Note: This is one of my favourite songs ;)

Chapter 20: Subterfuge

“Naeun,I think I'm-”

“Myungsoo!” An unfamiliar high pitched voice interrupted them.

Naeun and Myungsoo pulled apart, a flush covering both of their cheeks.

A voluptuous girl clung to Myungsoo's arm, her hair tumbling down her back in a waterfall of lustrous curls, her red dress hugging her figure in all the right places.A black veil covered her head, revealing her large eyes that were staring at Myungsoo like he was the only thing in the world.

“I'm sorry, Myung but I tried to stop her! She wouldn't take no for an answer.” Hoya appeared, clutching his side.

Venom leaked into and she forced herself from looking at them.

She was beautiful.

A pretty girl.

No, a woman.

“She elbowed me.” Hoya muttered, annoyed by the fact he had been beaten by a girl.

“Dasom, what are you doing here?” He asked, still a little surprised.

“Well, I happen to be in Paris and I thought I'd surprise you on your birthday… like I used to. But I didn't think your place would be so crowded. We always celebrated them… intimately.” She smiled up to him whilst fluttering her doe-like eyes.

Naeun chose to ignore her deliberate innuendo, whoever this girl was, she was definitely trying to mark her territory.

“Excuse me, I need a refill.” She walked away from the balcony, her pride admittedly a little damaged.

Instead of being next to the man of her dreams. She ended up next to the buffet.

The latter was the more realistic.

Henry who sauntered over, brought Lady over to cheer her up.

“Awww, you cutie.” Naeun cooed over the dog whilst Henry watched her.

“Thank you.” Henry answered.

“I wasn't talking to you, Henry. Though you do remind me of a child.”

“Should I be upset that I'm seen as a child in your eyes?”

“Not a child… more like a gigantic baby.” She , her mood suddenly brightening at the banter between them.

But thenm she suddenly saw Myungsoo and the girl before dancing, her hips swayed seductively with the groovy music. Her smile fell from her lips and she looked away feeling even more annoyed; she finished the champagne in one shot.

“Who's the curvy brunette?” Naeun asked, her voice filled with contempt. Her eyes trailing the pair with careful eyes.

“Are you feeling threatened?” Henry smiled innocently.

“Don't be ridiculous Henry. I'm just… curious.” She emphasised the last word.

“Curiousity killed the cat.” He pointed out mischievously whilst taking a sip out of his own glass.

“Well it's a good thing I'm not a feline.” Naeun snapped but he merely chuckled at her uneasy disposition.

“If you must know… that's Dasom, an old flame of Myungsoo's when they were in Korea. Nothing serious though, it was just that… they looked good together.”

“They do.” Naeun whispered.

Henry looked at her softly, he knew she was jealous or at least slightly hurt.

“You've got nothing to worry about. You're beautiful.” He said, praising her immensely.

“Henry-” She turned to look at him with doubtful eyes but he turned serious. The boyish features hardening, but his eyes still glowed with unhinged innocence.

“I mean it.”

“Thank you.”

“Would you care to dance with me?” He asked eagerly.

“I'd love to.” She chuckled and he set Lady down to disappear somewhere in between the feet of people.

And she let him.

They danced and he made her laugh with his terrible jokes and friendly demeanor.

She was giggling at the tale of his demanding and cartoon-ish maestro who swore in Italian when he was cross with them.

“And don't even get me started on handling the junior orchestra… bunch of-” His story was cut short when someone bumped into Naeun and she surged forward. Henry caught her in his arms, his grip surprisingly strong and his arms amazingly buffed.

Naeun shook her head, she shouldn't be thinking of his in such way. He was a kindred soul, a gentleman but she only saw him as a friend or a brother.

“I'm so sorry!” The stranger apologised.

“It's fine.” Naeun shook her head but she caught Myungsoo at the balcony again his back turned towards the party.

“Excuse me, Henry.” She made her way to him, clutching a scroll, tied with a black ribbon. She had wanted to give it to him before, but she didn't find the right time to do so.

But when she neared, she saw Dasom beside him.

She stopped in her tracks.

Dasom had pulled him close by his tie, drawing circles on his chest seductively. But when she tiptoed and aggressively tugged him into a kiss; Naeun snapped. She looked away, feeling humiliated and scorned and damned.

She would not let herself stoop to such levels that she would march there and rage like a jealous girlfriend.

She wasn't that.

Nor would she let Dasom have the satisfaction of seeing her like this.

Suddenly the light became blindingly bright, the music too loud for her ears, the chatter nothing but incoherent words.

Dazed and disoriented with her surroundings, she felt herself grabbing her coat and walking out of the apartment when her eyes brazenly meet Myungsoo's across the room.

He stared right back at her, utterly horrified.

She was already at the bottom of the stairs when she felt someone tug her back and she fell into someone's arms for the second time that day.

Henry.

“Are you okay?” He asked,

“Yeah I'm fine. I just feel unwell… I think I'll leave early.”

“You look sick…  Are you sure you can get home by yourself?”

“I'll take a taxi.”

“It's late… It's not really safe for a girl to travel at night.” He persisted, still weary to let her go just like that, especially after what she had seen.

“It's just across town, Henry.” She reached up to touch his shoulder and pecked him on the cheek. “Thank you for worrying about me. Would you give this to Myungsoo for me? I'll take my leave now.” She faked a smile and gave him the scroll.

Henry blushed and nodded his head, suddenly unable to stop his heart from beating rapidly.

When she had disappeared onto the street with no more than a whiff of her sweet perfume.

He touched his cheek, admittedly a little flustered and infatuated.

“Myungsoo.” He gasped when he turned around.

Kim Myungsoo stood at the landing of the stairs, unable to meet his friend's eyes; looking mortified and frankly, a bit pissed off.

“I finally got rid of Dasom.”

“You locked in the bathroom, didn't you?”

“It was Eunji's suggestion.” He shrugged apathetic to the feelings of the girl.

“Naeun asked me to pass this to you. She seemed pretty upset.”

“It's all my fault. Thank you, hyung.” Myungsoo sighed, running his fingers through his hair in aggravation.

“Myungsoo… You know I would never... right? Not when I know how much you like her.”

“I know, but that doesn't mean she hasn't fallen for you.” The words were painful on his lips, it burned his tongue and he hated himself for sounding so harsh to his friend.

“Kim Myungsoo, you didn't see how upset she was when she saw you with Dasom. If she's falling for anyone… it's you.” He patted Myungsoo's should and passed him the scroll before going back up to the party.

Myungsoo sat down on the steps, a little tired from the excitement of the night, he unrolled the delicate piece of cartridge paper.

When he saw the parchment of paper or more specifically, what was on it; his eyes widened and her words back in Versailles ran clear in his head.

“I only draw things I like.”

Because she had sketched him.

But he was nothing as beautiful as what she had created.

Oh he was much much worse.

"The heart was made to be broken"

-Oscar Wilde

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A/N:

Well... that was unexpected right?

haha... no hate on Dasom though.

Comments would really be appreciated.! i only have a day left before boarding school  T_T