여우 같은 기지배 (sly girl); xiuhan; nc-17 part 2
it’s exactly a week until lu hua sees minseon again and even behind minseon’s oversized sunglasses, there’s a glowing pink high on her cheeks.
“you’re not overworking yourself, right?” lu hua asks when they both settle on chairs. it’s stolen time, a small hour between their schedules that they’ve managed to slip away from. they’ve stolen away to a family run congee restaurant, something warm to fill their bellies.
minseon blinks and slides off her shades, tucking them safely away into her purse. “no, why?”
“your face is a little red. come here, let me feel your forehead,” lu hua says, leaning over like every other time and completely butchering the meaning of personal space. minseon makes a noise of protest, automatically leaning back. she can’t quite look lu hua in the eye, so she mumbles a no while turning her face away. the model’s warm hand presses gently onto minseon’s forehead and she catches her lower lip between her teeth as though to stop herself from saying anything.
lu hua, fake doctor, declares that minseon feels ok and minseon just smiles, shaking her head at her friend’s foolishness. it’s always like this, lu hua able to dissipate any awkwardness minseon sometimes talks herself into and they’re twisting and turning in their seats to check out the menu.
the menu’s posted on the walls of the restaurant so lu hua decides which ones she wants while minseon decides by a picture.
“min,” lu hua says, out of the blue, when they’ve gotten their orders, happily sipping.
minseon hums to let lu hua know that she’s listening but she looks up when lu hua’s china spoon clinks against her bowl.
“is there any way that i can stay in china for another week?”
the ceo frowns at the model, confusion drawing her brows together. “what do you mean?”
lu hua’s fingers lace together on top of the table and she swallows before trying again. “i would like to ask for another week in china. i know-i know i shouldn’t ask something like that on such short notice but something’s come up,” she says, expression serious.
minseon, as a rule, as an employer, doesn’t allow short notice time off unless it’s for utmost importance. lu hua doesn’t quite fall into the neat lines of rules that minseon’s written out, lu hua’s her best friend
“why?” she thinks that it’s reasonable for her to ask for an explanation.
lu hua falters, her eyes darting to the side and little dots of pink slowly show up on her cheeks. “i met someone,” lu hua whispers.
again, every time, it’s never you, it’ll never be you, it’s just another man, another love, another tale to tell her, another heart break that minseon will have to mend again.
minseok struggles to fight down the disappointment.
“his name’s yixing. zhang yixing. he’s a photographer,” lu hua begins, “not just any old photographer, minseon. he’s a recognized photographer, one with awards and experience tucked under his belt. he’s…”
“amazing?” minseok supplies.
lu hua just laughs. “no and yes. he’s something special but he’s just, oh i don’t know, he’s just got the most sincere smile ever. yixing’s sweet, kind, witty. you should meet him, minnie.”
minseon nearly giggles until she notices that there’s something different about lu hua. minseon takes a moment to answer to lu hua open invite, cocking her head to side as though trying to physically see the difference about lu hua.
it’s after she gives her noncommittal agreement that it clicks. lu hua’s glowing.
it took you 3 days to fall in love while i’ve been in love for 3 years. she bites her tongue.
her eyes are alight with this excitement when she talks about yixing and minseon swallows her water quickly to ignore that lump in her throat. she should be used to it be now, why the hell does she get so--nevermind. minseon shoves the thought aside.
lu hua’s going on about yixing and the dates that he’s taken her on, the breathtaking sights that he’s shown her and minseon needs to play the part of the best friend perfectly. and that includes paying attention.
it takes a little bit of wiggle room and rescheduling but minseon’s able to phone lu hua and notify her that she’s got 4 extra days in beijing and that the most she could get. lu hua breathlessly thanks her and before she lets lu hua get swept away, she informs the model that she’s had to arrange a few things so she might be working a little longer these few days and that her original vacation time might be shifted. it takes a moment for lu hua to mull over it, but at the end of it, lu hua thanks minseon regardless and ends the call.
minseon never visits lu hua’s parents life promised but lu hua at least gets to spend the new year with her parents. minseon had been invited to go with lu hua but she had politely declined, unwanting to impose on the family’s time together and minseon remembers so phone her parents to wish them a good new year. they’re together somewhere in italy and they’re cheery, saying how the new year goes unnoticed by italians and they're glad that minseon’s called. she misses them but she’s a grown woman so she says that she misses them in her ‘i love you’s and the call ends with minseon staring at her laptop screen and a new year party to attend in a few hours.
the new year comes and goes with a loud cheer and a celebratory glass of wine. minseon’s a little lonely but she swallows that loneliness with the wine.
minseon’s yawning, her oxfords clicking lightly on the tile floor of the airport. the two weeks have come and passed in a flurry of meetings, parties, and chinese food. as much as she’s enjoyed the trip, she’s eager to be back in her mother country and back to speaking korean. minseon’s chinese has gotten much use over the fortnight but she’ll be glad to be back to soft vowels and not have to worry about proper tones.
the airport’s quietly buzzing, with a few people here and there dozing on seats at their terminals. it’s early but minseon had wanted to catch an early flight back to get back on schedule. she finds her terminal and settles, her fingers tapping away at her laptop while she waits for her boarding time.
lu hua’s caught in a whirlwind, from the moment that she’s told yixing that she’s staying in beijing, he’s been hellbent on spending as much of the time she’s been given with her. lu hua doesn’t know why or how but she can’t seem to say no to yixing. she’s caught in this spell, like she craves him and all his idiosyncrasies seep into her brain and she finds herself smiling at every thought of him
lu hua’s usually not the one out of the relationship to become the more invested but yixing gives as good as he takes. she’s not the only one attracted.
they kiss on the 3rd date - lu hua’s finally come to terms to call it as it is. yixing drops her off at the lobby of her hotel and just as he’s about to turn around after bidding her a good night, lu hua says his name, soft like she’s afraid that he’ll actually hear it.
yixing turns and lu hua gathers what courage she has and steps close, close enough for her to smell his cologne, to smell yiixing.
“a western goodbye,” she bullshits and raises herself on her tip toes to press a fleeting kiss on the corner of yixing’s lips.
when she draws back, yixing’s expression is startled but it melts into a sweet smile that sends her heart a racing and she can feel the phantom feel of his lips giving way to hers.
“a western kiss then,” yixing counters and this time, he bends to kiss her, soft and gentlemanly, his hand just slipping behind her head to give support. the kiss is sweet and short but lu hua’s head reels and she leans into the heat of his head. “good night, lu hua.”
lu hua blinks, disorientated and nods, as his warmth slips away from her and he leaves her, warm and pulse loud in her ears in the lobby.
she has 3 days left in china.
time all but flies away from lu hua and she’s standing in beijing’s airport with her luggage and a text on her phone from yixing.
all good things must come to an end.
they had said their goodbyes last night. they both knew that what they had in the few weeks that lu hua spent in china wasn’t something that was ever permanent. it’s not something that lu hua will ever forget, but it’s not something that lu hua would leave her career for. she’s smarter than that.
but it doesn’t make the goodbyes any easier.
yixing’s the first one to bring up the topic of lu hua’s impending departure.
“tomorrow?”
“what?” lu hua asks.
“you’re leaving tomorrow.”
she brings her eyes down, this lurch in her stomach reminding her that she’s only got 1 more day with yixing. “yeah.”
yixing’s got the softest look in his eyes. “thank you for this time.”
“thank you,” lu hua says and crushes her lips to his, leaving no more words between them. words can wait until tomorrow.
lu hua flies back to korea with all the strings tied. her vacation’s over.
“do you still keep in contact with him?” minseon asks, fork clicking softly against her ceramic plate.
lu hua presses gently down on her knife, easily cutting the salmon into a neat bite sized piece. “who?”
minseon chews and swallows before clarifying, “yixing. do you still keep in contact?”
lu hua’s throat tightens. “yes,” she takes a sip of her wine to loosen her throat. it doesn’t work, “we decided to remain friends. he’s a good guy. we just have bad timing and unforgiving circumstances.”
minseon’s look is thoughtful but disappears when lu hua throws away composer and chugs the rest of the wine in her glass.
“did you love him?” minseon’s question is sincerely curious.
“i don’t know. i only knew him for a week? can you fall in love in a week?”
the older woman just shrugs.
lu hua encloses a circle around the thin glass stem. she doesn’t know, really but the potential’s there. the possibility. she sighs, “but if it is possible to fall in love and break your heart all within a week, i think i did.”
minseon glances at her third full glass of wine and grabs the wine bottle, sitting snug in a nest of ice. her best friend tells her to tip her glass towards her and minseon refills the glass. grape and regret wafts up, poignant and heady from the bottle. the smaller woman holds her up glass and smiles, “fuck love.”
it’s a mock toast and it’s so unexpected that lu hua snorts, laughing at her friend’s antic so she holds up her glass and clicks it gently against her boss’ glass. “fuck love,” lu hua echoes, louder than the sounds of her heart trying to heal.
