𝖑𝖊𝖙𝖍𝖆𝖑 𝖐𝖎𝖘𝖘.

𝙃𝙀𝙇𝙇𝙊𝙊𝙊𝙊 everyone and welcome to jiyeon’s life !! my name’s kit ( she/her, gmt+8 ) and i’m thrilled to be here ♡ to get things underway i’ll have all her basic info listed down below and if you’d like to plot, please hit the heart button and i’ll take that as my cue to message you. jiyeon’s a whole ass mess of a daughter and i absolutely can’t wait to see how she’ll be able to connect to everyone in here! 

                              BIO   /   STATS   /   PLOTS

by all accounts, she should not have been there.

to be certain, her invitation was warranted. no one would dare isolate the moon family from any highly esteemed social event. wherever the crowd goes, they go. wherever the people are seen, they are seen in more or less the same capacity. it was the unquestionable natural order of things.

hence, it was not the invitation that was the problem. it was her general presence in itself. 

it was the inescapable reality of their life that their world seems to become even smaller than it already is each day. as each sun travels the expanse of their universe, the histories of cheongdam’s elite becomes more entangled with one another. a friend’s friend is a foe, a stranger’s brother a past lover, a lover’s friend an estranged relative ⸺ so it goes. as such, their human precariousness for having conflicting feelings and emotions make it exceptionally difficult to get past the front doors of these intimate gatherings. 

jiyeon has had her fair share of regrettable connections. abandoning her age-old ideas of independence and relying on another person many years ago had been her biggest regret yet. to this day, she cannot face him without a bubble of anger steadily threatening to spill over her otherwise typically calm facade. in times like these, reinforcements were of necessity. 

that is where yohan ( @4625in ) comes in.

he was the son from an estranged business partner; another entangling that should have confused their connection. however, his friendship in cambridge meant more to her than any disagreement that their parents’ could have shared within closed walls. it was yohan who knew her as the soul-searching young adult ⸺ her feet firmly planted in a foreign city, the nineteen year old who was only on the cusp of discovering herself.

years later and she cannot say with confidence if she was any better now than she was before. perhaps it was the many drinks devoured that was starting to muddle her judgement, but she fears that at this specific point in time, she’s much worse.

“to your left,” she says, head lolling to her right as she gestures towards an upstanding figure whose stance could only describe him as the club’s security. “sit up properly, maybe? we don’t want him to sniff around here and haul us off before i can even finish my glass.” her curtness could have been described as rigid if only she was sober. alas, the lopsided smile on her lips and the downcast look in her eyes was the telltale sign that she was far gone.

“이해해 난 너의 맘 난 널 용서해, 난 널 용서해” — thama, københavn

somewhere in his teens, on the cusp of adolescence and adulthood, chae juwon gives his heart to a girl.

what remains in place of a darling, innocent affair is hurt and wishful thinking — that the sweetness would come back in precious pinky-linking or flirtatious intimacy in spite of the breakup. he carries this yearning with him until the end of high school, only to come out of it and have it fester and rid him of a boy pure.

in the years to follow, juwon picks apart the incident with his fingers, learns that first loves don’t last anyway. life goes on and wounds get smaller, though he’s old enough to understand that some of them never truly mend. sometimes, he remembers that his heart is still cracked somewhere, faltering in its own pool of whatever-the-fuck it was that happened so long ago; heartsick and aching to be fixed.

there’s no reason nor justification for him to be acting this way. he does, after all, have hayi now, as well as prominence that earns him nods of acknowledgment from his peers and most importantly, his father. he’s more refined, in every sense of the word, conditioned and prepared to move on to the next big thing in life. yet, all logic and rationale unravels at the seams as he stares across, holding the infamously bleak and bleary gaze of none other than the heroine of his teenage dreams.

she’s as beautiful as he remembers her to be. the only difference now, with everything he’s heard about her throughout the years of adulthood and then some, is the ghost of her innocence. it feels a lot like staring in the mirror now that he’s gotten a proper look.

(maybe his problems are no longer with her, but with whom he’s become after everything has been said and done.)

