Chapter Text
The red carpet was bright and the smiles were anything but genuine. A lifestyle Jihyo had started to slowly get used to over the years. Just like the way she tried not to wince with every step she took, had realized how her heels cut into her skin the second she had stood up. She tried to smile while she ignored her way too tight dress sucking all the air of her lungs. It was something she had to do, there was no way she could show up to a fashion show, as a designer herself, in something that was anything other than fashionable. She had to make statements, which meant that her bold side had to come to live again. One that she rather saved for when she was in her own atelier.
She had been debating the entire night, up until when she had to leave if she was going to show up. Now, it wasn't that she wasn't curious about her friend's upcoming line, but fashion shows always came with running into a certain someone. She wasn't even sure if she was the reason why she wanted to stay away, because she found herself longing for the woman more often than not. Was probably one of the biggest reasons why she had attended some of the most questionable shows. Because she did.
Jihyo also knew that there was no running from her, not with the way they handled each other and certainly not with their line of work. Most of the designers had all been friends and they showed up for each other. Which is why to her own disappointment, her ethical side won and now here she was. A glass of wine lingering to her lips as she looked around. And then a voice cut into her ears, not even realizing what the other had said, "I'm sorry, come again?"
"Oh, nothing important," Jeongyeon, one of her friends said as she shook her off with a laugh. Sipped from her glass before she spoke again, "Did you see Sana? She's so nervous."
"Yeah, she kept blowing up my phone," Jihyo answered with a roll of her eyes. Her friendship to Sana was the only reason why she had probably come, the thought of her bed and a pair of sweats suddenly becoming more and more wanted as she shifted on her heels. But that bed wouldn't come with a certain brunette, even though Jihyo had dreamed many times that it did. "I mean, I was probably the same way when my first line dropped."
"She doesn't even have anything to worry about, everything looks really great."
Jihyo couldn't help but turn her around when she saw some movement in the corner of her eye. It was like her body had searched for the woman before she could even notice that she was there. Or maybe it was because she had already been staring at her with her famous smirk. Jihyo coughed as she turned back around to Jeongyeon, who was already shaking her head at her. She still tried to not let the conversation get there. "You've already seen Sana's collection?"
"She kind of had a breakdown when she called me the other day, so Momo and I came over to calm her down. But," Jeongyeon said as her own eyes got stuck on something behind Jihyo, her finger pointing up as she spoke, "When are you going to do something about that?"
Jihyo's eyes grew in shock as she grabbed her hand to stop her from pointing. "Has your mother never warned you about pointing, Yoo Jeongyeon? Don't be fucking rude."
The other rolled her eyes for the millionth time it seemed, "Rather rude than being painfully in love with Im-"
A hand slapped against her mouth as she threw a quick glance behind her, in the hopes that she hadn't caught the other's attention. Not knowing how to feel when she saw the woman in an engaging conversation with whoever it was that she was talking to. Jihyo wanted to feel her eyes on her, wanted her to watch her. Wanted her to be the reason for the current smile on her face. "You're so fucking loud, why can't you be quiet and oblivious for once??"
"Why can't you?" Jeongyeon laughed at her, "You're the one who looks for her wherever you go. You literally search the entire room and when you don't find her, you sulk. Don't even pretend with me, I know the way you work." When Jihyo opened her mouth to speak, Jeongyeon held up her hand to stop her. "This whole rivals thing was cute in college, but come on Hyo. Why do you keep challenging her? It's only-"
"Because that's the way we work. Drop it." Jihyo snapped. She knew how childish it was, the way they always tried to outdo each other, but it was the only thing that she knew. It was the only way for Nayeon to be interested in her and that was something she couldn't lose. Jihyo lived on her interest, lived on the way Nayeon always proudly smiled at herself when she won whatever they argued on. She didn't mind about losing, but she would pretend for the other as long as she wanted.
"Sometimes change is good, you know?" Jeongyeon countered, and then her eyes darted back to where the other was. "Well, she's coming over. It's up to you now."
"Wait," Jihyo said as she tried to reach for her, "Don't go. Stay here."
"I should go find Mina though," Jeongyeon said, was still in time to greet the girl who was now standing between them. "Im, good to see you."
"Likewise, Yoo. Already running off though? Please, don't let my presence scare you away." Nayeon chuckled, earning a light slap from her friend. "Yoo Jeongyeon! I will send you an invoice if this causes a bruise again!"
Jeongyeon simply shrugged, "See it as take back for having to deal with you all the time, I'll see you two inside."
Jihyo awkwardly looked to the ground, eyes on the red lines her heels had made on her skin. Yet no longer aware of the pain when the other stood in front of her. The voice in front of her making her look back up. It was like Jihyo had a whole side specifically reserved for moments like these, because the second she looked up, her own cocky grin spread on her face. Her shoulders back into a straight line as she looked at her, confidence written all over her with no clue where she got it from. "Did you even hear what I said?"
"No, sorry to say this, but I think I still won the challenge on who's louder." Jihyo chuckled, making the other tilt her head. Something in her gaze changed showing Jihyo that the other had no reply to that, or was thinking about what to say.
Nayeon bit her lip as she looked her up and down. "Have we challenged each other on that before? I mean, I would gladly lose that one if it's me who's making you loud."
