“…..So I wish Jinki hyung and my new sister-in-law Lee Ann, a very happy married life! Now everybody let us raise a toast, for the good health and long life of the new bond that has been formed! Cheers!” Said a black-haired, pale-skinned, lanky Korean boy, standing on the dais in the large hall.

“Cheers!” Resounded the whole hall, filled with a mix of Indian and Korean people.

“Thank you. Please enjoy the humble offerings of wine and accompaniments kept on the buffet table”, said the boy, gesturing at a long prettily decorated table at the east end of the room, and climbed off the dais and merged into the crowd of faces.

          A loud murmur of voices arose as people started to talk to each other. Aadya sat alone at a table at a lonely corner of the huge hall, staring lifelessly at the yellow and blue flowers kept at the centre of the table in a glass-cut budvase, her fingers twiddling with the light blue tablecloth. Her cousin sister Ann had an obsession with the light blue colour.
      Ann had gotten married to a rich Seoul-based Korean man going by the name of Lee Jinki and this get-together was organised so that people from both factions (Indian and Korean) could introduce themselves to each other.  The get together was being held in the best resort in Goa, which overlooked the almost silver sands of the Miramar beach. 

  Aadya aimlessly looked around the whole hall which was set with small round tables and chairs just like the one she was sitting on. They were arranged in the form of a circle and the centre of the hall was kept free for couple dancing. The buffet table was at the east end of the room and was laden with good food and wine bottles and goblets. There were people scattered all across the hall, some at their tables, some near the buffet table and some glued to their smartphones. Swirling of expensive wine in glass goblets, introductions, discussions about worldly affairs, everything found a place in tonight’s get together, and so did Aadya’s boredom find a place here. She had a plastic smile plastered to her face whenever some unknown relative would come and talk to her.

  Sure, it was her cousin sister’s get together, but Aadya wasn’t fond of such lavish displays of wealth, even though her family was as rich as Jinki’s family.

Aadya mentally growled at the dress she was wearing which was a full-sleeved knee-length dress with intricate thread work in white but she couldn’t care any less about it. She groaned and glanced at her watch. It was 7:30 p.m. and just in about an hour or so, as per Ann’s ideas, the couple dance would start.

“Ann really has some weird ideas at times,” Grumbled Aadya to herself.

“Excuse me, Miss, but do you have a habit of talking to yourself?” Chuckled a boyish voice behind her.

Aadya turned to see that it was the same Korean boy who was up on the dais a while ago. She looked at him with raised eyebrows, in a bit of surprise, but returned her gaze to the table.

“When there is nobody else to talk to, might as well talk to yourself,” Said Aadya with a sigh.

“My my, looks like someone’s in a bad mood, eh? Anyway, my name is Lee Taemin. Can I sit beside you?” He asked, tilting his head, smiling a wide toothy grin.

Aadya couldn’t help but admit to herself that this boy, who was standing in front of her in a well-tailored black suit and a blazer with his hair set in a carefully careless manner and possessing sharp features but soft eyes, was quite cute and had a killer smile.

“Sure, it’s not like I own the chairs or anything,” Replied Aadya with a sarcastic laugh.

Taemin looked at this girl who was definitely uncomfortable in her dress and had a dry response to each question. She exuded a certain tomboyish charm which piqued his interest. He pulled the chair next to her and took his seat. Putting his left elbow on the table and resting his chin in the palm of his left hand, he looked at Aadya and asked, “So, what’s your name?”

“Aadya. Aadya Raj. Call me Dya if you want. Ann’s my cousin sister. You’re Jinki’s brother?”

“Yah yah! Call him Jinki OPPA!” He said, flailing his arms like a kid.

“Yeah whatever. These Korean suffixes will take time to settle in.”

“By the way, I’m not Jinki hyung’s brother, just one of his two closest friends. Tell you what? He’s really reserved and doesn’t have too many friends but he’s one of the sweetest persons on this planet…..” Trailed off Taemin, and Aadya could almost see the invisible rays of admiration in his eyes and couldn’t help but laugh at how immaturely sweet he was.
Her laugh broke Taemin’s little reverie and he looked at her embarrassedly, rubbing his head with his right hand.

“Uhh… Sorry I spaced out,” He said, adding a nervous laugh.

“Hmm… I could see that,” Said Aadya, smiling after a long time since coming to the get together.

“To tell you the truth, I’m really bored right now,” Said Aadya, burying her face in the tablecloth only to invite a very surprised Taemin.

“Woah don’t do that you’ll spoil your make-up!” Exclaimed Taemin, causing Aadya to look at him with a questioning expression.

“Err…Sorry, I just don’t like girls getting their make-up spoilt because they put so much time into it,” He said with a grin.