“moon jiyeon,” he speaks at last. his gaze reveals years of self-sabotage, layered with a complexity that dates back to the beginning of their fallout. to look at him is to look at a tattered thing; rough precisely at the edges with a sensitive center, which rises and falls deeply to reflect the tension in his bones.

juwon is never good with reunions, especially ones that are unplanned and unexpected. though, to his credit, he’s mastered the art of combining his anxiety with suave as his hands pat down the front and back of his trousers — looking as though his emotions still don’t run deep for her.

“didn’t think i’d see you here,” juwon adds, honest. he manages to pull out a marlboro stick from his half-frenzied, half-tamed search, not once breaking eye contact as he moves to make room for restaurant patrons and light up the end of his cigarette. his attention is all on her, even as the sky begins to blacken with wintry drizzle and it grows loud enough to cause panic.

“whoever you’re meeting isn’t going to show up,” he shrugs. “this awning has us covered, but i don’t think it’s going to hold for very long.”

juwon smiles for the first time that night, and whether or not it is genuine is up for one’s own interpretation.

“would you like to dine in with me? i came here alone, too.”

@opulentias

moon jiyeon had always had a penchant for ruthlessness. it can be said that it was innate ⸺ an almost careful detachment, the restless desire to leave instead of being the one left. she was told growing up that her family’s blood carries within it a certain type of mercilessness needed to thrive for a legacy that bears the burden of seeing the world’s ugliest. jiyeon brushed these off for her family’s idiosyncrasies are not hers. 

little did she know that her own brand of it would manifest in a different way. 

many nights have passed since that fateful day in high school when decisions were made at the expense of another. jiyeon had little heart back then, certainly ignorant of what agony does heartbreak bring to someone who had only hoped for something beautiful. after having nursed her own heart to recovery just a few years ago, jiyeon now understood what it meant to have lost a wonderful companionship and the all too overbearing sadness that comes after it. when she looks back at the carelessness with which she treated chae juwon’s affections a decade ago, she can only close her eyes in silent regret.

she wishes she can say she has always felt that way but it took years and being forced to confront her own emotions before the guilt trickled in. even then, the uncomfortable feeling was not easy to escape. the pair moved within similar circles, attended the same functions, and are often seen in the same upscale establishments. each time her eyes would linger at his frame; see the man that he is today, changed from all the time that has passed, she would be reminded of the apology that hangs at the tip of her tongue. stubborn, unyielding, clinging on to rest at the farthest parts of her heart as it once did. even today, jiyeon was insistent and refused to reach out and apologize. she’s frozen in place by the fears she does not want to acknowledge. would he listen to me? does he even want to hear me say i’m sorry?

it helped that not once had juwon approached her in all the time that they had breathed the same air. at least, not until today. 

it takes a lot to leave her grappling for words. jiyeon takes pride in her seemingly balanced disposition. juwon’s unexpected approach falls within the ambit of such rare occurrences and it takes her a full few seconds to gather her thoughts enough to string them into a comprehensible sentence.

“chae juwon,” she returns his casual greeting in the same demeanor, looks up at him with the indiscernible gaze she has mastered throughout the years. jiyeon has never been the type to wear her emotions on her sleeve; its current conflicted state definitely wouldn’t do her any favors should it show itself now. 

“i can say the same thing for you.” jiyeon watches him, eyes careful in the way that she catalogues this version of him she doesn’t know. juwon has changed in the years since their teenaged selves held hands and shared embraces. their history aside, he might as well have been a stranger. 

blinking, she looks at the dark sky then at the faces of the people around them to realize that she cannot find what she’s looking for. a frown marks her lips ⸺ she hates it when things slip beyond the tight clutch of her control. 

her gazes fell back on him exactly as he finished posing his question. the rest of her plans for the night had faded into the background at the wake of his invitation. the only noise inside her head letting her know that this might be her only chance at confronting a past that was never quite resolved. 