(minseon's all too familiar with the sound.)
lu hua doesn’t know why but when she comes home, tired from a long day at work, she’s hit by a revelation. she had toed off her heels and shoved her feet into slippers to trudge into the kitchen to pour herself a glass of wine. she’s not really thinking about anything much, random thoughts flitting in and out of her mind and she finds herself wishing that minseon was there to share a glass of wine with her and help her unwind. she can imagine the conversation they’d have, nothing too serious, something about work, something about how minseon’s going to rearrange her furniture next month, lu hua’s new pumps, anything. lu hua can see how the tension would slowly bleed out of minseon’s shoulders as the alcohol loosens her tongue and the conversation dies down quietly. minseon’s empty wine glass will be placed on the coffee table and they would bask in the comfortable silence, lu hua occasionally sipping at her magically refilling glass.
she’ll glance up from her glass and catch minseon’s eyes and they’ll be dark and brooding, something heavy, something unsaid in them. she’s caught minseon looking at her like this a few times in the past when minseon’s defenses are low and they’re alone. lu hua’s breath catches in her throat.
the bottle of wine clinks against the granite countertops when the revelation hits. oh.
she’s grabbing her coat that she’s just placed down, she’s shoving her feet into tennis shoes, she back out of her door and into her car driving back to her workplace. it’s like it’s all clicked and lu hua has to tell minseon now. she hardly thinks when she parks and rushes into the building, toe tapping as the elevator rolls her up to minseon’s floor.
it’s late on friday and obviously everyone but minseon has already gone home. kyungsoo’s still sitting at his desk in front of minseon’s office like cerberus and his eyes are wide when she steps out of the elevator. “don’t bother calling minseon,” lu hua waves at the secretary as she passes.
when lu hua bursts into minseon’s office, she’s so determined to tell minseon what she knows is something that’s been long coming, but she falters at the sight of minseon at her desk. it is friday night and minseon’s changed out of her day time work clothes, large hoodie making her look so, so tiny. she’s also washed off her makeup and her hair’s up and away in a lopsided ponytail. minseon clearly hadn’t expected any visitors at this hour so it’s understandable when her head snaps up in surprise at the model’s presence.
lu hua stops in front of minseon’s desk, the stupid, large imposing thing, and she’s looking down into minseon’s wide eyes. “lu hua? what are you doing here?” minseon questions, brows twisted and mouth slightly open.
“i came to tell you something.” her voice is quiet, almost like she’s telling minseon a secret. she hasn’t actually told minseon what was on her mind, but the potential presses into her every thought and her head pounds at the imaginations. pressing soft kisses into minseon’s soft cheeks while she’s asleep, lu hua giggling as she smears red lipstick across minseon’s forehead who shrieks and drags eyeliner across lu hua’s nose, lu hua melting at the sound of minseon’s soft cries of pleasure-- possibility, probability, lu hua wants it all.
“yeah?” her brows are knitted together.
“minseon.” hushed whispers.
minseon’s quiet, waiting for lu hua to continue.
“i think i love you.”
it takes a second but lu hua can see the words registering and shock spreading out on minseon’s face. she gasps and jerks back, lashes fluttering up and down.
lu hua’s throat is too tight to try to breathe.
“oh my god, lu hua,” minseon breathes out. lu hua doesn’t dare take a breath.
leather shifts as minseon leans forward, pupils blown in wonder and with a curiosity like a newborn fawn, she hands lift up towards lu hua’s face.
she takes just the shallowest of breaths when she feels warm fingers touch her skin. minseon’s fingers cautiously slide behind her best friend’s neck, tugging down with a gentleness lu hua didn’t know she possessed.
(and now that she’s got a taste, lu hua knows she’s addicted.)
the world stops for lu hua when warm lips ghost over hers and she’s pushing forward, leaning over that stupid desk to press closer, closer to minseon but when she pushes forward minseon draws back.
it’s a chaste kiss, quick press of lips, nothing like kisses she’s exchanged with her boyfriends, but there’s just something so different by the way her lips tingle and when her tongue darts out, she tastes just the faintest bit of strawberry chapstick.
there’s roses in minseon’s cheeks and stars in her eyes when they part. “i’ve wanted to do that for so long,” is not something lu hua had expected minseon to say but nothing that evening had been expected.
but the bubble bursts when minseon’s eyes flutter down and she turns her chin away from the model. the intimacy of the moment flees when she leans away, almost making lu hua want to chase her to tug her back in for another kiss.
“but i can’t, lu hua.”
lu hua’s heart drops.
minseon’s fingers leave lu hua’s neck cold and exposed and she shivers at minseon’s trembling lips. “i can’t lu hua,” she repeats, “i can’t do this if i’m just another fling to you.”
no. “no!” lu hua gasps. “no no no, not you, minseon, never you. you’re different, uncomparable to my past.” she fights the urge to flutter her fingers onto her cheeks, to grasp minseon’s shoulders and shake her to see how real, how sincere she is.
minseon’s eyes are sad when she finally looks back up at lu hua. “i know your track record, lu hua. i played the part of your harassing friend to help you break up with your ex-boyfriend, i smiled and agreed that so-and-so was attracted, i picked up the pieces of you when you invested too much and got hurt in the game. i know too much, lu hua. i can’t do this to myself.” her arms come to wrap around herself like trying to keep something inside her or to protect herself.
“minseon. not you. you’re different, trust me,” lu hua scrambles. the model hasn’t felt this skewed since she had been a schoolgirl but she wants minseon to believe her so badly it aches.
she tilts minseon’s head up and whispers, “now i’m looking for something serious.” but her heart just sinks when she sees that fucking familiar look in minseon’s eyes as the same look that her flings that had fallen too deep had given her when she said her final goodbyes.
lu hua plays this dangerous game, this game of playing with hearts. it’s usually all fun and games but sometimes someone who doesn’t know the rules comes along and lu hua’s too swept up in her games to realize that they’re pure, innocent, and undeserving of the scars that she leaves. and now she’s the one who gets a taste of her own medicine.
“lu hua, no.” minseon’s hurting, it hurts so bad, hurts so much. yixing and china are still fresh on her mind. it’s been over half a year since lu hua’s come home from her beijing trip but minseon knows that it’s been over half a year since lu hua’s last relationship. she wants to run out from this, wants to run away from how much she wants lu hua but something glues her feet to the ground. “we wouldn’t work out. we’d end up more hurt than now.” minseon wants to scream and take all the words tumbling out back because they’re all lies, all excuses. they fit together like puzzle pieces in minseon’s mind.
--and in lu hua’s mind. but neither of them are mind readers.
her eyes are burning and she’s trembling with minseon’s rejection. cause that’s what this is, isn’t it? rejection? normally, lu hua would back off only to reroute and persist until she gets what she wants, but nothing’s normal with minseon. all her experience hasn’t prepared herself to offer her heart on her sleeve so easily to her best friend, the best friend that knows her inside out.
“ok.” lu hua drops her gaze so minseon can’t see her brimming eyes. “good night, minseon.” her feet somehow takes her away from her heartache and out of the building. she doesn’t even know if kyungsoo saw her walk past or not. it doesn’t really register past the sound of her heart breaking in her ears.
she doesn’t bother turning on the lights when she collapses on her bed, ignoring her wet pillow. she’ll heal. just not tonight.
lu hua sighs in relief when she checks her phone the next morning and there’s a simple typical good morning text from minseon. she’s glad that regardless of what transpired last night, they’re still friends and that minseon understands this too.
she sends back copious stickers that show nothing of her pain because she knows that it’d just hurt minseon more. they’ve known each other long enough to know how exactly how to tiptoe around each other.
minseon sighs, letting her head fall. it’s another long night at the office, another changed deadline at the last minute, another exhausting project that minseon has to get done. kyungsoo had called her a number of hours ago, letting her know about the change in the date and had gracefully cancelled at appointments that were open to wiggle room to allow minseon as much time as he could allot her to get the necessary things done. approximately 40 phone calls had gone out from her working line and 25 had gone out from her private phone to get things she needed from the people who have them. it’s been tiring work, stressful as well. the moment that minseon had finished her late required meeting of the day she had glued herself to her chair and sent out frantic emails. the clock ticks and minseon’s grateful for the occasional cup of coffee that kyungsoo sends in, her wordless nod enough for kyungsoo to smile hesitantly and leave the room with a half empty, cold cup of coffee.
it’s 1am when kyungsoo sticks his head through the door of her office and minseon nearly jumps out of her seat when she hears his quiet “hey minseon”. her head comes off from her forearm and she blinkedly.
kyungsoo looks almost apologetic when he says, “it’s getting really late and i’ve finished everything that needs to be done. all you need to do is wrap up this report and you can just send me a text and the report and i’ll edit it. there’s not much else i can do in this office and-“ kyungsoo half cringes and ducks his head slightly before continuing, “baek’s been calling and asked me to come home a little earlier today.”
minseon sends a grateful smile that he’s already been here long enough, “go ahead, kyungsoo. i’n nearly finished with this so send baekhyun my apologies for hoarding his husband in the office for so long.”
kyungsoo bobs a half bow and before he bids her a final goodnight he tells her that he’s got another pot of coffee boiling so if she wants to grab anymore, it’s in the next room over. the lady just sends him away with teasing accusations that he’s almost like her nanny.
the door shuts loudly in the silent office and minseon glares blearily at her computer screen. she wasn’t lying when she had told kyungsoo that the report was nearly ready but she’s sure that at her level of exhaustion that it’s peppered with multiple mistakes, so she’ll have to proofread it before she can send it to kyungsoo, if to help her poor secretary, if not to uphold a level of quality of work she does.
