Soulmate

Fifty Two: Ophelia

please read end note!!

Seoul, South Korea
February 27, 2020

About fifteen minutes after the house is emptied of all the guys, Elle finally emerges from the hallway. Her hair is freshly washed, dried, and tied away in a pretty hair clip. She sports a face of perfect makeup, completed with two flattering, sharp wings of eyeliner. She wears a multitude of gold accessories around her neck and in her ears to simply add to her already elegant and elevated look. It's the first time I've ever seen her completely dressed and ready to go out and her beauty is incredibly captivating.

Her jaw is sharp and her mouth is set into a determined and serious line as she brushes a few fallen hairs behind her ear. She hums as she rummages through the coat closet next to the kitchen, grabbing one of Taehyung's long coats and slipping it on over her cream colored sweater vest.

"Sorry I took so long," she says. "I had trouble finding my hoop earring Tae got me for Christmas." She flutters her fingers to show me the heavy looking gold hoops hanging from one of her many ear piercings. "They were hiding under his pillow." She laughs as she swings her purse over her shoulder.

"No, you're way faster at getting ready than I am," I say. "How'd you manage to look so nice in such a short time?"

She shrugs. "Taehyung's wardrobe? I'm wearing one of his turtlenecks under my sweater and these are his pants too. They're a couple years old, back before he had a butt and started working out."

I laugh at that. "I feel underdressed," I say, looking down at my thick sweated and blue jeans. Compared to all of her statement jewelry pieces, my lack of accessories make me feel inferior to her fashion and her stunning beauty.

Elle furrows her brows and looks at me in shock. "What? No, absolutely not. You're gorgeous."

I simply nod. "Thanks, Elle. Should we go?"

She sighs. "Here." She undoes her pretty chain necklaces and gestures for me to come over to her.

"No, I can't take your jewelry," I tell her, holding up my hand in protest.

"Ophelia, you're not taking anything from me," she promises. "I'm giving you a gift. Besides, we're like sisters now, right? I can just steal it back if I want to wear it." She smiles sweetly at me and reaches around to clip the necklace onto me.

"There. It looks perfect on you! Gold suits you so much better than me, I'm too pale for it."

She smiles brightly and makes her way to the front door, tugging me behind her by the hand. My fingers reach up to touch the simple pendant necklace while I wait for her to type in the lock password on the door. It's a simple presses plate with beaded drips of gold in a little frame around the edges. It's perfectly simple in appearance, but her gesture warms my heart.

I hurry after her so I don't get lost behind her.

—

Two hours later, Elle finally unlocks the door to Taehyung's massive Gangnam apartment with her fancy keycard. She swings open the door to reveal the dark and dusty apartment. Dust rises from the floor and dances in the sunlight streaming through the windows as we walk through, looking around at the high ceilings and

Elle flips on the lights, her hands on her hips as she stares at the furniture strewn throughout the house.

"Huh..." Elle mutters. "He told me he didn't buy any furniture last month when he was looking online." She puts a hand on her hip, lifting up a furniture cover to expose the expensive blue velvet couch. She simply shakes her head and waves for me to follow. "Come on, I'll give you a little tour of our place."