𝑩𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒍 //𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒚 𝑲𝒊𝒅𝒔 𝑭𝑭//

~𝟱𝟴~

"All right, is everyone ready to go?"

A mess of sad noises and sighs echoed out through the kitchen and living room at Chan's question, neither the boys nor me ready to leave yet. A sad pout was spread on my and Jeongin's lips. But we all knew that we would have to leave. So we all packed our stuff into the same car we drove from the airport with. As the boys started piling into the car, I looked over my shoulder once more, the glittering blue water seeming to flow into me, leaving a feeling of melancholy and longing behind as it washed away again.

I'll forever cherish the memories I made here, I thought. I smiled sadly before turning back towards the car, finding Lee Know standing by the door waiting for me. I went up to him, taking his hands in mine and smiling up at him. He smiled back down at me, his smile tender. He gave my hand a quick squeeze before I climbed into the car, trying not to seem suspicious. Lee Know scooted in next to me, closing the door behind him. Then we were off, the long journey back home looming in front of us.

...

As we stood and waited for Chan and Changbin to return the car, we all just stood in the terminal. I watched as a little girl walked past me, smiling and waving at me. I waved back, sending her a small smile. I remembered how it felt to be that young, not a care in the world. Before everything got so complicated.

And yet, in that moment I wouldn't have had it any other way. I watched as Lee Know made jokes with Jeongin and Han, all three of them smiling brightly. It made me smile as well. Lee Know looked at me, and I sent him a small wave. Just as I did, I noticed Felix coming to stand next to me, my body going rigid. He looked in the same direction I did before turning to me.

"So, who were you waving at?" he asked nonchalantly, his deep voice as soothing as ever, with just a hint of the smirk on his lips bleeding into his words.

"Oh, a little girl walked past. She waved at me so I waved back. She was so cute," I said, hoping my white lie didn't shine through. I knew what I was saying wasn't what he was talking about, but I had to try.

"No, not that. Just now, before I came to stand with you. You waved at someone."

"Oh...I-"

By the wonders of luck, Chan and Changbin had just returned when I was about to lie again, saving me from embarrassment. They gathered us so we could move to the boarding gate, and I was all too happy to get out of the uncomfortable situation I had gotten myself into. But I was sure Felix would not just forget about what he saw, and I got the feeling he would be asking a lot more questions.

...

As we boarded the plane, the situation was exactly the same as when we boarded the flight to the Maldives. Seungmin, Han and Felix took the first three seats we had booked, then Chan and Lee Know the next two, and Hyunjin and Jeongin after them. I was talking with Changbin when I stopped in front of Lee Know's seat again, just like the previous time. However this time I didn't walk past him. I slid into the seat next to him, giving both him and Chan a smile.

Lee Know's knee pressed up against mine, a rush of goose bumps spreading on my skin. I quickly buckled up and got my book out of my bag that was underneath the seat in front of me, trying to distract myself and seem as inconspicuous as possible. I saw Lee Know move his hand onto his thigh out of the corner of my eye, my legs tensing up. But just as I thought he was about to put his hand on my leg, the flight attendant came down the aisle, explaining the safety measures for the flight. I closed my book and listened intently; my eyes focused on her.

Lee Know slowly brushed his fingers across the back of my hand, making more goose bumps rise on my arms. He gently slipped my hand into his, and a slight smile spread on my lips at the tingly feeling from his touch. And I realised that it was just what I needed. His touch brought a calm wave over my heart and mind, soothing me like only he had ever been able to. I gave his hand a soft squeeze before focusing my mind back on what the flight attendant was saying.