happy sunday everyone!! i’m back with the long awaited update to push me too hard. before you go any further, please read the beginning author’s note- it contains a trigger warning for mentions of physical and verbal abuse. if you choose to continue, i hope you enjoy. you can find the new update here.
as always, i hope you guys like the chapter!! i decided it needed to happen before the big finale, lmao, so you can expect the last one sometime in the future (i promise it won’t be as big of a gap as last time, i’m going to finish this fic before i move on). pls let me know what y’all think!! any and all comments or messages are appreciated. see you soon!! <3
jihyo hums at the question, with her eyes closed, breathing slow and deep. she had been attentively listening to a song playing idly in jeongyeon’s room, a haze in her mind caused by the amount of times jeongyeon had her head between her thighs.
it would take jihyo a lot more than getting dressed (with a shirt much bigger than her, coated in jeongyeon’s scent) and the minutes waiting for jeongyeon to return to the bed for jihyo to stop feeling jeongyeon’s hands — everywhere on her body, from her neck to her ankles.
while waiting, jihyo has to shut her legs tightly to avoid thinking about the way jeongyeon had handled her, apparently into new positions, certainly rougher she used to be. jihyo had been deprived from physical touch, deplorably so, but she knew better than to make jeongyeon return to the warmth between her legs, both sore and entirely too tired for more.
“not jealous,” jihyo says like a whisper, her voice faltering, throat dry after the amount of careless, loud cries jeongyeon inflicted on her. “i want to make her regret.”
sitting is almost uncomfortable, despite the softness of the mattress, and jihyo dismisses the ache, satisfied with it, blessedly sore.
jeongyeon hands her a bowl with instant ramen, all she could do that late at dawn, and leaves a cup of water on the nightstand for jihyo, taking a seat beside her. she looked no better than jihyo, with fresh scratches on her arms, bottom lip red and puffed from the amount of times jihyo had sunk her teeth on it — but surely more composed.
“a bit sudden,” jeongyeon grabs her fork, tummy aching from a hunger she could hardly notice moments back, now more evident as her focus was no longer on her friend. “you both made a cute couple. i thought sana was decent.”
“decent?” jihyo laughs shortly, her voice low, barely audible. “how come you’re only saying that after eating out her ex for…” jihyo glances at the clock jeongyeon kept on her nightstand. 3 a.m. “four hours. wow. is this a new record?”
“as if i wouldn’t do that even if she was decent.” jeongyeon chuckles, crossing her legs, elbows aligned with her knees as she held her own bowl of ramen. “’sides i have the right to. met you first and all.”
jihyo laughs, “and almost dated me.”
“and almost dated you.” jeongyeon nods, playfully agreeing with her. “i’m glad she was the one for you back then. i could’ve ended up in her place.”
jihyo grabs the cup of water jeongyeon had promptly left for her, chugging half of it in one go. it still wasn’t enough for her throat to hurt less, temporarily damaged from all the moaning she did and jeongyeon squeezing her neck, but she would have to deal with it if she wanted to eat.
“you wouldn’t.” jihyo says, reminiscing a time no longer than two years ago when jeongyeon was more than a casual acquaintance, but the one she called weekly to have sex with. an acquaintance with benefits, if anything. “you’re honest. never lied to me, even when you didn’t owe me anything. sana cheated, after two years in our relationship.”
“yeah, i don’t do that,” jeongyeon mixes the noodles with her fork. “if this isn’t asking too much… what did she say when you found out?”
“she was surprised. she said it was a mistake, that she did it only once, told me she wouldn’t give up on me,” jihyo sighs, forgetting about her hunger for a brief moment. “but the other girl was nayeon.”
jeongyeon squeezes jihyo’s knee tenderly. “sorry i asked.” which jihyo replies with a small ‘it’s okay now’. “now that’s fucked up.”
“tell me about it.” jihyo lets out a meek laugh. “i’m no longer angry at nayeon. if she did that to me, then she was never my best friend in the first place. i’m fine with cutting her off and forgetting she was ever in my life. but sana… sana thinks i’m going back to her. i know she does- she talked about it to her friends. one of them was kind enough to tell me she sees me as a prize. told me to keep my decision of breaking up with her.”
“damn.” jeongyeon breathes out. “there’s another way i could fix this for you, y’know. she looks like she can’t handle more than two punches.”
jihyo considers jeongyeon’s offer, knowing she was joking, but there was some truth behind her words. “i want her to see me happy with somebody else. it’s all i’ve been thinking about. sana is in love with me- even if she says these things to her friends, she likes me…” jihyo affirms with sheer conviction, her eyes darker, not usually fond of revenge, but sana incited that feeling on her like nobody else had. “and you’re the perfect candidate.”
“i’m honored,” jeongyeon puts her bowl on a table next to the bed, more than half of it eaten. “i do know how to make you happy.”
jeongyeon takes the freedom to give jihyo’s bowl the same ending, making jihyo’s back hit the headboard, their hips side to side to each other, in a good position for jeongyeon to kiss her. jihyo closes her eyes by instinct when jeongyeon starts fixing her hair, leaving a lock behind her ear.
“it’s not because of that, though.” jihyo says, hand on jeongyeon’s waist when jeongyeon leans closer and kisses her neck. “it’s because you can do it and make it look real without falling in love with me. without it being weird.”
“i don’t do girlfriends, but i guess i’m just a natural, huh?” jeongyeon laughs softly against her neck, then pulls her face away just barely. “that wasn’t a record, by the way. we’ve gone at it for more than 6 whole hours,” she lowers her voice, “i still remember how you got me all wet towards the end, think you could do that again?”
jihyo hums. “i’m sore.”
jeongyeon brushes her nose against hers. “i’ll be gentle.”
“jeongyeon…” jihyo mutters, even wetter when jeongyeon has her hand on her thigh.
“this will be my part of the deal.”
and so it was.
jeongyeon was never an option for jihyo and neither was jihyo an option for jeongyeon.
they were honest about it when they started having their casual encounters. there wasn’t a problem in them not wanting to have a relationship, really, they were able to enjoy what they had without taking any further steps, and perhaps it was even better that way.
jeongyeon had been the one to talk about it first. jihyo was an amazing girl, the type people would fall for at first sight, but jeongyeon didn’t see a future in them as a couple, and neither did jihyo. and so, having a casual affair was easy for them, until jihyo met sana and fell in love with her.
jihyo and jeongyeon, despite ending what they had in a cordial way, simply didn’t keep a regular friendship after that, as there was no reason for them to do so — they would still meet up at times, given that their friend groups were also friends between each other, but nothing more than that.
still, there was something about jeongyeon that makes jihyo trust her. they barely ever spoke, but when they did it was as if jihyo was talking to a friend of years rather than only someone she had seemingly endless, hungry sex with.
beyond that, jeongyeon was someone who could truly understand her, and jihyo figured jeongyeon felt the same way about her. they immediately linked, and yet dating each other was never a subject between them — things were simply already good as they were.
“won’t it be a little weird, though? i had a thing with momo last summer,” jeongyeon asks, carrying both hers and jihyo’s suitcases to the back of jihyo’s car.
“dahyun isn’t the jealous type,” jihyo says, mindlessly texting momo, telling her they’d arrive before noon — until she really understands what jeongyeon had told her. “you and momo?”
jeongyeon puts the lid of the trunk down, closing it without using much strength. “…and it’s summer again, so it’s been what? a year? she probably doesn’t remember we had a thing.”
laughing slightly at jihyo’s frown, jeongyeon makes her way to the driver’s seat. jihyo follows, sitting on the passenger’s seat, hardly aware that that was her car and that she hadn’t agreed for jeongyeon to drive beforehand.
“did you have a thing with any other friend that i have?” jihyo asks, crossing her legs and putting on the seat belt. without making a complaint, she takes her car key and hands it to jeongyeon — jeongyeon decides not to make any comments about the picture of her cat for a keychain, knowing jihyo was serious about him. “careful with the car.”
“not that i know of,” jeongyeon shrugs, replying to jihyo’s question. with the key already in it’s place, jeongyeon twists it to get the car’s engine running. “i know what you’re thinking. i don’t sleep with that many girls. you were my first this year.”
jihyo hums. “and i know what you are thinking,” she looks at jeongyeon. “i’m not jealous, it’s just… interesting that you did it with my friend.”
“it was just a one-time thing. no, three-times thing.” jeongyeon mutters. “no big deal at all.”
jihyo looks at the window instead, arms crossed. “you were the one talking about it being weird anyway.”
jeongyeon smiles when jihyo pouts, doing it mindlessly. when the road is emptier, she places her hand over jihyo’s thigh and tells her to take a picture, all so that sana would know jihyo had someone else even before they arrived at their destiny.
they only had a week to do revenge, so every minute counted. the plan was to act as a couple in love during their friend trip — they went to momo’s beach house along with a couple more friends, and sana would be there, because sana was friends with momo. they certainly fought when momo found out sana had cheated on jihyo, but after an entire month of ghosting her, momo was more willing to forgive her.
to a great extent, it happened because jihyo assured momo that she was over sana, even told her to invite sana to their week out of town. despite being reluctant and having her differences with sana herself, unable to fully trust sana as a friend, momo did as jihyo said, assuming jihyo wanted sana to be there for her own reasons.
it’s already nighttime when they arrive, and nights at that side of the estate were as cold as the mornings were hot.
jeongyeon hardly needs a facade to treat jihyo well, so she wraps her own jacket around her when they’re out of the warmth of the car, telling her she’d get hot by using her muscles to carry their suitcases — which is an entire lie. jeongyeon shivers behind jihyo, but soon momo is opening the door for them and the cold is no longer as much of a nuisance.
“finally,” momo greets jihyo with a hug. “i was getting worried.”
“jeongyeon is a slow driver.” jihyo complains, clearly playful, but jeongyeon still lets go of their luggage and passes an arm behind her neck, messing with her hair in response.
“god forbid a woman drives safely.” jeongyeon kisses the top of jihyo’s head, speaking softly.
if momo was trying to mask her surprise to see that jihyo was, by what it looked, with jeongyeon, then she did a poor job, visibly taken aback, but she could only feel relief — if jihyo was with jeongyeon, then jihyo wasn’t there to get back with sana, which none of their friends would like to happen.
however, she couldn’t say the same about sana, who was there with a goal that she hid behind a wall of glass.
“i would congratulate you two now, but you’ll already hear a lot from the other girls,” momo grabs a suitcase. “come on, let’s put these in a room and come back,” she tells jeongyeon, as if jihyo wasn’t invited to go with her, then looks at jihyo. “the girls are setting the table.”
jihyo nods, knowing where to go. “be quick,” she tells the both of them.
“why wouldn’t we?” momo laughs, grabbing jeongyeon’s arm as she leaves with her, not waiting for jihyo’s answer.
jihyo doesn’t worry at all about them — momo probably wanted to have a talk with her, but jihyo was sure it was nothing related to their brief past. she makes her way to the dining room, still surprised at how big the place was, despite that not being her first time there. the last time they stayed there, she was with sana, in a happy relationship.
now, the both of them stood relatively far from each other, no longer together, hardly able to look at each other’s eyes. jihyo isn’t surprised to find her there, knowing that would happen, but she was hoping jeongyeon would be with her when it happened.
dahyun, mina and tzuyu do a great job breaking the ice, the three of them rushing to give her a hug as soon as they spot her and then they are flooding her with questions about her new girlfriend, none of them minding the fact that sana was there.
“i’ll tell you everything,” jihyo smiles. “let momo and jeongyeon come back and we’ll tell you what you want to know,” she assures. “how can i help?”
once the table is set and momo and jeongyeon join them, instead of making things awkward by letting the silence prevail, dahyun makes the question they all were curious about. especially sana, who knew jihyo had company, but she didn’t know it was yoo jeongyeon.
sana didn’t know jeongyeon. at least not enough, only that she was an acquaintance of momo and tzuyu, and that jihyo also knew her. whatever else sana knew about jeongyeon was far from substantial. the only thing she remembers, quite vividly, is that jeongyeon is a guitarist — momo might have told her when she introduced them to each other. other than a handshake, sana had never had any contact with jeongyeon.
“so, how did this happen? i thought jeongyeon would never do dating,” dahyun asks, apparently not jealous or upset about her short-term affair with momo in the past.
“so did i,” jihyo laughs, jeongyeon’s hand automatically finding hers under the table. “she rejected me because of that two years ago. but we met again last month and… well, things just happened.”
it wasn’t a complete lie, truly. jeongyeon surely hadn’t rejected her, but they did only meet again after jihyo broke up with sana, met alone, that is.
jeongyeon wasn’t a rebound by any means, but someone who made her company and gave her what she couldn’t have otherwise — pleasure and enough intimacy to talk about the things she needed off her chest. now, rather than an acquaintance with benefits, she was a friend with even more benefits. certainly an upgrade.
“it wasn’t rejection,” jeongyeon defends herself. “back then i just couldn’t see us as we are now. maybe if we got together two years ago, we wouldn’t be together now. everything has a purpose,” jeongyeon says, seemingly wise, and perhaps that was too good of an answer, because jihyo could almost believe her.
“that was actually a sweet comeback,” jihyo says, a smile on her lips, half genuine, half part of the act.
sana keeps silent where she is, both melancholic and irritated about the fact that their friends seemed to be quite happy for jihyo. she felt betrayed, ironically so, because two years back was when she met jihyo. still it seemed likely to be true, because when she met jeongyeon, jihyo already knew her as well.
momo noses in. “so you’re a real deal now, huh? never thought i’d see the day yoo jeongyeon got a girlfriend. jihyo must be special.”
“of course she is,” jeongyeon answers in a heartbeat, meaning her words. to sound less cheesy, she adds: “she deserves the best… and i am the best.”
“okay!” with the exception of sana, who remains quiet the entire time, the girls boo her — even jihyo, which makes jeongyeon pout.
“we should probably start eating now. to keep jeongyeon’s mouth busy and stuff,” momo mutters, prying on what mina and dahyun had prepared.
“jeongyeon’s, sure,” dahyun teases, knowing momo was beyond starving, no matter how many snacks she ate while waiting for the food.
when the others are not looking, jeongyeon inches her face closer to jihyo’s mouth next to her ear. “what if i want something else to keep my mouth busy?”
jihyo’s cheeks heat up, mind rewinding to only a few moments before they arrived there, in the car — and jeongyeon was already asking for more of it. jihyo had almost forgotten how insatiable they could be together, but that was part of why they got along so well. “greedy. but you deserve it.”
“i do.” jeongyeon kisses her shoulder softly, pulling away then. she reaches for a strand of hair close to jihyo’s mouth, putting it back in place with the rest of her hair, which doesn’t go unnoticed by the other girls, yet no one mentions it.
the entire time that they have dinner, sana stares at them. jihyo acts normal, she ignores sana and focuses on what is being said, sometimes smiling at jeongyeon when she kisses her shoulder or touches her arms or waist, refusing to look at sana, knowing that doing so would be seeking for validation, which she didn’t need. all jihyo really needed from sana was for her to break the same way that she did.
(by the end of the night, jihyo was only more certain that jeongyeon was the perfect candidate, and the best part of it all was it hardly felt like pretending.)
“you’re red.” jihyo tells jeongyeon, spreading sunscreen on her face a second time, only an hour after applying the first layer.
jeongyeon was relaxes on the beach chair as jihyo settles on her lap in order to do her task, amazed with how jeongyeon’s cheeks were crimson due to the sun.
jeongyeon had stubbornly rejected staying under the sunshade, wanting to stick close to jihyo as she tanned in case somebody tried to hit on her, doing her job as a fake girlfriend too well at that point — but getting her skin nearly sunburnt in the process.
“i don’t come to the beach often,” jeongyeon justifies, barely pouting.
“i can tell.” jihyo taunts, soft hands spreading more sunscreen on jeongyeon’s shoulders. “does this bother you?”
the question rises as a way for jihyo to give jeongyeon an opportunity to set boundaries between them, worried she might be doing too much — sana was looking, she surely was, but jihyo didn’t do it because of that, doing it because jeongyeon wouldn’t wear sunscreen otherwise.
and jeongyeon could decline being looked after by jihyo, free to feel like that was too much, perhaps too intimate, but she didn’t, not bothered about the fact that jihyo had been doting on her as an actual girlfriend would. it wasn’t a bigger deal, however, because jihyo does the same to mina and tzuyu. except from the part where she sits on jeongyeon’s lap, that is.
jeongyeon rests her palm on jihyo’s knee. “not at all. have you always been like this?”
“always. can’t help it,” jihyo smiles, her job finished when she can no longer see the white from the sunscreen on jeongyeon’s skin. “i just wasn’t like this with you because back then it would’ve been weird.”
jeongyeon tilts her head, slightly so. “why is that? i wouldn’t mind it.”
jihyo shrugs. thinking about the past makes her wonder how she managed to not fall in love with jeongyeon at all, but maybe her feelings only really matured after her relationship with sana. she doesn’t see jeongyeon any differently than she used to, yet now jihyo understands that, in the past, reserving certain acts of affection was essential so that her relationship with jeongyeon didn’t develop any further.
for a reason jihyo could hardly fathom, sana managed to make her fall in love in less than a month, whereas she and jeongyeon had been enjoying the benefits of a compromise-free relationship for more than three without any love. still, that was the best way things could’ve turned out to be regardless of the outcome, because if jihyo happened to fall for someone who clearly didn’t want a relationship, that would’ve been perhaps just as stressful as being cheated on.
“i don’t know. i think i would… i kept avoiding doing some things with you that i knew neither of us would want,” jihyo replies, feeling comfortable enough with jeongyeon to talk about how she felt. “in my head there was a limit that i didn’t want to cross, so i didn’t.”
