#Gave him presents (I have the feeling Hyuk gave him a nice jacket that he thought would match Patrick's style...

[jeoseungsaja]

And, despite the pain you went through, you still have mellow eyes; you still have helping hands; you still irradiate warmth; you still have a a gentle heart. And, despite it all, you still have the courage to be kind.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PATRICK MYUNGDAE GRACE ❤️📖🧩!!! (@clemencetaught)

[dissoluteways]

cover up - chapter III

❧

Chapter I / Chapter II / Chapter III

PAIRING: Ravi/OC RATING: Explicit. WARNINGS: There’s some power dynamics but nothing intense. WORDCOUNT: 5749

Notes: This is the final chapter of this fic. I was busy with christmas stuff so i couldn’t post this sooner. Merry belated christmas present! Enjoy!

He didn’t tell the others what had happened this time. Hyuk and Jaehwan pestered him  about it more than usual but he only said they had kissed. Which wasn’t entirely a lie. 

It was obvious something more had happened, considering that once Wonsik got in the car  to go back to their dorm, his face was still red and sweaty. He didn’t want to give details.  What happened that time seemed much more intimate than the previous occasions in which  they just made out a little. Not particularly because she had given him the best blowjob in  his life (not that he had that many to begin with, but this time it certainly won the prize), but  because she said next time. It was a silly thing to hang on to, but it gave him a little hope  that whatever they had going on wasn’t over yet. 

It was some sort of tradition that they all invited the staff for dinner when the promotion period  was over, and this time was no exception. They made a reservation at a fancy restaurant  where they’d have privacy. She was invited too, of course, and Wonsik intended to at least  ask for her number (it was funny he still didn’t have it). If he got the chance, he was going to  ask her out too. 

Wonsik saw her when she got to the place, along with their other makeup noonas, and he  gurgled at how gorgeous she looked, wearing a little black sparkly dress. He was slightly  intimidated again by her presence, especially when she eyed him from the other side of the  table as she sat down, making him gulp loudly. Her gaze was still as dark as ever when she  looked at him, and it was a sin that she would stare at him that way while wearing that  dress. Wonsik desperately needed a drink. The first few drinks made him less self conscious, and he was glad they had that effect on him. Stuttering was something he didn’t  want to do in her presence anymore. 

Wonsik didn’t get to talk to her at all during dinner though. She was on the other side of the  table, and she seemed pretty content with chatting with their stylists. And turns out, alcohol  didn’t make him bolder, only slightly talkative, but the idea of standing up and going all the way there to talk to her made him shiver in his seat. 

Soon enough she was leaving though, after most of the food was served, and Wonsik watched her as she walked out after saying goodbye. He didn’t want her to leave without  having even spoken to her all night, so he got up from his seat and rushed to her. He had to  at least get her number. He didn’t want to break off whatever it is that they had, not unless  that’s what she wanted, but so far, she hadn’t given him a sign that she was done with him.  He could still ask her what it was that she wanted before giving up or not.

He caught her right outside, just as she was putting on her jacket, and he really couldn’t  believe how nice she looked in that dress.  

“Noona,” Wonsik cleared his throat loudly before speaking so she would notice he was there.  

She turned around and smiled when she saw him, taking a few steps towards him before  talking. 

“Hey. I didn’t talk to you all night.”  

“No…” Wonsik looked at her dress and then her face. “You look nice.” 

“Thank you, you look nice too.” She eyed him upside down as she spoke, and Wonsik went  back to feeling small. 

She had that intense gaze on her eyes again, but this time, she was looking at him more  fondly. It made him feel warm inside his chest.  

“I guess I won’t see you at the company building after today…” He said. 

“I guess you won’t.”  

“I was worried because… I don’t want to stop seeing you, really.” 

She was biting on her lip when he spoke, and her eyes softened at the statement.  

“You don’t?” 

“I- no, I don’t.” His voice was shaky, mostly because he didn’t think he would be able to say  all those words that were coming out of his mouth. “Do you want to get a coffee, maybe?” 

She blinked at him, her eyebrows going up for a second. 

“Right now?” 

“Um, no, I mean… Whenever you want, or can… There’s this place that I like…”  

Wonsik stopped talking when he noticed how big her smile had gotten. She took a few steps  closer, only a few centimeters separating them, and her hand found his, squeezing at it  before replying. 

“I’d love to.” 

Wonsik took a sharp intake of air before sighing loudly, his shoulders slumping down and  his whole body relaxing. He didn’t realize he was so tense. She chuckled at him before  tugging at his hand. 

“Maybe we should get a coffee tomorrow morning.”  

“Tomorrow mo- Oh.” The suggesting tone of her voice settled in his brain a few seconds  later, a warm feeling spreading through his chest. 

“Would you like to go to my place?” 

It was one of the few times she didn’t look so confident, on the contrary, she seemed  almost shy, even if it was for a split second. She was still holding his hand, and looking up at  him expectantly. Wonsik would have kissed her right there. 

“Yeah… Yeah, I’d love that.” He finally replied. “I just have to get my jacket.” 

She nodded and let go of his hand, and Wonsik almost ran all the way inside to get his  things. He whispered to Taekwoon where he was going, just in case Hakyeon would panic  later when they got to the dorm and realized he’s missing; and headed outside.  

They took a cab to get there, and Wonsik couldn’t help feeling shaky and excited. Though  they had been alone several times, it wasn’t the kind of alone Wonsik wanted, since there  was always the risk of getting caught, and even when they had done stuff, this was going to  be the first time they could be intimate with each other. He was nervous, but he wanted that  more than anything. 

She seemed to notice his growing anxiety, and rested a hand on his thigh, near his knee. It  was a subtle touch, and Wonsik turned to her. Her soft smile and easy gaze somehow  comforted him. She still looked as beautiful as she did on the first day, and still exhibited  that same aura she had at the very beginning too, calm and warm. It was crazy she could  switch from sweet and mellow to dark and sexy in a second. Wonsik actually liked it, a lot. 

“You look really beautiful tonight.” Wonsik said without much thought. 

She gave him a genuine smile and leaned in, gently pressing her lips against his in an  innocent kiss. They pulled away soon enough, but remained close the entire way. 

Once they got to the building, their excitement was more obvious, as they almost ran from  the cab to get to the entrance. They barely made it to the elevator before she pulled Wonsik  towards her body, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him hungrily. Wonsik responded just as enthusiastically, his hands gripping at her hips as if she would slip away  at any second.  

She dragged him towards her apartment’s door once they got to the right floor, and Wonsik  couldn’t keep his hands away as she fumbled with the keys, placing them on her waist as he  kissed her neck and shoulders until the door was finally opened.  

