Aeri hated crowded places; it had never been her thing. She enjoyed staying at home and reading books. The kind with yearning glances and slow-burn. This party was nothing like this; people were shouting over bad music, it smelled of alcohol, and everything was too much. She didn’t even know whose beach house this was. She only came because Minjeong begged. Again.
She slipped out onto the back deck, where the air was still thick with salt and humidity but at least quiet. The wooden planks were warm beneath her bare feet, and the ocean was just a few steps away. Aeri leaned against the railing and took a deep breath.
She shifted uncomfortably when she felt someone staring at her, running a hand through her brown hair.
“Didn’t take you for the shy type,” an amused voice said behind her.
She turned, already bracing herself to be annoyed.
The girl standing a few feet away had a drink in one hand and the kind of smile that made Aeri’s throat go dry. Her ginger hair looked effortless, her skin glowed from the night’s heat, and her dark eyes sparkled with mischief.
Aeri blinked. “I’m not shy.”
“Sure,” the girl said, stepping closer, one slow step at a time. “That’s why you’re out here alone while everyone else is out there.”
“I just needed air,” Aeri replied, but it wasn't very convincing.
The ginger-haired woman tilted her head. “Air, huh? Or maybe you just haven’t found anyone worth staying with?”
Aeri hated how easily her stomach flipped at that. She looked away, staring at the waves crashing.
“You always this hard to read?” the girl asked teasingly.
“Are you always this forward?” Aeri countered.
“Only when it’s worth it.” The girl stepped up beside her, leaning her elbows on the railing. She kept staring. “I’m Yunjin, by the way.”
Aeri nodded and smiled shyly. “I’m Aeri.”
Yunjin smiled like she already knew it. “Pretty name for a pretty girl.”
Aeri turned her head, finally meeting her gaze full on. Her cheeks were now tinted with a light red.
“You keep looking at my lips,” Yunjin said suddenly.
Aeri flushed and frowned. “I wasn’t.”
“You were.” Yunjin’s grin widened. “Look again. You’re missing the best part.”
Aeri simply rolled her eyes, pretending to be annoyed, when in reality, she wasn’t. She was not used to getting hit on by pretty girls; it was usually lame guys who just wanted to hook up with her.
Yunjin slowly took a sip from her cup, her lips glossy with alcohol. When she lowered the cup, her gaze fell on Aeri's lips, who felt as if the air had warmed up by 30 degrees.
“Want a sip?” Yunjin asked, holding the cup out to her. “Or are you the type to not share drinks with strangers?”
“You’re right, I don’t usually take drinks from strangers,” Aeri bit the inside of her cheek.
Yunjin closed the gap between them; there was barely a meter between them now. “Then let me fix that,” She smirked and extended her hand. “Hi. I’m Huh Yunjin, 23 years old. I’m not a stranger anymore.”
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