stardust | park seonghwa - Chapter 19: Chapter 19

"MAKE IT A BIT QUIETER!" Yeosang's voice booms, breaking me from my train of thoughts. "NO NEED TO RUB YOUR HONEY BOO-BOO'S PRESENT IN MY FACE!"
I'm back in my sucky apartment room, Yeosang somewhere in the flat and maybe whipping something up in the kitchen (to which I should really keep an eye on) but I'm staring at the ceiling instead. I keep my mind occupied with the instruments of 'the Colours of You: Aldebaran', Seognhwa's little album he gifted me. All five songs I've memorised by heart, Aristrocrat still being my favourite. It brings me back the feelings that washed over me when he first gave it... it makes me giddy and happy inside.
Today was New Year's Eve and as the clock gets closer to 3 pm, I start to feel a churn in the pit of my stomach. There was this party Wooyoung had invited me to, said it was one of our English classmates which I barely pay attention to. And the party was nearing sunset time until... who knows what time.
As much I wanted to decline the invitation, Wooyoung reminded me of the one time I owed him a favour and that it will really come in handy for tonight.
But Seonghwa wouldn't be there, the silver haired told me. And a part of me wilt in disappointment when I heard him say that. Wooyoung didn't tell me exactly why, but San will try to make it in his place... if he's bored enough. Parties like these make me think twice, though. I'm not an anti for it - in fact, I love them. The energy of lots and lots of people gathering in one place givees me a nice feeling and I love being part of that but there are things I need to be careful of. However, if Wooyoung tells me San will likely show up, I can breathe a little easier.
"For Goodness' sake, Hyeshin, if I hear his voice one last time I swear, I will throw your phone out the window!" my best friend screeches as he burst into the room, in his hand a frying pan and the other a spatula.
Chuckling, I get up from my bed. "You're just jealous," I say teasingly, pushing my index finger on to his forehead.
"Exactly what I'm saying!" he cries, following me back into the kitchen. "Nobody was sappy enough to give me a sappy gift."
"Nobody did, did they? How about Yunho, did he give you anything?"
Yeosang scoffs, amused. "Funnily enough, yeah."
"What?"
"A mocha on the house," he answers, flailing his spatula in the air once he's set the pan down on the stove. "What kind of gift is that? We're friends now, and I gave him an apron! A custom one! With his name on it!"
I let a snicker escape my lips. "At least he got you something."
Yeosang clicks his tongue, shoulders slumping a little as he flips whatever he's cooking on that pan. "I need a boyfriend," he muses.
"You're extremely lonely," I add on.
"Unfortunately."
Then an idea popped into my head. "Sang, Wooyoung invited me to a party... let's go boyfriend hunting!" I suggest excitedly, hopes rising at the thought of actually going there with someone I know that wont leave me behind like a lost dog.
"What? Tonight?"
"Yeah? You were planning on staying the night here, so might as well,"
My best friend stands there, back turned to me as he thinks hard, whilst trying not to burn his cooking. I watch him, eyes full of hope, wanting to go as to keep my promise to Wooyoung but if he doesn't want to then, I'll have to make myself comfortable in my room.
Finally, Yeosang turns to me. My eyes light up.
"No."
But he ends up coming with me anyway.
Yeosang is blabbering in the seat next to me, eyes focused on the road as we pass by houses in the neighbourhood. He's still pissy, having to change out of his comfortable house clothes into the more 'party-ready' ones. Yeosang would've looked good in his faded out band t-shirt and shorts anyway but him in an all black outfit with all the chain hype he's been talking about... yeah, he's probably doing this to get laid tonight.
After all, he said he was only here for eye-candy and I was surprisingly okay with it, just as long as he doesn't wander off without telling me.
"At exactly what time is this party starting?" Yeosang asks.
"Oh it started an hour ago, you were just being petty about which pants to wear," I say in a matter-of-factly way.
