Grey twirled before the mirror, silently admiring the way her skirt swirled around her knees.
It wasn't her best dress, but it did make her feel confident. The light pink color against her tan skin, the off-shoulder sleeves that helped her show off her collarbone. Her dark curls were swept into a bun, still dripping water from the shower onto her neck. "Well, what do you think?"
"Mew." Luca perched on a decorative pillow, black tail curling in the air.
"Pretty, right?"
The kitten dropped its head over its paws, staring at the stack of notebooks on her desktop rather than her reflection. Okay then. Grey shrugged and fumbled with a pair of diamond studs before sauntering to her bathroom for one last spritz of perfume. The mist landed on her chin instead of her neck.
Idiot.
She laughed at herself, taking it off with a napkin. This social wasn't even her event. Actually, she didn't know who's it was. She just decided to tag along when Amelia wouldn't stop whining about being too nervous to go alone. As much as she gave her best friend a hard time, she'd never let the girl face something so nerve-wracking on her own.
"You're going to be a good kitten, right?" Grey grabbed her heels from under the desk, checking her makeup one last time in the small mirror beside her laptop. Luca's lack of response made her check the bed. The cat was curled up into a ball, tiny chest rising and falling with sleeping breaths.
If an owner wouldn't claim her in the next few days, that sleeping face assured Grey that she would.
On her tiptoes, Grey quietly closed the door behind her.
:::
The Grand Mirage Hotel was one of the tallest buildings in downtown, and a temporary home to celebrities and businesspeople alike. Even with black clouds draping over the night sky, the spotlights from its pointed ceiling shined majestically, a waving beacon for patrons with moneybags.
Grey swallowed, grateful that she chose a dress. Two doormen clothed in black and gold uniforms held the door open, bowing slightly as she passed. She stopped when she reached the lobby.
A crystal chandelier as wide as her car dangled overhead, casting golden light over marble floors and red velvet chaise lounges. White flowers in porcelain vases peppered the foyer, scenting the entire floor with sweet jasmine. Near the back of the room, winding marble and iron staircases formed a half-moon onto another floor just as luxurious as the first. Involuntarily, Grey straightened her back and lifted her chin.
How the hell was Amelia pulling these strings?
"You're here!" Warm hands grabbed her shoulders, Amelia sidling into view a few seconds later. Her best friend wore a deep purple that hugged her thin, willowy frame. Her black hair waved down her back, her dark eyes gleaming with excitement. "I was just about to call you but I remember what happened earlier. You just disappeared."
"There was a bear."
Her long lashes fluttered as she craned her neck back. "A bear?"
"I saved a cat from a bear in Solstice Gardens today."
"Yeah, okay. Now is not the time to spit out novel ideas. I think I'm going to throw up."
Grey sighed, barely believing her own story. "Why? You look hot."
Amelia looped her arm through Grey's, pulling until Grey strode towards the hotel bar too. Her best friend's hands were shaking. "I could meet a prince tonight. It's the Grand Mirage in Seoul. Why wouldn't one stay here?"
Grey blinked once, a bit surprised when she realized Amelia was serious. "Amelia, is that why you came?"
"Damn it, Grey. I just need a boyfriend. I don't care if he's a room service man or a king. I'd prefer a king, though."
"You really need to lay off the movies and manga. It isn't that easy."
"I don't know why I expected naive support out of you." The corner of Amelia's lip quirked up at her friend, her beauty intensifying. "That's why I needed you here. Only you can keep me grounded."
"Damn right." Grey watched Amelia order her first drink. A shot glass filled to the brim with light blue alcohol slid into her thin hands. Squinting her eyes shut, the girl threw back the liquid and slammed the edge back onto the polished wood, grunting at the taste.
"Want one?"
Grey shook her head. It looked painful. "Where are we headed next?"
"The Lounge." Amelia grabbed Grey again, shuffling her towards a pair of grand mahogany doors. The doormen perked at their approach, hands reaching for the handles. Grey didn't realize her palms were sweating until she wiped them on her skirt. Why was she getting nervous?
The pair entered a room with dim lighting. Candles surrounded by crimson flowers decorated small round tables and some counter space at the bar. Rose petals littered the floor, hanging lights twinkled overhead. Men and women crowded certain seating areas, laughing and chatting. If she listened closely enough, a stream of jazz music filtered through the air alongside conversation. A servant in a white blouse and bow tie passed by Amelia with a tray of champagne flutes above his head. Her best friend gently snatched one and took a small sip.
"Do you see any prospects?"
Grey snuck glances at merry faces. There were a few options, actually. "Tall, dark, and handsome. 3 o'clock."
Amelia raised an eyebrow, grinning mischievously. "You've always had a good eye."
Just not enough charm to score what she looked at.
Grey turned to her friend, wiping imaginary dust off her shoulders and fixing her hair. "Okay," she breathed, "you ready for this?"