seoul changed so swiftly as the years went by. four years spent in foreign lands, laughing with friends she knew she was only meant to have temporarily, laboring over examinations and term papers, all while dreaming of home and all the limitless opportunities waiting for her. it can be said with certainty that she has worked hard; perhaps, worked the most she ever had in all her privileged life in order to earn the accolades that she had upon graduating. yet, this signified next to nothing when she had worn her cap and gown and marched cambridge’s hall a final time. only when did her plane land at incheon did she feel the merits of all she had worked for ⸺ the feeling of belonging forevermore found only in seoul.

with this came reunification with people jiyeon had thought she had forgotten in high school. familiar faces began cropping up from her periphery; lost in the mindless sea of people she knew she was meant to see permanently. but one face managed to deliver himself right in front of her gazes. from the time pleasant exchange of words were shared up until this moment, it seems as though he refused to be discarded. as much she wants to deny it, min jaehoon commanded her attention and ensnared her heart in a way that only he knows how.

it was the only logical explanation for her almost uncharacteristic appearances in places she had never deigned to step foot into before. moon jiyeon was a woman of sophisticated means. music was enjoyed, but only in limited quantities. if she were to ever attend a concert, her comfort and privacy would be prioritized; none of that mingling with the crowd and bumping shoulders with overly enthusiastic fans. however lately, her presence was seen in less than polished locations and even she cannot edge in a word of defense when asked about her reasons.

the guards let her slip for they knew who she was. jiyeon’s arrival cut it too close to the beginning of their performance which meant she could no longer slip backstage. within the throng of the band’s fans, she could feel their excitement. while this was no olympic stadium, the energy that filled the room brings her the confidence that perhaps, such a feat would be in the cards for jaehoon and comet in the near future.

it can be said that moon jiyeon is not one to dwell on emotions; always led on by the functions of her mind. even at eighteen, young, starry-eyed, and with an eagerness to fly off her comforts, most people already knew of her as the girl with a steady gaze and an unfailing reaction. trying to rally any smile out of her would require familiar affection and a lot of effort. she would never let anything slip for a stranger. 

in fact, her adherence to rationality and the mentality that she must always put herself first ( lest no one does ) led to her treating her most emotionally tumultuous entangling with detachment. it was not her finest moment, that was to be sure. even now, she still feels the stirrings of guilt swarming through her belly every time she catches sight of her boyfriend. hwanhee was gorgeous and his attention was something she never thought she desired but adored nonetheless. however, staring at him was a constant reminder of the choices she forced herself to make.

of all the time she would loop her hands into his and she’s reminded of the other hand she had to let go; bruised, broken, and completely underserving of her selfish cruelty.

but that was then and this is now. waiting at the steps of saebom high school and jiyeon was filtering through her application papers while waiting for hwanhee to arrive. the last year of high school was proving to be a time consuming one so much that she’s looking forward to just being a regular teenager for once. when she hears a car pull up in front of her, she lifts her gazes and a smile easily graces her lips. despite everything, hwanhee was always easy to be around. 

shrugging off her fitted shirt, she changed into familiar silky robes the nice employee at the front had handed her as she entered. hair was put up in a loose knot, exposing the curve of her neck, the subtle hint of sharp collarbone. her hands worked almost mindlessly, the procedure at the spa becoming a habitual routine. trips to illuminate had become a biweekly, almost weekly occurrence for the overworked prosecutor. and after a few hours at the spa, she’d often make her way to an adored small restaurant that sold traditional korean cuisine, then perhaps go home and take a thirty-minute nap. one full day reserved for stress relief before she had to start the next busy shift and labor until her eyes felt like falling out. 

all changed and ready for rejuvenation, seoha waited in the lounge, one leg crossed over the other. unlike the others excitedly tittering about on the luxury couches, humming over the gold interior, she was vvip. meaning, shared spa treatment with the noisy ladies was not on her list. 

she’d be seeing jiyeon one-on-one, just how they preferred it. and the source behind what was exchanged with each other never left the room.

her pride is not quite measured by the high lift of her chin nor the confident aura she brings into a room. it does not lie in her flawless academic record nor her impressive ability to solidify her presence in a family whose legacy runs as dark and as deep as a bottomless ocean. moon jiyeon’s pride is nestled in a three-story building, painted in a minimalistic design, boasting of impeccable service, and teeming with enthusiastic employees. the illuminate’s success was to this day, still her greatest accomplishment.

