#34 Snapback Boy
Title: Snapback Boy
Rating: PG
Word Count: 940
Summary: Before he stood on grand stages and amassed thousands of fans, Luhan only had his dreams and a boy whose company he enjoyed.
Warning/s: None
The strum of the guitar slowed down; the mellow voice tapered off after the final line was sung. A beat of silence passed, and the audience broke out into vigorous applause. Luhan mumbled his thanks into the mic and bowed. He exchanged high-fives with his bandmates, then packed up and collected their pay for the night. Everyone had different plans after the gig, so they split up at the bus stop with the promise of contacting each other for details about the next rehearsal.
Once home, Luhan indulged himself with a late dinner of Shin Ramyun and store-bought samgak kimbap while streaming the latest episode of the crime drama he’d been following. He almost choked on the noodles at the unbelievable plot twist, followed by an indignant shout at the cliffhanger ending.
Music filled the apartment as Luhan washed the dishes and took a shower. The JJ Lin- and Jay Chou-dominated playlist transported him back to a time when he would be alone in his room at the high school dorm, lounging in bed and listening to them sing about love, life, and happiness. A time when his only worries were pop quizzes and solving math problems; allowance running out before the end of the week and finding the right words to turn down a girl’s heartfelt confession.
A time when life was simpler because his path was already laid out before him-all he had to do was take it.
Luhan squeezed his eyes shut and used more force than usual into drying his hair as if it could dispel the memories. He gave up when his hands lost strength, and he expelled a heavy sigh in exchange.
A different artist’s song played this time, crooning about missing loved ones and wishing they were by their side right now.
Luhan sat slumped over the bar counter of Halcyon at past seven in the evening, a mug of draft beer cradled in one hand. His day at work had started out promising, but it took a hellish turn when a co-worker screwed up with their task and incurred the manager’s wrath. Combined with the difficult customers and their impossible demands, Luhan couldn’t wait for the day to end.
“You okay there?” Jinki, the bartender, asked in a gentle tone.
Luhan righted himself with a small smile. “Yeah, just a little tired.” He knocked back his drink when somebody occupied the stool beside him and ordered an iced tea.
Jinki, ever the kind man, didn’t judge and disappeared into the kitchen. Luhan chanced a glance at the customer, taking immediate notice of his attractive side profile. He wore a long-sleeved, red and black plaid shirt, a pair of black jeans, and a snapback of the same color.
“First time here?” The words tumbled out before Luhan could stop himself.
The guy looked towards him, expression indecipherable. “Yes,” he said after a few seconds’ hesitation.
“Came alone? Waiting for friends?” Luhan asked, daring to push his luck of conversation.
Jinki returned with the iced tea. He answered after Jinki left. “My friends are playing tonight and they dragged me here because they found out I’ve never been to a bar.”
“Are they the first act?”
“Second.”
“The Beagles?”
The guy’s eyes widened. “How’d you know?”
“They always perform second on Wednesdays and Saturdays.”
“You perform here, too?”
“My bandmates and I are the third act on Tuesdays and Fridays. Come see us sometime if you think bars are your thing?”
“Sometime” happened a week later, when Luhan strolled into Halcyon with his bandmates and he spotted the same guy with the black snapback sitting by the bar. He seemed by himself again, if not talking to the other person beside him was any indication. He was toying with the straw of his iced tea while sucking on the lemon slice that came with it.
“Have bars become your thing?” Luhan asked in jest upon approaching him.
The guy let out a sheepish chuckle. “Not really. My cousin has a gig here today, and he needed an audience.”
“Oh.”
“I also remembered it was Tuesday.”
Luhan nodded-until the words fully sunk in, and his mouth fell open.
“Oh.”
“You sing very well.”
Snapback Boy, as Luhan had nicknamed him, never failed to visit Halycon on Tuesdays and Fridays since then. He also never failed in complimenting Luhan after every performance. Chatting after the band had packed up turned into a regular thing between them, which Luhan always looked forward to.
“Nah; I’m just lucky I can carry a tune,” Luhan said, albeit pleased.
“If you can dance, you could have a future as an idol.”
“I’m not a good dancer.”
“I could teach you.”
“So you’re a dancer?”
Snapback Boy dropped his eyes to the ice cubes in his glass, suddenly bashful. “I’m not like my relatives and friends who can sing or play instruments. Dancing is where my interest lies. I love it. I plan to have a career related to it.”
“Hypothetically, if I became an idol and you a choreographer, we could work together if my company hires you.” Luhan released a short laugh. “I’d probably be a nightmare to work with, though.”
“Don’t worry, I’m a patient teacher; I can take anything unless you’re butchering my choreography on purpose.”
They dissolved into laughter, unmindful of the stares they’d pulled from around them.
“You’ve already heard me sing. Someday, I’d like to see you dance.”
The corners of Snapback Boy’s mouth curved upwards into a soft, beautiful smile. Butterflies erupted inside Luhan’s chest at the sight, stealing his breath away.
“Someday,” Snapback Boy promised. “Someday, you will.”
