off limits ✧ zb1 applyfic

✧ one hundred and thirteen

Lilah had always liked corners; it was the single place in a crowded room where you had some space to yourself, all while keeping an eye on everything. Tonight was no exception. As soon as she'd crossed the threshold of the magnificent Zhang mansion, she'd rushed to a corner, despite Matthew's teasing comments about having fun. He'd stayed with her for a few minutes, but when Gunwook and Narae had found Lilah, he'd taken it as his cue to leave and do his own things.

And now, Lilah was putting up with something that wasn’t nearly as horrifying as crowds, but which wasn’t all that enjoyable either: thirdwheeling. Gunwook and Narae, mostly Narae, filled the silence with conversation, chuckles and jokes, and she only listened, aware of how focused they were on the other. Lilah couldn’t blame them, they were adorable. And tonight was sort of a special night. So, she let it slide, her eyes skimming over the crowd aimlessly.

Still, it was a little lonely, was what she thought as she heaved a small sigh. As if the universe had heard her plea, it was at this exact moment that someone barged into her personal space, as shameless and energetic as he usually was.

"Lilah!" Gyuvin exclaimed, putting both hands on her shoulders to turn her towards him. "Geez, I finally found you! Why are you hiding?"

She'd known Gyuvin would be at this party, yet Lilah still found herself a little stunned, standing before him. Her mouth slightly agape, she let her eyes wander down his form, dressed up in a manner she didn’t often see from him. In fact, she hadn’t seen him in a suit since their first meeting back in this very mansion, and she had to admit she hadn’t really paid attention to his appearance at the time. Partly because she had no idea he would ever become her boyfriend, but also because she'd been too busy running away from him after she'd made the mistake of calling his dog ugly. Even remembering that moment now was enough to fill her with shame.

He rocked from side to side in front of her, as if to wake her up from her deep thoughts. She shook her head, and with it, the very embarrassing memory.

"I'm not hiding," she squeaked out. "It's just, you know, so crowded."

Finally, he let go of her shoulders, turning his head to glance at the crowd. When he turned back to face her, he wore a triumphant grin, and Lilah felt her heart skip a beat.

"It is, but I'll protect you," he proudly exclaimed, giving her (or himself?) a thumbs up. "Wanna dance?"

"Oh, I— I don't know, I..."

But Gyuvin grabbed her hand, as if he hadn’t heard her. "Come on!"

He pulled her towards him, and onto the dance floor, which was already filled with couples and pairs each dancing to their own rhythm. She felt blood rush to her face as he guided both of her hands towards his neck.

"I, um, I'm not very good at dancing," she murmured, sneaking glances around her to find someone to copy.

Gyuvin snorted, and his hands came to rest on her hips. "That's not what matters. What matters is that I can hug you in front of everyone now!"

And oh, did he really mean it. As soon as Lilah locked her hands together behind his neck, Gyuvin pulled her close, his arms encircling her waist. She almost complained; almost, because there was the most excited grin on his face, and that always disarmed her when she least expected it.

For what felt like an eternity, Gyuvin and Lilah danced. At first, he held her tight against him, so tight it looked more like an embrace than a dance. But as the night progressed and the music picked up, matching Gyuvin's unending energy, they followed suit. He twirled her, spun her, dipped her, lifted her off the ground with every lilt of the music, and Lilah knew they must have looked downright silly to anyone who watched. But Gyuvin's joy, as always, was contagious. And her heart was swelling with a happiness she could hardly contain.