"Y/n-aa, I want to escape...I want to live as a human,.. not as someone's plaything..." Sunghoon says, tears welling up in his eyes.

"Trust me, Sunghoon...just hold on a little longer. I'll help you escape her clutches."

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The rhythmic thud of bass from the speakers reverberated through the small training room, a sound that usually ignited Sunghoon's spirit. Today, it mocked him. He stood in front of the mirror, drenched in sweat, his chest heaving after hours of practising the same choreography. His teammates sprawled on the floor, equally exhausted.
Their faces bore the same expression: disbelief mixed with bitter resignation. The announcement had come earlier that afternoon—a sudden, emotionless decision from the company executives.
The debut was cancelled.
No explanation, no apology, just a directive to "return to training" for an indefinite period. Sunghoon clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms as the words echoed in his mind.
"It's not your fault," Jiwoon, one of his teammates, said quietly, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"It doesn't matter whose fault it is," Sunghoon muttered. His voice was hoarse, barely audible. "They don't care about us. We're just tools to them."
The room fell silent, the only sound was the soft hum of the air conditioner. Sunghoon grabbed his bag and left, unable to endure the suffocating atmosphere any longer.
The streets outside the training building were bustling with life, a stark contrast to the emptiness he felt inside. Neon signs glowed overhead, advertising everything from cosmetics to convenience stores. Couples walked hand in hand, groups of friends laughed loudly, and somewhere in the distance, a street performer sang a soulful ballad.
Sunghoon wandered, his legs carrying him without direction. His thoughts spiralled—years of sacrifice, the countless sleepless nights, the pain of pushing his body beyond its limits—had all been for nothing.
When he finally stopped walking, he found himself standing outside a bar. The neon sign buzzed faintly, casting a dim glow over the entrance. He hesitated for only a moment before pushing the door open.
The bar was dimly lit, and the air was heavy with the scent of alcohol and smoke. A melancholic jazz tune played softly in the background. Sunghoon slid onto a stool at the counter and ordered a drink, not caring what it was. The bartender handed him a glass filled with amber liquid, which he downed in one go, wincing as the burn hit his throat. Friday night had long passed; the clock had just struck 12:30 AM on Saturday, and Sunghoon was still sitting there, all alone, drowning his sorrows in drinks. 

"Rough day?" a silky voice asks.  

He looks up from his drink, clearly inebriated. "Yeah...you could say that." He slurs, trying to focus on the woman. "But, who are you?"

The woman chuckles and puts her hand on the counter signaling the bartender for a drink. "Just a random person..."

He studied the woman up and down before turning his focus back to his drink and asking the bartender to serve another glass. She was stunning, with sharp features, flawless skin, and an air of effortless confidence. Her red lips curled into a faint smirk as she leaned against the counter, her gaze fixed on him.

"Take this one, it's pretty good for a bad day." The woman says, a small smile playing on her lips as she offers him the same drink as her.

"Thanks, but I'm fine with the one I'm having." He runs a hand through his messy hair. "I just need something stronger than that to keep myself from going insane."

The woman displays a faint smile before turning back to him and asking, "Why? Is something wrong?"

He lets out a weary laugh before replying, "Is it that obvious?" He took a sip from his glass before adding, "Life can get pretty messy sometimes...and I'm a living proof of that."

"Yeah, life... it's unpredictable, isn't it?" She swirls the wine in her hand. "Life's game is indeed tough to keep up with."

"Indeed!" He said before downing the rest of his drink. Requesting the bartender for another round he stares at the woman curiously. "So...why are you-"

"Why did I approach you?" She smiles. "Nothing special, just...you seemed like someone who needed a friend. So, let's talk about life over a drink, should we?"

"Umm... let's see," He says. "Chatting over a glass of beer...not bad." Sunghoon clinks his glass with the woman before downing it.

"Cheers," She says before taking a small sip of the whiskey.

They clinked glasses, and for the first time that day, Sunghoon felt something other than despair—a strange, almost magnetic pull toward this woman.

"So, friend..?" He chuckles, "Um.. what's bothering you?"

"Nothing special... I'm just feeling a turmoil of emotions and can't figure out anything to do, so I'm here." She displays a half-smile. "Oh, look how forgetful of me, I even forgot to ask your name."

"Yeah...I forgot to ask too..." He nervously rubbed his neck, smiling faintly. "I'm Sunghoon by the way"

"Sunghoon...umm...a pretty name for a pretty boy." She smiles. "I'm Jiyeon, Han Jiyeon."

