Colorful lights splashed down the path. Too many to count the sound of the rhythm of the dancing music coming from all directions to the point where I couldn't tell if it was a song or just some random beat playing at the same time. The rhythm of my heart still beat and trembled to the rhythm of the sound. Those loud sounds continued so frequently that it felt like he wanted to jump out and jam along with those songs.

The tall figure continued walking. His eyes scanned the buildings and houses that were the same as before. But it's different in that the atmosphere changes with almost every building being decorated to stand out from the building next to or opposite as much as possible. Of course, everyone loves to be the center of attention and attention. The decorations of the shop buildings during the New Year did not bring any surprise to the tall man. He had seen them since childhood. From the excitement at that age, until now, it had only become curiosity.

What is this year's trend? And how can those building owners decorate their buildings to match the trend but be different? But it's difficult. It was almost the same in every shop in the area where he walked.

This year, the minimalist or loft style might be popular, a tall figure thought. He turned off the main road into a narrow alley that was inserted between two large buildings. Even though this alley was narrow, it was still crowded. With people, music, lights and the smell of cigarettes.

Even though he is addicted to the smell of cigarettes, he won't deny it because it always relaxes him. A tall figure walked in and stopped in front of a large building. The sound of the music playing loudly sounded like when we play music loudly on our phones and put it in a sealed box. It was like those rhythms were compressed and ready to explode.

A slender hand pushed open the black metal door and entered with all his might, not caring who he would enter. He weaved himself through the crowd, moving himself to the rhythm of the music, as if he had forgotten his other mask. After leaving this building, he would be a different person, with a glass of wine being held high above his head even by himself. Still afraid it might spill into his hair, he reached into his coat and narrowed his eyes.

He looked intently at the group of people he had arranged. It wasn't easy finding someone in a place where there was only dim, eye-aching light and unconscious people crowding him like this.

“Damn!” the tall man exclaimed. If a voice of this level came out of his mouth while outside, everyone on the street would turn and stare.

"Newt, you're late." The young man's deep voice sounded like he was drunk. But it would not be possible to say that he was fully conscious either, not only the voice came through to him but also the body of the owner of the voice. A hand on the shoulder of the person being called Newt.

"Min, don't you ever greet me like that again." Newt grabbed his friend's arm and turned to face him.

"If I don't greet you, will you see me? We're all sitting over there." Min started to stumble, raising his right arm and pointing back in the direction Newt had just walked. Newt looked at Min's index finger, where the tip of the finger fell to the ground and her body staggered towards him, so much so that he had to use his other hand for support.

"It's so easy to get drunk. Let's go back to the table."

"I'm not drunk. I'm telling the truth. If I was drunk, I wouldn't have walked up to you. I'm still here." Min smiled softly.

“Yes,” Newt replied, wrapping his arm around his friend's neck and returning to the table. The friends he had arranged to meet seemed to have all arrived and Newt dropped Min onto the cushion. He personally took off his coat and placed it on the armrest. He sat down next to Min. Sigh slowly. His right slender hand smoothed the hair that was in front of his face.

“No, I'm really late for every event,” his friend Gal greeted.

"Oh, there's a lot of work," Newt replied. He looked around the table looking for his favorite item.

“All,” Alby, his other friend, said after seeing the thirst in his friend's eyes.

“Dammit, isn't Ben here yet?” Newt asked.

"That one is harder than yours. Not every job, every job," Gal said and put a handful of potato chips into his mouth.

“Our guys fell behind three times and worked like they couldn't keep up with their debts,” added Alby.

“Let's say that Ben, you guys are the same.” Min picked herself up, elbowed herself on the table, and used her hands to massage and relax her temples.

“Sae Keng” Kal threw snacks at him.

“Damn! Food!” Min complained. Eyebrows pressed together

“You bastards, go smoke a cigarette, Newt,” Alby stood up.

"Come along," Newt stood up and followed.

“Oh, leave us alone,” Gal blurted out.

“Well, we'll come soon,” Newt replied, leading the way, followed by Alby, both of them walking out into the large square next to the shop. Luckily, people here weren't as crowded as inside.

“How is your life these days?” Newt asked his friend. He leaned his back against the wall of the shop and pulled a cigarette out of his pocket and lit Alby as well. They both breathed out a relaxed puff of toxic smoke before Alby cleared his throat and lowered his cigarette in response to Newt.

"The work is going well, and I have money to use, that's good. How about you?" Alby asked, then picked up his cigarette and continued smoking.

"It's like my head is spinning. Work has been a bit tight lately. After the New Year's break, I have to go up north to be a seminar representative again." Newt sighed heavily.

“Fight it, life is like this. Consider coming tonight to find something relaxing.”

"Well, if I find it, I won't let it go tonight." Newt put down his cigarette and smiled.

"I'm going to the bathroom for a moment. Don't be a disaster."

"..." Newt nodded. Then continue smoking Alby walks away.