it’s nearly 3am when minseon finishes proofreading and gets the ok from kyungsoo that everything’s in order when her phone vibrates in her desk, the case rattling against the wind. minseon has to squint at the lower corner of her screen to read the time wondering who the hell would text her late. there’s a few people who’d call her this late, but it’s mainly because of time zones and they’d call her on her business line.
head already thinking about sinking into her pillow, minseok pulls the drawer open and checks her phone, a single text sitting in her inbox.
boss min
deer of the dawn:have you eaten dinner yet?
minseon doesn’t believe it for a second that kyungsoo hadn’t told lu hua that she’s still up. her fingers hover over her screen, unsure of how to answer. she goes for the truth.
boss min: not yet. she tries to divert the subject. why are you still awake?
deer of the dawn: are you home yet? awake cause just finished a shoot
minseon bites her lip. she unconsciously tiptoes around lu hua now. that night and the confession hangs heavily on her mind, whether she tries to remember it or not. it’s like a thundercloud lurking ominously around her every word, their every conversation, every simple brush of a hand. they’re struggling to get back to platonic friends.
or at least minseon pretending that she doesn’t yearn for more.
boss min: i’m about to leave the office
she starts gathering her things, tossing her last barely touched cup of coffee into the trash and pulling her overcoat off the coat hanger. her phone vibrates in her pocket just as she turns off the lights.
deer of the dawn: i’m on my way over with dinner now
minseon would protest but they’re so long into their relationship that minseon knows that it’s futile to argue with lu hua when it comes to things like this. minseon might act like the more mature of the two, but she often times forgets to take care of herself in times of stress. at the thought of food, her stomach complains, as though reminding her that she had skipped dinner to try to finish up.
boss min: thanks
minseon slumps against the back door after she hangs up her keys, exhaustion tempting her to just slide into bed. but then there’s a soft voice calling into the house, “minseon? you home?”
her chest seizes up and she can’t breathe for a moment because want tightens up her throat. this is what minseon wants so, so badly. to come home every day to this, lu hua calling her name into the house, to round the corner to see the model beaming up at her, to be able to giggle over dinner knowing that they can unwind and simple enjoy each other’s company, to be able to smear toothpaste onto lu hua’s toothbrush and wetting it, to be able to pull lu hua onto the bed into her willing arms--
“i just picked up some miso soup on the way here. i thought you might like something light,” lu hua says, placing down the last spoon onto minseon’s rarely used dining table. her smile is a little unsure, this is the first time that lu hua’s been over since they had the slight falling out.
minseon sweeps lu hua up in a hug and when she draws back, “thanks, lu, you’re a lifesaver.”
lu hua’s smile grows and minseon melts a little. she’s still like a lovesick puppy.
“it’s no trouble, really,” lu hua counters and there’s hardly another word from minseon as lu hua hassles her into a chair and in front of a bowl. there’s not too much set up in front of minseon, just a large bowl on miso soup and various side dishes spread out, korean and japanese.
they pick up their chopsticks and spoons and they dig in, conversation flowing just like old times.
all is well again.
do kyungsoo is generally a very level headed person--or so he likes to consider himself a such. he’s not impulsive, he’s not prone to emotional outbursts, and he certainly is not one to interfer often. but sometimes, kyungsoo has to make exceptions. it usually involves his boss/lu hua. they’re both kind of foolish, the way they dance around in circles pretending that they’re ok with the way things are.
kyungsoo rolls his eyes at the way minseon deflates when lu hua leaves, lu hua’s manager gives minseon a call and asks if she knows why lu hua’s so suddenly into her work, and minseon knocks her head on the nearest flat surface every time after they meet up.
she knows that she really should at least give lu hua a chance but there’s that little weary part in her brain that’s kept her head up above the water in her line of business that keeps lu hua at an arm’s distance away. minseon’s afraid to lose what they have but she thinks that she’s even more terrified if they actually do become something beyond friends.
out of the two, minseon’s the only one who’s holding back because minseon knows that lu hua would plunge right in without a moment’s hesitation if minseon gave a sign of giving in.
so they continue this funny dance, stalling, pining, and generally being idiots. in the words of do kyungsoo.
he gives lu hua a call to end the foolishness.
minseon receives a text from lu hua inviting her over for an evening to unwind. it’s the weekend and minseon’s just lazing about in her apartment. she’s spent the morning cleaning it and had just settled down on the couch with her laptop to catch on a few dramas since it’s one of those rare weekends where minseon can have a moment to breath. it’s just after the spring collection has been finished and the fashion industry has a lulling moment before gearing up for the summer.
she didn’t have any plans beyond curling around a pint of ice cream, possibly watching her favorite films and inserting herself in the place of her favorite character that evening so she accepts lu hua’s invitation already thinking about which bottle of wine to bring over.
lu hua’s a nervous wreck. she’s only thought up to the point of asking minseon over and now that minseon’s agreed, lu hua can’t decide how to go about this evening. her ears are still ringing from kyungsoo’s scolding so she knows that she can’t just delay this any longer.
she has to properly woo minseon. she just has no references to go off on.
minseon hasn’t been in a relationship for over 5 years, the last one ending on good, mutual terms. it’s been a long time since minseon’s been in a relationship and minseon’s clearly not that young 21 year old women she had been. minseon’s preferences have probably changed and lu hua doesn’t quite know how to go about this.
she worries if candles are too much.
when lu hua opens the door, her heart stops at the sight of minseon. her hair’s freshly washed, the soft scent of minseon’s shampoo wafting in at the breeze that door created. minseon’s makeup is minimal, only her brows done and 1 coat of mascara to lift up her lashes, and even her outfit is minimal and comfortable.
“hello,” minseon greets, with a sudden shy smile at lu hua’s uncharacteristic silence. “i brought wine,” she lifts the bottle as proof, wondering why lu hua isn’t moving aside to let her in.
lu hua blinks at the bottle, eyes scanning across the label but minseon gets the feeling that she’s not really registering what she’s reading. “thank you,” lu hua says automatically, finally moving aside to let minseon in.
minseon sniffs gently at the air as she takes off her shoes, lining them up neatly by the wall. there’s something different about lu hua’s apartment today and she can’t quite put her finger on it. the air’s a bit warmers and it takes minseon a moment to realize that it’s the smell of food cooking that’s different. “did you cook?” she asks, a bit surprised, glancing back at lu hua.
lu hua smiles, glad that minseon’s noticed. “i was a little homesick today, so i decided to cook. we’re having chinese food tonight.”
her best friend just lifts a brow at this but doesn’t comment further after slipping her feet into a pair of slippers that lu hua has out. she pads through the apartment, headed to the kitchen with lu hua trailing after her.
“smells delicious, though,” the ceo notes as she peers into the various pots and pans bubbling merrily away on the stoves. lu hua’s kitchen is delirious at the moment, vegetable and spices spread on every available counter space but it looks homey, something that lu hua and minseon don’t get to experience very often.
“thanks, i had to give mom a few calls to help refresh my memory.” lu hua sets down the bottle of wine that minseon’s brought over on a bit of counter space that minseon hadn’t even seen. “could you get the bucket and some ice for the wine?” she asks, already over to the stove to stir and check on how everything’s going along.
minseon retrieves the items that lu hua asks for wondering out loud how much longer it is until the food’s ready. lu hua assures her that it’s just a few more minutes, 10 at the most, and minseon gets about to setting the table for the both of them.
true to minseon’s nose, the food is delicious when it’s finished. they hardly get a word in when they start on the food but as the evening winds down and they’re nearly finished, conversation begins to flow.
they talk about everything, that one annoying model who demanded at the last show to have her hair exactly like this, that stylist who went hysterical when another model returned with her makeup smudged, and even about the correct way to enjoy curry.
soon enough, the dishes are cleared away and they move onto the couch with minseon’s bottle of wine, cool in its bucket of ice.
the cork’s screwed out and it’s contents poured out into 2 glasses.
lu hua puts on a film, this hong kong comedy with korean subtitles, that has them laughing until they have to put their glasses on the table in fear of losing control of their hands and staining the couch.
it’s easy and comfortable, this atmosphere. minseon’s got her foot under lu hua’s calf and lu hua’s half leaning on minseon, her head comfortable on minseon’s shoulder. here, her head shakes every time minseon laughs but minseon’s shampoo smells so nice and she just doesn’t want to move from here.
the bottle’s more than halfway done when the credits scroll through and the two of them are silent, smiles still on their faces from the film. this is comfortable, too, the silence that stretches through the room. they’re sleepy, full from the food and warm from the wine.
minseon’s shifts and lu hua whines, her hand pulling at minseon’s arm to stop her from moving. her nose burrows closer to minseon’s neck and she laughs from the sensation and lu hua’s cuddliness.
“lu hua?” minseon breaks the silence.
lu hua hums into minseon’s shoulder as answer, hand only moving to sip at her glass.
minseon turns her head, her eyes searching in the dark room and lu hua stops breathing. it hits her in this cold splash and that warm buzz from the wine is gone, replaced by this terrible awareness of minseon. how close they are, how good she smells, how warm her breath is, how there’s only a few centimeters of space separating minseon’s lips and lu hua’s lips. lu hua’s mind wanders and her lips part, in remembrance of that soft, soft kiss that minseon had given her in her office so many weeks ago.
lu hua swallows. “yes?” lu hua tries again.
minseon doesn’t say anything, her eyes looking at lu hua’s eyes. it’s a searching look, this hesitant look, this doubtful look that fills lu hua with this shivering anxiousness.
