She watches them in the darkness, neon lights surrounding her. It’s the stench that bothered her the most. Piss, spilled alcohol and sweat. She isn’t used to such surroundings.

 

She really shouldn’t even be here. But due to unforeseen circumstances she is. And despite the blankness in her expression, she’s remotely uncomfortable. Clubs were filthy. Too crowded, too noisy, too stinky and too unfamiliar. She wants to escape but knew that she can’t. This is her party, after all.

 

Idly playing with her fingers, she scans the crowd for a familiar glimpse of porcelain skin, flushed cheeks with the face of goddess. Joohyun should be around here somewhere along with their other high school and college friends, dancing and socializing with strangers.

 

After spending the majority of their afternoon at a high end spa, getting their nails done and backs massaged with soothing oils that made their skin feel like a newborn child’s, they decided to have a night out.

 

Yongsun rarely went to such places. Her father would have her head if she did. Even at twenty six, she was still under his influence. Being here might cause unnecessary rumors and jeopardize his career.

 

Until she marries, of course.

 

She glances at her phone momentarily, seeing only one message from her fiance.

 

From: Hyunwoo

 

Don’t stay out too late. I left some food and non-alcoholic drinks in the fridge for when you come home. I love you.

 

Despite everything, she let herself smile a little. Though it is a sad smile. Because she knows that she will never return those three words.

 

“Yongsun ah!”

 

She looks up and Joohyun stands there, out of breath, sweaty and clothes in a state of disarray. Probably from dancing too much.

 

Her best friend sits beside her and drapes an arm above her shoulder. She still smells sweet. Joohyun was the type of girl that is perfect in every way. The type of girl that everyone fell for. Even Yongsun.

 

“Hey,” she greets warmly and fishes in her purse for a handkerchief. Then she wipes her best friend’s face free of sweat. Joohyun laughs and lets Yongsun do as she pleases.

 

“You’re not going to dance?” Joohyun asks with eyes closed and smile spread wide that it reaches her eyes.

 

Yongsun laughs. “No, you know…”

“Shh.” The younger of the two shushes the other with a kiss on the cheek. Their other friends soon came running towards the and took their seats beside Yongsun. More drinks arrive on the table and she just wishes to be home now with a good book.

 

She feels alone again in a room of people and she curls in a little ball. She lets her lips and body do the motions of socializing but her heart isn’t in it. She watches as they laugh and drag her to the dance floor. After resisting for so long, she finally yields in. She lets herself be whisked away to the crowd, trying to squeeze her way past them. Her hands immediately go to her ears because the bass is louder and it is in time with her racing heartbeat.

 

Suddenly, she is standing alone and there is nothing but sound, lack of oxygen and unfamiliar bodies against her. She stills in a collection of dancing bodies. She feels her breath quicken, small gasps escaping her pink lips. She just wants to feel as if she is a part of something. But her body is not used to too little oxygen.

 

A gasp escapes her lips when she’s suddenly able to breathe. The air is cold and it pricks her skin. The last of winter still remains in the air and she could feel it where she stands. She opens her eyes, focus adjusting, and she sees grey streets lit by warm light. They're at the entrance of the bar, the sounds distant and foreign. She sees people still walking towards the club, waiting to squeeze in as well.

 

Her bag is taken from her but she doesn’t react. She lets the stranger take her phone and put the phone against her ear.

 

 

They're going to call Joohyun, she thinks.

 

Yongsun looks up from the cold and grey pavement and sees a mass of golden brown underneath the street light. The view is too striking that she shields her eyes. She notices a faint dimple and crescent-shaped eyes before she is given her bag back. She hugs it, seeking comfort from the inanimate object.

 

About to thank the stranger, she parts her lips but is soon surrounded by her friends again, all of them forming a circle around her. She is slightly overwhemled and is not entirely sure how to fully explain what happened. Her eyes seek out the golden halo but she sees her walking away from them already, about to enter the club once more.

 

Watching the silhouette of the girl instead, she whispers a silent thank you, hoping the cold wind will whisper it to her.

 

--

 

Back in the hotel and in Yongsun’s room which was large enough to house seven girls who were sobering up, they talk about the night.

 

Mattresses were lined on the carpeted floor with pillows and comforters scattered on top. Most of the girls shares the room with Yongsun while two of their friends, Eunji and Bomi, decided early on for their own room. The large king sized bed with an overwhelming amount of pillows is occupied by Jinri and Soojung and there is enough space for her to slide in later.

 

Yongsun is comforted with company. Although she is mostly silent in group conversations, she enjoys having familiar company.

 

“Are you not feeling well, Yongsun?” Sunyoung asks, concern in her voice. She is sitting on her mattress, doing her usual skincare regimen. Bare faced, Sunyoung looks second youngest in the group.