“makes sense.” jeongyeon says, understanding jihyo’s way of thinking.
they remain silent for a brief moment, jeongyeon wondering if she’d been more straightforward than she should’ve been in the past and jihyo curious if what she felt was also the case for jeongyeon. jihyo guesses it was probably not how things were for jeongyeon, because someone who doesn’t want a relationship doesn’t need to methodically reject negligible intimacy in order to avoid unwanted feelings.
it’s not like jihyo wanted a relationship — jeongyeon was an acquaintance. she became a friend after jihyo met sana, but she was an acquaintance and that was all jihyo saw in her, truly, but the fact that jeongyeon had been honest about keeping things as they were made jihyo be more careful, and that was all.
if anything, in the past jihyo was the one who believed they would be better as friends rather than having sexual encounters.
they seemed to be on the same wavelength about everything, and jihyo had the perspective that being a total opposite to her loved one was a basic requirement. as that was her experience with sana, the impression turned out to stick on her, which was why jihyo was no longer afraid of doing things with jeongyeon that she wouldn’t in the past, now in terms with the way they got along in many different ways, especially sex, but not afraid of love suddenly rousing.
“we wouldn’t have time to do these things anyway,” jeongyeon laughs, breaking the sudden silence. “every moment we spent together was either having sex in my apartment or exploring your exhibitionism kink. really good times. for a lawyer you’re quite deviant.”
“there you go. i am not an exhibitionist! that was a one-time thing and you loved it,” jihyo laughs, slapping jeongyeon’s flushed arm, earning a grunt from her. “come on, you can’t be sunburnt.”
“i would hope so,” momo chimes in, standing in front of them. there’s a ball in her hand, which she supports on her hip. “can you play volleyball, yoo? we’re missing a player.”
“can i play volleyball?” jeongyeon laughs, as if momo had made her a silly question. she carefully taps jihyo’s knee, as if asking her to get up, and jihyo allows her to stand, taking jeongyeon’s place on the chair. “hirai, you’re speaking to a former team captain.”
“is that so?” momo beams, eyes shining with sudden enthusiasm — and a glint of mischief. “sana and i used to play on the school team as well. sana was the captain.”
jeongyeon looks at jihyo, not asking for her permission, but wanting to see if she would be opposed to the idea. jihyo doesn’t give her any sort of reaction, despite wishing jeongyeon would win, making it a second win for her that week.
jeongyeon smiles, taking her cap off and putting it on jihyo to keep it safe — messing up her hair in the process and making her frown. “may the best captain win.”
“is that really how the game is or were you trying to hurt her?”
jihyo asks, back at the house with jeongyeon while the girls spent more time on the beach, in charge of making lunch because she was the only one who didn’t play with them. jeongyeon follows her, both wanting to make her company and because she was sunburnt.
“that’s how it is. she didn’t move out of the way because she didn’t want to,” jeongyeon mindlessly replies, grabbing a cup of water for herself. “don’t act like you pity her. bet you loved watching her getting hit by the ball. i can say i did.”
jeongyeon smiles, wishing jihyo could feel the same joy she felt whenever the ball hit sana. the ball wasn’t made of a tough material by all means, yet jeongyeon’s hand was heavy and although her aim wasn’t sana, she was constantly hitting her throughout the game — which was more sana’s fault than it was hers.
“i didn’t know you could be so mean, yoo jeongyeon.” jihyo smiles, only because jeongyeon couldn’t see it as she was facing her back while jihyo looked for ingredients in the fridge.
a sound of steps against the wooden floor isn’t heard at all by jihyo and jeongyeon, who are in the kitchen, entirely too occupied with their dialogue to notice someone else had left the beach as well.
sana makes her way back after taking a swim, her face red from the amount of times the ball hit her, holding her tears back. sana wasn’t sad but angry — angry at her loss and angry at jeongyeon, who was nothing but a nuisance, in her way to get what she was there for.
jeongyeon leaves her empty cup on the counter, walking towards jihyo, following her when she moves somewhere else, opening a cabinet. jeongyeon stands behind her, both hands on jihyo’s waist.
while jihyo had hardly noticed someone else was in the house, jeongyeon feels a presence behind them, which only fuels her actions, mouth close to jihyo’s ear as if she wanted to keep it between them, but sana could still hear everything.
at that point, even without being able to distinguish what they were saying, sana would still be heated up, even more so when they were so close, when jeongyeon did what she used to do.
“need help, princess?” jeongyeon asks, voice suddenly raspy, using a term she has only used with jihyo a couple of times, only when favorable enough — mostly when they were both bare, doing what they deemed they did best.
“i can reach it,” jihyo says, pretending as if what jeongyeon did had no effect on her, pride hurt at jeongyeon’s implication that she was short.
she stands on her tip toes, trying to get a pan from the cabinet, questioning why momo kept those there when she wouldn’t be able to get them either. sana watches them, the pain on her face and shoulders hardly bothering her anymore, fists closed tight at the sight in front of her.
laughing, jeongyeon grabs it for her, leaving it on the counter. “there you go. this is costing you a little something later.”
“is that so?” jihyo hums.
just as jihyo is about turn around, sana leaves, hardly making a sound, only letting her tears fall because keeping them in was impossible at that point — she could still hear their laughs from her room, which led her to wonder if that pain was what jihyo felt when she saw her with nayeon.
for the biggest part of jeongyeon’s life, she hasn’t been essentially an affectionate person. not seriously, certainly not without an intention that was linked to taking a girl she is interested in to bed — and it’s not that jeongyeon was faking being nice, but she was a charmer by nature.
she finds out by the middle of the week that doing certain things with jihyo wasn’t that bad. touching a woman without the intention of immediately taking her to bed was good, jeongyeon learns, good almost in a way that was foreign for her.
in the past, jeongyeon simply didn’t want to do relationships and nobody happened to make her want that, not even jihyo.
something shifts at a certain point of her life where she sees all of her friends with a significant other, happy in their respective relationships, hence she stopped doing one night stands, finding relationships not as bad as she used to. it’s a compromise she would take with a person she loved enough.
jihyo was an exception, of course, in honor of their past together, and she needed a friend, which jeongyeon wouldn’t deny her, yet due to their deal, jeongyeon felt like quite the opposite of what she used to feel towards jihyo. in times gone by jihyo was a friend, someone jeongyeon cared about and slept with, but someone jeongyeon didn’t see a future with.
it used to be simple to think about the things regarding her love life as black and white. there was no complexity in what she felt towards the girls she’d been with, no complexity in how she felt about jihyo. jeongyeon didn’t date, jihyo was a friend, and they did what was convenient for them at the time, the both of them agreeing that they were better off as friends, both incapable of seeing themselves doing romance.
but past does not fully resonate in who jeongyeon grew to be, and perhaps the way she saw jihyo was different. it’s hard to tell when having no references of what she was supposed to feel when the time was right and she found someone she would want to build a life with, but jeongyeon starts questioning herself, wondering if she truly saw jihyo as a friend in the present time.
they were faking it so that jihyo would get some sort of revenge — that was the plan. yet jeongyeon couldn’t help but wonder if she touched jihyo the way she did for sana to see, if she kissed her because she knew sana would look, if she called her terms of endearment because sana could hear her.
certainly, jeongyeon couldn’t do romance in the past, she could barely grasp the concept of being so obsessed with someone that she would want to do everything in her hands to make them smile, to make them genuinely happy, but it happens so naturally with jihyo that she fails to realize it was happening.
“thought you would like something stronger today,” jeongyeon joins jihyo in the porch, sitting on the couch next to her. “but we only have beer.”
jihyo accepts the bottle from jeongyeon’s hand, curled upon the couch, with her knees up to her chest in her sitting position. “this one is fine.”
jeongyeon hums. late at night, the sky was full of stars. jihyo seemed to be studying them closely. “tomorrow is the last day. how do you feel?”
“the message was sent. she knows i’ll always be the happiest i’ve been without her.” jihyo replies. “that was all i wanted.”
jeongyeon nods lightly, bringing the bottle to her lips, taking a sip. although jihyo had been deep in her thoughts before she joined her, jeongyeon knew she was welcomed there, therefore the impending silence was comfortable while it lasted.
“thank you, jeong.” jihyo mutters, quiet and sincere.
only then, that jeongyeon realizes it all had just hit her.
jeongyeon knows from the way jihyo’s silent tears stained her face, falling freely without her trying to dry them up, to the way jihyo was quiet, not trying to flirt or initiate a conversation, much less giving out her frequent smiles — those were the brightest ones jeongyeon had ever seen.
“hey,” jeongyeon pats her back when jihyo can no longer cry quietly. jihyo hides her face in her knees, arms curling around her head, and jeongyeon retrieves the still full bottle of beer from her hand, leaving it on the table. “it’s okay.”
jihyo had been there before. she had cried countless times on her own after finding out sana had cheated on her, both because of sana and because of nayeon, and the intensity of the storm reduced a little each time she cried.
jihyo was over sana, she truly was, but her heart hadn’t accepted the fact that all of her love, her expectations, her happiness — her deepest, sincerest emotions, would no longer exist for sana. or nayeon, who had perhaps broken her heart whereas sana had only bruised it, denying jihyo of a friend to support her and take her pain as her own, the way it used to be.
but jeongyeon was there, and jeongyeon holds her when she cries, tightly enough that she could almost make the pain go away, giving jihyo a shoulder to cry on and a lap she can feel comfortable in.
“she was my best friend.” jihyo says once she is able to do so, a couple of tears ready to fall, but she no longer sobbed quietly into the crook of jeongyeon’s neck.
“i know.” it’s the only thing jeongyeon says, because it was enough. because jihyo wasn’t waiting for an answer, but stating what she was thinking, and jeongyeon allowed her to feel it on her own, being there for her how jihyo wanted her to.
jeongyeon doesn’t pull away when jihyo kisses her, she doesn’t think anything of it, forbids herself of doing so. she kisses her back, and it’s different from the other times. not hungry, or hot, or desperate — jihyo was thanking her, in her own, particular way, holding jeongyeon’s cheeks with a hand as her lips warmly touched hers, soft and sweet.
jihyo places a chaste peck against her lips, finishing their kiss, then opening her eyes to look at jeongyeon. “i don’t… i don’t want you to think that i’m doing this- that i’m kissing you because i want the pain to go away and you’re how it goes away. i want to let you know that.”
with a hand on her waist and the other on jihyo’s face, jeongyeon nods, her thumb caressing jihyo’s bottom lip. “okay.”
“we’re not so bad at this, huh?” jihyo asks, bringing the sun back when she smiles, so brightly that jeongyeon wondered if the other stars were envious.
“we are not.” jeongyeon answers, hardly aware of what jihyo meant, but if she meant that doing romance didn’t feel that impossible for them anymore, then jeongyeon would agree. (she doubted that was the case.)
relatively far from them, sana and momo watched them, only arriving when jihyo was no longer crying, but kissing jeongyeon with no intentions of taking that to bed, laughing when jeongyeon stopped kissing her to crack a joke.
momo sighs, nearly regretting going out with sana and leaving dahyun at home, knowing that she was probably sleeping then.
“they’re cute, don’t you think?” momo asks, crossing her arms as she looked at the couple that wasn’t yet a couple — and she knew because jeongyeon wasn’t able to hide it from her. momo was simply able to read jeongyeon beyond her words, aware of things jeongyeon kept hidden even from jihyo.
“no, i don’t, momo.” sana clenches her fist. “why did you let her come?”
momo ignores her question. “i do. it’s good to see that jihyo found someone good for her. and i know jeongyeon, she will never break her heart.”
unable to keep looking at jihyo, sana shifts, looking at momo, her eyes dark. “you used to know me too.”
“i can’t live my life waiting for the people around me to reveal themselves as deceptive, awful people, can i?” momo asks patting sana’s shoulder, a sad smile on her face. “and here i was thinking you regretted.”
momo leaves, sana doesn’t utter a word. she looks at jihyo again, cries because she didn’t mean to speak the way she did with momo, and because jihyo was happy without her. already.
the last day of their trip is the least eventful.
at night, jeongyeon leaves for a party nearby with dahyun and momo after jihyo insisted for her to go if she wanted to have fun with them, the rest of them stay because they are tired. leaving jihyo alone wasn’t something jeongyeon truly wanted to make, but jihyo convinces her that she should have fun if she wanted to, and so jeongyeon leaves.
mina was there and so was tzuyu, yet sana seemed like the invasive type of person. without her or momo there to protect jihyo, jeongyeon worried about what sana could do or say to her — she was worrying a lot, too much, and jeongyeon didn’t feel like she shouldn’t be feeling that way, but avoiding it seemed impossible.
jeongyeon’s worries were justified and sana does reach out to jihyo, finding and opening when tzuyu and mina go to their room and she stops jihyo from doing the same.
“i want to talk to you.” sana says, noticing the way jihyo reacted when she touched her arm. sana quickly releases it, anxious, desperate to find a way to stop hurting jihyo with her actions, but apparently even standing in front of her was enough to feel like she was doing so.
jihyo keeps a firm stance, with her arms crossed. “what do you want to talk about?”
“should we do this outside?” sana asks, looking everywhere but at jihyo. “i just need some fresh air. i won’t take much of your time.”
jihyo doesn’t feel like accepting sana’s request. they had talked about it — everything that had happened. jihyo had been clear that she would never want to go back to sana. she’d been clear that she didn’t want to know about nayeon, clear that she didn’t want sana to explain why she had done what she did. sana respected her decision because it was the least she could do, still wanting to get jihyo back, but keeping the requested distance.
until something threatens her, that is, and sana feels like going over the promises she’d done for momo and attempting, even if one last time, to get jihyo back. when jihyo agrees to talk to her in the porch, sana feels relieved, leading the way with jihyo behind her, and jihyo was as worried about her decision to talk to sana as jeongyeon was worried about her decision to leave.
“so, what is it you want to say?” jihyo asks, impatient, wanting the safety of her room and the safety of jeongyeon.
“i want you back.” sana states, from the beginning of their conversation. “the thing you have with that woman can’t be as serious as our relationship.”
jihyo can hardly believe what she hears. she’s immediately irritated, because sana was so wrong, but the instant urge to snap at her isn’t enough to make jihyo say or do anything. jihyo stares at sana with a blank expression, her breathing becoming heavier the more sana spoke.
“nayeon was in love with me when we met.” sana explains, although jihyo didn’t want to hear. “when i found out, i felt guilty... so guilty. i didn’t notice she had those feelings for me. it’s not like it would change what i feel for you, because you’re the most perfect woman i’ve ever met, but there’s so much i could have avoided if only i knew…”
sana gets closer to jihyo as she speaks, with only one intention behind her actions. even sana didn’t believe in her own words, sounding fake, making it obvious that she was merely keeping jihyo there for a reason that wasn’t apologizing or justifying herself.
jeongyeon only stays at the party until she knows momo and dahyun will be fine without her there, heading back as soon as she has the opportunity. she arrives on time to see sana and jihyo talking, and despite wanting to give jihyo space, desperately wanting to move, she stays at the entrance of the porch, watching and listening.
“no, sana, let’s not lie here. i was a prize to you.” jihyo says, taking a step back when sana gets too close. “i don’t care about nayeon’s feelings because she didn’t care about mine, and i refuse to talk about her with you. those were two years of my life that you wasted. my life,” jihyo says, her face red with sheer anger. “and i wasn’t even happy with you.”
sana raises her eyebrows. “of course you were.”
“at the beginning, yes, it was perfect. but then you became distant, and…” jihyo shakes her head, letting out a sigh. “no, i’m not having this conversation again-”
jihyo’s voice dies down when sana kisses her, holding her hips tightly, enough to make jihyo grunt in pain. jeongyeon doesn’t have to intervene, because jihyo bites sana’s lip, her palm falling heavy on sana’s cheek.
“you can’t replace me with someone you barely know.” sana snaps, ignoring the heat on her cheek.
“i’m not replacing you,” jihyo replies, cleaning her mouth with the back of her hand. “jeongyeon isn’t a sidegrade. she will never be that. she’s so, so much better.”
“jihyo, it’s been a month. a month.” sana says, as if she was pleading for something she knew she wouldn’t have back. she takes a step closer to jihyo again.
“i won’t be the one slapping you if you touch me again.” jihyo warns, and sana seems to realize her surroundings. momo and jeongyeon would arrive soon, and if jihyo wanted, they would make her regret doing anything against jihyo’s will — besides, it wasn’t like sana to act that way, and the anger vanishes when sana comes to understand what she’d just done.
jihyo leaves her alone, but after taking a few steps away, she stops. “by the way, sana, jeongyeon and i were already together for months before i met you. it wasn’t a month that made me fall for her.”
jeongyeon had heard most of it. she saw jihyo stand for herself and then she left, feeling as if she’d seen more than she should have. jihyo leaves after speaking to sana, spends a few minutes cooling down at the beach, then heads back inside when it gets too cold.
for her surprise, jeongyeon was already back, lying down with her eyes closed. thinking she was asleep, jihyo silently changes her clothes, joining her on the bed then, carelessly making her way to jeongyeon’s arms for some cuddling. but jeongyeon wasn’t sleeping, so her hands naturally find jihyo’s waist.
“sana talked to me.” jihyo mumbles, head on jeongyeon’s chest.
“i know.” jeongyeon replies. “i saw.”
jihyo’s heart races at the thought of jeongyeon listening what she said about her, but she decides not to talk about it. “i’m sorry.”
“what for?” jeongyeon asks softly, a hand brushing jihyo’s lower back under her shirt, the other finding the back of jihyo’s knee when jihyo passes her leg over her hip.
jihyo sighs. “bringing you into this. i shouldn’t have.”
jeongyeon hums. “doing this made it better, didn’t it?”
“yes.” jihyo replies sincerely, feeling lighter after letting sana understand she wasn’t as important for her as she might have thought she was.
“then don’t apologize.” jeongyeon mutters, her voice low.
jeongyeon shifts, barely so, making jihyo open her eyes and look at her, the tip of their noses brushing against each other.
“i’m sorry still.” jihyo insists.
it’s only when jeongyeon pulls away, wanting to see her face before kissing her, that she notices the tear stains on jihyo’s face and how red her nose and lips were from crying.
despite it irking her that sana had made her cry once again, jihyo was the most beautiful when she cried. jeongyeon hopes, instinctively so, that in the future jihyo only cries out of happiness, so she could enjoy the way she looked without feeling an annoying pain in her chest.
