× Jay's pov ×

The restaurant's opulent doors swung open, spilling the boisterous group onto the late-night streets.

Sunghoon, fueled by celebratory champagne and a potent cocktail of compliments, was already in full-on 'crazy drunk' mode.

He bellowed a nonsensical song, his voice surprisingly strong despite the alcohol, his steps unsteady but enthusiastic.

Heeseung, though slightly tipsy, maintained a surprisingly steady gait, a bemused smile playing on his lips as he watched Sunghoon's antics.

The thirteen intoxicated members of the group, a chaotic whirlwind of laughter and questionable dance moves, took over the sidewalk.

The air vibrated with their unrestrained joy. Sunghoon, declared the MVP of the night, led the charge, his voice a powerful, if slightly off-key, conductor of their impromptu street concert.

Only Chan and Jay remained relatively sober, their efforts to keep the group from disturbing the peace a losing battle.

They tried, with varying ways, to keep the group from attracting unwanted attention, occasionally pulling errant dancers back from the edge of the road or shushing overly enthusiastic singers.

Their pleas for quiet were met with a wave of confused mumbling and drunken laughter.

Heeseung and Jake started yelling out of nowhere, and then Jungwon, together making a really loud trio.

They were the loudest ones, followed by Hyunjin, Changbin and Jisung. Even Seungmin joined in.

The impromptu parade snaked down the street, a colourful blur of limbs and voices. Jungwon attempted a particularly ambitious cartwheel, landing in a surprisingly graceful heap.

Ni-ki even managed to incorporate some breakdancing moves into the proceedings. Even Minho, usually reserved, was swept up in the revelry, his laughter echoing through the night.

The sheer audacity and infectious energy of their late-night escapade made even Chan and Jay crack a smile.

Eventually, exhaustion, not sobriety, brought an end to the festivities. One by one, the group began to tire, their laughter fading into quiet hiccups and sleepy yawns.

Cars and motorcycles were abandoned where they stood, the very notion of driving a ludicrous idea in their inebriated state. They hailed a series of taxis, splitting into smaller groups.

Chan, took three of the younger members with him. Jay, however, found himself responsible for the most chaotic trio: Heeseung, Jake, and Jungwon.

"Jay we'll sleep at Heeseung hyung's. No need to drive through our houses."

Jake's voice was heard, soft, low, and extremely sleepy, which made Jay think that if Jake was told to sleep, he would do it right away.

"I got you."

After dropping off Heeseung, a now more quiet Jungwon and a surprisingly sleepy Jake, Jay found himself alone with Sunghoon.

The silence in the car was punctuated only by the rhythmic hum of the engine and Sunghoon's quiet snores. Jay chuckled softly, shaking his head.

They arrived at their apartment building soon enough. A slight tremor of excitement ran through Jay; he had been in America for a week, and the thought of catching up with his best friend in the morning was exciting.

He helped Sunghoon out of the car, his friend leaning heavily on him, his giggles subsiding into quiet mumbles.

Inside the apartment, the air was thick with the scent of stale beer and lingering laughter. Jay carefully guided Sunghoon to his bed, tucking him in like a child.

Sunghoon, in a state of blissful incoherence, mumbled something about Heeseung's captivating eyes before drifting off to sleep.

Jay sat on the edge of the bed, watching Sunghoon sleep. A genuine smile spread across his face, a wave of affection washing over him. He gently brushed a stray strand of hair from Sunghoon's forehead.

"Missed you, you goofball."

Jay whispered, a hint of teasing affection in his voice. He leaned down, gently kissing Sunghoon's forehead. Then he stood and walked towards the door.

"Sleep well, Sunghoon. Hope you don't have a bad headache tomorrow."

The apartment was quiet, save for the faint hum of the refrigerator. Jay, instead of heading to his bedroom, found himself drawn to the living room.

He sat down cross-legged on the plush couch, the soft texture a welcome contrast to the hard edges of the day.

He opened his phone, the screen illuminating his face in the dim light. A message from Jungwon popped up.

"I know you're probably asleep, but thank you for not letting me get a taxi! Goodnight!"

A bright smile bloomed across Jay's face. He hugged his phone to his chest, a goofy grin plastered across his features.

He knew he probably looked ridiculous, but he didn't care. He just typed back.

"I'm not asleep, and, don't mention it, I wouldn't let you get into a stranger's car when mine was available, especially at night."

As he closed his phone, a ding announced another message. Jay hoped Jungwon was asleep, but he wasn't. The message was from Jungwon.

"You should sleep, it's late and you were driving while also taking care of us!"

"You need to sleep as well. You had a lot of drinks."

For a while, he was left on seen. He figured Jungwon had either fallen asleep or was avoiding the conversation.

Jay was about to get up and go to the kitchen for some water when his phone buzzed again.

"Wait I want to call you!"

Another message followed instantly:

"Can we sleep on FaceTime?"

Jay gasped, a blush creeping up his neck. He knew Jungwon considered these late-night calls a friendly thing, a way to wind down together. He agreed instantly.

He quickly went to his bedroom, grabbing his phone charger, and started a FaceTime call with Jungwon.

The call connected almost instantly. Jungwon's face appeared on the screen, his eyes half-closed, nestled in his bed, the soft glow of the screen illuminating his features.

He looked utterly exhausted but contentedly peaceful. His voice, when he spoke, was a low, husky rumble that sent a shiver down Jay's spine.

"Mmm hi hyung."

He mumbled, the sound both sleepy and strangely intimate. Jay's breath hitched. The effect of Jungwon's voice was far more potent than he anticipated.

He masked his surprise, replying with a simple "Heyy." trying to keep his voice even and casual. His heart, however, was thumping a frantic rhythm against his ribs.

"The party was really fun. Amazing, actually."

Jungwon mumbled, his voice thick with sleep. Jay, however, felt a nagging unease.

"I feel like I could've done even more though.

"If you keep talking nonsense, I'm hanging up."

Jungwon interrupted, his voice laced with a playful warning. A tiny giggle escaped his lips, a sound so soft it barely registered over the hum of the fridge.

Jay instantly fell silent, a blush warming his cheeks. He buried his face in his pillows, the soft cotton a welcome shield against the sudden rush of heat. He could almost feel Jungwon's smile through the phone screen.

Jungwon, already lying face down on his bed, seemingly shirtless, closed his eyes and smiled slightly, humming a soft, almost inaudible tune. It was the melody of a song Jay knew well, a familiar lullaby from their childhood.

A quiet, hesitant melody filled the silence between them. Jay, unable to resist, began to softly sing the song to Jungwon over the phone. The quiet, comforting notes drifted through the airwaves.

Jungwon's eyes snapped open, widened in surprise. Then, a radiant smile spread across his face before he quickly closed his eyes again, a peaceful sigh escaping his lips.

He drifted off to sleep, looking impossibly beautiful; serene and peaceful, like a still from a k-drama.

His face possessed a delicate perfection that seemed almost unreal, the kind where professional makeup artists would have been called upon to achieve such effortless beauty. But this was all natural.

Jay couldn't help but stare, mesmerized. He watched Jungwon for at least an hour or two, lost in the gentle rise and fall of his chest, the soft curve of his jawline in the soft glow of the phone screen illuminating his face.

He found himself completely captivated, completely lost in the beauty of the moment. Time seemed to melt away until finally, exhaustion claimed him too.

He fell asleep without even realizing it, his phone still clutched in his hand, a peaceful smile mirroring the one on Jungwon's sleeping face.