It was a very spacious place from what Wonsik could see; not exactly huge, but pretty neat  and well lived. He couldn’t observe for much longer as she pressed him against the nearest  wall once the door was closed. She stood on her toes to kiss him, her hands grabbing at his  shirt, and he groaned when she bit his bottom lip, his own hands going through her hair to  keep her close. 

They kissed each other like they were drowning, barely getting a second to breathe, but  Wonsik didn’t care. He would kiss for the rest of his life if he could; the sensation of her lips  against his so addictive he would never get enough of it.  

Feeling bold, he tugged at her hair, yanking her head back roughly, tongue darting out to lick at  her neck. The moan that escaped her lips when he scraped his teeth at her skin sent a thrill  all the way down his spine. Wonsik wanted more of that, so he let himself be rougher than  what he might usually be. He bit and sucked at her pulse point, running his tongue over her  flesh soothingly, before sucking on it again.  

She was whining and quivering under his touch, Wonsik felt a touch smug. He licked at her  skin, messy and wet, before pulling away and catching her mouth in a kiss. 

He couldn’t help the grunt that slipped from his lips when her hand sneaked between them  to palm at the front of his pants. 

“Where’s the bedroom?” Wonsik asked between kisses, voice raspy because she kept  grinding her hand against his crotch. She chuckled as she nipped at his bottom lip, not  exactly giving him an answer. “Unless you wanna fuck, ah, right here.” 

“I’d like that,” she whispered against his lips, squeezing him one last time before pulling  away, “but maybe some other time.” 

She grabbed his hand and led him to her bedroom on a jog.  

Her bedroom wasn’t as big, but what caught Wonsik’s eyes was the amazingly huge window  right by the side of the bed. They didn’t even need to turn on the lights to see, even if it was late at night, the moon and the city lights were enough, and they painted pretty patterns all  over the room.  

His thoughts were interrupted by her hands tugging at his jacket, bringing him closer to the  bed. Wonsik quickly helped her get rid of it, throwing it somewhere on the floor before  kissing her again. She hummed contently when he pulled at her own coat, dragging it off her  shoulders and discarding it randomly too. 

Lying down on the bed, she dragged him down by his shirt, spreading her legs to allow him  between them. Wonsik rested his arms on each side of her head, caging her body against  his, head dipping below his shoulders so he could continue kissing her.  

“I can’t believe this is finally happening,” Wonsik whispered, not really noticing those words  coming from his lips as her hands slowly went down his chest. 

She chuckled against his mouth, her touch softening suddenly, and her hands going to his  back, caressing him softly. 

“Relax, ok?” She murmured, eyes fluttering. Wonsik could feel his face heating up rapidly,  butterflies rising in his stomach. “I like you a lot. I want this. I want you.” 

Wonsik was positive his heart stopped working and that he couldn’t breathe anymore. 

“If you don’t like something or want me to stop, just say it and we’ll stop.” She kissed his  lips lightly, almost careful as if not to scare him away. 

“I don’t think that will happen.” Wonsik replied, pressing his mouth against hers more  urgently. 

“You’re so cute.” She laughed softly. 

She pulled away to tug at his shirt, sitting up to lift it up and off his body. Laying her hands  on his chest, she bit her lips as she traced her finger across his tattoo before slowly running her hands down his stomach. Wonsik hadn’t been working out that much lately, but seeing  that hungry look in her eyes made him feel good about himself, and he smiled softly. 

He tried going back to kissing her, but her hands stopped him. He stared at her curiously as  she lay back down on the bed, supporting herself on her elbows as she brought one of her  legs towards his shoulder. 

“Take off my shoes.” 

Wonsik’s eyes were glued to her face while his brain actually commanded his hands to move,  and she chuckled softly when he hurriedly grasped at her leg. She folded her leg so the sole  of her heels was almost touching his chest, and Wonsik gulped at the image. The power she  had over him aroused him completely and he couldn’t deny it, his pants getting tighter every  second. He fumbled with the straps of her shoe before finally taking it off her foot, and he  put it on the bed as she brought her other foot close to his sternum, and he proceeded to  take that one off too. His heart was beating loudly inside his chest as he did so; she could  probably hear it loud and clear. He put her other heel to the side, and she let that leg stretch  over his shoulder before hoisting it up. 

“Good boy.” 

That warm feeling inside his chest spread through his body and settled between his legs  when she praised him. It intensified when she beckoned him with her finger, a pleased smile  on her face. Wonsik obeyed, carefully leaning on top of her body as she let her leg on his  shoulder fall to the side, and she cupped his face, kissing him fully on the lips. They  breathed into each other’s mouths, tongues tangling together. Wonsik’s hands were on her  thighs, slowly sliding up towards her dress. She lifted her hips to help him glide the fabric  over her stomach, before pulling it over her shoulders and head, and tossing it on the floor,  leaving her in just her panties and bra.  

He sighed at the sight of her body underneath him, his hands resting on her hips smoothly  moving upwards. She hummed when he moved down to kiss her cleavage, fingers twisting in  his hair. She helped him discard her bra quickly before going back to trailing his lips along  her sternum. The moan that left her lips when Wonsik closed his lips around her nipple was  so enticing, it went straight to his dick.  

He was so hard. But that could wait. He knew perfectly well what he wanted to do, and he  kissed her other nipple, softly lapping at it before trailing open mouth kisses down her  tummy.  

“Can I return the favor?” Wonsik asked, sliding off the bed and kneeling down on the floor,  near the edge, and looking at her expectantly.  

She seemed surprised, and he could swear she was blushing profoundly as she nodded,  dragging herself closer to the edge of the mattress. Wonsik wrapped his hands around her  thighs, bringing her closer to him before hooking his fingers under the waistband of her panties to drag them down her legs and off. He pushed her legs up onto his shoulders as  she prompted herself up on her elbows, biting her lip as she eyed him carefully.

Wonsik could see her throw her head back and gasp when he pressed his tongue against  her, slowly licking across her opening before kissing her clit. He licked at her with slow, long  strokes, moans spilling from her lips with every move of his tongue. He stopped to lock his  lips over her clit, softly sucking to see her reaction. Her legs jolted, and her hand shot up to  grab his hair, looking at him through hooded eyes. He went back to swiping his tongue over  her folds, nestling in closer, and her whole body trembled at the change of angle in his  movements.  

“Oh my God,” She almost screamed, her fingers tightening in his hair. “You’re so good,  baby.” 

