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Haneul spread the dark red tint across her lips, making sure it reached every corner. She wasn't exactly sure what she was trying to prove with it on, but it had been intentional. Her eyes shimmered with poise and her straightened hair fell over her shoulders like a constant stream of water, shining against the moonlight as she double checked her look in the car mirror. She gulped at her appearance, it was both sophisticated and rebellious, two things she doesn't mind being for a night.
Her soulmate made his way towards the car, wearing a smart suit, with his red tie tucked into his waistcoat. His chocolate hair was well done, the tips of it out of his face unlike the way it usually is. He looked similar to the way he did on the night of the dinner, but this time it was a little different, everything looked a bit more Sicheng. Unlike the other times which he had a stylist, he had done everything himself to the way he wanted it, which Haneul liked a bit more. He looked good, Haneul had to admit, she thought that he always looked good, but tonight it was different, the way she too looked different. He entered her car and Haneul couldn't help but feel her heart beat a bit faster the closer he got, the scent of his sweet caramel perfume starting to fill her lungs as it spread through the car. His eyes fell on her, and stayed as he examined her look, Haneul doing the same.
"You look..." He started, struggling to find the words as he swallowed. "really nice."
"Thanks." She looked away, his look already proving to be too much to handle. "You do too."
"It kinda feels like we're spies." He chuckled, lightning up the mood a bit. Though they looked pretty, and Haneul was excited to prove her father wrong, forgetting that this may be their last moments as - whatever they are - is a big task. And both of them are avoiding the thought.
"We do." She agreed with a laugh. They did look like a spy couple, and it made her smile a bit at the thought of them being undercover.
Haneul tapped her finger against the wheel nervously as she thought for a second. She turned to him swiftly, making him jump at the sudden movement. "How do you feel about driving?"
"No." He said almost immediately. "Unless you feel like dying tonight that's not a good idea."
"Sounds perfect to me." She opened the car door as she stepped out the car, Winwin's eyes on her as she walked to his side. "Let's just give it a try." She said through the window, her voice muffled as he gave her a stare. She opened the door, insisting. She knew how judgmental her family is, and if she drove them to their house many questions on Winwin's competence will definitely spring up.
She puts a hand out, offering it out for him to take. He lifted his brows, looking between Haneul and her hand as if she was giving him something he had never seen before. The corners of his lips perked up naturally as he took hold of her hand, placing his palm in hers as she squeezed it slightly, letting soft sparks float between them. She pulled him out of the car as he was getting out of it anyways, which had only lead the two to collide.
"Oh sorry." Winwin chuckled nervously as the two soaked in each other's presence. They were close, and neither of them really felt like moving away. Winwin furrowed his brows as he continued to stare at her face, his eyes squinting onto her lips. Haneul sucked in a breath as she prepared herself, she was surprised that it was going to happen again. However instead of his lips against hers he felt his warm thumb softly swipe beneath it. "You had lipstick there."
"I really thought you were going to kiss me or something." She shook her head at the thought as she stepped back from him, their hands still together.
"I mean we can if you want." Winwin smirked as he pulled her back into him, the act being the most surprising thing he had ever done, taking her a while to process his actions. Haneul gaped at his smiling face, trying to look for any sign of pity. But there was none.
"And where is the confidence coming from." She lifted a brow, hiding the sudden rush that started to colour her cheeks. He walked around her with his hands on her shoulders, leading her to the passengers seat.
"I can't promise I won't get us killed." He reminded as she sat down. "You'll have to help me though."
"I will."
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"Wowow signal please--oh my god." Haneul held onto the seat for dear life as the car swerved around the corner with a loud screech, Winwin well aware that she now regrets her decision. "Okay now slow down...slow down, slow the fuck down."
"I wasn't lying." He pointed out as he watched the speed drop, making sure he's between the speed limit. He held the wheel tightly, his sweat had transferred onto it's leather material and he couldn't help but feel slightly conscious of it.
"I believe you now." She breathed, still sounding fearful. He continued to drive along the straight strip of road, the streets filled with massive houses, ones you would only see in the movies. The buildings towered over them, an attempt to scare them away. Haneul reached a hand over to his head, fixing his hair as he tried to keep his eyes on the road. "Drive slowly, we're almost there." She said lowly, her voice turning into a contrast to the one she had been using to yell at him. Her eyes fell to a grey modern mansion, it's concrete walls looking emotionless, showing almost no signs of life, as if it was simply a shadow made to make you feel trapped. If it weren't for the lights that highlighted it's exterior, and well kept nature, Winwin would have no idea anyone even lived there. "It's that one."
Winwin drove slowly as he approached the gated estate, stopping in front of it. He turned to Haneul, her face matching the same empty feeling the house gave off. She gave him a hard nod, telling him to prepare himself.
"The people you're about to meet are my family by the way." She let out blankly. "But you probably figured."
"I did." He said as he watched the gates open up for him. Though he knew she her family were rich, he got a proper understanding of it now. He stepped on the gas pedal as he swerved around the pretentious water feature that welcomed them. He tried to look as casual as he did so, and seeing how Haneul had no complaints, he assumed he had done well.
"Try to act as if all this is normal. Just answer whatever questions they have and go along with anything that I say." Haneul was becoming more and more emotionless, her voice mixing a sense of poison and despair. Winwin gave her an understanding look before climbing out of the car with grace, going over to the other side of the car as he opened the door for her, mimicking what she had done for him earlier. He held his hand out for her as she took a deep breath, placing her hand in his with surety. She placed her arm in his as the two began reluctantly walking up to the entrance.
