22:39.

red wine burned the back of her throat. stars filled her eyes. the colourful lights dotted the hazy background.

she'd never get used to this. this. the rush of the big cities and the sound of the people. so many people. roma wasn't nervous, or scared. she just closed her eyes and leaned back, letting the wind flow through her hair.

baekhyun's arms circled around roma's waist, holding onto her. holding her upright. she wrapped her arms around his neck, resting her head on his shoulder, locking her legs around his waist, exclaiming happily.

dizzy. colours and lights everywhere. 

he put her down, her arms still clinging to him.

their intoxicated states made standing still a difficult task; one that required concentration and a lot of drunken laughter.

"baekhyun," roma sang, wanting to feel him, touch him, his hot skin. his strong arms.

"you're so gorgeous," baekhyun murmured against her cheek, voice filled with love and adoration. his warm, tingling breath fanned across her face.

her heart burst. chest warmed.

the bustle of nightlife surrounded the beautifully dazzling city. a million stars shone in the sky, like they were trying to make a point. the night was alive. she could almost feel the electricity pulsating from his skin, controlling the light. faintly, roma heard the buzz of the wires, flowing, sparks.

ignition.

she couldn't stop. she watched on lovingly, in love, as baekhyun cupped his hands around his mouth, lighting the cigarette that sat between his full lips. the orange embers floated down to the ground, burning; baekhyun took a long and weighted drag. smoke billowed up above, grey swirling against black, the fumes drawing her in to him.

like poison. toxic and addictive, overtaking her entirety.

the eiffel tower ascended into the dark sea of sky, piercing the pitch-black mass with a beacon of glaring light. bright yellow and amber and gold ran up and down the length of its magnificent height. tourists took pictures, savouring the moment, flashes of camera light blinding her.

baekhyun was looking up, too, continuously blowing out the smoke from his lips. perhaps, admiring something. his power, maybe. she felt it again, strong and coursing. captivating her completely.

"hey," baekhyun smiled, a whisper of a smirk gracing his beautiful features. "watch this."

roma felt the chills, static, tingling up and down her spine. made her feel insignificant in comparison.

"watch what?" she smiled coyly, removing the strands of hair that the wind had blown onto her face.

roma could just about make out the curve of his noise and the sharp line of his jaw amid the dark atmosphere. amid the clouds brewing. the thrill of the rush. he threw down the cigarette, almost dramatically, the burning orange sinking into the concrete ground. smoke disappeared.

turning into nothing; no lustre, no life.

baekhyun looked at her knowingly. raised his eyebrows. took hold of her hands. warm skin. fire flowing through her entire being, sparkling her senses, rekindling her emotions.

roma focused on his lips. they trembled slightly.

as did hers.

with a sudden surge of something--indescribable, beyond words--roma felt it, inside of her, almost. it was irresistible. the lights. she'd got used to it. up above, the looming eiffel tower slowly, one by one, diminished in procession, each bright square shutting itself down, until the spire was covered in nothing but darkness.

all seemed silent. a blur of colour disappearing into a state of nothing, but everything, at the same time.

roma maybe would have heard the gasps and confused sideways nods of heads, as people were shocked, mumbling questioning statements to one another. roma would have taken notice of the thronging crowds grouping as one, voices raising, their movements blundered as the dark hindered their vision.

she would have cared, if baekhyun hadn't flashed her that well-known smile, the one that lit his features up, even in the dead of night. she would have turned to panic, too, to stare up at the tall height of the tower in bewilderment, if baekhyun hadn't kissed her in a desperate and rushed manner, his hands travelling down to her backside, pressing tightly.

"very impressive," she commented bravely, sarcastically, trying to match his movements.

her hands wrapped into his hair. one hand skimming the curve of his chin, fingers burning.

"thanks," he laughed breathily.

roma leant her head into the crook of his neck.

"turn them back on."

a whisper of a voice. a slight command, because roma wasn't thinking: she just wanted to feel.

she could sense him smirking. arrogance over his power. the electricity, again, cascading. the sparks, bright spots dotting the dark. the heat emanating from him.

he did. 

one by one, segment by segment, lit up. gold returned, a bright and resounding sight, as quickly as the light had vanished. roma looked up in awe, and noticed the look of pure and utter confusion as people conversed, questioning, shaking their heads in disbelief.

the stars twinkled, reassuring roma that everything was okay. everything was going to be okay.

light returned. graced the beautiful streets and livened the area up once again. bustle of nightlife repeated itself; starting.

roma let out a deep breath that she hadn't realised she'd been holding in.

and then she smiled, so widely, infectiously, that baekhyun reciprocated the gesture, spinning wildly around in a circle. grabbing hold of her hands in hers.

"that was so cool," she giggled, like a school girl, fluttering her hair behind her.

she was definitely out of it.

he grinned in return, throwing his head back and laughing harder than she'd ever heard him.

baekhyun looked even more stunning in the dim light, a colour that was dusted with bursts of red and orange and dark pink, now reflecting from the rushing cars and small street lamps. his hair was a mess, the wind having rustled through it, his shirt stuck to his chest as a result of the sweltering remnants of the everlasting day.

his shining eyes bore into hers, like they'd done many times before. their glassy effect made him look unbreakable, like he wasn't human, his skin glowing and his body movements fluid. she gulped, as she noticed the sheen of sweat along his forehead and collar bones. his tanned skin looked untouchable, even in the darkness.

