#and they are both not exactly enthused about following the path laid out for them

[kinokoshoujoart]

the coolest kids in forgotten valley!!☆

(…it seems there may have been a stretch of time where rock and lumina were the only kids in forgotten valley…🥲)

poseref

[prettywordsyouleft]

The Handsome Stranger

Summary: Escaping the daily grind for a mountain resort with your best friend was already exhilarating enough. You weren’t prepared for the handsome stranger you crossed paths with along the way to become more than that during your stay.

Pairing: Brian Kang x reader (ft. Day6)

Genre: strangers to lovers au / fluff

Warnings: none

Word count: 4949

Tapping the steering wheel in beat to the music playing around your car, you shot your best friend Lana a smile as you both sang along to the song energetically. The morning sun was out, the promise of your weekend getaway being blessed with good weather. You were more than ready to escape the city into the mountains for the next three days over the long weekend. What more could you need than good company, the beautiful nature surrounding you and sunny weather?

Pulling to a stop at the intersection that would lead you onto the highway out of the city, your spirits were growing the closer your vehicle got to the city border. To leave the stress behind and mindfully get back in touch with yourself. It had been a long time since you had reached inside yourself to have a chat and you were already feeling more at ease knowing you didn’t have to go to work today like usual for a Friday.

“Y/N, I think those guys next to us are trying to get your attention,” Lana mentioned suddenly and you looked out of your window, winding it down when the passenger smiled at you graciously.

Oh boy, what a smile.

“Hey, I’m really sorry to do this but we are in the wrong lane. We want to go straight, all cool if we jump in front of you?”

Nodding, you smiled back. “Sure, go ahead.”

The attractive stranger grinned at you and the other members on board of the kombi van shouted in gratitude. The lights changed green and they moved in front of your car before you followed after them. Not only did they flash their hazard lights in a quick thanks, but the passenger also leaned around his open window and waved generously.

Well, you didn’t normally experience such kindness on the road and this only helped boost your feel-good mood.

And Lana’s teasing commentary. “He was totally making eyes at you.”

“Lana they just needed to get in front of us, that’s all,” you countered, feeling your heart beat a little faster than it should. “There were no eyes being made.”

“Uh-huh, well yours certainly soaked all of him in. I’ve never heard you sound so sweet when driving, ever.”

“Normally because all I’m faced with are assholes cutting me off around this city,” you told her, scrunching your nose up at her continued teasing. However, you couldn’t stop smiling and even you knew you were failing at convincing her otherwise. “I’m a nice person when others are.”

“Well, he seemed really nice for you to be the way you are now. I wonder if there will be guys like them at the mountain spa resort?”

Laughing, you shook your head. “Lana, we’re going to the mountains for some self-care and getting in touch with ourselves, not for boyfriend prospects.”

“Who says we can’t do both?” Lana retorted with a smirk, nudging you playfully now that you were up on the motorway. The kombi van was just up ahead and you eyed it apprehensively.

You had to admit, if you got another chance to meet the attractive stranger, you only hoped it wasn’t as brief as your first encounter.

“Oh my god, Y/N, look!” Lana breathed, gripping onto your lower arm as she pointed. Shooting her a look to let go so you could navigate the parking lot of the resort, you glanced in the direction she was pointing at briefly.

There was the van.

You had lost it on your travels, having followed them for some time as the drive wound up into the mountains. Pulling off to stop for lunch, you had resigned yourself to the fact they were probably taking the summit pass to get to the other side where a lot of people would go this time of the year. There was a music festival next weekend and you assumed most would make a camping venture out of it, heading over the week before to set up and get the early bird perks.

As you found a parking space, you eyed the van with renewed hope. What were the odds of bumping into them here?

Lana echoed your thoughts. “I can’t believe they’re here!”

“Doesn’t mean anything,” you attempted to tell her and Lana rolled her eyes at you as she grabbed her luggage trunk from the back of the car. You placed a hand on your hip, cocking your head to the side. “What, it doesn’t!”

“You basically drooled over him.”

“I did not!”

“I’m saying this is a sign and you are going to listen to it, Y/N,” Lana announced, rolling her luggage towards the front entrance. You were quick to grab your things to follow Lana inside, checking into your room and marvelling over the view outside the large windows. You soon forgot all about any niggling signs and focused on taking in your first deep breath since leaving the city. This was exactly what you needed. To the left you could see the forest edge, greenery ascending all the way up the mountains. To the right was a rushing river that separated undulating hills and further forestry. And below you were the hot springs that had attracted you here in the first place.

Lana breathed in slowly. “Wow, you were right. This place is perfect.”