Rating: PG
Word Count: 940
Summary: Before he stood on grand stages and amassed thousands of fans, Luhan only had his dreams and a boy whose company he enjoyed.
Warning/s: None
The strum of the guitar slowed down; the mellow voice tapered off after the final line was sung. A beat of silence passed, and the audience broke out into vigorous applause. Luhan mumbled his thanks into the mic and bowed. He exchanged high-fives with his bandmates, then packed up and collected their pay for the night. Everyone had different plans after the gig, so they split up at the bus stop with the promise of contacting each other for details about the next rehearsal.
Once home, Luhan indulged himself with a late dinner of Shin Ramyun and store-bought samgak kimbap while streaming the latest episode of the crime drama he’d been following. He almost choked on the noodles at the unbelievable plot twist, followed by an indignant shout at the cliffhanger ending.
Music filled the apartment as Luhan washed the dishes and took a shower. The JJ Lin- and Jay Chou-dominated playlist transported him back to a time when he would be alone in his room at the high school dorm, lounging in bed and listening to them sing about love, life, and happiness. A time when his only worries were pop quizzes and solving math problems; allowance running out before the end of the week and finding the right words to turn down a girl’s heartfelt confession.
A time when life was simpler because his path was already laid out before him-all he had to do was take it.
Luhan squeezed his eyes shut and used more force than usual into drying his hair as if it could dispel the memories. He gave up when his hands lost strength, and he expelled a heavy sigh in exchange.
A different artist’s song played this time, crooning about missing loved ones and wishing they were by their side right now.
Luhan sat slumped over the bar counter of Halcyon at past seven in the evening, a mug of draft beer cradled in one hand. His day at work had started out promising, but it took a hellish turn when a co-worker screwed up with their task and incurred the manager’s wrath. Combined with the difficult customers and their impossible demands, Luhan couldn’t wait for the day to end.
“You okay there?” Jinki, the bartender, asked in a gentle tone.
Luhan righted himself with a small smile. “Yeah, just a little tired.” He knocked back his drink when somebody occupied the stool beside him and ordered an iced tea.
Jinki, ever the kind man, didn’t judge and disappeared into the kitchen. Luhan chanced a glance at the customer, taking immediate notice of his attractive side profile. He wore a long-sleeved, red and black plaid shirt, a pair of black jeans, and a snapback of the same color.
“First time here?” The words tumbled out before Luhan could stop himself.
The guy looked towards him, expression indecipherable. “Yes,” he said after a few seconds’ hesitation.
“Came alone? Waiting for friends?” Luhan asked, daring to push his luck of conversation.
Jinki returned with the iced tea. He answered after Jinki left. “My friends are playing tonight and they dragged me here because they found out I’ve never been to a bar.”
“Are they the first act?”
“Second.”
“The Beagles?”
The guy’s eyes widened. “How’d you know?”
“They always perform second on Wednesdays and Saturdays.”
“You perform here, too?”
“My bandmates and I are the third act on Tuesdays and Fridays. Come see us sometime if you think bars are your thing?”
“Sometime” happened a week later, when Luhan strolled into Halcyon with his bandmates and he spotted the same guy with the black snapback sitting by the bar. He seemed by himself again, if not talking to the other person beside him was any indication. He was toying with the straw of his iced tea while sucking on the lemon slice that came with it.
“Have bars become your thing?” Luhan asked in jest upon approaching him.
The guy let out a sheepish chuckle. “Not really. My cousin has a gig here today, and he needed an audience.”
“Oh.”
“I also remembered it was Tuesday.”
Luhan nodded-until the words fully sunk in, and his mouth fell open.
“Oh.”
“You sing very well.”
Snapback Boy, as Luhan had nicknamed him, never failed to visit Halycon on Tuesdays and Fridays since then. He also never failed in complimenting Luhan after every performance. Chatting after the band had packed up turned into a regular thing between them, which Luhan always looked forward to.
“Nah; I’m just lucky I can carry a tune,” Luhan said, albeit pleased.
“If you can dance, you could have a future as an idol.”
“I’m not a good dancer.”
“I could teach you.”
“So you’re a dancer?”
Snapback Boy dropped his eyes to the ice cubes in his glass, suddenly bashful. “I’m not like my relatives and friends who can sing or play instruments. Dancing is where my interest lies. I love it. I plan to have a career related to it.”
“Hypothetically, if I became an idol and you a choreographer, we could work together if my company hires you.” Luhan released a short laugh. “I’d probably be a nightmare to work with, though.”
“Don’t worry, I’m a patient teacher; I can take anything unless you’re butchering my choreography on purpose.”
They dissolved into laughter, unmindful of the stares they’d pulled from around them.
“You’ve already heard me sing. Someday, I’d like to see you dance.”
The corners of Snapback Boy’s mouth curved upwards into a soft, beautiful smile. Butterflies erupted inside Luhan’s chest at the sight, stealing his breath away.
“Someday,” Snapback Boy promised. “Someday, you will.”