Zen had a problem. Even though to other people it wouldn't be considered a big deal, to him it was very grating. He was in the latter half of his twenties -nearly thirty!- and he was once again single. He just didn't really understand it. Why was it so hard to maintain a relationship? It wasn't like he was choosing bad partners and he certainly tried his hardest to be a good partner, but things just weren't clicking between him and the women he dated. All around him people were hooking up, getting married, and -God help him- even having children.

Zen was thrilled for his friends (and proud that he had been made an honorary uncle), but he couldn't help the jealousy in his heart. The next generation of the RFA was already here. God, even Saeyoung was married before him, and that weirdo had always been a bit of a loner. On top of that, he had managed to grab Zen's favorite girl he had met in a long time! When would it be Zen's turn to propose to the woman of his dreams just like Saeyoung had?

"And," He added bitterly in a mutter, "like Yoosung had as well twenty minutes ago."

"You're too hard on yourself, Zen-oppa." You nudged him after listening to his woes. "You don't have to be in such a rush to find someone."

Zen still delighted whenever you would call him that. It warmed his heart even if you only did it once in a while. He wished you would do it all the time. "I want to, though! I can't believe I'm being grouped in with Jumin Han among us!"

"You're not, though?"

Maybe it was just Zen, then. It felt like something Saeyoung and possibly Saeran would say, though. "It's a matter of time before Saeyoung starts commenting on it." He grumbled.

A smile danced across your lips. You couldn't possibly deny that. Saeyoung had already been teasing Zen about his inability to hold down a relationship, but you usually managed to shut him up real fast before Zen could even do it. "I won't let him bully you too much about your revolving-door girlfriends."

"Gah!" Zen clutched his heart, horrified at that comment. So much for the warm feeling he'd had from you a moment ago. "Babe, why would you say that?!"

"Oops!" You covered your mouth quickly. "That came out harsh. I'm sorry." You glared at your glass of champagne and finished it before determinedly placing it aside.

"You need time away from that husband of yours." He accused. "Him and his brother."

"Don't I have enough men in my life vying for my attention without you joining in?" You asked with a devious twinkle to your eye. It brought various images to Zen's mind ranging from pleasant to involving way too many Chois.

He mentally shook off those images and huffed a laugh. "I just meant you're much too much like them." He sighed, placing a sad hand to his lips. "You've become so corrupted by their terrible influence!"

You only laughed at that. "You're probably right, but I don't think I've changed too much." A waiter came by carrying a tray of more drinks and offered you one. Your hand twitched up to accept it, before you bit it back and shook your head with a smile. The waiter moved on after Zen also denied more.

"You should enjoy yourself more." He told you, noticing that you were holding back.

"I can't risk any kind of tipsiness tonight." Your eyes darted to where Jumin was across the room conversing with Saeyoung and a couple of gentlemen that Zen didn't recognize. Judging by the more serious look on Saeyoung's face, it may have to do with his business. Zen felt a little irritated at that. This was an RFA party, not a business meeting.

"And also, I want to enjoy the party and my time with all of you without alcohol." You added. "I barely get to see any of you all except for Jumin and Yoosung anymore." Zen hated how sad you looked for a moment there. It still burned him up how Jumin had gotten you to work for him. It was better when you had been working with Jaehee as his combined manager. You had done a great job and he had enjoyed all of the time he had spent with two of his closest friends. No Zen couldn't pay as well, but it was better than what you were dealing with now.

After a moment you laughed away whatever loneliness you were feeling. "Actually, thinking about it more, maybe you're right! I no longer know what quirks I got from Saeyoung and Saeran and what they got from me!"

Zen grabbed some more finger food to munch on from his plate as you both gazed out at the party. The RFA party was once again another grand event. You seemed to almost outdo yourself every time there was a party. It was much larger than the last ones because everyone in the RFA had agreed to return to hosting a party once every two years. With the way the International RFA had branched out, there was no need for the South Korean branch to host a party so often.

Zen took a moment to also admire you in your gorgeous dress. You always stood out to him no matter where you were. He supposed that it would be a long while yet until he got over the crush he'd had on you way back when. It was something that the RFA seemed to all share with each other, Zen had learned over the course of time. Even Jumin seemed to have had some kind of romantic feelings for you. Although personally Zen thought that the feelings were still lingering in him just like they were in Zen himself.

Erg. Another comparison between the two.

It made him wonder what all would be different if you had fallen in love with someone else. He had dreamt of it before, although he had never told anyone about it. In almost all of those dreams Saeran had been absent and any other time he had only stayed sick. It didn't seit too well with Zen that his imagination had only seen Saeran that way. It made Zen think that maybe he hadn't truly forgiven the twin for threatening you and the RFA.

Thinking about it only brought Zen's thoughts back around to his woes. He sighed loudly, attracting your attention again. "Whatever happened to you introducing me to one of your friends?" He asked jokingly because he needed to get out one final bit of griping before he decided to put back on his acting face and return to the crowd waiting to hear from him.

"Oh wow, I never actually did do that, did I?" You wondered aloud and hummed. "Sorry about that. I actually don't have anyone right now that I think you'd be interested in."

He sighed again. "Disappointing, but I understand. I appreciate you thinking it over." You both shared a smile and a chuckle.