“min?” lu hua’s voice is weak, even to her own ears and she knows it’s because how minseon’s stare is taking her apart, bit by bit.
her lashes flutter from minseon’s continuing silence.
“kiss me,” minseon whispers, so quietly that even a few breaths away lu hua barely hears her. in that soft request, lu hua hears so much more.
lu hua surges up, wrapping her arms around minseon’s neck, tilting her head to better kiss minseon. this kiss is so much more different from their kiss. it’s desperate but close mouthed as lu hua tries to funnel all her longing, all her wanting, all her sincere feelings to her best friend.
minseon responds instantly to lu hua’s kiss and she somehow retains enough wit to place her glass down on the table before thrusting her fingers into lu hua’s hair.
it’s a kiss that feels like it stretches on for eternity, thousands of unsaid words poured into that intimate point of contact and when they break apart, their breathing is jagged, their lips are swollen, and their hands stay exactly where they are, keeping the two of them inches apart.
“i-” minseon starts, throat working to get her voice working again. “after that, that first kiss, lu hua, i can’t-i don’t think--”
lu hua gets her, regardless of the lack of a full sentence. “me too, minseon,” she whispers back, eyes unable to look away from minseon’s slightly parted lips.
“oh god, i know, i know i shouldn’t-we shouldn’t, we shouldn’t do this because we’re already dangerous as is,” minseon blabbers, still trying to get her thoughts straight. lu hua’s perfume lingers and it messes with her brain and all the years of silence, years of yearning scream to be said, to be known, to be reciprocated. her barriers fall and she knows that she’s the only one holding back.
“min,” lu hua says the things that started this whole mess and just like that, minseon’s thrown off her feet again. she can’t think of a single reason why she can’t just have her mouth on lu hua’s right now and hands on places besides her hair.
“min,” lu hua repeats, when she sees the thoughts race over minseon’s face, “we don’t have to if you don’t want to.” she means just so in that sentence.
minseon draws back quickly, mouth closing with a snap, her fingers coming out of lu hua’s hair and lu hua nearly cries at the loss of contact. she was so close, so close, so close--
“oh fuck it,” minseon hisses, mainly to herself more than anyone, and she does exactly what she’s wanted to do for the past 6 years and she kisses lu hua harder than she’s ever kissed anyone. all the pent up feelings overwhelm minseon and she knows that there’s no point of return, no other excuses she can tell herself to hold back.
lu hua can hardly think through the haze in her mind but she does have enough mind to kiss minseon back with the same amount of enthusiasm.
it takes a lot of time, a lot of restraint, but they do eventually pause in their making out to breathe, to think of what this all means, the new development, and regardless of what the future holds for them when minseon giggles at the slightly dumbfounded expression on lu hua’s face, the warmest feeling blooms in lu hua’s chest and lu hua knows that minseon’s the one she wants settle down with.
EPILOGUE
it’s so many months later, with so many you’re welcome glances from kyungsoo, so many satisfied i fucking knew it nods from their friends, lu hua and minseon are comfortable in their new definitions of each other. honestly, it’s not that much of a shift, moving from best friend to lover but lu hua does appreciate being able to make out with her best friend on her couch.
minseon’s straddled over lu hua’s hips, completely blocking lu hua’s view of the tv and lu hua whines half heartedly to minseon about this. minseon laughs at this, this beautiful, quiet, husky laughter that always makes lu hua’s stomach flop about. “i just thought that you’d prefer this over that anyway,” minseon teases, her fingers dancing across lu hua’s collarbones and over her shoulders to pull minseon down closer to lu hua. minseon’s so close to lu hua that lu hua can easily count her eyelashes. lu hua also thinks that minseon is the most beautiful woman that she’s ever set her eyes and as lu hua tells minseon, the other woman draws back with her eyebrows raised.
“you’re a model, lu hua, you work with the most gorgeous women on the daily.”
lu hua rolls her eyes good naturedly at her girlfriend. “yes, but they don’t even hold a candle up to you, minseon.”
minseon chooses not to answer, tilting her head to kiss her own model, bold in her movements.
lu hua gasps sharply when minseon nips at her lower lip, her way of asking permission, and at the gasp, minseon’s taste invades lu hua’s mouth.
and lu hua takes it all in, takes it in like she hasn’t had a drink in years. she does this everytime. regardless of how many times they’ve kissed, how many times lu hua’s been able to worship her goddess, she kisses minseon back like their first time. hands wander, nails leave crescents, and teeth press into skin and somehow lu hua finds herself pressed into her couch as the girl of her dreams nip and kiss her way down her throat.
minseon’s pressing praises into lu hua skin and she’s whimpering at the sensations and the words. she throwing her head back, exposing her neck, begging silently for minseon to take, take, take.
she only pauses when she reaches the collar of lu hua’s shirt, her eyes coming up to lu hua’s asking if this is ok, if they should continue, if she wants this as much as minseon wants this. lu hua grabs the bottom of minseon’s shirt and tugs upward as an answer.
minseon’s eyes are laughing as she disappears under the cotton, her hands coming off lu hua’s collar to let lu hua pull off her shirt.
lu hua’s positive that she’s in heaven when she comes face to face with minseon’s boobs, pale skin that begs lu hua to leave bruising marks onto. she doesn’t even care that minseon’s worn her usual ugly bra, plain black cotton bra, since she’d rather see what’s inside the bra.
she’s reaching for minseon’s bra clasp when minseon stops her with a shake of her head. there’s this mischievous tilt of minseon’s smile when she tugs at the bottom of lu hua’s shirt. lu hua arches her back, giving minseon room to tug the fabric up and over her head, leaving lu hua’s hair a mess. but the way that minseon’s looking at her makes her feel like they’re the only people in the world, that lu hua’s the prettiest woman in the world, that lu hua’s the only one that matter.
“stop looking at me like that,” lu hua whispers, heat creeping up from her neck.
minseon’s eyes follow the redness that spreads across lu hua’s face and down her throat in the prettiest of flushes. “like what?” she asks, trailing the tips of her fingers over the top of lu hua’s bra, just enough for lu hua to crave more.
“like,” lu hua has to swallow when minseon looks back up into her eyes, “like i’m a dream or something.”
minseon smiles, a soft one. she ducks her head to kiss the top of lu hua’s left breast that spills over her bra and lu hua’s breath hitches. “you are,” minseon simple replies, placing more kisses on the skin that’s exposed, her hand coming down from lu hua’s shoulder to spread heat across lu hua’s stomach.
her stomach clenches involuntarily when minseon scratches 5 long lines down lu hua’s abomen and she gasps at the light burning sensation. it’s light enough not to leave red lines but there’s white lines that show exactly where minseon’s nails raked down.
lu hua’s boobs aren’t as big as minseon’s, a point that lu hua’s lamented so many times over the timeline of their friendship, but before lu hua’s even realized it, minseon’s got her bra unclasped and off her, thrown somewhere in the living room.
this thought brings lu hua back to her senses and she struggles to sit up on her elbows the best she can with minseon worshipping her collarbones.
“min, min, wait,” she pants into minseon’s shoulder and minseon hums in acknowledgment. “the living, we’re in the couch room, i mean, uh, shit. we should move.”
minseon chuckles at her mess up, gleeful that she’s able to take lu hua this much apart. “but what’s wrong with here?” minseon says more to mess with lu hua than really disagree. while lu hua’s couch is delightfully comfortable, the leather is rather expensive.
“min!” lu hua gasps, to try to get back to her point when minseon nips playfully at her collarbones before licking over the spot as though to soothe the bite.
“alright, alright,” minseon concedes, pulling away from lu hua and lu hua’s eyes follow the way minseon’s boobs settle back in her bra. which reminds lu hua of her state of dress. or rather undress.
her flush is redder and warmer when minseon pulls her off the couch and pulls lu hua with distractingly dark bedroom eyes into lu hua’s bedroom. it sparks off a feeling in lu hua’s chest that has nothing to do with the heat pooling between her legs that minseon knows exactly where lu hua’s bedroom is. they’re familiar with each other, should be, are, and it’s certainly not lu hua’s first time seeing minseon naked but it’s a completely different situation and just the thought of seeing minseon naked shuts down any bit of rationality she has left.
just as they reach lu hua’s bedroom door, minseon turns back to lu hua and smiles with this terribly innocent smile that contradicts by the way that she tugs lu hua in and tells her to take off her pants and lie down on the bed with a pat on her butt.
when lu hua settles comfortably on the bed, with just her panties covering her, she turns back to minseon, who’s still by the door. minseon’s getting mushy, her gaze the softest affection, her coy smile now something that just sighs that she’s in love. lu hua spreads her arms wide open and with a cock of her head she tells minseon to come where it’s warm and minseon’s more than happy to obey, closing the door with a quiet click.
A/N: this was the follow up of this drabble, which serves as prequel of sorts. i've had a postit note by my bed with a check box next to the words "model xiuhan fic (u need to finish this, stinker)" for 8 months. it was very satisfying to check it off.