The tall figure blew out toxic smoke over and over until he withdrew it with his last breath and let the cigarette stick fall from between his index and middle fingers. He moved and used his left foot to crush it until it was extinguished. ground The tall figure leaned back. His head leaned against the shop wall again, his face raised and his eyes closed. Raise your hands and fold your arms over your chest.

The sound here was so soft that he found it a bit strange because after having to endure the loud noise for many hours, when he finally found a place where he could rest his listening senses, he was quite relaxed. The tall man opened his eyes but his face was still looking up at the sky. Today there were especially a lot of stars. He could look at them without feeling bored at all.

Letting his thoughts flow without worry for even ten minutes makes him feel reborn, especially after smoking a cigarette of his favorite brand. It's quite good.

“Brother, can I borrow a lighter?” someone's voice sounded beside him. Newt lowered his face and turned towards the source of the voice standing next to him. If he were this close, he wouldn't have bothered to reach out. Newt thought after he estimated that the distance between the people next to him was probably less than half a ruler.

"..." Newt didn't answer and moved a bit further away.

For him, no matter how we know each other, the distance when talking like this must be more or less, but this distance is just something to talk about. Another thing is that the less distance, the better.

"Um, I got too close to you, right? Okay, sorry." The boy bowed his head.

"Um," Newt nodded.

“Uh, can I borrow a lighter?” The boy continued with the same question, but if Newt wasn't blind like the boy, he would have added a mischievous glint in his eyes or he hadn't noticed the first time. That's what the kid asked.

"What's your name?" Newt asked.

“Me?” The young man frowned. Tilt gently to the right. questioning question

Newt didn't reply, he just crossed his arms over his chest and looked deep into the boy's eyes to reinforce what he had asked.

“Thomas, why do you want to know? Or are you afraid I'm going to poke your lighter? No, I can just let you light it right here.”

"Listen Thomas, listen to me. If you don't approach things like you don't blindly approach other people like this, then it's hard to think well of you," Newt said.

"..." There was no response. If we could add sound effects like in the movie, we would have to raise the sound. Ga-ga-ga for the current atmosphere. Of course, the solemn expression, beautiful eyebrows furrowed together, more serious than this, it must be time for the Prime Minister to make a statement. Believe it or not, anyone will be stunned.

"Hey," Newt waved his hand.

"Ha ha, yes. Well, I don't borrow it anymore, that's fine." Thomas bowed his head.

"No, I won't lend it to you. Just tell me, here it is." Newt pulled out a lighter from his pants pocket. Then he handed it to Thomas, but he just looked up but didn't hold out his hand to receive it.

“If you don't mind, please help me spot it,” Thomas said and raised the thing in his hand even higher. Of course, it was the same height as the figure in front of him. If it were in a novel, it would be the feeling of a small figure standing eye to eye with a tall figure.

“..." Newt just nodded and lit it down.

“Thank you very much. My friend must be very happy. He likes to tell me that if handsome people hold the cake or light it, it will mark the beginning of a good new life for him.” Thomas smiles widely. His innocent eyes stared back at the tall figure in front of him, sincerely thanking him.

Newt felt self-conscious about how long he hadn't received a stare that wasn't complex or suggestive, causing him to stare to determine its sincerity.

"Um...So, are you here to surprise your friend?" Newt asked.

"Yes, in just a few minutes there will be fireworks, right? We want it to be like the feeling of blowing out a cake at the last minute of the year. I'm envious of people born on the last day of the year. What is the first day of the year like this? It must feel really special.” Thomas said, his expression looking like a child just getting ready to see a new world or something like that.

How long had Newt's life been this lackluster?

“Is it true that we organized a surprise for our friend by ourselves?” Newt asked.

“No, I just have a duty to hide and carry the cake. A friend told me That I'm not good at lying, they're afraid the plan will fail. He also told me not to let the cake slip away. What do you think? Humans can never be that clumsy, right? I can't help but feel hurt by my friends. They like to buy me snacks."

I swear, this kid hasn't been repressing his words for years to let him explode, Newt thought.

"Then would you like me to carry it for you?" Newt said.

“Is it true? Oh my god, that's awesome. I already have it. It might be my friend's favorite present.”

“Do you say that and tie me up with a red ribbon?” Newt joked, his signature smile curling his lips. Then stretch out your hand to pick up the cake box and hold it instead. You have to be gentle because these tiny lights will all be extinguished.

“Is that right? I'm going to run to the chef.” Thomas laughed.

“But what do you want us to do in exchange?” Newt said, his eyes meeting the other's.

“Sure,” Thomas responded.

“When you're finished, can you sit with me for a while?”

“Hm, that is…” Thomas' eyebrows furrowed together. I've never been asked for anything like this before.

"Just talk. I don't know. You can't force me. You can go or not. What about your age?" Newt asked.

"Me? I'm 20 this year." Thomas pointed a finger at himself.

"Okay, no minors," Newt said softly.

"Huh, what kind of young person? I can't hear well," Thomas asked.

"Nothing, just take me or we won't have time to surprise you," Newt said.

Thomas nodded and led him back inside.

