10:36.

around some time when the sun began to pour in decadently, and when baekhyun had drawn the blinds, the light expanding the kitchen, the others began to wake up. slowly, but surely, the old floorboards creaked beneath the weight of the movements upstairs, their heavy footsteps uttering a message of reality.

tearing roma from her dream-like state.

her chest felt full and warm.

the sun beamed strongly, filling the room--every room, every available inch of the house--and reflecting upon roma's glowing insides. over-encompassing, just like the feel of his skin and the beautiful, gorgeous, blinding smile that was currently displayed upon his plump lips. roma was scared, in a good way, about how much of a hold he had on her.

fingers and hearts entwined, they were sat, her exhaustion overcome by the weight lifted from her, of his explanation and assurances. his finger stroked her skin slowly, forming a trail of warmth, one that mirrored the sun's pleasant, morning path. along her forearm and across her indigo veins.

she shivered.

roma didn't want to let go of his hand, and the repletion of their admissions and confessions filled a hole in her chest, and she felt warm and fuzzy, in a good and fulfilled way. baekhyun's smile was plastered across her mind, and she didn't want to ever get rid of the image.

worries had all but dissipated.

she sighed. heavily and happily.

"the others will be up now," baekhyun said quietly, his lips pulling up at the corners.

he was so fucking beautiful. even through the bruises and cuts, and scrapes and marks, and the sag of his exhausted eyelids, and the creases to his worn-out skin; he was beyond beauty. everything that she wasn't.

"hey," baekhyun smiled, nudging her foot under the table. in her trance, she'd forgotten to reply. "are you okay, love?"

roma beamed, pushing her hair back from her face.

sudden rush of memories. touches and smiles and awkward exchanges. it was odd, to be where they were now, in this weird house, a place she wanted to enquire into later. the walls seemed paper-thin, ready to crack under the pressure at any given moment, but she felt safe and happy.

"yeah," she answered simply, reluctantly withdrawing her quivering hand from his secure hold, as the heavy sound of steps increased in audit.

the sky shone a bright turquoise.

kai came down first, pushing the door open tentatively. again, roma was reminded of the weird scenario that they were all in. a mess of unruly hair and sleepy eyes tumbled into the kitchen; perhaps, in his sleep-deprived state, kai had forgotten the possibility of the two of them still being here. he casually scratched his chest, squeezing his eyes.

his presence punctured the replete silence with an air of uncertainty and slight intrusion. he was shirtless, his pair of glasses perched on the end of his nose, his tanned skin brighter in the daylight, each carved muscle defined.

roma blushed, only because she felt embarrassed of her situation, and kai's gaze had zeroed in on her, half in recognition but also half in confusion and accusation. a sudden thought hit her, as she wondered whether kai knew about everything that had occurred; baekhyun showing roma, and discussing his power with her.

flash of images and memories.

the kitchen seemed less empty.

"morning," he muttered, easing into what was becoming a somewhat uncomfortable atmosphere.

kai looked straight at her. his hand scratched the back of his head. deep eyes analysed; searched fervently for something.

"um, h-hi," roma responded, trying her best to muster a soft and believable smile.

roma turned to baekhyun, noticing that his expression was practically blank, regarding kai nonchalantly. but if she looked deeper, his eyes held a dark hint of understanding, a look that passed between the two boys quietly and could have easily gone unnoticed, if roma hadn't been drawn in by the heavy atmosphere.

like lightning. the pressure of their exchange, tangible in the aura, something that pulsed heavily and was in place of words and meaning.

baekhyun lips slightly curved, as if to reassure kai with something. roma's eyes darted between the two boys, engrossed in each of their individual actions. the sunlight shed a bright and soft glow upon the quirky kitchen, illuminating the dilapidated drawers and cupboards, and the cracks from the broken tiles.

roma wanted one of them--either of them--to speak. tell her it was okay. that everything was going to be okay.

roma rushed an assuring smile as baekhyun looked over to her, trying to figure out what she was thinking. staring into her with his captivating eyes. she crossed one leg over the other, looking away, anxiety gnawing at her insides.

"is everything...cool now?" kai asked, the question spoken with an element of nerves and trepidation. kai looked anything but stressed, despite the depth of his question, his stance slightly slumped and his shoulders hanging.

roma stared at baekhyun. she felt awkward; felt like she was intruding in on something. something that wasn't hers to be a part of. but baekhyun flashed her that warm grin, his crooked lips reassuring her again.

"yeah. yeah, everything's fine," baekhyun stated, leaning back in his chair.

kai nodded in recognition.

sauntered over towards the kettle, grabbing it and filling it with water from the broken tap in the sink. roma watched him intently, admiring his own fluid movements, and the way his skin was so perfect. no flaws, no blemishes; nothing.

she turned back to baekhyun. he noticed her staring at kai, a hint of darkness darting across his sharp vision. it was quickly replaced with his smile again. and roma blushed. as always.

the soft boiling sound of the kettle filled the kitchen. filled the silence.

kai perched himself up on the counter, his legs crossing over, wrapping his arms around his bare form. roma felt dirty, and wanted a shower, but didn't want to leave, for fear that one of them would say something resounding or important.

roma didn't want to ask what her and baekhyun were now. she was scared that something else would happen; she felt this weird sensation, like baekhyun had become more fragile since their parting. she knew she had. his skin was swollen and his eyes had sunken deeply.

roma didn't want either of them to break.

"so, uh...you, um, you know about baekhyun now?"

kai's question interjected her muddled thoughts, forcing her back to thinking clearly. his dark eyes shone.

"um, y-you mean..." roma started, looking at baekhyun, searching for approval. "about his...power?"

roma cringed at the word; felt that it wasn't really the right thing to call it. whatever it was. but kai understood her, still staring. acknowledged her response with a slight nod.

the kettle finished boiling.

