Page 77 of GR8VITY

I flick my eyes over to Kyung just as Seong Su finally looks up, but not at her. He glances at In Se. "Go get it out of my room. The picks are in my desk drawer."

In Se jumps up like someone set his pants on fire and runs off. She tries to talk them out of it, repeating that she hasn't played in years and probably doesn't even remember how to, but Seong Su doesn't let her off the hook with that excuse.

"Depending on how long you played," he says, "you don't really forget. It's kind of like muscle memory."

About this time, In Se practically runs back into the room, handing her the guitar and pick. She takes it from him with a grumble. "I cannot believe I'm going to do this."

She finally looks at Seong Su. "Do you care if I tune it?"

He smiles. "Go ahead."

After a few seconds, she strums the strings a few times, then immediately starts the tune of a song we're all familiar with. It's been kind of a jam from her country for years and years. If I'm not mistaken, one of us even sang it one time, but I can't recall where or who it was. Then she starts to sing. Her voice is perfect and in tune. She has Seong Su's undivided attention now. He's even set his tablet between us on the couch. When it ends, we all clap, making her blush and cover her face with one hand.

"Will you play another one?" Dav En asks, he and Yoon Ji shifting their bodies to be closer to her. In Se, who'd sat on the floor beside him when he handed the guitar off, does the same.

She's looking down at them with a smile, shaking her head. "Fine. One more, but that's it. This one is a little more rock, but it's fun to play."

When her hand starts strumming the strings again, she is right, it's harder than the first one, but she still doesn't miss a single chord. I let my eyes wander over my members. All of them sitting in complete awe of this beautiful, talented woman. Especially Kyung. I can see exactly what people mean when they say someone has stars in their eyes, because that is Kyung right now in the way that he watches her play.

Dav En pops up on his knees as the song ends. "One more, please. You can have any favor you want."

"You're insatiable," she says, making his forehead crease because he probably doesn't know that word. He doesn't care, though, since she starts to play.

She's halfway through the song before I see the change come over her in the way that her smile fades and her shoulders drop. When it's over, she hands the guitar over to In Se with a tight smile. "I'll be right back. I need some water. Singing made my throat dry."

I look over at Kyung who is peering at Seong Su, probably to see if he's going to go after her.

"You hurt her feelings," I tell him.

Seong Su's head turns my way in surprise. "How? I didn't do anything."

"You flinched away from her like you do us," I explain softly.

Realization dawns on his face, and he cringes before standing up to follow her steps out of the room.

LIZ

I don't know why I agreed to do that. It was so stupid. I should've just left it at the first, or even the second song. Playing that song was just dumb. Tears slip down my cheeks as I look out the little window above the sink and take a sip of my water. Arms go around me as a body presses me into the sink and a head falls on my shoulder.

"I'm so sorry," Seong murmurs into my ear. "I don't mean to pull away like that. I'm so used to doing it with the others that it was just an automatic reaction. You're more than welcome to hug and kiss me anytime you want. Next time, because I'm sure it'll happen, do it anyway. I promise you I won't be mad. I just get lost in what I'm doing sometimes."

"That's not why I'm upset," I try to explain. That did hurt and didn't make these feelings any better, but I tell him. "That song was my omma's favorite. I used to play it for her all the time."

"Mmm," he replies with his face still next to my ear. "Can I have that hug now?"

I huff out a laugh. "You want it now that crying has my face all messed up?"

His lips brush my ear and his warm breath blows against it as he says, "You're still as beautiful as ever."

Turning in his arms, I wrap mine around his waist and lay my head against his chest. "Thank you for the books."

"Mmm," he repeats, the sound vibrating from his chest into mine.

I lift my chin to kiss the bottom of his neck and a line up to his cheek before finding his lips. As soon as they touch, he takes over. His kiss is rough and soothing all at the same time. My hands slip to his sides where I hang on as he presses his body against me until I don't know where I start and he ends.

Pulling away, he presses a small kiss on the tip of my nose. "Stay with me tonight?"

"Yes," I whisper, earning me another kiss.