Melodies Of Betrayal: The Toxic Encore ✓

Chapter 5: May I?

Chapter 5: May I?

MAL ran a hand through her hair in distress as her trembling hands grabbed her phone, her eyes staring at the screen to read whatever was there. She rolled her eyes, her heart beating too fast for her liking inside her ribs while heat rushed to her cheeks.

She set her phone down on the table she had her arms on, and hit her head against the table in annoyance.

And as soon as her ears caught a soft shuffling sound behind her, she raised her head and glanced at its direction, her heart stopping its beats for a brief second in anticipation.

She met the sight of her lover standing by the doorframe, briefly rubbing his eyes and running a hand through his hair in order to brush it. The grey pyjamas that hugged his slim figure caused a smile to erupt through her face.

"Good morning, sweetheart!" She greeted warmly, opening her arms to invite him in one of her familiar, long morning embrace. He ran in her direction and returned the hug with a warm, sleepy smile.

"Good morning, noona..." He sank his face through her neck, tightening his grip around her torso to appreciate the sweet moment. "How are you today?"

She let out a small giggle as she placed a quick kiss on his forehead. "I'm good, baby, how are you? Are you feeling better?"

He barely nodded his head. "Thanks to you, noona."

Her heart fluttered at the sentences. Four words managed to bring heat to her cheeks, and his. She placed one more kiss on his soft, messy hair before gently shoving him away, her hands still on his shoulders.

"I have to go meet my friends at the restaurant today," Mal replied, "and before that, I have to go somewhere real quick."

He nodded his head, sending her a small smile. "Have fun, noona! I'll go to work and my schedule today ends at around ten o'clock."

"Good," she replied. "Come straight home, okay? After my little hangout with Santa and Yacht, I'll come straight home too. At around nine, I think. I'll order food for us to eat when you come back."

He nodded his head once again. Mal sent him a small smile at how cute he seemed.

To her, everything he did was cute. Even if it was just breathing.

She sighed and stared at his face, attempting to memorize every inch of his beautiful face. A little part inside her broke every time she couldn't, but she knew he didn't mind in the slightest.

Junwon's cheeks turned pink as he looked down, trying to avoid her piercing gaze. "Sorry, I probably don't look great at all, considering that-"

But stopped his sentence as soon as a hand grabbed his chin gently, causing him to look into her eyes once again.

"May I?"

Her voice rang in his ears, and it took him a few moments to absorb the question. He blinked for a few seconds before opening his mouth to reply, finally understanding the words.

"Y-Yes, please..."

She inched her way closer to his face, her hungry eyes gazing at his pink, plump lips before she crashed her own lips into his. He let out a soft, muffled moan, then managed to return the passionate kiss despite the weakening sensation erupting through his body.

She pulled away after a few seconds, her mouth curving into a smirk. Licking her lower lip, she rested a hand over his waist and inched closer once again, this time placing a kiss on his forehead.

"I have to go now, baby, okay?"

He nodded his head, still dazed from the aftermath of her seductive yet sweet kiss.

"B-Bye, noona!" He whispered, his voice shaky. "I love you..."

"I love you too, baby." Another two kisses on his cheeks. "Take care of yourself."

She gave him one last, tight hug before hurrying out of the room. It didn't take a few seconds for the front door to be shut behind her as well, letting him know that she left.

. . .

Junwon sighed heavily as he finally sat down on the dining chair, his legs giving away beneath him. Inhaling shaky breaths, he ran a hand through his hair and set his arms on the table before him.

"Is it finally time to eat?" One of the younger members sat on a dining chair with a soft plop. "I'm starving!"

The rest of the members took their seats on the dining table. Junwon could count ten members with his glances around the room. For a moment, he questioned why there was a missing member throughout the sacred lunch time.

And before he could open his mouth to ask the question he wanted to ask, his ears caught the familiar noise of footsteps hurrying towards the table they all shared. His eyes followed the source of the noise only to find Soul taking his seat between Hanbin and Minseo.

Junwon sent him a long glare, at how sweat poured down his face, at his uncomfortable smile as he greeted the rest of the members. He could almost roll his eyes at how annoying he seemed, just grabbing his chopsticks and shoving a bite of boiling food in his mouth while his cheeks were already flushed and pink.

It almost didn't matter that they had laughed at him that day, at the fact that he mentioned his lover in one of the interviews they went through. All he needed to do was finish eating so that he could leave the table as quickly as possible. As soon as the staff members set their plates in front of them, he reached for his chopsticks as well and began munching on his food.

Because he almost couldn't stand another minute with the same members who disrespected and made fun of him.

He could almost wish for a different situation. A situation where he had caring, loving members that tolerated him.

Almost.

Because he knew that no matter what happened, what was done couldn't be changed. No matter how much he wished for it.

He shoved another bite of ramen into his mouth and continued to stare at the wooden table, ignoring his members' piercing gazes as they talked about topics he couldn't focus on.

"... And then he just left! Could you believe it?"

"Who would've thought that they would do something like this-"

As soon as Junwon noticed that his plate was empty, he stood up from his seat, his disposable-aluminium plate clutched tightly in his hand so he could throw it in the garbage bin. He sighed and hurried away from the table, relief filling up his chest and stomach with every step he took.

That went better than he thought, didn't it?