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In the silent room, I quietly listened to the curling iron. It was a social gathering I hadn't particularly wanted to attend. A place where I had to put on some pretense. But my hands were styling my hair. After curling my hair with the curling iron, I sprayed on some perfume. It had a subtle floral scent. I put on my shoes and slung my bag over my shoulder. As I opened the front door and stepped out, Yoongi, neatly dressed in a suit, smiled and called my name.
"Shall we go?"
"huh."
Holding hands, the temperature becomes equal due to thermal equilibrium. Sharing each other's warmth, permeating it, I felt suffocated by the atmosphere. A tingling, tingling sensation spread throughout my body, making me feel awkward.
"...I don't want to go today."
On days like this, I find myself thinking about the 2,000 won cup of stir-fried rice cakes I normally wouldn't even bother with, and the convenience store beer that doesn't cost much more than the glass of red wine that greets me as soon as I enter the room.
"Hello. Long time no see."
It was the secretary of the chairman of K Corporation, the organizer of this gathering. He greeted me with a smile, pulling my hand on my arm, and sat down in a corner. Yoon-ki and his parents went to another table. He swirled the glass of red wine he'd been given as a welcome drink. When he took a sip, the aroma of red wine spread through his mouth. He still craved beer, but his mood was much better.
"Lady, why are you in such a remote place?"
"I'm not feeling very well today."
"But it'll only be for a little while, so let's go to the center."
For a chaebol parent, they weren't particularly bad. But they weren't particularly good either. The more money they had, the less love they showed, but they let me do whatever I wanted. Unlike my brother, who was interested in business, I wasn't. I was interested in the cafe my mother started. My parents didn't say much about that either.
"How are you these days?"
"I'm just going to college normally."
"You should stop by your parents' house, girl. I'll forget your face."
My mother playfully slapped me. When I groaned softly in pain, my brother scolded me, saying I was being too harsh. What can I do when I'm in pain?
"Ugh... It hurts... But not that much."
"It's nothing. I was distracted by talking to Yoongi."
"Mother, can't you understand a daughter who is in love?"
"He's just like his father when it comes to joking around..."
It was just an ordinary family. Then, applause broke out, perhaps as the chairman of K Corporation, the organizer of the gathering, concluded his speech. It was just the beginning. Everyone present was already busy flaunting their camaraderie. Of course, my family was no exception. Except for me, everyone else maintained a pretentious sense of camaraderie.
"Young-ah, you look prettier these days."
"You too, Yeyoung."
"How old is Yeoju now?"
"I'm 20 years old."
"It's a really good time."
We exchanged words, though I couldn't quite understand what they were saying. My eyes met with Yoongi, who was sitting at the table in front of me. I smiled and pretended to focus on their conversation.
"Young-ah, you know that, right? That M Company is on the rise these days?"
"I know. Because we're in the food service business."
M Company was referring to Yoongi's. "I see, it's doing well these days." Yoongi's wasn't a particularly large company. As I listened, I heard him say, "Is it on the rise these days?"
"That's right. Is the female protagonist close with your youngest son?"
"... yes."
"How did you become friends?"
"Ms. Ye-young, how about we skip that topic?"
A strange chill passed over my mother's smiling face. I, who had been observing her, was turned around by someone's touch.
"Sister. Shall we go out together?"
It was Yoongi. How come he only shows up when I'm in trouble? I nodded, greeted them, and stood up. Yoongi held my hand as I walked out of the room. I sat down in a chair. Yoongi took off his jacket and draped it around my shoulders.
"...Sister, you must be cold."
"...It's okay."
Unlike his cute face, his cold, serene eyes, seemingly empty of anything, always disturbed my heart. Every time our eyes met, the air seemed to freeze. Every time that happened, I'd fall into his arms and throw a tantrum. Then, it felt like the Yoongi I knew was right.
"Do I have to go in?"
"Yeah, it's okay."
"... okay."
I hid myself, immersed in Yoongi's breathing. With a soft voice, I burrowed deeper and deeper. With your lips pressing against my forehead, I felt alive again today.