Words didn’t come easily to Seulgi in the best of times. Whenever she was onstage, she usually fumbled over what she should say. Now was definitely not one of those times, not when the woman she was in love with had whisked her away to one of the most expensive restaurants in all of Seoul, not when there were people looking their way and murmuring to themselves, not when they were finally alone. Irene looked more like the ancient Greek goddess, Aphrodite, than Bae Joohyun tonight, with the soft sunset-reminiscent lighting her face, her hair falling down in long, dark tresses across her dress. Seulgi doesn’t think she’ll ever get used to the other woman’s effortless beauty, how even when their leader had just rolled out of bed, she looked as though she belonged in an editorial.

That three-word phrase dances on the tip of Seulgi’s tongue, and she longs to say it more than anything in this world. She knows she shouldn’t, she thinks of the consequences it would bring. But tonight was different, wasn’t it? They were on a date, alone, and Irene was looking at her as though she loved her. “I…,” she watches Irene leaning forward in anticipation, her delicate ivory fingers gently holding the stem of her glass, “I’m speechless, Irene!” Seulgi finally admits, breathless and looking down, embarrassed, at the neatly folded napkin in her lap. Irene giggles before taking a sip of her wine, “It is quite lovely, isn’t it? I knew you’d like it.” The two are lost in each other’s smiles before Seulgi’s stomach growls loudly.

“Looks like someone’s hungry,” Irene teases, just as their waiter returns, gently setting two plates of Kongguksu in front of them. Seulgi once again finds herself speechless at the sight of the dish. Finely chopped slices of cucumber and cherry tomatoes have been carefully arranged over thin, white noodles, which rest in the creamy white sauce filling the saucer. “Seulgi?” Irene asks, her heart melting as Seulgi’s eyes flit up to meet hers. She tilts her head to the side and lifts an eyebrow at the younger girl, “Are you going to stare at your food or are you going to eat it?” Seulgi pouts for a second, “It’s such a beautiful dish, unnie. I couldn’t help myself.” She lifts a careful spoonful of the broth to her lips when Irene murmurs, “That’s not the only thing at this table that’s beautiful.” The words are wasted on deaf ears as Seulgi looks out the window next to them and sighs longingly, “Look at that view, Hyun-ah.” The restaurant is the perfect distance away from the heart of Seoul to capture the skyline just right.

Tonight, everything seemed be unfolding in way that was nothing short of perfection. “How far we’ve come,” she murmurs after the waiter whisks away their empty saucers to reveal their next course: a generous helping of beautifully grilled eel atop a row of delicate leafy garnish. Seulgi gingerly placed one of the slices of eel into and her eyes immediately widened, to Irene’s amusement. “Hyun-ah, this is the best Jangeo-gui I’ve ever had!” Irene follows suit, and nonchalantly nods her head in agreement, “It’s not bad, huh?” Their eyes meet, and they giggle together as if they’re back in their high school days. Never had Seulgi expected to be in such a place of wealth and fame to be considered worthy of entering an establishment like Denouement. She had dreamed of such days, but she’d never thought they would actually come true.

She never believed in her wildest dreams that she’d be able to wear lavish clothing, like the dress she’s flaunting now, be driven around in a fancy car, have thousands of fans screaming her name, and she especially never thought she’d have a date with a woman as beautiful as Irene…wait, was this a date-date? She’d been chewing on a piece of her eel for a few moments more than necessary, contemplating. Her eyes flickered back and forth from the view, her nearly empty second glass of wine, and Irene, who was patiently swirling a piece of eel in one of the sauces the waiter had brought for them. Seulgi was about to open to ask when Irene interrupted her, “Seulgi-yah, I’ve got a surprise for you after dinner.” The younger girl’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. Was it even possible for tonight to get even better?

Irene, sensing Seulgi’s shock, smiles softly at her, “Our final course is coming up, I just wanted to let you know we’re not headed home just yet.” Seulgi feels her heart start to speed up, “What are you planning to do, Joohyun?” Seulgi jabs her chopsticks at her, accidentally dropping a sliver of eel on