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The dress clung to Seulgi in a way that made her hyper-aware of her own skin. It was off-shoulder, short, something she wouldn’t usually pick for herself. But it wasn’t hers to begin with.
It was Jaeyi’s.
She hadn’t planned on wearing it, but when they were getting ready at Jaeyi’s house, Jaeyi had simply tossed it onto the bed and said, “Wear this.”
Seulgi had scoffed, ready to refuse, but Jaeyi was already busy slipping into her own outfit, not even waiting for a protest.
So Seulgi had worn it.
And now, standing in line outside the nightclub, she could feel Jaeyi’s gaze flicker over her, sharp and unreadable. She knew what Jaeyi had noticed—the faint, circular burn mark near her collarbone. A remnant of a cigar pressed against her skin long ago. It had healed, but it never faded.
Seulgi shifted, pretending not to feel the weight of Jaeyi’s attention.
The line moved forward, and they were let in without trouble—until Kyung got stopped.
Seulgi turned just in time to see Jaeyi double back, eyes narrowing slightly at the bouncer.
Jaeyi sighed. She turned back and slid beside Kyung.
“Oppa, look,” she said, her voice smooth, coaxing. Then she reached up and plucked the glasses off Kyung’s face. “It’s because of the glasses.”
The bouncer hesitated, looking between them.
Jaeyi tilted her head, giving him a look like she couldn’t believe he was making her waste her breath.
The bouncer exhaled sharply, then waved them in.
Seulgi barely had time to process the interaction before Jaeyi was brushing past her again, moving with purpose. The neon lights above cast sharp, fleeting shadows over her face. She didn’t look back.
With a quiet sigh, Seulgi followed.
The inside was worse. The scent of alcohol was overwhelming, and people pressed too close, their movements unsteady, liquid spilling over the rims of their glasses as they weaved between each other. Seulgi, unfamiliar with the chaos of a place like this, moved too slowly—her shoulder bumped into someone, then another, and another.
She barely had time to react before Jaeyi’s hand slid around her waist.
Seulgi stiffened, but Jaeyi didn’t seem to notice. With a firm grip, she pulled Seulgi flush against her side, maneuvering them deeper into the club like it was second nature.
The heat of Jaeyi’s palm burned through the fabric of Seulgi’s shirt. The touch wasn’t hesitant, wasn’t something to brace for—it was steady, grounding.
Seulgi swallowed, letting herself be pulled in.
The air was thick with sweat, alcohol, and cigarette smoke, but none of it mattered to Jaeyi. Her focus was razor-sharp.
She held onto Seulgi’s waist as they navigated through the crowd, keeping her close so she wouldn’t get jostled too much. Kyung trailed behind them, hands shoved in her pockets, eyes scanning the room.
Jaeyi’s grip tightened on the small packet in her pocket. It was almost funny. If someone had told her months ago that she’d be here, doing this, she wouldn’t have believed them. But this was about Jena. That was the only thing that mattered.
They reached the hallway leading to the bathrooms, dimly lit and quieter than the rest of the club. Jaeyi turned to Seulgi and Kyung. “I’ll drop the stuff off. You two look around. See if anyone looks suspicious or if anyone’s paying too much attention to us.”
Kyung gave her a sharp nod before heading off. Seulgi lingered for a second longer. “Are you sure about this?”
Jaeyi exhaled through her nose. “It’s the only lead we have.”
Seulgi didn’t look convinced, but she didn’t argue. She just watched as Jaeyi turned and disappeared into the women’s bathroom.
Inside, the air was cooler, the pounding of the music muffled by the walls. Jaeyi locked herself in one of the stalls, lifted the lid of the toilet tank, and dropped the small package inside.
She stepped out, washing her hands just for something to do, then left without a second glance.
Now, all they had to do was wait.
⸻
Thirty minutes passed. Then forty.
Jaeyi’s phone buzzed.
She grabbed it, pulse quickening as she opened the message.