Wonsik groaned at the praise, flattening his tongue against her slit before flicking it over her  clit. There was a rush of self-satisfaction going through his body as he stared intensely at  her face. It was beautiful, her face flushed and contorted with ecstasy as he licked smoothly at her clit. Wonsik knew very well he was submitting himself to her, there wasn’t any  question about their dynamics; but being able to give her such pleasure made him feel more  powerful than he has ever felt.  

Sealing his lips tightly over her clit, he sucked on her eagerly, squeezing her thighs with his  hands when she bucked in against his mouth. She moved her hips again, this time on  purpose, Wonsik guessed, and she gasped loudly when his tongue slid into her folds, curling  it inside her just right. 

“Yeah, just like that,” She encouraged him in a whimper, tugging more urgently at his hair.  

He immediately pressed his tongue further inside of her, her hips jerking as he did so.  Wonsik was aiming to please, so he slipped his index finger inside her, and she almost  yelled, her legs jolting again.  

“Shit,” She panted, letting her torso fall flat on the bed and breaking eye contact with  Wonsik, “You’re so amazing, holy fuck.” 

The fact that she was so vocal and loud spurred Wonsik on and he groaned against her core,  which sent shivers all over her body as she moaned. She ground her hips down against his  face as his tongue slowly worked inside her, his finger continuously sliding in and out of  her. 

He was soon pushing another finger in, and she mewled in pleasure. Wonsik could feel her  clenching around his digits, his tongue still flicking inside of her.

“Stop, wait,” Her voice was raspy and shaky, and Wonsik stopped altogether, sliding his  fingers out of her, thinking maybe that he had hurt her, but kept his mouth close to her  core. He got to look at her again as she slowly went back to supporting herself with her  elbows; her face was flushed and sweaty, hair sticking to her forehead, and she panted, “I  don’t wanna come yet…” 

Wonsik blinked up at her as she crawled back towards the center of the mattress, sitting up  and taking his hand into hers to make him get on top of the bed too. He followed her lead,  wiping his mouth with the back of his hand as he wiggled closer to her.  

“Was I good?” He asked as he leaned in to kiss her, her hands holding his face as he did so.  She was still breathing heavily as he softly licked into her mouth, Wonsik felt a touch smug. 

“Mhm, so good, baby,” She replied, smiling, her hands palming his chest. “But I wanna come  with your dick inside of me.” 

Wonsik couldn’t help the groan that slipped from his mouth.  

Her hands were pushing against his shoulders until she flipped him onto his back. Wonsik  was surprised at first, his head spinning for a moment, but soon he noticed her hands  fumbling with the zipper of his pants, and he kicked off his shoes so she could tug them  down and off his legs. He was left in just his boxers, his obvious erection straining the  fabric. 

She palmed down over his clothed cock, and Wonsik laid his head back, grunting as she  slowly massaged him through his underwear. She slowly pulled his boxers down, tossing  them off somewhere, before grasping at his dick, stroking him slowly. She pumped him  torturously slow, running her thumb over the head and barely twisting her wrist, he had to  fight the urge to flip her over and fuck her into the mattress.  

“C-condom…” His mind wasn’t all gone yet when he asked for protection, and he felt a little  shy when she laughed softly at him, leaning down to kiss him before letting go of his dick. 

Wonsik scooted closer to the pillows as she scrambled around in the drawer of her bedside  table. She straddled him once she found the condom, tearing the little package open before  rolling it on his cock, Wonsik hissing at the sensation. He watched her intensely as she  wrapped her fingers around his length, rising to her knees to rub the tip over her clit and  entrance. 

“Fuck…” Wonsik cursed. He wasn’t even inside of her yet but he was positive he would come  at any second.

She chuckled darkly at his reaction, probably taking mercy on him as she slowly sank down  onto his dick, sliding in easily.  

Wonsik was panting, struggling not to buck up like he wanted to. She had her eyes closed in  a frown, head slumping forward, supporting herself with her hands on his chest. Comforting  her as she got used to the stretch, he ran his hands from her hips up her waist and towards  her shoulders. She opened her eyes to meet Wonsik’s, and without really realizing, he slid a  hand towards her face, softly caressing her cheek. Closing her eyes again, she nuzzled  against his palm and let out a breathy moan.  

She promptly lifted herself up before sinking back down, and Wonsik gasped at the sudden  movement. She was so tight and hot around him; he wasn’t sure how he would last. His  hands fell back onto her hips, his grip tightening as she buckled down on his cock with a  whimper.  

They started a slow, steady rhythm, Wonsik thrusting up to meet her hips. But soon it wasn’t  enough, and he growled when she dropped down rapidly onto his dick, her nails digging  into his chest as she did. She pushed herself down, bouncing on his cock, and he groaned,  raising his hips up to meet hers, hands curling tighter around her hips to help her go down  onto him harder.  

She looked so wonderful like that, her hair falling down on her chest, her breasts bouncing  as she moved her hips to meet his, the city lights reflecting on her skin and making it glow  with pretty patterns. She was riding him so eagerly, whimpering with every thrust of his  hips; Wonsik felt the little composure he had left slipping from him. 

“You’re perfect,” he growled, bucking up just in time as she ground down. 

She offered him a weak smile from underneath her hair before slumping forward, arching  her back with a whimper. Wonsik ran his hand up her waist before sliding them back over  her hips and reaching for her butt, squeezing her flesh. He clenched his fingers hard on her  ass, guiding her thrusts. He felt his mouth dry, looking down to where their bodies  connected, the intoxicating image of his dick sliding in and out of her making the knot in his  stomach tighten.  

“You’re riding me so well, princess…” he groaned, fingers digging into her skin as her hips  rose and fell onto his lap.

Her reply was a breathy laugh, one of her hands sliding up to tangle in her hair, her whole  body almost leaning down on him. When Wonsik thrust up into her one more time, she  whimpered, her thighs quivering, almost losing her balance. 

Wonsik was panting as he sat up a little to hold her, wrapping one arm around her waist as  he kissed her, pushing her body against his. He carefully rolled them over, letting her lie down  and pressing her into the mattress, his body still between her legs.  

Resting his arms on both sides of her head, caging her against his body, Wonsik pulled out  almost fully before thrusting back inside her again. She gasped into his mouth, arching her  back, her nipples brushing against his chest. She was pulsing around cock, hot and wet,  every slide making her moan against his lips. He kissed her, open mouthed and messy,  before dragging his lips across her cheek.  

He could tell how close she was, her heels digging into his back impatiently, her whimpers  almost turning into sobs with every snap of his hips.  

“You feel so good around me,” Wonsik murmured against her ear, kissing her jaw. 