Part I | Part II
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“you’re not overworking yourself, right?” lu hua asks when they both settle on chairs. it’s stolen time, a small hour between their schedules that they’ve managed to slip away from. they’ve stolen away to a family run congee restaurant, something warm to fill their bellies.
minseon blinks and slides off her shades, tucking them safely away into her purse. “no, why?”
“your face is a little red. come here, let me feel your forehead,” lu hua says, leaning over like every other time and completely butchering the meaning of personal space. minseon makes a noise of protest, automatically leaning back. she can’t quite look lu hua in the eye, so she mumbles a no while turning her face away. the model’s warm hand presses gently onto minseon’s forehead and she catches her lower lip between her teeth as though to stop herself from saying anything.
lu hua, fake doctor, declares that minseon feels ok and minseon just smiles, shaking her head at her friend’s foolishness. it’s always like this, lu hua able to dissipate any awkwardness minseon sometimes talks herself into and they’re twisting and turning in their seats to check out the menu.
the menu’s posted on the walls of the restaurant so lu hua decides which ones she wants while minseon decides by a picture.
“min,” lu hua says, out of the blue, when they’ve gotten their orders, happily sipping.
minseon hums to let lu hua know that she’s listening but she looks up when lu hua’s china spoon clinks against her bowl.
“is there any way that i can stay in china for another week?”
the ceo frowns at the model, confusion drawing her brows together. “what do you mean?”
lu hua’s fingers lace together on top of the table and she swallows before trying again. “i would like to ask for another week in china. i know-i know i shouldn’t ask something like that on such short notice but something’s come up,” she says, expression serious.
minseon, as a rule, as an employer, doesn’t allow short notice time off unless it’s for utmost importance. lu hua doesn’t quite fall into the neat lines of rules that minseon’s written out, lu hua’s her best friend
“why?” she thinks that it’s reasonable for her to ask for an explanation.
lu hua falters, her eyes darting to the side and little dots of pink slowly show up on her cheeks. “i met someone,” lu hua whispers.
again, every time, it’s never you, it’ll never be you, it’s just another man, another love, another tale to tell her, another heart break that minseon will have to mend again.
minseok struggles to fight down the disappointment.
“his name’s yixing. zhang yixing. he’s a photographer,” lu hua begins, “not just any old photographer, minseon. he’s a recognized photographer, one with awards and experience tucked under his belt. he’s…”
“amazing?” minseok supplies.
lu hua just laughs. “no and yes. he’s something special but he’s just, oh i don’t know, he’s just got the most sincere smile ever. yixing’s sweet, kind, witty. you should meet him, minnie.”
minseon nearly giggles until she notices that there’s something different about lu hua. minseon takes a moment to answer to lu hua open invite, cocking her head to side as though trying to physically see the difference about lu hua.
it’s after she gives her noncommittal agreement that it clicks. lu hua’s glowing.
it took you 3 days to fall in love while i’ve been in love for 3 years. she bites her tongue.
her eyes are alight with this excitement when she talks about yixing and minseon swallows her water quickly to ignore that lump in her throat. she should be used to it be now, why the hell does she get so--nevermind. minseon shoves the thought aside.
lu hua’s going on about yixing and the dates that he’s taken her on, the breathtaking sights that he’s shown her and minseon needs to play the part of the best friend perfectly. and that includes paying attention.
it takes a little bit of wiggle room and rescheduling but minseon’s able to phone lu hua and notify her that she’s got 4 extra days in beijing and that the most she could get. lu hua breathlessly thanks her and before she lets lu hua get swept away, she informs the model that she’s had to arrange a few things so she might be working a little longer these few days and that her original vacation time might be shifted. it takes a moment for lu hua to mull over it, but at the end of it, lu hua thanks minseon regardless and ends the call.
minseon never visits lu hua’s parents life promised but lu hua at least gets to spend the new year with her parents. minseon had been invited to go with lu hua but she had politely declined, unwanting to impose on the family’s time together and minseon remembers so phone her parents to wish them a good new year. they’re together somewhere in italy and they’re cheery, saying how the new year goes unnoticed by italians and they're glad that minseon’s called. she misses them but she’s a grown woman so she says that she misses them in her ‘i love you’s and the call ends with minseon staring at her laptop screen and a new year party to attend in a few hours.
the new year comes and goes with a loud cheer and a celebratory glass of wine. minseon’s a little lonely but she swallows that loneliness with the wine.
minseon’s yawning, her oxfords clicking lightly on the tile floor of the airport. the two weeks have come and passed in a flurry of meetings, parties, and chinese food. as much as she’s enjoyed the trip, she’s eager to be back in her mother country and back to speaking korean. minseon’s chinese has gotten much use over the fortnight but she’ll be glad to be back to soft vowels and not have to worry about proper tones.
the airport’s quietly buzzing, with a few people here and there dozing on seats at their terminals. it’s early but minseon had wanted to catch an early flight back to get back on schedule. she finds her terminal and settles, her fingers tapping away at her laptop while she waits for her boarding time.
lu hua’s caught in a whirlwind, from the moment that she’s told yixing that she’s staying in beijing, he’s been hellbent on spending as much of the time she’s been given with her. lu hua doesn’t know why or how but she can’t seem to say no to yixing. she’s caught in this spell, like she craves him and all his idiosyncrasies seep into her brain and she finds herself smiling at every thought of him
lu hua’s usually not the one out of the relationship to become the more invested but yixing gives as good as he takes. she’s not the only one attracted.
they kiss on the 3rd date - lu hua’s finally come to terms to call it as it is. yixing drops her off at the lobby of her hotel and just as he’s about to turn around after bidding her a good night, lu hua says his name, soft like she’s afraid that he’ll actually hear it.
yixing turns and lu hua gathers what courage she has and steps close, close enough for her to smell his cologne, to smell yiixing.
“a western goodbye,” she bullshits and raises herself on her tip toes to press a fleeting kiss on the corner of yixing’s lips.
when she draws back, yixing’s expression is startled but it melts into a sweet smile that sends her heart a racing and she can feel the phantom feel of his lips giving way to hers.
“a western kiss then,” yixing counters and this time, he bends to kiss her, soft and gentlemanly, his hand just slipping behind her head to give support. the kiss is sweet and short but lu hua’s head reels and she leans into the heat of his head. “good night, lu hua.”
lu hua blinks, disorientated and nods, as his warmth slips away from her and he leaves her, warm and pulse loud in her ears in the lobby.
she has 3 days left in china.
time all but flies away from lu hua and she’s standing in beijing’s airport with her luggage and a text on her phone from yixing.
all good things must come to an end.
they had said their goodbyes last night. they both knew that what they had in the few weeks that lu hua spent in china wasn’t something that was ever permanent. it’s not something that lu hua will ever forget, but it’s not something that lu hua would leave her career for. she’s smarter than that.
but it doesn’t make the goodbyes any easier.
yixing’s the first one to bring up the topic of lu hua’s impending departure.
“tomorrow?”
“what?” lu hua asks.
“you’re leaving tomorrow.”
she brings her eyes down, this lurch in her stomach reminding her that she’s only got 1 more day with yixing. “yeah.”
yixing’s got the softest look in his eyes. “thank you for this time.”
“thank you,” lu hua says and crushes her lips to his, leaving no more words between them. words can wait until tomorrow.
lu hua flies back to korea with all the strings tied. her vacation’s over.
“do you still keep in contact with him?” minseon asks, fork clicking softly against her ceramic plate.
lu hua presses gently down on her knife, easily cutting the salmon into a neat bite sized piece. “who?”
minseon chews and swallows before clarifying, “yixing. do you still keep in contact?”
lu hua’s throat tightens. “yes,” she takes a sip of her wine to loosen her throat. it doesn’t work, “we decided to remain friends. he’s a good guy. we just have bad timing and unforgiving circumstances.”
minseon’s look is thoughtful but disappears when lu hua throws away composer and chugs the rest of the wine in her glass.
“did you love him?” minseon’s question is sincerely curious.
“i don’t know. i only knew him for a week? can you fall in love in a week?”
the older woman just shrugs.
lu hua encloses a circle around the thin glass stem. she doesn’t know, really but the potential’s there. the possibility. she sighs, “but if it is possible to fall in love and break your heart all within a week, i think i did.”
minseon glances at her third full glass of wine and grabs the wine bottle, sitting snug in a nest of ice. her best friend tells her to tip her glass towards her and minseon refills the glass. grape and regret wafts up, poignant and heady from the bottle. the smaller woman holds her up glass and smiles, “fuck love.”
it’s a mock toast and it’s so unexpected that lu hua snorts, laughing at her friend’s antic so she holds up her glass and clicks it gently against her boss’ glass. “fuck love,” lu hua echoes, louder than the sounds of her heart trying to heal.