“How are you? Are my friends cute?” Thomas asked as they walked back out into the courtyard next to the shop. There were still fewer people than usual here, which was a good thing. After Thomas asked Newt, a person he didn't know, to help carry a cake to surprise one of his friends, it turned out that it wasn't just one person's surprise, but it turned out to be a surprise for the whole group. Thomas knew that it was going astray, but the plan didn't turn out any better than expected. Even his friends in the group even dragged him away to gossip about him and Newt having something to do with each other. Oh my gosh, why do our friends only think about these things? Thomas thought.

“Good, my friend is nice,” Newt replied. The two of them walked over and sat down on a bench. It looked like someone had just gotten up because the butt of a lit cigarette was still on the leg of the chair. Newt crushed it with his foot. Then he sat down, followed by Thomas.

“I apologize on behalf of my friends. I secretly saw that there were a lot of people asking for your contact.” The irritated voice of the person next to him made Newt feel uncomfortable. He had never met someone who apologized so cutely before.

"Oh no, I'm not playing anything. I only have my phone number and I haven't given it to anyone," Newt replied.

“I'm really sorry.”

Newt just nodded but didn't reply.

“Brother, do you want to go dancing?” Thomas said.

"..." Newt turned around and stared into the eyes of the person next to him.

"You don't look like you've ever danced before. Come on, let me teach you." The small figure gave him a pleading look.

Damn it, damn it. Will the child know that if she does this, a heart like his can't resist?

“No, I'm really not good at it,” Newt replied, noting that he had never danced in his entire life. And then to have me dance with someone I don't know, probably not.

“Come on, hyung, how can I repay you? You don't know me, but you still helped me carry a cake to surprise my friend. Plus I'll light the lighter for you. Don't be shy. We don't know each other. I don't know you. I only know your name, I won't tell anyone."

“Well, it's not like we're going to tell anyone. But who else will come to see us? Do you understand me?”

“On a day like this, no one is paying attention to anyone. It's a new year and let's do something new. Look, even the colors of the fireworks are different. Don't do the same thing over and over again. Come, come with me.” Thomas grabbed the tall figure's wrist and stood up. Newt was still sitting, unable to get up from the pull of the small figure in front of him, looking at his wrist that was being held by the other person. with the sight that was sent

Deciding on a group wasn't that difficult, Newt thought.

“Wait, what does the firework color have to do with it?” Newt asked the small figure in front of him, using his other hand to hold over the hand of the small figure holding his wrist.

"I don't know. Haha. I only got a few connection subjects, haha." Thomas scratched his head softly.

Damn the kids these days, especially those who don't deal with things like this very often, like they don't know how to go about it at all.

"Let's go. Every once in a while, we can find a hidden corner if you're really embarrassed," Thomas said to the tall figure in front of him.

"Do you know what you're talking about?" Newt stood up and loosened the hand that was holding the other and himself holding the other. Then changed to holding the hand of the figure in front of him and placing it on his chest, the other arm quickly managed to wrap the figure's back closer to him. The distance? He doesn't want it anymore. Newt tightened his arms around him. The body in his arms tensed up. Thomas dared to look up at the person in front of him, so bold that he lowered his head. In fact, it didn't even take a second before he dared to look up at the person in front of him.

Newt bent down again, the tip of his nose nuzzling into the small man's hair, which smelled insanely sweet. Smells like candy. Will it all be delicious? Thomas, who was locked up, knew that his entire face was as red as a gourd's, and he also knew that his body temperature must not be normal, even more so that his heartbeat was about to jump out and beat. It was more than confusing, he should be afraid that a stranger would suddenly attack him like this.

It was as if his subconscious had created a huge storm. Damn it, damn it. The only thing he was praying for right now was that the sound of the fireworks and music would drown out the sound of his own heartbeat. It would be a bit exaggerated if the other party could hear it. But if the tall figure in front of him could feel the wet sweat from their hands holding each other, it wouldn't be difficult to guess his uncontrollable emotions right now.

“Your cheeks are as red as the light, you know that?” Newt bent down again, the tip of his high nose touching his earlobe. Warm breath felt at the small figure's neck. It was released with words that made him almost stop breathing.

Thomas didn't utter a word in response. Sometimes the questions didn't seem like they needed an answer.

"You warned us not to say anything that would make you think. Did you know that our careless gestures were just causing us to fall into this trap?" Newt shifted his face upwards, resting his cheeks. Leaning gently on the other's head, he inhaled the sweet scent of the candy into his lungs. It drives him crazy.

“I...can't dance. May I sit down?” Thomas gathered his wits and said to the tall figure in front of him. If he didn't protest at all, he would probably be like iron being forged by a hot furnace. In fact, if the tall figure in front of him didn't hold him so tightly, he might fall to his knees like he did in the drama.

“No, a good kid has to keep his word, you know. Teach me how to dance like I told you to, and I will send the good girl to bed myself.”

The tall figure doesn't let the rhythm get stuck. He seized the opportunity to occupy the space of those plump, red lips until the little man himself, who was barely conscious of himself, felt like he had been completely stripped of his consciousness. He didn't feel any sympathy at all. Damn it, fuck it, but he might really be dead.