“so pretty.” jeongyeon whispers, moving a lock of hair behind jihyo’s ear.
jihyo sighs, eyes closed, feeling a tender kiss on her jaw. “jeongyeon…”
“jihyo.” jeongyeon answers.
jihyo says nothing in response, letting jeongyeon place kisses everywhere — from her jaw to her neck, and when her shirt was somewhere on the ground, on her ribs, then on her tummy.
even if jeongyeon knew all of the corners of her body, it was still new to have her kissing her so passionately everywhere. tender, as if that was their first time together and, for some reason, jeongyeon had to be careful.
jihyo keens when jeongyeon pulls her for one last kiss, tongue brushing against hers so gently she felt like crying again, and she’s unusually flushed when jeongyeon has her head between her legs, taking her time kissing her thighs before she got to take off the last piece of clothing preventing jihyo from bareness.
maybe they really weren’t that bad at romance.
a couple of weeks later, they’re back with their monotonous routines.
jihyo stays longer at work every day, because working made her mind occupied, and she needed to have her feelings at rest before she understood what had happened between her and jeongyeon in their last night together at their trip. jeongyeon on the other hand was already in terms with her feelings, she had been in terms with it, and so she waited, because she was confident jihyo felt the same.
it isn’t until nearly a month after everything happened that jihyo reaches out to her. jeongyeon is waiting for a cab after rehearsing all afternoon, guitar on her back, phone in hands, when she receives a call from jihyo. she picks up in a heartbeat, and jihyo smiles, watching jeongyeon from a safe distance, aware that jeongyeon was there because one of her friends had told her.
“hey, jeongyeon.” jihyo says, holding back a soft laugh.
“hey, jihyo.” jeongyeon greets her back, certainly flirting, just as the usual.
jihyo takes a few steps closer to jeongyeon, unaware of how much she’d missed her until she smells her perfume and her heart aches, desperate to hug her tight.
“would you go on a date with me?” jihyo asks, close enough so that jeongyeon could hear her, but jeongyeon doesn’t notice her presence whatsoever.
jeongyeon makes a noise, as if she was thinking about it. “when?”
“now.” jihyo replies, bossy, not willing to give jeongyeon a choice.
“sure,” jeongyeon says, checking the watch on her wrist. still early enough to do many things. “should i pick you up at work?”
“i’m picking you up this time.” jihyo hangs up, smiling as she appears in front of jeongyeon.
“oh, hey.” jeongyeon breathes out, unusually nervous, but still flirty. “you look beautiful.”
jihyo nods, knowing that already — she worked hard to look pretty for her. she wraps her arms around jeongyeon’s neck, using all the courage she’d gathered during those weeks she had no contact with jeongyeon.
“i’m in love with you.” jihyo states rather than confesses, coming clear with her feelings.
jeongyeon shrugs. “i figured.”
jihyo opens her mouth, slightly shocked that that was jeongyeon’s reaction. “aren’t you happy i’m reciprocating your feelings?”
jeongyeon shakes her head. she grabs one of jihyo’s hands, placing it over her racing heart. “i’m worried.”
jihyo’s eyes widen at how fast it was beating, and that was all because of her — that was, by far, the most beautiful proof of her love jeongyeon could’ve given her. jihyo has to get on her tip toes to peck jeongyeon’s lips, a soft smile permanently on her lips.
“i’ll take care of you.” jihyo promises, aware that jeongyeon had no experience with long time relationships.
“no. i’ll take care of you.” jeongyeon affirms, stubborn, passing an arm behind jihyo’s neck so that they could walk side by side. jihyo passes an arm around her waist, the most comfortable way she could hold jeongyeon, really, given their height difference. “i need coffee.”
“the coffee i make is delicious.” jihyo suggests, but soon she reformulates. “you’ll try it later. we can’t go home now…”
“yeah.” jeongyeon laughs, knowing too well what would happen if that was the case. “come on, there’s a really good cafe nearby.”
tags: overstimulation, g!p, breeding kink, slight exhibitionism, semi-public sex but not really
Jihyo x Jeongyeon cowboy au
Minors and cis men dni
They got halfway through the delivery before Jeongyeon stopped for a break. The two leaned against the frame of the barn entrance, Jeongyeon letting her head fall back as a sigh left her lips. The older woman took off the cream-colored Stetson hat she was wearing and wiped the sweat off her forehead. The pieces of hair that usually framed her face were glued down, and sweat trailed down her neck to the tanned skin of her chest. Jihyo’s eyes followed the droplet down, thinking of how it would trail down the swell of her breasts before rolling down the expanse of her stomach. Something about it made Jihyo take her bottom lip between her teeth, biting down in a sorry attempt to ground herself. All she could focus on was the tan skin Jeongyeon kept exposing as she unbuttoned her shirt more to cool off. All she wanted to do was finish taking it off for her, tongue warm and wet, tracing her skin, and tasting the salt of her sweat as she licked and sucked down her stomach until she met the band of the boxers peeking above her jeans, peeling them off of her before kissing down to the damp hairs above her-
“Too damn hot for all this.” Jeongyeon’s voice shook her out of her daze, leaving her blinking hard, trying to refocus. The older woman smiled at her as she sunk down to sit on the floor of the barn and patted the spot next to her. "C'mere, just sit for a spell.”
Jihyo closed the space between them and sat down on the wooden floor of the barn next to her. Jeongyeon had her eyes closed, leaning back to rest on her arms as she caught her breath, and all Jihyo could think of was the way the sweat glistened on her exposed sun-kissed skin. She tried to relax the same way the older woman was, simply taking in the sun and catching her breath, but it only seemed to quicken her breath as she sat close to her. The proximity was driving her insane; she wanted to take up the space between Jeongyeon’s spread legs. She wanted to take off the woman’s sweat-soaked shirt, lick the salt off her skin, undo the belt buckle centered on her, pull down the zipper of her jeans, and make room for her hand. Work her hand inside, feeling the warmth of her skin through her boxers, palming her bulge until she felt it harden under her touch. Jeongyeon was all she could think about; she was dizzy with want, or it really was just far too hot outside. Her throat felt parched; she could blame it on the work they had been doing, but she knew it was because of the woman next to her.
Jeongyeon took off her hat and sat it down between them. She looked over at the other woman, her brown eyes twinkling in the afternoon sun, a smile tugging on her lips. “You’re awfully quiet today. Penny for your thoughts?”
Jihyo stammered for a second, her cheeks burning and flushing a bright pink. As close as they were, there was no way she was going to air out her thoughts. It wouldn’t be anything new; when Jeongyeon went into town and had to spend the night for work, she shared similar thoughts over the phone, but there was work to be done, and she knew Jeongyeon was the one usually firm on that, always saying that she could only relax when she knew everything was done for the day. She racked her brain for some excuse to make up, brow furrowing before she spoke. "Just... just thinking about what you said.” She forced out a laugh, trying to make her words seem more true. “Way too hot today.”
It seemed to work enough, earning a smile from Jeongyeon. “It really is. I’m used to it at this point.” The older woman leaned closer to her, quirking an eyebrow up. “You should be too; what’s really on your mind?”
Jihyo mentally cursed herself; leave it to Jeongyeon to always see through her. It didn’t make sense for her to try to lie, but she tried it anyway. With how close they were, spending every waking moment together, she should have expected the way Jeongyeon was always able to read her. She swallowed hard, shying away as she felt Jeongyeon’s eyes on her flushed skin. It started to feel far too hot in the barn, the shade doing nothing to help the burn in her cheeks. Her voice came out soft and barely audible: "You... I’m thinking of you.”
She got a smirk in response, Jeongyeon moving the hat between them out of the way to sit closer. “Oh yeah? What about me?”
The younger woman screwed her eyes shut, rubbing the sweat of her palms onto her jeans. “I just—I can’t not think of you sometimes. I can't focus on what we're doing; I just keep imaging you."
Jeongyeon chuckled softly at her words, leaning against the frame of the open barn door. Jihyo opened her eyes at the sound of her voice, “C’mere baby.” The older woman motioned for her to sit between her legs, and Jihyo crawled over, not missing the way that the woman’s eyes seemed to darken. As Jihyo situated herself between her thighs, Jeongyeon leaned forward to whisper in her ear, “You’ve always got such an imagination, don’t you?” Her hands found her thighs, spreading them apart slightly before pulling her flush against Jeongyeon's front. Jihyo bit back a whimper, her hands hot over her clothes as they crept higher before resting on her waist. “Just trying to get some work done, and I bet you were there imagining my hands on you, weren’t you, baby?”
The older woman’s hands found the waist of her jeans, undoing her belt and taking it out of the loops. At the sound of the buckle hitting the ground, Jihyo screwed her eyes shut, silent as she nodded her head eagerly in agreement. Behind her, Jeongyeon clicked her tongue, words breaking warm against her ear, “Such a dirty girl... can’t get anything done without thinking of me.” As she spoke, she felt Jeongyeon pull her closer until her back was pressed against the woman’s front. In her daze, she could barely make out the sound of the zipper of her jeans getting undone. She whimpered at the feeling, Jeongyeon pulling up her shirt and snaking a hand up to trace her fingers against the flat of her stomach.
“Turn around and face me; I wanna see my pretty girl.” Jihyo turned to face the older woman and was met with the same state. Jeongyeon’s pupils were blown, her gaze dark and heavy as she looked into Jihyo. She leaned forward, tucking her hair behind her ear, her touch lingering and warm on her cheek. “You’re so pretty when you’re like this.”
Finally, Jeongyeon leaned in, her hands finding purchase in Jihyo’s hair, pulling them together until their lips met. Jihyo could have moaned at the feeling, Jeongyeon’s lips chapped from the sun moving against her own. Their lips moved in a familiar rhythm, Jeongyeon leading her as they kissed. She felt her nip at her bottom lip, and Jihyo parted her lips slightly, moaning as she felt the warmth of Jeongyeon’s tongue. She felt the arousal in her stomach growing and consuming her thoughts, her mind completely forgetting the other half of the load they had to stack, only able to focus on how badly she needed Jeongyeon.
The two finally parted with a wet sound, leaving Jihyo’s chest heaving as she hauled in breath after breath. She could feel the wetness between her thighs, her core aching to be touched. She looked down, noticing the growing tent in Jeongyeon’s jeans, a tug in her stomach making her surge forward to crash their lips together again. To her surprise, Jeongyeon stopped her with a laugh, “As much as I want to, we can’t here, baby.”
A whine left Jihyo’s lips, leaning forward to rest her head in the crook of Jeongyeon’s neck. Her thighs squeezed together, desperate for any kind of friction, as she kissed the warm skin beneath her lips, moaning softly at the taste of the woman’s sweat on her tongue. She licked a stripe up her skin, leaving her lips inches away from her ear. “I need you so bad, Jeong, I don’t care.”
Jeongyeon whimpered softly as she felt Jihyo’s lips featherlight on her. The sensation went straight down, her jeans starting to feel far too tight on her. It was against both of their better judgment, but it went out the window as Jeongyeon wrapped her arms around Jihyo’s waist, pulling her onto her lap, and slotting her leg between her thighs. The way Jihyo began to grind down was almost instant, the younger woman moving her hips desperately, whines getting caught in her throat. Jeongyeon’s hands grabbed her hips, guiding her to grind down harder, feeling her warm on her thigh. She could practically smell her arousal, whimpering at the thought of how soaked the girl on top of her was. “Fuck… baby…”
Jihyo pulled away slightly, eyes dark and half-lidded. Her hand snaked down between them, palming Jeongyeon’s growing bulge over her jeans as she rocked her hips against her thigh. The older woman bit her lip to silence a moan as she felt her touch rough and desperate on her. Jihyo’s voice came out high and thready, laced with the pleasure she was so desperately chasing, “Please, I need you.”
—
Jeongyeon stood with her back pressed against the bales of hay they had stacked earlier; it wasn’t the most comfortable, but she couldn’t focus on it with the sight before her. Jihyo looked up at her, kneeling on the ground before her hands reached up to undo the button of her jeans. Her hands were trembling with anticipation, barely able to undo the zipper keeping her from what she needed. They were barely pulled down, just enough to allow access as she looked up at Jeongyeon, watching the older woman’s face as she started to pull down her boxers. She hissed as the air hit her semi-hard member, biting her lip as Jihyo wrapped a hand around the base.
Her hand moved up to the head, pink and swollen, leaking precum and collecting it to slick her palm before stroking the older woman’s length. She could feel Jeongyeon getting harder under her touch, her own arousal growing as small grunts left the lips of the woman above her. She knew that she was a mess; she could feel her clit throbbing underneath her jeans, panties more of a mess of her own slick than an article of clothing. Once Jeongyeon got hard, she moved closer, kissing her head before licking a stripe on the underside of her cock before taking it into her mouth. She swirled her tongue around her head, slick and salty in her mouth, making her moan around Jeongyeon’s cock. Jihyo heard her breath hitch, her hips jerking slightly, forcing more of herself into Jihyo’s mouth as the vibrations of her moan coursed through her body.
Jeongyeon hissed through clenched teeth, her hands finding Jihyo’s hair as she felt the younger woman move closer to take more of her in her mouth. Her eyes were screwed shut as the warm velvet of her throat enveloped her length. Jihyo set on taking her as deep as she could manage. The feeling clouded her thoughts, her thighs starting to tremble slightly as Jihyo pulled off with a wet pop only to start pressing wet kisses to her tip. In her haze, she felt Jihyo moving against her. She opened her eyes, slightly looking down, to see Jihyo desperately trying to lower herself down to grind down on the top of her boot. The angle was bad, leaving Jihyo desperately trying to grind against something and only getting the air between them. She could tell how turned on the other woman was, thighs clenched together and hips moving in a desperate rhythm to find some kind of relief. Jihyo’s lips found the tip of her cock again, sucking on it while lapping at the precum leaking from her tip. The sight and the palpable desperation made her stomach tense, thighs trembling with want, feeling the familiar tension she could start to make out the edge of her release. It was all too much, the feeling of Jihyo’s lips wrapped around her cock as she tried to take her length down her throat again, the soft exhale from her nose that she could feel against her stomach, and the thought of Jihyo’s own arousal dripping from her, soaking her underwear and staining her jeans.
With a gasp, Jeongyeon pulled her off of her cock, leaving the other woman whining in protest. She leaned back against the hay, her chest heaving and voice shaking. “Fuck baby...”
Jihyo looked up at her with a pout, lips swollen and shining coated with spit. Her face was a mess; drool had started to drip from the corner of her lips, and her hair was mused from Jeongyeon’s hands. “Why’d you make me stop?” Jihyo moved closer, her hands finding her thighs as she moved up higher to mouth at the base of her cock, “I wanna taste you so bad...”
Jeongyeon’s cock jerked at her words, eyes fluttering shut. She could feel Jihyo’s mouth warm, pressing kisses to the base of her cock, her hand reaching up to cup her balls. She could feel the muscles in her stomach tense again, and she forced her eyes open to look down at the woman on her knees below her. Jihyo’s eyes were dark, still mouthing at her length as she watched Jeongyeon. A curse left her lips, and she leaned down to cup Jihyo’s face in her hands. Her thumb brushed against her cheek as she led her face away from her throbbing length, and the younger woman nuzzled into the calloused warmth of her palm. “Ji, we can’t here. Let’s go back home, yeah?”
Her words seemed to have no effect, Jihyo only leaning more into her touch, taking her thumb into her mouth and sucking on the digit greedily. She made eye contact with her, eyes piercing and full of want. The sight and the feeling made a groan build in Jeongyeon’s throat, making it harder and harder for her to hold back. Jihyo released her thumb, licking the underside of it before kissing the tip gently. She shifted on her knees, thighs pressed together, “I can't—I need you so bad, Jeong.”
Jeongyeon cursed under her breath and stood for a moment, looking for a place to sit down. The only option was the stack of hay that they had piled earlier. It wasn't the best place, supposed to be the start of a store for the colder months coming, but it would be good enough. The hay was rough against her back, but the pile they had stacked made for enough of a chair. “Come here then, baby.”
On shaking legs, Jihyo stood up, sitting on Jeongyeon’s lap. She tried grinding against the hard length between them and began to unbutton her shirt, leaving it open as she straddled her. Jeongyeon pulled the shirt off of her, running her hands down her back. With a groan, she pulled Jihyo closer, burying her face in her neck. She left wet kisses as she trailed down to her collarbone. Her cock was impossibly hard, the head an angry red as Jihyo reached between them, slowly wrapping her hand around her length before pumping it and tracing her thumb around the head. Jeongyeon cursed into her neck, breath breaking warm against her skin, making Jihyo whimper. “I don't—I don’t have a con-“
Jihyo cut her off, “I don’t care,” and crashed her lips against her. The kiss was hungry, all tongue and teeth. Jihyo clouded her mind, her touch dripping with desperation. Jeongyeon reached down, unbuttoning Jihyo’s pants. They broke away for a moment, and Jihyo stood up to take off her jeans. Jeongyeon’s eyes glazed over her body, biting her lip as she saw the growing dark spot on Jihyo’s underwear and the sheen of sweat and slick staining her inner thighs before she took off the offending fabric.
A soft whimper left Jeongyeon’s lips as a hand snaked between them, spreading a mix of spit and precum down her length. Wet slick sounds filled the air, her hand lazily moving up and down until she deemed it ready. Jihyo’s eyes were half-lidded, taking her length in her hand and watching as she positioned herself.
She watched it disappear inside her as she sank down onto Jeongyeon’s length, her eyes finally fluttering shut at the feeling. A whimper fell from her lips as she took Jeongyeon deep in her; the way she was practically soaked helped, but no matter how many times she took her, the girth always made her head spin. The stretch was familiar and welcome, the slight sting making more of her slick coat Jeongyeon’s cock. Once she took it to the hilt, she stilled for a moment, eyes closed, and her hand on Jeongyeon’s chest to steady herself.
After a moment, she opened her eyes again, finding Jeongyeon’s eyes fixed on where they met before quickly looking up. Jeongyeon’s hands found her waist, her palms rough and calloused against her skin, holding her close and steady. Slowly, she started to move, moaning as she felt Jeongyeon deep inside her, finally getting the feeling she was so desperate for.
Their hips met with a wet sound, slick trailing from Jihyo’s center, staining the denim of Jeongyeon’s jeans a dark blue. The older woman gasped as Jihyo rocked her hips on top of her, velvety soft heat grasping at her cock as if Jihyo never wanted her to pull out. She reached up, pulling down the straps of Jihyo’s bra before undoing the clasp behind her back. She took off the last of her clothing and started to mouth at the younger woman’s breasts. As Jihyo rocked her hips, she took a nipple into her mouth, licking and sucking at the sensitive skin, earning whimpers and a gush of wetness on her cock.
