Unrequited Love | MYG ✅

Chapter Three

Tonight I can feel my inner rebel spirit bubbling under the surface of my skin. I haven't dated anyone in the three years and being permanently single and celibate is something I've leaned into without any regret. However, once in a while, my inner spirit longs to feel powerful, my body becomes a bit needy, and quite frankly, very much like a thirsty bitch. Tonight is one of those occasions.

I spend most of my days in comfy clothes without a stitch of makeup on which again, makes me stick out in a culture that takes so much pride in appearances, but it's most often how I feel comfortable in my own skin.

However, I always like to channel my inner rock star on gig nights, and after this week of unusual encounters with men with beautiful eyes, my inner goddess is dying to get out. I put on black jeans with holes in the knees and a short-sleeved turtle neck top in a beautiful jade color. I top the look with a crochet lace sweater to ensure I'm not showing too much skin and adorn my hands with some silver rings that match my earrings. A "y" shaped chain that sparkles and dips down to my belly button finishes my look. It's not scandalous, but it made me feel sexy.

Jae comes over and is thrilled to help me with my makeup. She magically makes all my skin imperfections fade away, giving me a dramatic smokey eye, and talks me into a dewy lip gloss. I stand back to study myself in the mirror and realize I feel powerful.

"Jae, you are a magician. Thank you so much!" I exclaim.

"Girl, you know I will always have your back!" She laughs, and we squeeze hands.

"Are you sure you can't come with me tonight? I know the owner will let you drink for free!" I whine.

"Seeing that he is my brother, I would kick his ass if he didn't let me drink for free, but I already committed to other plans," she replies with a giggle.

"Well, thank you for getting me ready. I'm glad we got to hang out for a bit anyway," I smile.

"Do yourself a favor and talk to some of the guys at the bar during your breaks, Lily. There are always a few mulling around trying to talk to you, and you never give them the time of day!"

"Ugh, I will try," I say, but I know I don't sound convincing.

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The energy at Nunchi is on fire this evening, and it is precisely the kind of energy I need. The crowd is downright jovial and ready to have a good time, and the drinks are flowing from the bar.  I am so nervous as I sit down at the piano. I place my crutches against the wall behind me, chuckling at how ridiculous I look and praying my knee will handle the pain as I step on the foot pedals of the gorgeous piano in front of me.

As I begin to play, I feel out the crowd's energy as the drinks flow around me. I sing passionately, and I'm thrilled as the night goes on and the small crowd joins in. The later the night gets, the wilder the energy, and it feels like we've transformed into a makeshift karaoke bar. I crack jokes with the crowd, and I genuinely can feel us feeding off each other's energy.

After the first few songs, my nervousness disappears, and it probably helps that I have been stealing sips from a glass of whiskey on the rocks that Ha-Kun, Jae's brother, has quietly left on the piano for me.

Thoughtful as always.

As the night begins to wind down, I prepare for my last song. I decide to try a cover of Max's "Love me Less."  I've adored this song from the first time I heard it a few years ago, but I have rearranged the music and slowed it down, converting it to a soulful, bluesy version with the piano. I identify strongly with the idea of someone not fully loving me if they knew all my secrets and faults.

As I reach the chorus, I'm not sure if it is the whiskey or the adrenaline, but I have tears threatening to reveal in my eyes as I channel all the heartbreak I have ever felt into my voice. I push back from the piano, grab the microphone from its holder, and muster up all my strength to stand up on the piano bench. My knee is screaming, but as the piano music goes silent and it's just me belting out across the room, everyone starts cheering. I'm performing completely on animal instinct now, and the crowd reciprocating my energy is more than I could have imagined.

As I take a breath and scan the room, my heart pounding through my chest, I notice three men lingering near the edge of the crowd. My heart skips for a second when I see Sejin casually leaning against the back wall blending in with the crowd.

Immediately to Sejin's left, I recognize those beautiful doe eyes from earlier in the day. The outfit has changed, and much of his face is covered with a mask, but he's wearing that telltale Bucket hat, no doubt to disguise his purple locks, it's Jungkook. His hips sway back and forth with his hand over his heart which stuns me as I try and act like nothing unusual is happening.

The third man is wearing a beanie and a mask as well. His dark eyes are intense, but he's nodding his head, and I instantly feel that behind the mask, this stranger understands what I'm trying to convey through my voice, and a sea of cosmic validation washes over me. They understand my craft.

What the hell are they doing here?

I slowly sink back down to sit on the bench, feeling the security of it underneath me. My knee prickles with pain, but I brush it away, closing my eyes as I begin playing again, fighting the urge to lose myself in all the thoughts rushing through my mind.

Concentrating on finishing the song, I begin the last verse. When I open my eyes, Jungkook materializes in front of the piano sliding money into my tip jar. Just over the music, I hear a muffled, "beautiful," escape from under his mask and he winks in my direction, and just like that, he disappears back into the crowd, and I watch as the men, undetected, slip through the bar and out the exit as if they were never there in the first place.

I finish the set almost breathless, struggling to control my breathing; I begin to thank the crowd for coming. I can feel my body shaking from deep inside my core from all the adrenaline. Reaching over, I take a long, slow sip of my whiskey, letting the warm liquid settle all over my senses.

What the absolute fuck was that? I think to myself, but I can feel a smile rising up through the shock.