"Jiyeon..." He repeats her name quietly, almost to himself. "A pretty name for a pretty girl." He takes a long sip from his drink, his gaze lingering longer than usual on Jiyeon. 

"Haha, thanks." She smiles shyly and looks away.

The alcohol seems to have loosened his tongue; he lets out a scoff before adding, "Trust me, sweetheart, I know a pretty face when I see one, and you've got one." His eyes roam over her features, admiring them.

"You're flattering me Sunghoon." She smiles and takes a long sip from her drink.

He noticed her shy smile and smirked, his eyes narrowed slightly as he leaned his chin on his hand studying her further. "You look prettier when you smile, darling." His voice drops to a low, intimate tone as he whispers those words into her ears.

"You're gonna continue this, huh?" Jiyeon hits his arm softly.

He laughs, feigning a look of mock pain after she hits his arm. "Guilty as charged. But it's not flattery if it's true, right?"
Sunghoon glances at Jiyeon with a sly smirk, his gaze still lingering on her flushed cheeks.

"You're flirting, aren't you?" She adds, lifting her glass to her lips as she stares into his eyes.

Sunghoon chuckles softly, lifting his glass to his lips as he meets her gaze.
"Is it that obvious? Can you blame me, sweetheart? You're here in this dark, lonely bar, keeping me company. I'm not blind, y'know."
He takes a slow sip, his eyes never leaving hers. "And I can't help being attracted to a pretty face like yours, ...noona."

"Then...if I make a move right now, you won't push me away, right?" She says as she turns to face him. Her gaze lingers on his lips.

Sunghoon raises an eyebrow, a playful smile tugging at his lips. "Now that's a bold question. But to answer your question... Why don't you try and find out yourself?"
He leans back in his seat, a challenge in his gaze. "Go ahead, sweetheart. Make your move."

A playful smirk danced across her lips as she listened to his words. In a world filled with the same old lines and predictable moves, he stood out like a refreshing breeze—refreshingly different from the other guys she'd encountered. "Are you sure darling?"

Sunghoon lets out another laugh, his eyes sparkling with a mix of mischief and interest. "Absolutely. And I'm curious to see what you're made of, darlin'. So go ahead, surprise me."

The alcohol in her system has stirred her boldness. She lifts her face, her lips hovering over his, while her hands rest on his thighs for support. "So... should I?"

Sunghoon's eyes darkened as she moved closer, his breathing becoming slightly heavier. Feeling her hands on his thighs sent a jolt of electricity through him. He leaned in as well, his lips dangerously close to hers. His voice is husky and low as he responds, his gaze never leaving her lips. "I dare you, noona. Make your move."

"Shh–" She shushes him by putting her index on his lips. "You're quite an eager little boy, aren't you?" She smirks before pressing her lips on his.

Sunghoon smirked as she shushed him, enjoying the way she took charge. When her index landed on his lips, he couldn't help but chuckle softly. But any response he could have given was quickly silenced as she pressed her lips against his. A soft gasp escaped him, his hands immediately coming up to grab her waist, pulling her a little closer.

The bitter taste of alcohol doesn't bother them as both give in to each other's needs. The kiss turns more eager and desperate with time. Sunghoon's fingers dig into Jiyeon's hips as he pulls her closer. Both of their minds are cloudy with desire and alcohol. Jiyeon's hands slowly make their way to Sunghoon's shirt; as she starts to unbutton the first few buttons of it she's stopped by Sunghoon.

"Are you sure you wanna go that far?" He asks, his eyes cloudy with thoughts and desire.

"Yeah...are you...not?" She looks into his eyes.

He doesn't have to answer with words as she understood the reply just by looking into his eyes. She pressed her lips onto his again, but this time she demanded entry to his mouth. As she was done with unbuttoning his shirt, her hands started to roam on his bare skin, taking in every detail of his muscles.

Her touch on his abs sent jolts of pleasure through him. He grew needier by the second. His hand slowly inched up on her thighs pushing her dress up.

"Baby, let's... let's just get a room. Shall we?" Jiyeon says breaking the kiss.

"You're very eager for it, aren't you, noona?" He smirks, placing his hand forward.

She took his hand and pulled him outside of the bar. Leading him to an elevator she pushed the button to the 5th floor.
After reaching the 5th floor, she pulled him to a room with her. Just after entering the room she locked the door behind them and pulled him into a hungry, intense kiss.

"You're really getting impatient noona." He smirks. "Ok sure, I'll make sure you never forget this night."

Author's Note:

Thank you for reading it. Sorry for such a long chapter. Hopefully, you guys are enjoying the story.