Chapter Thirteen First Close Call

 

 

It's my turn now!" TaeYeon laughs, shoving me out of the way as she leaps out of the booth and grabs the mic off of her friend, Yoo Lin.

"Fine, just make sure to sing something lovely." Her friend counters with an easy smile.   Sitting stiffly in the karaoke booth I'm feeling more than a little uncomfortable, though I'm trying not to show it. Everyone, and I mean everyone, is drinking and apparently it's no big deal, despite us all being underage. The boys, who I had no idea would be present, were all smoking and the small room had quickly filled up with smoke to add to the flashing lights and music. It was like a cheap, dirtier version of a club if that was even possible.   "Here." A guy muttered, ing a bottle of beer towards me clumsily.    I took it quickly, wary of him spilling it everywhere.   "I don't drink." I reminded him, since he'd already passed me three bottles - all of which had been drank by somebody else.   "'Cause you're boring." He slurred, taking a swig of his own bottle and turning to stare at me obviously. "But you're kinda cute, so it's okay."   "Gee, I'm so happy." I muttered, pushing the bottle away where it was quickly snapped up by another guy.   "No, you're really cute, actually." He correctly sluggishly, leaning towards me so he was a little too close for comfort. I leaned away, disgusted. "You're from America, right? Then that means you've probably already had a lot of action, but that's cool. I like a girl with experience." The Pig winked, placing his hand on my knee.   "Back off, Kim Lee Dong." The voice from the other side of me warned.    "Whatever." The Pig, Lee Dong muttered, shooting daggers at the boy at the other side of me. "Who'd want to sleep with a girl this boring anyway! You two are perfect for one another."    Giving me a dirty look he raised from the table and stood where the other guys were, smoking and chatting whilst shooting the girls leering looks. I sighed with relief that he was gone and moved, aware that I had been almost thigh to thigh with the guy next to me. Smoothing out my jeans I glanced at the wall clock with annoyance. It had been stuck at 5.38 since we'd arrived, probably hours ago.    "You okay?" The boy sitting next to me asked.    I turned to give him a fake smile, but somehow I knew he saw through it. He was different than the others, he wasn't drinking nor was he smoking. Like me, since arriving he had remained sat at the very middle of the booth watching the others become more and more intoxicated to the point where they had stopped asking us to sing. We both hadn't spoken much, but then again with the wailing of our 'friends' over the mics, it was pretty much impossible to hold any real conversation, not that any of the people here seemed capable of it, anyway.    Now, however, it was thankfully silent as TaeYeon fussed over which song to pick.   "I'm fine. Just getting a bit of a headache." I shrugged.    "If you're not feeling well you could just go home." He suggested not unkindly. "I wish I had an excuse to leave."   "I don't know my way back to the subway station without TaeYeon." I admitting, casting a look to the girl in question.   It would be a miracle if she even remembered I was here...   "I could show you?" He offered, his youthful face lighting up. "I need to take the subway home, too, and it will give me an excuse to leave."    I agreed gratefully and grabbed my bag, gesturing for him to slide out of the booth.   "Then by all means lead the way before Tae chooses a song." He did, and after we both said goodbye to the others, who didn't seem overly concerned with us 'boring' ones leaving, we headed outside onto the cool streets of Gangnam and in the direction of what I assumed was the subway. I spotted a clock inside a shop and cringed at the time. Mother would kill me if she knew. But the roads, despite it being close to quarter to one in the morning, were busy with drunken men in suits stumbling about and equally merry groups of women. The night was alive and, apparently, young.    "Smoky, loud and drunken teenage filled karaoke bars not your thing?" The boy asked, breaking the awkward silence.    "So it seems. To be honest, it was my first time in one, and I can't say I was impressed."   "Nor me. I normally decline their offers, but today I had no excuse. Can't say I found what the appeal is, either." He suddenly turned towards me, his smile warm. "I'm Luhan, by the way."   I was surprised by the use of his first name during introductions exclusively, and wondered if it was because TaeYeon had told everyone I was America when I had first arrived.   "I'm Hana." I smiled back, finding his smile contagious. "Do you go to our school?"    "Oh no." He shook his head, causing his fine light brown hair to flop into his eyes. He pushed it out idly. "I attend the Seoul Institute of the Arts."   "You're older then me?" I blinked, recognising it as the name of a university and taking in his appearance stunned.   He had a baby face, his features soft and delicate, his eyes gentle and a light brown alike his hair. He was extremely slim and quite tall, his smile bright making him appear even more youthful. He was, I noted, very cute looking, and could pass for a high schooler.    "I'm 23."  He answered, looking somewhat shy. "Though don't worry, I'm not as mature as you'd think."    To this I chuckled.    "Well then I guess in that aspect, I'm older, because I'm very mature." I lifted my chin a notch higher in mock snobbery and he laughed, giving my shoulder a slight push.   "Sure, Hana-Ya."   "Ya?" I demanded, placing my hands on my hips. "I thought we est