Pleasure doing business with you.
That was it.
No location. No name. No Jena.
Jaeyi’s grip on her phone tightened. She turned on her heel, shoving through the crowd, barely hearing the music anymore. She reached the bathroom in seconds, stormed inside, and pushed open the stall door.
The tank was empty.
Her hands curled into fists.
Gone. The drugs were gone.
Her stomach twisted, fury bubbling up beneath her skin. She’d been tricked. Used.
Jena was still nowhere to be found.
Something hot and frustrated burned in her chest as she left the bathroom, her steps automatic as she made her way to the bar.
She needed a drink.
Seulgi had been circling the club, keeping an eye out for anything suspicious. She didn’t like the way Jaeyi had gone into this alone, didn’t like the way this whole thing felt wrong.
And then she saw her.
Jaeyi, sitting at the bar, fingers curled around a glass, her shoulders tense beneath the dim glow of the neon lights.
Something wasn’t right.
Seulgi moved toward her, weaving through the crowd. As she got closer, her gaze caught on Jaeyi’s phone, still lit up on the counter.
A message.
Pleasure doing business with you.
That was all it said.
Seulgi’s breath stilled.
She didn’t need to ask. She already knew.
They’d been tricked.
Her stomach twisted as she slid onto the barstool beside Jaeyi.
“You shouldn’t be drinking,” she murmured, her voice barely cutting through the heavy bass of the music.
Jaeyi didn’t even look at her. “Why not?”
Seulgi’s jaw clenched. She reached for Jaeyi’s phone, turning the screen toward her. “Because this isn’t helping.”
Jaeyi finally looked at her then, something dull and exhausted in her expression. “And what will?”
Seulgi had no answer.
Jaeyi let out a slow breath and took another sip. “I should’ve known.” Her voice was quiet, almost resigned. “People like that? They don’t keep their word.”
Seulgi felt something sharp twist inside her.
“I keep trying,” Jaeyi muttered. “And it’s never enough.”
Seulgi swallowed.
Then, without thinking, she reached out.
Her hand covered Jaeyi’s, firm and steady. Grounding.
Jaeyi blinked, her gaze flicking to their hands.
She didn’t pull away.
Seulgi gave Jaeyi’s hand a small squeeze before letting go. “Stay here,” she said. “I’ll go find Kyung so we can get out of here.”
Jaeyi didn’t respond, just took another slow sip of her drink. Seulgi hesitated for a second longer, like she wanted to say something else, but eventually, she turned and disappeared into the crowd.
Jaeyi exhaled, rolling the glass between her fingers. The alcohol was settling in, making everything feel hazy, slow. She kept her gaze on Seulgi, watching as she maneuvered through the packed club, scanning the crowd for Kyung.
And then she saw it.
A stranger—some girl—stepping into Seulgi’s path.
Jaeyi narrowed her eyes.
The girl was pretty. Dressed in something tight and short, confidence in the way she carried herself. She leaned in, said something close to Seulgi’s ear.
Seulgi tilted her head, listening.
Jaeyi’s grip on her glass tightened.
She knew this scene. She’d seen it before—people drawn to Seulgi like moths to a flame. And Seulgi, with her sharp edges and quiet confidence, never really pushed them away.
Jaeyi’s jaw clenched as the girl placed a hand on Seulgi’s arm, nails trailing lightly against the skin.
Seulgi didn’t react at first. Just gave a polite, unreadable smile. But Jaeyi knew her well enough by now—she could see the slight stiffness in her shoulders, the way her fingers twitched like she wanted to pull away but didn’t want to make a scene.
Something ugly twisted inside Jaeyi.
She set her drink down a little too hard.
Before she could think twice, she was already moving.
Jaeyi slipped into the space between them with a quiet kind of confidence, her fingers curling around Seulgi’s wrist like she belonged there.
“She’s not interested,” Jaeyi said coolly, her voice carrying easily over the music.
The girl blinked, clearly taken aback. Seulgi, too, was momentarily stunned.
