Taemin looked down at the invitation in his hand, the fancy caligraphy pressed in gold across the textured card, as his eyes continued to gloss over the words printed before him:

You are hereby invited to the Seoul City Mayor's Ball. 

Yet that wasn't even the part that struck Taemin the most. 

You and your team have been nominated for outstanding services and contributions to the justice system, the presentation of which will be given on the night.

No matter how many times he read it over, he still couldn't quite believe it. He was 23, barely pushing on 24, yet already being nominated for a major public services award. It didn't feel right, and was simply ineffable considering how young he still was. Of course, he did whizz through law school and college, graduating at an average 3-years younger than his coursemates, but most of the time, Taemin still felt like the silly teenager with big dreams that left Seoul 3 years ago.

Strangely enough, everything seemed to come full circle since then. He was back in Seoul, mixing with the people he grew up with and doing all the work he'd pushed himself so hard for, and finally, was close to winning back the girl he loved. 

It had become apparent to Taemin some time ago that he never really stopped loving Krystal, not really. Yet seeing the transformation she'd undergone since he'd left was a bitter pill to swallow. It was partially his fault she'd grown so cold, so hostile, so unlike her old self, that it was at times like being around a different person. Yet equally, Taemin couldn't help but be intrigued by this new person Krystal had appeared to become. Whilst she was certainly more jaded about everything in life, she also looked at everything with an ironic amusement, as opposed to her youthful optimism she'd had as a teenager. In a strange way, she had an awfully similar way to looking at the world that Taemin had to grow into as a lawyer. With all the time he'd been spending around her recently, oddly enough, Taemin found it easier being around her now than he did back when they teenagers.

Of course, keeping his secret from her wasn't easy either. 

Leaving his room, Taemin walked down the hall and into his study, the door locked from where he was even concealing his project from Minho and Taemin. Stepping inside, Taemin came face to face with the huge case he'd been building, the project board taking up and entire wall, whilst his desk was piled high with papers and documents from the last 3 years. 

The case of the missing Jessica Jung.

It had been like trying to catch air in a jar. There were so many loose ends, deads ends and trails gone cold in his investigation, that Taemin often felt like giving up. Yet at the same time, he could see a pattern forming, lines converging that would hopefully lead him to the end of this mystery. All the facts lined up, all the sightings, all the rumours, it all lined up.

Right now, those lines led to Hong Kong. But it was there that the trail had gone cold. 

Whatever happened in Hong Kong, wherever Jessica went after that - Taemin needed to know. It may very well have been the tipping point in the case. He'd even arranged a meeting with a top, government lawyer who was part of the legal and police team who'd first investigated her case, but Taemin was at a loss with how to proceed even with their help. But for now, Taemin had other priorities. 

Leaving his apartment, Taemin took in the cool, crisp Spring air, bringing a wave of freshness all through his lungs and reached every cell of his body. Taemin needed all the strength he could muster for what he was about to do. 

Driving over to Krystal's place, Taemin thought over what he was going to say, how best to say it, and what not to say. Yet no matter how many times he would rehearse his words, no matter how many times he told himself how he would behave, being around Krystal never failed to turn him into a nervous teenager again. 

Today was no exception. 

She opened up the door to his apartment, looking ethereal with her new haircut, no makeup and a small smile on her face at the sight of Taemin. It was like seeing for the first time all over again, as if that simple smile erased the years' of history between them and they were starting again. 

Yet as Krystal raised an eyebrow at Taemin's lack of greeting, he reminded himself why he was here.

"I need you to come to the Mayor's Ball with me," Tamein blurted out, his words practically a single string of a sentence as he became flustered. 

This is not how a lawyer acts!

Krystal stifled a rueful smile, "As in the high-society Mayor's ball that I specifically told my parents I would not be attending?"

Nodding, Taemin continued, "I've actually been nominated for an award. Me and the team."

"Wow, that's amazing," Krystal said, looking genuinely impressed, "Congratulations."

"And I want you to accompany me."

"Why, so you can have a pretty girl on your arm for the pictures?" Krystal mocked, but with a teasing smile on her face.