Your name was called then, and Zen turned his head only to be stunned at the sight of a face he never thought he'd see in Person. Aishlynn was positively breathtaking to meet in person. Her iconic fiery red curls were carefully done up in braids and piled on her head while her forest green dress clung to her form sensually. Zen stared at the splatter of freckles across her shoulders before he met her stunning green eyes. He could practically feel the charisma saturating the atmosphere as she pulled to a stop next to you, taking your hands immediately and speaking to you with heavily accented English that Zen barely caught bits and pieces of.

He must have made some kind of noise because the two women stopped talking suddenly to address him. Your name squeaked from his mouth before he rapidly attempted to recover his composure.

He cleared his throat. "You didn't tell me you knew Aishlynn!"

You laughed, switching back to Korean as Aishlynn swung your hand a bit and drank more of her own champagne. "We met during the time Jumin, Jaehee, and I were setting up the International RFA. She's one of the core members of the United Kingdom branch." You paused, tilting your head slightly. "Are you a big fan of her work?" You smiled teasingly, "How do you not know about how she's been in the news supporting the RFA?"

"I don't follow it that closely." Zen admitted, embarrassed. "And I can't read English. I only have seen her subbed movies."

"Ohh!" You turned back to Aishlynn, clearly making introductions as you motioned between the two of them.

Aishlynn's smile brightened, thrilled, and held her hand out to shake Zen's hand. "Hello! It is nice to meet you!" She said, slow and heavy with her words as she attempted to speak Korean.

"The pleasure is mine." Zen responded in English. He was tempted to kiss her knuckles, but he knew it was from his years of acting. He was thankful for the phrases in English he did know.

"Oh, you know English!" She cried and attempted to speak in her quick language, but between the accent, speed, and lack of practice Zen was immediately lost.

He held up a hand and waved it with a nervous laugh and spoke to you, "I didn't catch a word of that." He turned back to Aishlynn and responded in Korean, "Sorry, but I don't really know a lot of English outside of what lines I've learned for plays." You kindly translated for Zen, and then Aishlynn's response:

"Oh, sorry. You're an actor? Stage or maybe Korean movies? I haven't watched any myself so I wouldn't know. Sorry!"

"I prefer acting in plays. No movies yet!" He laughed. You added something else of your own words to her too. She laughed at whatever you said and gave you a soft playful shove. Zen reprimanded himself for feeling a little startled by the show of silliness. He was so used to seeing the actress composed on television and the few times he had seen her on the internet.

A familiar devious look suddenly overtook your face then. It was one that Zen had come to recognize from having been around you so much and known you for so long. His stomach swooped with both excitement and dread as you turned to him with a smile.

"Actually, Zen, I think this is a great opportunity for both of you!" You glanced back and forth between Aishlynn and Zen before continuing, "Aishlynn has just told me that she wants to spend a bit of time here in Seoul before she goes back, and she could use a good guide who's not as busy as I am!"

Zen perked up at the thought. "I would love to!" He smiled but then gave you a small confused look. "Ah...But I don't think I would be the best guide. We can't even understand each other."

Aishlynn asked you something, touching your arm to grab your attention. You spoke quickly with her, motioning to Zen as you explained the situation. Zen could only catch bits and pieces of what you both were saying. He had an easier time reading English than speaking it.

"Oh!" Aishlynn cried in delight and jumped once before grabbing Zen's hand and holding it between her own, beaming.

You laughed. "She likes the idea, though." She waited as Aishlynn said one more thing before translating as Aishlynn pulled out her cell phone, "She says she has a voice translator that you guys can use...If you don't mind spending time alone in her company." You added slyly. Zen wondered if that was something Aishlynn had added or you had tacked on at the end.

"I wouldn't pass a lady up on a tour of the city." Zen agreed, although he wasn't sure how well this would go with the language barrier. Nonetheless he was certainly willing to try! Even if he couldn't understand her well, it would be worth it to spend time with her. Hopefully they could discuss more about both of their career choices...if it wasn't too difficult for the phone.

Aishlynn appeared thrilled and held out her phone to Zen. He didn't need prompting, but he used your help to navigate her phone to add his number to it.

"I can also ask Saeyoung or Saeran if they can connect you to her RFA Messenger address." You added for his benefit. "It would probably be easier that way." You tapped your finger on your chin. "Maybe he can add a translator to it as well?"

"How would he do that?"

Aishlynn called your name to drag your attention back to her. Whatever she said next to you, you didn't translate. You responded back with a laugh, though, as you also spoke to her. Aishlynn then accepted her phone back from Zen's before taking his to put in her own number. Zen felt electricity spark through him at the realization that he was getting Aishlynn's phone number! She had a much easier time navigating Zen's phone and effortlessly inputted her own number before giving the phone back to him. Zen didn't miss the little heart she had put next to her name. He felt like his heart might beat out of his chest when he saw it. He looked up at her quickly, shocked, and then caught her wink as she turned and gave a flirty wave before walking off to rejoin the flow of the party.

"Wow." Zen breathed, staring after her. You were giggling silently in your hand beside him. He paused and shook himself before eying you and your devious capabilities. Your eyes were twinkling with eager joy. Zen couldn't help his returning smile. You were absolutely adorable. "Did you just get me a date with one of your friends anyway?"

You winked. Zen quietly wondered to himself if he would ever fully stop being able to love you. He doubted it, but his heart was never one to get over those he had loved before. It was just a matter of finding someone else to love.

His hand touched the outline of his phone in his pocket before he gave you a soft goodbye and went off to once again talk up the crowd and mingle. He hoped this would be a good opportunity. He had a good feeling.