Jaeyi wasn’t like this.
But then Seulgi saw it—the glassiness in Jaeyi’s eyes, the flush creeping down her neck. The way her grip on Seulgi’s wrist was just a little too tight.
She’d had too much.
Seulgi exhaled, leaning in close. “We should go somewhere quieter,” she murmured, voice low, coaxing.
Jaeyi stiffened. “I’m fine.”
Seulgi didn’t buy it.
The way Jaeyi had just thrown herself into this moment, unthinking, impulsive—it wasn’t like her. It was the alcohol talking, the frustration of the night bubbling over.
Still, Jaeyi didn’t move.
Seulgi glanced at the girl Jaeyi had just interrupted. The stranger was still watching, amused now, like she was waiting to see how this played out.
That decided it for Seulgi.
Without another word, she wrapped an arm around Jaeyi’s waist, pulling her in. “Come on,” she said, firm but gentle.
Jaeyi resisted for half a second before relenting, her body leaning into Seulgi’s like it was the easiest thing in the world.
Seulgi guided her away from the pounding music, away from the stares, away from whatever had made Jaeyi act like this in the first place.
Jaeyi tugged at Seulgi’s grip, trying to turn back. “We should wait for Kyung at the bar.”
Seulgi shook her head, guiding her toward the exit instead. “If it comes to that, Kyung can go home by herself.”
Jaeyi let out a sharp laugh, her smirk curling at the edges. “Look at you,” she mused. “So decisive all of a sudden.”
Seulgi ignored her, pushing the club doors open and stepping into the cool night air. The contrast was jarring—the bass-heavy music now muffled, the sharp bite of the wind sobering.
Jaeyi sighed, stuffing a hand in her pocket. “You’re no fun.”
Seulgi glanced at her just in time to see her pull out a cigarette.
Jaeyi barely had time to light it before Seulgi plucked it from her fingers and tossed it away.
Jaeyi’s expression darkened, her mouth parting as if she were about to snap, but then her gaze flickered down—landing on the old burn near Seulgi’s collarbone.
She hesitated.
The tension deflated slightly.
Jaeyi looked away first, inhaling deeply, as if grounding herself. “You really can’t help yourself, huh?”
Seulgi leaned against the wall, watching her. “What’s gotten into you tonight?”
Jaeyi scoffed, shaking her head. “Nothing. Just a waste of a trip, that’s all.”
Seulgi hummed. She didn’t believe that for a second.
Jaeyi’s jaw tensed, but she wouldn’t meet her eyes. Instead, she exhaled slowly, running a hand through her hair.
“Was it about earlier?” Seulgi asked, watching closely. “The girl?”
Jaeyi stilled for a fraction of a second.
Then, she smirked, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Why? What do I care about her?”
Seulgi tilted her head, considering her. Then she did something she rarely ever did.
She reached out.
One slow, deliberate movement—her arms curling around Jaeyi’s waist, pulling her in.
Jaeyi stiffened instantly.
Seulgi felt the hesitation in the way Jaeyi’s hands twitched at her sides, resisting.
But Seulgi didn’t let go.
She didn’t say anything either. Just held her there, quiet, steady.
Jaeyi was still tense in her arms, like she wasn’t sure if she should allow herself to relax. Seulgi felt it—the hesitation, the way Jaeyi’s fingers twitched slightly at her sides, like she was debating whether to push her away or pull her closer.
Seulgi swallowed. She wasn’t good at this. At talking. At knowing what to say. But she could feel the weight pressing down on Jaeyi, the frustration radiating from her in quiet waves. She wanted to ease it, somehow.
Her hand slid up Jaeyi’s back, fingertips brushing the nape of her neck. “I—” Seulgi started, then faltered. “I mean, it’s… it’s okay.”
Jaeyi didn’t move.
Seulgi tried again. “It wasn’t your fault.”
A sharp exhale. “I know that,” Jaeyi muttered, but there was no real bite in her voice.