"I mean that's bonus but-" Taemin sighed, but had to take a moment. How was he going to say how he really felt without sounding like a complete and utter wet-wipe that would make Krystal cringe?

"Cat got your tongue?" Krystal teased with a rueful smile that made Taemin's chest thud.

"They nominated me because of the person I am and what I've done as part of my team." Taemin started, being very careful with where he was going with his words, "But...I would never be the man I ws today if it wasn't for you."

Silence hung for a moment between them, the only sound being Krystal's deep breathing as she stared at him, eyes steady and unwavering. She was so cryptic, such an enigma to understand; even for a trained, top lawyer like Taemin who knew Krystal for the better part of his life, he still had little hope of ever being able to decode her mind.

"Okay, I'll go."

Taemin had to do a double-take to make sure he wasn't imagining this, "Re- really?"

Krystal nodded, her face not giving away whatever she was feeling inside, "Sure. I just need to get a dress, but it'll be fun. Just- don't tell your Mom? She'll tell my Mom and she'll definitely jump to conclusions."

"Absolutely," Taemin chuckled, "Perfect. I'll arrange a driver and pick you up for the night."

"See you then." 

Taemin couldn't shake off the smile that was plastered on his face as he left Krystal's apartment. Had she really just said yes? Was she really willing to accompany him to the year's biggest political event? In spite of everything that happened between them? What did this mean for them? Was this a reason to hope? Could Krystal have forgiven him? Could there be a chance that things would work out for them?

Whatever the case may be, Taemin found himself unable to think of anything else the rest of the day - it finally gave him a moment to think about anything other than the case of the missing Jessica Jung.

*

Taemin waited outside the building apprehensively, repeatedly playing with the cuffs of his tuxedo jacket in an attempt to distract himself from how nervous he was for tonight. Part of him wanted to run home and lock himself away in his apartment, pretend to be sick and miss out on the event - but he couldn't. Too much was riding on this ceremony. His entire future would be made for him and the guys if they won this award. Yet the nerves he felt for the ceremony didn't hold a candle to the nerves he felt about Krystal. 

He still couldn't believe that she'd accepted his offer to be his date for the night, where they would step out onto the red carpet for all the world to see. Yet what did that mean for them? Where would tonight leave them? 

Taemin reached his hand inside his pocket, grabbing onto the little velvet box and shifting in between his fingers, a reminder of sorts, of what he planned to do, and what he was willing to put his life on the line for. 

When the time is right.

Yet as his nerves threatened to overwhelm him, the door to the apartment opened, and Krystal appeared. 

Taemin couldn't believe his eyes. She was a vision, an angel before him, bathed in the light of the building behind her, and was wearing a pale pink dress with a slight cape that really did make her look like an angel. Seeing her now was like seeing her for the first time all over again, and it was more than enough to knock the breath out of Taemin's lungs.

"Hi," Krystal smiled awkwardly as she tightened her fur shawl around her. No matter how much of a goddess she looked like, she would always be such an introvert.

Taemin smiled at her, finally able to string together some words, "You look- well, beautiful doesn't cut it. The most incredible woman I've ever seen."

Krystal blushed, her eyes glued to her shoes as a shy smile overcame her features, "Thank you."

A faint twinkle at Krystal's neck caught his eye. The diamond necklace he'd bought her for her 18th birthday. 

"You kept it? After all this time?" Taemin asked as he reached out to gently adjust the necklace where it had slid out of place on her.

"Of course," Krystal replied, "Although I haven't had much chance to wear it until now."

Nodding in understanding, Taemin went to hold out his arm for Krystal to take, "Shall we?"

The journey to the ball was mostly silent, given that the two of them were clearly extremely nervous for the night that lay ahead. Yet the two of them sat closely in the back of the Rolls Royce, Krystal not having taken her arm out of Taemin's the entire way. He could hardly believe this was happening; in one sense, he felt like the lovesick teenager taking his sweetheart to prom in senior year, yet equally, everything was so different. Neither Krystal nor Taemin were the same person they had been before, and the two of them that sat here now were adults fully aware of what their partnership for the night would suggest. 

Yet that didn't matter. Taemin had still asked her, knowing very well the assumptions people would have about the two of them, and Krystal still accepted. 

