Work Text:
“Do you want to dance, Stephens?”
“Do you?” I ask, surprised.
“No,” he says, “but I want to touch you, and it’s a good cover.”
(book lovers by emily henry)
Se-ri looks around the big room, a satisfied smile growing on her face. This time she feels everything is running much more smoothly in this event - probably because, for the second year, she doesn’t have a weight of disappointment on her shoulders, the sadness following her year after year nowhere to be found now.
This year, once again she has Jeong-hyeok right beside her - or as close as he can be, while they pretend not to know each other so as to not complicate his position. Still, knowing he’s there in the same place is a comfort for her as well as the knowledge that they will go back home and spend the night together. Even if home is nothing but a hotel suite right now.
(Actually, home is anywhere, as long as they are together. But she has a mental note to tell him her plans of buying a house along with very convincing arguments - and kisses - for the moment he says she might be exaggerating. She doesn’t think it’ll take too long for him to be on board.)
The night goes as planned; she mingles, watches every performance with a genuine smile on her face, tries not to show any favoritism to Jeong-hyeok's students playing as beautifully as they were taught, and ignores the pang in her heart as she thinks she won’t be seeing him playing it this year as he went as a mentor, wondering when she will see him playing a piano again (she adds ‘buy a piano’ to her mental note about their future house). She politely smiles at whoever stops her to make small talk, pretends she does not mentally undress Jeong-hyeok every time she catches him passing by. Which is often, because she's very much aware of his presence. And she can just tell he’s struggling just the same.
Se-ri notices him and one of his students talking to one sponsor to one side and ignores the urge to make up some excuse to walk up to them to hear him proudly boast about the teen's natural talent. Or to drag him to her car so they can go home and enjoy their night alone. She sighs and turns when she hears another random person calling out to her.
She talks to another donor - or better yet, she pretends she cares as another donor talks her ears off, suppressing a sigh of relief when she sees Jeong-hyeok approaching. She doesn't even need an excuse to talk to him when he's stopped by the donor.
“Ms. Yoon, have you met Mr. Ri Jeong-hyeok? He’s the one responsible for those talented North Korean kids. You have to hear him playing, it’s heavenly.” The man, as kind as he is, still makes Jeong-hyeok shake his head, abashed and playing with his ear, a telltale sign of embarrassment.
“Ah yes, we’ve been introduced.” She says as Jeong-hyeok bows quickly at her, playing his part very well. “And he does look like the kind of person who can save lives with his talent.”
"It was thanks to Ms. Yoon that my students were able to come. She's really making a difference around here. The kids are thrilled." Jeong-hyeok tells the man, turning to look at her with those loving eyes of his. It takes everything in her not to stare at him and drown in that look, but he coughs, catching her attention. “In fact, I want to formally thank her for the opportunity. Would you like to dance, Ms. Yoon? As a thank you."
It's a good thing she doesn't have to hide her surprise because there'd be no way she could not widen her eyes at that request. He has an easygoing smile on his lips, dimples slightly appearing, and she curses inwardly as the tables are all turned on her as she pretends that smile does nothing to her insides. Turning to the man in front of them with an apologetic smile of her own, she's thankful she finally has an excuse to leave and the best one at that. “Can we catch up later?”
Not waiting for an answer, Se-ri leaves beside Jeong-hyeok for the dance floor, some musicians playing smooth jazz in front. “I thought you'd be jealous, actually."
He smirks at her, shrugging. He looks absurdly handsome with his hair combed back, in his sharp suit and combined with the smart ass expression he wears now, she really wishes she could drag him somewhere away from it all right now.
“He’s not your type.” He offers his hand as they step on the dance floor, and she gladly takes it. There are a few other people dancing, and she's relieved there won't be much focus on them. He keeps it respectable though, a hand on her waist with his arm stretched in a safe distance, as if he truly is dancing with someone he is not familiar with.
It sucks. Deep down she knows there was no way they could show they know each other lest they would endanger Jeong-hyeok's position, or even his livelihood, but she really hates it.
“My type could’ve changed in the past three years.”
“Did it?” He has that stupid smirk in place again, and she wants to wipe that off his face. Se-ri is pretty sure she doesn't really know how to deal with this confident Ri Jeong-hyeok. (Actually, she wants to deal with him very far away from their current location. Preferably on a bed, but some other surface will do.)
As he sways them softly to the song, Se-ri shakes her head to erase the current images that are forming on her mind - it's not the time, or place. She turns her focus instead to his strong grip on her waist, and looks at his Adam's apple moving as he swallows, and despite the cool image, he looks at her in a way that shows her he’s just as affected.
“I didn’t know you wanted to dance.” She switches the subject to something she thinks - hopes - is safer.
“I didn’t.” He squeezes her waist once. “I wanted an excuse to touch you. It seemed like a good idea.”
She sucks in a breath, and narrows her eyes at him, ignoring the warmth growing inside of her. "You can't say things like that."
"And why not?" He chuckles, the bastard, and she narrows her eyes at him.
"I can't do anything about it now. Or tonight.”
His smirk fades, being replaced by a tender, almost sad look. As much as both of them wish they wouldn’t waste one night being separated, he is responsible for two North Korean teens, and he also has a colleague with him on this trip. Which means not leaving them in one place and going to sleep in another.
“Unless -” Se-ri starts, her voice in an innocent lilt and his eyebrows going up in attention is the only change she sees in her demeanor. “What if… I go to your hotel after I’m done here?”
His smile starts growing again, only to get it interrupted midway. "What if someone sees you?"
"I doubt anyone will care to see where I'm going. And I'll park my car somewhere I can get to easily tomorrow. And I’ll leave early." She pouts, looking at him with big eyes, using all of her arsenal on him. They always work, and this time it's no different.
"You know I won't say no," he says, turning serious. "Be careful, okay. And if it doesn't work out, go to your hotel and I’ll find a way to see you tomorrow. There's no problem."
Se-ri wants to remind him that he will be going back to North Korea in 4 days and she will be going back to the South in 6 so there is no way they should waste another night apart but prefers not to rub salt in the wound. They are both very aware of it.
They dance for a while in silence, just enjoying each other's presence. He signals that he'll be twirling her, and she laughs, free, forgetting everything else for brief moments. The only thing that matters is being in his arms.
Jeong-hyeok brings her to his arms again, his eyes dropping to her lips for a beat.
"I think this was a terrible plan."
"What?"
"I want to kiss you, and I don't have an excuse for that."
Se-ri laughs, but she can't even mock him because she, too, wants to kiss him.
The song comes to an end, and as two people who supposedly do not know each other they should part amicably, but neither is willing to let the other go first. If she's being honest, she's getting tired of all this pretending, but there's nothing to be done. It's this, or nothing at all. She's been through nothing at all; she doesn't want to go back to that.
"It really was a terrible plan." She agrees. “Which is why I will be seeing you later tonight. And I’ll give you lots of kisses. You’ll have to beg me to stop.”
“I doubt I’ll be doing that.”
After one last, parting squeeze on her hand, he withdraws his, and she feels the loss immediately.
“I’m glad we had this moment, either way.” He looks about to say more, but he closes his mouth instead at the look she shoots him. He knows how she is when she puts her mind to something, and she will do anything in her power to make it happen.
Se-ri smiles, satisfied, already turning around before she does something to ruin their covers, like finally cave in and kiss him. “Thank you for the dance, Mr. Ri. I had a great time.”