"And we laugh into the microphone and sing, ♪
With our sunglasses on, to our favorite songs...♪ "

"I-I, uhm..." The words left Jeongguk in pathetic stutters as he struggled to form a single sentence in front of the painfully oh-so good looking man, who kept his large hand delicately against his cheek. Up close he was even more handsome, more intimidating, more alluring. He smelled of cigarettes and fresh grass, the scent somehow enticing the boy's nostrils. He thought he'd very much enjoy this smell as a cologne, so he could wear it always, immerse in all its glory.

Jeongguk felt himself blushing, and he didn't know why. He wasn't used to anyone else touching him like this gently. Anyone that wasn't—

A rugged laugh pierced its way into the air, and Jeongguk looked up with widened eyes at the sound. There was a wild smirk on the stranger's face, and Jeongguk wasn't sure how to calm the butterflies violently swarming his insides. Wasn't sure why his body was so responsive towards him. This stranger before him; an unknown entity he felt oddly drawn towards.

"Well, no.." The man's tone was stagnant, the look in his eyes obscured of unfeigned emotion despite the somewhat amused grin. "You don't have to tell me." The minute his hand lowered from Jeongguk's face, the boy felt he could finally breathe properly. He watched as the man's head tilted to the side in intrigue, and there was a moment of more prolonged silent staring before the stranger was digging into his pocket and pulling his phone out. Then, with a tap of his finger the music seeping through the speakers like sweet honey had come to a halt.

"I'm Kim Taehyung," he spoke without looking to his phone, not daring to cease peering to the boy in front of him, "And you... don't seem to be having a lovely night today, pretty boy." He took two steps backwards and quirked a brow up, his gaze strongly asserting his dominance, and the other male felt utterly shy under such inspecting eyes. "What's your name?"

Jeongguk swallowed. He was quite the naive and innocent boy, but even he knew the basics of staying safe alone at night—not to give anyone his real name or any personal info about him. But there was something in the man's eyes that rendered logical thinking practically useless in that head of his. Because before he knew it, he was spouting his full name loud and clear.

"J-Jeon Jeongguk.."

There was a click of tongue against teeth. "Jeon Jeongguk..." The man's grin was back on his chiseled lips. "I know just what you need."

※ ※

"Where, uhm... Where are we going?" Jeongguk let out in a small voice, following after the stranger with the beautiful name and equally beautiful face—Kim Taehyung, who pretended not to have heard the boy's question.

He wasn't sure why he was suddenly hanging around a man he'd met only minutes ago, at nearly midnight, on the very night before his first day of the new college semester. Oh right—he'd be starting classes again in just a few hours; how odd of him to forget.

Jeongguk was born and raised in Busan, lived a peaceful and humble life with many friends and whom he thought to be a kind and loyal boyfriend. His father was an easy-going policeman while his gentle mother owned a bakery, one in which as a child he'd always speak of taking over such meek lifestyle, though he currently studied business in college. Needless to say the boy had been sheltered and spoiled, and although Seoul was full of life and opportunity, he didn't think he'd be able to survive it if his best friend Park Jimin and (now ex) lover Lee Seojun didn't study hard to get into the same college as him. It was almost the perfect life.

Almost.

"How, uhm... How long until we get there?" he squeaked out his next question after not receiving answers, and nearly bumped into Taehyung when the man stopped abruptly in the middle of the sidewalk.

"Well do you always pry and nag this often with such meaningless questions, Jeon?" Taehyung huffed out, turning to face Jeongguk who seemed flustered as he gazed down to the ground. "Ruins the surprise if I just tell ya, don't you think?"

He then raised his head to see the man wasn't continuing to move, but rather stood there with his arms crossed. "Sorry... I'll be quiet from now on. You can, um.. lead the way," Jeongguk spoke out softly and watched as Taehyung's amused smirk reappeared on his face.

"We're already here." The boy turned his head to look down an alleyway, a buzzed sign with bright blue neon letters reading Abyss Karaoke ignited the murky path, the light bleeding beside an underground staircase that led towards the basement area of the building.

"Ka...raoke? Oh, I'm.. not much of a singer.." Jeongguk mumbled, thumb flicking over his fingers. Taehyung's facial expression didn't change, and he turned towards the staircase swiftly, knowing the boy would follow. It was an isolated alley, on a more secluded side of the street. Anyone with a brain would find the area shady and unsafe, and to be honest Jeongguk began to think he was most likely being led to his inevitable murder.