As they pulled up to the city hall, Taemin's heart started to thud uncontrollably in his chest, his pulse pounding through his ears so loudly that it drowned everything else out - except Krystal.

"You ready?" she asked him, her eyes dark and steady, the only thing that seemed to steady Taemin in this ordeal. 

Simply nodding, their driver pulled up to the opening. Dozens of black cars and limos pulled up for the guests' turn to step out onto the red carpet, where dozens of photographers and jounalists holding their metallic, insect-like cameras, eagerly awaited whoever would step out next.

When it was finally their turn, Taemin focused only on the feeling of Krystal's arm around his, before stepping out into the craze that awaited them. 

Blinding lights. It was all he could see as he stepped out first, the driver holding the door open for them, before turning around to help Krystal out. They were no celebrities, that was for sure, but some journalists seemed to recognise Taemin, calling out for comment about his nomination and whether or not he would expect public appointment in the coming years. But it was all superfluous. He could only focus on Krystal as he held his arm out for her. 

She seemed so startled, so shy as the lights of the cameras flashed around them, making her glow as the iridescent sheen of the dress made her look even more ethereal. She looked up at him with nervous eyes. All Taemin could feel was love as he stared back into hers, all the nerves and stress melting away with that simple look that stripped away 3 years of hurt until it was just love. He prayed that Krystal felt it too. 

The walk down the carpet whizzed by in an almost nauseating, surreal blur. Neither of them stopped to talk to anyone that called out to them, even the odd reporter that called out for the "Younger Jung Sister" to make comment on her father's re-appointment that was expected tonight. Taemin had reached out for her hand that was linked through his arm, giving it a reassuring squeeze as they closed in on the entrance where they would finally be away from prying eyes. 

Krystal seemed more than grateful for this as soon as they stepped foot inside the entry hall and Taemin handed over his invitation. 

"Thank you," Krystal said, visibly relieved, "I thought they would've forgotten who I even was by now." 

Taemin remembered all too well the way the press had ruthelessly hounded Krystal after Jessica disappeared - after all, he had spent days trawling through old footage during his investigations. 

Don't think about that now.

"It's okay." Taemin assured her, as they went to hand their jackets into the cloakroom, "I'm glad we both made it through that alive to be honest."

Meanwhile, a huge roar of voices sounded from outside. Clearly someone famous had just arrived, as Taemin could hear the onslought of questions being called out and see the constant flash! and click! of camera lights and shutters from outside. 

"At least we didn't have to get through that." Krystal scoffed as she handed over her shawl.

Yet before Taemin could come up with a reply, a worrying sight appeared in the distance.

"We just have to go through worse," he sighed, nudging Krystal before subtly pointing up to the stop of the huge stairway, where Krystal's parents stood, preparing to enter the banquet hall.

Krystal released a huge sigh, "They're gonna' be so pissed that I didn't tell them I'd be here."

"Surely they won't scold you in public?"

"No," Krystal scoffed, "They'd be far too happy that I came with you."

Taemin couldn't help but smile at that, "Well, let's go show them that we didn't come just to please them." 

Grinning, Krystal took a hold of his arm, and the two of them made their way. The city banquet hall was as opulent and grandiose as something out of a fairy tale, the interior all warm browns and gold, every wall covered in expensive-looking, artistic panelling, with priceless-looking ornaments dotted about the place. A huge, double-staircase made of marble dominated the centre of the atrium, the ceilings that stretched up and and towering over them also decorated with ornate-looking sculptures that made Taemin feel more like he was in Vatican City that in the heart of Seoul. 

"Now there's something you don't see every day..." Taemin mumbled as he stared up at the place around him. Suddenly, he felt very small. 

Yet that was nothing compared to the enormous banquet hall they stepped into. The huge glass dome that towered above them opened up the hall into new dimensions, the moon shining brightly overhead as hundreds of banquet tables were evenly distributed around the place, with an expensive-looking bar set up on one side of the hall, parallel to an enormous dancefloor and huge bandstand, where a string quartet currently played.

Taemin had to take a moment to admire the sheer scale and opulence of it all.

"Good to know public money is being well-spen