(minseon's all too familiar with the sound.)
lu hua doesn’t know why but when she comes home, tired from a long day at work, she’s hit by a revelation. she had toed off her heels and shoved her feet into slippers to trudge into the kitchen to pour herself a glass of wine. she’s not really thinking about anything much, random thoughts flitting in and out of her mind and she finds herself wishing that minseon was there to share a glass of wine with her and help her unwind. she can imagine the conversation they’d have, nothing too serious, something about work, something about how minseon’s going to rearrange her furniture next month, lu hua’s new pumps, anything. lu hua can see how the tension would slowly bleed out of minseon’s shoulders as the alcohol loosens her tongue and the conversation dies down quietly. minseon’s empty wine glass will be placed on the coffee table and they would bask in the comfortable silence, lu hua occasionally sipping at her magically refilling glass.
she’ll glance up from her glass and catch minseon’s eyes and they’ll be dark and brooding, something heavy, something unsaid in them. she’s caught minseon looking at her like this a few times in the past when minseon’s defenses are low and they’re alone. lu hua’s breath catches in her throat.
the bottle of wine clinks against the granite countertops when the revelation hits. oh.
she’s grabbing her coat that she’s just placed down, she’s shoving her feet into tennis shoes, she back out of her door and into her car driving back to her workplace. it’s like it’s all clicked and lu hua has to tell minseon now. she hardly thinks when she parks and rushes into the building, toe tapping as the elevator rolls her up to minseon’s floor.
it’s late on friday and obviously everyone but minseon has already gone home. kyungsoo’s still sitting at his desk in front of minseon’s office like cerberus and his eyes are wide when she steps out of the elevator. “don’t bother calling minseon,” lu hua waves at the secretary as she passes.
when lu hua bursts into minseon’s office, she’s so determined to tell minseon what she knows is something that’s been long coming, but she falters at the sight of minseon at her desk. it is friday night and minseon’s changed out of her day time work clothes, large hoodie making her look so, so tiny. she’s also washed off her makeup and her hair’s up and away in a lopsided ponytail. minseon clearly hadn’t expected any visitors at this hour so it’s understandable when her head snaps up in surprise at the model’s presence.
lu hua stops in front of minseon’s desk, the stupid, large imposing thing, and she’s looking down into minseon’s wide eyes. “lu hua? what are you doing here?” minseon questions, brows twisted and mouth slightly open.
“i came to tell you something.” her voice is quiet, almost like she’s telling minseon a secret. she hasn’t actually told minseon what was on her mind, but the potential presses into her every thought and her head pounds at the imaginations. pressing soft kisses into minseon’s soft cheeks while she’s asleep, lu hua giggling as she smears red lipstick across minseon’s forehead who shrieks and drags eyeliner across lu hua’s nose, lu hua melting at the sound of minseon’s soft cries of pleasure-- possibility, probability, lu hua wants it all.
“yeah?” her brows are knitted together.
“minseon.” hushed whispers.
minseon’s quiet, waiting for lu hua to continue.
“i think i love you.”
it takes a second but lu hua can see the words registering and shock spreading out on minseon’s face. she gasps and jerks back, lashes fluttering up and down.
lu hua’s throat is too tight to try to breathe.
“oh my god, lu hua,” minseon breathes out. lu hua doesn’t dare take a breath.
leather shifts as minseon leans forward, pupils blown in wonder and with a curiosity like a newborn fawn, she hands lift up towards lu hua’s face.
she takes just the shallowest of breaths when she feels warm fingers touch her skin. minseon’s fingers cautiously slide behind her best friend’s neck, tugging down with a gentleness lu hua didn’t know she possessed.
(and now that she’s got a taste, lu hua knows she’s addicted.)
the world stops for lu hua when warm lips ghost over hers and she’s pushing forward, leaning over that stupid desk to press closer, closer to minseon but when she pushes forward minseon draws back.
it’s a chaste kiss, quick press of lips, nothing like kisses she’s exchanged with her boyfriends, but there’s just something so different by the way her lips tingle and when her tongue darts out, she tastes just the faintest bit of strawberry chapstick.
there’s roses in minseon’s cheeks and stars in her eyes when they part. “i’ve wanted to do that for so long,” is not something lu hua had expected minseon to say but nothing that evening had been expected.
but the bubble bursts when minseon’s eyes flutter down and she turns her chin away from the model. the intimacy of the moment flees when she leans away, almost making lu hua want to chase her to tug her back in for another kiss.
“but i can’t, lu hua.”
lu hua’s heart drops.
minseon’s fingers leave lu hua’s neck cold and exposed and she shivers at minseon’s trembling lips. “i can’t lu hua,” she repeats, “i can’t do this if i’m just another fling to you.”
no. “no!” lu hua gasps. “no no no, not you, minseon, never you. you’re different, uncomparable to my past.” she fights the urge to flutter her fingers onto her cheeks, to grasp minseon’s shoulders and shake her to see how real, how sincere she is.
minseon’s eyes are sad when she finally looks back up at lu hua. “i know your track record, lu hua. i played the part of your harassing friend to help you break up with your ex-boyfriend, i smiled and agreed that so-and-so was attracted, i picked up the pieces of you when you invested too much and got hurt in the game. i know too much, lu hua. i can’t do this to myself.” her arms come to wrap around herself like trying to keep something inside her or to protect herself.
“minseon. not you. you’re different, trust me,” lu hua scrambles. the model hasn’t felt this skewed since she had been a schoolgirl but she wants minseon to believe her so badly it aches.
she tilts minseon’s head up and whispers, “now i’m looking for something serious.” but her heart just sinks when she sees that fucking familiar look in minseon’s eyes as the same look that her flings that had fallen too deep had given her when she said her final goodbyes.
lu hua plays this dangerous game, this game of playing with hearts. it’s usually all fun and games but sometimes someone who doesn’t know the rules comes along and lu hua’s too swept up in her games to realize that they’re pure, innocent, and undeserving of the scars that she leaves. and now she’s the one who gets a taste of her own medicine.
“lu hua, no.” minseon’s hurting, it hurts so bad, hurts so much. yixing and china are still fresh on her mind. it’s been over half a year since lu hua’s come home from her beijing trip but minseon knows that it’s been over half a year since lu hua’s last relationship. she wants to run out from this, wants to run away from how much she wants lu hua but something glues her feet to the ground. “we wouldn’t work out. we’d end up more hurt than now.” minseon wants to scream and take all the words tumbling out back because they’re all lies, all excuses. they fit together like puzzle pieces in minseon’s mind.
--and in lu hua’s mind. but neither of them are mind readers.
her eyes are burning and she’s trembling with minseon’s rejection. cause that’s what this is, isn’t it? rejection? normally, lu hua would back off only to reroute and persist until she gets what she wants, but nothing’s normal with minseon. all her experience hasn’t prepared herself to offer her heart on her sleeve so easily to her best friend, the best friend that knows her inside out.
“ok.” lu hua drops her gaze so minseon can’t see her brimming eyes. “good night, minseon.” her feet somehow takes her away from her heartache and out of the building. she doesn’t even know if kyungsoo saw her walk past or not. it doesn’t really register past the sound of her heart breaking in her ears.
she doesn’t bother turning on the lights when she collapses on her bed, ignoring her wet pillow. she’ll heal. just not tonight.
lu hua sighs in relief when she checks her phone the next morning and there’s a simple typical good morning text from minseon. she’s glad that regardless of what transpired last night, they’re still friends and that minseon understands this too.
she sends back copious stickers that show nothing of her pain because she knows that it’d just hurt minseon more. they’ve known each other long enough to know how exactly how to tiptoe around each other.
minseon sighs, letting her head fall. it’s another long night at the office, another changed deadline at the last minute, another exhausting project that minseon has to get done. kyungsoo had called her a number of hours ago, letting her know about the change in the date and had gracefully cancelled at appointments that were open to wiggle room to allow minseon as much time as he could allot her to get the necessary things done. approximately 40 phone calls had gone out from her working line and 25 had gone out from her private phone to get things she needed from the people who have them. it’s been tiring work, stressful as well. the moment that minseon had finished her late required meeting of the day she had glued herself to her chair and sent out frantic emails. the clock ticks and minseon’s grateful for the occasional cup of coffee that kyungsoo sends in, her wordless nod enough for kyungsoo to smile hesitantly and leave the room with a half empty, cold cup of coffee.
it’s 1am when kyungsoo sticks his head through the door of her office and minseon nearly jumps out of her seat when she hears his quiet “hey minseon”. her head comes off from her forearm and she blinkedly.
kyungsoo looks almost apologetic when he says, “it’s getting really late and i’ve finished everything that needs to be done. all you need to do is wrap up this report and you can just send me a text and the report and i’ll edit it. there’s not much else i can do in this office and-“ kyungsoo half cringes and ducks his head slightly before continuing, “baek’s been calling and asked me to come home a little earlier today.”
minseon sends a grateful smile that he’s already been here long enough, “go ahead, kyungsoo. i’n nearly finished with this so send baekhyun my apologies for hoarding his husband in the office for so long.”
kyungsoo bobs a half bow and before he bids her a final goodnight he tells her that he’s got another pot of coffee boiling so if she wants to grab anymore, it’s in the next room over. the lady just sends him away with teasing accusations that he’s almost like her nanny.
the door shuts loudly in the silent office and minseon glares blearily at her computer screen. she wasn’t lying when she had told kyungsoo that the report was nearly ready but she’s sure that at her level of exhaustion that it’s peppered with multiple mistakes, so she’ll have to proofread it before she can send it to kyungsoo, if to help her poor secretary, if not to uphold a level of quality of work she does.
