“Can you be a little less obvious, Joohyun, please,” muttered a woman sitting across from Joohyun as she crossed her arms and turned slightly away from the sight in front of her, acting as if she didn’t see the current image in front of her, it wasn’t occurring.

Her cheeks were tinted a pink shade due to the appearance her best friend Joohyun was currently showcasing. Slightly messy hair, wrinkled dress shirt, top button buttoned wrongly, and slightly smeared lipstick at the corner of her lips. It was quite clear what her friend had gotten up to a few minutes before their lunch meeting. The same old, at this point, Hyorin had gotten quite used to it, but nonetheless, it still didn’t manage to get rid of the embarrassment she felt every time seeing Joohyun in that state in public without a single care in the world.

Joohyun couldn’t help but smile and let out a small laugh. She loved causing her best friend discomfort, seeing the innocence Hyorin had, made her realize that she at least had something good in her life, something that could balance her dirty, lusty self. Joohyun proceeded to reach out her arm across the small dining table and pinched Hyorin’s full cheek. This caused Hyorin to instantly turn towards Joohyun and let out a small huff when she saw Joohyun’s wide smile.

“I can’t believe you are that shameless Joohyun. You are practically screaming to the world that you just had .” Hyorin uncrossed her arms and propped her elbow on top of the table and laid her chin on her open hand. Hyorin then proceeded with her rant, “Why are you still engaging with that sad excuse of a human life when you know he is just using …”

At this point, the smile Joohyun had on her face slowly slid off and before Hyorin could get the last word she interrupted, “I take what I want Hyorin, you can’t be used if you are in common agreement with the person you are ing. We both like , and we both do a good job of pleasuring each other. It’s the perfect arrangement.”

Joohyun understood Hyorin had nothing but good intentions towards her, but she hated when she twisted her current situation with Jiyong as one where she was being used. She would never stoop to that level and becomes someone’s play toy. If Jiyong was using her, then she was too. What they both had was a simple ual relationship with no feelings, compromises, or relationships. They weren’t even friends, they were just two beings looking for a constant place where they can easily access .

Hyorin had noticed the smile slip off Joohyun’s face and she gave a big sigh and reached out to squeeze Joohyun’s hand that was currently on the restaurant’s menu.

“I’m sorry Joo, to be honest I still have no clue what relationship you have with him, but if you are content with it I won’t meddle.”

Joohyun nodded her head, she loved Hyorin, but she wanted no ones opinion on her current situation with Jiyong.

“And that is how it should be, I am satisfied in the position I am in right now, I don’t need no pity party.”

A flash of guilt passed by Hyorin’s eyes, one Joohyun noticed instantly. She knew Hyorin was just concerned for her well being, whatever she thought it should be, so she added.

“I am 26, I am just living life and having fun. I like . And there is an attractive man who I can constantly get it from, then I am in.”

“Always so carefree Joo, but that’s what I love about you. I just want you to be happy, It’s just that I wish it wasn’t him.”

Joohyun couldn’t help but let out a laugh, a laugh that told Hyorin that topic was not up for discussion anymore.

If not Jiyong then who else Joohyun thought to herself. Men were lustful creatures, and she was beautiful from head to toe. She believed admitting it wasn’t arrogant; rather it was common knowledge. She knew the reactions and stares she incited from the opposite and even from the same one. Most men she engaged within any sort of relationship, couldn’t help but want more from her, something she wasn’t willing to give. That’s why Jiyong was the perfect partner because she knew all he wanted from her was , nothing beyond that.

She picked up her menu and skimmed through the pages trying to find something that piqued her interest. Hyorin did the same and they stayed silent for a few moments trying to decide on what to eat. Hyorin seemed to have decided on her choice of meal and put down her menu and began fiddling with the tablecloth and the cutlery that was swaddled up with a pretty soft pastel green cloth napkin. Hyorin unwrapped the clip that was binding together the napkin and cutlery and brought it up to her face for a closer examination.

At that moment, Joohyun had decided she wanted something refreshing and light so the watermelon avocado radish was perfect. While settling her menu down and reaching for her glass of water, she noticed Hyorin was intently analyzing and touching all the table décor. Did this mean…..

“I’m assuming Mr. Dense I don’t have a clue about my girlfriend, finally proposed??” questioned Joohyun while taking a sip of her water. Tap water she noted, and no ice. She supposed she would have to order that wine she planned to put off today.

“Is that why you asked me out for lunch today, to announce I am your maid of honor?”

Hyorin stopped what she was doing and placed the spoon she was analyzing down with a little more force than needed.

“As if that man has engagement or proposal in his vocabulary,” Hyorin huffed.

