chapter thirty-three - Suh Tattoo Parlor.
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"Why didn't you guys invite us to have a makeover too?" Aeri whined. It was the next day, and the group of young adults were all lounging around Jisung's basement. They were just talking about their new appearances and how Aeri had badly wanted to change something as well.
"You had to go on a date, and plus we enjoyed our few hours of aeri-free fun," Donghyuck teased, a fresh piercing sitting on the left side of his nose.
The woman rolled her eyes then scanned the entire group— noticing all of the large and little changes that they did yesterday. It made her somewhat jealous, as they used the Next Hit's budget without her.
Jeno had cut his raven hair into a wolf-cut mullet style, Chenle had dyed his hair a bright orange, Jaemin had changed out his eyebrow piercing and dyed his hair a dark jet black, and even Mark decided to get a fresh cut.
Jisung glanced up from his phone at the bickering group. He held a scowl from their loud, and annoying antics. "You guys just wanted an excuse to spend someone else's money,"
The five men who were out together yesterday snapped their heads in the male's direction. They scoffed loudly, unamused at his remark.
"Hey, they gave us a black card, and daddy's gonna use that black card," Donghyuck retorted, lifting his nose high in the air arrogantly.
"Don't ever use, daddy," Jeno cringed, shoving the tanned off the couch and onto the carpet. The boy whined and sat back up— shooting the Lee a hard glare.
"I'll use daddy if I want to, J daddy,"
"Anyway, off this daddy topic, didn't you schedule an appointment at Johhny's shop?" Mark asked, directing his question towards Aeri.
In surprise the other boys, turned to her as well.
"Are you getting another tattoo?"
"A piercing?" They swarmed her with multiple questions, curious of her afternoon plans, but the brunette could only shake her head.
"I don't know, it was kinda spontaneous," She answered truthfully, shrugging her shoulders.
"What time are you going?" Jisung asked, his interest peaking as he remembered that he had to get his intricate tattoo finished up today.
"Around 6 pm,"
"Yeah, I have an appointment at 5 with Ten," The park nodded, seeing their schedules collide coincidentally.
Usually, the woman would groan and reschedule the appointment, but recently, their relationship wasn't so bad. She didn't mind it. "Well, I guess i'll be seeing you there, but right now, I have to go meet someone," She hummed, standing up from one of the bean bags as she slid her bag strap onto her shoulders.
"Is it another guy—" Jaemin sat up straighter, eyes wide with anticipation, but as he saw her deadpanned stare, he knew it wasn't.
"No, it's Suyin," Aeri corrected, digging through her purse for her subway card.
Hearing the familiar name, the others sat up in interest as well. They hadn't heard about her in so long, that they had forgotten about the girl's existence. "Suyin, like Huang Suyin? You're friends with her?"
"I mean I have no reason not to be. We're just catching up," Fishing out her card, the Han turned on her heels and began to walk towards the stairs that lead up to the home's ground floor. She began to travel up, but as she ascended, she couldn't help but overhear her band mates' conversation.
"Y'know, in high school, I heard that she had the biggest crush on us, or maybe one of us," Mark laughed.
"I wouldn't be surprised, all girls like me," Donghyuck's cocky voice rang out, earning rambunctious laughter around him— probably teasing him for his confidence.
"Yeah, everyone expect Aeri," Chenle retorted.
"Sometimes, i forget Aeri is a girl," Jaemin added in.
Aeri shook her head, smiling goofily at their stupid conversation.
. . .
"So tell me, how was high school for you? We weren't exactly close then, but I just wonder how it went for you?" Aeri looked up from her latte to the raven haired woman. She watched as she tousled her locks as she pondered about her answer, then speaking her thoughts aloud.
"Well, I didn't really reach out to many people and make friends. It was mainly me, Renjun, and Haneul, but also you and the band, but rarely," Suyin muttered. She had always been more on the quiet side, and it really showed her introverted presence. Talking to her was such a change of pace for Aeri.
She was so used to the boys', Sooyun's, and Jae's extroverted personalities and hyper moods, that during the first few minutes of their chat, it felt like fresh air.
"How long have you and Haneul been friends?" Suyin's brows furrowed in confusion. She hadn't expected Aeri to be so interested in her life. And when asking about her old friend, it wasn't out of spite, but pure curiosity. It threw her off.
"Well.. before we stopped, we were friends since middle school. Haneul would do anything for me, and same for me to her. I guess she was like how Sooyun is to you," Hearing her best friend's name, the brunette grinned wider. She nodded in understanding of how much the girl meant to her, as Aeri knew that Sooyun was like a sister. She couldn't imagine losing a friend like that.
The han couldn't help but ask. "I'm sorry if this is crossing a line, but what happened with you two? You guys were stuck at each other's hips in high school,"
Aeri observed the ravenette as she pursed her lips in a sad smile. "A boy had gotten in between us. The typical," Suyin laugh quietly, shaking her head at how immature it sounded.
