Dove swirled the fruit punch in her cup, staring at the way the red liquid caught the light. It was supposed to taste better. A party like this-Yuri's party, of all things-should've had decent drinks. But no, it was all show and no substance, much like the people dancing and laughing around her.
She sighed, taking another sip despite herself. It still tasted like artificial disappointment.
Not even five minutes in, and she was already alone.
Hyejin had looked a little worried about leaving, like she didn't want Dove to be on her own. But Dove had waved her off, offering a small smile. "Go. I'll be fine." And she meant it-at least, she wanted to.
So there she was, perched on a barstool, utterly and completely alone, when a familiar voice cut through the noise.
"You look like you're not having a great time."
Dove didn't have to look to know who it was. She could recognize that voice anywhere.
Minho.
He slid into the seat beside her without hesitation, but there was something careful about the way he did it-like he wasn't sure if she wanted company but was willing to offer it anyway. One hand rested on the counter, the other tucked into his pocket. His hair was effortlessly styled, and he smelled like expensive cologne and something familiar.
Dove exhaled through her nose and finally turned to look at him. "And you look exactly like someone who is having a great time."
Minho gave a small, amused smile. "It's alright." He nodded toward her cup. "What are you drinking?"
She glanced down at it. "Something that's supposed to be fruit punch."
Minho reached for it, pausing briefly as if giving her a chance to protest. When she didn't, he took a small sip. The moment it hit his tongue, his face twisted slightly. "That's... not great."
Dove huffed a small laugh. "Told you."
He set the cup back down and shook his head. "You seriously came to a party and chose to sit alone drinking that?"
Dove sighed, crossing her arms. "Not my fault, my friend left."
Minho's brows lifted slightly. "Hyejin left you?"
"She didn't mean to," Dove said quickly. "Hyejin almost stayed, but I told her to go."
Minho studied her for a second, then nodded, like he understood exactly why she had done that.
"Well," he said after a beat, voice light but sincere, "if they're off having fun, someone should keep you company."
Dove arched a brow. "You don't have to."
"I know," Minho said simply. "I want to."
Something about the way he said it made her fingers tighten slightly around her cup.
She exhaled, tilting her head at him. "Fine. But if you're staying, you're not allowed to complain about anything relating to the party."
Minho smirked, but it was softer this time. "No promises."
And just like that, she wasn't alone anymore.
Minho's
I wasn't looking for her.
That's what I told myself when I walked into the party, scanning the room out of habit. The music was loud, people were dancing, laughing, drinking-everything you'd expect from a Yuri-organized event. Normally, I'd be in the thick of it, but tonight, my eyes caught on something else.
Or rather, someone else.
Dove.
Sitting alone on one of the stools, fingers curled around a cup of something she clearly wasn't enjoying. Her expression was unreadable, but I knew that look-it was the same one she always got when she thought too much, when she slipped into her own head.
And then there was her outfit.
All black with gold accents, sleek and elegant, the kind of polished perfection only she could pull off.
A leather jacket draped over her shoulders, a tweed skirt that added just enough preppy refinement to balance out the edge. Shining leather heels, the kind that looked expensive even from a distance, paired with socks that somehow made the whole look even more intentional. A black handbag with gold accents sat beside her, the gold catching the light.
Every single piece was deliberate. Every detail is flawless.
Dove always dressed well, but tonight? She looked perfect.
Not that I'd tell her that.
Instead, I crossed the room, sliding into the seat beside her without hesitation. She didn't acknowledge me at first, just kept staring at her drink like it had personally offended her.
"You look like you're not having a great time," I said.
Her head turned, and when our eyes met, I felt something settle in my chest.
Dove exhaled through her nose. "And you look exactly like someone who is having a great time."
I huffed a quiet laugh. "It's alright." My gaze flicked to her cup. "What are you drinking?"
She glanced down at it. "Something that's supposed to be fruit punch."
Curious, I reached for it, pausing just enough to see if she'd stop me. When she didn't, I took a sip. Immediately, regret.
"That's... not great."
Dove huffed a small laugh. "Told you."
I set the cup back down, shaking my head. "You seriously came to a party and chose to sit alone drinking that?"
She sighed, crossing her arms. "Not my fault, my friend left."
My brows lifted slightly. "Hyejin left you?"
"She didn't mean to," she said quickly. "Hyejin almost stayed, but I told her to go."
That sounded like her. Always putting other people first, even if it meant being alone.
I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the counter. "Well, if they're off having fun, someone should keep you company."
She arched a brow. "You don't have to."
"I know," I said simply. "I want to."
Dove studied me for a second, like she was trying to read between the lines. I let her.
Eventually, she exhaled. "Fine. But if you're staying, you're not allowed to complain about the punch."
I smirked. "No promises."
A while later, the real party began with people dancing and vibing on the dance floor. I turned to look at Dove to see if she was even a little bit enthralled by the party, but she held the same distant and bored expression.
"Still not having fun?" I ask, making her nod.
"Honestly... I'm getting a headache. There's too much going on..." She confessed, voice low, making me soften as I stood up with a mission.
To make Dove feel better.
"Let's go outside? To catch a breather." I said, making her look up at me.
"Can we?" She asked, making me nod.
"Of course, it's not our party, so we can do whatever we want." I say, making her smile as she got up from the stool.
-ËËââââââââââââââââââââ
Honestly, I'm not a party person either. If the beverages are not consumable, I am leaving.
Good to know that they're finally going out for some fresh air. Writing it gave me nausea lmaoo