She pulled away with a wet sound, squeezing and massaging Jihyo’s breasts with her hands, rubbing the sensitive nubs between her thumb and forefinger. Her voice was high and thready, finding difficulty as Jihyo’s walls massaged and squeezed at her cock, desperate for her release. "God, you look so pretty on top of me.”
Jihyo’s head was thrown back as she moved herself up and down Jeongyeon’s hard length. There was a sheen of sweat on her tanned skin, the sunlight making her practically glow. Jeongyeon’s eyes looked over her hungrily, her hands on her hips guiding Jihyo as she fucked herself. A bead of sweat was working its way down between her breasts, about to roll down the flat of her stomach and her tensing muscles. Before it could go down further, Jeongyeon moved closer, licking it up and moaning at the taste. The salty taste of her sweat spread over her tongue; they were both dirty from work, but Jeongyeon could care less. The feeling of Jihyo's walls soft and velvety around her length made all her thoughts muddled, the only clear thing being the pleasure she was feeling at the moment.
The younger woman shivered on top of her, the pleasure so strong that she could feel it coursing through her body, extending all the way down to her fingertips as her nails dug into Jeongyeon's back. Jeongyeon's shirt was still on, keeping her from touching directly, but the feeling of Jihyo's nails digging into her skin made a hiss leave her lips. A sound close to a growl left her lips as she wrapped her arms around Jihyo's back, pulling her closer. She shifted on the bales of hay, doing her best to maneuver them without pulling out completely, until she was able to lay back on the bales. Jeongyeon pulled out slightly as she adjusted them, leaving the girl above her whimpering at the sudden feeling of emptiness.
Her hands found the swell of Jihyo's ass, palms rough against the soft skin as her fingers loosely gripped her. The new position had Jihyo almost lying on top of her, the younger woman feeling every warm puff of breath on her skin, making her eyes screw shut. Jeongyeon whispered against her skin, words hot as they broke against her skin, "Don't worry, baby, I'm gonna make you feel so good." With that, her hands settled on her waist before roughly making her hips meet, plunging her length back inside. The feeling, the force behind it, made Jihyo gasp, the sound quickly turning into a moan.
The pace she set was far different from Jihyo's; the gentle grind they had quickly turned into something that bordered on punishing. The force of the thrusts pushed Jihyo forward, held in place by the grip that Jeongyeon had on her waist.
It was almost embarrassing how quickly she felt the pleasure building inside her—a coil red hot in the stomach that felt as if it was about to snap. Her moans reverberated in the empty barn, the sound of them connecting nearly drowning them out, and she found herself thankful for how remote their land was.
The shame that came with it, the vulnerability of how public it was melted away, blending into the blinding pleasure. She wanted to last longer, wanted to enjoy it longer, but the bruising pace of Jeongyeon’s hips and the way her cock was brushing just right inside her left her trembling.
She could barely hold herself up, finally letting her chest lay flush against the cotton of the older woman’s shirt, feeling the buttons brush against her skin as every thrust moved her. When she finally found her voice again, it sounded foreign to her own ears, high and almost begging. “Please, I'm so...” a moan broke her voice as Jeongyeon slowed her movements slightly, choosing to thrust into her hard and deep instead.
She felt impossibly deep inside her, making Jihyo’s toes curl at the feeling. “Fuck- please..."
It felt almost merciful when Jeongyeon spoke up; the pleasure was nearly too much for her to be able to form coherent thoughts. “What? You’re close, baby?” Jeongyeon’s lips found her neck, licking and sucking at the expanse of sensitive sweaty skin.
The feeling of her lips, the way her cock was hot and heavy dragging inside her—it was all too much, leaving her only able to frantically nod in response.
Jeongyeon snaked a hand between them, finding her swollen clit with practiced ease. The feeling was like lightning, lighting her up and leaving her moaning and whimpering as Jeongyeon’s lips and tongue trailed wet on her neck.
The feeling of her rough fingers working against her clit, the weight of Jeongyeon’s cock heavy and familiar reaching so deep inside her. All of it finally pushed her over the edge, leaving her shaking in Jeongyeon’s arms.
It washed over her like a tidal wave, taking her so deep that she didn’t know which way was up. The pleasure was blinding, leaving her unable to tell if her eyes were squeezed shut or not. Tremors racked through her body, leaving her feeling as if she were floating above her body.
As she started to come down, she felt Jeongyeon rutting against her, thrusts rough and sloppy, focused on only getting herself off. Each movement felt as if it were taking Jihyo higher, her mind numb except to the sensation. The pleasure started to bleed into something white-hot, thighs trembling every time their hips met. She could hear the wetness, feeling it drip down from her core and onto Jeongyeon’s lap. It would be embarrassing and a pain to clean up, but it was the last thing on her mind as Jeongyeon’s hips started to stutter. "Close..." a curse fell from her lips. "Gonna cum so deep inside you, baby."
Jeongyeon grunted beneath her, a strangled moan leaving her lips as her hips stilled, burying herself as deep as she could go. The feeling was overwhelming, the sensation of her warm cum flooding her insides. She could make out herself clenching around Jeongyeon, earning another strained moan from her lips. Almost as if it were automatic, her hips moved, rocking Jeongyeon deeper into her, desperate to milk her for all she was worth.
When they both finally came down, it felt as if Jihyo was floating. Her mind was in a haze, the feeling of Jeongyeon’s cock still deep inside her being the only thing she could focus on. Shakily, she lifted herself off, disconnecting with an embarrassingly wet sound, and sat on the expanse of Jeongyeon’s stomach. Her shirt had gotten pushed up, leaving her feeling warm skin beneath her.
Jeongyeon looked up at her, brushing sweaty strands of hair from her face, a small smile on her face. Jihyo felt dazed, still dizzy with want, as she looked down at her to take in the sight of her rumpled work shirt and her now softening cock. She looked down, whimpering as she saw streaks of cum on her thighs. With her fingers, she gathered it, slowly pushing her coated fingers inside herself. Her words were almost slurred, eyes fluttering shut at the feeling, “It’s coming out.”
Jeongyeon’s eyebrows shot up as she watched the scene play out. There was something undeniably hot about it—her girlfriend looking completely fucked out above her knuckle deep in herself. She knew that Jihyo had a thing for it, occasionally begging her to finish inside, but this was new.
A wet sound filled the air as Jihyo pulled her fingers out of herself, a dazed smile on her lips as she brought them up to her mouth. She licked the digits clean, brown eyes gazing into Jeongyeon’s, and the sight alone made her cock twitch. With a soft pop, she pulled her fingers out of her mouth before lazily lowering herself down, nuzzling into Jeongyeon’s neck.
The older woman was too stunned to reply, simply wrapping her arms around her to hold Jihyo close. Her fingernails traced her bare back, making the younger girl hum contently. Her voice came out close to a whisper as Jihyo nuzzled into her neck, “Tired?”
Jihyo hummed in reply, letting her eyes flutter shut. Jeongyeon nudged her slightly, disturbing the little bubble of peace around them. “Hey, I’ll take you back to the house. Get dressed and we can go, yeah?”
Almost in slow motion, Jihyo crawled off of her, lazily pulling her clothes back on. Jeongyeon stood up, pulling up her boxers and doing the button of her jeans. She looked around the barn, sighing at the stack of hay bales just outside waiting to be sorted. There was so much to do still, the tasks piling up in her brain only to be interrupted by the feeling of Jihyo warm, pressed against her back.
Her voice was slightly hoarse, scratchy from overuse. “Stop worrying; there’s always tomorrow.”
Jeongyeon turned to face her, and she felt her worries melt away. The sunlight was trickling through the rafters of the barn’s ceiling, illuminating Jihyo’s skin and making her look almost angelic. Her smile was soft, her eyes heavy, but her skin nearly glowed under the light, sunkissed and beautiful. They had been together for years, more familiar with the time spent together than spent apart, but Jeongyeon knew she would never not be stunned by Jihyo.
She smiled softly, kissing her girlfriend on the cheek and taking her hand in her own to lead her out to the truck outside. There was always tomorrow, new days to look forward to with her.
[request 1] [request 2]
pairing: jeongyeon x jihyo
genre: plot with smut and a bit of angst
warnings: nsfw (+18), minors dni
tags: ceo!jeongyeon, ceo!jihyo, service top!jeongyeon, rival relationship, enemies to lovers (kinda?), betrayal, happy ending, other twice members
w/c: 18.3 k
a/n: first time writing smut, i'm nervous!! i'm also nervous bc i made jeongyeon a woman in stem and i'm not so i just used big words randomly. i tried to turn those requests into this and i hope i made justice to what you had in mind even though it took me longer way than i expected. feel free to leave any comments, feedback or suggestions 🖤
update: edited (september, 2025)
"You could have sent me a message" is the first thing Jeongyeon says to the woman who just entered her office bowing ninety degrees with a serious face.
She doesn’t say a word before Jeingyeon speaks again.
"This better be important, Mina-ssi, no one should see you enter this building" she insists, warning the young woman.
She just nods as she looks for the right words thinking about the dialogue she has been practicing in her head since she decided to address this issue face to face without intermediaries. At first she hesitates, but decides to be clear instead of beating around the bush.
"Excuse me Jeongyeon-nim, but I think this will interest you" she finally dares to speak.
The other woman just waves her hand inviting her to sit across the table of her huge office, making her take a seat immediately before she can continue.
"ZoneTech is starting to work on video games."
As soon as those words leave her mouth, the Signal Systems CEO's face changes. Her body takes on a different posture, her jaw tightens and her fists clench tightly.
On the other side of the big desk Mina, analyzing every one of her moves, notices her obvious frustration. For a few seconds, she remains silent, waiting for any question or comment from the other woman, but this one, who is somewhere between surprise and anger, does not utter a single sound beyond a breath that deepens and accelerates as the rage invades her.
This is a personal attack. It’s not the first time something like this has happened; after all, this whole war has been going on for more than half a century.
In 1942, friends and partners in business, Yoo Byungho and Park Youngho, opened a home furnishings store. At that time, the country was going through difficult times with the Japanese occupation and the subsequent Korean War that led to a prolonged period of political instability. But thanks to Yoo's creativity and Park's selling skills, the business not only survived but grew from a humble store to a small and promising company.
In the early 1960s, a new era of prosperity would come for the country and for these entrepreneurs as well, they expanded the business, importing and selling household appliances, founding Zone Systems. Unfortunately, due to constant disagreements between Yoo Byungho and Park Youngho, this pioneering company would not reach its fifth anniversary, as the partners broke their alliance and created Signal Systems and ZoneTech, respectively. Against all odds, taking different paths was the key to success for both.
Today, Signal Systems and ZoneTech have established themselves as the most important companies in the country, having a great influence on economic, political and cultural development.
Despite the impressive achievements of each of them individually, it’s impossible to talk about one without mentioning the other. The reason for this is not the shared origins, but the numbers, data and rankings always place one behind the other with a slim margin. If one year the market has been dominated by ZoneTech, it’s most likely that the following year those numbers will be surpassed by Signal Systems.
If you ask any technology expert, economic expert, or ordinary consumer which brand is better, the answer will never be unanimous.
And it’s a really complex answer, since both cover the same businesses such as consumer electronics, technology, finance and, in recent years, have incorporated entertainment. The only thing that makes them different is that SignalSystems is known for creating and using the most advanced technology always wrapped in the most sophisticated designs, while ZoneTech stands out for making that technology accessible to the general public with more affordable prices and more practical designs.
This is how a disagreement between partners has now become a war between the largest South Korean business groups, a battle that has been going on for six decades and in which four generations of the Yoo and Park families have already participated. A dispute that is now at its peak since the great-granddaughters of the two businessmen, Yoo Jeongyeon and Park Jihyo, took over as CEO, and, like their ancestors, they were friends before they were rivals.
"How do you know?" is the first thing she asks.
"Well, as you know I am a programmer. This last month they have been doing individual interviews to workers from each of the departments, telling us that they are looking for new ways to organize the work teams according to our interests, aptitudes and skills, since they want to release different products next year and they need the highest efficiency" she begins to explain confusing Jeongyeon, who doesn't quite understand what Mina is trying to say with all of this. Still, she listens to her carefully trying, to get answers.
"At first, they were normal questions about our work interests and whether we had hobbies related to our work, but when I mentioned my liking for video games they seemed interested. The questions started out generic... what kind of video games I play and so on, but then they asked me if I think the company would have the capacity to create their own games and if I would be interested in working on that hypothetical project" she seems to conclude.
The CEO, with an increasing anger, gets up from the desk without knowing what to do with her hands and tries to calm down her nerves before speaking.
"I want information. I want data. And I want documents that prove what you tell me, That's what I pay you for, not for you to come to me with assumptions.''
At no time does she raise her voice, but her tone is stern and threatening, although not enough for the programmer to lose her signature serene demeanor.
"I know. That's why I didn’t come until now" she replies. "I was handed this morning" she says as she takes a folder out of her briefcase and puts it on the table.
Seeing that it’s a folder with the orange logo of the rival company neatly printed and partially covered by a red and black stamp warning that it is confidential information, she returns to her chair and takes the papers in her hands.
A quick read is all it takes for Jeongyeon to come to the same conclusion as her informant.
"ZoneTech is going to create a video game" she mutters to herself.
As she reads, her jaw tightens again and her fists clench the pages until she stands up and begins to scan each page. When she has a copy of the thirty pages that make up the document, she places them back in the folder and returns it to its owner.
"You may leave, Mina-ssi" is the last thing her boss says.
She does what she is told, taking the folder and her briefcase and bowing before walking through the door.
Once she is alone in her office, she goes through the papers again, this time more carefully and without losing detail. Unlike Park Jihyo, she does get involved in the development process of many products, as both her hobbies and her studies have always leaned towards engineering and programming and not towards business and economics like her rival.
In fact, the ten video games that have been released in the last three years under the Signal Games brand were Yoo Jeongyeon's own idea and creation. She was the one who saw an opportunity in this market that the company had never ventured into before, and she dared to do so. It was not only an adventure for the company but also for herself.
Perhaps that's why, for the first time, she lets it get the best of her and grabs the phone.
"Dahyun-ssi, I need the usual apology basket for Miss Im, but this time write ‘thank you’ on the card" she asks her secretary.
Just a few meters away from the door of her office, Kim Dahyun tries to hide her surprise and takes note of the instructions given by her boss.
"Okay, you will have the basket ready in an hour. Should I also add the usual bouquet with flowers that symbolize friendship, or would you rather ones that express gratitude?"
"Mhm… good point, Dahyun-ssi, I hadn't thought of that. Use both of them and add some blue if possible. I trust you. When everything is ready, send it to her home and also free up my schedule for the rest of the day. Thank you very much."
Of course, the favor she asks to her longtime best friend, Nayeon, costs her more than a basket of her favorite foreign snacks, three packages of the best meat on the continent, and, of course the latest model of the Signal System cell phone.
₩ 10 billion for her next movie is exactly what it costs her. That is the price of Jihyo's personal phone number. For anyone else, it would be crazy, but for the CEO, who was putting her friend in such a compromising situation. The latter has stayed out of the fights between them for years, so the price seems more than reasonable.
The negotiation wasn’t easy, but as soon as Nayeon had the basket on her doors and the first payment for the financing for her next film project, Jeongyeon received a message with the phone number.
Minutes later, at the other end of the Central Business District, Park Jihyo smiles with satisfaction when her phone lights up with the name: Yoo Jeongyeon.
"I was waiting for your call, Jeongyeon-ssi" is what Jeongyeon hears after a single tone.
"Then I'll save the explanations. I have an offer. It will have to be face to face and just the two of us. As soon as possible. I want neither intermediaries nor interveners."
"Where will we meet? You know that if we’re seen in the same building the effect on the stock market would be immediate. But if we do it in secret and the press catches us it will be all over the news making all kinds of assumptions and spreading all kinds of rumors. And I don't think your father would like that, would he?" she says with a sarcastic and mocking tone.
"Jihyo-sunbaenim, I'm not for your stupid games right now" she says with a tone that denotes that her patience is running out. "I'll take care of the place, it will be neutral, casual and public enough so as not to raise more suspicion than is necessary. Try to keep it discreet, and of course don't wear or bring anything that would imply that this is a business-related meeting" she makes clear with a serious tone that only provokes Jihyo more to keep pushing Jeongyeon's buttons.
"And why would you and I be in one place if not for work?" she says with obvious sarcasm in her tone that doesn't go unnoticed by the other one.
"We can just be some old friends getting together to catch up."
As soon as she says that, a loud and snarky laugh is heard, but no words precede it, so she keeps talking.
"I'll send you the address, see you there" she declares.
"Wait!" she says before she can cut the call. "Did you have my contact saved or did your spy give it to you?" she adds, but before she gets an answer, she hears a few beeps indicating that the call has ended.
That’s how the first private conversation the two have had in four years ends, a conversation that leaves both of them with such a strange feeling. It's not as if they haven't spoken during all this time; they have actually crossed some words on more than one occasion during all kinds of events, acting as complete strangers with empty words, without any purpose beyond showing a cordial and polite relationship in front of colleagues, business partners, politicians and the press.
Now, although the conversation was brief and straight to the point, it felt personal somehow. The warnings, the sarcasm and the challenging undertones of the exchange are never present – or at least not so obvious– in the formal and aseptic talks they usually have in front of others.
It was almost like going back to that usual bickering between the two that used to annoy Nayeon during their high school years, when the three of them were inseparable friends. However, the difference was that this time it did not come from playfulness but from the current hostility that exists between the two businesswomen.
There was a time when things were different.
It had always been Jeongyeon and Nayeon until the first week of their last high school year. Everything changed when they were approached by a short girl with big bright eyes who introduced herself to Jeongyeon, even though they already knew who the other was. She still remembers the determination in her eyes when that shorter and younger student told her she would be as good or better than her.
From that day, their friendship, but also a friendly competition between the three of them, began. By the middle of the school year, Jihyo had already surpassed the highest grades and top scores in all the clubs and sports that, up to then, belonged to his unnies, Nayeon and Jeongyeon.
