23:01.

as always, the brightness of the day diminished into an exuberant obscurity of shade. the city was alive and breathing, the dazzling street-lights of the downtown area shining like beacons dotting the ebony-black sea of sky. tonight, the stars were twinkling, as if they were serving a purpose. as if, maybe, they were leading her on to something.

she didn't know.

and she also didn't care.

"roma, come on, let's go!"

mia, her best friend, had a huge and drunken grin plastered to her face as she ran ahead of her, gesturing crazily for roma to follow. roma's fear of busying roads and open, public spaces was not even crossing her mind at that precise moment, as she skipped along behind to keep up. she felt so awakened: so ready for what the night was to bring. or, rather, the early morning, as she realised that they'd been out for a while now.

the alcohol altered perception. 

maybe.

who cares.

despite that, the city was animated; dark alleyways pervaded with youth. people were everywhere.

peering upwards and forwards, the accustomed clock tower loomed above, signalling the prevailing arrival of midnight.

she felt the adrenaline coursing through her veins.

"wait for me," roma attempted to shout, but her voice was muted by the crowds and by the rush of late-night activities.

music from the local clubs and bars and restaurants resounded and bounced off the ancient and dull brick walls, echoing within the tightening restraints of her chest, further dizzying her unclear mind. bright lights dashed and danced across the buildings, lighting up their grey colour and providing a shaking backdrop to coincide with her jumbled thoughts.

"roma!"

roma, roma, roma.

the two of them had been joined with her other new friend, luke, who grabbed hold of roma's hand and dragged her behind him. his hand was sweaty and held onto her too tightly, but she didn't have the heart to pull away, mostly because, if she did, she was sure she would get lost in the crowd.

she'd only known luke for a couple of days or so; he had been a friend introduced to her by mia, having been someone she'd met through school. roma liked luke, she thought, and it felt nice to have the comfort of someone clinging to you so as not to lose you. regardless of whom it was.

the motion of bumping into random, irritated strangers, shouting a hurried sorry, getting yelled at and not giving a shit gave her such a rush. the wind was warm, afresh against her face and flurrying her dark strands of hair.

"mia, wait!"

roma shouted again, voice cracking slightly, wanting her to slow down. she didn't really know why they were running, anyway. for fun, she guessed.

mia's steps slowed. the winding path she had paved through the dwindling masses now felt less constraining, less contained. by this point, they'd left the thriving centre of the old town, all three of them stood, panting, on the edge of the pavement.

luke was hunched over, clutching the stitch in his chest, still with a mischievous grin plastered to his face. he'd released roma's hand. mia was grinning, too, chest heaving up and down as her emerald eyes scanned the vicinity rapidly. roma's hair stuck uncomfortably to the back of her neck, her black dress almost glued to her skin, due to the heat of the summer evening.

her head span, in a good way.

"shit, my head hurts," mia laughed, still breathing heavily, putting her hand to her forehead.

roma watched on as mia smiled from ear to ear, glancing around her and mopping the sweat off her brow with her arm. her glistening skin was visible despite the lack of light. mia's elation was almost tangible, almost enough for roma to mirror her exuberance.

"that's probably 'cause you've drunk loads," luke slurred in response, wrapping his arms around mia's shoulders from behind.

both boy and girl exchanged knowing glances.

roma grinned lazily, collecting her hair at the nape of her neck, but she didn't really know why she was smiling or why everything just felt so right.

she didn't know exactly how much it was she had drunk, either. judging by the fumbling in her step and the blur of her vision, probably a fair amount. enough to make her feel so alive. and this new-found lack of responsibility felt like a massive weight lifted off her shoulders.

where it was coming from, she had no clue. all she knew was, she never wanted it to go away.

"come on. let's keep going. i need another drink," mia decided, releasing her grip from luke. replacing his protective embrace by taking hold of his hand.

"mia, hang on a minute, i can't--"

roma tried to speak, grabbing hold of mia's hand; out of breath.

"come on!" mia repeated. "live a little!"

before roma had a chance to oppose further, mia was yanking her from her balanced stance and picking all of them up from where they'd left off, feet hammering against the concrete.

running as if their lives depended on it.

//

mia had somehow, through her excitement of racing around the town and her lack of awareness, managed to locate the club which she'd said she wanted to go to. from the outside, it adorned a dull and bored appearance, complete with an oddly flashing neon sign. because it was broken, one of the letters had been plunged into darkness, initiating a stream of worried thoughts to engulf roma's state of mind.

roma was unsure, but neither of the two noticed as she gulped down the lump in her throat. she didn't like being away from the people, entering this unknown building, tucked away in a darkened corner; secluded from the rest of the town's night-life.

the rush of the wind and the thronging crowds had vanished. roma felt this sudden emptiness, and clung onto both luke and mia out of nerves, their bare arms warm to her touch, as they sidled past the bouncers and were further forced into a darkened room. faint hints of bright neon tinted the walls, patterning the shadows with brilliant pinks and stark oranges, the scent of sweat and stale alcohol intensifying.