 

“You know how that girl is,” Seulgi pipes in as she was drying her hair with the hotel towel “She’s not the most vocal person. Unless in bed.”

 

The girls laugh at this and Yongsun laughs as well. She finds it amusing though she is mostly uncomfortable at her friends' presumptions about her and her fiance. They are still under the impression that her and Hyunwoo had premarital that one time he let her stay over for the night since she was far too drunk to walk. And as much as she had tried to dispel the rumors, the girls simply would not buy it.

 

Joohyun throws a piece of used cotton ball at Seulgi, rolling her eyes. “They did not have that night. Yongsun is too pure for this world,” she defends, her faith in her best friend strong.

 

Yongsun looks at Joohyun with a smile, silently thanking her.

 

 

The conversation takes another turn and the girls are energetic still despite it being four am in the morning. She lets them have their fun, excusing herself.

 

“I need to go down for a bit. Need to pay for the faucet that Jinri broke,” Yongsun says as she stands up.

 

Jinri was trying to shave her legs that day, her foot resting on the faucet when suddenly she kicks off the handle. There was a bit of an emergency that day, the faucet spraying water all over the bathroom. But after a few hours, the hotel fixed it. The others laugh and Joohyun offers to come with Yongsun but she is far too tired to talk so she says no. The other tries to hide her hurt behind a smile but wishes her to be safe nonetheless and joins the others’ energetic conversation about the hot group of guys that tried to hit on them earlier.

 

Yongsun wraps her cardigan around her small frame as she walks towards the elevator. The hallway is silent and she is relieved.

 

As she waits for the elevator, she hums to the music playing at the club earlier. A song she liked but didn’t really had the desire to dance to. When the doors open, however, she stills in her place.

 

“Oh…”

“It’s you.”

 

“It’s you.”

 

She couldn’t help but smile as they say the two words at the same time. The other girl, the one with the golden brown halo who saved her earlier, laughs. She steps out of the elevator and lets her gaze meet Yongsun’s. Yongsun breathes in and she smells of cinammon, rose and mint.

 

“Such a coincidence,” she says, offering her hand for Yongsun to take. “I’m Wheein, by the way. Sorry I didn’t get to introduce myself earlier. Thought I'd leave you to your friends.”

 

Yongsun takes it gingerly and she takes note of how soft and small the other’s hands were. “Pleasure. Thank you...for earlier.”

 

Wheein takes her hand back and waves a dismissive hand, coupling it with a shrug. “Nah, it’s alright. If you were planning on standing in the middle of the dance floor, I should have left you there. But I had to ruin your night. ”

 

Yongsun laughs. It’s a genuine one, this time, though Wheein doesn’t know this. “You did not ruin it. I spaced out,”

 

“Happens when ‘ya drink to much,” she comments with a bright smile.

 

They stand there and smile at each other. Yongsun wants to say something more but she is unsure what to say. The appropriate thing to do would be to offer her a drink or a meal as a sign of grattitude. But looking at Wheein, studying her, Yongsun isn't sure if she would accept her offer. So she lets the silence fall until Wheein excuses herself.

 

“I really need to check on my friends. I can’t believe they let the bride be the one who’s sober.”

 

“Oh,” Yongsun’s eyes widen, hiding the disappointment in her voice. “You’re getting married too?”

 

“We find more things we have in common about each other as time passes, I see,” Wheein jokes. “But yes. I am. In roughly two months. Unless he bails out.” She laughs at her own joke and Yongsun couldn't help but laugh as well.

 

“I get married next month,” Yongsun says, though not as confidently as the other.

 

“Would you like to go down to the lounge with me and continue this conversation?” Wheein asks. "I feel like drinking for a little."

 

The look of hope in Wheein’s eyes made it impossible for Yongsun to decline her offer. Plus, she wanted to go back to the hotel room when everyone was asleep and perhaps grab a midnight snack. Her gut does not warn her of anything fishy about the other girl and the logical side of her brain doesn't seem to mind as well.

 

“But...aren’t you supposed to check up on your friends?” She asks, making sure. She wants Wheein to ask her again. She wants to feel as if her presence is desired by the other.

 

Again, Wheein waves a dismissive hand. It seems to be a habit of hers, Yongsun notices. It makes her think that this girl hardly worries about anything in the world. It makes her envious though she doesn't voice this out.

 

“ it. They’re too drunk to notice.”

 

“What?” Yongsun asks, the curse word a bit harsh to hear for someone who hardly says such words. But there's a ghost of a smile on her lips.

 

Wheein shakes her head this time and takes Yongsun's hand as the elevator doors open.