Amelia nodded. Grey went on, "You stride over, flash him a winning smile. Make sure you're kind. Don't show him how insane you are yet. Not until after the first date. Go in for the kill. Take no prisoners, Amy."
"You're right." Amelia flipped her hair. "In for the kill. See you after." Grey watched her friend strut to the far end of the room, resisting the urge to yell her name as the man instantly shifted her way and welcomed her into an empty seat.
A few seconds passed, then a minute. Amelia was there to stay, and Grey was there to...do what exactly?
Grey realized she was staring and turned to face the glass windows rather than the crowd. Across the street, more couples dined in an outside patio. She bit the inside of her cheek, deciding to creep towards an empty seat at the lounge bar.
It wasn't that she disliked couples, or romance, or men. It was just that when she stared at two people together that seemed to be drowning in their own world, she wasn't sure what to do with herself. Staring at that was intimate, secret. Just hanging around that was mentally trespassing. And as much as she didn't want to admit it, she wanted that one day. That togetherness.
Her fingernails tapped against the bar as she resisted the urge to pull her phone out of her clutch.
"Excuse me."
Grey found the owner of those words, and when she did, she froze.
Hello there.
She searched his face again, making sure she saw the angel she thought she was seeing. His hair was platinum blond, eyes a disarmingly deep blue. A single earring dangled from his left ear, a tiny hoop in his right. And even though his flawless skin warranted attention, she had to tear her gaze from his plump lips. "Yes?"
He grinned when he noticed her waning attention from his lips to his eyes. "Could you please stop making that noise? It's annoying."
"Oh." Grey put her hands in her lap, clasping them together when she saw him looking at them through the corner of her eye. She tapped her foot on the wooden floors instead. "Sorry."
"You can't sit still, huh?"
Was he still talking to her? Her mouth suddenly went dry, so she cleared her throat. "Sorry, I just feel a bit antsy, that's all."
"Am I making you feel that way?"
"N-no, no, no. It's not you." She shook her head profusely, then settled. "This just isn't my scene. I don't usually go to Singles' Socials in my spare time."
He chuckled, his neck shifting to observe the other people swarming the rest of the lounge. When he absorbed her gaze again, his stare was predatory. "So you're single?"
She fought the heat threatening to rise in her cheeks. "I--," she faltered. The inescapable feeling that this answer mattered hit her hard in the chest.
"Don't hurt yourself trying to answer that." His smirk grew as he faced the bartender and beckoned the man over with two fingers. "A drink for the lady, please."
Grey opened her mouth to speak, halting when the mystery man interrupted her. "Bill whatever she requests to my room."
Her eyebrows furrowed as she shook her head. "You don't have to do that. I'm really not thirsty."
"She'll have a Shirley Temple." The bartender marched away from Grey at the words. As best as she could, she forced a glare at the stranger.
"I really don't drink--,"
"Just try it."
The bartender returned, sliding a tall bubbly drink in her direction. Though the top was fairly clear, the bottom glowed scarlet. Moving the cherry out of the way, she sipped through the black straw. Bubbles burned the back of her throat, somehow smoothed over by the sweetness of cherries. Before sitting back, she stole another sip.
Her lips pulled into a smile. Giggling, she said, "It's delicious."
His finger wiped at a water drop clinging to her glass. "It's cherry syrup and Sprite. Will you relax now?"
In truth, she already had. His presence wasn't exactly comforting, but it was electrifying. She wasn't sure what to call the thrill rushing through her veins. "Who are you?"
"Call me Jimin."
"I'm Grey."
"Grey? I wouldn't say that's your color." His angelic laugh floated to the ceiling as she gently nudged his shoulder. While he remained amused, Grey let her hands fall back into her lap. It was like pressing against solid rock.
"You're full of jokes. I'm surprised you aren't the main attraction at this place."
His expression turned serious as he ran a hand through his hair, multiple rings shimmering under the dim light. As quickly as the charming smile had come, it vanished. She wondered if she said something wrong.
"I'm not part of this matchmaking circus. All these people look silly. Always prancing around, bragging, batting their lashes at one another. I'm just here for a good drink."
Grey nodded, but she didn't understand. Sure, it took a special type of desire for a relationship to drag yourself out of bed and put on an attractive mask. But they all did it with hopes of finding one another. Finding a connection.
"I think they're fine. Love doesn't always just come to you. Sometimes we have to go get it."
He stared for a while, as though seeing her for the first time. Really noticing that she was there.
"While I respect your opinion, I must disagree."
Silence settled over Grey and Jimin, but it was not tense. She began to sway to the jazz music and down more mouthfuls of Shirley Temple, wondering what Amelia would think of this man who seemed to fall right out of the sky, wondering what he thought of her.
Why did she care?