She hooked her arm around his neck, keeping him close. Remembering her reaction from  earlier, Wonsik bit at the side of her neck, sucking hard on her flesh. She shuddered, fingers  tangling in his hair and tugging. He was sloppy this time, his impending orgasm making it  hard for him to keep his focus, but he ran his tongue over her skin, sucking at it eagerly,  before pressing his lips to her throat. 

He wanted to get her off first before coming himself, so Wonsik slid his hand between their  bodies, skilful fingers finding her clit and rubbing circles against it. She clenched around  him, legs shaking as she let out a stuttered moan. 

“I’m- I’m so close, baby boy…” She mewled into his ear. 

The way she was pulsing around him made him whine, and his pace turned relentless as he  slammed into her hard, his fingers still pressing onto her clit. He noticed the grip of her  hands on his shoulders tightening, and how her breath got caught in her throat, and he  knew she was coming. Her entire body trembled underneath him, back arching; and she  squeezed around him hard, Wonsik spilling a stream of profanities when she did so.  

He was sinking so deep into her, his thrusts completely wild and erratic. Wonsik cursed  under his breath, his vision starting to blur as he chased his own high. She was still so wet and her touch against his skin was so hot, her fingers running down his back then, dragging  her nails across his skin. 

“Come on, Wonsik,” She hummed close to his ear, her voice still breathy and shaky from her  release, her fingers caressing his chest and stomach then, “Come for me, honey.” 

He didn’t need to be told twice, his hips snapping forward once, twice, before coming with a  loud grunt. His orgasm was so clear and the pleasure was so vivid he was seeing stars. His  cock pulsed inside her, languidly thrusting as he rode out his climax until she sobbed and  shivered with aftershocks. 

His arms were trembling, not being able to hold on anymore, and Wonsik collapsed down on  top of her, burying his face in her neck. She whimpered when he did, but wrapped her arms  around his waist, keeping him close.  

They took a few minutes to catch their breath, until Wonsik felt her fingers tracing random  patterns on his back soothingly. After a moment he sighed, pulling himself up to look at her  face. She gave him a tired but sweet smile, and he brought up one hand to caress at her  cheek, pushing her hair out her face. 

He leaned in and kissed her, unhurried and gentle, and she hummed into his mouth.  

“That was wonderful,” She whispered after pulling away. 

“We should do it again some time,” Wonsik said without really thinking, and he earned a  breathy laugh from her. 

“We definitely should.”  

Rolling off her, Wonsik disposed of the condom into the trashcan by the bed before resting  beside her. She wiggled closer, covering both of them with a blanket as she lay down next to  him, resting her head on his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around her, playing with her hair  as she slowly dozed off. 

Feeling completely sated and comfortable, and listening to her breathe evenly against his  skin, Wonsik fell asleep right by her side. 

* 

Wonsik woke up when he felt the mattress shift under him. He tried opening his eyes, the  light coming from the window bothering him so he blinked a couple of times before opening  them completely. He caught her just when she was sitting on the bed and slipping into a shirt, her fingers then going through her hair to try to put into some kind of order. Wonsik  thought it was adorable. 

“Hey,” his voice came out hoarser than he intended. Would he ever talk with a normal voice  in her presence? 

She turned around, surprised, but she quickly smiled at him. 

“Hey, you,” she leaned back and kissed him softly on the lips, “Did you sleep well?” 

Wonsik nodded before sitting up, the cool air hitting his bare chest and he shivered. She  noticed this, and quickly went to pick up his shirt from where it was discarded on the floor  to give it to him. 

“I’m making breakfast, do you want anything in particular?” She asked him as she went  through one of her drawers of her closet. 

“Um, just… whatever you want to make is fine,” He replied, putting on his shirt. 

She smiled before walking out of the room with a pair of shorts in her hand. Everything still  felt so surreal, the fact that Wonsik was waking up in her bed after spending the night  together, after pining after her for weeks, the images of all their interactions coming to him  in a flash; it all sent chills through his spine. He needed a minute to cool down. 

He walked into the kitchen after getting dressed and brushing his teeth (using a brush she  left for him in the bathroom) to find her making coffee and toasting some bread. 

“When I asked you out for coffee yesterday, I didn’t mean to make it yourself.” Wonsik said, casually walking up behind her, making her jump a little when he placed his hands on  her shoulders 

“Isn’t it a bit risky? Going out the both of us, I mean.” 

He shrugged, grabbing the two cups of coffee to put them on the table. “I know a few places that are private enough, nobody would bother us there.” 

He helped her set the table before sitting down, and she followed him right after, setting the  toasts down along with some cheese and jam. 

“I guess we could go some time then.” She said with a smile as she sat across from him. 

Wonsik could feel the rush of affection that spread through his chest when she flashed him  that smile. Even as she started sipping on her coffee and taking a bite at her toast, he  couldn’t brush it off. She always seemed so fierce in his eyes, especially with how he  approached him the last few weeks; and there she was, wearing a shirt that was slightly  bigger on her frame, with puffy eyes and swollen lips, looking sleepy as she munched on a  toast. She couldn’t be any cuter in his eyes. 

She pulled her hair back as she reached for a slice of cheese, and Wonsik noticed the two  love bites on her neck, one just under her ear on one side, the other one on the other side, close to where her neck met her shoulder. He couldn’t help holding his breath at the sight. 

Leaning in towards her, Wonsik put his hand on her neck, tracing his thumb over the mark  under her ear with just a little pressure. She shuddered, gasping weakly and closing her  eyes, shoulders curling. She had to put down the cup of coffee so as not to drop it, and  Wonsik couldn’t help the grin that tugged at his lips. 

When he retracted his hand and the shiver slipped out of her body, she looked at him with  wide eyes, biting her bottom lip when she noticed his smile. It was like he found out a secret  about her, one she wouldn’t want anyone to know, especially him. Wonsik instantly  memorized the fact that her weakest point was her neck in the deepest part of his brain,  before taking a sip at his coffee, looking more than just pleased with himself. She glared at  him playfully, going back to drinking her coffee without saying a word. 

“You should probably thank the other guys when you get to the dorm,” She said after a few  minutes. 

“What? Why?” Wonsik swallowed promptly, suddenly alarmed. His brain quickly connected  some details together, and he immediately realized. “Wait, when you asked me a few weeks  ago if it was true that I liked you…” 

“That was kind of an accident,” She clarified, a small blush creeping on her cheeks, “I  actually walked in on the waiting room, and they were practically yelling about it.” 

Wonsik buried his face in his hands, extremely embarrassed that they weren’t even careful  when they talked about it in public.  

“I thought you were cute before,” She reassured him, but Wonsik still felt mortified, “but I  also thought maybe you were just nervous, so I never approached you until I found out you  liked me.”