This situation, far from distancing or confronting them, brought them closer and turned them into great friends. Despite the rivalry that had marked the relationship between their families, Jeongyeon did not mind because she expected the new students to beat records and records at some point, just as she had done since she arrived.
On the other hand, Nayeon enjoyed having someone as competitive as her, while Jihyo didn’t really care much about her. She considered Jeongyeon her greatest competition and an example to follow. Like her, she would inherit a big company and had to be just as good. This wasn’t the case with Nayeon, who, although she had an impressive academic record like the other two, was the daughter of an actor and a writer. So outside of school their competition was a simple game with no major meaning for both of them.
Needless to say, many things have changed over the years, and nothing is the same now.
Nayeon has been there for both of them as a friend, confidant partner in crime and sometimes even as a wingwoman. But they are no longer '3mix', as they used to call their small squad. Now they are just Nayeon and Jeongyeon on one side, and Nayeon and Jihyo on the other.
Two days after the call, the two find themselves staring defiantly at each other in one of the best restaurants in the city. The older one arrived early and was already seated in a more distant and private corner of the establishment when Jihyo arrived, led by some waiter. As soon as he left, they exchanged a cordial greeting and the first words.
"So, a restaurant" is the first thing Jihyo says with a provocative smile as she takes a seat.
"Can you think of anything better? I thought you usually like my ideas quite a bit" she replies immediately, without thinking much.
As soon as those words leave her mouth she regrets it. She has come here to look for solutions not to make the whole situation worse.
"It's not a complaint, but don't think that by inviting me to dinner I'll take you up on your offer" she replies in the same defensive tone.
Jeongyeon rolls her eyes at Jihyo's unassertive attitude, although she understands that she herself has not been very welcoming so far.
They haven't even ordered yet, so there's still time to change the course of the conversation and the dinner. She intends to do her best to leave this restaurant with a closed deal and not a fight that will make the problem grow even bigger. And she knows for a fact that falling for Jihyo's games will only make things worse.
As if the waiter had heard her thoughts, he appears with the menu giving them a chance to make a fresh start and forget the little run-in they had seconds before. They both take it, thanking the waiter and start going through the expensive and exclusive dishes, looking up from time to time to stare at each other, as if making sure that they are really at the same table about to share a dinner. Just the two of them with no one else around.
The last time they did something like this was so long ago that it seems like a dream, as if those memories aren’t theirs. Jeongyeon looks at her trying to read her. Long ago a single grin, frown or sneer was enough to guess her mood or if something was on her mind, but now it almost feels like the person in front of her is a complete stranger.
Jihyo is no longer the enthusiastic, competitive, playful but insecure and innocent teenager who used to call her unnie with those big bright eyes, those cheeks that made you want to pinch them and her characteristic long brown hair. Now she has an ambitious and confident woman in front of her, still with reminiscences of her playful personality. It’s obvious that she still likes to play games, but they are not innocent anymore.
She knows what she wants and does whatever it takes to get it. That is something she has made clear to Jeongyeon these past years with her mind games, strategies and foul play. The sparkle in her eyes has disappeared and they are no longer so expressive. The gaze is cold and she feels like she is analyzing each and every one of her moves. Her appearance seems to have changed according to her personality. She looks much more mature now that she’s a 26 year old woman, but it’s not just about the passing of time; her look is also a statement.
Her hair is shoulder-length, a little longer than hers, and dyed black. Her features are more defined and her jaw is sharp. Her round cheeks might have disappeared with age, but her distinctive mole is still right on the tip of her nose. Her whole body is noticeably more defined, and even though the black blazer-style dress she wears covers her arms, Jeongyeon caught a glimpse of her toned, tanned legs before she sat down.
"You look great, Jihyo-sunbaenim" she compliments her to break the ice and tries to show that she didn’t come here looking for a challenge or a fight.
This catches the younger one off guard, surprising her. None of the thousand scenarios of the encounter she has been creating in her head these days had prepared her to receive kind words from Jeongyeon that seemed sincere. She has always been a person with a cold and distant attitude, saying compliments so openly, giving or receiving displays of affection isn’t her thing, or at least it wasn't. Maybe she has changed too, Jihyo thinks to herself.
"You too, you look good, Jeongyeon-ssi" she replies with a small smile without showing her teeth and takes the liberty to tease. "I see your style has been refined. I hope your dad didn't have to burn your sweatshirts like she used to promise."
The comment makes them both relax and the tension dissipates slightly with their soft laughter. For a moment they seem to know each other and it’s like nothing has happened between them. Just for a few seconds.
When they were teenagers and were forced to attend all types of social and business-related events, it was common to see Jeongyeon wearing a sweatshirt among the elegant women's dresses and the boring men's suits. That always annoyed her father, but also a younger Jihyo, who would always lecture her about the importance of etiquette and reminded her that in the future she would be the heiress of an important company so she should dress like one.
Now Jeongyeon is in front of her and still keeps a somewhat more casual style than expected from the CEO of one of the biggest South Korean companies with blonde highlights in some parts of her hair and her more masculine style, now much more sophisticated. Black pants, a beige shirt with a brown turtleneck sweater underneath. Comfortable and discreet, but it really suits her.
Jihyo shakes those thoughts out of her head when the taller one asks if she would like to have the same wine as her. Usually, Jihyo would order a beer, but in a restaurant like this it's more suitable if she orders wine, especially when Jeongyeon points out the wine she chose would go very well with her meat. It kind of hurts her pride but she knows she is right.
After the waiter takes their order they continue a conversation so superficial that they will surely forget it before dessert, however they do not take their eyes off each other analyzing and memorizing every movement, no matter how subtle it may be. It is not until they drink their second glass of wine that Jihyo dares to talk about the reason that has brought them here, or rather to ask what it is.
"I’m guessing you didn't invite me to dinner to talk about wine" Jihyo says with a slightly sarcastic tone. "What's that offer you mentioned? It must be very interesting for you to have dared to call me and even put Nayeon-unnie in the middle of it."
At this, Jeongyeon nods "Always straight to the point, some things never change" she says, receiving a shrug in response. "Well let's get down to business then...".
She takes a long sip, creating anticipation before speaking again.
"Forget about video games, and in return, Signal Entertainment will disappear from the industry with the only condition that the group becomes part of your company, with no cost. Those girls have worked hard and are succeeding, it wouldn't be fair to them" she states in the shortest and most concise way possible.
For the first time since they sat down, Jeongyeon can read Jihyo's expression. The surprise on her face is more than obvious, but it soon changes to one of satisfaction. Her strategy was working like a charm, even better than she expected.
"I knew the video game thing would get you to react right away, but I have to admit I'm getting more than I intended" she says amused. "Some things never change after all, you're still the same nerd you were in high school" she laughs.
"Do we have a deal then?" she asks, ignoring her remark.
"Not so fast. If I remember correctly your Itzy girls debuted a year after ZoneMusic debuted StrayKids...if we brought our own video games to market, wouldn't we simply be giving consumers more options?" she says, unable to help grinning. "Why would I turn down the chance to beat you on your own ground?" she adds, defiantly.
"I didn't want to get to this part of the deal, but if you don't accept it I will file a lawsuit against ZoneTech for plagiarizing our technology and using it in your products on more than one occasion."
"I didn't know you were capable of taking risks, it seems that there are also things that change" she says completely carefree and even amused, for her this is a game, but not for Jeongyeon.
"I promise you I don't want to do it, but if necessary I will go all the way, because it's a won case."
"You seem very confident, you know the best law firms would fight over the case and it wouldn't stay in court. It would be all over the media and it would end up becoming a public trial."
"I know, and that's why I want to avoid it. The evidence is more than obvious. Without getting too technical, your products have always come out later and I have proof that you have spies in my company."
At this last statement, Jihyo lets out a wry laugh.
"You say that as if you don't have your own spies lurking around my company. In fact we are here because of one of them, aren't we?"
"I don't know, can you prove it?" challenges Jeongyeon. "Because I have recordings and audios that prove that discarded programs, software and designs have been stolen from me and then used by your company" as she says this, the CEO can see her rival's face change, even though she tries to hide it as best she can. "I have more than enough information. I don't need my... informants to steal and if they did I would like to think they would do it better than this girl. I don't know if you are familiar with the name Son Chaeyoung, short, dyed black hair and plenty of tattoos."
Of course she knows who the girl she is talking about is, the same way she knows that Myoui Mina is the one who gave her the video game information. But there is no way to prove it since that information was shared with fifty other workers.
Fortunately for Chaeyoung, Jeongyeon has better plans for her if Jihyo accepts her offer. Her work as a designer is so good that she intends to come to an agreement with her before she ends up working for ZoneTech. But unfortunately for Park Jihyo, the tattooed girl is not so good when it comes to computer science, espionage and keeping secrets. Chaeyoung was recently caught on the servers floor trying – unsuccessfully – to steal a software program, and who caught her was none other than Minatozaki Sana, ZoneTech's receptionist, but a computer scientist and shadow informant for Signal Systems.
According to the Japanese woman, despite her boss Yoo's request not to go into details, she only needed to unbutton a couple of buttons on her shirt and a couple of innuendos for the short girl to end up on her bed showing her all her tattoos and confessing to her what a designer was doing with a laptop and a bunch of cables on the server floor in an attempt to impress her.
This same story, although omitting quite a few details, is what Jeongyeon tells Jihyo to show her that she isn’t playing games and that she is totally being serious. But Park is stubborn and the conversation continues until dessert arrives.
The older one assures her that any judge would eventually be on her side. She even invites her to check with her own lawyers before giving her an answer. She also assures her that she wouldn't like to have to solve it in court because it would be a long and tedious process for both of them regardless of who wins. She reminds her of the fuss it would cause, and that the legal process itself would be nothing compared to having the media on their backs for months digging up dirt of the company, their family and even personal issues that may or may not be a lie would come into play. And in this sense, they both know that it would only only take exposing their personal interests for their public image and status to suffer serious damage.
Jihyo is confident that she could get some good lawyers, and the possibility of a billion won lawsuit does not worry her. However, the damage it could cause to the company's image and her family's legacy and especially the work her father did, does worry her and is what makes her consider Jeongyeon's words.
If any of this, from the theft of information to the espionage were to become public knowledge, she’d have to prepare herself for the worst.
"Think about it, Jihyo-ah" Jeongyeon says, dropping the formalities. Once again leaving the other speechless, she just takes a sip of her wine instead. "I know I have no right to ask you to trust me, but we were once friends and I wouldn't want this senseless family war to continue for another sixty years."
"And your way of ending it is to sue me?" she asks in disbelief.
"It's not like that. I've offered you a deal that you know would benefit both of us. You've always loved music as much as I love video games. We both win".
All of this is not enough to convince her, because she doesn’t trust the person in front of her. There’s something that makes her wary. It seems all too simple to end four years of hatred between them. Why now? Why all of a sudden? Is this all about stupid video games or are they just a way to build bridges between companies? Is this all a strategy? Is this all a strategy? are some of the questions that go through her mind.
"How do I know I can trust you?"
"First of all, Nayeon-unnie would finish me off if I tried to hurt you, so carrying out the lawsuit would mean ending a friendship of over 20 years. But if that's not enough to convince you, I can show you all the evidence I could present against you, that way you can see how serious I am about this. Obviously, it would be stupid to give them to you since I would be helping you prepare a good defense, but if you come to my place I will show everything to you, even the security videos and recordings of Son Chaeyoung. You just have to set a day for me."
"I want to see them now" she replies with no hesitation.
This time, it’s Jeongyeon who is caught by surprise, she didn’t expect to receive such an immediate response. It’s rushed, but true to her word, Jeongyeon pays for the luxurious dinner and they both leave the restaurant, catching some curious glances and hearing some murmurs in the background.
"I guess you didn't come driving in those heels" says Jeongyeon as she looks up and down her perfectly sculpted legs. "I can give you a ride and then I'll have someone drive you back to your house."
She takes some time to actually give her an answer. Under normal circumstances, Jihyo wouldn't accept the favor, as she prefers to do things her own way. But under normal circumstances she wouldn't be going to her former friend's house on a Friday night either, so she agrees, and they both leave in the same car after Jihyo gives her driver and bodyguard the night off.
The drive to Jeongyeon's house is longer than expected, but they barely exchange a few words and just stare at the road while listening to music. The music is soft, perfect for driving at night. The volume is loud enough so that they don't have to engage in conversation, but neither of them is able to pay attention to it when all they are able to hear are their own thoughts.
They have met again, they have talked after a long time, the deal, the lawsuit… but also the compliments, the teasing and the bickering. There are so many things to think about and so many feelings to process, they don't even know how they feel about what's going on.
Eventually, they arrive. Jeongyeon's house, unlike hers, is on the outskirts of the city, in one of the most expensive districts of the capital, although her own luxurious duplex apartment in the city center probably cost the same as this huge, modern house. It really suits her, Jihyo thinks as she gets inside, led by the taller one.
She's never been much of a sociable person, but she doesn't like to be isolated either, and though she may boast a simple lifestyle, she wouldn’t give up the comforts that her family's money and status have brought her. After all, that’s how they both grew up and it’s all they know. It’s in an area away from the hustle and bustle of the city but not far away you can see luxurious homes and the occasional mansion. The interior, as well as the exterior, has a modern and contemporary design with the newest and most advanced technology in every corner from the living room to the kitchen where they are now.
"Beer, right?" she asks, earning a confused look from Jihyo. When they were friends she wasn't old enough to drink and lately they hadn't shared any context casual enough for her to know about her fondness for beer. Jeongyeon seems to read her mind and while opening the fridge she simply says "The cans that Nayeon-unnie keeps in her fridge" she clarifies.
Of course that was it. Even if the two pretend the other doesn't exist on a daily basis, when they’re spending time with their friend, sometimes it’s inevitable that she briefly mentions the other or remembers her existence, especially when there’s a space in Nayeon's fridge reserved exclusively for the beers and soju she usually drinks with Jihyo.
Despite cutting off any personal relationship between them, they have never stopped being present in each other's lives either for work or for their best friend. A fact that makes Jeongyeon's decision decisive. This situation must end no matter what, we can't go on fighting all our lives.
Jeongyeon offers her the beer and leads her to her office. Once there, she asks her to turn around to open the strongbox where she has all the evidence she’ld use in case the lawsuit goes through.
When she’s able to look again, she finds before her a series of folders stacked one on top of the other rising about 20 centimeters above the table, several hard drives and also CDs. Jihyo assumes that they likely contain the same contents in different formats, knowing the cautious nature of the woman next to her, it is an assumption but also a hope. In front of her is what could bring her career, her company, her family and her legacy to an end.
It’s at this exact moment and without yet diving into the documents, that she becomes fully aware of the gravity of the situation.
She could try to defend herself against every attack, and will do so if necessary, but she’s not so arrogant as to think she would come out unscathed. She knows full well that the damage it could cause would be fatal, even if she managed to strike back with every blow, and that would mean the end for ZoneTech and for Signal Systems as well.
"Go ahead, take a seat" Jeongyeon invites her, knowing that she’s in full control of the situation right now.
"Can I see everything?" she asks, looking directly at Jeongyeon. From the expression on her face, Jeongyeon can’t tell if she is genuinely asking her permission or if she is testing her, trying to see if this is all trick.
"If you're going to go through all the documents, I guess we'd better get comfortable. Let's go to the living room."
So that is what they do.
After reaching an agreement for Jihyo to leave their cell phones in another room, they both get comfortable in the living room, each with a beer in one hand and several folders in the other. Although the tension is not the same as it was at the beginning of the evening, neither one of them trusts the other, the tension is in the air. Jeongyeon, in addition to making Jihyo leave her cell phones away, doesn't take her eyes off her and the latter can't help but look over the documents to see what the other is doing.
From time to time, Jihyo – not being well versed in the subject – asks Jeongyeon some questions and she has no problem in resolving her doubts. Soon, they open the second beer. Between the questions and the occasional accusation of plagiarizing each other's products and marketing strategies on both sides, they also begin to share some anecdotes from the past. On occasion, they briefly mention things about their current life without going into much detail.
It's getting later and later, but the activity, conversation and beers keep them going for the time being.
Jeongyeon is genuinely taken by surprise by Jihyo's determination, she is really willing to read every single document, she is already on the fourth folder and still has three more to go plus videos, recordings and images. The older woman could leave her to it and go do something else, something other than watching her read documents with that same deep frown she makes when tasting food she likes, the same one she made during dinner or when she took that first sip of beer hours ago.
She could give her space, but at the end of the day, it's not as awkward as she’s assumed it would be. Still, she knows she has to be cautious because any misstep could ruin everything. And, although she'd never admit it, she'd rather be talking and catching up, pretending for a moment that their friendship never ended, than explaining software details on a Friday night after two glasses of wine and a few cans of beer.
"Are you really planning to read the whole thing? Aren't you tired?" she asks, with honest concern.
"If you want me to leave, just say so" she says, finishing the can of beer in one gulp. "But I need to know what I'd have to deal with. I don't think you'd be thinking about sleeping either if you were in my situation."
"That's not what I mean. I mean if you aren’t tired of all this? Aren't you tired of trying to outdo me at everything?"
At this unexpected question Jihyo just bursts out laughing.
"Oh my god, I didn't take you for someone this self-centered. Do you really think this whole situation is about me trying to prove I'm better than you?"
"Well, I think it's pretty obvious, in fact, if memory serves me correctly, the first thing you told us after introducing yourself to us was that you’d be as good as us in everything. Soon after that, I remember you had the highest grades in high school and broke all our records in soccer, archery and athletics" as Jeongyeon recalls, on the other side of the couch, Jihyo looks at her in disbelief frowning and holding the bridge of her nose while listening to her. "I know that was like a game, it was our thing and you outdid me in everything, but we’re adults now, we can't be playing games or fooling around. I think it's time to accept that this isn't getting anywhere. No one is winning here."
"Are you drunk already or are you still just as dense?" the words leave Jihyo’s mouth before she can stop them, and she immediately regrets it. She takes a breath and softens her tone. "Sorry, that came out harsher than I intended. What I’m trying to say is that you haven't really changed, have you? You've always been brilliant at understanding numbers, computers, video games and all that like no one else. But when it comes to people..."
"What do you mean?"