“Shall we go out to one of the pools before dinner to unwind from our travels?”

She nodded happily. “I put on my bathing suit before we left our lunch pit stop.”

It wasn’t long until you were submerged in tranquillity. The water temperature was just right, soothing any aches you had as the stress melted away from your body. You could spend all weekend in and out of these pools and you knew it would be worth the travel coming here.

“Wow, fancy meeting you here,” a voice announced and you snapped your eyes open, staring up into the face of one handsome man.

Specifically, your favourite stranger. You tried to remain calm, though it was a little difficult to do with Lana now not so subtlety pinching your lower arm.

“Oh, they’re the girls who let us in earlier, right?” another recognised, grinning at you both as he slung an arm to rest on the first guy. You realised he was the driver and the three others that stopped beside them were the ones in the back. There had been a time on the highway where you were both side by side and they had been hollering things out of the window, the tall, lanky one moving forward first.

“This pool open for more guests?”

Lana nodded in delight. “Please, it’s like we know you already.”

“You know, I got that feeling as well,” he enthused with a lazy grin, gesturing for the others to get in.

Somehow, you were now next to your handsome stranger and hopefully not as affected on the outside as you were feeling internally. The heat in the spring pool had definitely risen and you were worried that you might pass out if you didn’t start breathing properly.

He smiled that ever-charming smile at you a moment later. “Thanks for letting us in.”

“It was no problem, it’s not often people ask before they cut you off.”

He chuckled. “Technically we didn’t but I appreciate it all the same. I’m Brian.”

“Y/N.”

“And I’m Lana,” your best friend introduced. You soon learned that Sungjin had been driving, Jae was the one who had gotten in the pool first and Wonpil and Dowoon were the other two from the back seat. The conversation was natural, flowing from one topic to the other. You had been right that they were travelling for the music festival, but not for their reason behind it.

“You’re playing there?”

“Yeah, we’re kind of a band,” Jae mentioned with another lazy smile and Sungjin chuckled.

“We’re more than kind of a band, though we’re still making a name for ourselves.”

“Day-Six,” Lana repeated from their band name announcement and then grinned. “Did you recently play at the Saturday Band Jam?”

Wonpil gasped and nodded. “You know of us?”

“I was there! Your music is good! It’s a shame Y/N didn’t come with me that night,” she said, shooting you a pressing look. You smiled firmly.

“I don’t do crowds,” you muttered, feeling your cheeks heat up again. “I did hear your music was apparently good though.”

“None of this apparently, Y/N. We are good,” Brian insisted and you smiled lightly at his response. He was self-assured, and that only seemed to charm you further. “Maybe we could play for you sometime.”

“As in a private concert?” Lana asked, already nodding. “I’m so down for that.”

“Well then, how long are you both here for? We leave Sunday afternoon but could do something small tomorrow night, right guys?” Dowoon offered and you hesitated as the others all agreed unanimously. This was supposed to be your getting in touch with your inner feelings and becoming one with nature getaway. Nowhere in the itinerary had you planned for an impromptu performance. Then again, when you set out this morning, you hadn’t been expecting to meet any of them, let alone be soaking in a hot water pool together. Maybe there was something about their presence that you needed to accept into your stay.

Lana answered on your behalf. “We’ll definitely be keen, right Y/N?”

“Of course.”

True to Lana’s form, early mornings weren’t her kind of thing. You knew she would use the free hours to sleep in and you left her to it after getting changed into your off-road sneakers and active clothing. Figuring you had about two hours to yourself before meeting Lana in the breakfast hall, you left her a note and pocketed your phone and card key before stepping out into the early morning. Following one of the set tracks into the forest, you checked the sign for the length before briskly picking up your pace, walking over the damp forest floor bed. It smelt incredible in here and you smiled to yourself.

This was what you had been dreaming of ever since you found the brochure to this place. You liked nature walks; it was the best kind of soulful exercise. You not only got the blood pumping, but you nurtured what laid deep down inside you. It connected you with your breathing, clearing away any niggling doubts you had as you spoke of your troubles to the trees around you.

“You know, I don’t think they can hear you.”

Turning to a side pathway, you saw Brian there and he lifted his hand in greeting. You pursed your lips together and continued on with your walk. “Who are you to say they can’t?”

“Ooh, a firm believer in this huh? I like it.”

“We need to stop meeting like this,” you mentioned as Brian fell into step at your side. You didn’t want to add on the reason why. Even in active clothing, he was too handsome for his own good.

