The just-risen sun shone softly on the city streets and the looked-forward to day finally arrives. Aerin couldn't specify whether she's enthusiastic or just incredibly nervous and looking at the stuff that she's going to take with her, it's eventual, there's no turning back now.
She's going away with Lee Heeseung, for the moment, for a quick escape. If she miss that one chance, she knows, she'll going to regret it for the rest of her life.
Putting make up on surprises Aerin. Making an effort to impress someone is absolutely against her rules but surprisingly, she swallowed her words down. She can now understand the sense behind the thought - love makes a person do crazy things, insane things. Things in a million years you'd never see yourself do, but there you are doing it, can't help it.
She giggled after seeing she perfectly blended that eyeshadow now but kept it simple and light as she wants it to be. And then she turned on the hot tool, making big curls for she's letting her hair down, the oomph Jiah wanted her to unleash. And in a moment, Aerin couldn't believe the reflection she saw. She's looked like a different woman and was skeptical if Heeseung will love her new look.
"Oh! What do we have here? Are you going somewhere, Aerin?"
Aerin jumped in surprise. Jiah's unexpected visit startled her, she was at loss for a response.
"Did you just-- glammed up?" Jiah asked again, studying her shocked face.
"What are you doing here?"
Instead of replying back, Jiah sprinted closer to check her colored cheeks and scanned her curled hair. Aerin closed her eyes for being so clumsy. She should've lock her door to maintain the privacy.
"You're going on a date?!"
Aerin consumed the anxiousness down. Jiah is the most observant person alive and she knows she cannot lie.
"I-If that's what you call it, yes."
How fast Jiah's eyes to grow wide in amazement.
"Woah, Aerin! Who's the lucky guy?! Let me guess, he's a Hybe's employee, right? A manager? A staff? An artist? Definitely not Lee Heeseung. You hate each other."
Jiah's last pronouncement made Aerin a little quivery. Her grip on the eyeshadow loosened, causing it to fall down on the floor.
"W-Why are you here?" Aerin asked again and controlled the trembles.
"Ah. I got good news for you."
"G-Good news? I didn't know there is any."
"Yeah. Ms. Kim wanted you to report in the office next week. Bang PD-nim handed you back already. Seems like you're cleared out about the whole Lee Heeseung issue thing. Welcome back, gorgeous slayer."
Essentially, the news deserves a celebration but Aerin felt conflicting. It goes contrary to the emotions she recently felt. Going back to her "normal" life isn't normal anymore. She'll miss the thrill of a closeted relationship and the feels Heeseung is giving her everytime their paths cross in any Hybe events.
"What the -- you're totally charmed, Choi Aerin." Jiah uttered the words in disbelief.
Aerin was stirred but maintained a straight face as chills races across her skin. How can she let herself be that obvious in front of Hyeon Jiah?
"I knew it! He's working in Hybe! Who the hell is he, Aerin?"
"This is not the right for some gossips, Jiah. I need to go. I'll see you after a week." Aerin pushed Jiah away out of her door.
"Hey! That was so rude of you, Aerin! You don't need to push me out!"
"Have a good day. Don't worry, I'll call you when I'm back. Anyeong!"
Shutting her door is quite a relief. Aerin cleaned the mess quickly as the time of Heeseung's arrival is about to come. They're going on a trip, anywhere but far away. It doesn't matter where the wheels are going to take them as long as they're together. Putting it all together creates a thrill and a kind of chill, Aerin never felt so keyed up after a long time.
Seeing Hyeon Jiah took the cab, Aerin sighed for a greater relief. She checked herself back in the mirror and was pleased. Fair enough, she don't look coquettish trying to seduce her own boyfriend.
Her heart jumped next to the blowing horn. She sneaked through her window and saw Heeseung went out of the vehicle. He looks so hot even in the simplest casual outfit and Aerin kinda regretted dolling up a little.
"Hi!" Heeseung greeted her with his usual heart melting smile. "W-Wow, you look gorgeous, baby." he breathlessly muttered.
Aerin looks marvelous without make up on but never did Heeseung thought seeing her spruced up a little will make him short winded and momentarily astounded. He couldn't help himself not to clasp Aerin near to get a perfect sight of her pretty face.
"Don't even try to think that I'm seducing you. The make up are expiring, I should give it a try before throwing it away." Aerin was fast to defend herself.
"You're so fast to thwart." Heeseung chuckled and softly pinched her nose. "Are you ready?"
Aerin nodded fast and ran to get the stuff. "More than ready. Where are we going, babe?"
Heeseung smlle rise from ear to ear. "Excuse me, what? I kinda didn't hear it."
"Why are always trying to act deaf everytime I'm saying sweet words?" Aerin laughed.
Heeseung laughed back. He's too weak for Aerin's presence, much more to her unintentional decrees of sweet nothings. Thinking about the things that lies ahead, Heeseung is convinced, the sweet escape with Aerin will turn his life in reversal, so drastic, he'll going to remember it until the very end.
