Stendhal • Syndrome || SeongJoong

III

"Oh! You're here. Come in."

Hongjoong doesn't help but smile and Seonghwa notices the way his pupil dilated. So seriously that she doubts he can see anything. She takes one last cigarette puff before crushing it and standing up from her spot. She's wearing high-waisted pants, a button-down shirt half open, allowing the gap between her breasts to be seen; her hair is covered in a black headband and her nails are painted red. They're long, like elegant claws.

Hongjoong walks shakily to the table where there are several desserts, sitting down on one of the chairs and staring at Seonghwa. The woman releases smoke and crosses her leg once seated.

"I'm curious, was that whole letter in your head that night?" Seonghwa asks and Hongjoong nods, stunned. She's never had a person so idiotic about her and it's...

Somewhere between strange, fascinating, creepy and wonderful. The final note is that she's turned on by this level of adoration. She's only seen it in men towards their heirs and the believers at mass, receiving sermons from the orator priests.

"What a poetic head you have." Seonghwa jokes.

"I-I'm sorry if... I made you uncomfortable... I was just so happy." Hongjoong says laughing awkwardly. Seonghwa pours herself wine and Hongjoong as well.

"Are you happy now?"

"More than ever."

Seonghwa laughs.

"You're such an adorable child," Seonghwa purrs, taking the glass of wine. "Don't be shy. You can drink."

Although she expects something, Hongjoong remains rigid and still in his place. Seonghwa wipes the corners of her lips with the finger and leans forward.

"Are you afraid to look at me now?"

Hongjoong continues to stare at the glass of wine. Trembling uncontrollably, sweat beginning to break out on his skin. He breathes lightly, one by one through his mouth; Seonghwa keeps a mischievous smile on her lips.

She stands up from her place and Hongjoong holds his breath, with her sitting next to him. Seonghwa slides his hand down the boy's cheek and turns his head. Hongjoong's wide, dazzled eyes are now fixed on her. His smile is wide, giggles escaping and heart rate is racing.

"I won't have any problem seeing each other, if you look at me like this, Hongjoong" Seonghwa whispers in a small voice. She rubs her thumb on Hongjoong's cheek. A delicate, tender caress. "If what you say in your letter is real, prove it to me. Prove that you see a goddess in me."

"You are a goddess." Hongjoong says. A silly babble of wonder.

Seonghwa pulls him close and kisses him on the cheek. Her lips pressed to the soft skin and Hongjoong moans. Seonghwa gasps near the warm skin.

"We'll get along just fine, sweetheart."

┈

"I'm Mingi, one of Mrs. Park's personal bodyguards," the man in the suit introduces himself. "I was told that whenever she wants, I must go find you and bring you here. In case I don't go, there's him. It's Jongho."

The man barely makes a gesture, busy assembling a small weapon.

"Okay." Hongjoong was put in a small room. He hasn't been able to stop looking at the painting on the wall. A painting of a poem by Coleridge. "The lady, she's alone, right? She doesn't have a husband and she's the leader."

"Indeed..."

Mingi looks at him suspiciously. He has a duty to report anything he talks to him about. It's the third time in his life that Mingi has to maintain this kind of surveillance. The first were Wooyoung and Yeosang. Those who will be close to Seonghwa can't be like the other men in the middle. They must be...