The A-Z of Love

Q

The day of Zoey's date with Hongjoong started with a whirlwind of activity. The anticipation of wearing a pretty dress and going to the theatre filled her with excitement. She had chosen a dress that was both elegant and comfortable, its soft blue fabric complementing her complexion perfectly.

As she stepped out of her room, the members of ATEEZ immediately showered her with compliments.

Seonghwa's eyes widened.

"Wow, Zoey, you look stunning!"

Yeosang nodded in agreement.

"Absolutely beautiful."

Jongho, still shy from their conversation the day before, gave her a gentle smile and a thumbs up.

Wooyoung, ever the energetic one, couldn't contain himself. He picked her up and spun around.

"Look at our princess! You look like you walked straight out of a fairytale. San! Take photos of me and my best friend!"

Laughing, San pulled out his phone and began taking pictures of his soulmate and Zoey.

Zoey also laughed, feeling a mix of embarrassment and joy.

Each of her soulmates gave her a hug goodbye, their affection making her feel warm and cherished.

Hongjoong stepped forward and offered his arm.

"You look amazing, Zoey. Shall we?"

They made their way to the theatre, the atmosphere buzzing with excitement. Zoey had always loved musicals, and although the performance would be in Korean, she was thrilled to experience it with Hongjoong.

The theatre was grand, its ornate interior adding to the magic of the evening. They found their seats, and as the lights dimmed and the curtain rose, Zoey felt a flutter of anticipation.

Throughout the performance, Hongjoong leaned in occasionally to translate the main plot points, ensuring she could follow along. His explanations were brief but effective, allowing her to enjoy the show while understanding the story.

When the final curtain fell, Zoey clapped enthusiastically, her eyes shining with delight.

"That was incredible. Thank you for bringing me here."

"I'm glad you enjoyed it. How about we get some dessert?"

They found a cosy café nearby, its warm ambience a perfect end to their evening. Over slices of decadent cake and rich hot chocolate, Hongjoong brought up something that had been on his mind.

"Zoey, I wanted to thank you for what you said to Jongho yesterday. It meant a lot to him, and to all of us."

Zoey blushed, brushing off his words.

"It was nothing."

Hongjoong reached out and placed his hand on hers.

"It was something. Jongho struggles with feeling accepted because of his asexuality. Your reaction helped him more than you know."

Zoey's expression grew thoughtful, and she seemed to wrestle with something internally. With a little gentle prodding from Hongjoong, she finally spoke.

"Is it bad that I feel more comfortable around Jongho because of it?"

Hongjoong's mind pieced together small hints from their time together: how she had acted when they first met, her hesitation around intimacy. He felt a pang of concern but knew now was not the time to delve deeper. Instead, he smiled reassuringly.

"No, it's not bad at all. Zoey, I hope that, like Jongho, you can tell us if we ever do something that makes you uncomfortable, okay?"

Tears glistened in Zoey's eyes, but her smile was one of pure gratitude.

"No one has ever made me feel as safe as you do, Hongjoong."

Hongjoong's heart swelled with a mixture of pride and protectiveness. He squeezed her hand gently.

"That's all I could ever hope for."

The rest of the evening passed in a blur of laughter and shared stories. As they rode back to the apartment, hand in hand, Zoey felt a sense of belonging that she hadn't experienced in a long time.

However, she had less than a week left with her soulmates before she headed back home and the thought of leaving them worried her. She wanted to make the most of the time they had together, but she wasn't sure how. Hopefully, she would think of something quickly.