Work Text:
It was a boring Sunday afternoon for Aeri. She applied for a job as a makeup artist for extras a week before but she didn’t seem to think about it that much, she got rejected the last time she applied for a makeup artist job there was no anxiety within her. She was losing hope in fulfilling her dreams but she didn’t want to give up just yet.
“Maybe, I should call Min Jeong.”
She hops down from her bed, her painted toes finds its balance on the floor, on her way to rush down the newly polished wooden stairs. The telephone was resting on the table behind the couch and the boxed TV.
Aeri dialed Min Jeong’s number with speed as she put a strand of reddish brown hair behind her ear with a dangling earring brushing against her fingertip.
”Hey, Min Jeong. Can you come over? I’ll cook for you.”
“Really? I’ll bring Jimin over.”
“You’re not fighting with her anymore?”
“We made up hours ago. I’ll bring her over if she’s not busy, see ya.”
“Gosh.” Aeri puts the telephone down. With a big sigh.
Yoo Jimin and Kim Minjeong have been dating since their senior year of highschool then into college. An on and off relationship it was, Jimin made Min Jeong cry countless times. It never really sit well with Aeri, who was Min Jeong’s protective best friend. She couldn’t do anything about it though, so she let Min Jeong follow her heart being in love with Jimin.
Aeri gets a knock on the door, “It must be Min Jeong and Jimin!”
It was only Min Jeong when Aeri opened the door. Min Jeong's eyes welled up with tears. It was Jimin again… Aeri wrapped Min Jeong in her arms, bringing her inside and they took a seat on Aeri’s sofa.
“Tell me what happened, Min Jeong.”
“She… told me she had a lot of work to do and she didn’t have time for me now, I understand because she got a new job but she threw me out and locked the door.” Min Jeong sniffled in between words.
“I told you to leave her.”
Aeri made her friend food, Min Jeong was a simple girl. Her favorite food to eat was fried rice with a big egg on top with soy sauce. She served Min Jeong’s food with a matching cup of orange juice.
“Orange juice? I’m not a kid anymore, Aer!”
“You act like one.”
“Whatever!”
Min Jeong left shortly after, leaving Aeri even deeper into boredom. All she had was her iPod, she turned on a random bubbly pop song, jamming to it as she ran around the house, cleaning every inch with a vacuum cleaner or a duster.
She took a break to get the mail, waving the mailman goodbye. It was a letter with a coffee stain but the return address was still visible to the eyes, it was about the makeup artist job she applied to. Aeri squealed and bounced back into her bedroom with the hope of being accepted.
Aeri twirled and jumped into her bed, tearing off the envelope, revealing the folded letter inside. She unfolded it with her eyes racing down the letter, she was rejected again but she was offered to do makeup for the Actress Ning Yizhuo, a famous well known actress in Korea. She, in fact, was Aeri’s favorite actress, someone she inspired to be like.
“Miss Ning Yizhuo?!”
Aeri fell back onto her back with a dazed expression. Her mouth was agape, she came up with imaginary scenarios with Yizhuo in her head. She was beyond excited and nervous at the same time, her meeting Yizhuo was a crazy thought to her let alone doing her makeup!
I think I would faint if I saw her, Aeri thinks.
Aeri takes slow deep breaths as the information starts to register in her head, she was meeting Yizhuo. She couldn’t act like a fan, she had to act like a coworker, that’s all she was, well until Aeri agreed to the job through a professional letter.
“I could either be damned or the happiest person on earth.” She mumbles.
🍰
Her round clock was broken so only the brightness of the sun could wake up Aeri. She rose up from her bed with her arms stretched up and scrunched up her face. She had short yawns with her hand falling onto her head, morning headaches.
“Ah, I wonder when I start working.” She groaned. Work was only on her mind now, it was her first serious full time job and she didn’t want to mess things up. Aeri had to bring her own collection of makeup, she had a big set filled with dirty brushes and worn out eyeshadows.
This won’t do. She had some money her mother taught her to buy new makeup so she spent her whole day going around different makeup shops picking out quality brands of makeup. Only the best for Miss Ning Yizhuo.
Aeri past by an ad of Ning Yizhuo plastered onto the glass door of the makeup shop. She retracts her steps, walking backwards to look at the beautiful ad of Yizhuo. Aeri had a warm feeling inside, Yizhuo was talented and the sweetest person on earth, meeting her would make Aeri ten times happier than how she was already anxiously and excitedly waiting to meet her idol.
“Blonde suits her so well, I wonder what hair color she chose this time!”
Aeri came home just in time, the telephone rang. She starts work next week, Monday. Aeri dropped down to the floor as she screamed her lungs out until she lacked air. She quickly picked her body up, running and stumbling upstairs to her closet. Aeri tends to get ahead of herself, already choosing an outfit out.
Her first impression to Yizhuo had to be perfect.
In the admists of Aeris dress up session, the telephone rings again from downstairs.
“It’s probably Min Jeong, she never gives me peace!” Aeri groaned.