“Yeah…right. Weird.”

“Hmm… Even I’m bored. I don’t really know too many of Jinki hyung’s relatives so no one in particular to talk to. We could be the bored duo!” Said Taemin, raising his hand for a hi-five but Aadya didn’t respond to it. Taemin just put down his hand and emitted his same embarrassed laugh.

To save themselves from the incoming awkwardness, Taemin quickly changed the subject.

“Come on let’s go and grab some food. I’m hungry,” Said Taemin, rubbing his tummy and grabbed Aadya by her wrist and lead her to the buffet table, much to her surprise, but she didn’t complain.

When they reached the table, Taemin seemed to be frantically searching for something. Not being able to hide her curiosity, Aadya asked him what he was searching for.

“Banana milk!! I’m searching for banana milk! I told hyung to keep a carton for me! I don’t drink wine!” Whined Taemin.

Aadya stared at him with a crooked expression. She was surprised that someone as old as him could still be obsessed with banana milk and actually whine for not having it.

“Yah don’t stare. I don’t drink,” He said with a pout.

“Well, today’s going to be the first time then,” Said Aadya with an evil smile on her face as she poured  herself and two glasses of medium white wine and handed one to Taemin, while taking the wine bottle in her other hand.

“Have this. It’ll make you feel good,” Said Aadya with a sly grin, as both of them walked back to their table and took their seats.

“NO.”

“Come on! Grow up!”

“ANIYO!”

“I’ll shove it down your throat?” She joked. Aadya was enjoying this. Even though she had met him just now, he relieved her of the boredom she was subjected to some time back.

“Fine. I’ll have it.

“Good boy,” said Aadya, and not resisting her urge, patted Taemin’s soft black hair. Taemin looked at her with surprised eyes.

“What? I can’t help it if you remind me of a cute puppy!!”

“YAH I’M NOT A DOG!” Exclaimed Taemin, fixing his hair.

“Not a dog, you’re a puppy!”  Said Aadya with a clear ringing laugh, patting his back. She realised that this get together wasn’t that bad after all.

“Whatever,” Groaned Taemin as he sipped on the wine.

“Good?” Asked Aadya, with a hopeful expression.

“No comments,” Grumbled Taemin.

“You’ll love how it feels later.”

“We’ll see about that,” said Taemin, causing Aadya to chuckle.

They talked about this and that, about annoying relatives and about good friends, about how much Jinki and Ann were in love with each other and about how Taeyeon, Jinki’s other close friend and Nishigandha, Aadya’s cousin were really having a deep conversation near the buffet table, about how both of them loved dancing and about how both of them didn’t have a partner for the couple dance. The wine bottle was more than half empty and the slight light-headedness was beginning to set in.  

“How do you feel?” Asked Aadya.

“Good?” He asked, loosening the tie he was wearing, and laughing till his cheeks turned red.

“That’s a question idiot!” Exclaimed Aadya, lightly smacking his head.

“Oww! I don’t know how I feel. Maybe I’ll just finish whatever is left in that bottle…” Trailed off Taemin, proceeding to pour the remaining bit of wine in the bottle.

“Huh! I remember somebody saying that he doesn’t drink anything much except for banana milk.”

“I’ll blame you,” Said Taemin mischievously biting his tongue and winking at her.

Aadya almost felt her heart skip a beat at his cute antics but composed herself.

“You’ll thank me later. Anyway, it’s almost 8:30 PM. The dance is going to start soon. I don’t want to dance right now,” protested Aadya, banging her balled fists on the table lightly in mock desperation.

“Then let’s go out. It’s an amazing and clear December evening.”

“Just like that? Go out?”

“Yeah nobody’s going to find out; we’ll be back in time. All we really have to do is sneak out and come back in time for dinner,” he said, full of confidence.

“Err…Okay, anything to get out of here I guess,” said Aadya, giving in.

They made their way out of the main door, right when Ann was announcing everybody to take their partners and take their positions on the dance floor. They left behind the hotel doors as the faint music reached their ears.

They were finally outside the hotel and on the silvery ochre sands of the Miramar beach.

As they walked out of the main gate, they were greeted by a cold December wind, causing both of them to shiver, as they slowly walked away from the resort and onto the main beach with the welcoming waves glistening under the light of the full moon.

“Damn it’s--“, Aadya’s speech was cut short as she noticed Taemin taking of his blazer and was quite surprised when he made Aadya wear it.

“Let me guess. Is that the effect of the wine or the moonlit landscape which makes you so romantic?” Asked Aadya mockingly, as she gazed not-so-secretly at Taemin’s tight white button down shirt which he was wearing and realised how illegally handsome his features looked under the moonlight.

