Her grip on Jeong Hyeok's face tightened to the point that she's squeezing his cheeks, his lips forming to a pout. The horror he sees on her face is evident, and he couldn't help but ask her, chewing his words, "Seri?"
Seo Dan placed her wine down, her piercing eyes never leaving hers and she lifts a finger gesturing follow me. She then stands up and makes slow, oddly dangerous walk to the balcony.
Her heart sank, it was equivalent to how she would witness her company crumble in front of her eyes. She felt like a teenager caught sneaking out with her boyfriend. Ri Jeong Hyeok's voice pulls her away from her thoughts when he called her name again, tone a little bit louder.
"Seri?"
She blinks and looks at him. "Jeong Hyeok?"
"Uhm..."
He was looking up at her with confused, puppy eyes, his mouth still forming to a pout. Her hands still squeezed both of his cheeks and she jolts herself when she realizes it.
"Oh, I'm sorry it's just that," she frantically stands up, "Seo Dan saw us."
"What?"
She hissed, "I said, Seo Dan saw us."
"Oh..." He scratches the back of his head, not really knowing what to do or react. The woman in front of her looked like she was about to explode and he does not know what to say. Jeong Hyeok opens his mouth, only to close it back, awkwardly looking at her panicking face.
"She said to follow her," she says, nervously.
"Okay." Ri Jeong Hyeok's voice was calm and composed, a contrast to her shaky ones. "The next thing to do is to follow her, right, Seri?"
"Should I?"
He gently nods.
Seri takes a moment to ponder, biting her lip and staring at the back profile of the woman already at the balcony, gazing at the view.
A minute later, "No."
"Seri?"
"No."
"Okay. Why no?"
She bites her lip again, looking at him like she's about to throw all her problems to him. "You do it."
He was blankly staring at her, lips slightly parted, processing what she just said. She didn't just told him to do it instead.
"Why me?"
"Because I can't. I'll die, Jeong Hyeok. Do you want me to die?"
If not for the situation and that panic in her words, he would've laughed. To be honest, the sight was quite hilarious and this was the first time he saw her panic like she was going to actually die over something.
He tries to keep his voice neutral. "But she called for you. Didn't she, Seri?"
"Well, yes..."
"So?"
He waits for her, sees the change in her expression and looks at her rethinking her thoughts. But then, she glares at him and shakes her head.
"Whatever, you do it."
He nervously laughed, dumbfounded, now starting to get concerned that she is actually going to push through this.
"You know I can't do that."
"And why?"
"She asked for you, not me."
"Then tell her you're speaking on my behalf. Oh wait, I have an idea."
Seri leans in, taking a brief cautious glance to the woman still standing at the balcony and whispers to Jeong Hyeok. "I'll go to the restroom. Say, uh, stomachache. And then..."
His eyes crinkled to a smile, watching the woman in front of him with amused disbelief as she literally devises a whole entire plan just to evade talking to her best friend.
"And then you go to her, tell her that I can't make it because I suddenly got sick and needs to leave."
"Wait, you're leaving me?"
She brushes that question off like a dust under the rug. "Well I'm sure you can go home by yourself, Jeong Hyeok."
Hold on.
"Seri," he called.
She still keeps muttering.
She was so lost in her thoughts. "Seri," he chuckles, "Hey, look at me."
He drags his seat to her side and holds her shoulders. "Seri."
She stops and looks at him.
"Calm down, okay? She's your best friend. It'll be okay. And I think she deserves to know about us. I'll be here."
Seri looked like she was about to cry yet no tears came out. Jeong Hyeok caressed her head and tucked her hair, not hiding his amusement anymore. "Hmm, if you manage to survive death, I'll invite you to something we can do together."
"What?"
"I'm not telling you yet."
"Psh, you're annoying," she slowly stands up and takes a much needed breath. "Fine, I'll go."
He smiles but that smile froze when Seri shot him a dangerous glare again, the look that she usually gives when someone at work screwed up.
"If something happens to my heart because of this, you better be the one to treat me."
He laughed. "Sure, ma'am. I'll treat you with my own hands."
And then, she left.
Seri had always been confident and fearless when it comes to handling situations. But now that she's about to face Seo Dan, she couldn't help but trip on her way when the woman suddenly turned to look at her.
That bold eyeliner with that striking sharp point at the end she had put on wasn't helping either. It only made her more nervous.
"Hi..." She greeted, her hands trembling reaching for the rail for support.
Seo Dan said nothing but stared into her with her lifeless eyes.
Seri huffed. "Well, what do you want me to say? You saw what you saw."
"I honestly... didn't expect this from you."
Seo Dan turned to face the view of the garden. "I should've known when you exaggerated the part of you saying that was the worst vacation."
Not wanting to turn this to an even more awkward path, Seri linked her arms with her, making Seo Dan side a confused eye on her.
"You approve right?" There goes her sweet talk. When she didn't hear a response from her, she impatiently added, sighing, "Oh come on! He's hot, attractive, and really a good person."
Seo Dan flicked her forehead. "When is this going to last this time, hm?"
Rubbing the dull pain away, Seri turned to the man who was still patiently waiting for her in his seat, back turned to her.
"I don't want to jinx it, but I think we'd last for a very long time. I hope so." And then, Seri smiled.
Dan watched her eyes full of love for Jeong Hyeok, her lips twitching to a smile she tried to hold when the said man scratched his head funnily.
There's nothing she could do about it but give her support.
"Alright."
Before Seri could jump, she continued, "But if he breaks your heart, don't cry while you watch me destroy his career in a snap."
The chairwoman rolled her eyes. "Sure, Dan, sure."