"I had to look good, okay?" he reasons, "if I'm going to do this, I'm going to do it with style."
That resulted in me to roll my eyes. "Whatever."
We walk side by side as we approach the source of blaring music. The house was definitely big and considering we've passed a few more houses lit up in neon lights just before, maybe this area was used to the life of the party. It was surrounded by a towering line of hedge, protecting the area inside but the noise wasn't all kept inside.
The gates are pushed open and immediately, it smelled strongly of alcohol, and sweat, and grilled barbecues and I can almost feel the heat of the atmosphere seeping through the outside walls of the house. Yeosang chuckles, looking at our surroundings.
"You're driving us home," he tells me, slipping his car keys into my back pocket and walks off.
"Yeosang!"
As I (half) expected, as soon as we get in, Yeosang heads straight for the drinks and all I can do is breathe in deeply and watch him with tired eyes. He does turn back though, just to look at me and mouth "have fun" and he lets loose to the music.
Sighing, I follow him and pour myself a cup of coke instead and let my eyes scan the room from the top of my eyelashes. The speakers are playing songs from earlier in the year and as it continues to play the playlist, more recent songs ring in my ears. It's not dark, but the lights are dimmed and stick-on neon lights line the ceiling. Everyone seems to be having a great time as they wait for the New Year to come. From the corners of my eyes, I see a couple of people making out in the shadows - I grimace. The dance floor, or what seems like it, was surrounded by a crowd and there's probably a dance-off going on judging from how everyone was hooting and hyping it up.
My eyes wonder the room to see if Wooyoung was around, standing on my tip toes for a better view. Which probably doesn't make a big difference, considering his size compared to all these people. Usually, Wooyoung's bright silver hair would stand out but under these lights, it was harder to see as they blend right into the crowd. That familiar glint of silver completely vanishes, camouflaging in the sea of bodies.
I was just about to take another sip of my coke when a person slides next to me, their perfume mixed with the familiar scent of alcohol strong in my senses. I freeze.
"Jeon Hyeshin," her voice speaks, honey-dripping, sugar-coated.
Introducing Hwang Yeji - everyone's perfect daydream, everyone's worst nightmare. She was beautiful, probably the prettiest girl I've ever seen. Her special talent? Getting people wrapped around her fingers, her smooth talk, and very, very persuasive. As I said, she was beautiful. Her signature cat-like eyes, sharp and hypnotising, her long deep red hair would glow in the sun and her figure was one to die for. Boys and girls alike fall at her feet, she was captivating, addictive, alluring.
My breath hitches at my throat when I feel her stepping closer to me, leaning herself on an arm rested on the top of the table next to us. She looks at me, eyes boring into mine, head tilted and making the glitter underneath her tear ducts glimmer under the bright lights. Yeji's sparkly dress hike up her thighs, the leather jacket wrapped around her shoulders slipping when she leans even closer to me... I want to be swallowed in a hole and never come out.
"How nice to finally see you here," she continues, her voice smooth and almost dreamy. "Thought you weren't into parties since senior year?"
Hwang Yeji was dangerous.
The only reasonable thing I can do is tear my gaze away from her, feeling my face heat up at our close distance. But she presses in closer, so close I can feel her breath at the base of my neck.
"Oh, darling, don't look away," Yeji coos, placing a hand on my cheek to make me look back at her. "You look incredible tonight."
I feel her hand running up my leg, slowly, making the hairs on the back of my neck stand. She was magical, I almost give in to her actions as I bite my bottom lip.
"Not now, Yeji," I finally hear myself say, swatting her hand away from me.
Think of Seonghwa, think of Seonghwa, think of Seonghwa.
Yeji lets out a melodious laugh, head tilting back before looking at me through her hooded eyes. "It's going to be the New Year's... let's start it with a little bit of fun, huh?"
At that, my heart pounds in my ears. I need to get away.
"Seonghwa's not here, isn't he?" she adds, voice almost in a purr in my ears.