Before sleeping last night, you had convinced yourself to not fall for his charms anymore. There was nothing worrisome about him as a person, Brian seemed kind, approachable and could talk about anything, that much you had learned. And he wasn’t just the type to only want to hear himself talk, he had encouraged you to converse with him in the dining hall last night, his expressions genuine as he listened to you. Something that was a rare treat from all the guys you had the displeasure of spending the majority of your working week with at the office.

But he was just someone you met whilst travelling. You had no idea where he called home, if he was even from your city. And after this weekend, he was travelling further whilst you were returning home. It was silly really, but you craved stability and the life of a musician seemed to be on the road.

Plus, you were certain he was just being friendly. And you were definitely getting ahead of yourself in thinking there could be anything more than that.

“Like this?” he repeated, raising his arms to the canopy above. “You mean, we’ve met more than once in a forest like this?”

You smiled, shaking your head a little. “I’ll start to think you might have an agenda.”

“Oh really?” he mused, grinning all too widely at you. “My early morning run through here just happened to coincide with your early morning walk. Though, perhaps knowing you were coming out here this morning, I had wondered if we would chance meeting like this. Seems like it was worth giving up the extra sleep.”

“So you did plan it,” you replied with a laugh and Brian sighed dramatically.

“Guilty as charged.” His smile eased and he glanced at you tentatively. “Maybe you don’t appreciate the company? I was almost going to head back to the resort, but then I heard you and thought I’d be a better sounding board than the trees.”

“I’ve never heard the trees be so chatty when I’m out among them.”

“I bet they don’t know what to say to help you with knowing whether you should go back to your job on Monday, though, Y/N.”

You flushed with colour. “You heard that?”

“Stressed a lot, huh?”

You nodded softly. “Just a bit.”

“Maybe you need to make some changes.”

“Brian, I’m not going to quit my job. Even if I voiced it, I’ll be at work on Monday. It’s just what I’m like.”

“I meant, you could try changing what is stressing you out at work so you can feel more at peace within the environment. Have you ever told your boss just how much he relies on you?”

There was no point being embarrassed now, he had clearly heard it all. Letting out a sigh as you approached a root growing over the path, you were surprised when Brian took your hand and helped you over it. When you were on the other side, he let you go and you almost reached back out for his hand. You liked the warmth, the way he guided you in that moment. Looking up at Brian, he held no qualms in staring back at you. You smiled. “No, I haven’t.”

“Well, I’m not all that sure what good the advice of a stranger is compared to that of the trees,” he started in jest and you rolled your eyes, inwardly rejoicing when he offered you his hand to get over more overgrown debris on the path. “But I think advocating for yourself little by little might just get you further respect.”

“Maybe I’ll try that.”

“You should,” he agreed and shared another smile with you. It was then that you realised you hadn’t let go of his hand and you fumbled with forming a sentence before he cut you off. “I bet the trees can’t hold your hand either. But don’t worry, I don’t mind doing so.”

So, your plan of not allowing Brian any more free real estate up in your brain was a failure. After the walk, you had met up with the others for breakfast and then headed out towards the river this time, exploring together as a group. There was definitely more hand-holding, exchanging of smiles and you were certain your heart had begun swooning. Now he wasn’t your attractive stranger at all.

Instead, you were balancing on a fine line between friendship and wanting to kiss him. In fact, you had spent more than a considerable amount of your afternoon staring at his lips, and given how much he was talking, there had been some logical reason to it. However, you couldn’t deny that at some points you had no idea what he had been saying.

And he had been all too accommodating in repeating himself, the ghost of his smile alerting you that he knew why you hadn’t been listening as well.

You weren’t just with Brian though. You spent a lot of your time conversing with Sungjin over recipes you both enjoyed and Wonpil was the sweetest thing ever. You were close to wanting to adopt him and a couple of kittens just to watch them play together. Dowoon had led you all astray multiple times in his impromptu directions and Jae, aside from his dry commentary, well, he was the one you knew the least about.

Considering how wrapped up Lana was with him, you knew she would fill you in on all that you didn’t know tonight back in your room.

The trip out was eventually ended when Jae protested that he came to relax, not work out and wanted to head back to the springs to recharge. With a few photos exchanged of the group, both with and without you and Lana in them, you headed back, all discussing what to have for dinner after the soak in the pool.

You could see the resort up ahead and smiled over at Brian, who winked at you. “Thought you liked the trees?”

“I’ve been among them long enough,” you mused and he nodded at you, his smile captivating you.

And was, no doubt, the reason for why you proceeded to trip over a stone in the pathway, all but face-planting in the fallen fir on the trail. The fall was soft physically, but you were embarrassed. Sure, you were falling for Brian, but you had hoped to be more graceful about it.

