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Noona, are you coming tonight?

[Sent 13:32]

I replied in English, knowing it would auto-translate on his side. His English reading was, perhaps, worse than my Hangul.

Me

I don’t think so. I’m having dinner with Becka.

Ace

Becka! Bring her!

[Sent 13:35]

Me

Is that allowed?

Ace

Hahaahahaahaha

[Sent 13:39]

Ace

Do it anyway.

[Sent 13:40]

I giggled, Ace’s mischief contagious even through a screen. Becka looked up and frowned. “What’s so funny?”

“Wanna come out to dinner tonight? It’s on GVibes?” I waggled my eyebrows at her.

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” Becka gaped, staring up at the imposing stone facade. The artfully concealed lighting gave the impression of a fashion show, right down to the red carpet leading to the massive front doors.

I laughed and linked my arm with Becka’s as we walked towards Emporia.

“Why didn’t you tell me the party was here?”

“Honestly, I kind of wanted to see the look on your face,” I admitted with a grin. “You have not disappointed.”

Becka rolled her eyes, clearly fighting a smile as we approached the front of the building.

We gave the name of our party to the hostess, and we were led upstairs. The inside of Emporia looked almost identical to the last – and only – time I’d been here. It felt a little like walking into a memory. I was even dressed similarly – a black dress and heels I wouldn’t be able to walk in by the end of the night.

Even the layout of the room looked the same, right down to the four or five large banquet tables spread out across the space, filled with various members of the tour. Crew, managers, dancers and a few locals, so Becka’s presence wasn’t entirely unusual. I knew Harlow had been invited but she hadn’t been able to make it.

We were seated at a table with others from the media team, and I made introductions between Becka and those of them who spoke English. As we were talking, I looked up and there he was.

Jihoon. He was sitting at another table across from us, and he was looking at me. When my eyes met his, he didn’t try to pretend he hadn’t been staring. His lips curved, giving his expression a softness that made my stomach flutter. I didn’t look away. Didn’t try to pretend I wasn’t staring right back, but then the people in between us shifted, and my view of him was obstructed. I leaned back in my seat, blowing out a breath.

I barely paid any attention to whatever food was served over the next couple of hours. I couldn’t not glance over to him, and it was like a victory every time I caught him looking away, because it gave me licence to stare. To notice all the little expressions he made when he talked to someone, and to guess what he was feeling from the ways his face changed. I allowed myself this, and it felt like inhaling deeply after holding my breath for a long time.

“He keeps staring at you,” Becka whispered some time later, leaning in close to me.

I fought to keep my face blank. “He’s probably just staring into space,” I murmured, turning my face discreetly towards her.