Seulgi frowned, tightening her hold. “I just—I mean, it’s not like you could’ve known they’d run off with the drugs.”
Jaeyi let out something between a scoff and a laugh, her breath warm against Seulgi’s shoulder. “Wow. Really comforting, Seulgi. Great job.”
Seulgi made a face, cheeks burning. “That’s not—I didn’t mean it like that.”
Jaeyi hummed, amused despite herself.
Seulgi huffed, determined. “I just meant that… it sucks, yeah. And maybe you feel like shit about it, and you’re pissed, and you should be. But…” She hesitated, then sighed. “I don’t know. I just don’t want you to think you’re alone in this.”
Jaeyi didn’t respond. But the tension in her shoulders slowly eased.
Seulgi felt it when Jaeyi’s fingers finally curled slightly at her waist, gripping the fabric of Seulgi’s borrowed dress. Not pushing away. Not pulling closer. Just holding on.
Jaeyi shifted slightly, her forehead now resting against Seulgi’s neck. “You’re bad at this,” she murmured.
Seulgi sighed. “I know.”
Jaeyi was quiet for a moment, then, so softly it almost got lost in the night air, she muttered, “Just don’t do that again.”
Seulgi frowned. “Do what?”
Jaeyi’s hands curled slightly into the fabric of Seulgi’s dress. “Let other people think they can have you.”
Seulgi’s breath hitched. She hadn’t expected Jaeyi to admit it—to actually say it out loud.
“You were jealous,” Seulgi said, testing the words, tasting them.
Jaeyi stiffened, then let out a sharp scoff. “Obviously.”
Seulgi bit back a smile.
Jaeyi pulled back slightly to look at her, something stubborn in the set of her mouth. “I don’t like sharing.”
Seulgi’s heart did something weird in her chest.
She swallowed. “You don’t have to.”
Jaeyi’s lips parted slightly, as if surprised by that.
Seulgi could feel her pulse picking up, could feel the warmth between them, and she wondered if Jaeyi could feel it too.
Jaeyi’s fingers, still curled into Seulgi’s dress, twitched.
For a moment, it looked like she wanted to say something—something sharp, something teasing, something that would deflect.
But she didn’t.
Instead, she sighed, letting her weight sink fully into Seulgi’s arms.
Seulgi held her a little tighter.
Neither of them were good with words.
But this—this they understood.
They stood there like that, the city buzzing around them, the club’s neon lights flickering against the pavement.
And then—
“Okay, what the fuck.”
Kyung’s voice cut through the quiet.
Jaeyi groaned, her forehead pressing against Seulgi’s shoulder. “Not now.”
But Seulgi just laughed, arms still wrapped securely around Jaeyi.
…
The taxi ride was quiet, the city lights flickering past the windows in a blur. Jaeyi was pressed against Seulgi’s side, warm and drowsy, her head resting on Seulgi’s shoulder.
Kyung, sitting in the front seat, glanced at them through the rearview mirror before raising an eyebrow. “So… are you two together now?”
“Yes,” Jaeyi said without hesitation.
“No,” Seulgi said at the same time.
Kyung blinked. “Uh.”
Seulgi turned her head slightly to look at Jaeyi, who, despite her firm answer, didn’t even bother lifting her head.
“Jaeyi.”
“Hm?”
“We’re not together.”
Jaeyi finally tilted her chin up, meeting Seulgi’s eyes. There was something playful there, but also something stubborn. “Aren’t we?”
Seulgi opened her mouth, then closed it.
Kyung let out a low whistle. “Damn. That’s awkward.”
“Shut up, Kyung,” they both said at the same time.
Kyung snorted and leaned back in his seat. “You guys are exhausting.”
Jaeyi hummed, content. “She’s mine,” she murmured sleepily, nuzzling into Seulgi’s neck.
Seulgi sighed, feeling her ears heat up.
She didn’t agree.
But she didn’t push Jaeyi away either.