 

“I said I’m glad I saw you again!”

 

--

 

“So you’re marrying Son Hyunwoo? THE Son Hyunwoo?”

 

Yongsun laughs at the surprise in Wheein’s voice and wide eyes. Yongsun decides that she likes Wheein’s reactions. Her face contorts into a multitude of different expressions as she listens to her speak. And it makes Yongsuns eager to tell her story. It’s the first time someone ever listened to her this much. And not because they are forced to.

 

She tells Wheein of how she and Hyunwoo had been destined to be married ever since high school. They met through a party and started hanging out in the same friend circle. He is a skilled businessman and helps his father run the company despite his age. Through a coincidence, however, the two learn that Hyunwoo’s father and Yongsun’s father were planning to merge companies. And so, a union between their only children was the perfect final seal to the deal.

 

Yongsun had no power to stop her father then. She simply obeyed. And here they are now.

 

“How about you, Wheein ssi?” Yongsun asks, thinking that she has talked of herself enough. She orders her fourth white russian and a fifth beer for Wheein as she waits for the other to share her own story.

 

“Well…” Wheein begins, taking another fry from the platter, dipping it in salsa. “I just went for it.”

 

Perplexed, Yongsun looks at her newfound friend silently, waiting for her to continue.

 

She shifts in her seat, humming. “We’ve dated for three years, me and Vernon. Awfully short time, huh? We’ve been engaged for two years, though. Just doing whatever. Travelling, crossing things off our bucket list and just being around each other. Because when we marry we need stability and we can’t do all of that once we have children. I dated a few other guys and girls but he’s--”

 

“YOU DATED GIRLS?!”

 

Yongsun’s shriek awakened the whole lounge and Wheein’s laugh did the same. Still flabbergasted, Yongsun only watches Wheein as she continues to laugh, head thrown back and golden brown hair in a state of disarray.

 

“Well yeah? It’s not a big deal. Biuality exists, you know,” Wheein says, amused by Yongsun’s reaction.

 

Yongsun sips her white russian nervously, her cheeks aflame. “But it’s with another...woman…”

 

Nodding, Wheein hops onto the seat beside Yongsun, completely disregarding personal space. In a hushed tone, she says, “Women are softer, more delicate...our bodies are capable of so much pleasure and deserve to be pleasured by one who understands this. You do not deserve any less than the best ever.”

 

Heat creeps to the tip of Yongsun’s ears as she rubs her legs together. “C-Could you please move a little--”

 

“Oh, sorry.” Wheein says, laughing as she takes the whole plate of fries closer to her. “I was all up in your space right there. But you should definitely try it with a woman at least once in your life to really know. Plus, you’re going to have a few things up your sleeves for the very special honeymoon night.”

 

“O...kay....” Yongsun says, drinking the rest of her white russian to calm her nervousness.

 

“You’re beautiful, Yongsun,” Wheein continues. “It’ll be easy for you to snag someone. Heck, if I wasn’t engaged to be married, I’d help you.”

 

“I think I’m going to be fine… I want to reserve it for him,” Yongsun says, taking a sip of Wheein’s beer. “You know, my ity.”

 

“Ah, so you are a .” Wheein stops eating her fries and looks at Yongsun, an odd expression on her face.

 

Feeling the weight of Wheein’s gaze, Yongsun sinks in her seat. “Well...yes… He’s uh...the only one I’ve dated. And we’ve never had .”

 

“But you want to? Have , I mean.”

 

Yongsun is shocked again by Wheein’s words. It seems like the other is nothing but surprises. Yongsun hasn’t even recovered from what she just learned.

 

“Y-Yes… I do,” she answers truthfully.

 

She is granted by a wide smile. “Good. You’re halfway there.”

 

---

 

“Thanks for the chat,” Yongsun says, formal all of a sudden.

 

The two are found just outside Yongsun’s hotel door. Wheein insisted on dropping her off first to make sure that Yongsun is safe. Wheein is apparently skilled in taekwondo and can protect herself.

 

“Thank you,” Wheein replies with much more enthusiasm. “It was much more fun than I expected.”

 

Yongsun smiles and fishes for her hotel room key in her pocket. “Goodnight.”

 

“Goodnight.”

 

Wheein walks closer to give Yongsun a hug to which the other responded with a half one. Once they pull away, however, a pair of hands on her cheeks pull her closer and suddenly she feels soft and sweet and warm against her lips. But it was too quick and too sudden and she stands there, cheeks flushed and eyes wide.

 

“Now you’re another step closer. See you tomorrow,” Wheein says and turns to walk towards her own room, leaving Yongsun to collapse to the floor, knees like jelly.

“Oh my God.”