May 29th, 2014. 11:45 PM.

She hears the door to her apartment rustle open, then click closed, and knows that her living space is now inhabited by Jongin as well.

Walking into the living room, she is greeted with the sight of Jongin smoking in dark jeans on her white sofa, his long, long legs propped up on her coffee table.

(Casually indifferent) “How was your day, gorgeous?”

She glances up at him sharply, before striding over and taking the cigarette in his fingers.

“It was pleasant. (Pause) I spent the day with Chen.”

A pregnant silence ensues.

She closes her eyes, and inhales. A wave of anesthetic sweeps through her, before she opens her eyes again, and meets eyes with Jongin.

Jongin’s eyes are unfathomably dark whirlpools, drawing her in. But she blinks twice, and superimposed upon Jongin’s eyes are Chen’s clear brown-hazel depths.

Hesitance sprouts in her mind.

Jongin chooses his next words carefully.

“And how was Chen?”

She is unable to hide her happiness. The joy seeps through her eyes, flows through , and tints her words.

(Simplistically, but with feeling) “He’s wonderful.”

And Jongin catches a breath through his teeth.

He knew the game that he played with her. He knew it better than anyone.