AFTERGLOW |CYJ

42

Heeseung twists the knob, easing open Joohyun's apartment door. It wasn't unusual for him to walk in unannounced; she never bothered to lock it, as if she expected only her best friend to wander in. The faint scent of her jasmine perfume meets him as he steps inside.

He stops when he spots her in front of the full-length mirror in the living room, her back slightly turned toward him. She's holding the two thin straps of a pure white dress, draped loosely over her figure. She had slipped it on from the bottom, leaving only the straps dangling, waiting to be fastened.

When she turns to face him, there's no hint of surprise in her eyes, no shift in expression at all. She seemed entirely comfortable with him seeing her this way, the soft lace of her bra peeking out without hesitation. Slowly, she slips the straps over her shoulders, her movements unhurried, as though he wasn't even there. She moves her gaze over her reflection in the mirror, her expressions rested.

He volunteers to zip up her dress. He steps closer positioning himself behind her, his hands meeting her waist first. The dress was deep backless and short, covering up to her thigh. The zipper is small and takes no time. The fabric of her dress feels soft and supple. She crouches down to pick up a necklace from her jewelry box on the ground. She raises up to stand up in the same position as before, her bronzed color stockings brushing off as her knees touch.

She whips her hair to her left to put on small hoop earrings. He admires her figure from behind as he rests his hands over her waists, almost possessive, his amber gaze following her nuances with a smirk. She flips her head to the other side to put on the remaining pair. He stands with legs spaced at some distance between them, his hand slipping over her belly. She glances at him through the mirror, gently moving her hair behind her ear to see his face.

Heeseung stands with a relaxed confidence, the sleek lines of his fitted blazer accentuating his frame. Beneath it, a crisp white shirt peeks out, hinting at a casual elegance. His tailored trousers complement the outfit perfectly, giving him an air of sophistication that could easily suggest he was ready for a night out at the same party as her. The soft fabric catches the light, highlighting the subtle details in his laid back style.

As Joohyun's gaze sweeps over him, her mind races with the possibility that he might join her for the evening. Just as she begins to entertain the idea, he tilts his head, a playful smirk dancing on his lips. "So, where are you going?" he asks, breaking the spell and dispelling her assumption with a lighthearted ease.

"Julia's party. Aren't you invited too?", she asks as she walks to the door, picking up her studded purse from the dining table, her hurried actions making Heeseung think before responding.

"Julia who?", he asks back as he joins her slipping into her stilettos. Her hand swings in air to balance herself. He holds her hand to support her.

"Indy's sister. Don't you know her?", she replies as she turns her head towards him.

"You mean Sugar?", he asks her to confirm. "Yeah", she says. Julia had really never told her real name to anyone on their first meet except Joohyun. He had seen Indy's sister during the wedding preparations but hadn't conversed with her directly since he didn't like talking to girls-this case, vampire girls. It intrigues her, but Heeseung's expressions sculpt in tension. He twists her wrist, yanking her closer.

"You're going to a party with vampires?", he interrogates her.

"Yeah, to support her. I thought she invited all of you guys", she says.

"She didn't", Heeseung tells her, recalling no messages regarding the party. His hand slips around her wrist and wraps around his phone as he reads through his messages. Julia had sent the message to Heeseung. But he just hadn't bothered to look at it. He rarely responded to messages, except if there were some from his best friend.