"Her best friend is a boy?" Saeyoung exclaimed, looking at Saeran's passive look. "Anyone would know that going to a bar to drink with the opposite gender would constitute as a 'date.'"
"That's what I said," Saeran grumbled. "But she laughed me off and called me cute. As if I'm cute."
"You are," his brother commented and blanched at Saeran's expression. "Do you want me to lie to my dear brother about his cuteness?"
"Shut up, hyung," he snapped. There was a pregnant pause, and Saeran almost dreaded his older brother's response.
"Let's spy on her."
Being roped into Saeyoung's numerous schemes, one would have thought that Saeran would have learned more from those experiences and their aftermath. The idea of his beloved spending time with another male made his stomach churn, though. Her light, fluttery laughs after a strange man's jokes created a vivid image of hatred in his mind. There was no way he was going to let this go. The couple lived with Saeyoung in his underground bunker.
After Saeyoung had stopped being an agent, the former agent chose to be a freelance hacker, doing odd jobs here and there at home. It was presumably safe, and he had made sure by sneaking onto the computer when his older brother was not looking.
"Wear this." Saeyoung passed him a light blue dress.
They were in one of the numerous closets that his brother owned. There were clothes lined up, hanging neatly. It was quite a collection, and it was more than the whole RFA's closet together.
Even if this was ridiculous — cross dressing, it made him look conspicuous. He knew that MC would never have thought that Saeran would have had the guts to go through this. He inhaled sharply at the velvety touch of the dress.
He had to admit, his brother's taste was good.
If MC ever chose to wear this, Saeran would have completely and undeniably turned on by her. There was something about this dress that was enticing and dazzling to his eyes. Little ruffles adorned the end of the dress, almost resembling a ocean wave, crashing into a white, sandy beach. It was a casual dress, nothing new.
"What about the chest?" he asked bluntly, making his brother choke with laughter.
"I got some boobs somewhere..." Saeyoung mumbled, searching through a drawer. "I think this one's good."
Saeran held the silicone breasts with vaguely concealed interest. "Where do you get these?"
"It's a secret." His brother mimicked a zipper, sliding his fingers across his mouth in a deliberately dramatic motion. "They're strap-on, so I think you're good. The straps blend in with your skin tone, too."
After trying them on, he understood why his brother enjoyed cosplaying and cross dressing. There was that thrill in there that made his heart speed up, just pretending to be someone he was not. Never had he seen his brother do this — besides in the photos that he posted in the messenger, but overall, he was good at it. He studied himself in the mirror, noting the newfound femininity in his body.
His brother, on the other hand, was twirling around in his skirt excitedly.
"Is that MC's earrings?" He squinted at Saeyoung's ears. "I'm not going to vouch for you and say that I witnessed this."
"She'll never know." Saeyoung grinned, snatching a wig from the top. "Blonde hair's good for you. Your eyes are way too easy to recognize, unless..."
"Don't even think about it. I am not going to take off my contacts."
"Emo..."
"I'm not an emo!"
In the end, his brother's work was good. He nearly took a double take in the mirror when he saw himself. The two of them looked like regular teenage girls, going to party. His makeup was done surprisingly well, and he was sure that MC would never recognize him in this get-up.
MC was so freaking happy with her best friend of all time. It was like he never changed. They laughed over their old days together, back in a time where they messed around at school, not caring about their studies. Some things had changed but not this. She had missed this.
"How's being a party coordinator?" he asked. "Did you meet anyone cool?"
"A astronaut," MC answered excitedly.
"That's so friggin' cool!" he exclaimed. "How did you even know him?"
"My boyfriend," she laughed at his astonishment. "My boyfriend's brother wanted to go to a space station for his birthday, but all of us didn't want to risk it so Saeran used his connections to find someone who witnessed the phenomenon."
"Your friends are a crazy bunch." He shook his head. "The MC I know would never be able to handle them."
"I've changed." MC sipped of her drink. "They're part of my heart."