it was a feat imaginable, if only a bit unexpected, for children with endless vaults of money such as her. starting business ventures, cultivating it to the best of your abilities, and leaving it to hang with barely a glance and a sigh of dejection when it fails was the rollercoaster adventure her peers were all too familiar with. when the spa was in its stages of burgeoning, she has had these conversations way more than she would like. you have to be smart about this, her own mother had said one day, but even so, don’t fret if it fails. you can always start a new one next time. 

however, there were a few things not everyone knew about her. it was that she was just as smart as she was opportunistic; and dedicated as she was pragmatic.

what started as an honest love letter to her passion for wellness and relaxation bloomed into something that had earned the respect of everyone who was lucky enough to be drawn into its inner circle.

as it is, the spa remains as an upstanding establishment that mostly caters to cheongdam’s wealthiest and quite frankly, snobbiest. its exclusivity was its selling point, though, as everyone was just about willing to sell their first born in order to have a taste of its excellency. the men come and go, thinking that the spa’s refined reputation began and ended in its infrared sauna, acupuncture rooms, and abdominal massages ( amongst a few ). the women? they are smart enough to know that their money’s worth will not be returned by the work of hands, but by the sweet exchange of whispers.

it was the reason why jiyeon herself graced the walls of the spa today. often seen cocooned in her office, she would take the time off and allow herself to be serviced when the occasion calls for it. one guest in particular cannot be ignored and truthfully, she would never deign to; seoha’s time was invaluable and her presence was a privilege. besides, jiyeon takes some delight in being able to deliver information that could encourage justice, however inadvertently.

she steps into the lobby with intention, barely paying attention to everyone else. greeting the older female with a smile and a familiar bow of her head, she gestures for her to follow and waits until they’re beside each other before walking towards their destination. only then did she speak.

“you have a point,” he tells the other, still looking at his rejected family. “but maybe their patriarchy is only for the looks… maybe the real brain of the family is mrs. yang. look at her, she kinda looks like the incredibly smart villain in a cliché movie.” a tiny smile forms on his lips after he says that, looking at the woman next to him and hoping his silly little comment would make her smile too. kyung could be everything, except dumb.

“what do i think… i would say they have probably won the money by luck. maybe a prize or something of the sorts, but they didn’t work for it.” he looks at the yang family again, eyes narrowing as if it helps him see through the layers of lies and rumors that he has heard about them so far. “mr. yang does look like he’s into gambling, right?” and he chuckles, holding back a genuine laugh. “the type that bets on horses.”

passing around a wealth of information was what jiyeon thrives at ( heathens would call this speciality merely gossip but she thinks wrapping what it essentially is under the guise of a sophisticated name makes it all the more alluring ) but the surprise of the yang family’s arrival had caught even her most proficient sources unawares. incapable of arriving at a function without an arm of information sitting quietly at the far recesses of her brain, jiyeon had done her research. it was safe to say that the quick work of her fingers and minutes spent sitting on calls had left her only with a burgeoning migraine and an hour and a half she will never get back.

casting one last suspicious look at the otherwise oblivious yangs, jiyeon imagined that their days living in relative mysteriousness were numbered. one’s secrets are often slow to unearth but the gracious thing about them is that they never had the will to stay hidden. one way or another, by some divine intervention or just plain bad luck, something will give. it pleases her enough to know that when that happens, she will be one step ahead of everyone else.

flagging down the bartender, she lifts the corners of her lips in a sweet smile once she was able to ask for a refill. a quick ‘thank you’ as soon as the cap was back on the bottle and the bartender had turned away, her smile had dropped. “hm,” she mumbles in thought as she takes a sip of her drink. “she does have the quintessential look of a wife who looks like she can boss her husband around. maybe she stands behind him in all of his meetings, whispering political tactics in his ear and content to know that she’s the mastermind behind their success even if not everyone knows about it.” there’s a tinge of respect in her voice at the possible faux image of the matriarch that they conjured.