14:14.

roma brought her dainty fingers up to her lips, his touch still lingering, burning.

the half-open window fluttered the curtains; fluttered the pages of her books, spread out across her bedspread along with her pens and pencils and pads of paper.

her high-waisted shorts sat comfortably over her waist, her sex pistols t-shirt rising up to expose the pale skin. long hair had been plaited over one shoulder into a french braid. strong scent of coffee and perfumed candles filtered through to her small, bare bedroom.

broad daylight simmered in through the window, casting shadows of light and giving roma that welcome and reposed feeling within her chest. allowed her to just breathe.

she sipped on her warm drink. twirled a finger through her plait. contemplated on whether to open the window a bit wider. sieved through her endless sheets of paper.

a few knocks had sounded at the door. gentle but assertive.

roma's first rational thought was that it was mia, only just returning home from her night-life activities. probably about to stumble in through the doorway, shoes in hand, hair a mess. roma also knew that, if it was mia, the door would have been barged open by now and she would be in roma's room, complaining about how attractive luke was.

so, with a heavy heart, roma got up from her reclined position and headed towards the front door, feet treading carefully over the floorboards.

her arm reached out to open it, the sunlight pouring in, only to find a beautiful boy with straggled hair and a breath-taking smile.

her mouth formed a small, round 'o' shape, her breath halting.

"hi," she managed to breathe out, her voice rasping.

"hey, there," baekhyun replied, chuckling.

god, his smile was so warming, so deep and soft.

a small, grey t-shirt exposed his bare, muscular arms, skin shining in the bright sunlight. motorcycle boots had been replaced by a tattered pair of converse, his ripped jeans adding to his casual and contrasting look. within his grasp he held a small, brown paper bag.

"can i come in?" he asked, chuckling, again. his smile so bright and warm that she swore it was bigger than the sun itself.

roma, of course, didn't answer. her cheeks flushed as she awkwardly held the door open for him, bowing her head as he carefully stepped through the doorway. she suddenly became aware and conscious of her bare legs and arms, instinctively crossing them against her chest.

baekhyun dumped the crumpled bag down onto the kitchen counter, turning around the face her.

"i bought lunch," he beamed, glanced at the clock hanging on the wall. "i know it's a bit late, though."

roma knew she must've looked strange, shocked, maybe. she wasn't answering, just hopping from one foot to another as she bit her lip nervously, averting eye contact.

baekhyun's beaming expression faded ever-so slightly at the sight of roma's apprehension.

"sorry," baekhyun suddenly said, "i didn't mean to barge in on you or anything. i can go if you want."

he smiled sheepishly. shrugged his shoulders. began to pick up his stuff and step forward, looking a bit unsure.

"n-no," roma stuttered, bringing her hands up to stop him from moving further.

he watched her. stopped in his tracks.

"you can stay," roma said, promised. almost. "i, um, i want you to stay."

roma attempted to reciprocate his smile, lips tugging upwards at the corners.

the sunlight beamed over the floorboards, creating a fluorescent glow of yellow.

baekhyun's benevolent movements manoeuvred their way towards the counter-top, grabbing the food, and over towards the direction of roma's bedroom. gulping, shaking her head, roma followed, her attention fixated on the back muscles visible through his t-shirt.

he took one look at the messy countenance of her bed cover and carefully began arranging her things into a pile, making space. roma somehow wanted to protest, but didn't, instead, stood with one arm draped across her hip, leaning against the doorway.

once finished, having placed her books onto the top of the nightstand, baekhyun turned and flashed her that smile.

roma felt relief. at ease, for once.

he gestured for her to come over to him, as he shoved off his shoes and threw them to the side. cautiously, she stepped over them and sat on the edge of the bed; observed as he opened up the bag, laying it flat against the white sheets.

"come here, love," baekhyun laughed, perhaps at how awkward and uncomfortable she appeared.

he moved over to the furthest side of the mattress, beckoning her closer. she drudgingly shifted her body weight closer to the side of the bed that he'd occupied.

"i hope you're hungry," he spoke, taking a bite from the fresh bread he'd just brought. the smell was savoury, inviting, and roma couldn't resist but to reach over and tear off a piece.

baekhyun looked pleased. happy.

"looks like you are," he said, smiling.

roma smiled, too. she'd forgotten about lunch, only now coming to the realisation of how hungry she was.

comfortable conversation passed, a situation that roma wasn't familiar with. baekhyun complimented her, commented on how quirky her room was, made small talk with her. as if they'd know each other for years.

"how did you manage to find me again?" she asked, in between mouthfuls.

the question would have maybe aroused suspicion or discomfort on baekhyun's part, but her voice was so soft and velvety and curious that baekhyun merely watched her as she delicately chewed on the crust of bread.

"i was just in the area. recognised the building," he answered. he might've not told the whole truth. "anyway, you don't live far from me."

that smile, again.

"oh, really," she said warmly.

she knew that, of course, from having to walk home the other day.

"yeah. one reason why i could remember whereabouts your flat was. also that and my friend knows someone who lives in the same apartment block as you," baekhyun added.

"ah, really. who's that?"

baekhyun looked deep in thought momentarily.

"his name's kai, but i can't remember the girl's name," he muttered casually.

a moment's pause. baekhyun chewed in thought. roma marvelled at how she wasn't freaking out about the fact that baekhyun was sharing her bed. with her. their legs almost touching. roma looked down.

the whole scenario had occurred within minutes, the entire outlook of her afternoon changing. baekhyun's shining persona only puzzled her further. how contrasting his state was now compared to his previous aura of darkness.

the natural light seeped in through the window. brought out the mild brown of his eyes and somewhat tanned complexion of his skin.

