Affection's Facade

The role of the dancer

Tae-Hyung's POV

I found myself pausing to take a look at her. Elera's allure seemed to have intensified from the moment, I last remembered. As she gracefully exited the hospital room, she offered a fleeting nod to a nearby nurse, her Afro cascading effortlessly behind her.

Making our way to the elevator, its doors slid open to reveal Mr. Hwang inside. He stood there, a silent sentinel, his gaze flitting between Elera and me, before returning to his wife.

The air grew slightly tense, and just then, Mrs. Hwang's eyes lingered on me. I couldn't help but detect a hint of admiration in her gaze. To my amusement, Elera cleared her throat rather audibly, a subtle hint of her burgeoning jealousy. Catching this, a spontaneous smile broke across my face, finding her protective demeanor endearing.

With a roll of her eyes, Mrs. Hwang hesitated briefly, perhaps contemplating the weight of the moment. As she stepped out of the elevator, Elera extended her gratitude with a soft "Thank you." In return, Mrs. Hwang merely inclined her head, acknowledging her words.

Teasingly, I quipped, "Didn't appreciate Mrs. Hwang admiring me, did you?" Elera's exasperated roll of her eyes spoke volumes as she made her way out of the elevator. Acting on impulse, I reached out, gently grasping her wrist, and with a gentle tug, pulled her back in, the doors closing behind us with a soft click.

" We get off on—" she began. While I pressed another button to allow us more time.

" What are you –."

"Doing?" I finished her sentence, my lips curling into a mischievous grin. The dimmed lights of the elevator illuminated her face, casting playful shadows that accentuated her slightly furrowed brows.

She looked both confused and amused, her eyes searching mine for answers. "Tae-hyung, what's gotten into you?"

I leaned closer, our faces mere inches apart, the soft song of the elevator continued as a soundtrack. "Were you jealous just now, Ms.Osei?"

She playfully swatted at my chest. "I was not jealous," she huffed, feigning indignation. But her eyes sparkled with a mix of embarrassment and delight.

Chuckling, I retorted, "Sure, and I press random elevator buttons just for fun."

She leaned back against the elevator wall, an exaggerated sigh escaping her lips. "Oh, the perils of being so irresistibly attractive," she teased, echoing my earlier sentiment.

I raised an eyebrow, "So you admit it?"

She rolled her eyes, but her smile gave her away. "Admit what?"

"That you find me irresistibly attractive?" I replied, smirking.

She laughed a melodious sound that filled the confined space. "Maybe," she murmured coyly. Just then, the elevator dinged, signaling our arrival at the chosen floor.

Taking her hand, I whispered, "Well, 'maybe' will have to do... for now." She shook her head, her arms folded as we began our walk.

Soon we were in the parking lot, headed to my car. The ride was smooth, with the soft patter of rain against the windows creating a gentle background noise. Elera leaned her head slightly against the window, lost in thought, watching the droplets as they traced their paths down the pane.

I shifted in my seat to face her better and took a quick glance at her hand resting on her lap. Noticing the absence of her ring, I raised an eyebrow in question. "Elera," I began, gesturing towards her hand, "where's your ring?"

She blinked, her lashes momentarily shielding the surprise in her eyes, then straightened up and gazed at her bare finger, which flexed slightly, almost subconsciously. "I took it off just for today," she murmured, her voice carrying a hint of melancholy.