“There’s only one thing I want,jagiya,” he said, shaking his head ruefully.
“Ah, don’t tell me!” I held a hand up to the camera, as if I could somehow push it through the plastic device to slap over his mouth.
“It’s supposed to be a secret, or it won’t come true!”
He rolled his eyes but obliged.
“Anyway,” I said, pushing down my nerves and standing up, “would it look a little something like this?”
I saw his eyebrows draw together as he watched me, and then his face transformed into something a little less confused as I pulled off my dress to reveal a lace-edged, matching set of lingerie. I’d bought it on impulse, not really knowing when I’d bother wearing it – it was absolutely not the kind of underwear I’d wear on a casual day. But for right now, on my boyfriend’s birthday… I’d wear it.
His jaw fell slack.
“Cheonsa,” he groaned, eyes glued to the screen, and I giggled.
I still felt awkward, but his reaction helped. I gave a little twirl, showing him the cute little heart-shaped cutout on the back. He groaned again.
When–
“Hyung,” said a voice, followed by a stream of Korean so fast I couldn’t catch a word before Sungmin came into view.
What followed would have qualified as a comedy sketch had it happened to anyone else.
Sungmin, obviously catching sight of me, semi-nude, on Jihoon’s frankly massive computer monitors, screeched to a stop, halting in his tracks so violently it was like watching him crash into an invisible wall. He seemed to bounce off thin air, tripping backwards. He fell on his arse with a gasp so audible it seemed to echo around my bedroom, even as a strangled cry escaped me.
I tried to duck out of sight, but with my computer set up opposite my bed, there was no where to go. So, I did the only thing I could think of in my panicked state.
I launched myself across the bed like a marine throwing themselves onto a live grenade, sliding across the cotton sheets and tumbling down onto the other side of the bed in a muddle of arms and legs.
I popped my head up, crouching behind the bed like a groundhog checking for Spring. I could just about make out the scenes of absolute chaos on my laptop. Jihoon seemed to be beating Sungmin with a pillow, while Sungmin seemed to be trying to claw himself out of Jihoon’s room.
I watched in growing detachment, listening to the tinny sounds of their fight and the unmistakable sound of Sungmin laughing, and apologising repeatedly, growing higher and higher in pitch until – eventually, and out of frame – I heard the door slam.
Something in me snapped; the line between mortification and amusement blurred, and I laughed until I was nearly sick, doubled up over the side of the bed.
It was several minutes before I was able to emerge, reclaim my dress off the floor – not my dignity, never again my dignity – and cover myself.
Jihoon was still out of shot, loud shouts in the distance telling me the commotion had moved into the main living area, and by the sounds of it, now included other members of GVibes. Probably wondering why Joon was beating Sungmin senseless.
By the time he came back, I was sitting on my bed with my laptop on my legs.
Jihoon slumped into his chair, looking dishevelled, and more than a little flushed.
“Ky, I am so sorry,” he started, “I should have locked the door. If I had known–”
“That I was going to strip for you?” I raised one eyebrow, smirking.
Jihoon groaned, dragging a hand down his face.
“I’m going to go beat Sungmin again.” He got up from his chair, and I burst out laughing.
“Stop, stop!” I cried, giggles spilling over my words.
He sat down. “He stole my birthday present,” Joon grumbled. “I will not forgive him.”
“Your present is still here,” I said coyly at the same time as I pulled the strap of my dress down, revealing one side of my lacy, and wholly unpractical, bra.
His gaze zeroed in with hungry precision, and for a moment I wondered if this brief glimpse was worse than having nothing at all. I pushed the thought away. This wasn’t forever. In fact, maybe it wouldn’t even be for much longer.