Grey stared out the glass windows, admiring the couples that finished up desserts. If they weren't holding silverware they were holding hands, and if they needed to be closer they held each other. And she bet they could sit under the stars all night and keep one another company.
Four white spots pounced into her view, bright green eyes blinking twice. She couldn't make out a body, but she clearly identified the panic flaring near her heart. Sure enough, paws clawed on the hotel glass.
"Luca?"
"Did you say something?" Jimin's eyebrows pinched in concern.
"I have to go," Grey grabbed her clutch and stood from her seat, "thank you for everything." Luca had stopped pawing the window, opting instead to pace back and forth on the windowsill.
"The pleasure is mine." She felt his eyes burn a hole through her back as she charged towards the door.
"Grey?" It was Amelia. Grey didn't stop. "What are you doing?"
Grey thanked the doormen under her breath, almost growing dizzy at the overwhelming jasmine scent that was gorgeous before. Her heels clicked against the marble, tongue still tasting like cherries. Cool, yet slightly humid air washed over her face as she stepped into the night air.
"Meow!" Luca hopped from the windowsill and ran her fur against Grey's legs. It took her a moment to process just what was going on. Did the cat just give her an excited meow?
She gathered the kitten in her arms. "How did you get out? Did someone let you out?" She checked Luca for scratches or marks. She was just as soft as when Grey had left her. "What the hell. You could've gotten hurt! Killed!"
Grey placed diligent kisses between her ears. "How did you find me?"
"Grey, you can't just leave me!" Amelia clambered out of the hotel. "You nearly gave me a heart attack."
"You were doing fine on your own." Grey cradled her kitten, using its warmth and purring as reassurance that it was alive. "Did you get any numbers?"
"Is that a cat?" Amelia pointed to Luca, who narrowed her eyes as though to say: you tell me.
"Amelia, meet Luca. Luca, this is Amelia."
"Hi there, kitty kitty." Amelia reluctantly stretched a dainty hand towards Luca's wet nose. Luca hesitated just as much, barely reaching out to sniff and quickly returning to Grey's chest. "You're a tough one."
"Mow."
"What does that mean?" Amelia checked Grey for answers.
Grey shrugged. "She has a mind of her own, apparently."
"Did I get numbers, you ask? OH, I got some numbers. And a date with Kim Jong-In next weekend! He goes by Kai though. Isn't that so sexy?" Amelia tried to pet Luca, Luca wiggled her hand away.
Grey held Luca closer as a sort of protective shield. If her new baby didn't want to be bothered, then so be it. One day the girls would get used to one another. At least, Grey hoped. "Kai. I like the sound of that. I'm proud of you."
"What about you? Did you loosen up?" Amelia poked Grey in the shoulder, her voice rising in an effort to dig up dirt.
"I... made an effort." Amelia squealed, jumping up and down. Grey rolled her eyes, a smile creeping onto her cheeks. "Really he made an effort, but it was a good time."
"Show me! The Lounge's windows are right there. You can still see who's inside."
Grey surveyed the bar, the ghost of a thrill sizzling her skin. Their interaction was small. Minuscule in the scheme of things. Still, she couldn't curb the edge that came with wanting to see him again. She investigated every seat, even the bartender. Finally, she frowned.
"He's gone."
Amelia scanned the bar on her own. "He probably left because no one could match your level of amazingness."
"It doesn't matter." Grey motioned for Amelia to walk with her to the parking lot. "I don't have time to meet people. My interview is in a day and I have work tomorrow. Playtime is over."
Amelia put her hands on her hips. "It's hard to imagine you being any more serious than you already are."
"You won't say that when you and I are rolling up to the best places in town in a Lamborghini that KSJ paid for."
Amelia and Grey hugged before parting their separate ways. Luca hopped into the car as soon as Grey let her go. And as Grey drove through the star-flecked streets of downtown Seoul back home, she no longer felt the thrill.
Her meeting with Jimin seemed to be no more than a passing wind.
:::
(A/N) Lovely reader,
How was your first night as Grey?
Note: The next few chapters will come fast (like every two days fast). I want to give you material to read so that you won't be left hanging off a cliff. After I get the introductions out of the way, I'll put a release schedule into place.
Now onto the fun stuff...
WE MET JIMIN. Goodness, I had so much fun writing this. I used his look from Blood, Sweat, and Tears because... do I even need to explain? That entire outfit and look was ICONIC. The body rolls? The way he used that jacket? I NEEDED TO COOL OFF after watching that.
Besides that, yes, I mentioned Kai from Exo. I'm thinking of listening to their music too. Any suggestions?
Finally, who do you think we'll meet next?
If you got all the way to this sentence of the (A/N), you are the absolute best.
Thanks for the read,
M
(EDIT 6/16/20) - gosh, I still haven't cooled down from the jacket move. And thank you for all the EXO suggestions!