Wonsik made a dying noise behind his hands that she probably thought was funny by the  way she giggled.  

“I also would have asked you out myself before Taekwoon told me you were planning to do  it.” 

Lifting his head from his hands, Wonsik stared at her in disbelief. Turned out that bitch  talked just like the others. He was never telling him anything ever again. He was never  telling anyone anything ever. 

“Don’t look at me like that,” She laughed, “Whatever it was that they did, it worked out either  way.” 

“I’m not thanking them.” Wonsik stated, “I’m never talking to them again. Actually, I’m  leaving forever.” 

She smiled at him, amused, as she got up from her seat. Wonsik blinked at her, sitting  straight in his chair as she took a few steps towards him, putting her hands on his shoulders  and sitting down on his lap, both of her legs on one side. 

“I guess it was just your manly charms that made me feel attracted to you,” She said with  that low voice of hers that made Wonsik feel like jelly. 

He still noticed the teasing tone underneath her voice, and rolled his eyes, wrapping his  hands around her waist. She chuckled at his reaction before pressing her lips to his.  

Her lips were so soft and her mouth tasted like coffee, he planned to spend a long time  devouring them. She hummed contently when he tightened his grip on her waist so her body  was pressed against his, quickly opening up for him to let him lick at her mouth. Wonsik  wondered how he actually survived all his life without kissing her, without tasting her.  

They pulled away to breathe and she rested her forehead against his. He wanted to  reassume kissing when he felt it was enough time apart, but she simply pecked his lips  before speaking. 

“Wanna take a shower together?” 

Wonsik finished his coffee in one sip, the liquid burning down his throat when he gulped,  and he nodded eagerly.

[cloudycrystalkpop]

Starfall

pairing characters: Zitao + the coven of VIXX

summary: clan of delphi au | Tao finds himself in the midst of the mysterious coven of vixx

warnings: a touch of hoodoo

words: 1.6k

~

The small bells over the door chimed in greeting as he stepped into the apothecary. The tall man behind the desk glanced up. His pointed features and scowling eyes gave Tao a feeling he wasn’t very welcome.

“Excuse me,” he stepped up to the counter, offering the man a smile. “I was told there was a fortune teller here.”

The man didn’t speak for a moment, not bothering to look up at Tao until he had finished crushing the leaves in his hands.

“He’s busy at the moment.” The scowling man’s voice was much higher in pitch then Tao had expected.

“Ah, that’s alright, i don’t mind waiting.” Tao turned at sat himself in a chair in the corner of the room.

Looking around, he observed the atmosphere of the place. The walls were a deep navy blue, with accents of a metallic gold in the trim. The ceiling sparkled like a dancing night sky. Behind the deck were many walls lined with shelves, each home to a different plant. Midnight flowers and dark ferns hidden from the bright golden light of the window.

Tao’s eyes fell to the hallway as he heard footsteps.

“Taekwoon~ have you seen that little rabbit i found earlier? Oh god if Hyuk finds that thing there is no telling what he might-“ the man stopped his sentence as he entered the front room, spotting Tao instantly. “oh hello! I didn’t see you there.” The man’s voice was higher in pitch and he spoke with a friendly smile.

The scowling witch, Taekwoon, passed a glance at the new man, nodding to Tao and where he sat in the corner. The new man seemed to understand.

“you are here for a fortune telling?” The brighter man turned to Tao as he stood.

“yes, if you please.” Tao nodded politely. The man blinked at him, studying him closely, before a small grin traced his lips and be breathed the faintest chuckle.

“alright, he’s back in the garden. If you would please follow me.” He held back the many strings of beads that acted as a door. Tao stepped through and found himself entering the world M had called home for so long.

~

The two tall men watched this stranger from the shadows. His heels clicked and the fur he wore ruffled in the slight wind. This stranger certainly looked expensive. His hair was perfect, not a strand out of place, and his eyes nicely rimmed in black to match his perfect nails.

“that hast to be him.” The younger spoke.

“what are you thinking Hyuk?” The elder asked. Hyuk grinned a devilish smile.

“if he really wants to be Mori’s mentor, let’s see if he can handle a little spook shall we?” Hyuk’s eyes sparkled at the idea of mischief.

~

Tao followed the man out and into the garden. The area was bright, countless plants grew there, all thriving and full of life. The flowers seemed to stretch just a bit more as the man before him walked passed. He didn’t have to be an Oracle to tell, this man had fae blood.

“Hakyeon, there is a man here to see you.” He called out into the darker part of the garden. A moment later, the Seer amerged.

“thank you Jaehwan.” He nodded to the fae as he turned to leave, offering Tao another smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“come along Zitao, have a seat.” Tao shouldn’t have been surprised at hearing his full name, but it still caught him off guard. He followed the mans instructions and sat at the small table.

The table was a dark black marble, with glowing golden specks in the perfect formations for constellations.

Hakyeon sat across from him, resting his elbows on the table and resting his chin on his folded hands.

“she’s still running i imagine.” The elder spoke calmly. Tao swallowed. He wasn’t really intimidated by other seers anymore. But this man before him, the whole vibe of this place was just so... different.

“i, need some help.” He hated those words. So many years he’d spent independent, and one child has brought him to a loss.

Hakyeon smiled at his words.

“it isn’t everyday i find a Delphi at my doorstep asking for advice on mentorship.” The elder man chuckled.

“she found you, found your coven, she chose you and trusts you.” Tao squared his shoulders, gathering his confidence. “i need to earn the same trust, but she won’t let me.”

“indeed, Mori trusts myself and my coven mates greatly.” Hakyeon nodded, closing his eyes. “but you are mistaken if you believe i was her favorite.”

Tao paused.

“Mori needs someone, to be her friend. She needs someone like her. If it had been only me she felt close with, she would have moved on a long time ago.” Hakyeon smiled as he watched the younger man before him put all this together.

“she is... rather fond of that alchemist.” Tao mumbled quietly. He quickly raised his head to look the other man in the eyes “you know what that boy is, right?”

“i know he doesn’t fully know himself.” Hakyeon laid back in his chair. “they are still children, still learning and discovering who they are.”

Tao took another breath. While he knew all of these things, he didn’t seem to be remembering them while actually trying to convince her.

“you shouldn’t take her rejection so harshly. How many times have you actually spoken to her?” Hakyeon raised his brows at the man before him.

Tao fell silent at this question. The sound of laughter came from outside the hedge. Hakyeon breathed a sigh as Tao jumped.

“you’re too much of a coward to even try and talk to her!” the cause of the snickers poked his head around the hedge.

