off limits ✧ zb1 applyfic

✧ one hundred and twelve

When Jiyeon had received her invitation to the party, she'd hesitated. She'd never been good with crowds, and the comfort of her home sounded like a much better evening to her. Even as Yujin had pestered her over and over again, she still harbored doubts, anxious at the simple thought of having to make conversation for an entire night.

Then, Jiwoong had told her he was going, and Jiyeon changed her mind. Yes, Yujin had been a little pissed off that this was the one thing that could convince her, but could you blame her? Summer was just about to end. Once the routine of life would set in again, her time with Jiwoong would be divided by two, if not more (whereas Yujin lived in the same home, so she was still going to see him a lot, too much according to him). And a party, on top of that? Where Jiwoong would be dressed up, and they could dance together? Well, that would be way too good to pass up on.

At least it would have been, if Jiwoong had shown up. The party had started an hour ago now, yet there was still no sign of him. She'd had to muster up all of her courage to even dare ask Vicky about him, and the girl had quickly reassured her, telling her Jiwoong was busy with work, and he would simply be a little late. But he was coming. He was definitely coming, and so, Jiyeon had gone out to the front porch to wait for him. Twenty minutes ago. Even though the wind had picked up and she'd been too stupid to wear a jacket.

Maybe he wasn’t coming. Jiyeon chewed the inside of her cheek, trying to no avail to push the negative thoughts out of her mind. Maybe something had happened. Her nails scratching against the wooden railing of the porch, she drew a breath in, slow and expansive. Worry was starting to get the better of her. What if something had happened to him?

Just as she was about to fish her phone out of her purse, her eyes caught onto a faint light from the street outside the property. Headlights, she realized, as a car pulled up in front of the gates. She held her breath and watched as the door to the driver's seat opened, a silent prayer on her tongue. Even in the darkness she could recognize him: his strong silhouette, his relaxed gait, the click of his shoes against the pavement.

She sighed in relief and scrambled down the stone stairs, closing the distance between them.

"Jiwoong!" she called. "Oh my god, I thought you'd never come."

He looked up at her, his eyes wide. "Oh, Jiyeon. I'm sorry, I was preparing stuff for school, then I got stuck in traffic. I should've sent you a text."

"You should have," she said, but there was no scolding tone to her voice. "I'm so relieved, I was starting to worry."

Her heart suddenly light, Jiyeon gave him a smile. She pulled him with her towards the house, her hands on both of his arms. She couldn’t stop her eyes from wandering up and down his form, comitting to memory the way he looked in a suit. The wait had certainly been worth it.

Just as she stopped right on the porch, she realized she hadn’t been the only one inspecting the other's entire body. Except Jiwoong had a crease in his brow, as he looked down at her bare arms.

"Have you been waiting for me all this time?"

"No, I..." She swallowed. "Well, yes, I have, but I also needed some time away from the crowd. So you have nothing to worry about!"

Her answer didn’t seem to satisfy him, and his eyes narrowed. "I'm not so sure."

Before she could attempt to reassure him any more than she already had, Jiwoong took his suit jacket off. She almost lost herself in how slim his waist looked with his crisp white shirt tucked into his pants, but she was swiftly brought back to reality, when he wrapped the jacket around her shoulders. The warmth hit her first, almost burning as it settled against her shivering arms. Then, his scent, soft and musky and dizzying.