When there was nothing else to discuss, Seri scurried back off to Jeong Hyeok and continued their dinner with a loving look on her face. She stole a glance to Dan, still at the balcony watching her, and gave her a teasing wink.
You better know what you're doing, Seri, she thinks to herself.
That night, Jeong Hyeok stood in front of her door. She had already stepped in and they're now facing each other, obviously to bid each other goodbye.
"Good night, Seri."
"You too."
Yet no one made a move.
Jeong Hyeok was looking at her with so much depth, as if he still has more to say, or do, than just nod and walk away. Seri wanted nothing more than to just pull him inside.
In a whisper loud enough for him to pick up, she asks, "Do you want to stay for the night?"
He had never said yes this fast in his entire life.
The television was on, with Jeong Hyeok sitting in front of it, waiting for Seri to arrive back with their wine. The moment she does, he helps her set it down the center table and pours the contents on the glasses.
"Don't you have work tomorrow?" Seri asks.
"This is fine."
She scoffed and sipped her own, realizing it was their second drink for tonight. She watches him as it was clear in the look on his face that he had a lot of thoughts going on in his head right now.
"Care to share?" She asks.
He says nothing but slips his arm through the small space between her and the couch to wrap around her waist, pulling her gently closer to him.
Seri snuggles on his side and leans her head on his chest, swirling her wine, the show on the tv forgotten.
"I really want to be good for you." His admission sent warm tingles on her body, feeling the sincerity in his voice.
"I want to make you happy. I want to be always there for you. I want to take care of you."
As he goes on, Seri tries to hide her smile on his chest, wanting to let him know he's already been doing well, and that she's truly happy whenever she's with him.
Even just the thought of him was enough to bring light to her day.
He blindly searches for her hand to hold it, his eyes fixed to the TV. When he feels her soft skin, her smooth palms, he holds them close, wrapping it on his bigger hand.
Seri feels him kiss the top of her head.
"I love seeing you smile," he pauses, reconsidering it, "Although you look hot being serious too."
She punches him softly on his chest and adjusted herself so she can plant a peck on his lips.
"That's for actually being the sweetest man I have ever met."
Another peck.
"That's for coming into my life."
Another peck was supposed to be done but he never let her go this time.
Their kiss progressively turned passionate, slow and unhurried, savoring each other's touch as they let their hands roam around.
He breathed Seri in, feeling the warmth of her lips and eliciting a soft sigh from her when he made a move to straddle her on his lap. He slips his tongue, feeling her gasp at his ministrations.
Seri threads her fingers on his hair and reciprocates the same intensity on their kiss.
When they broke away, he brushes his lips softly against her cheek, her nose, her chin, feeling the warmth of his breath. She wouldn't want to let go either, keeping herself as close to him as possible.
Ever since they got together, he had started touching her frequently, whether it was hugs or sudden urge to hold her hand or kiss her forehead. He just needs to touch her. And she loves him for being physically affectionate.
In one swift move, Jeong Hyeok lifts them off from the couch, her legs wrapped around his waist as he guides them to her bedroom.
_____
The next morning, Seri stirs in her sleep and snuggles her head to something warm. She moves her cheeks again and realises she's resting on Jeong Hyeok's naked chest.
So everything that happened last night was true.
Looking up, she dreamily sighed upon seeing his sleeping face, beautiful and heavenly. Before she knew it, her fingers went to trace his nose, down to his pouty lips, and brushing it over his smooth cheeks.
His eyebrow twitches in response.
Jeong Hyeok moves, still eyes closed, and pulls her close to him, adjusting the duvet so they can snuggle to each other warmly.
With her head all pressed and warm on his neck, Seri squirms and quietly demands for him to loosen his tight embrace, blushing and suddenly feeling shy at the press of their bare bodies.
"Jeong Hyeok," she whispered but he only kissed her forehead.
Feeling his lips on her skin, Seri stopped moving. It was so intimate, sending her feelings all over her that was somehow more intensifying than last night.
"Good morning," he says in a deep, raspy voice that enchanted her.
Oh she could get used to this.
"Morning," she smiled.
Slowly, she gave in despite the heat and wrapped her arms around his chest. Seri wasn't used to this, in fact, it was never her thing.
Skin on skin contact, holding hands, kisses and flowers, sweet morning exchanges and flirty texts...
No, it was never her thing.
She looked back to all the men she dated in the past and none, none of it could come close to Jeong Hyeok. She sighed, basking in the love within and hugged him tighter.
He was perfect and everything. It makes her heart flutter how he could understand her mind and read her emotions even though she choses not to show it at some times. The amount of being considerate and patient he has was something she knew she will never have in herself.
"You're too hot," she mumbles against the skin on his chest.
"Oh thanks," he sleepily replied.
"No," Seri softly groans and tries to lift her beaf to catch a breathful of fresh air, "I mean.. hot..."
"Yes, I heard you."
"Jeong Hyeok!"
Laughing, he eventually let her go and he could feel the sound of her breathing. Seri lets a soft, relieving moan.
"Sorry," he grinned and turned to his side to face her. He lifts a lazy finger and brushes that one strand of hair from her cheek. "Ah..."
"What?" Seri inquired.
"I forgot I'm supposed to go to work today."
"Oh, right. I should've known," Seri starts to move out of bed but Jeong Hyeok gently holds her back and resumes for another cuddle.
"A few more minutes wouldn't hurt."
"What about your patients?"
"I don't have anything to do this morning. Just check up on a few things here and there. That can wait right?"
"Hmm," Seri hums, pondering, and looks up at him again. "Few more minutes?"
"Few more minutes and another few more minutes," Jeong Hyeok smiled before closing his eyes again while keeping her close to him.
For Seri, this was her best calm after the storm.