"Welcome." A lady bowed to the two, giving them a welcoming smile. Haneul bowed back as Winwin followed.
"Should I be worried?" Haneul asked in a loud-ish whisper to the woman.
"I'm not quite sure, he hasn't been talking much about you." The woman said back as she came closer. "But if this is him I see nothing to worry about." She gave them an excited smile before turning swiftly on her heel. "Follow me." She chimed.
"This is Ms Lim by the way, she took care of me the way a mother would so she is very dear to me." Haneul whispered as she lifted her head to his ear.
"Ah okay." Winwin looked at the bare walls of the house, nothing but the occasional piece of modern art or a shelf displaying photos of who he assumed is her fathers achievement's. It became his own little challenge to see if he could spot anything that signal that Haneul had lived here, but by simply walking through the hallway, he found none.
"The guests are here." Ms Lim announced, presenting them to the couple who were at a large dining table of what Winwin assumed was the dining room, both well dressed with stone faced looks on their faces. They stood up, giving Haneul a stern look.
"Welcome to our home, my name is Linda." The slim woman smiled, Winwin noticed that she was a lot younger than the man, either that or she aged really well. There was not an imperfection on her face. Winwin gave the two a bow, despite Haneul who stood unmoving beside him, giving her father a death glare. They were ushered to the seats opposing the two, the shining dishes giving Winwin a good look of his reflection.
"Nice to meet you Linda." Winwin said warmly, trying to ooze the strained atmosphere. "You must be Mr Park." He turned over to the man beside her.
"And you are?" He asked back, his eyes judging Winwin's appearance, trying to understand his presence.
"Dong Sicheng." He introduced. "We hadn't met at the time but I performed at the China-Korea relations dinner a few nights ago."
"Ah you're part of that group...wave was it?" Linda pointed out as Winwin nodded, showing off his best smile as he fought the urge to correct her. "You must be Chinese."
"Yes, I am." He tried to be as formal as he could. He turned to Haneul, who didn't look like she would be saying anything soon.
"I am too." She replied in Chinese as drinks were poured for them. Haneul took the red drink in front of her, swishing it in her hand slowly before taking a sip of with great sophistication, letting out a sigh as she put it back down on the table.
"Let's get to it then." Haneul said in perfect Chinese, which was more shocking than anything else he had seen tonight. He truly had no idea she could speak the language, and now he understood why Xiaojun and Ten's plans during game night would never work, it was because she had understood all of it. "I don't want to be wasting our time." It was attractive, if he had to admit.
"Is he your soulmate?" He father spoke finally as Haneul couldn't help but hide her smirk at the question.
"Yes. And I want to spend the rest of my life with him." The words flowing through her red lips as if it had been something she was so familiar with. Winwin found it ironic, seeing as the two hadagreed to never see each other again after this.
"I need some proof." Mr Park lifted his drink to his mouth, finding it hard to believe the two. Without hesitating, Winwin pulled his sleeve up slightly as he showed his wrists upwards, showing off the snowflake that grew brighter. Haneul doing the same as she places her finger hext to his hand, letting them look as the examined them closly, making sure they were truthful. It was awkward, seeing as the two had never admitted it together, it was definitely something Winwin wouldn't be able to forget. He wasn't sure how to describe the way Haneul had felt, she was both proud and bothered by it at, as if she didn't want to be there, but she wanted this to happen. Mr park gave them a reluctant nod as they pulled their arms back, not saying a word on it.
"The engagement is off." It came out like a question as she said it, one Winwin was very confused about. The food were presented to them, steaming and ready to be eaten. However, based only the heavy atmosphere, he had a feeling they wouldn't be eating any of it.
"I'm not the one you need to convince." Said Mr Park, his words turning into knives as an untrustworthy feeling began to linger. "I didn't feel that you were very deserving of this opportunity in the first place."
"I don't take offense to that. Are you saying I need to talk to Mr Gushiken?" Her voice was slowly getting stuck.
"Yes, however there is not much you could do. Now that you're back I don't see a reason for you to leave once again. Sicheng can join us."
"Was this a way for you to get your daughter back?" Haneul scoffed, her normal calm nature was beginning to falter.
"There's nothing for you out there, here we can give you everything."
"Freedom is what it offers."
"Haneul, just come back here and be with us, we miss you. Jingwen misses you." Linda butted in, trying to sound as soothing as she could.
"Don't bring her into this." Haneul spat. "Feel free to cut my funds or anything, just don't make me come back to this house."
"And what will sustain you?" Her father was getting impatient as he clutched onto the wine glass. "Your peasant job at that shop that's closing down?"
"How do you know that?" Winwin asked genuinely, wanting to add to his theory. It was definitely suspicious to him, especially with what that ceo lady had said to him about the shop burning down. Haneul was obviously in shock, her mind asking the same question.
"Some things need to be sacrificed." Was Mr Park's reply. Haneul swallowed hard as she clenched her jaw, her hands stuck in a hard fist.
"I've told you what I needed to. We will be leaving now." She stood up as she announced, taking Winwin by the hand. The pair gave her parents one last bow before storming out. Neither of them stopping until they reached the end of the hallway.
"I'm sorry for dragging you into this." She let out.
"It's fine, but I would like some explanations." He said, knowing very well that their lives are now too mixed up for him to leave now.
"I will." Haneul nodded. Her eyes fell to a door to her left, keeping them there with the strong desire to go in. It was in a dark corner, dusty as if it hasn't been opened in years. A contrast to the rest of the well kept house. "But before that, there's one last thing I need to do here."
this took too long to write.
hope everyone has had a good day! <3