“Hyuk, i thought you were chasing that little white rabbit?” Hakyeon scolded the youngest for his eavesdropping.

“Jaehwan screamed at me, so i let him go.” The man shrugged. “i guess i’ll start walking through the woods again, i really do need a pelt.”

Tao scanned the young man before him. Youngest of the coven, darker in arua then the members he’s already met. He had a smile behind his eyes that sung of trouble. The dirt and blood under his nails combined with the stitching on his jacket, sung quiet hymns of a hoodoo witch doctor.

A woven bracelet he wore reminded him greatly of another he had seen. An anklet worn by Mori with the same colors and patterns, the only slight variation was the beetle charm on his as opposed to the key on hers. It had been quite a while since Tao had seen beetles in magic.

This man’s craft was sand and desert based, while Mori’s was from the deep marsh.

Tao was distracted from his thoughts by a fluttering feeling on his cheek. he brushed away the moth, causing it to float down to the table. the three men watched at the moth slowly died, it’s wings falling off and turning to ash.

“how... odd.” Tao swallowed hard, staring at the insect. he felt his heart pound in his ears, that moth should’ve been fine, nothing happened to it. was it because it touched him? was it happening again?

another snicker came from the younger man.

“now Hyuk, was that really necessary?” the scolding voice of Hakyeon pulled Tao back to the present. Hyuk reached down, placing his hand over the pile of ash. a shiver ran down Tao’s spine as the air around the witch became heavy. when he lifted his hand, the small moth was resurrected, fluttering back into the air.

“come on now, it’s just a bit of harmless fun.” Hyuk chimed. Tao looked up at the young man, watching him closely. suddenly Mori’s friendship with this man added another layer of depth. the mischief in his eyes ran all too familiar to Tao.

“resurrection is quite a specialized gift.” Tao spoke, leaning back in his chair. “you may want to be careful, there is always the possibility, of mistakes being made.”

Hyuk’s sparkling eyes narrowed at the oricle.

Tao stood from his seat, offering Hakyeon a polite smile. “thank you for the reading sir. i have much to think about.” Hakyeon watched him closely, nodding at his words. “now gentlemen, i will be on my way.”

“Hyuk, how about you show our guest out, hm?” Hakyeon nodded to the younger man. Tao clenched his teeth, as the witch began leading him back through the guardan.

~

Hyuk didn’t say a word as he lead Tao to the gate, but just before the oricle could step through, he grabbed his fur coat, yanking him back for a moment.

“excuse me! this is very expensive-” Tao was cut off by the dark tone in the hoodoo witch’s voice.

“no matter what you and your cult believe about covens, Morganna is our little sister. we are her home and family. and if i find you have done something to harm her, something to disrespect her, i promise you, you and your cult of oracles will have nightmares of the horrors we have in store for you. in this life and the rest to come.” he stared the man down, his eyes bubbling with warning.

Tao was silent, simply watching the man.

“you have my word, she will never be held against her will.” Tao’s voice was steady as he shoved the other witch off him. Hyuk snarled, but backed away.

Tao watched at the witch doctor wandered back into the shadows, disappearing back to the coven ground. there was a lingering feeling of weight on his chest. he had a sinking feeling, a part of him knew, that moth was more than just a test. it was a warning.

[khiphopfrictionals]

My Last (2/5): GRAY Scenario

Summary: This is an AU. You and Gray were in love. Sunghwa joined AOMG (not only as a producer but also a singer) and was offered a record deal – in which involves touring around the world. You suffer from an illness and know it’s impossible for him to follow his dreams if he stays behind for you. So in the end, the two of you part ways on bad terms. Little did Gray know, you kept a big secret from him. Now it has been nearly a decade – can the two of you reconnect?

// Part 2 //

--Flashback--

As you force your way through the sea of writhing bodies illuminated by flashes of color, you could curse yourself. The heavy thud-thud-thud pounds into your skull, and for all that you try to push the horrid noise from your ears, you can't quite manage it tonight.

Your condition has flared up as of late, making all your energies go towards keeping your dinner from coming up and your eyes fully opened. The last place you ought to be is at some club right now. But you and Hyuk-woo promised to take Hoody out for a round for her birthday, and you'd feel like an awful friend if you let her down.

After being bumped into by some half-drunken person, you shout over the music, "I hate you, Hoody! You and your awful taste in clubs!"

"You don't!" She's all smiles and squeezes your hand. "It's not healthy being cooped up in that pathetic little apartment of yours and you know it!"

Maybe you do know it. The thought has crossed your mind before, especially when you look forward to running into your elderly next-door neighbor for a chat. Your social life had declined after moving out of the dorms and even more so after breaking it off with your latest boyfriend. And if you’re honest with yourself, you’ve been looking forward to tonight.

"When should we expect your friend to show up?" You ask as the crowd thins at the edge of the dance floor.

Hoody scans the packed seating area before pointing to a corner booth. "There! That's him."

Your eyes follow Hoody's finger, and you immediately spot Hyuk-woo sitting with two dark haired young men. The first, you recall from a photo in her apartment, is Hoody's friend—all messy hair and tattoos. The second, however, is someone completely new to you.

Gorgeous, he is.

You can feel your heart falter at first sight of him. It's the hair that catches your attention, silky smooth. And the leather jacket certainly doesn't help matters. A bad boy, then? Your type to the very letter, and dear God how are you going to ever make it through tonight?

Because you and Hoody have rules about this sort of thing, you remember regrettably as they approach the booth. No dating friends' friends and the like. Your only hope is that this guy isn't Hoody's friend and has a penchant for someone like you.

Yeah, not likely.

Sunghwa—whose name you learn during the brief round of introductions—may be a little quiet, but he does seem genuinely interested in you. You discover this soon into your five-part conversation around beers. It's nothing Sunghwa does, just the way his eyes fall on you when he speaks. Mesmerized is definitely too strong of a word—though in your make-believe world there's something there.

Something like a spark, and it's so very difficult to keep your own eyes from meeting Sunghwa's when either of you speaks.

And you resist—or tries to, anyway—for the better part of an hour filled with anecdotes of mischief making, lamenting of particular professors and modules. It's only when Hoody and Elo gets up to dance—prompted by Hoody’s favorite song (this week)—and Hyuk-woo leaves for the bar to buy another round that you can't quite avoid Sunghwa any longer.

You feel a gentle nudge to your arm and turns to look at a grinning Sunghwa. He really does have a nice smile, as smiles go. Gorgeous lips and… And Christ, you haven’t been staring just then, have you? You can't quite suppress the heat rising to your cheeks and ducks yor head a bit, hoping to hide your embarrassment.