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The night is deep, so quiet, as gentle breeze blew with an occasional smell of spring in it. The sky is full of stars and looking up into the starry sky and down into the water is just the same. In the silence of the night and in the strong holds of the hammock, they laid there while tightly enfolding each other in.
They are in the place where only the two of them knows. Their sweet escape comes in the middle of a deep seated forest, away from the chaotic city - all alone and closer to each other.
Laying in Heeseung arms and in the comforts of the hanging bed of canvas, Aerin felt slumberous but fighted the need to doze off, for tomorrow, it'll end. They'll be back again to the real world.
"It's okay, just sleep. I'm not going anywhere." Heeseung whispered, like reading her thoughts.
"I'm going back to Starlight."
Aerin hated herself for ruining the moment, saying something that abruptly ends a pleasant atmosphere. It 's like she threw a bucket of cold water on a warm, cozy fire. But Heeseung clutched her a little tighter, and Aerin felt his heart beating steadily with her.
"I kinda expected it somehow. Do your thing, baby. I know you love you writing but please don't smash me again."
His laugh sounded normal but Aerin can hear the dragging, upset sigh that comes after his words. Thinking about the things that's to come about, she was coated with fears she cannot define. The sweet escape comes with a price, it's hefty, getting her emotions off the walls.
"Babe?"
"Hmmm?"
"This is the best moment of my life. I'll remember this forever."
Aerin sounded so downcast and gloomy. Heeseung's can easily feel the heaviness of her heart and he can clearly understand the disheartening, for he also feels the same. 
Heeseung replied by kissing her hair. The love he got for Aerin, is a love came out of nowhere, hitting his heart with an unexpected force, like get struck by an arrow when you least expect it. It's more deep in any level, more than the first love. It's not immature nor just plain infatuation, but like a fall that he never want to stop.
"Even if we are back to our normal lives, nothing will change. I promise you."
Aerin wasn't a fan of such promises, for her past experiences taught her that promises are meant to be broken, not fulfilled. But in the arms of Heeseung, she wanted another try. Maybe, just maybe, her frame of mind about assurances will have a change of course.
She buried her face in his chest while clasping him tightly. Smelling his natural male scent, sparkly with a bit of spicy, sends invigorating warmth across her skin. For a while, she wished for the world to stop rotating, stop the night from chasing the day, just stop everything except to breathe. In that nick of time, she wanted nothing but to drown in euphoria.
"Do you want ramyeon?" she wonderly hushed.
Heeseung's chest wavered, in giggles and thrills. That direct provocation stunned him instantly.
"What's next to ramyeon?" he giggly asked.
"Ah. You and your depraved mind, Lee Heeseung." Aerin shakes her head in disbelief.
"I can't help it. You're taking all of my smell and you asked me if I want ramyeon. In K-dramas, ramyeon is next to--"
"Oh, God. I dont want to suggest it sexually. I--I just want to eat to fight the sleepiness--"
"Just kidding. You're just too cute when you're blushing. But can I--" Heeseung stopped and caressed the outlines of her mouth. "Can I kiss you until the morning comes?"
Aerin smiled, the uncertainty fades with Heeseung's pouting lips she always craves. "Kiss me, yes. But 'till morning? Do you want your lips to puff?!" she laughs.
Men are not born soft and supple but Aerin's laugh suprisingly creates a warm throb in his heart. Being with her is some kind of utopia, an ideal paradise where everything exist is perfection. He kissed her, passionately, and hell, he don't want to stop. For sooner or later, it'll be over. He'll miss her, intensely, more like he never imagined it to be.
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Four weeks have passed with a blink of an eye. The empty dorms was back to it's normal shape, with the members one by one arriving within the day. Heeseung made it before the day ends, charged up and all smiles with happy memories of him and Aerin inside his mind. He stopped when he gets to open the door. The other six members are all complete in his living unit.
"Why is everyone in here? Aren't you three on the other dorm?" he asked, referring to Jungwon, Jake and Sunoo.
"Yuki called us up to gather here." Jake answered.
"Glad you're here now, Hee. These two are not in speaking terms." Jay cuts in.
"Who?" Heeseung asked again and was more confused.
"Won and Hoon." Sunoo answered. "Ya, whatever it is, can you two just reconcile? We're doing recordings starting tomorrow. I don't want any awkward mood inside this team."
"Tell that to your very good leader." Sunghoon snapped.
"Why? What happened? Didn't you two spent the break together?" Heeseung's hyung card begins to kick in.
"Sunghoon Hyung--" Jungwon attempted to speak but was cut short by the loud bang of the opened door.
All eyes were on Yuki and his expression wasn't the one that they're expecting to see. He is fuming and in an obvious manner looks so morose. He looked at them all, one by one, before he laid his spiteful eyes on Lee Heeseung.
"What the hell, Hee?" he said it soft but it creates terror in everyone's veins.
Heeseung gulped hard. Something about Yuki's stare is telling him he got another blow. He got a hunch and didn't expect it will cause a downright fright in his whole system. Heeseung prepared himself for the disclosure as Yuki throwed the rocking statement in the air.
"You got yourself dispatched with Choi Aerin."
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