It had been over four years since she had begun dating her current boyfriend, Youngbae. And he still hadn’t proposed. She had left clues here and there like the ring on that woman’s ring finger and her left hand is so beautiful, would I look pretty in a long fluffy white dress, seems like Jeju would be a beautiful honeymoon location. But of course, her stone head boyfriend hadn’t received the message, as her left-hand ring finger was still empty.

Joohyun snorted. She didn’t want to laugh but seeing Hyorin so worked up about a lack of proposal was so cute. It also reminded her men were stupid no matter how much they told you they loved you or you loved them.

Hyorin glared when she heard the muddled laugh come form Joohyun. She grabbed the napkin she had unraveled from the cutlery earlier and tossed it at Joohyun’s face.

“Don’t laugh okay, Is it bad I want to get married now. I’m not getting any younger.”

Joohyun picked up the napkin that was a few seconds ago on her face from her lap. She twirled it around mid-air while humming a bridal march.

Hyorin grumbled and kicked Joohyun from under the table, causing the napkin to slip from Joohyun’s fingers.

“Ouch,” yelped Joohyun and she slipped her hand under the table to rub the spot Hyorin had kicked.

“I’m just enjoying your cuteness Hyorin, no need to get violent, kick Youngbae instead not me.”

Hyorin once again propped her elbow on the table, but this time her other one joined her and she placed her chin the palm of both of her hands. She stared off looking at nothing in particular.

“If I could kick some sense in that blockhead of his I would,” she dazedly said.

“Then do it, I will watch.”

As if not hearing Joohyun, Hyorin continued, “ I’m even debating whether or not I should buy the ring myself and propose to him myself, because at this rate I will remain unmarried for years.”

This time Joohyun couldn’t hide her laugh behind a snort, so she let out a small laugh, which earned her a glare from a now focused Hyorin. Joohyun made sure to quickly crisscross her legs on top of her seat, just in time for her to avoid the kick Hyorin had intended for her

“Aish, Stop laughing at me you maniac,” grumbled Hyorin as she pinched Joohyun’s arm that got the yelp of slight pain she was looking for.

Joohyun rubbed the pink spot on her wrist, “And stop attacking me you desperate woman.”

Hyorin huffed and went back to her previous position of placing her chin in her hands.

“I really want to get married soon Joo,” she mumbled quietly, “I really do.”

Joohyun’s mood dampened a bit seeing how serious Hyorin was about wanting to get married. Hyorin was a cute quirky girl with an amazing personality. She was pretty and petite and quite talkative and playful when you got to know her better. She was the best friend Joohyun could have ever wished for and was grateful to have met her in university. The one thing that bothered Joohyun about Hyorin, were her grand illusions on love. She put such great importance on marriage and forming a family that it infuriated Joohyun a bit at times. It was as if getting married would make Hyorin the happiest woman on earth and magically solve her problems. Love was just a fleeting feeling. It could feel nice at times, but in the end, it was so easy to kill off and it was something that could hurt you so bad. Love was unnecessary to be happy in life, that was what Joohyun thought. She never voiced this to Hyorin as she was positive she would receive an eternal lecture from her.

Joohyun did not say anything after Hyorin’s wishes, and she did not need to, for the waiter was just a few steps away from their table, ready to take their order.

....................

“This one is beautiful isn’t it,” said a Hyorin with a glazed look over her eyes. “How about this one. Oh God, the lace on this one is absolutely divine,” Hyorin’s fingers traced the floral pattern on the bodice of the dress that had currently caught her attention. It was an off the shoulder, (long-sleeve) lace dress with a tight bodice that had a tight skirt until it hit mid-leg, where it flowed out a bit. Hyorin couldn’t help but imagine herself in it. With her hair pulled up in a bun of loose curls, and a long veil with a simple lace pattern, she would sure look like a glowing blushing bride. She sighed as she slid her fingers ever so slightly on the dress.

“I don’t understand why we came in here. You really are a masochist, you like torturing yourself,” said Joohyun as she leaned against the wall of a bridal dress boutique.

She was seeing how Hyorin would look at all the dresses, touch them, check the size, and then hold them against her frame. Mental torture at its finest she thought. At this point, Joohyun herself was considering proposing to Youngbae in behalf of Hyorin.

Joohyun got no response from Hyorin, and she continued to watch Hyorin walk through the boutique stopping at the wedding dresses that caught her interest. Joohyun’s phone suddenly buzzed twice telling her she received a text. She searched through her small purse, and as she took it out she saw it was from an unknown number. She didn’t even have to read the text to know who it was from, and what was inside its contents. Joohyun decided to not even open it and she slid it b