Accarezzévole - a piece is to be played in an expressive and caressing manner

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April 9^th

The charismatic character in the grey sweatshirt was named Baekhyun and the naturally suave man with bouncy poodle hair was Jongdae. After an explanation from a very red-faced and humiliated Chanyeol, I quickly discovered that the three were in a band together and were referred to often by other friends as the ‘Beagle Line’.

‘Chanyeol doesn’t seem that hyper though’, I stated, brows furrowed as I surveyed the three.

Jongdae leant forward onto his arms and smiled charmingly. ‘He might seem all cool and easy-going, but that’s totally just because he’s trying to impress you. If anything, he’s the ultimate beagle and Baekhyun and I are the line following behind him.’

As I was about to respond, I noticed the way in which Baekhyun eyed Jimin, who for the first time since I’d known her, did not utter a word and simply sipped at her beverage. Jongdae seemed to notice this too and subtly smacked his friend under the table, attempting to tell him that staring was creepy and rude. Baekhyun jumped, startled and knocked the entire table. Steaming coffee seeped its way into Chanyeol’s lap. His face contorted for a single second, before he covered his pain with a forced smile.

Baekhyun and Jongdae grinned at one another, and the latter proceeded to speak. ‘Min, you should walk Chanyeol home so he can change his pants. Wouldn’t want him all…sticky and wet, would we now?’

‘Oh, you’re terrible’, I joked, my arm already tugging Chanyeol up from his seat, ‘Jimin, you’ll be fine, right?’

My friend nodded unconvincingly and the two remaining boys attacked her with questions and flirty conversation the moment I exited the café, Chanyeol dawdling behind with a hand splayed across his crotch in attempt to hide the stain. I let him cling to me to save him from any further embarrassment, my small figure just enough to cover the disaster zone.

Upon arrival at his apartment, he bolted immediately towards his bedroom, so desperate to get the atrociously damp material off his skin that he forgot to close the door. I wasn’t a ert, but I couldn’t help but tilt my head a little and attempt to gain a tiny peek at his bare skin. What I saw at first were two lanky, flailing legs as Chanyeol tripped onto his bed after struggling to rip the constricting jeans from his body. As he rolled across the mattress to reach his cupboard on the other side, his boxers rode up teasingly. Before my mind could fill itself with impure thoughts and images, he coiled out of sight, falling off the bed with a boisterous thump. I sighed noisily, shamelessly disappointed.

I paced back and forth, running my fingers lightly along the kitchen bench and then picking up photo frames to examine the people within them. For someone whose friends claimed him to be completely manic, his apartment was tidy and lined with objects and books, all of which held a special place within his heart. I liked to know that he kept these things, even if he couldn’t see them.

Chanyeol waddled up behind me and rested his chin atop my head. ‘Will you let me show you something?’

I squeezed his hand to signal that my answer was yes and he instantly dragged me towards a door covered in stickers, pinned articles and autographs. Smiling, I read the names of rock legends and lyrical geniuses, pleased to know he had quite a fantastic taste in music and then allowed him to lead me inside. Guitars lined one wall, whilst a drum kit and keyboard sat against the opposite one. On the back wall were framed records and elevated filing cabinets with countless CDs. My mouth creaked open, mirroring my disbelief. I was truly impressed.

Chanyeol strolled over to the guitars, his fingers sliding along them until he selected the right one. ‘When I was younger, I hated that people gave me that sympathetic tone or acted like I was incapable of doing anything by myself, so music was originally a way for me to escape. I wanted to show everyone that I could do something so I worked my off every day trying to get chords right, trying to understand sheet music using brail. Now, it’s not a way for me to spite others anymore. I don’t think I’d be who I am today if it wasn’t for music.’

Without hesitation, I made my way over to him and wrapped my arms tightly around his waist, snuggling my face into the crook of his neck and inhaling his unique scent. With one hand grasping his guitar, he used the other to embrace me in return, fingers running soothingly up and down my spine. He nudged me with his nose so that I would look up and let him press our foreheads together. Biting my lip, I gazed into his eyes. They should have been empty, but like every day before, he continued to prove me wrong. Behind the shimmering hazel and golden flecks, were so many emotions; admiration, curiosity, love. In awe, I extended a hand to delicately trace his eyelids. He leant into my touch.

As my hand dropped back to my side, he smiled. ‘Can I play you something? There’s not much to it yet, but the more I go over it, the easier it is to think up the next verse.’

He tugged out the chairs from behind his instruments and motioned for me to get comfortable, seated so closely to him that our knees knocked. He settled the acoustic guitar in his lap and strummed it, checking the tune and then, with a shaky breath, be began to play.

You came to me at the end of a hard day

The desperate prayers of a small boy have reached you

Without colour, scent or sound, you came into my heart

Like the colour of the clear street after the rain

You resemble that freshness, my goddess

A flower rises in the sky

There are spring blossoms on the ground

You can’t stop it; it has been decided since the start

My heart is pulled towards you

The moment your breath touches me, your scent colours me in

I was in such a trance that it took a moment for me to realise he was finished. ‘Chanyeol, that was…beautiful.’

‘It’s nowhere near finished yet’, he responded, chuckling awkwardly, ‘I can’t believe I just sang that to you.’

‘I’m glad you did.’

Slanting forward, my fingers softly seized his nape to bring him closer and with a smirk playing at my lips, I pressed my mouth against his.

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Ahhhh, I got BTS tickets today! Keen to see Mumma Jin! <3