Matter of Harmony || Oneus Seoho

Carried Away (2)

Yuri's PoV

Xion takes me to an 'elite' party. I recognize more than a few famous people as we make our way through the cocktail tables. The last time I had to be in a gathering of this sort seems like such a long time ago. The idle chat, sophisticated words masking a vain understanding of important matters. People that look down on the rest of the world, and feel entitled to virtue by their physical beauty or the size of their wallet.

Xion introduces me as his partner to the ones that ask but he evades the question when I ask him what that means. At some point, I stop trying to pry answers out of him and let myself be carried away by the stream of events. I don't have another choice in any case, what with the sensory overload and the number of people that come up to talk to us. I introduce myself as Min Yuri each time, an actress. Not the daughter of Kang Yoonah. I took that mask off when I left my old life behind.

When Xion pulls his car to a stop in front of my house I don't immediately get off. I look at him until he turns to meet my gaze. "I don't know why but I like being with you, even if I don't like events like this I could bear it. There's a familiar feeling being with you gives me. It makes me put up with not knowing what goes on in your head." He looks handsome under the yellow light of the streetlamp that manages to reach inside the car. "But I deserve the truth, the bare truth, what do you want this relationship to be? Am I eye candy to show off at parties? Am I a friend? Or more?"

It takes a moment for him to reply but he doesn't break eye contact. "I don't know yet. All I know for now is that I want you to be beside me. Sometimes to show off, sometimes as a friend, and perhaps for more." I watch him carefully as he speaks deliberately and decide he's being honest with me. Although I have a million more questions, I know I'll let myself be carried away in the stream.

....

Seoho's PoV

I watch from a distance as Yuri gets her makeup done. Up until this point I haven't paid any attention to this Xion guy. He says something that makes Yuri screw her brows and then smile. There's something familiar in the way he moves, it's as if I know him, but I can't tell from where.

I don't get to watch any longer as Hwanwoong walks toward me in a rush. He instructs me on the next scene and where I should set up the camera and leaves as fast as he came.

The shooting continues all day. When I finally zip up and shoulder my camera bag to call it a day most of the crew has already left. I check Yuri's dressing room to offer to walk her home but I find it empty.

"She left a while ago," I jump at the sudden voice. Xion crosses his arms and leans against the door frame. I narrow my eyes trying to figure out why he's so familiar. "You two must be very close," he says matter of factly. "She likes talking about you." there's an edge to the way he says that as if he's not happy about it. "Yeah, we have been close friends since we were kids. You look familiar, do I know..." "Childhood friends, huh? It must be amazing to have someone that's always there for you..."

He acts like he didn't just interrupt me, and fishes for something in his pocket. "I bought some lollipops, would you like one?" then he stuffs one into my hand without waiting for a reply "I've got to run now, nice chat Seo."

Where the hell do I know him from? I look at the strawberry lollipop he thrust into my hand "Strawberry is Yuri's favorite..." I mutter to myself. "How would he know that? How would he know to call me Seo." Then, slowly, I remember. A small boy, four years younger than me. A boy who spent half of his time in the hospital and the other half in the garden neighboring the Kang house. The way he talks is completely different from the meek way it used to be, but of course it is, it must have been more than fifteen years since I last saw him.