You woke up with a hangover. You hate flights let alone flying hungover. To make it even worse, this is a flight to LA: A 10 hour freaking flight. While you were packing in a hurry, it hit you. Today, your first production is to be published. Your hands shook for a minute but you tried to shake it off. You took your bags and as you went down the lobby you saw the guys. Everyone looked hungover. Mostly Jung Ho. You smile as he smiled at you.
'No! No! Catherine' you thought, 'you don't get to fucking like someone you're working with again! He's just being too nice. Plus, you're older than him. Stop it. Stop it right now.'
You caught yourself denying your right to be interested in a man. The last time you went into a relationship with a man from work, it ended badly. You felt a tang. It's been years since you got out of that relationship and, here you are, in pain. It was the way that he gave up on you that shook you the most. You felt betrayed even though he never knew a woman when he was with you. It's just that he gave up on you when you were at your lowest. You've been denying yourself the right to like any man who showed you interest or to like any man for a fact.
Eun Ae was following you with her bag. "I think I like Nak Yum," she whispered. "I think he might like me back, too." He waved at her excitedly. She waved back.
The way she admitted it easily upset you. You couldn't do that because you've built walls high enough no bird can fly in. Any living thing that got through ended up dead. You never knew why. You shook those thoughts off.
"He was flirting so hard on me the day I was there," she continued. "I don't want to be unprofessional," she said as she realized that she's speaking to her boss, "but you're the closest one to me here on tour." You smiled.
"Eun Ae, you've been working with me long enough that I consider you family." You added, "plus, you and Nak Yum would make a great couple."
You weren't bluffing or just saying that. Eun Ae is one of the most creative people you've met. You've always looked forward to seeing her future work. She had passion as much as Nak Yum. They'd burn on fire together. It's not like it's written in your contracts that you should never date them. It's just that it goes unsaid that you shouldn't just for work professionalism.
That talk reminded you of Ae Ra. It's been more than a week and you guys haven't caught up even by text. You decided that once you get on the plane you're going to call her.
When you got on the plane and everyone was seated. The seat next to you was empty. You got comfortable and waited for the plane go take off so you can call Ae Ra. Once it took off and everyone got to take their seatbelts off, you called her.
"You've got some audacity, Kaesolin." She shouted. That was less explicit than you anticipated. She started a rant. "You don't give a flying fuck about me, don't you! You slut." You always wonder how one person can fit all those curse words in one sentence. "Anyways, how've you been?" You smiled as she calmed down in seconds.
"I'm doing really good, Ae Ra." You tried to lower your voice so no one can hear. "This is so rewarding and intriguing. I absolutely love it here. I am just having my anxiety crawling up my neck right now."
"What? Why?" She asked. "You're doing a great job. The short clips that were published on YouTube was nice and their twitter updates that have your pictures are absolutely on fire!" She assured you.
"Well, the very first Imperial games episode is getting published in a couple of hours and I am terrified." You said.
"I'll be calling you when it's a hit so I can hear you cry with joy." She said. "I just have to go, now. Meeting ahead!" Before she hung up you heard her saying sir to someone.
When the call was over you started listening to some music. You've been hung up on this band called CAIRO and their song AGE/SEX/RACE was your favorite right now.
As you were looking out the window, you glanced at Jung Ho going to the toilet. You quickly subverted your gaze on your phone's background. As he was walking he turned his head and checked on you. You couldn't see it but he looked at you for a while. When he got back, he stood by your seat.
"Can I sit next to you?" He asked politely. "Everyone fell asleep and I can't sleep." You were just about to say that Nak Yum is actually awake but you just stopped yourself.
"Sure, Jung Ho, have a seat."
"Well, Seoka told me about your little secret." He whispered in your ears. Your heart raced. Your face got red and you felt a tingle down your spine. What secret? He laughed teasingly, "Larva? Really Kae? You actually watch that?"
"I-I— I am going to kill oppa in his sleep if he's told anyone else that." You joked.
"Don't worry it's only me who knows that."
You glared, "Oh! he's dead meat."
"Can I tell you my secret?" He whispered in your ear again. You realized that you're holding your breath. "I watch Larva, too." With that, you almost fell of your seat because of laughter. He looked at you surprised. "Dude, we both watch it, you're not any better." He let out this giggle as you touched his arm.
"I am telling everyone that." You said.
"You won't! I know you're better than that."
You got closer to his face and whispered, "well I can be bad, too." He raised his eyebrows and you just realized what you've just said and done. You blushed so hard you had to look the other side.
"Hey, hey," Jung Ho tapped your shoulder. "Let's watch an episode together."
You looked at him. Scanned his face, trying to suppress the fact that you're attracted to him. You wanted to say no but "yes! Let's do that." Escaped your mouth before you knew it.
You watched an episode in silence. You could feel him turning and looking at you while you were watching. By reflex you looked at him, too. Your eyes locked. At that moment you wanted to lock your lips with his. You both looked at each other's lips simultaneously. You could feel his breath on your face as he got closer. You quickly pulled away. He cleared his throat trying to shake it off. The episode was already over and you could feel the tension between you two.
'Catherine, this is just because you spend most of your time with them. No one can start liking you in a week or two.'
Another part of you replied, 'what if he just wants you?' Your negative thoughts came flooding you. 'Honey, Look at you. No one would just want you, not that way, at least.' Your thoughts overwhelmed you.
You found yourself turning around. Held on Jung Ho's shirt and you slowly put your lips on his. You just did that because you wanted to prove yourself that maybe he might just wants you that way.
You felt his hands move quickly to your face and pull you in closer. Your lips locked and he kissed you passionately. You could feel his breath on every single cell of your face. The kiss was longer than you thought it would be. A burning sensation went all over your body. You felt like you could hear colors and taste words. The way his lips took over yours was a spell that was cast over you, never to be broken. You heard some movement back in the plane so you broke it off.
"That didn't happen." You said quickly. You didn't want it to be common knowledge. You weren't really sure if you meant it or not but that was what your impulse wanted you to say.
"If you want that, we can make this a secret." He said smirking. "We'll have to keep two secrets." He shushed, smiling like he accomplished something. You both knew that you won't be able to cover it up if this was to go anywhere.
It felt a lot like he wanted this. Just this. Nothing more than just want you. It felt like it would do no harm. You weren't ready for emotional attachment but you don't know what's this supposed to be and where it's going to take you. It happened quickly. It's not a couple of weeks and this happened.
"Why?" You whispered. He heard you.
"Because there's no time to waste." He whispered and winked. You didn't get why there'd be no time. You just smiled to yourself.
'Someone could actually want you that way,' you said to yourself. Little did you know that your wall were already infiltrated and you might not be ready for that.