perhaps haru should have reached out to nayoung through a different avenue.
haru had nothing against parties or other similar functions where social interaction was expected, in spite of the deliberate, calculated way he typically avoided them. even in the past, when he was working part-time as a model, he would meticulously ration his presence, offering a polite excuse to make his attendance scarce while ensuring his appearance ratio remained perfectly acceptable in the eyes of those within the industry. he only engaged in the specific functions that would provide some tangible benefit for him.
this time around, the benefit was catching nayoung in a more private setting.
the hidden club in hannam-dong, where this "casual get-together" was currently unfolding, functioned as an appropriate sanctuary for those within the industry; a gilded cage where one could catch the attention of the right network nodes, while hiding safely away from the predatory gaze of the wrong paparazzi lenses. haru watched the masses dance under the dim, amber-tinted lighting of the establishment, while he remained motionless in the velvet shadows of one of the deep booths, nursing a glass of whiskey that was already half empty, its meticulously carved ice cubes having melted into nothingness moments ago.
he brought the rim of the crystal glass back up to his lips, taking a slow, measured sip as he allowed his eyes to shift toward the general direction where he had spotted nayoung earlier—and, thankfully, found her amidst the blurring sea of strangers and acquaintances both, a familiar and striking silhouette.
he had something he needed to ask her. a burning, quiet anxiety that only grew in corrosive intensity following the devastating words that had recently been lashed against his polished exterior—that he was merely a 'beautiful corpse with absolutely no life, no passion, and no fire within'. however, initiating a conversation that required such a terrifying degree of vulnerability demanded more liquid courage in his meticulously controlled system. and so, abandoning his usual restraint, he finally tipped his head back and downed the rest of his glass before abruptly standing up and excusing himself to introduce more alcohol into his bloodstream.