"This has never been about me trying to be better than you or beating you. Not anymore, at least, it's not about you. It's about doing my job and keeping my company at the top" she states and adds with a playful smirk “and certainly the fact that it’s you I’m going up against does make it more fun."
Jeongyeon just rolls her eyes at that last remark.
"You should know better after everything that happened" she says without going any deeper into the subject because it's not necessary for the other to understand what she's referring to. "It's really frustrating. You don't see the things you have right in front of your eyes, I’ve never been able to tell if you’re truly oblivious... or just pretending not to notice." Jihyo sighs.
She takes a few seconds to compose herself and tries to grab another beer, but Jeongyeon stops her gently. Jihyo just nods and continues, avoiding direct eye contact.
"Of course I wanted to be better than you back then. Knowing that I’d be in the same high school as the heiress of my family’s biggest rival, needless to say I wanted to be better than you, of course I did. But you didn't treat me as such nor a rival or an enemy, so before I even realized it we became friends. There was also Nayeon and we got closer every day. I stopped seeing you as a rival those first weeks, it didn't take you long to become my role model."
She looks up at Jeongyeon, eyes clear but there’s a flicker of something else. Doubt, perhaps.
"Role model?" Jeongyeon echoes, surprised. She leans in slightly, feeling curious to know the younger girl's side of the story. Eager to know what she means when she says she’s never seen what was right in front of her.
"Think about it, your future and mine were going to be quite similar. Heiress to one of the biggest companies in the country… the first woman to be in charge, and you were older than me. You had the best grades, broke records in almost every sport, captain of the soccer team and were part of dozens of clubs. I looked up to you. I wanted to follow in your footsteps because I knew they were the right ones. I didn't want to beat you, I aspired to be as good as you".
Jihyo’s heart is racing as her story unfolds, because even though nothing new will come to light, there are still unresolved matters, conversations they never had and wounds that remain unhealed that she doesn't want to think about. Her heartbeat is only slightly faster than Jeongyeon’s, who knows just as well as she does what’s about to be said.
"But we both know it was more than just admiration. I loved you and just wanted to be good enough for you. I-"
Right when Jihyo is in the middle of her confession, a wave of feelings hits Jeongyeon throwing her toward the lips of the woman in front of her, who is looking at her with those big and expressive brown eyes.
It takes a few seconds for Jihyo to realize what is happening but when she does she doesn't move away. Instead, she lets herself go and closes her eyes ignoring all the alarms going off in her mind.
It's a timid kiss; their lips don't even move until Jeongyeon takes the lead. At first her kisses, like her movements, are delicate and tentative, giving Jihyo room to stop her at any moment, but this doesn't happen.
They both know that the sensible thing to do would be to stop, but they don't know how to do it. They can't do it. It seems that tonight the two of them are letting each other break through all the walls, and for a moment they forget about the world and their problems. It feels too right to be a mistake.
Their lips feel so familiar that it makes their hearts ache. Their mouths taste like beer, memories and regrets. The taste of the past on their lips is so strong that it makes them pause. For a few seconds they exchange glances, catch their breaths, and look for a sign to stop or a gesture that invites them to continue.
Jihyo is the first to speak after coming to her senses.
"What the fuck, Jeongyeon?" she wonders out loud.
All that confidence she had when she threw herself at the younger one's lips vanishes right after hearing her words.
"I'm sorry!" she exclaims with hesitant and nervous gestures. "I thought... I shouldn't have-"
This time, it’s Jihyo who interrupts her, not with a kiss but with a statement that surprises her even more.
"I thought you hated me" she admits.
"What? I’ve never hated you, Jihyo" she replies, somewhat more relaxed and looking into her eyes with honesty.
"I have...sometimes I still do" she confesses, leaving Jeongyeon stunned.
"In that case, it's better to stop here and forget about what happened. I'll take you home" she says, trying to brush it off and getting up from the couch, obviously trying to show indifference to Jihyo's words but she can see a slight pain in her eyes.
When she’s about to get her car keys she feels a hand around her wrist. She turns around and sees Jihyo looking up at her with an amused smile.
"You didn't let me finish, I know we shouldn't do this, the last time we kissed things didn't end well" she says, more as a reminder to herself than to Jeongyeon. "That's what makes me want to hate you. No matter what you do you're always going to drive me crazy. I hate that you still have this effect on me."
Hearing her words Jeongyeon's whole body heats up and she can feel her cheeks burning at the low tone of Jihyo's voice. She doesn't know what to reply and the other one isn't sure if she wants to hear what she has to say. Before she can give her an answer, she pulls her arm, pushing her towards the couch right next to her.
Are you sure?" asks Jeonyeon. "We can stop if you want, at any time and we can forget about everything that has happened since you walked in the door."
"Unnie..." she replies lowering her tone and leaving Jeongyeon speechless, she no longer remembered how the word sounded coming from Jihyo's mouth. "Let's forget everything that happened before we walked through that door, just don't hurt me this time" she pleads with a sigh, letting herself look vulnerable like she never did before.
In front of her is no longer the successful and intimidating CEO who occasionally makes her job impossible. Gone is her cold, distant and inaccessible image. It’s simply Jihyo, asking who asks her to guard her heart, to tear down her walls to let her pass and remind her that she is the woman who never fails to make her heart race, who takes her breath away, who makes her head spin and gives her butterflies in her stomach.
She knows perfectly well why all she’s asking her not to hurt her, she doesn't need to explain it for Jeongyeon to understand what she means. But before she can give her an answer as reassurance, other than nodding her head, it’s Jihyo who makes the first move.
This time it is not so sudden. The movements are smoother; they take their time to place themselves in a more comfortable position, still keeping a safe distance between them. She doesn't know what time it is or how far she is willing to go, but she doesn't want this to come to an end. She wants to savor every moment without rushing.
She touches Jeongyeon as if she wants to check that she’s really there, that she isn’t a memory and that she isn’t going to vanish from one moment to the next as she has done so many times before. She doesn't know what time it is or how far she is willing to go, but she doesn't want it to end. She touches Jeongyeon slowly as if she is memorizing every fold of her clothes with her hands, as if she is afraid that it is really a dream that could vanish at any moment.
The taller one lets herself be touched without putting up any resistance, she lets Jihyo take the lead, she knows she needs control right now and is willing to give it to her – for now.
The younger one gently caresses her cheek, tucks a lock of hair behind her ear and moves her hand down to her collarbones. Her fingers slowly snake around her neck and when she squeezes lightly, at last Jeongyeon reacts by letting out a soft whimper. As she maintains her grip, her eyes travel from her own hand to the lips of the woman whose neck she grips as delicately as she does precisely, and then to her eyes, where she sees something she hadn't seen before. Immediately the grip on her neck tightens a little more and Jihyo moves until she ends
up on top of her thighs, straddling her.
"If you hurt me it's over" this time it doesn't sound like a plea at all but more like a threat and Jeongyeon has a feeling it won't be the first one she'll hear tonight.
"Yes, ma'am" Jeongyeon whispers, unable to help but smile, far from being uncomfortable in the position she is in.
As soon as these words leave her mouth, Jihyo releases her neck to grab the collar of her shirt and crush their lips together in a hungry kiss. This time it's deeper and more passionate, but full of emotions like the first one of the night. Their lips explore each other again with kisses that are increasingly impatient, heated and wet, creating sounds that fill the silent room.
Shortly their tongues start to get involved, exploring every inch of their mouths moving in perfect synchrony. As they devour each other, it’s not their tongues fighting for dominance, but them fighting for control until Jihyo caresses the roof of her mouth with the tip of her tongue, leaving Jeongyeon at her mercy making her forget all about her little power game as the first moan escapes from her lips. Hearing the sound echoing against her mouth, Jihyo's hands clinging to her shirt, pulling her closer, and she feels the heat coming off her skin as she wraps her arms around her neck.
They kiss for what feels like hours, pausing only to catch their breath or let out soft moans against each other's mouths. But their hands have barely explored each other's skin and not a single button or zipper has been undone yet. When eager kisses aren't enough Jeongyeon's lips drift from her mouth to her jaw and down to Jihyo's neck, as she caresses the caramel skin of her exposed thighs.
When Jeongyeon starts tracing kisses all over her neck, Jihyo can no longer ignore the growing wetness between her legs especially when the kisses are followed by soft bites and licks that go all the way down to her chest, driving her crazy.
"Take off my dress" she commands with a whisper against her ear before nibbling it, sending a shiver down Jeongyeon's spine.
Without breaking away from her neck, Jeongyeon starts undoing the buttons of Jihyo’s black blazer-style dress, thankful there are only two holding it closed. She helps Jihyo out of the dress and tosses it to the other side of the couch.
This time, they lock their eyes instead of their mouths. As they do so, they can't help but smile seeing each other's red and swollen lips. For Jeongyeon, the image of Jihyo straddling her makes her mouth dry. Her gaze traces from those hungry eyes and is followed by her glossy, wet lips, her neck painted with red marks that will soon begin to darken to purple and finally her body, covered only by lacy black that leaves her breathless. It’s the first time they’ve seen each other like this, and Jeongyeon needs a few seconds to to take it in.
She has Jihyo sitting on her thighs dressed only in her underwear, which, despite being black, doesn't quite hide the wet spot between Jihyo's legs. Knowing that she’s the reason for that wet spot makes Jeongyeon feel her own and squeeze her thighs, seeking some relief. This action doesn't go unnoticed by the woman on top of her who doesn't take long to tease her about it.
"Do you like what you see? Tell me what you want" .
Jeongyeon just nods, staring without missing a single detail of her defined muscles, how her chest rises in sync with her breathing and how her abs tighten as she continues stroking her thighs. It's impossible to have Jihyo in front of you like this and not want everything with her.
"I-I want you" she stutters against her mouth.
It's not the response Jihyo expected to receive, but it satisfies her enough to kiss Jeongyeon impatiently. Her kisses are accompanied by the subtle grind of her hips against her thighs. Her hands run through her hair, gripping it to guide her mouth lower, but before working on her chest she’s quick to unclasp her bra, finally freeing her mouth-watering breasts and capturing them eagerly with her mouth. The moan that escapes Jihyo’s lips as she feels the warmth of her tongue brushing against her hardened nipple, stiffened by both the cold and the growing pleasure, invites Jeongyeon to continue her ministrations. She gives attention to the other breast with her hands brushing her finger softly over the nub before trapping it between two fingers and pinching it with light pressure.
Her other hand, which just seconds ago was caressing her thighs, moves to her lower back holding Jihyo in place. Testing new limits,she ventures further, slipping her hand inside her underwear. A touch that makes goosebumps rise all over Jihyo’s skin in anticipation of what’s to come.
Bodies exploring each other, blood rushing through their veins and breaths racing. The sound of wet kisses, labored breaths and muffled moans from each other's mouths is all they hear, but all their senses are alive, urging them to push further into each other.
Jeongyeon keeps her mouth busy teasing, licking, sucking and nibbling on Jihyo's breasts, while her hands roam, sinking fingers into bare skin. Most of the time her eyes are closed, unable to keep them open as the sounds coming from her mouth cause her mind to cloud and her core throb in need.
The sensation is overwhelming. Jihyo moves her hips, seeking more pleasure as she rubs her center against Jeongyeon's body, bringing herself to the brink. She notices the beads of sweat running down her chest, caught by Jeongyeon's tongue, taking her to new places and making her feel things she's never felt before. She's doing wonders with her mouth, but right now she needs her somewhere else as the building sensation in her stomach is too much. She doesn't want it to end like this. She needs more, she needs her.
Using the grip she has on the older woman's hair, Jihyo pulls her away delighted by the image of Jeongyeon's wet mouth attached by a string of saliva to her nipple.
"Fuck..." she murmurs as she shifts her posture, sliding off her lap.
At the loss of contact Jeongyeon whines and looks at her with pleading eyes making Jihyo grin.
"I would never have guessed you were this needy" she says as she moves her hand to Jeongyeon's face and grabs her by the jaw to devour her mouth before whispering, "Get on your knees''.
The words come out halfway between a command and a plea as she sits back down on the couch, leaving a space between her slightly spread legs for Jeongyeon to position herself.
She doesn't need to repeat herself. Iit barely takes Jeongyeon time to kneel on the floor between her legs. Due to the difference in height, their faces are almost at the same level, but it doesn't matter when it’s more than evident Jihyo is in charge. Even though she’s the one in a more vulnerable position – nearly naked, legs spread wide, exposing herself completely – the control is all hers.
Jeongyeon looks at her, wanting to learn by heart every detail of her body, but behind her gaze there is more than just lust. There is admiration and adoration. She just looks up at her silently, waiting for Jihyo's next command as she feels her whole body burning and a tingling sensation in her stomach as a result of the urge to please Jihyo in this way.
Not once does her hand loosen its hold on his jaw, only loosening it as Jeongyeon positions herself. Once she’s on her knees under her attentive and hungry gaze, she uses her thumb to ghost over her lips, a motion that Jeongyeon immediately responds to by trapping the finger between her lips, sucking it and stroking it with her tongue, giving her a taste of what is to come. The warm, wet sensation of her mouth trapping her finger catches her breath and the ache between her thighs grows at the image and the contact of her fingers with the walls of her mouth.
"I need you" she breathes as she slides her finger out of her mouth to place it into her own, tasting Jeongyeon's mouth.
In her eyes, as in her words, what she senses is desire, hunger and lust. She wants this as much as she does and is willing to give it to her. Without looking away, she caresses her legs from her ankles to the edge of her lacy panties, taking her time and switching between soft kisses and the occasional playful nibble. When she brings her mouth to her inner thigh to deposit a kiss, she inhales Jihyo's scent, which makes her light-headed and sends a shiver down to her own throbbing center.
She's dying to taste it, but she isn’t done with the teasing until she slides a finger along her clothed core, drawing a louder moan from her throat than before. It's embarrassing how sensitive and pent up she is, letting out sounds like that from a single touch. From that moment on, she knows it won't last long, as her whole body jerks from the light touch that has allowed her to feel her wetness despite the piece of cloth that still separates her from her target.
That's when she finally decides to completely undress Jihyo, and she, feeling the cold air against her growing dampness, lets out a breathy whimper. Jeongyeon shoves a hand between her legs to spread them more in order to gain better access and to take a few seconds to revel in the image in front of her. Just inches from her eyes, nose and mouth is Jihyo's glistening sex that leaves her stunned. Intoxicated by what she sees, the smell of Jihyo's pleasure and the sensation of her own arousal, she finally reacts and looks back up into Jihyo's eyes.
"Can I?" she says, asking for permission.
"Please" she tries to say in a neutral tone that fails to hide the desperation to receive the attention she so strongly craves.
That's all it takes for Jeongyeon to bury her head between Jihyo's tanned legs.
She starts where she left off, with kisses and nibbles on her inner thighs slowly, until her whimpers sound too needy to continue ignoring them and prolonging her torture. They seem to have come to an agreement because, at that very moment, she notices Jihyo’s hands grabbing her hair again to guide her to where she needs her the most.
The first contact is a tentative lick with her flat tongue from bottom to top that stops before reaching her clit. That's enough for a moan to escape from her half-opened mouth. She repeats the action a couple more times at a slow pace, sliding her tongue between her folds and her slit and even teasing her hole but never reaching her bundle of nerves, testing her limits once again, enjoying her every reaction and tasting her wetness. Her hands do the same, sliding up and down caressing and grabbing her thighs, her hips, her torso, her chest and her ass without stopping anywhere, leaving caresses with his fingertips and sometimes gentle scratches.
Despite the pleasurable but torturous ministrations, Jihyo is loving every second, every lick and every rub. Her moans get louder and louder as the pleasure washes over her and the embarrassment of sounding desperate fades away. The sounds coming out of Jihyo and the wet sounds of which she herself is to blame motivate her to go one step further, sucking on her clit. As she does so she looks up so as not to miss a single detail of Jihyo's reaction. Her act catches her by surprise, but her body is quicker to react, and it takes seconds for Jeongyeon to notice how the grip on her hair is tighter and how Jihyo's thighs now press the sides of her head, covering her ear. Even then she doesn't stop hearing Jihyo's moans.
"Oh fuck, right there, stop teasing" she sighs between moans, guiding Jeongyeon's head between her legs.
She continues licking, sucking and nibbling gently making her juices drip down mixed with her spit onto the couch and onto Jeonyeon's chin. She notices how her own arousal becomes uncomfortable every time she moves, however small, and feels the seams of her pants rubbing against her hardening clit, making her moan against Jihyo’s center.
For a first time together, there’s no awkwardness and Jeongyeon manages to hit all the right places, swirling her tongue around her clit, lapping on her juices and dipping her tongue inside her only to remove it seconds later, making her pussy clench around nothing. When she doesn't like something, Jihyo lets her know right away and guides her with words or by pulling her hair. She is also not shy when letting her know she is doing the right move in the perfect place, being much more vocal and also doesn't hesitate to praise her when she deserves it.
"Yes baby! just like that!" she moans loudly as Jeongyeon draws shapes onto her clit while she easily slides two fingers inside her.
Jihyo feels herself getting closer and closer to her high and grinds her hips against her mouth as she pulls her as close as physically possible. Jeongyeon's fingers move faster and deeper, reaching new places as she curls her fingers. This has Jihyo squirming under her touch making her feel light-headed and too close to the edge even if she is still fully dressed and untouched.
Making Jihyo feel so good – hearing her praises in between her loud moans as she begs for more, feeling her warm and wet insides, seeing how she’s unable to maintain eye contact because she can't help but close her eyes and arch her body – has Jeongyeon dizzy and overwhelmed with her own sensations. When she hears her call her “baby” she can't help but slide her free hand between her legs and apply a little pressure teasing herself and focusing on her own heat instead of her aching knees.
The mere hint of her fingers stroking over the fabric makes her jerk and gasp, sending vibrations to Jihyo's throbbing cunt. Totally intoxicated by her choking breaths and the scent of the woman trapping her between her legs, she doesn't even realize how her eyes are piercing her until she hears, "Don't you dare." That makes her gulp pull her hand away immediately, but at no point do her fingers stop darting in and out of Jihyo, who looks at her with a mischievous smile.
"Sorry" she apologizes before going down on her again.
"Now be good and make me cum, please" she says a little breathless and bites her lip when she feels her tongue again. "I will make you feel so good and you will cum when I give you permission, baby."