"You don't strike me as someone who gets up to too much trouble, but the way Hoody talks, you could give me and Elo a run for our money."

You don’t miss the impressed and teasing tone in his voice and feels slightly pleased with yourself. Not that people aren't usually surprised when they hear of your colorful record, but this is somehow different. The thought does cross you that you're misconstruing Sunghwa' interest in you, but you’re three beers in it doesn’t hurt to flirt a little.

"Probably could," you say, all confidence as you take a slow drink.

"Where'd you get those then? Breaking and entering?"

Sunghwa nods in the direction of your hands, smug smirk on his face. You realize that he's referring to your plastered fingers, and immediately sets your bottle down, bringing your hand beneath the table. Suddenly you feel very sober.

"Ah no, not exactly. I play a bit of guitar and overdid it yesterday. Rubbed my skin raw."

You wait for the moment of judgment to pass, inevitable as always. You know you don't look the type to be a music junkie—a little too awkward, a little too reserved—and wonders if Sunghwa will laugh it off like a lot of guys have in the past.

It comes to some surprise then, when you find the courage to meet Sunghwa' eyes, that Sunghwa appears to be completely shocked by your confession. You look at him curiously before Sunghwa's expression settles into something rather indescribable.

"You like music?" Sunghwa asks, and for the first time, you notice the strain-induced scratchiness to his voice

"No, I love music."

Sunghwa smiles, looking at you like he's seeing you properly for the first time.

"Yeah? Me too."

//

-- Present—

Why?

You realize that you ‘accidentally’ picks up the latest Dazed & Confused. And it's only a split second later that you recognize a gorgeous pair of brown eyes on the cover.

They dance for you. Maybe it's just because you remember what they were like in real life, the way Sunghwa's every mood could be read from them. Maybe it's because you often dreamt that Sunghwa would look at you like that again. It's a guilty desire, one that you can barely stomach most days. But no one could fault you for that.

And it's strange, looking at him like this. You desperately want to recognize the unrecognizable in Sunghwa, to have the satisfaction of telling yourself, you were right, he's not the same man.

But you can't.

It's as though time froze Sunghwa as he was years ago. Sunghwa hardly looks older—not like yourself who’s getting premature greys—and perhaps that's what's most frightening. Sunghwa appears to be exactly the man that you had once loved.

Or still loves.

With that, your lips pull into an infuriated grimace. You send the magazine to the floor with a violent thwack. And you bring your hands to your face, bites your tongue in favor of screaming your frustration.

How dare Sunghwa do this! How dare he accept Hyuk-woo's invitation! But it's just like Sunghwa, always looking for the next person or next big thing to stroke his giant ego. He'll be fawned over, praised for his infinite genius, his remarkable rise to stardom. No one cares to think about all Sunghwa sold—all he left behind—in order to get there.

All the people he betrayed.

A miserable sound escapes you. Some days you wonder if you’re the only person in the world that felt that betrayal—feels that betrayal even now—and you know the answer. Hyuk-woo and Elo asks you to stop punishing Sunghwa. Hoody, too, in her own way. You wonder how they of all people can refrain from doing so.

Familiar outrage bubbles up inside you at the thought of everything that happened years ago, but You try to quell it. You can't think about this tonight; it'll only leave you bright eyed and miserable. More miserable, really.

And you definitely won't think about Sunghwa.

Let him have his fame and glory, his money and cheap relationships.

What's it matter?

You find the energy to get up from the sofa, your foot coming into contact with the magazine. The cover crinkles under your step, and you barely notices—or pretends to—as you walks to the bathroom before heading to bed.

//

Things would have been fine, you suppose, if the magazine would have grown legs and kindly dropped itself into the bin during the night. You’re determined to not attend Hyuk-woo's party, to never see Sunghwa again so long as you live, would have remained firmly intact.

But the fact of the matter is that it most assuredly was right in front of the sofa as you sat down with your morning toast and coffee—Sunghwa' face planted between your feet. You stare down at it, transfixed by nothing in particular and yet everything in the same moment. Your hand reaches for the magazine almost of its own accord, and it's only after you have it in your grip that the reason behind your sudden interest becomes clear to you.

You suppose it has a lot to do with the date. It's almost Sunghwa’s and your anniversary—what would have been ten years if Sunghwa hadn't…if things hadn't…well, yeah.

And you, despite the disappointed looks and worried calls from your friends, still celebrates it to some extent. No more romantic dinners for you, though. If there is one thing that suffering from almost bi-monthly seizures has taught you, it's that you might as well live life how you want. There's never a guarantee you'll live beyond the next one.

The funny thing is that Sunghwa gave the biggest joy in your life – Momo. Like Sunghwa, Momo sets you back on the right path. If you’re honest with yourself, you’ve been at your healthiest during those years with Sunghwa. So despite all that you hate Sunghwa most of the time, a little piece of you can never deny that Sunghwa was good for you. And now, Momo has taken his place.

That's probably why you still have dreams from time to time, like last night. Of hot, flashing lights and the lazy lovemaking that followed. You wonder if it's a memory or a meshing of reality and fantasy. It was all so vivid. Sunghwa' breath in your ear, his performance-strained voice whispering I love you. And you returning the sentiments in full, rolling over to capture his lips.

Except, the only thing you rolled over to was the emptiness of your bed and unforgiving morning light.

With your thoughts already consumed by Sunghwa, you thumb the pages of the magazine. Sighing, you flip it open randomly and only had to turn once before you find the promised—purportedly revealing—interview.

You sip your coffee, uneager—and yet oh-so-eager—to read the contents of the interview. Brown eyes find the beginning lines, and you brace yourself for…for what? You have no idea. Confirmation, maybe, that this man is not the man you loved. Or heartache when you realize that he is.

It's the normal song and dance for the first few questions, nothing that you couldn't have told the interviewer yourself. What's more interesting to you is the way in which you can hear Sunghwa saying his response—the familiar cadence of his voice, the air of lightness in his tone. The interview even notes when he laughs, and it occurs in all the spots that you imagine it would.

But it's two-thirds of the way down the page that you feel you breath hitch, the question burrowing into you like a parasite and the answer equally as discomfort-inducing.

INTERVIEWER: It's interesting—and many of our readers have noted this—that you've re-released an unplugged version of "My Last" on your new album. Care to elaborate on the decision?

GRAY: Ah, this question! [Laughs]

INTERVIEWER: It's a song shrouded in mystery. Considered to be the most romantic song of the decade and developed by an anonymous co-writer? What are your fans to think?

