it was more yoo joonghyuk than ever

“I can just wear my normal clothes.” Yoo Joonghyuk says. From behind the curtain, Han Sooyoung scoffs. “No shit. If you wanted to wear your normal clothes, why are you here again?” Yoo Joonghyuk frowns. Her reflection frowns back. Normally, for a girls’ night, Yoo Joonghyuk would just wear her normal clothes. Tonight, however, falls on Jung Heewon’s birthday. She hears Han Sooyoung heave a sigh. “Are you going to stand in that change room all day?” Tonight, everyone else will be dressed nicely – wearing form-fitting dresses, flowy shirts, sheer tights, pants that aren’t the same ones they were wearing through the scenarios – none of which are things she’s bothered to add to her minimal wardrobe in the months since she started being dragged along to girls’ nights in the first place. “Yoo Joonghyuk.” Unfortunately for her, she is not in much of a position to be borrowing clothes from any of the other women in the house. And when she had attempted shopping with Kim Dokja, the only other person home during the week, he had been no help at all, saying things like, “They’re both very nice,” and, “Ah, I wouldn’t know about that…” and, “I don’t know, whichever one you like the best.” “Hey!” Han Sooyoung pokes her head around the side of the curtain. “I’m- hey, I like this one.” Yoo Joonghyuk shifts, watching the fabric of the skirt sway around her ankles. “The skirt’s impractical.” “For what? It’s a birthday, not a sword fight.” Yoo Joonghyuk scowls. “And the shirt?” She traces a scar on the back of Yoo Joonghyuk’s shoulder, her thumb warm against bare skin. The shirt isn’t all that different from one she wears already – tight, black, long-sleeved – but it’s off the shoulder, leaving her collarbones exposed. When she moves her head, the ends of her short ponytail brush against her neck. “It’s fine.” She rolls her eyes. “So you like it.” Han Sooyoung pulls the curtain closed. “Hurry up, let’s go pay.”

They get home and are immediately ushered up the stairs. “Unnie, you’re home! Come on, quick!” “Hey, didn’t you know those noonas are waiting for you? Why’d you take so long?” “Yeah, yeah, we’re going up! You kids are getting pushy these days…” They’re shoved unceremoniously into Jung Heewon’s room, the door closed behind them. The others have been getting ready while they were out – Lee Seolhwa wears a green turtleneck dress, long hair coming down over one shoulder and a white blazer dress hanging on the back of her chair; Yoo Sangah wears a flowy white blouse with embroidery along the collar and brown pants, ankle boots sitting on the floor next to her; Jung Heewon wears a dark button up with a red and blue floral pattern and lots of fabric in the arms, matching wine red suspenders attached to black dress pants. One of the kids has done her hair up in some sort of complicated braid, loose hairs framing her face. Heewon spots them through the mirror, face breaking into a smile. “Hey, finally! What took you two so long?” “Hey, don’t blame me! This bastard is too picky, she tried on everything in about three different stores before she settled on anything at all.” “What did you settle on, then, Yoo Joonghyuk-ssi?” Yoo Sangah smiles warmly, pulling her hair back into a low ponytail with white ribbon.

They both get changed, Sooyoung into a blazer dress, Yoo Joonghyuk into the top and skirt. She pulls her hair out, letting it fall and brush against her bare shoulders. “I guess being picky pays off in this case.” Lee Seolhwa laughs. “You look lovely, Joonghyuk-ssi.” “Hey, do a spin!” Jung Heewon twirls her finger. She stares at her. She spins her finger again. “Spin around!” Yoo Joonghyuk turns to Yoo Sangah. “Who’s driving?” Heewon sighs mournfully. “Joonghyuk-ssi, you’re too stubborn, you know that?” “I can drive.” “Ah… Joonghyuk-ssi, you don’t have to-” “No fucking way!” “There’s no need, I can-” Jung Heewon laughs. “Your driving is too scary. You take corners so fast, I might be sick on the way home… And anyway, Seolhwa-ssi already said she’d drive.”

They all pile into the car, Yoo Joonghyuk squished into the backseat between Yoo Sangah and Han Sooyoung. Usually, Yoo Joonghyuk gets the front seat by virtue of having the longest legs – today, Jung Heewon gets it by virtue of it being her birthday. Lee Seolhwa turns the key in the ignition.

[Heewon-ah!] Uriel squeals, lifting Jung Heewon off her feet with a hug. [Happy birthday!] “Hi, Uriel.” Jung Heewon laughs, smoothing down her shirt once Uriel lowers her back onto the ground. “It’s good to see you.” [Wow, Yoo Joonghyuk!] Uriel gasps, rushing over to her. [Your hair is getting long now! This the first time I’ve seen you dressed up like this, too! Ah, you look so pretty! But…] She looks at her doubtfully. [Joonghyuk-ah, do you wear anything but black…?] “Leave her be, Uriel.” [I’m just teasing! Didn’t I say she looks nice?]