it’s nearly 3am when minseon finishes proofreading and gets the ok from kyungsoo that everything’s in order when her phone vibrates in her desk, the case rattling against the wind. minseon has to squint at the lower corner of her screen to read the time wondering who the hell would text her late. there’s a few people who’d call her this late, but it’s mainly because of time zones and they’d call her on her business line.
head already thinking about sinking into her pillow, minseok pulls the drawer open and checks her phone, a single text sitting in her inbox.
boss min
deer of the dawn:have you eaten dinner yet?
minseon doesn’t believe it for a second that kyungsoo hadn’t told lu hua that she’s still up. her fingers hover over her screen, unsure of how to answer. she goes for the truth.
boss min: not yet. she tries to divert the subject. why are you still awake?
deer of the dawn: are you home yet? awake cause just finished a shoot
minseon bites her lip. she unconsciously tiptoes around lu hua now. that night and the confession hangs heavily on her mind, whether she tries to remember it or not. it’s like a thundercloud lurking ominously around her every word, their every conversation, every simple brush of a hand. they’re struggling to get back to platonic friends.
or at least minseon pretending that she doesn’t yearn for more.
boss min: i’m about to leave the office
she starts gathering her things, tossing her last barely touched cup of coffee into the trash and pulling her overcoat off the coat hanger. her phone vibrates in her pocket just as she turns off the lights.
deer of the dawn: i’m on my way over with dinner now
minseon would protest but they’re so long into their relationship that minseon knows that it’s futile to argue with lu hua when it comes to things like this. minseon might act like the more mature of the two, but she often times forgets to take care of herself in times of stress. at the thought of food, her stomach complains, as though reminding her that she had skipped dinner to try to finish up.
boss min: thanks
minseon slumps against the back door after she hangs up her keys, exhaustion tempting her to just slide into bed. but then there’s a soft voice calling into the house, “minseon? you home?”
her chest seizes up and she can’t breathe for a moment because want tightens up her throat. this is what minseon wants so, so badly. to come home every day to this, lu hua calling her name into the house, to round the corner to see the model beaming up at her, to be able to giggle over dinner knowing that they can unwind and simple enjoy each other’s company, to be able to smear toothpaste onto lu hua’s toothbrush and wetting it, to be able to pull lu hua onto the bed into her willing arms--
“i just picked up some miso soup on the way here. i thought you might like something light,” lu hua says, placing down the last spoon onto minseon’s rarely used dining table. her smile is a little unsure, this is the first time that lu hua’s been over since they had the slight falling out.
minseon sweeps lu hua up in a hug and when she draws back, “thanks, lu, you’re a lifesaver.”
lu hua’s smile grows and minseon melts a little. she’s still like a lovesick puppy.
“it’s no trouble, really,” lu hua counters and there’s hardly another word from minseon as lu hua hassles her into a chair and in front of a bowl. there’s not too much set up in front of minseon, just a large bowl on miso soup and various side dishes spread out, korean and japanese.
they pick up their chopsticks and spoons and they dig in, conversation flowing just like old times.
all is well again.
do kyungsoo is generally a very level headed person--or so he likes to consider himself a such. he’s not impulsive, he’s not prone to emotional outbursts, and he certainly is not one to interfer often. but sometimes, kyungsoo has to make exceptions. it usually involves his boss/lu hua. they’re both kind of foolish, the way they dance around in circles pretending that they’re ok with the way things are.
kyungsoo rolls his eyes at the way minseon deflates when lu hua leaves, lu hua’s manager gives minseon a call and asks if she knows why lu hua’s so suddenly into her work, and minseon knocks her head on the nearest flat surface every time after they meet up.
she knows that she really should at least give lu hua a chance but there’s that little weary part in her brain that’s kept her head up above the water in her line of business that keeps lu hua at an arm’s distance away. minseon’s afraid to lose what they have but she thinks that she’s even more terrified if they actually do become something beyond friends.
out of the two, minseon’s the only one who’s holding back because minseon knows that lu hua would plunge right in without a moment’s hesitation if minseon gave a sign of giving in.
so they continue this funny dance, stalling, pining, and generally being idiots. in the words of do kyungsoo.
he gives lu hua a call to end the foolishness.
minseon receives a text from lu hua inviting her over for an evening to unwind. it’s the weekend and minseon’s just lazing about in her apartment. she’s spent the morning cleaning it and had just settled down on the couch with her laptop to catch on a few dramas since it’s one of those rare weekends where minseon can have a moment to breath. it’s just after the spring collection has been finished and the fashion industry has a lulling moment before gearing up for the summer.
she didn’t have any plans beyond curling around a pint of ice cream, possibly watching her favorite films and inserting herself in the place of her favorite character that evening so she accepts lu hua’s invitation already thinking about which bottle of wine to bring over.
lu hua’s a nervous wreck. she’s only thought up to the point of asking minseon over and now that minseon’s agreed, lu hua can’t decide how to go about this evening. her ears are still ringing from kyungsoo’s scolding so she knows that she can’t just delay this any longer.
she has to properly woo minseon. she just has no references to go off on.
minseon hasn’t been in a relationship for over 5 years, the last one ending on good, mutual terms. it’s been a long time since minseon’s been in a relationship and minseon’s clearly not that young 21 year old women she had been. minseon’s preferences have probably changed and lu hua doesn’t quite know how to go about this.
she worries if candles are too much.
when lu hua opens the door, her heart stops at the sight of minseon. her hair’s freshly washed, the soft scent of minseon’s shampoo wafting in at the breeze that door created. minseon’s makeup is minimal, only her brows done and 1 coat of mascara to lift up her lashes, and even her outfit is minimal and comfortable.
“hello,” minseon greets, with a sudden shy smile at lu hua’s uncharacteristic silence. “i brought wine,” she lifts the bottle as proof, wondering why lu hua isn’t moving aside to let her in.
lu hua blinks at the bottle, eyes scanning across the label but minseon gets the feeling that she’s not really registering what she’s reading. “thank you,” lu hua says automatically, finally moving aside to let minseon in.
minseon sniffs gently at the air as she takes off her shoes, lining them up neatly by the wall. there’s something different about lu hua’s apartment today and she can’t quite put her finger on it. the air’s a bit warmers and it takes minseon a moment to realize that it’s the smell of food cooking that’s different. “did you cook?” she asks, a bit surprised, glancing back at lu hua.
lu hua smiles, glad that minseon’s noticed. “i was a little homesick today, so i decided to cook. we’re having chinese food tonight.”
her best friend just lifts a brow at this but doesn’t comment further after slipping her feet into a pair of slippers that lu hua has out. she pads through the apartment, headed to the kitchen with lu hua trailing after her.
“smells delicious, though,” the ceo notes as she peers into the various pots and pans bubbling merrily away on the stoves. lu hua’s kitchen is delirious at the moment, vegetable and spices spread on every available counter space but it looks homey, something that lu hua and minseon don’t get to experience very often.
“thanks, i had to give mom a few calls to help refresh my memory.” lu hua sets down the bottle of wine that minseon’s brought over on a bit of counter space that minseon hadn’t even seen. “could you get the bucket and some ice for the wine?” she asks, already over to the stove to stir and check on how everything’s going along.
minseon retrieves the items that lu hua asks for wondering out loud how much longer it is until the food’s ready. lu hua assures her that it’s just a few more minutes, 10 at the most, and minseon gets about to setting the table for the both of them.
true to minseon’s nose, the food is delicious when it’s finished. they hardly get a word in when they start on the food but as the evening winds down and they’re nearly finished, conversation begins to flow.
they talk about everything, that one annoying model who demanded at the last show to have her hair exactly like this, that stylist who went hysterical when another model returned with her makeup smudged, and even about the correct way to enjoy curry.
soon enough, the dishes are cleared away and they move onto the couch with minseon’s bottle of wine, cool in its bucket of ice.
the cork’s screwed out and it’s contents poured out into 2 glasses.
lu hua puts on a film, this hong kong comedy with korean subtitles, that has them laughing until they have to put their glasses on the table in fear of losing control of their hands and staining the couch.
it’s easy and comfortable, this atmosphere. minseon’s got her foot under lu hua’s calf and lu hua’s half leaning on minseon, her head comfortable on minseon’s shoulder. here, her head shakes every time minseon laughs but minseon’s shampoo smells so nice and she just doesn’t want to move from here.
the bottle’s more than halfway done when the credits scroll through and the two of them are silent, smiles still on their faces from the film. this is comfortable, too, the silence that stretches through the room. they’re sleepy, full from the food and warm from the wine.
minseon’s shifts and lu hua whines, her hand pulling at minseon’s arm to stop her from moving. her nose burrows closer to minseon’s neck and she laughs from the sensation and lu hua’s cuddliness.
“lu hua?” minseon breaks the silence.
lu hua hums into minseon’s shoulder as answer, hand only moving to sip at her glass.
minseon turns her head, her eyes searching in the dark room and lu hua stops breathing. it hits her in this cold splash and that warm buzz from the wine is gone, replaced by this terrible awareness of minseon. how close they are, how good she smells, how warm her breath is, how there’s only a few centimeters of space separating minseon’s lips and lu hua’s lips. lu hua’s mind wanders and her lips part, in remembrance of that soft, soft kiss that minseon had given her in her office so many weeks ago.
lu hua swallows. “yes?” lu hua tries again.
minseon doesn’t say anything, her eyes looking at lu hua’s eyes. it’s a searching look, this hesitant look, this doubtful look that fills lu hua with this shivering anxiousness.