But as Aeri laughed along and nodded— relating to it, causing her nerves ceased existence. "Yeah, tell me about it,"
Suddenly, a somber-bitter mood had blanketed the two females. They were lost in thought for a few moments, but as Suyin racked her brain over a particular something, she spoke aloud. "I'm really sorry for Renjun," Her eyes fell to her hands that sat atop her lap, folding them together tightly.
Aeri's face dropped into a frown. She hurried to grab the girl's shoulder across the table, assuringly rubbing it to let her know it wasn't her place to do that. "No, please don't apologize for him. You did nothing,"
But Suyin continued. "I should've scolded him and told him to treat you better,"
"It's alright," The brunette reassured, offering a gentle smile, to which Suyin returned.
The Huang glanced at Aeri's hand then to her own wrist, where her watch sat. Abruptly in surprise, the female jolted up from her seat. "Oh, shoot, I have to get to my next lecture in a few minutes," She began to frantically pack her things, whilst also pulling out a few bills for the check.
"Oh okay, but we should hang out more and with the others," Suyin froze at Aeri's words.
"Others meaning, your boyfriend and the band?" She asked curiously, looking from her wallet.
Quick to correct her, the Han laughed aloud and shook her head, waving her hand dismissively. "Oh he's not my boyfriend, it's all just fake. But yes, if you're comfortable with that?"
A large grin was mirrored on the ravenette's features. She nodded her head excitedly before, placing down the amount of money, their drinks costed. "Of course. Thanks for asking to catch up. I had fun today. Here, I'll get the check,"
"Oh no, don't—"
"Don't worry, Han, it's alright. This is a thank you,"
. . .
"Han Aeri, my favorite girl, where have you been?" Johnny's booming voice echoed through the open tattoo parlor. His tall frame walked up to the door, his arms stretched out for a large hug— his tattoo sleeves revealed by the white muscle tee he wore.
Happily, Aeri jumped into his embrace, giggling as the older spun her, the. perfectly stopping to sit her on a nearby tattooing table.
They released each other from their holds and Johnny stepped back to take a look at her. "So what are you in for today? New tattoo? Piercing? Another matching tattoo with—"
"No, definitely not another matching tattoo," The woman replied quickly, swatting his bicep playfully.
The male laughed, shaking his head. "Okay, so what's it gonna be kid?"
"On my inner lip," Aeri spoke confidently, reaching her index finger and middle up to her bottom lip, and pulling it down to reveal the pink flesh.
Another voice whistled, emerging from behind the Suh's wide stature. Ten peaked out, a proud grin lacing his lips. "Atta girl,"
In surprise, Johnny glanced behind him, seeing the man wipe his hands with a clean rag. "You finished with Jisung's?" He asked, looking into the other room where other tattoo tables were set. Before he could question where the Park was, the younger appeared from behind the wall, his black shirt off and hanging at his left shoulder.
Aeri's eyes followed the Suh's eyeline, and met the sight of Jisung shirtless. Her dark orbs drank up his porcelain chest littered with tattoos. They traveled to his rigid toned stomach and how they flexed unconsciously when he breathed in. And they raked his skin back up until they landed atop his collarbones, where his gold chain had decorated his neck prettily. Immediately catching herself in her act, Aeri's head turned away, and stared forward to a smirking ten.
"Yup, all done," The thai replied nonchalantly. He walked back towards the blonde and hauled a arm over his neck— pulling him closer towards the pair. "Just inked a red carnation on his inner bicep,"
Looking up from his feet, Jisung's eyes met Aeri's shaky ones. He raised a brow in confusion, and glanced back down at his naked torso. He finally realized why she was frozen with wide eyes.
"It's not like you haven't seen me like this, or even more of me, Han," Park remarked, a teasing tone underlying his words.
Aeri's face flushed up more. She stiffened on the table, mouth agape from his statement. "Well, it's not like we're dating anymore are we?"
"Okay, you two, lemme just do your lip tattoo first, then you can argue all you want. The shop has to close early tonight," Johnny interrupted quickly, stepping between them, as he began to clean and sanitize his supplies.
Curiously, the Han's eyes traveled to his. "Wait why?"
"Mr.Suh, over here, is gonna propose to his girlfriend," Ten cooed, slapping the older's back in excitement. Johnny smiled nervously, nodding his head— confirming what the other had said.
Almost instantly, the girl's face lit up brightly. She clapped her hands excitedly like a happy seal, as she gushed about his relationship. "Song Naeun right?" Hearing his girlfriend's name, Johnny smiled larger.
"Yeah that's her,"
"Awh, Johnny I'm really happy for you!" Aeri squealed, swinging her legs like a child sat on a chair.
"Okay, okay, enough with this gushy stuff. I'm already really nervous as it is, so lemme tattoo your lip already," He groaned, raking his fingers through his dark maroon hair— relieving some of the jitters from his system. The last thing he wanted was his hand to be shaky whilst he worked. "So what's going on your lip?"
"Venom,"
. . .
filler