Contract Relationship | Jeon Jungkook

▪ TWENTY-THREE

[ edited with Grammarly ]

Aeri tapped her chin as she examined Nahee with eyes squinted. She took a foundation case and opened it, pressing the sponge inside to check if the liquid was enough.

Before she started, she asked Nahee, "are you okay with stick foundation or liquid foundation?"

"I'm okay with any. But the stick foundation works quicker, and using liquid foundation seems sticky." The way Nahee spoke reminded her of how she sounded she was used to using make-up. To cover up the way that sounded real, she added; "I guess?"

Aeri chuckled warmly, making Nahee chuckle with her. Her smile and laugh were contagious and they reminded the sitting girl of her cousin. She had the thought of not wanting to jump to the conclusion, she wondered if it was Hoseok who changed her or if it was Aeri being herself.

She remembered the theory that Namjoon made. The changes are fake love and true love. Being inexperienced in love makes her feel stupid.

"Anyway, let's begin."

Nahee smiled when Aeri put down the circular foundation case and fetched the stick foundation case instead. Aeri took out the cover and revealed the bisque-colored stick. She then applied it on Nahee carefully.

"You don't need concealer since you have smooth skin." Nahee chuckled at the compliment. She did not say much as she let the brunette apply the foundation to her. She was sure Aeri would not cake up her face since she only smudge the stick with one stroke on her forehead, both sides of her cheeks, and on her nose bridge.

By the time Aeri concealed the stick and covered it with the cap, changing its direction to the brush instead, Nahee opened her mouth to say, "Aeri-nim, can I ask you something?"

There was silence for a few seconds before Aeri's chuckle broke it. "Kim Nahee, don't call me 'Aeri-nim'," she said. She then looked down at her as she spread the bisque-colored smudge on Nahee's cheeks as she continued with a kind smile, "call me 'Aeri eonni'."

"You don't mind if I drop my formalities with you?" She asked and paused. "We just met personally today."

Nahee's comment made Aeri smile. "I ain't that kind of person who is fussy over the people I just know. Letting them be awkward around me as they call me 'Aeri-nim' or 'Kang Aeri-ssi'. I don't mind if they want to call me 'noona' or 'eonni' as soon as they know me," she paused as she moved the brush position to the forehead once she was done with the cheeks region.

"Besides, I know you."

"You know me?!" Nahee asked, almost exclaiming at Aeri. She was only able to move her eyeballs to see Aeri's face. She had to remain her head still since she did not want Aeri to get disturbed by the slight movement she made.

Nahee was surprised. She didn't want Aeri to know that she was Jung Hoseok's cousin because she needed Kang Aeri to investigate and interrogate her.

"Yeah, for someone lucky being Jeon Jungkook's contracted girlfriend and choosing to use him for 25 months, that's you. Kim Nahee," Aeri stated and Nahee released a silent relief sigh.

So, Kang Aeri knew her for being Jeon Jungkook's contracted girlfriend. And since she brought up the time that Nahee picked to use Jungkook, it seemed that she had broken a record at the company and is well-known for that.

"What do you want to ask me about?" Aeri questioned, snapping Nahee out of her trances a while ago.

"How long have you worked for the company?"