#otp: the curve of your lips could rewrite history

[humangods]

[ 𝐋𝐀𝐔𝐆𝐇 ] — saeyun/eva & [ 𝐃𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄 ] — saeyun/eva

@cheonseojins

[ 𝐋𝐀𝐔𝐆𝐇 ] My muse tries to make yours laugh when they are sad

Eva hunches over, seated on the couch of her sunlit studio, and buries her face into her hands. How ironic it is to be surrounded by such luxury and to have such a comfortable life with a supportive family and friends, a successful husband, and never have to worry about paying bills or if she can afford groceries for the week -- things many can only ever dream of having -- and yet feel so utterly alone and miserable. But above all else it's guilt that reigns supreme. Guilt for not being as happy as she should, guilt for being ungrateful for the hand that life dealt her, guilt for wanting a simpler life. Guilt, guilt, guilt. It plagues her in her waking moments and torments her in her sleep. It used to gnaw at the back of her mind like an irritating reminder that she could force herself to forget if she distracted herself with anything else. Now it suffocates her and she finds herself with fewer ways of temporary escape.

The sun travels along its invisible path across the sky and begins to dip over the horizon casting ray of light shines onto Eva's face. It's then that she opens swollen, damp eyes and realizes she had fallen asleep. She sniffles and wipes her eyes. Panic sets in when she realizes the time and that she should be returning home soon, but has no excuse to explain her disheveled appearance. Maybe Kristoph will be at the office late and won't notice if she goes to bed before him. Or maybe he won't look up from whatever work he's decided to take home with him that night to question it.

Her phone vibrates and it jolts Eva out of her thoughts. Gripping the device in her hand she prays it's not Kristoph as she reads the name displayed on the screen.

"Saeyun? Is everything all right?" She asks, doing her best not to let her voice betray her current state, but it wobbles ever so slightly at the very end.

"Yes, everything is fine. Kristoph wanted to know if you would have dinner with him tomorrow night." There's a brief pause. "Are you at your studio?"

"I am, and tell him that's fine. Thanks."

They hang up and Eva breathes out a shaky breath. Getting up, she pads into the small bathroom to wash her face and flinches at just how terrible her reflection looks in the mirror hanging above the sink. Her hair is a mess, but at least that's one thing she can fix with ease. The rest will take some creative thinking and a lot of makeup.

She changes clothes and sets on the arduous task of applying, removing, and reapplying the various cosmetics to make herself look more presentable. It takes a frustrating amount of time, but when she finishes she smooths out her dress. There's a second mirror, a taller one, propped up against the wall that she stops in front of to double check her appearance when there's a knock at the door.

Not expecting anyone, Eva freezes.

"Eva?" Saeyun's voice calls out from the other side.

Damn it. Did Saeyun notice the tremor in her voice? Of course she did, Eva thinks with a shake of her head. Saeyun didn't last this long as Kristoph's secretary being unobservant. She opens the door, stepping aside to let Saeyun in, and plasters on an amicable smile that doesn't reach her eyes despite knowing she can't fool Saeyun.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"You came all this way to check in on me," Eva remarks with an amused chuckle as she looks away, copper tresses of hair falling into her face. "I'm all right."

Saeyun stares at her, unimpressed with the blatant lie.

"It's silly." Eva gives a dismissive wave of her hand, but Saeyun is having none of it.

"You're awfully stubborn when you wish to be." It's not a criticism, and there's a fondness behind the words and in the way the corners of her eyes crinkle as she smiles.

"I'm just tired of all the hiding and feeling like I have to live two separate lives, tired of always acting, tired of the guilt and the shame, just..." She trails off with a weary exhale. "Just tired of everything."

Silence passes between them. Saeyun mulls over Eva's words and Eva fiddles with her wedding ring. It feels heavy on her finger and she wishes she could keep it off, but that would only cause trouble for Kristoph.

"Too tired to go to to that new bakery you had your eye on? I'm pretty sure it's still open," Saeyun suggests, already pulling up the information on her phone. "It's still open," she confirms with a nod.

An airy laugh escapes Eva. "Saeyun!" She scolds, still laughing. "I shouldn't eat more sweets. I already had pastries for breakfast twice this week."

"But you haven't had these ones, have you?"

"No, I haven't. Fine, you've convinced me,” she relents with a shake of her head, grinning, and takes hold of Saeyun’s hand. “Let's go."

[ 𝐃𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄 ] My muse takes your muse’s hand and slow dances with them without music playing

Kristoph is away on a short business trip, only a few days, and so he instructed for Saeyun to stay in the city much to Eva’s secret delight.

She insists that Saeyun take at least one day to relax and have fun though frames it as she should accompany her boss’ wife to help with errands when she drops by the office to whisk Saeyun away for the remainder of the day.

Saeyun complies and as soon as they’re outside, Eva steers Saeyun towards her own personal car.

“We’re taking a little trip,” she declares, getting into the driver’s side. “I wanted to go to the countryside for the day and I thought I’d like for you to join me. I know it’s too late to say this now that I’ve already taken you away from your desk, but I do hope it’s all right with you.”

“I don’t mind,” Saeyun reassures.

Eva drives them to a small house set back from the road that peeks between trees growing at the front. It was wedding gift from Kristoph with the promise that they could come here to enjoy the rural landscape for vacations they never ended up taking. In fact, she’s certain the last time he was out here was when he bought the place.

She unlocks the heavy wood doors that swing open with a creak. “What do you think?” She inquires as they set foot inside. Eva walks into the middle of the room and spins around with her arms outstretched to gesture to the entirety of the space. A bright smile rests on her features.

It’s a stark contrast from her decedent house in the city. There are plants placed along some of the windowsills and adorning the tables as centerpieces. Paintings and photographs hang on the walls. None of anyone recognizable, but rather photos of various natural habitats. Sunlight pours into the room through the tall windows and, what truly sets it apart from her London house, are all the warm, earthy tones with splashes of more vibrant color integrated into the rooms.

“Different, right? Kristoph never comes here, but I have on occasion when time permits, and I turned decorating it into a pet project of mine.”

Saeyun’s gaze snaps from watching Eva to taking in the sight of the room.

“It is, but I like it a lot.”

“It’s a shame it won’t be mine for much longer, but it’s going to good people.”

Saeyun shifts her attention back to Eva and raises her brow. “You’re selling it?”

“Well, like I said, I’m hardly ever here and Kristoph doesn’t care about it, it’s all in my name anyway, so it’d be a waste to hold onto. But I’m not selling it, I don’t need to watch it be sold off to some other wealthy family. I met this family some time ago, sweet people and good children, but it was all five of them in a small flat and children get so restless as they get older and need their own spaces, so I gave it to them. I’m sure they’ll get more use out of it than I ever could.”

“Go, explore, I’ll make tea and get you when it’s ready.” Eva ushers Saeyun to keep moving and see the rest of the house while she retreats into the kitchen.

Not long after Eva calls out Saeyun’s name. Saeyun returns to the living room where Eva is rummaging around mumbling to herself.

“What are you looking for?”

“Oh, there was this record I had of this song I liked as a child, but I think I got rid of it or lost it while moving things into here.” She hums out some of the melody as she returns to Saeyun’s side only to stop abruptly when she sees Saeyun’s hand outstretched towards her.

“It’s a lovely tune,” Saeyun speaks up in a hushed voice, as though the music were actually playing. “Shall we?”

“Dance?” Eva questions, lighting up at the thought and places her hand into Saeyun’s.

Saeyun gives a small nod and leads Eva around the room while Eva continues humming.