City Lights, Blurred Lines

4/8

It does (happen again). Once, twice, and a third time. After concerts and dance rehearsals, and an average day in his studio. It's not that the occurrence becomes common but more that it becomes easy. Both of them are the straightforward type. Neither enjoy playing games, pretending that the chemistry between them doesn't exist. Wonsik has never been the bad boy type and Ji-hye prefers people to just say and do whatever's on their mind. So whenever the opportunity arises, neither of them bother playing hard to get.

This time following some East Asia promotions VIXX and a select group of staff members decide to detour at a nearby tourist destination. Ji-hye had heard of the island nation before, seen photos of people's Bali vacations on instagram, but had never been herself. She splurges a bit on her own little guest cabin instead of sharing one with a staff Unnie, knowing more likely than not Wonsik would end up in her bed. It's quite private, despite being in a line of other guest cabins, and even has its own little '3 by '6 foot pool for her to enjoy.

Ji-hye takes the first of their two days to wander about exploring the resort and the island it's on. She spends the morning buying local souvenirs and tanning on the local beach before returning to the resort for lunch with some of the other staff members at the canteen, where she learns Wonsik and his group members have gone their separate ways, all doing their own thing around the island. With her lunchmates she lounges by the poolside bar in the shade and then spends the rest of the afternoon swimming and enjoying the views Bali has to offer. After sunset Ji-hye explores a night market in the city, watching streetside performances and buying trinkets and snacks to eat as she walks along. The market isn't far from the resort and by chance she runs into Hongbin and Hyuk, then Wonshik— who'd all happened upon the place on their way back to the resort.

The two maknaes are starving and planning a huge menu of room service back at Hongbin's cabin, but Wonsik remains with her as she continues her wandering. They exchange little in the manner of words, occasionally commenting on something at the market or telling each other about things they'd seen while exploring. It's comfortable and easy, requiring no effort on either of their parts. At some point Wonsik takes her tote of trinkets and slings it over his own shoulder, linking their finger together discreetly between them. Momentarily Ji-hye tries to pull away, but she looks at Wonshik in his nondescript tee shirt and shorts, his navy blue cap pulled down to shadow his eyes and changes her mind. It's only for a short while anyway, she reasons, as he'd already complained about getting hungry and they were on the lookout for an interesting restaurant.

Eventually they find a seafood cafe on the beach that's occupied mostly with western tourists from Europe and the States. They pick a table off the side of the seating area, closer to the water and out of direct line of view to the rest of the restaurant. It isn't very private, but it's relaxed, open until 23:00, and doesn't appear to have many—if any— Korean tourists. Wonsik helps her read over the English menu and they decide on one fish and one shrimp dish to share between the two of them. Despite the anxiety of Ravi being spotted with her, Ji-hye has a good time. The lowlight of the candlelit table makes dinner feel a little romantic, even with their ever casual exchanges. She likes that he doesn't try too hard. Wonsik is very genuine, hard working, and sweet; nothing like she'd expected of him when she'd first started working with VIXX.

At the start she'd judged him on his stage persona and mistook him as some kind of bad boy; a rapper who'd come from an upper middle class family in Jamsil-dong, probably overconfident, a little perverse, and success driven. She'd been wrong about a lot of things and was glad for it. Wonsik is an all over good person. He came from a good family, whom he loves deeply. He truly respects women and makes a point not to hypersexualize and disrespect them in his material. He's come along way from the young rapper she'd watched being dissed on Show Me the Money all those years ago. Wonsik is, more than anything, hard working and loves what he does. He loves his members and the work they do together. Though always exhausted and pushing himself, he lives to create.

From time to time, he likes to brag— what person doesn't— but overall Ji-hye can find no flaw in Kim Wonsik; the man who is always, growing, learning, and improving. She respects him a lot and feels deeply for him. They're a good match and both of them know it. Their relationship— whatever it is— means a lot to both of them, even if they rarely wake up together and they're always sneaking around. So they share food, and laugh, and intertwine their fingers tucked away from any prying eyes. And, when they make it back to the resort and up to her guest cabin Wonsik throws her over his shoulder and carries her off to the bedroom.