In the corner of her eye, she saw a blonde and a brunette coming into the club. They were dressed in the latest fashion trends, so it was hard not to notice them. All of the party-goers around them were watching them. They were completely beautiful, and for a moment, she turned gay.
MC, you have a boyfriend! She scolded herself for thinking that way. The blonde was especially attractive. Everything about her grabbed her attention, and there was something especially exciting about her. Lightning mint eyes bored into her, and she was immediately magnetized by them. She felt a thrill run through every cell of hers, electrifying them.
Where had she seen those eyes? There was a familiarity about that gaze that MC recognized, but she could not register it. She had a good memory, and yet, she could not remember the blonde.
"So... anyway, what were you saying?" her friend asked her, his gaze burrowing into her.
She felt jolted, almost as if her mother just caught her jacking off to some lemons on Tumblr. "I don't know..."
"Hey, oppa..." the blonde one drawled, her eyes shifting up to her friend. "Are you on a date?"
He adjusted his collar with a smile, and MC's shock meter went up. She knew that he had been single for while, but she could not recall him picking up girls at clubs. Had this become a thing? There was a possessive feeling she had of the blonde, although she could not place it.
"No, not at all," he answered, grinning wolfishly. She felt a shiver go up her spine. "Just here with my friend."
The brunette stayed quiet while surveying everywhere with a solemnity that seemed out of place.
"Do you and your friend want to go out with us?" he offered. "Bill's on me."
"This is so itchy," Saeyoung complained about his dress. "I wanna go home..."
"You're the one coming up with the ridiculous plan." Saeran glared at his twin. "Wearing a turtleneck sweater in the middle of August is the last thing anyone'd do in Korea."
"It looked good!" Saeyoung protested. "Besides, you did sort of score a date with MC's friend."
"I hate talking," he grumbled. "I feel like that girl who can't shut up in the movies."
"At least we get free ice cream out of this!"
"He's using his employee's benefit discount thing. Sucks to be his girlfriend when that guy is a cheap asshole."
Saeran looked around at the ice cream place. It vaguely resembled the ice cream shop that he and Saeyoung ate at when they were younger, although it was a lot newer. Almost like an American vintage diner, there were people of various ages, eating happily. He grinned to himself remembering those times.
"Strawberry, right?" MC smiled, handing him a cone.
It was beautiful, and he just loved how the strawberry ice cream shined in front of him. Ice cream was his own savior. No matter how bad the situation was, ice cream always made it better. Even if it's from a cheapskate, he noted internally.
"Yes, thank you." He also hated how high his voice was when he cross dressed. It was really irritating to go up this high of a pitch to talk, straining him.
When their hands touched, there was that magical tingle, shocking them both. He could hear a little squeak from MC's mouth as she almost dropped the cone into his hand ceremoniously. A small grin appeared on his face. No matter what disguise he was in, he was always able to affect MC.
"MC, be more careful," the annoying cheapskate berated the woman.
He hated how he was so informal with her and so rude. If he was out of disguise, he would have slapped the man's face to the ground and beat him up. One look at his twin who was eating his ice cream said not to.
The annoying cheapskate — he had not paid attention to his name, but his image in Saeran's mind was already tarnished — turned to him with a smile. "Sorry 'bout her. She's sorta clumsy."
Saeran could feel the annoying cheapskate's breath on him. It felt weird, and he wanted to pummel. Never had he wanted to do this ever since the Mint Eye incident, and he had this fury claiming his mind. The closer and closer the man got to him, the more he wanted to get away from him.
Stay focused, he reminded himself.
"I'm going to the bathroom," he announced to the group. He was greeted with murmurs as a response, but he saw a wink from Saeyoung — meaning that he was being covered for.
When he was finally by himself, he felt himself choke on his breath, feeling a lot less pressured. Was it because of that annoying cheapskate, he was not sure.