"how are you, anyway?" baekhyun asked.

roma glanced upwards. surprised.

"good, thank you," she breathed out, a small laugh adding to her nervous speech. "you?"

"never better," he laughed, and, god. his smile was so bright it was definitely brighter than the sun.

roma attempted to steady her breathing; an action that was beginning to become a necessity around baekhyun.

"did you come here for any particular reason, or?"

roma, upon uttering the question, realised that it sounded rude and strange, and. sigh. why couldn't she get anything right? for once.

baekhyun only chuckled in response.

"to see you, love."

she blushed.

he's only saying that, roma reminded herself.

baekhyun looked un-phased.

"what's your deal, then?" he pressed. "you here for the summer?"

roma glanced up at the sudden change in topic.

"erm, yeah, me and my friend, mia, are sharing a flat for the summer. before we go back to uni."

baekhyun nodded, still eating.

"what about you?"

"me?" baekhyun spoke incredulously.

"hmm," roma mumbled.

baekhyun gulped; paused.

"my friends live here."

"are those the friends i met the other day?" roma queried.

"oh, yeah. that's them, sehun and kai."

roma remembered the one named kai as the one who had been wearing the glasses and writing diligently. she remembered sehun as the one who'd been behind the bar.

"he was cute, i thought. the one with the glasses."

roma had only meant to make conversation, but she immediately wanted to hit herself for saying that. she was so embarrassing. god.

"kai?" baekhyun quirked an eyebrow.

"i guess," she replied, not looking at him. she must've been as red as a tomato.

"no-one's ever described kai as cute."

baekhyun laughed, blowing out a puff of air.

"i'll let him know what you think," baekhyun winked, a hint of jealousy sparkling in his eyes, something that went unnoticed.

roma turned redder.

"no! don't!" she exclaimed. her face blushed a shade darker.

"alright, alright," he protested, putting up both of his hands. "i won't, ha-ha."

their interaction was almost too-friendly, and roma couldn't help but giggle at his pretence of being angry, arms crossed and lips pouted. the tinkling sound filled the gently atmosphere of her occupied bedroom.

the sun was delightful against her bare skin.

"what are you doing later?" he asked. precarious. dimness evident in his vision.

"not anything that i know of."

her voice was shaky, her gaze not fixed on anything particular.

"i'll come pick you up later," baekhyun affirmed.

"what?"

it was going to take her a while to get used to his possessive nature. his declarations of imperatives.

"i'll take you out for dinner," baekhyun asserted again. "i want to get to know you more."

the lump in roma's throat rose up. she stared, mouth hanging open slightly, voice drying.

"i-i promised my friend, m-mia, that i'd go out with her tonight," she lied, mostly out of not really knowing what to respond to him. partly because the thought of being with him again heightened her pulse rate.

especially when his eyes sparkled in the sunlight and his stare hardened at her apprehension.

before baekhyun could argue or persuade roma otherwise, the hurried opening of the front door could be heard, causing both of them to turn towards the sound.

"roma!" the familiar voice of mia called, the sound of her dumping her stuff and opening up cupboards in the kitchen audible from their seated positions.

"in here," roma replied quietly, wary of the confrontation about to happen between mia and baekhyun.

"that's mia, i'm guessing?" baekhyun chuckled.

"yeah. she's pretty loud," roma answered nervously.

mia was shouting something to roma, her hung-over state obvious by her slurring and audacity.

"oh, my god, last night i--"

mia had started her sentence, her entirety of a black dress and let-down hair appearing in the doorway, hand already resting against the frame.

"oh," she paused, looked baekhyun up and down. "sorry, i didn't know you had someone with you."

mia smiled, sending roma a flirtatious wink, the gesture causing roma to narrow her eyes; embarrassed by her friend's abrasive disposition.

"hi, i'm mia," she greeted, reaching forward and offering him her hand.

"baekhyun," he reciprocated.

"hope i wasn't interrupting anything," mia laughed, sending shivers up roma's spine.

of course mia would do this.

"no," roma seethed. "you weren't."

"okay, okay," mia said, shaking her head. picked up her high heels and bid the two of them farewell, stating she was off to have a shower.

"she's something," baekhyun said. a smile inflected upon his eyesight, and he watched her leave the room, could hear her singing a song to herself.

"she's annoying," roma replied, joking, of course.

the thought was ridiculous, but roma couldn't help but feel a tinge of jealousy erupt inside of her, her cheeks blushing for different reasons now. the way he looked at her, despite her only being with them all but thirty seconds.

"i'd better go," he said, picking himself up from the bed, stepping into his trainers. stuffing the crumpled bag under his arm.

roma copied his motions, hurriedly ridding herself of her cross-legged position. bare feet hitting the floor softly.

they headed towards the front entrance, chatting amiably, baekhyun stepping aside and letting roma go first. his swift movements and beautiful smile rendered her in a constant state of stumbling feet and averted gazes.

arms folded, she stood, in the doorway. watched observantly as he bent down, her breath hitching at the thought of him leaving again, while he tied his laces, brushing his hair from his forehead. he looked up; stood up.

that smile.

"see you later, love. thanks for your hospitality," he added, grinning.

she grinned, somehow, too.

"thank you for l-lunch."

stupid.

"no problem."

just as he was about to leave her flat, entering the blazing sunlight, he leant forward, enveloping her into a tight embrace. she gasped as he left a small peck to her cheek.

"i'll pick you up at nine, love."

roma was left with the feeling of emptiness and her heart thudding at his small but significant gesture, and the promise of seeing those dark eyes again.

//

this chapter was gross, my apologies.

i'd love to know what you guys think :) x