Chained by Expectations | Park Sunghoon

Eighteen (M)

Both Sunghoon and Haneul hurried to get ready for the company party their father's were throwing tonight to celebrate the success of one of their international contracts.

Sunghoon looked every bit a prince in his impeccably tailored suit, perfectly matching Haneul's stunning black evening gown. Her sleeveless gown hugged her curves gracefully, and the ensemble was elevated by her heels and arm-length gloves, adding an extra touch of elegance. Her long, dark locks were expertly styled in a messy updo that framed her face, enhancing her natural beauty. As Haneul descended the staircase, Sunghoon couldn't help but be captivated by the sight of her. Unlike their first company event together, this time Haneul didn't have to do much convincing to get him to accompany her.

However, she couldn't help but feel a bit guilty. She sensed that Sunghoon had been under immense stress at work, just as she had been with the demands of her final exams at school.

"Let's go?" she asked as she reached the bottom of the staircase. Sunghoon nodded in response, and they made their way out the door. The car ride to the venue was unusually silent, and Haneul couldn't shake the feeling of tension in the air. Sunghoon's stern expression didn't offer many clues, and Haneul occasionally stole glances at him, unsure of whether he was upset or simply concentrated on the road.

Finally arriving at their destination they both got out of the car and made their way to the entrance of the venue.

The company party was in full swing, and Haneul and Sunghoon spent an hour engaging in conversations with various guests. However, Sunghoon's patience was wearing thin, evident in the strained expression he wore as he navigated through the crowd with Haneul, pretending to be interested in the small talk that filled the air. Haneul, more accustomed to the social events, managed to maintain a gracious demeanor, but she could sense Sunghoon's discomfort.

Eventually, unable to endure the repetitive questions and forced enthusiasm any longer, Sunghoon abruptly excused himself from the ongoing conversation, leaving Haneul with the other guests.

"I apologize about that. He must not be feeling well," Haneul explained to the seniors, hoping to smooth over the situation. "Sunghoon has never liked coming to these, darling," one of the older women chuckled. "It looks like some things will never change. I'm surprised you've been able to get him to come two times in a row."

Haneul offered a polite but uncomfortable smile before excusing herself, deciding to check on Sunghoon. She navigated through the venue, greeting acquaintances along the way. As she was about to give up on finding Sunghoon, she spotted him through a window, standing outside.

Haneul stepped outside into the crisp night air, her elegant dress lightly swaying in the wind. The scent of cigarette smoke greeted her senses as she scanned the area, her eyes finding Sunghoon in a corner, quietly smoking.

"What are you doing?" she asked, a hint of disgust in her voice as she approached him.

"How can you stand being in there? It's so suffocating, putting up an act," Sunghoon replied, taking another drag of his cigarette.

"I thought I told you smoking is bad for you," she said, standing next to him. The cool breeze tousled their clothes, and Haneul couldn't help but shiver slightly in the cold night air.

Sunghoon looked at her, exhaling a plume of smoke. "Well, sometimes you need a break from all the pretending," he said, his eyes meeting hers. Taking the cigarette from his hand she threw it on the ground before stomping on it to put it out.

"You know you didn't have to come if you didn't want to." She said annoyed at his childish behavior. "If you're gonna keep acting like this then we can just go home." She said as she turned to walk back inside.