She swears that every time she hears that pet name come out of Jihyo's mouth, she’s about to cum, just like she is about to do thanks to her good work. Since Jeongyeon is back to fingering while running her tongue all over her thighs, folds and clit, Jihyo is soon back to being close to her release.
"B-baby I'm so... close. Don't stop!" she cries out what is meant to be a warning, but she can't help it when she shatters as she reaches her orgasm.
All it takes for Jeongyeon to bring her to climax is sucking on her swollen nub at the same time she curves her fingers deep inside her, hitting her sweet spot. Her whole body arches completely tense just before she starts to jerk. She tugs Jeongyeon's hair with one hand and puts her other hand to her mouth in a futile attempt to silence the obscene scream she just let out. She doesn't say the name of the woman responsible for her screams but, instead, "baby".
That doesn't stop Jeongyeon, who continues her movements, slowing down when she notices her legs squeezing her head. That's when she moves her mouth away just a few centimeters, she can still feel her breath against her center as she allows her some time to come down from her high. It doesn't take long to fill her thighs with kisses as she cleans her up, a gesture that melts Jihyo's heart, who sees for the first time this loving and sweet side of her unnie.
At that moment, she realizes where her hand is and finally lets go of Jeongyeon's hair, who starts to feel a slight discomfort from all the tugging.
"I'm sorry" she whispers before pulling the collar of her shirt to kiss her again, tasting herself first in her mouth and then on her cum covered fingers, looking at Jeongyeon with hungry and lustful eyes that make her press her thighs together.
"Stop" Jihyo reminds her. "You’ve been very good to me, let me make you feel good now. Where’s your room, unnie?" she asks her in a way that makes Jeongyeon feel some embarrassment for being treated this way by someone younger than her, making her blush because she’s enjoying it more than she deems appropriate.
The second round is on the bed and barely lasts a few minutes. After Jihyo practically rips off Jeongyeon's clothes and gets on top of her, making herself comfortable between her legs, Jihyo takes control and starts rubbing their slick centers while their mouths devour each other in an animalistic way. She’s still sensitive from her first orgasm and Jeongyeon is already on the verge of cumming after eating her out, so they cum in no time. In any other situation or with someone else, it would have been almost embarrassing, but between them the situation, far from feeling awkward, feels right, safe and they even joke about it, but not for long.
They go fast and they go slow, sometimes gentle and sometimes rougher, trying different things, exploring each other's bodies, learning what the other likes as if they were trying to make up for all that lost time and those first times they didn't have together in one night. It doesn't take them long to recover from the earth-shattering orgasm they've shared either, so the second round turns into a third and a fourth until they lose count of the kisses, caresses and orgasms they've given each other.
As the night progresses, they become more vocal and when they go for the last round they whisper sweet nothings to each other between kisses that are no longer about pleasure but about feeling each other. When their bodies are exhausted and their eyelids begin to close involuntarily, the first rays of sun are rising through the trees and mountains.
"Don't go" she blurts out without thinking, and in an attempt to regain her composure adds "Get some sleep, you're too tired to go home, it's dangerous, you could cause an accident".
"You say that like I'm going to drive" she giggles. "Just say you want me to stay" she pushes.
"Why would I want that?" she says, trying to sound annoyed by the accusation, but she's too tired for it.
Jihyo shakes her head and smiles, getting too close to her and her lips, causing Jeongyeon to close her eyes in anticipation, but instead of noticing a kiss she notices Jihyo's breath against her lips saying, "You're such a tsundere... it's very charming, honey."
Jeongyeon almost chokes when she hears the pet name, it's not the first one of the night, but it's the first one she doesn't say between moans. Maybe because she knows there’s some truth in her words she doesn't talk back.
"Just stay, we'll talk about this tomorrow" she says in a soothing voice as her eyes struggle to stay open, at least until she hears Jihyo's answer. But she lies on her side, turning her back to her, as she doesn't feel ready to look her in the eyes in case she rejects her offer.
"I'm staying, I missed you" she whispers as she hugs her from behind, spooning her.
Once again, it’s Jihyo who proves that she is the brave one between the two by daring to name what she feels and say it out loud, exposing herself once again and being vulnerable in front of Jeongyeon. Even though she has promised herself a thousand times during this time that she would never do like this again, that she would protect her heart like she hadn't done in the past.
When she wakes up, she notices a warm body on her body and she doesn't need to open her eyes to know who it is. Jihyo is still there and this time she’s the one in his arms. Nor does she need to remember what has happened, as the mixture of smells from the room and the sheets hits her invading her nostrils. She would swear she can feel Jihyo's taste on her tongue, her fingers ghosting over the skin of her back and even her fingers running through her hair sending a shiver up her spine as she recreates moments from the night before in her head. The memories cut her breath away, but her mind soon travels elsewhere and the memories of the night are replaced by a compelling need to shower and change the sheets. Some habits never die, not even when Jihyo is naked in her bed.
On any other occasion, Jeongyeon would already be throwing the sheets in the washing machine, preparing breakfast and cleaning up the mess in the living room where the paperwork is piled up among some beer cans. However, the uncertainty and the thought that this was a slip-up or an unforgettable accident that would never happen again keeps her pinned to the bed more firmly than the grip of Jihyo's arms or the leg that is currently wrapped around her waist.
The warmth of Jihyo’s body against hers keeps all of Jeongyeon’s senses on edge. She doesn’t wake much later than her, but those few minutes are enough for Jeongyeon to spiral into overthinking every possible scenario and outcome that might happen after this. The comfort she felt just moments ago, when she buried her face in Jihyo’s hair, turns into a tight, unpleasant pressure in her chest, caused by the growing anxiety she tries to manage as best as she can.
"Morning, Jeong" she hears Jihyo say in a husky voice.
Looking at her, she can't help but smile at the sight of the traces of makeup. This is another thing she wouldn't have allowed under normal circumstances, but the truth is that she usually didn't end up collapsing on her bed as the first rays of sunshine came out. Seeing Jihyo with her eyes slightly closed, makeup messed up, lips still swollen and some marks spread across her neck and chest makes her light-headed.
"Good morning, Ji."
That way of calling her draws an immediate smile on Jihyo's face. She's used to being called that, Nayeon calls her that often, but on Jeongyeon's lips it just sounds different. She can’t remember the last time Jeongyeon called her that way. To think that just a few hours ago she was referring to her as Jihyo-sunbaenim makes her head spin.
Jihyo dares once again to try her luck and gives her a peck on the lips, getting an unexpected response.
"We should take a shower."
The two have different plans, but the two have their way. Before getting into the shower they share a heated make out session that ends with Jeongyeon panting against her mouth as she reaches orgasm riding Jihyo's thigh.
After sharing a shower in which they exchange kisses again and which becomes the perfect opportunity for Jeongyeon to return the favor, they both end up wrapped in the comfortable clothes of the owner of the house. Jeongyeon prepares coffee and a delicious and abundant breakfast for both of them, while Jihyo watches her, feeling her heart pounding in her chest.
Their relationship had never gone this far, not even when they were secretly in love with each other nor after Jihyo's first confession years ago. The furthest they had gotten beyond friendship was that confession itself, a bouquet of flowers that ended in a kiss.
This is all new to both of them, yet it feels dangerously familiar, as if they have done it all their whole lives, something that frightens both of them. Neither can rationally explain that something that shouldn't have happened in the first place feels so natural, as if the years, the distance and the enmity that has lasted almost five years never existed. And this time, not even Jihyo dares to say out loud how normal this situation feels. She fears that it's all in her head, that if she pushes too far, she could ruin it all in one reckless moment, just as she had the first time.
They talk, the conversation isn’t as deep as it should be given the circumstances, but it doesn't stay superficial either and they touch almost all the important points. They talk about Jeongyeon's offer or threat – depending on who you ask – and come to the conclusion that they shouldn't be mixing personal matters with work, so it still stands and Jihyo will have some time to think about it and consult with her own legal team if she considers so.
On what happened last night they both agree that they got carried away without giving much thought to the possible consequences. Jihyo described it as a "moment of weakness" while Jeongyeon called it an "impulsive and irresponsible act," but neither dared to pretend it was a mistake.
After a heated conversation that was interrupted several times by some insults, cursing, accusations and kisses they came to the conclusion that it had been a good time that both had enjoyed, but if repeated they should have a conversation beforehand that they don't know if they are ready for. And of course, Nayeon can't know anything about this, at least while they figure out what will happen between them from now on.
They talk about everything and nothing, their friendship, their estrangement and the open war between them, which seems to have finally reached a point of truce. But always leaving out the taboo subject that always comes up but they don't dare to talk about, they just tiptoe around it.
Before the situation becomes too domestic, Jihyo decides she should leave. "Can your driver take me or should I call mine to come?" she asks.
"I don't plan to go out and he lives nearby, if you want to go now it's better if he takes you home" she offers ignoring the slight but obvious awkwardness that has settled between them.
Jihyo nods and in a few minutes she’s ready to go, Jeongyeon is even kind enough to give her something more comfortable than her clothes from last night and offers her a pair of sneakers that are too small for her, so she doesn't have to wear her heels.
"Thank you."
"They're just sneakers, I don't even wear them" she shrugs without noticing Jihyo's sudden and unusual shyness.
"It’s not about the sneakers…” she stutters. “Just- thank you for everything."
"Don't thank me at all, I-I really enjoyed it Jihyo-ah" smiles Jeongyeon with a slight blush painting her cheeks and the tips of her ears.
"Me too unnie" she says, staying awfully close as her gaze drifts down to her lips, but she does nothing.
They both giggle nervously, not really knowing how to act around each other after everything that has happened in the last few hours. Now it's awkward. They have no regrets, but that's not how things were supposed to have ended, they had arranged to meet to talk business. And they had done that but they also got drunk on each other's lips, sank between each other's legs, spent the night with their limbs tangled and now they’re struggling to quiet the butterflies in their stomachs.
It doesn't take Jihyo much longer to get into the car to leave, Jeongyeon opens her door for her and before closing it she speaks.
"Think about what I showed you last night. Take as much time as you need."
She then closes her door. Last night she showed her many things and she knows exactly what she means. But her mind can't help but go to other places, feeling her skin bristle and her stomach tighten as she remembers the image of Jeongyeon emerging from between her legs and looking at her with those puppy eyes and swollen red lips, covered in a layer of both saliva and her own juices. The memory is so vivid it's as if she's standing in front of her right now. She bites down on her finger to make sure she doesn't let out a moan right then and there, as her thighs rub together involuntarily, seeking to feel something.
When she gets home she doesn't receive any message or call. The next day neither, and when the weekend is coming to an end, still nothing. She knows that Jeongyeon sometimes needs to take some distance and be left alone with her thoughts to process things. If she herself was anxious and a bit scared about what would happen from now on, it’s natural to think that the other would be the same, maybe a bit more so, given her reserved personality.
Days go by and she still receives nothing, which makes her anxiety increase.
Of course, she could write or call her at any time. At this point, it’s more than obvious that Jihyo isn’t afraid to take the lead and make the first move. But this time is different. She needs Jeongyeon to take the initiative for the first time, for more than just preparing a lawsuit that threatens the future of her company, her life as she knows it and her family's legacy.
It's a matter of pride, she knows it. She refuses to pursue someone who wouldn't do the same for her, but also out of fear of being rejected once again and getting her heart broken. She thought that after all she’s been through, and at her age, she’s more than ready to face rejection, but the truth is that if Jeongyeon rejects her again, when there aren’t more external reasons to do so, it’s likely that this time the pain will be much worse.
By the time a week has passed, Jihyo's uncertainty has turned into disappointment. She even comes to think that being directly rejected after receiving her first kiss was less cruel than whatever Jeongyeon is doing now. But in fact, it could be much worse.
After spending the weekend turning down invitations to meet friends, because lying in bed staring at her phone with the screen off while listening to the most heartbreaking ballads is what she needs right now, Jihyo gets the news on Monday morning.
"Jihyo-nim, Hirai Momo is coming. It seems to be some kind of emergency" her secretary Lily announces over the phone.
When this happens, nothing good follows. From problems with products that are about to be released, system failures that were not foreseen to hundreds of other problems that Jihyo doesn't understand but which she knows means that something is not working as it should.
Hirai Momo, one of the software developers at the head of the department, enters nervously and hurriedly with her fringe hairs sticking to her forehead from sweat, her shirt sleeves rolled up and her tie unbuttoned. She’s out of breath and her glasses are covered in a layer of mist indicating the urgency of the situation as Momo seems to have come running into the office.
All the signs alert Jihyo and prepare her for the worst, she’s ready to hear that their new line of cell phones that are about to be shipped to every store in the country will have to be recalled due to some glitch, like that time they discovered that their new long lasting batteries exploded. She was prepared to listen to anything, except for what Momo says as soon as she catches her breath without even bowing.
"We've been hacked."
The initial shock leaves Jihyo frozen in place within moments, but it doesn't take her long to react as she puts the pieces together. Of course it's Horai Momo who's breaking the news to her that they've suffered a cyber attack. It only takes her a few seconds to get up with fire in her eyes and stand in front of Momo making the employee swallow hard.
"It’s been stopped, but we don't know yet who has done it or what information they have stolen or altered" she says before Jihyo unleashes her anger at her, but this isn’t enough.
"You better fix this as soon as possible, or I will fire you and make sure you have to go back to Japan. You are not going to be hired anywhere in this country, not even to clean toilets" Jihyo threatens, pointing her finger and staring straight into the face of the woman in front of her.
Momo can’t even look her back in the eyes. If she does she knows she will end up crying.
"Yes, Jihyo-nim. I'll fix it" she says bowing a bunch of times while stuttering a few apologies before walking away.
She should have figured it out. Now she feels completely stupid for falling for it. It's kind of evil and sick, even for their messed up relationship, Jihyo thinks.
Without thinking twice, she grabs her bag and leaves the office, asking Lily to cancel all meetings until further notice. Seeing the obvious anger of her boss, Lily doesn't even dare to open her mouth and just nods vigorously. She has seen Jihyo angry a million times, but never like this, so she imagines that the news Hirai gave her must be very serious.
As she is about to leave the building, she catches a glimpse of Minatozaki Sana at her reception desk. Unable to control her anger, she heads to her desk. Sana's usual smiling expression disappears as soon as she sees her boss's gaze, and she freezes in place.From the look on her face, only one thing can have happened. She knows it.
"I'll tell you the same thing I told your friend Hirai. If I find out that you are involved in this, you can start packing your bags to go back to Japan, because I will personally make your life a living hell" she threatens her with a stern tone, but low enough to only reach the receptionist's ears.
As quickly as she arrived, she disappears from her side and exits the building where a car is already waiting for her.
From the very first minute Sana got into all this, she knew it was risky, and she isn’t worried about the consequences because she knows that, just as Jeongyeon promised them, she has nothing to worry about. Still, there is something bothering Sana because she doesn't really know what the CEO is referring to. So she decides to immediately look for Mina and Momo to get answers.
Meanwhile, Jihyo, who feels that she has more than enough information, gives her driver the address of Signal Systems' main building at the other end of the Central Business District. There, she is greeted by a wide-eyed receptionist, Chou Tzuyu, who can't hide her puzzled face when the CEO of the rival company she works for as an informant is in front of her.
However, her job at Signal Systems is to receive those who have an appointment with Yoo Jeongyeon and let her or her secretary know that they have arrived. Obviously, the name Park Jihyo isn’t among today's meeting list and has never been before, so the astonishment among the workers and visitors who recognize her is widespread.
In this situation, Tzuyu can only fear the worst and her suspicions aren’t misguided when she leans on the counter, asking for Jeongyeon's floor number, the way to the elevators and orders her not to warn that she’s here. The receptionist, who is smart enough and values her life, does as she’s told and also gives her a guest access card without asking any questions.
That's how Park Jihyo gets to the top floor of the Signal Systems building, where the office of its CEO, Yoo Jeongyeon, is located. But for Jihyo, right now she’s nothing more than her rival, one who uses disgusting tactics, even for her usual game which includes espionage among other things of questionable ethics.
Between the elevator and their destination is the desk of Dahyun, Joengyeon's trusted secretary and Jihyo's informant.
"Good morning, Dahyun" she greets her with a smile that sends a shiver through Dahyun's body. Seeing the fire in Jihyo's eyes, she doesn't know if she should fear for her job or her life. "I come to see your dear boss. I guess she's in her office."
The secretary nods and when she opens her mouth to continue, Jihyo makes a gesture with her hand telling her to shut up. Then she walks with firm steps towards the office. She storms in, but what she sees leaves her as shocked as those in the room.
"Jihyo?!" Jeongyeon's voice sounds surprised and confused.
"JIHYO?!" the woman with her back facing the door exclaims, even more surprised and confused.
"Nayeon?" Jihyo is so astonished that for a moment she forgets why she has come here.
They look at each other, shocked by the situation they are in. They stare at each other without saying anything for a few seconds, until Jeongyeon decides to take control of the situation as she feels her heart hammering in her chest. It's been a week since she saw Jihyo, and since then she hadn't contacted her, so the last thing she expected was for her to suddenly walk into her office, just on the same day and at the same time that Nayeon does.
"What are you doing here?" she asks, trying to control the trembling in her voice.
"Stop pretending, I'm not falling for your games. You know what I'm doing here" Jihyo says harshly, very different from the last time she talked to her.
"Well... I guess" she says, looking at Nayeon with concern. The older woman looks at one and then the other like she's watching a tennis match. "But I mean, you could have texted or called me," she adds, turning her gaze to Nyeon again to see if Jihyo gets the message.
"Yeah right. With you, the only way things can be done is face to face or did you want to have more proof to add to your fucking folders?" Jihyo says, starting to lose her composure as she feels like she’s being treated like a complete idiot once again.
"I think this is a conversation you should have between the two of you" Nayeon says, stepping in for the first time. "And I know maybe this is my fault, because I was the one who asked not to know about your stupid corporate war. But I think I deserve an explanation. I thought you two didn't talk, and all of a sudden you show up unannounced talking about proofs and folders."
"You're right, unnie" she says, directing her gaze towards Nayeon and then Jeongyeon, looking at the latter in a way so cold and full of rage that it makes her stomach turn. "Why don't you explain it to her? Tell her. Tell her how you invited me to dinner to make me a deal and how it was actually a threat. I give in to what you ask or you ruin my life, my family and the work we've done for decades."
