Moon nights - a summer romance in Seoul

Chapter 32: Jonghyun

Maybe we all need to break our masks a little
for our inner self to shine through
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After my successful solo trip to the café, despite the fact that I felt like avoiding any interaction with humans, my social battery was also on a low; I was confident enough that partying at the club would also be a good time. I had some of my closest friends around me, and we were all here to have fun. What could go wrong? I'd be inside their circle. The music would be the only possible trigger, but that's why we had bought some noise-cancelling earplugs to wear once we were inside—Faras' idea.

The club experience vastly differed from what I saw in movies growing up. Waiting in the queue, the crowds and the stuffed air were never portrayed. They just walked in. Once we were inside, I kept Tala close to me as Naeun, Mina, and I made our way to the dance floor—the guys in charge of getting us the drinks. "To avoid any circumstances", Faras had stated while we were waiting in the queue outside.

"What circumstances?" Tala had asked him.

"Avoiding any chance of an asshole dropping anything into your drinks", Taehyun said with a frown.

"You girls are our responsibility, so let us get you your drinks to ensure you all stay safe, " Jonghyun said, pulling me closer to him.

I'd live under a rook if I said I hadn't considered the possibility of that scenario happening. I had heard so many stories from girls to women who were infused with substances and taken advantage of. Each story made my skin crawl, and I wanted to hold the victim and assure her that it was never her fault. Hold their hand while the monster in human skin gets the legal justice he deserves. Maybe they deserved something more. Something more painful. Something to remember. Don't they ever think that they have a mother? A sister, perhaps? A daughter? That this could happen to them too. Or guys who just silently stood by. You're just as much part of the crime.

Your hands might not touch her skin, but your presence has.

It was dehumanising to even think of doing something like that; how were these victims ever supposed to be the same again? To move on with their life without the trauma haunting them every breathing second?

Hoping that nothing of any sort would happen to either of us tonight, nor any other women in the club or around the world, I swayed to the beat of the music in our small dancing circle within the crowd. The lights were flickering on us, and I closed my eyes, letting the music rhythm take over me.

The girls and I were so focused on dancing with each other that I jumped a little when a hand suddenly touched my shoulder.

"Woah, it's me, love. False alarm", Jonghyun partly shouted, which still sounded more like a whisper due to the volume of the music and the earplugs. I sighed in relief and gladly took the drink he held out for me. Taking a sip, I was parched.

"It's you."

"Waiting for someone else, Holmes?"

"An anonymous source had leaked the information that a certain Jeong Jonghyun would be here tonight, Watson." I just shrugged and pretended to look amongst the crowds.

"I'd bet he would only have eyes for you if he shows up here.", he said as he wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me closer.

"I'd be delighted to have that effect on him."

"That's how any true crime story would start, being honest.". We both chuckled.

"Perhaps"

"Enjoying your time so far?" he asked, and I nodded, wiggling my shoulders to the beat as well. He laughed and copied my moves, one arm resting on me while he sipped his drink with the other.