“Y/N, are you okay?!” Wonpil cried as Brian helped you up, another set of hands now on your other side. You were mortified, wishing for the ground to have swallowed you up instead. Attempting to step off, you groaned, feeling the way your ankle immediately gave out. Now, you couldn’t even escape as you had planned to.

You cursed your previous resolve of letting Brian enter more of your thoughts than you wanted him to.

Surprisingly, he didn’t say anything now. He was focused on helping you get back, perhaps aware of just how frustrated you were with yourself. You didn’t dare look up at anyone, mumbling a thank you at your room’s door, allowing Lana to help you inside.

You refused to go out to the pool with her.

As you wallowed in your self-pity at how stupid you had been, you decided that you had lost focus once again all because of Brian’s charming smile.

Of course, you were mature enough to realise he wasn’t at fault at all. It wasn’t his problem that his eyes were like dark chocolate, addictive just as his smile was. Intentional flirting or not, it was you who hadn’t been watching.

You had been falling well before you met the ground.

You did go down for dinner, smiling weakly at questions over how you felt and then focusing on your meal quietly thereafter. You felt bad for shutting off from everyone, but that was what you did. You were processing, trying to figure out how to repair your image or at least last out the rest of your time here before going back to the city tomorrow. Away from this place, far from Day6 as they moved onto their music festival and hopefully back into a place where you didn’t feel so out of your depth.

Getting in touch with yourself had come with more risks than you originally believed it to.

After dinner, you went back to your room whilst the others headed to the games room. They had tried to convince you but you were in a poor mood. You just wanted to rest your swollen ankle and watch television quietly in your room.

Brian had other ideas. Getting up to the knock at the door, you found him standing there in his swimming trunks and a towel over his shoulder. He grinned at you. “Come on, I’ll give you ten minutes to change.”

“What, why?” you wondered and then shook your head immediately. “I’m not going swimming, Brian. My leg hurts.”

“I know it does so let me make it right. You have nine minutes now.”

Blinking up at him, you groaned before turning around and shutting the door. Reappearing in your bathing suit, Brian pulled himself off the wall and grinned. “Wow, you listened to me. I half-thought maybe you had gone back to bed.”

“I wish I had,” you mumbled, accepting his help as you hobbled down to the lobby. Instead of taking you outside to the pools, Brian turned to a small pathway that wound around to the back of the building. You were confused. “Where are we going?”

“I rented a private pool. They have ones that have qualities that promote healing.”

“What, you didn’t have to-”

“You were going to avoid me for the rest of the stay, weren’t you?” he stated as he stopped in front of a door, checking the key he held for the number. Slotting it into the lock, Brian then glanced over at you. “I’m sorry I made you fall.”

“It’s not your fault that I’m clumsy, Brian.”

“But I was trying to charm you,” he admitted as he unlocked the door, ushering you inside before shutting it.

“You were what now?”

Brian rubbed at the back of his neck and then gestured at the pool. “Do you need help getting in?”

Nodding, you waited for him to get in front of you, easing you into the pool. With the dim lighting and the fact that it was just the two of you in here, along with Brian’s admission, well, your heart and mind were both racing. It was awfully romantic in here, and the way you looked at him seemed to make him feel questioned.

“I promise, I was only worried about healing your leg. Though, it is really cosy in here, huh?”

“Are you this smooth with every girl you meet?” you asked and Brian shrugged.

“Have you pegged me down as a typical musician who has a girl in each place he goes?”

“No,” you refuted and his smile grew. “I don’t think you’re like that but you definitely know how to make a girl swoon.”

“I could say the same about you,” he commented and you arched an eyebrow at him, Brian laughing as he nodded. “What, do you think this is all one-sided? I did just admit to trying to charm you. I mean, I’ve followed you around all day. Surely, you knew by now that I was interested, even a little.”

“Interest is one thing,” you mentioned, looking at your swollen ankle through the water. You couldn’t tell what it was, but the water did seem to feel like it was helping. Turning your focus back to Brian, you smiled. “But I’m not someone who moves this fast.”

“Sharing a pool together is too fast?” he teased and you couldn’t hide your amusement. Brian nodded. “I’m not in for a weekend fling, Y/N. Rest assured, I want to see more of you.”

“You do?”

“Of course. When I get back from the music festival, how about we meet up? I could take you on an actual date, where the guys aren’t around and it’s just us.”

You smiled, lifting a hand to the space you were in. “I mean, isn’t that what this is right now?”

“Well,” Brian murmured, inching closer and slinging his arm onto the tiled wall behind you. “I guess, now that you point that out, we are kind of on a date, right?”