Her gestures are exaggerated and she doesn't take her eyes off Jeongyeon, who looks at her dumbfounded, not knowing what Jihyo is getting at. At first, she thought she was being theatrical, she can be very passionate sometimes. It's not until she sees her eyes that she realizes she's totally serious. There's no sparkle in those big beautiful eyes anymore.
Then she sees it.
She has the same look as that one time, but this time she doesn't understand why.
Neither of the older women knows quite what to answer, but they don't need to because Jihyo continues.
"Come on! tell her what happened later" she insists. She sounds really hurt, almost desperate, worrying both of them. They’ve never seen Jihyo this distraught.
"Jihyo, calm down" Jeongyeon says in a soft tone as she approaches her. "I don't know what happened, but I do know that you don't want to tell Nayeon like this. Calm down and we'll talk."
"Don't even fucking think about telling me to calm down Jeongyeon. In fact, I would really like my friend to know the kind of person she has next to her. Someone capable of doing what you have done to me" Jihyo shouts, her voice now raised.
"I'm going to need one of you to explain what's going on, but I understand this is something you two need to work out by yourselves" Nayeon says, still in her seat as she gestures for Jihyo to come closer and when she does she grabs her hand and caresses it trying to calm her down.
"Breath" she whispers to the younger one. Then looks at Jeongyeon threateningly and says, "If you did something to her, this time I'm going to pick a side, Yoo Jeongyeon" Nayeon warns Jeongyeon pointing her finger at her. "Now, I'm going to leave. Please don't do anything stupid, I'm serious."
Over the years, Nayeon has learned to stay out of her friends' fight because, after trying to intervene numerous times over the years, she knows that all they need is to have a conversation that they have never been willing to have.
She has heard both sides of the story and knows the motives that have driven each to do what they have done. And while she has not always agreed, she understands why each acted the way they did and would be unable to judge them for it. She also knows about spies, informants, infiltrators... or whatever they call it. She’s the first to know that they don’t always act according to the image of impeccable businesswomen they portray to the world. At the end of the day, they’re her friends despite the feud that exists – or existed – but if Jeongyeon has harmed Jihyo in some way that has gone beyond their professional rivalry, she wants to know about it, even if she has to wait for them to sort things out on their own first.
They both watch Nayeon leave the office and look at each other. Jihyo has her clenched fists and jaw tight, she’s still breathing heavily, the veins bulging in her neck and arms make the tension in her body obvious. She is holding back, trying not to lose control. Jeongyeon, standing at a safe distance, does her best to try to maintain eye contact and to keep her trembling hands busy and out of Jihyo's sight, adjusting her clothes and hiding them from time to time in the sleeves of her blazer. It’s a nervous habit she had managed to shed, but one that inevitably returns at times like this.
Her calmness had left with Nayeon. She still doesn't know what's going on and is afraid of making a mistake with Jihyo, one that will take her back to square one, or much worse. She's willing to do everything in her power to avoid it, but it's definitely a possibility considering she's never seen Jihyo like this.
"Ji I swear- ".
"Don't even think of calling me that" Jihyo interrupts, raising her tone. "Stop lying, cut the act, Nayeon is not here."
"Why don't you tell me what happened?" she tries again. "I know you're completely confident that I know, but maybe it's good to talk things out for once."
"Oh, this will be a good conversation, because I would really like to know why you are a backstabbing bitch who is capable of betraying me again."
Maybe it's not in the best of circumstances, but Jihyo finally says it. The time has finally come to talk about the subject that both of them have been purposely ignoring. They never talked about it when it happened, nor did they talk about it at the restaurant, in Jeongyeon's living room, in her bed or the next day while having breakfast. They talked about many other things and talked about the past, but this was a badly healed wound no one dared to touch.
"Finally you say it. I knew you haven't let it go, are you still angry about it?"
"I'm not, but even if I were, you would have no right to judge me. Tell me. What kind of friend would take advantage of the moment I was going through for her own benefit."
"That's not what happened. There's a reason."
"Jeongyeon..." she spits out her name, getting as close as the table between them allows. "This isn't about having different opinions, it's about facts, and the facts speak for themselves. My father died, you stood by me through the entire funeral, you hugged me and promised to be there for whatever I needed" she says as angry tears build up in her eyes. "Overnight you cut off all contact with me and a month later ZoneTech released an announcement informing that Yoo Jeongyeon was taking over as CEO of the company."
Our brains have a tendency to forget the bad times so that we can move on, but for Jihyo it was impossible to forget everything that happened during one of the darkest chapters of her life. She was only 22 years old, studying abroad about to graduate from a prestigious foreign university. One day, while studying in the library for the first exams of the semester, she got a call from her mother, crying inconsolably, telling her that her father had suffered a heart attack. She still remembers the cry of pain her mother let out when she asked if he was okay, if he was in the hospital. Her father had died on the spot and there was nothing they could do. She left everything immediately, and thanks to a family friend she was able to go on a private flight back to Korea a few hours after the call.
During those days she did not shed a tear, but she knew that if at any time tears came to her eyes Nayeon and even Jeongyeon would be there to offer her a shoulder to cry on. It had been a while since the relationship between her and Jeongyeon had changed and they were becoming more and more distant, but she was the first to let her know that she was there for whatever she needed, and she proved it by not leaving her side during the funeral and even during the opening of the will, in which only the closest family members were allowed to be present.
No one expects to have to read the will of someone as young as Jihyo's father, not even Jihyo herself. When he named Jihyo as the sole heir and owner of the company and the family estate, he believed that when the time came for them to open his will, she would already have a successful career within the company and maybe even a family to take care of. However, that was not the case, so his daughter was forced to leave her new life as a student abroad – with all her new friends and aspirations – to return home and take control of a technology empire and one of the largest fortunes in the country. All while maintaining her excellent academic record as a model student in a new university.
Needless to say, it was difficult and she even paid for it with her health at times as she didn’t eat properly, was overworked and was under-rested. Despite having people who could do a lot of things for her, she needed to keep her mind busy, because on top of her father's death, there was the uproar with the press and media when some of the details of the will came to light.
And just a few days later, her friend and unconditional support during this hard process, Jeongyeon, started to avoid her and Nayeon from one day to the next without giving any explanation.
The reason was discovered soon after, through Signal Systems' statement. After that, it was Jihyo who decided not to talk to Jeongyeon ever again unless there were cameras, potential partners or important clients in front of them.
Jeongyeon sighs, because despite having good reasons that backed up her decisions, she didn't act wisely and now she knows it, but that still doesn't explain why Jihyo has suddenly stormed into her office accusing her of betraying her. Before sharing her side of the story and asking for explanations, she steps out from behind her desk to continue the conversation on the couch she has for more informal meetings. When she places her hand on Jihyo's arm, inviting her to make herself comfortable, she moves her arm away.
"Don't touch me" she mumbles. She is hurt, maybe even more hurt than angry.
Being aware of the younger’s hostility, Jeongyeon believes it’s a must to calm the situation down if she wants Jihyo to listen to her instead of looking for the perfect opportunity to elevate the conflict to another level, fearing that everything will end up exploding and hurting the two of them and, by extension, Nayeon.
She takes the first step by offering her a tissue with her still shaking hands to wipe away her tears and offers her a smile. Jihyo immediately notices the shaking hands and all the alarms go off in her head. She had forgotten that, sometimes in stressful situations Jeongyeon suffers anxiety attacks. if she wasn't starting to have one already. Even if she feels absolute disgust towards her right now, she would hate herself if she triggered an anxiety or panic attack.
"I'm fine," Jeongyeon assures her, noticing the panic in her eyes. "But we both need to calm down, and since it's too early for a beer, I'll ask my secretary to make us some tea," she concludes.
Reluctantly Jihyo agrees and in a few minutes they are seated drinking tea in silence, thinking about how they got to this point. They have always had problems with communication, and although it has been between yelling, this is the first time they have been so honest with each other. Not keeping up appearances, not ignoring each other's problems, and not bottling up their feelings. They haven't done it in the most healthy or civilized way, but it's a start.
After several sips, Jeongyeon's hands stop shaking, but Jihyo shifts on her seat impatiently.
"I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to ask you what I did to make you like this" the older one breaks the ice. "As you pointed out, I can be quite dense" she says shyly. "If this is all about the deal I offered and the lawsuit, I-"
"Stop! Do you really think I'm worried about a lawsuit right now when you just fucking hacked me?" she asks, losing her temper again. But she doesn't care, it hurts so much that she couldn't care less if Jeongyeon sees her like this, or if everyone in this building hears her.
"You sleep with me, and once again you suddenly disappear. Today when I got to work they hacked ZoneTech, and when I got here there's Nayeon. You had it all planned" she accuses her directly as tears start to fall from her eyes. "I just asked you not to hurt me,and you ruined me" she says trying to hold back the tears.
It takes Jeongyeon a moment to process and react to all the information Jihyo has thrown at her between screams and sobs. She doesn't understand anything that has happened, but it breaks her heart to see Jihyo. Not even during her father's funeral did she cry, nor when she first broke her heart, and now she has her in front of her telling her that she has ruined her life.
It hurts her that Jihyo might actually think she would do something like that, but seeing her sobbing with her mascara smeared and her eyes bloodshot from anger and crying makes her chest hurt.
Despite her fear of how she might react, she wraps her arms around her and finally speaks.
“Ji, trust me one more time and believe me when I tell you that I had nothing to do with this. And I know deep down you know that I wouldn't be able to do something like this. I would never hurt you" she whispers softly in her ear, trying to soothe her, but Jihyo's crying only increases soaking her shirt on the part of her chest where her head is resting.
The sobs get louder. She hears Jihyo cursing at her and telling her that she hates her, but she can't blame her. It's been a series of unfortunate coincidences, and it’s no wonder Jihyo has thought the worst.
"Stop treating me like an idiot. You already did it once" she manages to say between sobs.
Jeongyeon sighs as she continues to hug her and caress her back.
"I think it's time to explain everything that happened" she says as she pulls away from Jihyo.
She looks at her face, grabbing her hands so as not to lose contact with her skin. Jihyo looks away, unable to look at her because of the pain, anger and embarrassment she feels.
"I told you the other day and I will tell you as many times as necessary until you believe it. I don't hate you and I have never hated you, nor have I ever wanted to hurt you in any way. I love you. I always have. And I'm so afraid of what you make me feel that all this time I thought that by pushing you away I was protecting both myself and you as well" she sighs.
"Our lives are so complicated and I thought that someday these feelings would go away." She looks at her anxiously, looking for a reaction in Jihyo, who still won't look at her, but at least the crying is more controlled.
"Back then I thought what I felt for you was a high school crush that could ruin everything for me, but it's not like that. And running away from you and everything you make me feel almost ruined my happiness."
Until now, Jeongyeon had never been clear with her feelings, but that's not all.
"I thought that by keeping you away from me I was doing you a favor and that if you hated me everything would be easier. That's why I never gave you the reasons or explanations you deserved, and now I know it was a huge mistake. But after everything that has happened, I wouldn't forgive myself for pushing you away again, because I know that this time it would be the final one. If you are willing to listen to me, I will tell you everything, but I promise you that I have nothing to do with this hacker attack you have suffered."
Jihyo isn’t sure. Experience – all the times she ended up calling Nayeon crying, all the times she ended up in bed with strangers and the times she got drunk looking for some relief – tell her to be smarter, that this time she should be the one to end it all instead of staying, waiting for the next disappointment. However, the more irrational part of her, the part that still thinks there is a possibility of a future together, begs her to stay and listen to her.
She looks down at her hands between Jeongyeon’s, and when she manages to calm her breathing, she looks up at her, not quite sure of what to do or what to say even though she has already made up her mind.
"You look awful" Jeongyeon tells her in a pointless attempt to tease that almost bring Jihyo to tears again.
"Fuck- sorry I was trying to joke, Ji" she says nervously, repeating the affectionate nickname once more. With one hand, she tries to fix the mess of her makeup and with all the gentleness in the world, she leans over and kisses the tears still left on her cheeks.
"There's a restroom over there, take your time".
Jihyo just nods, too defeated to refuse.
Just as she told her, she takes her time and manages her best to clean her face, fix her hair and clothes, trying to pull herself together. After Jeongyeon has seen her like this, she feels pathetic. She doesn’t step out of the restroom until her breathing returns to normal, though her red and puffy eyes still give her away.
"About the hacking… let me take care of it. We'll find the culprits, and I'll do my best to fix it and prove to you that it wasn't me."
"I believe you" Jihyo finally speaks and the relief is so great that Jeongyeon can't help but let out the breath she has been holding. "This morning when Hirai Momo came to my office, I assumed it was your doing. The attack was stopped, but when I left they didn't know what its origin was or what exactly they did."
"I will talk to Momo, it will be solved today" she assures her while holding her hand.
Before continuing with their unfinished conversation, Jeongyeon calls Hirai Momo and makes her look for Myoui Mina and also Minatozaki Sana who, to Jihyo's surprise, is also some computer expert. After listening to too many technical words, Jihyo was finally able to participate in the conversation. They ended up making a deal: if they managed to find out who was responsible in 24 hours, they can keep working in the company and they won’tt have to go back to Japan as she had warned Momo and Sana hours before.
In her effort to show Jihyo that things would be different if she trusted her, Jeongyeon even encourages them with the promise of inviting them to dinner at the best restaurant in the country.
Once she hangs up the phone, she directs her gaze back toward Jihyo.
"What do you say? Let's get out of here, grab some food and I'll take you wherever you tell me so I can explain everything to you. I'll even burn paper by paper all the evidence of the lawsuit if I have to, because I don't plan to lose you. And I’m not taking the risk of Nayeon killing me."
This time Jihyo smiles and nods, taking her hand.
"Come on, but if you give me reason to be suspicious, I'm telling Nayeon" she jokingly warns her.
So that's what they did. Jeongyeon told Dahyun to cancel everything on her schedule for the rest of the day and hoping to get lucky, she also told her to let her know if they have to cancel their meetings the next day. Of course, Kim Dahyun did that and rearranged her schedule but not before opening the group chat with Chayeoung and Tzuyu to tell them everything she had overheard, especially the mention of Minatozaki Sana, Chaeyoung's situationship.
They end up at Jeongyeon's house as well, although the purpose is quite different this time.
Jeongyeon explains to her the reason behind each time she broke her heart. She explains how her father did everything he could to keep her away from Jihyo, even forcing her to study abroad. She tells that kiss she gave her after receiving her bouquet of flowers and her confession on her graduation day had been sincere, but knowing that she would be away for so many years at a university thousands of miles away, she didn't want to take away her opportunity to have a first high school love and maybe to find someone who was really good for her. someone who wasn't afraid to love her.
She reveals each of the events that led her to accept the CEO position after finding out that her father would do everything in his power to destroy TechZone by taking advantage of the instability he thought Mr. Park’s death would bring. She had taken the position in an attempt to protect her, but it didn't last long since she was forced to respond to the constant attacks that Jihyo initiated once she settled into the role.
And of course, she makes it clear to her that this last week of silence had been an attempt to give her space, when the truth is that she was dying to talk to her, to listen to her, to see her and to feel her in her arms again.
When the conversation ends, it is already dark and Jihyo goes back to sleep in Jeongyeon's bed. Tonight they only exchange some kisses, share secrets, apologize to each other, and promise a future together. Before sleep overcomes them, Jeongyeon whispers in her ear "Tomorrow, don't go to work, let me take you on a date to make up for my mistakes and to start making up for the time we wasted".
And with the promise of a new start, they let themselves drift into sleep.
Hi could I please request a JeongHyo headcanon as I haven’t seen them yet, sfw and nsfw, thank you :D
JeongHyo HCs
SFW HCs
They’ve known each other for a long long time. Going through various hardships and challenges before also earning plenty of deserved success. It wasn’t surprising that at least one of them ended up catching feelings.
It was Jeongyeon who realized she had fallen for Jihyo but she never said anything. She was scared her feelings wouldn’t be returned and it would also ruin their friendship so she kept quiet.
Jihyo however, couldn’t keep it to herself once she realized how she felt and made her mind to tell Jeongyeon to get it off her chest.
Jeongyeon couldn’t have been happier when Jihyo admitted that she liked her, no loved her.
They kept it a secret for a short period before revealing they were dating to the other members.
They like to cook together and try out making new dishes frequently.
They often tease and prank each other, trying to one up the other and even keeping scores because they are so competitive.
Jihyo often relies on Jeongyeon for her support emotionally especially during comeback preparations and Jeongyeon is more than happy to oblige. Jeongyeon herself worries a lot that Jihyo over exerts herself so when Jihyo comes to her, it makes her feel happy and relaxed to know that she can help her out.
Jeongyeon gets quite anxious and stressed out easily and that’s where Jihyo often helps Jeongyeon relax by hugging or kissing her.
Their relationship is quite balanced and the two girls have been the happiest since they got together.
NSFW HCs
It’s Jihyo who is the top but Jeongyeon is just as happy to take charge.
Jeongyeon is the bolder one out of them, she won’t hesitate to sneak in some touches, she would sneak in some kisses too but she feels really conscious about being caught kissing so she doesn’t.
Jeongyeon loves it when Jihyo rides her face.
Jihyo really likes to take her time with Jeongyeon, teasing her and edging her constantly, even when she eventually makes her cum, she still doesn’t speed up, making it feel almost unfulfilling so Jeongyeon wants, no, needs more.
Jeongyeon likes to give Jihyo massages, of course her intentions are always pure but given how sexy she finds Jihyo, her actions always aren’t.
It only takes Jihyo letting out a small moan before Jeongyeon loses her composure and begins to feel her up.
When Jeongyeon is in charge, it’s generally for roleplaying. She likes the change and can be quite creative in the roles.
Jeongyeon likes to tease Jihyo about her strong legs based on how they suffocate her when Jihyo wraps them around her head so tightly.
The only time Jihyo is bolder than Jeongyeon is around the members. Jeongyeon feels that as one of the older members, she should set a good example but Jihyo likes to test her limits.
Of course, Jeongyeon gets her back for it when they go home, if making someone cum their brains out counts as ‘getting back’.