Jihyo couldn't help but blush at the way Nayeon had obviously checked her out. The words the older had spoken weren't even something that had progressed until she had taken a sip of her drink, not even being able to swallow as she almost choked on it. "What did you say the first time?"
"Oh, about your dress. It looks great on you." Nayeon recalled as her eyes drifted once again. "Did you design that?"
Her heart swelled at the recognition, her hands tightly holding the glass of wine as she composed herself. "I'm sorry, I need a while to process this. Are you, Im Nayeon, complimenting me? Instead of fishing for compliments yourself?"
"Take the compliment, Park," Nayeon laughed while she took a sip from her glass. Rosé. Nayeon always drank Rosé, but only the dry ones. Jihyo remembered how she had said that all people who drank any other kind fake and tasteless. The wine described the older perfectly. Made in a way to believe you about the sweetness inside, yet instantly being proven wrong when the dryness made its way into your mouth. The flavor anything but sweet, yet so addicting due to the drought making you want more, making you need to take another sip until the dehydration would be gone. But it wouldn't. It would always stay present.
"It's from my new collection," Jihyo spoke as she didn't dare to eye the glass again. "Thought I'd give the people a preview."
"You're dropping a new collection?" Jihyo nodded. "When?"
"Don't have a date yet," The other answered quickly. "I did finish the sketches pretty quickly."
"Bet I could help you finish quicker."
This time Jihyo did choke on her drink, "What?"
A hand made it's way onto her back, softly rubbing at the skin that was there due to her dress’ open back as Jihyo couldn't help but notice how close the pair had gotten. When she looked next to her, the cocky grin was still there and all Jihyo could focus on was the way the hand stayed put on her back. "You know, I'm always up for new challenges,"
"We have to go inside,"
"We still have twenty minutes left." Nayeon threw back, and when Jihyo just stared, Nayeon took it up herself to take her hand into hers as she dragged her with her. With her cheeks blushed, Jihyo just let the older lead her into one of the bathroom stalls.
The lock clicked, and in a swift move, her back met the wall. She couldn't help but gasp at the harshness as two hands locked her in. The whole situation already affecting her more than it should, she could feel the way she was getting more turned on with the way Nayeon was looking at her. The closeness was making it hard to breathe, she needed the other to do something. Anything. She tried not to whimper as one of Nayeon's legs placed itself between both of her legs, the cocky grin on her face showing that she knew exactly what she was doing. One of the hands that had stayed put on the side of her head came to her cheek, powerfully cupping her jaw to pull her forward. It was almost instinct for Jihyo to push forward, to pull her lips against the others. She needed the touch. Needed to kiss Nayeon. The tension making her legs tremble as she felt herself wanting to do something about the throbbing between her legs. Instead, Nayeon's knee moved up a bit and Jihyo had to hold herself as she tried not to moan at the feeling, to not grind into the leg that teasingly moved.
But Nayeon didn't give in. She didn't close the distance when she pulled her by her jaw, just simply threw her head back in laughter when she saw the way Jihyo had followed her movements. The hand caressed her cheek as she hovered above her lips, the words hitting Jihyo's. "You're so pretty to be whimpering for me like this."
"Nayeon, I swear to God-" Jihyo managed to get out in frustration. "Do something."
"But it's so fun to see how much you want me." The older said with a pout. You don't even know the half of it. "Completely ready to give in. To lose to me once again."
"You won't win any challenge if you don't get me off," The frustration was only getting more clear. There was no way she could go back in if the older didn't do something. It was getting too much, the way she craved the older. A soft tingling kiss was pressed against her neck, her head naturally moving to the side as she allowed her more space. The moan following before she could stop it.
With the way the younger trailed her kisses down, Jihyo hadn't even felt the hand wandering down her body. Until the older had moved her dress up to reach the place Jihyo had needed her. She couldn't help but buck forward as she tensed with the touch, soft whimpers following. "I really don't think you should worry about me getting you off, princess."
Nayeon's hand stayed on her thigh the entire show, at times slowly moving upward as she ignored her smirk. Her hands wandering in places where the older had just left her mark. She had to tightly press her eyes shut as she tried to burn the memories from not even ten minutes ago. Nayeon always knew what she was doing. Especially when it came to her. She always knew what to say to tick her off, to cause some sort of effect. Jihyo could only give in.
The way Nayeon smirked was enough to cause a reaction out of her, she leaned over as her own hand pressed mirrored her touches, Jihyo going higher than the other had dared in public. Whispering the words into her ear. "You're on."
"You're challenging me?" Nayeon whispered back with amusement, "This wasn't a challenge, Park. I already won. There's no way you're beating what I just did-"
Jihyo's hand disappeared completely underneath her dress, felt the way the older tensed at the movement. "You sure about that?"
Later that night, Jihyo could only curse as she thought about how she could've gone there with the other. This wasn't how she was going to get over her insane crush on Im Nayeon. If she could even call it that at this point. Jihyo couldn't even remember how their challenges started, only knew that it did in high school. They competed with each other on the silliest things, going from who the highest grades had in high school, to who's new collection had more impact. It had always been about their work, which was never a surprise. They both shared the same competitiveness and it brought a side from both girls that never came out otherwise. Jihyo loved that Nayeon ticked her off that much that she had wanted to do better than her. But over the years that changed.
For Nayeon it had been about winning, for Jihyo it had been about the smile Nayeon got when she won.
But, now they had crossed a line. One Jihyo knew they couldn't get back from.