But instead the door swung open, and an inviting aroma washed through the air, Jeongguk perking up as he followed close behind the taller man. Right upon entrance, there was a bar with all sorts of fancy looking alcohol on display behind a man over the counter, the floorboards wooden and polished so well Jeongguk could almost see his reflection against the gloss. There were colorful posters on the big wall to their left, of different artists and albums, the printed posters hung on a clean navy blue wall paint. But it seemed the place was somewhat of a restaurant as well, since an undeniable smell of frying meat oozed behind the turquoise noren tapestry just to the right of the bartender-looking guy. Jeongguk stared in awe to the long narrow hallway that led to different private karaoke rooms. There were booms of music vibrating through the thick walls from the various rooms, as people who were inside blasted all kinds of tracks.

"A room for two," he heard Taehyung's deep manly voice call out to the man behind the counter, and it was then that Jeongguk had noticed how attractive the guy was as well. A different kind of attractive from Taehyung, but attractive nonetheless. His hair was shorter, lips more plump, shoulders wide. Jeongguk's eyes ogled the bartender, unable to believe how many handsome men he kept encountering tonight.

"Why on earth are you here, Tae?" The man almost groaned, "You should be getting sleep right now."

"Mm yeah? So early in the night?" Taehyung's smirk widened, "I don't think so, hyung. Oh—and throw in two beers, one for my friend here."

The bartender's gaze met Jeongguk's, and he smiled politely towards him. "Ah, hi there. Taehyung's friend, huh? I'm Kim Seokjin."

Jeongguk was so busy staring he had almost forgotten to bow. "Y-Yes, nice to meet you, uhm... I'm Jeon Jeongguk."

Seokjin nodded before inputing something in the machine screen in front of him and waving a hand towards the right. "Room 7. I'll bring you your drinks shortly. Anything to eat?"

Jeongguk soon found himself following the stranger's lead again, and usually he would stare at the back view of his head and those luscious curly locks, but this time Jeongguk was too busy glancing at the many doors they passed through the slim hallway, posters adorning each entrance as well. The boy's ears were being struck left to right with all kinds of music pounding from each room like a discotech, the mixing sounds babbling together until they rendered them indistinguishable from each other.

"Ladies first." He heard that deep sultry voice speak, and Jeongguk looked up to see Taehyung grinning at him while holding the door to Room 7 open. Jeongguk rubbed at the back of his hands, cheeks flushing a light burgundy.

"You're silly.." he muttered quietly, though the stranger seemed to hear him just fine.

"I am only joking, Jeon, my apologies. It is but a mere jest," he rolled on a fancy voice and let the door shut behind them, allowing the noisiness outside to die down within their secluded room. "Unless I'm missing something here." He plopped down on the cushioned seating and grabbed the karaoke's input tablet, eyes still settled firmly on Jeongguk. "To which I must say... You have quite the feminine looking face," he hummed. After a short pause, "It's pretty."

Jeongguk looked away and took a seat a safe distance from the stranger. Pretty. It hadn't been the first time the man had referred to him utilizing that word, yet Jeongguk still hasn't gotten accustomed to it being directed towards him. He bit down on his lip, the silence settling between the two boys. But soon came Taehyung's husky voice yet again.

"What's wrong? You're quiet."

The boy shook his head. "I've just, well... I've never really been called pretty before today..."

Taehyung rested his arm at the seat's cushioned shoulder, body facing Jeongguk while he rose his brow. "No?" he let out, the tone in his voice expressing somewhat of veritable disbelief. Jeongguk could feel the man's eyes on him but was too shy to look at him, yet the silence that followed again made him lift his head in curiosity.

Taehyung was staring directly into his eyes.

Being under such intense observation made Jeongguk's stomach churn again. He couldn't quite tell why. There was something about this man's gaze that held him hostage in his eyes, and Jeongguk felt as though he couldn't look away even if it got too much.

"Pretty," the man repeated, pronouncing the word clearly, letting it roll out his tongue with his alluring voice that dripped down like molasses and nested softly into Jeongguk's ear. He could feel his stomach heat up, as well as his cheeks; and it was at that moment that the young boy had a sudden realization. One much too obvious, so painfully evident. The two males were seated on the soft cushions, facing each other, breaths subconsciously syncing together as though they were always meant to unite.

How Taehyung could control his nerves with the sound of his voice, set his skin ablaze with one look was beyond him; and Jeongguk's realization rang loudly in his head, the unshakable thought that, this man was dangerous.

✱