GRAY: Well they should think that it's a song very near and dear to me, of course. The decision to re-release it in acoustic was made by me. "My Last" was intended for to be an acoustic from the very beginning, and was initially written as a ballad. I've spent a lot of time getting back to my roots with this album, and it was the perfect opportunity to record this song as it was originally intended. I think people will find it more moving than the original, to be honest.

INTERVIEWER: And your co-writer?

GRAY: [Laughs] Will remain anonymous.

INTERVIEWER: Not even the tiniest hint?

GRAY: I think it's obvious from the lyrics that this person means a great deal to me. You can't create something like "My Last" from imagination, you know?

INTERVIEWER: "Means" as in present tense?

GRAY: Do you think that "My Last" could be what it is if it was about any old flame? You—

You shut the magazine quickly, having read quite enough.

//

"You're such an ungrateful daughter."

You smirk, leaning down to meet your mom in a brief hug. You suppose that it's a greeting that would shock most anybody.

"And to what do I owe the insult to my character?" You ask, though you don’t really expect an answer.

Your mom passes Momo to you, and you quickly plant a kiss on her baby-smooth cheek. Momo laughs, pushes you away with a palm to her chin, and struggles out of your arms in favor of her toys in the other room. And it's crazy, how quickly Momo has grown. Where has the time gone?

There's a thud. Your attention is immediately drawn away from thoughts of your daughter to her grandma sopping up spilled coffee from the carpet. You roll your eyes, grabs a tea towel from the nearby kitchen table and joins her on the floor.

"Mom, you're an accident waiting to happen, you know that?" You say.

She looks up at you, fringe falling in her eyes. "You're one to talk. Your whole life is a giant mess."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Her eyes narrow as she jabs her finger at you  accusingly, causing you to flinch. "You know exactly what I'm talking about."

Standing, your mom flings the coffee-soaked, wadded-up cloth at you and crosses her arms over her chest. And for being all of five feet four inches, she's still as intimidating as hell.

"Mom…"

"Don't mom me. I hear you're not going to the party in Sunghwa's honor tonight at the Freebird. What the hell is that about? I've raised you to be a lot of things, but never a coward."

"Mom, I’m busy. And who told you about the party?"

"Don’t change the topic!" She falls unceremoniously to the sofa, and you have to wonder if she hadn't just lost her balance. Her sudden rage flickers out into a frown, and she looks on at you in disappointment. You hate that look—thinks that maybe that's the reason she's turned it on to begin with—and moves next to her, putting an arm around her slight shoulders.

"I want you to be happy."

"I am happy, mom," you answer.

"You're lying. I can tell. You’re my daughter." She pokes your nose. "Your nose scrunches up a bit when you lie, just like Momo."

"I'm—"

"Not fine, not happy, and you don't have to pretend for my sake.”

Despite the number of times you’ve had this conversation, you have never gotten used to hearing the truth fall from your mom’s lips. The two of you sit on the sofa, brief silence between you and her, as the sounds of Momo playing in her room echo through the apartment.

"He loves you, you know."

"Who?" You asks almost fearing her answer.

"Sunghwa." Shifting, she pulls away from you and cups your cheek. "And you love him, too. So, don't be stubborn. Go see him."

"I'm over it."

"You weren't years ago. You aren't now, and neither is he. You should have seen his latest interview in Dazed & Confused. It was basically a love letter to you."

Wonderful. So, you weren’t the only person under that impression. You think to ask her what else was said but decides against it. You’re not sure you want to know, quite frankly. What you read was enough. Too much, maybe. And none of it matters.

It’s no surprise that your mom still keep in touch with Sunghwa. What’s surprising is that your mom accepts that you will tell Sunghwa about Momo in your own time.

"You're going," Your mom announces, uncurling herself from you and standing.

"I'm not."

"You are because your daughter loves Sunghwa's music—"

"—only because of your bad influence—"

"—and you'd make her day if you took her. You do want to be known as the coolest mom ever, don't you?"

"I—"

"You do. Come on!" Your mom turns to the corridor. "Momo, love!"

At the sound of Momo's feet, you know that this is game over for you. Your mom makes her announcement—self-satisfied smirk on her lips—and Momo's face lights up brighter than Christmas morning. She shifts from foot to foot, small hands curled up in fists from excitement. Momo wraps her arms tightly around your neck, and you reluctantly squeeze her back, thinking how completely fucked you are.

//

It takes a lot longer to get to The Freebird than is strictly necessary, and for once it's not because you have a toddler in tow. You’re the one making things more difficult than they have to be, pausing every few minutes on the sidewalk and slowing down considerably after Momo begins serenading you with "Drive" from—what you’re told is—Sunghwa' second digital album.

You both do arrive somehow, though it's almost a miracle that you do without having to turn around or stop for a trip to the restroom more than once. Judging from the sound of the music, the party is well underway. And as you glance at your watch, it's no wonder; it's 9:35. You pauses at the door, holding Momo’s hand firmly to keep her from rushing inside.

It's a mistake, and you know that. Nothing good is going to come from this get together; well, nothing but making your daughter ridiculously happy. And that's almost enough to make you press on. Almost. You think that perhaps you could just explain to Momo that you’re not feeling well and maybe she can try to catch Sunghwa another time.

Yes, lying to your child.

"Great parenting," you mutter under your breath.

"Mommy!" Momo growls, looking at you with a very stern expression that so is reminiscent of heer father.

"Alright, alright. Impatient, aren't you?"

Before you can think better of it, you twist the handle and ushers Momo inside. The Freebird is packed with people, and at a quick glance, you recognize most of them. The lighting is dim, but not as low as it would normally be if the bar were open. And the music is lower, too.

No sooner than you help Momo down the two steps to the main floor, you catch sight of vibrant red hair. And then there's Hoody, kneeling to pull Momo into a tight hug. You can't help but smile at the joy on Momo's face; part of you wishes Momo got to see Hoody and Hyuk-woo more often. But it's too difficult—too painful—to visit them more than a few times a year.

They live in a different world from you now.

"How are you, pumpkin?" Hoody asks Momo.

"Very good!" She nods vigorously. "I going to see Gray."

"Are you? That'll be fun."

Hoody looks up at you, question writ on her face—are you alright? And you just shrugs.

Hoody knew about your pregnancy. She urges you to talk to Sunghwa still – however, she came to term that it is up to you to make that decision.

You feel a little better when Hoody stands to embrace you, her arms wrap tightly around your shoulders. You shut your eyes, breathes in her scent. Three months since you’ve last seen her, and it feels like forever.

"I've missed you," Hoody says.

Just as you open your eyes, the same sentiments on your lips, you freezes—mind and heart. Because, between the part of friends and acquaintances is Sunghwa.

Your eyes meet his, and the whole world fades away.