In the women's bathroom, he studied the pink tiled walls, facing himself. His sharp blue eyes were filled with fatigue, presumably from the experience of going on a date with a guy. Never in his life would he have thought that he would undergo this all just for his girlfriend's sake and mostly for his sanity's sake. Saeran was aware that Saeyoung was used to all of this. His twin had no preference for gender and was fine as long as the right person came along.
The person in the mirror was most definitely not him. Pink lipstick that marred his appearance made him look like a soft girl, one of those high-pitched, bubbly girls that one could encounter on the streets late at night. His dress hung in a thin layer, and he shivered, despite himself. As much as he appreciated beautiful dresses, he resented their flimsy material, almost too revealing. Saeran made a note in the back of his mind to make sure that MC never felt this uncomfortable on dates.
"Hey…!" Saeran turned to the source of noise. "Watchu doing in here? Waiting for me?"
He studied the inept person that wandered into the room. Of course, it would be the annoying cheapskate that landed him in this situation. How he was MC's childhood friend, he did not understand. There was too much to dislike in this situation.
"No." He turned his voice into a soft, mellow type, hating how it scratched against in his throat.
"Ah, playing hard to get, aren't cha?"
It was obvious that he was drunk. His dilated eyes were bloodshot, and Saeran internally wondered about how the hell did he get drunk in a small town diner. There were no drinks around here. It was a family-friendly place, so the owner would definitely not allow alcohol to be served.
"I'm not interested," he muttered, averting his eyes.
"I…" the man faltered for a moment. "I know your kind, girlie. You want a piece of me, right?"
No, I want the whole piece of you on the ground, begging for salvation — the salvation of freedom. That would be what his Sav — no… Saeran had gone through this once. He was not going to relapse. It was ridiculous. He was ridiculous. He could not lose his temper in the women's bathrooms in a family-owned diner.
The man came closer. Alcohol stained his breath. Saeran could remember his mother in that pose. Creeping towards him. Handcuffs in hand. Ready to beat him up.
He could only stand frozen, heart pounding in fear. What had he been thinking? Of course, he was not worthy of being MC's boyfriend. Just looking at him, he looked like a worthless piece of shit, waiting to get fucked over by another man — so much stronger than him. He braced himself, waiting for the lash coming.
Just hit me.
Just hit me and it'll all be over.
It's just a dream, isn't it? Mother will be gone, drinking out of the alcohol cabinet with that champagne…
He could feel a tear dripping down on one side of his cheek.
"Fuck you! Don't hit on my boyfriend, you loser!"
Suddenly, he saw the man slumped over, and his precious MC standing over the man as if she had no qualms over it. Her brilliant hair shined in the dim setting of the bathroom. There was a flash in her eyes, and Saeran felt a tremor in himself. It was like his brother was defending him all over again, except it was his girlfriend's work this time. He sank down against the tiled wall, shoulders shaking. He was so weak…
"Saeran!" He felt someone shake his shoulders, kissing his tears. "Saeran!"
Her ice cream breath fanned across his face. Despite his emotions overwhelming him, he smiled. He loved how soft her lips were across his face, planting kisses on him.
"MC…"
"Why did you do that?" MC choked on her breath. "I'm fully capable of protecting myself."
"He was going to hit on you," Saeran shook his head. "I won't let someone touch my princess."
"Well…" She shot a look at the fallen body behind them. "I think he was going to hit on you more. Are you okay?"
In her warmth, she radiated the magic of a thousand suns, bathing him in her heavenly glow. To him, MC looked like an angel, sent down to him to help him. No matter what mood he was in, she always helped him.
"Haven't had that feeling in a long time." Saeran cracked an awkward smile. She did not return the smile, only cradling his head to peck his lips.
"I'm never going to meet up with that bastard again…" she muttered darkly. "He hit on my boyfriend while drunk, of all the things."
"Saeyoung did say that I was pretty." He mockingly preened towards her, and she laughed weakly, pushing him away.
"You're hot," she agreed, using her tongue to flick the leftover, melted ice cream on his lips. He felt himself flush. "Just the way I love you."
He felt her fingers slipping under his dress, and immediately, he pressed against her, kissing for more.