"let's get out of here," baekhyun suggested.

who was she to say no, to that beautiful face?

//

they ended up in a back street, somewhere. roma didn't really care where. just that she could hold his hand and stare into his mesmerising eyes. another concealed place.

the small café gave off a red vibrancy, the bar secluded in its own shroud of scarlet, the cerise glasses hanging from the top of the counter. a red glow settled over the dark room, its dimness increasing gradually. no jarring or loud noise. just a subtle quiet of low, mumbling conversations and comfortable exchanges.

black coffee, again. roma had grown to fall in love with its scent, memories flooding to her--good memories--at the smell. the white espresso cups and the stained rings on the wooden table.

hair stuck to her forehead and the back of her neck. her black shirt clung to her body. feet hurt from running and rushing all day. the heat from the previous sunshine hours had sunken into the night.

she had a sudden urge to say certain words.

"are you alright?" baekhyun asked casually. he ran a hand through his hair.

roma could feel how sun-kissed her cheeks were from the radiance of the dazzling day. she could feel how the raindrops had settled into the corners of her body, remnants of the adventure, fading memories. her eyes shut lazily; head rested in the palm of her hand.

"more than ever," roma murmured pleasantly.

baekhyun smiled.

"are you tired?"

she grinned.

"no."

baekhyun smiled, again, and she knew she'd never get enough of that sight.

dark glow: she saw the lights dim, red becoming deeper, a darkened aura settling over the bar and the tables. baekhyun gripped her hand, his skin against hers. scarlet, garnet, ruby red; mysterious and captivating.

the slight breeze ruffled baekhyun's shirt. roma still tried to focus on anything other than his glowing skin and sharp collar bones.

drunk in love seemed too vague and cliché a phrase. certainly, she was intoxicated, but not just from the amount of alcohol she'd consumed. he reeled her in, his scent, his eyes, his hands, his skin. everything about him.

roma remembered to breathe. in and out.

baekhyun smiled at her. the way he always did. eyes dark and sparkling.

//

strobe lights and flashing colours. the vibe of the packed club was tight, bodies pressed together; no breathing space. sweaty, sticky skin and pulsating heartbeats and heaving breaths.

someone was yelling over the speakers, a booming voice saying something about making some noise. roma was properly dancing, swaying her body. it consumed her. the heat and the thrill of proximity with others.

baekhyun was doing the same. eyes squeezed shut, the splinters of light dashing across his features. his dark hair stuck to his forehead, white shirt to his chest. occasionally, his arm would extend to reach hers, bringing her in.

roma normally felt self-conscious. it was in her nature; she'd usually cower in the corner, observing others moving, arms crossed. usually uncomfortable in a tight dress and high heels. avoiding eye contact with other boys who wore smirks and wanted nothing more than another body.

tonight,

she was confident. hips moving, arms brought up to wind in her hair. roma's shirt rose up, revealing more skin, her waist visible. baekhyun's hot hands held her to him, a sudden, fast movement. spinning her around.

face to face. even in the darkness and blur of faded colours and patches of black, roma could sense his vision burn into her own. intense stare; his heavy breaths resounded as he rested his cheek against hers.

hands travelled down further. she clung to his muscular arms, feeling her heart hammering next to his chest. dots of light patterned his shirt and his skin. baekhyun continued to stare at her, fixated on her.

"dance for me," he whispered into her ear.

roma shivered, breaths shaking, her eyes staring back at him quizzically: nervously. he now wore that signature smirk, lips crooked to the side, his grip slowly lessening.

the alcohol pumped through her veins and her lack of awareness fuelled her movements.

baekhyun watched, as roma spun around, hands brought up to her hair again. didn't know what she was doing. music flooded through her limbs, forcing her body to sway from side to side.

his stare held hers, chest heaving, observing her carefully, cautiously. the darkness smothered the small dancefloor into an enclosed, tight space. her hands traced her body; chest, hips, arms. her eyes shut slowly, appreciating the lack of light, feeling the shining layer of sweat form across her sultry features.

baekhyun's eyes were wide open when she turned around, and he pulled her in, close. maybe, too close. again, the electricity; flowing and pulsing. lights sparked, the control drawing her in. their blazing paths paved intricate patterns of light across their bodies, the other crowd of people fading into oblivion.

all that roma saw was baekhyun.

heat from his body encompassed her. he was holding her down to him, his front pressing into her back, his lips peppering kisses down her neck. too much. not enough.

perhaps her usual fumbled nature didn't show, as she brought a hand up to rest against his cheek, allowing him further access. savouring. hands moved down further. hearts fluttered in time to the thumping bass.

"let's get out of here," he almost promised, lips whispering across her skin, like a feather.

roma struggled to inhale properly.

she nodded. all that was needed to be said.

//