It took a little longer than she’d like to come out of her trance, blinking profusely as Lee Donghae slowly made his way through the crowded room towards her. His arm was linked with a woman’s arm – the girl he replaced me with, Yoona thought nauseously and turned her head as the recognition of the Jessica’s (her new friend) beautiful face registered in her thoughts.

She bit back tears in threatening to come to her eyes, focusing her attentions towards someone else instead – Changmin to be exact – and forcing a smile on her lips as he looked back at her in confusion. Yoona watched as his eyes flickered from her to where her eyes had strayed last before coming back to meet her eyes in understanding. She figured he must have pieced all together by the look on his face, but if he didn’t then Eunhyuk’s loud greeting would have clued him in.

Inwardly she winced at the sudden call her friend made but made no move to reprimand him or even turn around. She didn’t want to. Not when her heart was shattering inside her chest all over again.

Changmin’s fingers reached out to touch hers, silently breaking into her thoughts as she looked up in surprise and he moved closer to stand by her side. Yoona held on his fingers tight and willed herself to be stronger than how she truly felt. There was no turning back now.

“Oh, hello, Yoona,” Donghae greeted the very second he and Jessica reached them. He looked at ease with his bright smile, his arm softly placed around Jessica’s waist as though it was the most natural thing in the world. Yoona noticed how happy he looked to be with her in his arms. Better than when we were together, she thought bitterly before she could stop herself.

She tried not to grimace as Donghae gestured towards Jessica and introduced her to the group. Her only reassurance came from Changmin’s hands folding hers in between his, anchoring her to be strong which she appreciated more than anything.

“I’d like you all to meet my girlfriend, Jung Sooyeon.” Donghae started, unperturbed by Yoona’s (masked?) uneasiness. He was smiling wide as the lady in his arms blushed prettily beside him and smiled as well. “She’s a fashion designer based in New York and likes to go by her English name, Jessica.”

Jessica nodded her head and greeted each of them warmly, her eyes straying just a little bit longer at Yoona (and Changmin). She was mildly surprised to be in Yoona’s presence again after only meeting her days before, but she didn’t mind so at the same time. She liked Yoona after all, and even more now that she looked at the tall man standing beside her protectively again. A flicker of recognition crossed his features when their eyes met, but –like what her sources informed her – he remained silent all throughout the introductions.

She wasn’t surprised of Changmin’s cold shoulder treatment. After all, she was one of those who had driven him away in the first place.

But that was a story for another time. For now, all that Jessica was interested in was who her new friend, Yoona, was to Shim Changmin?

On the other hand, Changmin simply ignored the familiarity he’d seen in Jessica’s face. He knew who she resembled in his mind and he knew her voice even after all this time but he didn’t dare let himself dwell on pursuing the thought any further. He was at a party for a reason, for a business agreement – for Yoona.

That was the only reason he cared for.

“It’s really nice to see you again, Yoona. I didn’t expect to see you again so soon, but I’m glad nonetheless!” She said, smiling wide and stepping forwards. Jessica clasped her hands together and bowed her head slightly, “I want to thank you for recommending that café near the hospital. My mother really liked the caramel macchiato from there, and she isn’t the type to drink anything with milk or caffeine at all. It helped a bit, I think, to ease our transition back to the country.”

“Oh, it’s no problem, really,” Yoona replied, shaking her head. It was hard not to smile back when greeted so warmly, even if a big part of her did feel like tearing her hair out and screaming. “I’m only glad I was able to help in such a small way.”

“I didn’t know you two have already met.” Donghae interrupted sheepishly. He ran a hand through his hair and wrinkled his nose cutely at Jessica while he spoke. He put an arm around the blonde beauty and continued, “Am I missing anything else since I got back from business in New York?”

The couple smiled at each other warmly, gazing into each other’s eyes that it seemed like they noticed nothing else around them. Hyoyeon and Eunhyuk exchanged glances at this before training their eyes towards Yoona’s frozen smile. They pitied their friend but in this situation, both of them knew it was best not to interfere.

Besides, Hyoyeon thought, watching her best friend smile and make small talk from the side. She can take care of herself. She doesn’t need me to in when she can handle things on her own.

“Oh, I almost forgot!” Yoona exclaimed when she caught sight of Changmin grinning beside her and realized that she’d forgotten all about him. Punching him lightly shoulder while he continued to grin, she linked her arm around his and pulled him closer. She motioned him towards Donghae and Jessica and introduced him as comfortably as she could.

“This is Shim Changmin… my boyfriend,” she started as her hand gripped his forearm close. “Changmin, this is Donghae – one of my father’s associates and Eunhyuk’s friend. And this is Jessica, Donghae’s girlfriend.”

Changmin tried not to wince at how hard she was clutching his arm and nodded in greeting. He went as far as putting a hand over her trembling one in an attempt to calm her, which worked – more or less – as she relaxed under his touch.

/Hello. It’s nice to meet you./ He typed with Yoona’s help, bowing his head again politely. The couple blinked at him at first before turning their attention to the iPad’s screen, clearly confused at his mode of communication.

“He – how should I say this – Changmin doesn’t really talk. He writes instead.” Yoona explained; smiling wide despite herself as Donghae’s brow knotted across his forehead. It was too cute and she couldn’t help but feel a little relieved at how the sinking feeling in her chest faded.

It was sudden, but Yoona wasn’t surprised at all.  She’d always known that she couldn’t keep feeling any ill emotions for Donghae, no matter how much she wanted to. Even though he broke her heart with no real explanation and had another woman in his arms, she could never be angry with him. It was just impossible. Yoona loved him too much to feel beaten or betrayed.

“That’s peculiar… but if you like that about him, then I guess it’s okay.” Donghae replied, grinning. He held out his hand and shook Changmin’s hand, “It’s nice to meet you too, Changmin. Make sure to take care of her, alright? He’s my boss’ daughter after all.”

/Don’t worry. She’s in good hands./ Changmin reassured, smiling good naturedly. Yoona’s ex doesn’t seem like he’s some stupid person, he thought. Rather it seemed to him like Donghae every bit an intelligent and capable man. There was hardly anything threatening about him really, and like Eunhyuk said – he was a good guy in all accounts.

Maybe their relationship just ran its’ course, He figured, glancing back at Yoona laughing at something Donghae had mentioned about his recent trip. His lips lifted at the brightness of her smile and felt strangely relieved that the anxiety across her features had finally disappeared. His sisters’ had told him once that a smile could make anyone shine, but thinking about it now – there was nothing brighter than a smile on Yoona’s lips.

Her lips. His eyes lowered to the soft folds of skin before he could stop himself, glossed and pink while she laughed unaware of his stare. To be honest, Changmin hasn’t stopped thinking about her lips since that day she’d dragged him around to buy his suit. Maybe it was just that he was uncomfortable of wearing something tailor-made or that he hasn’t kissed a girl in awhile since the last date Kyuhyun had shoved to his face but there was something about those to slips of flesh that intrigued him to no end.

They were rosy pair, symmetrical with only the lower lip slightly fuller than the other. They were moist with gloss or whatever it was that she put on and called to him whenever she spoke or said none at all. If he were being honest to himself, he would have wanted to pull her away just so he could touch those lips and feel them under his fingers. Maybe he’d even permit himself to pull those twin slips of flesh with his…<