“min?” lu hua’s voice is weak, even to her own ears and she knows it’s because how minseon’s stare is taking her apart, bit by bit.
her lashes flutter from minseon’s continuing silence.
“kiss me,” minseon whispers, so quietly that even a few breaths away lu hua barely hears her. in that soft request, lu hua hears so much more.
lu hua surges up, wrapping her arms around minseon’s neck, tilting her head to better kiss minseon. this kiss is so much more different from their kiss. it’s desperate but close mouthed as lu hua tries to funnel all her longing, all her wanting, all her sincere feelings to her best friend.
minseon responds instantly to lu hua’s kiss and she somehow retains enough wit to place her glass down on the table before thrusting her fingers into lu hua’s hair.
it’s a kiss that feels like it stretches on for eternity, thousands of unsaid words poured into that intimate point of contact and when they break apart, their breathing is jagged, their lips are swollen, and their hands stay exactly where they are, keeping the two of them inches apart.
“i-” minseon starts, throat working to get her voice working again. “after that, that first kiss, lu hua, i can’t-i don’t think--”
lu hua gets her, regardless of the lack of a full sentence. “me too, minseon,” she whispers back, eyes unable to look away from minseon’s slightly parted lips.
“oh god, i know, i know i shouldn’t-we shouldn’t, we shouldn’t do this because we’re already dangerous as is,” minseon blabbers, still trying to get her thoughts straight. lu hua’s perfume lingers and it messes with her brain and all the years of silence, years of yearning scream to be said, to be known, to be reciprocated. her barriers fall and she knows that she’s the only one holding back.
“min,” lu hua says the things that started this whole mess and just like that, minseon’s thrown off her feet again. she can’t think of a single reason why she can’t just have her mouth on lu hua’s right now and hands on places besides her hair.
“min,” lu hua repeats, when she sees the thoughts race over minseon’s face, “we don’t have to if you don’t want to.” she means just so in that sentence.
minseon draws back quickly, mouth closing with a snap, her fingers coming out of lu hua’s hair and lu hua nearly cries at the loss of contact. she was so close, so close, so close--
“oh fuck it,” minseon hisses, mainly to herself more than anyone, and she does exactly what she’s wanted to do for the past 6 years and she kisses lu hua harder than she’s ever kissed anyone. all the pent up feelings overwhelm minseon and she knows that there’s no point of return, no other excuses she can tell herself to hold back.
lu hua can hardly think through the haze in her mind but she does have enough mind to kiss minseon back with the same amount of enthusiasm.
it takes a lot of time, a lot of restraint, but they do eventually pause in their making out to breathe, to think of what this all means, the new development, and regardless of what the future holds for them when minseon giggles at the slightly dumbfounded expression on lu hua’s face, the warmest feeling blooms in lu hua’s chest and lu hua knows that minseon’s the one she wants settle down with.
EPILOGUE
it’s so many months later, with so many you’re welcome glances from kyungsoo, so many satisfied i fucking knew it nods from their friends, lu hua and minseon are comfortable in their new definitions of each other. honestly, it’s not that much of a shift, moving from best friend to lover but lu hua does appreciate being able to make out with her best friend on her couch.
minseon’s straddled over lu hua’s hips, completely blocking lu hua’s view of the tv and lu hua whines half heartedly to minseon about this. minseon laughs at this, this beautiful, quiet, husky laughter that always makes lu hua’s stomach flop about. “i just thought that you’d prefer this over that anyway,” minseon teases, her fingers dancing across lu hua’s collarbones and over her shoulders to pull minseon down closer to lu hua. minseon’s so close to lu hua that lu hua can easily count her eyelashes. lu hua also thinks that minseon is the most beautiful woman that she’s ever set her eyes and as lu hua tells minseon, the other woman draws back with her eyebrows raised.
“you’re a model, lu hua, you work with the most gorgeous women on the daily.”
lu hua rolls her eyes good naturedly at her girlfriend. “yes, but they don’t even hold a candle up to you, minseon.”
minseon chooses not to answer, tilting her head to kiss her own model, bold in her movements.
lu hua gasps sharply when minseon nips at her lower lip, her way of asking permission, and at the gasp, minseon’s taste invades lu hua’s mouth.
and lu hua takes it all in, takes it in like she hasn’t had a drink in years. she does this everytime. regardless of how many times they’ve kissed, how many times lu hua’s been able to worship her goddess, she kisses minseon back like their first time. hands wander, nails leave crescents, and teeth press into skin and somehow lu hua finds herself pressed into her couch as the girl of her dreams nip and kiss her way down her throat.
minseon’s pressing praises into lu hua skin and she’s whimpering at the sensations and the words. she throwing her head back, exposing her neck, begging silently for minseon to take, take, take.
she only pauses when she reaches the collar of lu hua’s shirt, her eyes coming up to lu hua’s asking if this is ok, if they should continue, if she wants this as much as minseon wants this. lu hua grabs the bottom of minseon’s shirt and tugs upward as an answer.
minseon’s eyes are laughing as she disappears under the cotton, her hands coming off lu hua’s collar to let lu hua pull off her shirt.
lu hua’s positive that she’s in heaven when she comes face to face with minseon’s boobs, pale skin that begs lu hua to leave bruising marks onto. she doesn’t even care that minseon’s worn her usual ugly bra, plain black cotton bra, since she’d rather see what’s inside the bra.
she’s reaching for minseon’s bra clasp when minseon stops her with a shake of her head. there’s this mischievous tilt of minseon’s smile when she tugs at the bottom of lu hua’s shirt. lu hua arches her back, giving minseon room to tug the fabric up and over her head, leaving lu hua’s hair a mess. but the way that minseon’s looking at her makes her feel like they’re the only people in the world, that lu hua’s the prettiest woman in the world, that lu hua’s the only one that matter.
“stop looking at me like that,” lu hua whispers, heat creeping up from her neck.
minseon’s eyes follow the redness that spreads across lu hua’s face and down her throat in the prettiest of flushes. “like what?” she asks, trailing the tips of her fingers over the top of lu hua’s bra, just enough for lu hua to crave more.
“like,” lu hua has to swallow when minseon looks back up into her eyes, “like i’m a dream or something.”
minseon smiles, a soft one. she ducks her head to kiss the top of lu hua’s left breast that spills over her bra and lu hua’s breath hitches. “you are,” minseon simple replies, placing more kisses on the skin that’s exposed, her hand coming down from lu hua’s shoulder to spread heat across lu hua’s stomach.
her stomach clenches involuntarily when minseon scratches 5 long lines down lu hua’s abomen and she gasps at the light burning sensation. it’s light enough not to leave red lines but there’s white lines that show exactly where minseon’s nails raked down.
lu hua’s boobs aren’t as big as minseon’s, a point that lu hua’s lamented so many times over the timeline of their friendship, but before lu hua’s even realized it, minseon’s got her bra unclasped and off her, thrown somewhere in the living room.
this thought brings lu hua back to her senses and she struggles to sit up on her elbows the best she can with minseon worshipping her collarbones.
“min, min, wait,” she pants into minseon’s shoulder and minseon hums in acknowledgment. “the living, we’re in the couch room, i mean, uh, shit. we should move.”
minseon chuckles at her mess up, gleeful that she’s able to take lu hua this much apart. “but what’s wrong with here?” minseon says more to mess with lu hua than really disagree. while lu hua’s couch is delightfully comfortable, the leather is rather expensive.
“min!” lu hua gasps, to try to get back to her point when minseon nips playfully at her collarbones before licking over the spot as though to soothe the bite.
“alright, alright,” minseon concedes, pulling away from lu hua and lu hua’s eyes follow the way minseon’s boobs settle back in her bra. which reminds lu hua of her state of dress. or rather undress.
her flush is redder and warmer when minseon pulls her off the couch and pulls lu hua with distractingly dark bedroom eyes into lu hua’s bedroom. it sparks off a feeling in lu hua’s chest that has nothing to do with the heat pooling between her legs that minseon knows exactly where lu hua’s bedroom is. they’re familiar with each other, should be, are, and it’s certainly not lu hua’s first time seeing minseon naked but it’s a completely different situation and just the thought of seeing minseon naked shuts down any bit of rationality she has left.
just as they reach lu hua’s bedroom door, minseon turns back to lu hua and smiles with this terribly innocent smile that contradicts by the way that she tugs lu hua in and tells her to take off her pants and lie down on the bed with a pat on her butt.
when lu hua settles comfortably on the bed, with just her panties covering her, she turns back to minseon, who’s still by the door. minseon’s getting mushy, her gaze the softest affection, her coy smile now something that just sighs that she’s in love. lu hua spreads her arms wide open and with a cock of her head she tells minseon to come where it’s warm and minseon’s more than happy to obey, closing the door with a quiet click.
A/N: this was the follow up of this drabble, which serves as prequel of sorts. i've had a postit note by my bed with a check box next to the words "model xiuhan fic (u need to finish this, stinker)" for 8 months. it was very satisfying to check it off.
Part I | Part II
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