“Maybe it’s all that. Or maybe it’s just you,” Replied Taemin in a low voice, as they both walked on the long stretch of sand.

“Flirt,” Snorted Aadya, even though she couldn’t help but feel good about what he had just said.

“Sorry, I think it’s just the wine!” Chuckled Taemin, but he wasn’t really sure if it really was the wine or something else.

They walked for some time, with random statements about how pretty the moon looked and how pretty the beach was but after some time, an awkward silence created itself between them. Every time their shoulders brushed against each other, they felt really weird and their cheeks would flush and they would look away from each other.  None of them were really sure if it was the wine or something else.

Suddenly while walking, Aadya stopped. Taemin glanced at her, as if asking what happened.

“My shoes. I can’t walk in these. They keep sinking in the wet sand,” Said Aadya, pointing towards her heels.

“Open it, I’ll open mine too and we can walk barefoot.”

“How about we sit down?”

“On the sand? You’ll spoil your dress.”

“Oh I hardly care about this dress!”

“But you look so pretty in it Dya! Plus you’re wearing my favourite colour-white!” Exclaimed Taemin.

Aadya looked at him, a bit stunned. She wasn’t exactly used to compliments, especially from men whom she had just met. She could feel the colour rushing to her cheeks, but thankfully, the moonlight wasn’t strong enough to illuminate her whole face properly.

“Err…Thanks… Taemin,” Said Aadya with an embarrassed laugh. “I think the wine’s really working well,” Said Aadya, trying to lighten up the tense atmosphere.

“Hahaha yeah, I’m sure of that,” Said Taemin, sitting down on the sand near the waves, and Aadya followed suit.

They sat and made messy sandcastles only to have them washed away by the foaming waves, wiggled their toes in the cold water and laughed and screamed in joy, they didn’t mind that their clothes were now covered with sand because their merry-making was far more interesting than the get-together which they had left far behind.

They soon tired out of laughing and sat with their arms behind, supporting them and silently appreciated the silence between them, which wasn’t awkward anymore.

It was Aadya who broke silence after a few minutes.
“Do you want to dance?” She asked, looking straight at him.

“Eh? I thought we escaped from the hall because you didn’t want to dance,” Said Taemin, the astonishment clear in his voice.

“I wanted to get out of there because I don’t like dancing in front of unknown people all the time and I wasn’t really in the mood at that time,” Said Aadya, looking at the glimmering horizon under the moonlight.

“Mood? I’m pretty sure it’s because of me!” Said Taemin with a sense of mock pride.

“Hahaha maybe. Or maybe it’s just the wine,” And they laughed once again. The wine had become the subject of a running gag between them.

“So?” Asked Aadya,

“Umm…What do you want to dance?”

“Street? We could have a dance battle!” Said Aadya excitedly.

“Woah woah! Someone seems hyper all of a sudden. Anyway, I don’t mind a dance battle even though it’s not exactly the most romantic thing I’ve heard--“

“ROMANTIC? Excuse me?”

“Yeah romantic. The moonlight calls for something romantic,” said Taemin casually.

“I’m sure you’ve gone tipsy Taemin. Anyway, you have your mobile phone? Play a song, I’ll dance first to it.”

“Sure,” said Taemin, as he took out his mobile and scrolled down the list of songs searching for a suitable one while Aadya stood up, readying herself, brushing away the sand from her dress.

“You’ll be able to dance in that dress right?” Asked a genuinely concerned Taemin as he the music on shuffle.

“Watch me, boy!” Said Aadya teasingly, as she brought her face near to his, ruffled his hair again and took her stance, while Taemin shuddered from the sudden proximity of their faces.

She waited for a few seconds, allowing the rhythm to settle in and then her body took on an identity of its own. The moves flowed out on its own as fluidly as the incoming waves nearby, leaving Taemin open-mouthed in wonder and appreciation. Her moves had strength, but there was a certain feminine touch to it as well. Aadya was aware of the effect her dancing was having on Taemin and she smirked at him, as she beckoned him with a finger to come up. Taemin could control himself no longer and got up and danced as if he had just been let free from shackles. His dancing almost defined freedom and his body moved with such ease that Aadya was surprised that he was THAT good. The pitted their best dance moves against each other coupled with taunting smiles and smirks and the distance between them reduced as Taemin’s hands found his way to Aadya’s hips gently as their bodies started rocking in unison. Taemin looked into Aadya’s eyes as if asking if it was okay for them to continue whatever they were doing and Aadya nodded. Taemin tightened his grasp around Aadya’s waist and brought her close to him as she slung one of her hands over his shoulders. They moved in messy steps which faintly resembled a waltz but only to them. Their steps no longer matched the music which played on aimlessly in the background but they didn’t care.
They danced however they liked. There was a faint sound of two drunk bodies rubbing against each other as their breathing hastened and cold clouds of air formed whenever they exhaled. Even though it was December, their bodies started heating up.