"roma, you okay?" luke muttered to her, pulling her closer into him.

his breath was uncomfortably hot against the shell of her ear. the heat of the cramped room started to become over-encompassing, but roma continued to follow mia, who seemed to be leading them to the main entrance. she could tell, as the thumping bass music began to increase in audacity, the distance of the club decreasing.

"yeah, i'm fine, thank you."

seconds later, and they'd entered the club, the dingy room replaced by loud music and bodies of people. a stark contrast to the dwindling stars and the peaceful ocean of sky. those particular things roma had grown to reminisce with were replaced with artificial lighting and music so loud you couldn't even hear yourself formulate comprehensible thoughts.

it was still a dark setting, but the strobe lights paved paths in the air, illuminating random faces and shedding light into the un-lit room. deep bass echoed around the large domain; she felt it in her chest, forcing her heart to beat more wildly.

all she could do was feel.

just as she had been before, her hand was grabbed and she was pulled further onto the dancefloor, becoming immersed amidst the sea of swaying bodies.

mia was yelling, releasing her grip and throwing herself forwards, rushing to bring luke with her. roma wasn't sure where the crowded area started and ended, but she attempted to remain calm as she lost sight of the only two familiar faces she knew.

"roma."

she heard her name; numerous times. didn't know whether it was mia calling her or someone else or. it didn't matter.

all that mattered was the rush of blood pumping through her body and the combusting heat that coursed and danced across her fervid skin, prickled its way under her dress and itched at each corner of her, each joint.

"roma."

her name. she couldn't see mia anywhere. the lack of affinity with any other faces around her made her brain rack for thoughts and her heart beat faster.

"mia," roma mumbled, but her head began to spin too much as she was forced from one direction to another, bodies jolting against hers, the bass matching her uneven movements.

dashing lights obscured her vision. dazzling colours danced over her eyelids, in between the dark niches of the club. it was all too much,

and not enough.

but roma felt alive, alcohol fiery and heated, surging through every vein and artery. burning. too many people, and yet she couldn't help but sense this emptiness in her. the thought was hurriedly pushed to the back of her mind.

the music was so loud.

"roma."

amid the sea of dancing people and the thump of music that encompassed her exaggerated emotions, it seemed to part, creating an opening. roma was not sure if she was consciously aware of her surroundings, her movements were not under her control, being moved by the mass of dancing entities.

where mia was, she didn't know. if only she knew, then perhaps she could figure out what it was she was doing. despite the club scene and setting, roma couldn't quite relax; allow things to just happen without her worrying about the consequences.

which was stupid.

someone--a stranger--was pulling her in, pressing themselves against her shaking body: forcing her to comply without her really fully comprehending the situation.

too much. it was too much.

no words exchanged. as if that would have been remotely possible, anyway. only the caress of rough hand gestures and the hurried motion of being pushed up against the unknown person. roma was too elated to care, really; too caught up in the moment to properly protest to anything.

a balmy torrent of hot breath whispered along the plain of her neck, sweat sticking to her. her hands came up in attempt to produce a further distance between the boy, who seemed to have a good grip on her, clutching her waist. he held tightly, leaving an unwanted, sloppy kiss to her jaw, one that was more teeth and tongue than she was expecting.

she opened her mouth to respond. tried to push harder.

"roma."

she could swear that someone whom she knew was calling her name. somehow, in the midst of all the noise and happenings. a male voice, coming from the spacious opening near to her. if only he'd let her go. let her breathe; re-collect herself.

"roma," the voice shouted, grabbing her attention, again.

"i'm here," was all she replied. she didn't know who she was addressing, but it was all she managed to do when everything else was so all-consuming.

suddenly, the boy let go, the coolness of the absence of his lips on hers welcomed, as she grasped onto her hair, her face, not knowing who was calling her. all she remembered was the boy who'd had a hold on her was now on the floor, clutching his right cheek, eyes indicating fright.

the strobe lights flashed.

before she had time to react, another body on hers, but this time, she recognised him.

the boy from the morning, with pale skin and dark eyes:

baekhyun.

"roma, are you okay?"

his deep voice resounded and rumbled in his chest, the vibrations sending jolts of electricity up her spine as he placed a hand to the left-side of her face, the other hand finding its way to rest on her hip.

"baekhyun," she breathed incredulously, all the memories flooding back.

him lying unconscious, helpless on the streets. him sleeping soundly and serenely on her worn-out sofa. him smiling, his skin sparkling in the dawn light.

light.

dark eyes rimmed with a thick line of charcoal across each oval-shape bored into her, their depth visible despite the pitch-black circumstances.

lights flashed; on and off, on and off.

"roma. let's get out of here," he whispered into her ear.

warm and soft hands found hers and roma couldn't tell whether it was baekhyun who had hit that boy or why he did it or whether mia and luke would be okay with her leaving.

none of that seemed to matter as she focused on the strobe lights dotting the dark walls and the presence of baekhyun guiding her out of the building.

//