it completely over his. "Of course, I don't mind calling you by name, SeungHyun."

He smiles genuinely, a warm scarlet still covering his face. He looks around and then asks the million dollar question. "Do you, uh, Dae, do you want to get out of here?"