Soft.

The first word that came to mind the moment Changmin’s lips touched hers was soft. Yoona didn’t know what else to think when he’d put her in this position – wrapped in his arms and kissing her sincerely that it took the very breath in her lungs away. His mouth closed over hers gently, breathing life into her limbs with a tingling sensation that bit warmth into her senses.

He’s… really good at this, Yoona thought to herself as her arms unconsciously tightened around his shoulders and she responded into the kiss. His own arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer and she knew—I should push him away from me.

In the back of her mind, she knew she should. But somehow no strength came to her to take a step back. The kiss he’d given her was so gentle, so sweet… so good. How could she stop something that felt wonderful?

Because this is not for real. Her heart ached at the thought, knowing it was the absolute truth. It hurt knowing it was this way, and for a moment she wondered if she was hurt because she wanted it to be real.

He’s just kissing you to prove a point to everyone. The ill-spirited side of herself poked at her incessantly. He’s not holding you because he wants to. He’s just doing his part. He’s just—

But it felt so right. His warm hands held her just close enough at the small of her back, anchoring her against him as their lips responded to each other in a way that blurred the lines of real and pretend. It was kiss that gnawed at her senses, spilling hunger into her limbs. A kiss that evoked emotions she hadn’t felt as intensely with… anyone before Changmin and yet,

This is just pretend.

Changmin pulled away from her suddenly. Their lips separating slowly as he drew back to look at her opening her eyes in a daze. Yoona’s brow wrinkled in confusion for a moment as she regained focus and her vision, staring back at the dark depths of Changmin’s eyes.

“Changmin?” she murmured uncertainly, vaguely disappointed as he gently pushed her back away from him. Her arms still draped lazily over his shoulders and he gave her a smile in response before stepping further away with still one hand wrapped around the curve of her waist.

He cocked his head to the side, smirking a little at her still mystified expression. His eyes spoke to her in volumes ringing in her ear, teasing her and it was then she finally took that moment to take a look around her. Her cheeks flushed pink when she realized that the music had stopped and that they were the only couple left on the dance floor.

Thankfully no one else was paying them much attention. That is except for a couple of people.

Yoona raised her eyes to meet her father’s amused grin, coupled alongside with Hyoyeon and Eunhyuk’s catcalling, Jessica’s soft smile and Donghae’s…

She frowned at the hard gaze her ex-boyfriend sent her way and immediately drew her eyes elsewhere. She’d seen that look before. It was one Donghae would give to anything or anyone that crossed him and for once she found that his usually mild-mannered temper was completely misguided.

Why would he look at me like that? Yoona thought, frowning to herself. He’d already made it perfectly clear that he doesn’t love me anymore. Why should he care if another man kissed me senseless just now?

Her cheeks flushed red at the last thought, glancing back at the man holding her close by her torso. She couldn’t have helped it even if she tried not to look at Changmin’s lips because those soft slips of flesh still made her feel them on hers. She flushed further when he turned towards her again and cocked an eyebrow in question, half in amusement and curiosity.

Somehow she regretted ever making their arrangement in the first place. If she had known that things would progress this way, she might not have even talked to him at all.

Someone in the room coughed somewhere and with a steady grace that surprised her herself, Yoona placed a light but showy kiss on Changmin’s cheek before pulling him with her out of the dance floor.

They needed to talk about this new clause of the arrangement. Physical affection had never been brought up before and now was as good as any time to bring the subject to light.

“Going up for some air, Yoong?” Hyoyeon sing-songed cutely, wiggling her eyebrows as the couple slowly began to walk past. Her grin widened further when both Yoona and Changmin rolled their eyes at her but said nothing, continuing along their way towards the staircase with her best friend’s pretend boyfriend’s hand still pressed closely against her torso.

“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!” she called after them, laughing aloud.

She hardly cared when her group fell quiet, staring at her in surprise. But she did notice how the couple ahead of her stiffened considerably, eyes wide in shock as they looked back at her with unabashed annoyance.

Whoops! Hyoyeon blinked and then quickly realized her words, sprouting apologetic words at an alarmed Mr. Im beside her.

“I’m sorry, Daddy Im! You know Yoona would never let anything happen before marriage, right?” she declared loudly, shooing her bestfriend and ‘he