"yeah," she breathed out, her nerves taking over her shaking system. she tried to keep her fingers from shaking, flat on the table.

baekhyun's eyes were lighter, reflecting the sunlight pouring in from the window. he wasn't looking at her, though, his vision trained on kai's questioning.

"just baekhyun?" he asked. "you don't know anything else?"

roma was confused. she nodded her head slowly and unsurely. lips quivered. didn't really know what to say.

"kai."

baekhyun's strong tone broke into their conversation. sending dark signals; shivers down her back. a stark contrast to the brightening aura of the day.

"what do you mean?" roma pondered. not before baekhyun could interrupt her.

"he doesn't mean anything, love," baekhyun smiled, trying to cover up something.

another passing of deep meaning between the two boys.

dark eyes interlocking, and sharpened stared intertwining. slight sparks; transmitting through the humid, summer air.

then, kai smiled. and kai shrugged, jumping off the counter in an elegant transition of smooth limbs.

roma, taken by the whole situation, chose to ignore it.

stop panicking. you're with baekhyun. everything's fine.

he smiled. she smiled back. roma was fine.

kai began to slowly make himself a cup of coffee. roma only now noticed the pile of plates and glasses on the edge of the counter, spilling into the sink. their messy behaviour evidently had translated from their flat to the house. the thought incurred a slight smile.

"anyone want one?" he asked nonchalantly, tilting his head up to the side.

he smiled widely at roma.

she sighed happily. deeply.

"yeah, please," she replied politely, her response accompanied with a soft smile.

"make me one, too," baekhyun said.

roma hadn't heard him talk for a while. or, at least, it felt like a while. and his resonating tone was blissful to her ears, deep and resounding.

like the setting sun, almost. dripping with golden highlights and brazen tones.

strong scent of coffee filtered across the room, as well as the clinking of metal spoons against cups, as kai poured in the milk. dark against light.

kai placed the mugs carefully down on the table, not before loudly sliding across one of the chairs. his body landed with a thud, as he reached for the open pack of cigarettes left from the night before. roma felt exhausted, the weight resting heavily on her shoulders, her clothes sticking to her body.

baekhyun reached for his mug, blowing gently, and then taking what appeared to be a much-needed gulp of hot coffee.

kai lit the cigarette with ease. threw the pack down, and leant back in his seat. blowing smoke rings from in between his rounded lips, acting casually and without thought.

roma sighed.

"so, what now, then?" kai asked, nonchalant and relaxed.

baekhyun put down his mug. folded his hands in his lap.

"nothing. everything's fine."

roma knew that that was a lie, but she wasn't prepared to interject or ruin the moment right now.

"she knows now, though. so, she has to promise not to tell anyone?" kai smiled, stubbing the cigarette in the ashtray, grinning cheekily. as if it were a joke.

"i would never--" roma started.

"she's not going to tell anyone," baekhyun said with a tone of strong assurance.

"what about the others?" kai suggested.

"what about them?" baekhyun replied.

his hair had fallen messily over his forehead and darkening eyes.

"well, i mean. doesn't this, like, jeopardize our positions and shit? or whatever the fuck jongdae says."

the word our stuck in her mind. what did he mean?

roma watched as kai's eyes lit up, like he was enjoying his teasing, and asking questions that perhaps baekhyun couldn't answer.

"no, it's fine--"

"and, anyway, the same thing happened before, when we were all worried, when kyung--"

"it's fine, kai," baekhyun rushed, interrupting him before he could finish. "roma's not going to tell. i know she won't. no-one's in any danger."

roma felt her heart rate pick up again, the idea of not being told the full story filling her with anxiety. perhaps it wasn't her place to know. baekhyun didn't look scared; his eyes just held that same intelligent resonance, one that terrified and calmed her at the same time.

"i won't tell," she spoke quietly. "i wouldn't."

kai regarded her, his look one of approval and content. lips pulled up at the corners and his eyes unmoving.

"okay," he simply said. cigarette brought to his open mouth again.

a moment of silence.

"are any of the others up?" baekhyun inquired, attempting to ease the conversation, roma guessed.

his coffee was finished.

roma sipped hers tentatively.

"not when i got up," kai responded, shaking his head. "we all went to bed pretty late."

baekhyun nodded.

"your friend's still asleep," kai gestured to roma.

roma then remembered mia. she also took note of the way kai referred to her as roma's friend. she could have sworn she remembered having a conversation with mia about her and kai. she blushed.

but she couldn't remember very well.

another stretch of silence.

everyone finished their coffee.

"i think we're going to get out of here," baekhyun said.

roma's attention was diverted back to him, wondering what he meant; whether he meant the two of them or baekhyun and kai. baekhyun's eyes stared into her, his smile diminished.

she felt the sparks.

"where are you going?" kai asked. un-phased completely by his declaration.

"i'll figure that out," baekhyun said, his answer simple yet so complex. like his words were a labyrinth of confusion. "i just need to get away from her for a while."

a pause.

roma felt saddened for a split second.

"will you come with me?" he asked her, turning to face her. took hold of her hand once again.

electricity. just like before. that smile and those eyes and everything, and--how could she ever say no to him? maybe it was wrong of her, to be so easily persuaded. you could get hurt again.

but that warmth in her chest spoke other meanings to her inner-thoughts.

"of course," she breathed out. wasn't thinking. didn't matter.

and baekhyun smiled.

and, yeah. everything was okay.

//

i'm sooo sorry for taking so long to update & that it's a bit of shit chapter. school has been a bit crazy atm haha, so haven't really had a chance to write as much (:

hope you enjoyed! em x