 "This feels so wrong Taemin," said Aadya, looking at him and sighing at how God damned handsome he was. His smiling eyes, his angular nose, his full lips, his puffy cheeks, his soft hair, his lanky body under his tight shirt, everything seemed so inviting about him.

"And yet so right, isn't it Dya?" Asked Taemin with a smile.

 "Mm-hmm. I guess you're right."

They danced  barefoot silently for a while until Taemin broke the silence. "

Dya?" Asked Taemin in a low voice, stooping down to her face level and slinging one of his arms around her shoulder, his fingers playing with her open hair.

"Yeah?" She asked, her voice quivering.

"Maybe it's just the wine--"

 "Oh come on! This gag's getting old now," said Aadya with a small giggle.

"Yah, let me complete the sentence atleast!" Said Taemin in mock despair causing Aadya to throw back her head and laugh.

"Sure go ahead," she said, after regaining her composure.

"I think it's just the wine but Miss Aadya Raj, I think I'm starting to have a crush on you," stated Taemin plainly, inviting a very stunned expression on Dya's face, and continued," Plus, I think you look really pretty when you laugh."

Aadya looked at him for a couple of moments, pondering over what he had just said. She still had her hand around him because they were still dancing, even though the steps were really small.

She realised that her fingers had been kneading his skin all the while and she stopped it and looked away, although she didn't let go of Taemin.

"Taemin.... I think... we're drunk.." Said Aadya hesitantly.

"Oh really? I think you deserve an award for such a brilliant observation!"

"Shut up boy!" She said loudly, her grasp on his shirt tightening.

"Woah calm down!" He said soothingly, her fingers which held his shirt. Aadya started blushing furiously as his cold hand traced her fingers like a feather and she loosened her clutch.

"Dya?"

 "Again? What?"

 "Can I give you a kiss please?"

Aadya stopped dead in her tracks. "WHAT?"

"I don't want to kiss you without your permission and I already have a crush on you plus I'm drunk! Don't you want to kiss such a handsome drunk man?" He said proudly and brought his face near hers again and pouted.

She couldn't deny the fact that he was indeed handsome and that she'd probably love kissing him but she shook off these thoughts. She couldn't possibly kiss a man she had just met, she thought.

Taemin realised that he shouldn't have put forth such an unreasonable request out of the blue because he saw Aadya hesitating, but he couldn’t control himself. There she was, standing in front of him, wearing his favourite colour, with a drunk and confused expression on her face. How could he possibly control himself?

 He nudged her forehead with his, and looked into her eyes gently. Aadya had no idea where this was leading to but her mind was all fuzzy. Their faces were close, and Taemin breathed in the smell of Dya’s white-wine scented face, which seemed more intoxicating than the wine itself.

"It's not going to be too.... harsh right?" She asked, a bit tensed, but all she got in reply were his soft lips joining with hers. Taemin couldn't really waste another second by talking, as he felt Aadya's hands travel to his hair, as she ran her fingers through it.

Their feet had stopped moving but their lips waltzed on their own, in perfect unison.  Aadya could feel the sparks run through her body as he traced her lips with his tongue and they both broke away after a few moments, their breath shortened because of the cold weather.

"Tease," Said Aadya, huffing, punching Taemin on his chest playfully.

"Glad you liked it," he replied, wrapping his arms around her waist. Aadya dug her face in his shirt, letting go of her inhibitions because she knew it would be futile to resist anymore.

"I guess I'm drunk as well Taemin, because I think might be having a crush on you too," Said Aadya with a chuckle, and Taemin laughed along too, resting his chin on her head, as their feet started moving to unheard beats again. It was almost 10 PM and nobody had yet noticed the two figures dancing in the illuminated darkness of the night.

"You know what? You were right. The wine does feel good," said Taemin.

"Told you so."

 "But I don't think it's the wine anymore."

"Mm-hmm...Then?"

"I think it's you.”

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Author's Note:-

I wrote this oneshot for a Shawol friend of mine who's really Taemin biased. It's inspired by Moon River Waltz, one of SHINee's songs from their Japanese release "Fire" in early 2013. If you haven't heard the song ever, I think you should, preferably with translations because the lyrics are really beautiful. 

Drunk Taemin FTW! Who wouldn't like to be kissed by a drunk Tae kekekekekek ;)

I'm sad I couldn't do justice to this amazing song.

3000+ words xD And it's a oneshot LOLOLOLOLOL.

Signing off, 

Alanie. :)