I place my hand on her arm and push her back when she gets much, much closer until her scent is all that I can smell. It's almost dizzying, filling up my mind like a strong potion, almost having me in a daze. Under her bewitching gaze, my hand shakes and my knees almost wobble.
She was still the same Hwang Yeji as the one back in high school. She was in the year below me, the new girl who transferred because of her records. I still remember our little runaways together, my face heating up as I recall the one time she and I were pressed against the wall to hide from the principal who was walking past. It was fun while it lasted, as she and I were never anything and I soon realised that I was just too caught up in the idea of the moment, loving the thrill much, much more than loving her. But she wanted beyond whatever we were.
That's why I avoided parties. It's like her second home, where she shined the most. Where her magic worked strongest, and sadly, where I'm at my weakest.
Yeosang and I hardly talk about her, he thinks she was just a girl in junior year. I've never thought about her ever since we graduated, never once it's crossed my mind and it was like she was a fading memory. I'm surprised she's even here, how did she know Seonghwa?
Right Seonghwa. A strange feeling of guilt twists in my stomach as I think about him.
"Yeji, please..." my voice betraying me as it comes out breathless when she catches my hand. Memories flash back into my mind as she holds my hand gently, reeling me into her once more.
"Please what?" the girl in front of me asks in an innocent tone.
"No..."
"Awh, that's disappointing, you don't know how many parties I've gone to in hopes to see you," she pouts. But before she can open her mouth again, I see a familiar blonde haired male in the distance, looking around the room with a bored expression. Praying to God, I wish for him to look my way. My eyes almost let out tears of joy when he stares right back at me with a questioning look.
Help me, my eyes scream, come here, right now.
My ears block out Yeji's words and when he's finally close enough, I cling on to him, almost knocking him off balance at my sudden movement. "San!" I cry out in relief.
"San?" I hear Yeji's voice repeat after me. She straightens her posture, leaning back and crosses her arms across her chest. "Who are you?"
The blonde eyes the both of us suspiciously. When he catches my pleading gaze, the expression on his face hardens. "Like you said, I'm San," he replies coldly. He holds my hand tightly behind my back, giving it a light squeeze. "Who are you?"
Yeji's eyes squints, sharper than anything I've seen before. "Yeji," she mumbles, gives us one last side-eye and leaves. My heart still races as she struts away and I collapse into San's arms as I try to calm myself down.
"You guys had history," says he, stroking my hair soothingly.
"No."
San lifts an eyebrow, unconvinced.
"Kind of," I confess, pulling away from him once I've slowed my heartbeat just a little, "how did you know?"
"Just figured," San continues, by the tone of his voice sounding as if he's watching Yeji's moves carefully.
"You look pretty shaken up," he continues.
I sigh. "I was surprised... we hadn't seen each other in such a long time..."
"You need anything? Water? Another hug?"
"I heard your hugs are the best?" I mention, wrapping my arms around his stomach and lean my head on the crook of his neck. San laughs a little, returning the gesture just as warmly, and I feel myself getting back in my safe-zone. His hugs are amazing, warm and inviting, just like Seonghwa's.
As I listen to his faint heartbeat that matched the beat of the pounding music, I try to push the thoughts of Yeji far, far away. "Seonghwa," is the name that slips past my lips without me even realising it.
San stays silent for a split second, but before I can comment anything on it, he steps back and fixes the top of my clothes. "You want Seonghwa hyung?" he asks, an unreadable expression in his eyes.
"Is he busy?"
"I'm sure he's at home," his eyes are now back to their signature crescent shapes, smiling me reassuringly.
"Can I see him?"
"It's not even midnight yet... are you sure? I saw your friend talking with Woo earlier, you're leaving him?"
"San..."
He smiles at me, "okay."
The thought of Seonghwa helps me push Yeji out of my mind, even though it's hard to do so as her perfume still lingers in my mind as we get out of the house.