He leaned in, lips almost brushing against yours when you whispered, “I don’t kiss on the first date.”

“Do you kiss on second ones?” he whispered back and you grinned, unable to control how giddy you felt right now. “Do I have to wait for a third or-”

You leaned in and pecked his cheek, stunning Brian into silence. Which you were pretty sure was kind of a feat to do. He looked dazed and you couldn’t help but giggle at how adorable he was right now. The sound of your laughter brought him out of his reverie and he gaped at you.

“I thought you said you don’t kiss on first dates.”

“I was giving you an early gift. You can collect your first kiss on our second date.”

“I’m holding you to that,” he confirmed, and you smiled, nestling into his embrace.

You couldn’t even feel the pain in your ankle now. This pool definitely had healing qualities about it.

Sunday morning arrived and you had possibly the best sleep this year. You didn’t want to admit it was because of how relaxed you felt before climbing into bed or the endearing dreams with Brian that followed you into your slumber, but you were feeling better than you had when you had set out on this journey.

And when you got up to go to the bathroom, you found that the swelling was at a bare minimum and your ankle didn’t even hurt to put weight through it anymore. That was some magical water you were in last night.

So, just as you had yesterday, you set off into the forest, taking the same pathway again. It was comfortable, even at your amble of a pace and you enjoyed soaking in the fresh air under the canopy of nature.

Today you didn’t speak to the trees. You simply smiled at them, enamoured by their size and grace. They stood tall and proud, and you found yourself mimicking this a little, confidence overwhelming you.

Or maybe that was from Brian.

The rest of the night in the pool had been spent talking over your lives, getting to know each other until you both couldn’t take the heat. You had returned to your room after, continuing with getting more acquainted. And whilst you had exuded a lot of control maintaining it was a kiss-free date, you naturally nestled against Brian on your bed at one point and you were sure his lips brushed over your hair then. You felt as if you had known him a whole lot longer than two days.

Which was why when you heard footsteps behind you, you broke out into a grin, not even needing to look to see who it was. “I just had a funny feeling I might catch you out here.”

“Well, you caught me,” you concluded as Brian fell into step at your side, not wasting any time in grabbing your hand. You shot him a look though you were all too pleased with his eagerness.

“I’m not letting you fall again today,” he told you as he held up your linked hands; though you could tell with the flush of colour to his cheeks, there was more behind it. You spent some of the walk in comfortable silence, looking up at him and then sighing. “Check out is at ten-thirty today. I realised you never got to play for us last night.”

“We were a little preoccupied,” he reminded and you nodded shyly. “Besides, we have time for that.”

“I guess we do,” you agreed, sharing another smile with him.

“So I was thinking just now,” he started, clearing his throat a little. “According to our rules last night, I believe this is our second date right now.”

“I was waiting for you to say that,” you admitted with a laugh, giving him an incredulous look. “What’s with you getting me in weird clothing items for dates? I don’t see how walking through a forest together seems like a prime date idea.”

“It is with you, who knows who you might end up talking to if I’m not here,” he humoured and you rolled your eyes, shunting him a little. Brian wasn’t ready for your action and lost his footing a little, stumbling on the track.

And since your hands were connected, you went with him. The tree behind you both stopped your fall this time, though you were acutely aware of how your hands were now braced against the bark of the tree, entrapping Brian in between your arms. He gave you a look before smirking. “Wow, Y/N, I didn’t know you moved so fast.”

“Are you okay?” you asked, ignoring his jest and Brian whined, reaching for his back. You lowered your arms so you could inspect his injury and it was enough for him to grab you and change places.

He pouted down at you. “Aren’t you going to kiss me better?”

“You sneak!” you exclaimed, shaking your head adamantly. “This isn’t a date.”

“Any time with you sure feels like one,” he admitted and you stopped gaping at him, your expression softening. Brian smiled. “Can’t I kiss you? Just once?”

“Well, we are alone,” you stated slowly, feeling your heartbeat increase.

“Except for all the trees,” he pointed out and you sighed heavily. “But that’s okay, they can watch on all they like.”

His lips met yours then, soft and slow, melding against yours tenderly. You were thankful that Brian had pressed you up against the trunk of the tree now, worrying that your legs would give way with how sweet this first kiss was. Letting your arms move up and behind his neck, you linked your hands and kissed him back, aching to taste more of him.

And then he pulled away, breathless yet smirking. “That’s all you get.”

“Wait a minute,” you said, trying to recollect your senses enough to string together a sentence. Instead, you whined, wanting more already.

But Brian shook his head, still smiling down at you. “I guess, you’ll just have to keep going out on dates with me to get to the full experience.”

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