🍰
“Wow, it’s bigger than I expected.” Aeri says with a large eyes. She steps her foot into the dressing room with all the actors and actresses awaiting to get on set after their makeup is done. Aeri became really shy, there were a lot of new faces and recognizable actors. She had to keep all of her emotions bottled up, she didn’t want to seem weird to them. She was especially shy when she saw Yizhuo for the first time, in the same room as her. Aeri clenched the handle of her makeup box, it’s Yizhuo. It’s actually Yizhuo!
Yizhuo’s shoulders were covered with a white towel, her gaze was stuck on her dark blue nails that were painted with care. Her hair was surprisingly short, the public hasn’t seen it yet Aeri was sure but it was still beautiful, Yizhuo’s hair was dyed a shade of pink where Aeri likes to call, ‘strawberry shortcake pink’.
She was indeed very breathtaking. Aeri approaches Yizhuo slowly as the manager waves her arm at Aeri to come over there and do Yizhuo’s makeup.
Yizhuo’s gaze focuses on Aeri when she heard the footsteps of heels coming her way. Yizhuo crosses her arms as she scoffs at Aeri, “Is she a vampire or a makeup artist? She looks so pale!”
“Be a little nicer, Yizhuo.” Her manager reminds Yizhuo, “She’s new, she just graduated college, she’s your personal makeup artist.”
“Personal makeup artist?!”, Aeri thinks as she panics to that. That was her job, not to do Yizhuo’s makeup casually and then pamper up the extras as well. It was only Yizhuo.
“Ah, fresh out of college. She must be childish then.” Yizhuo remarks.
“I’m actually quite mature, Miss Ning Yizhuo.”
“Talking back now?” Her gaze goes back to her nails. “Don’t call me Miss Ning Yizhuo, call me Ning Yizhuo and if you're lucky you can drop it and use Yizhuo.” Aeri didn’t expect Yizhuo to be like this, her image on TV was much different in person. In some way, Aeri was disappointed but she had a little faith in Yizhuo.
“Okay… It’s a pleasure to work with you, Ning Yizhuo.”
“Open the box and do my makeup. I’m waiting.”
Aeri wanted to be patient with Yizhuo but she was unbearable. She curses Yizhuo under her breath as she sets the makeup box on the table in front of the giant mirror. Her eyeshadow platelet was on top so she started with Yizhuo’s eyes, a beautiful pair of eyes Aeri noticed. Aeri couldn’t help but stare at them while applying the dark blue powder on Yizhuo’s eyelids.
“I know I’m pretty, you can stop staring now.” Yizhuo says with harsh undertones in his words. She was already done with Aeri which made Aeri fear as she heard gossip from the other side of the room saying that Yizhuo had already fired many people before her as Yizhuo gets sick of people easily. She didn’t want to lose her job, it was only day one. “I said stop staring.” Aeri nods, ignoring the eye roll Yizhuo gave to her.
“What shade of foundation do you use?” Aeri asks.
“Aren’t you supposed to know?”
“It’s my first day here, I don’t know anything.”
“I don’t know, try different shades until it’s right.”
Aeri sighs as she only had four different shades of foundation, her fingers crossed hoping one of them matches Yizhuo’s skin.
“Who told you to dress like that?” Yizhuo asks out of the blue. Even Aeris' outfit irritated her, Aeri was upset. She thoughtfully picked out this outfit for Yizhuo to see and Yizhuo hated it.
“Well… the necklace and the earrings were merch from your—“
“You didn’t have to buy it. Also, you’re a fan?” Yizhuo held a strong glare, Aeri short circuited, her nervousness showed as sweat surfaced onto her forehead. Aeri thought that Yizhuo would feel annoyed if she really was a fan so she hid it inside. Aeri shook her head resuming with her soft makeup brush dipping into pink powder.
“I wouldn’t mind.” Yizhuo says, “Don’t be weird about it though.”
Aeri hums as a small smile tugs at her nude lipsticked lips. Yizhuo had a little smirk on her face, she liked Aeris technique with the brush. It brushed softly against her face, it felt ticklish and soft. Yizhuo knew she was keeping Aeri here.
“I’m done.” Aeri says softly.
Yizhuo rises her body from her chair and checks her face in the mirror with both of her hands on the white table. She liked it, it wasn’t too cakey and it matched with her outfit, Yizhuo was ready to get on set.
“Looks like your work is done.”
“But… Um, isn't this a full time job?” Aeri stops Yizhuo, asking her with anxious eyes. Yizhuo takes another look at herself in the mirror. “It is, when I’m done filming, I have an ad. You wait here.” Aeri lets Yizhuo walk past her, she eventually cleans up her platelets, organizing everything until Yizhuo comes back.
“She’s a hard muffin, How can anyone deal with her?” Aeri groans as she takes a seat in Yizhuo’s seat. She raised her legs up, they lay on the white table. Aeri takes a nap though not intentionally it was needed, she was too busy with her fangirling acts to sleep decently.
Yizhuo returns. Yizhuo wasn’t surprised that Aeri would pull something like this. She thought of Aeri as a kid.
“Excuse me, I’m back Mrs. Makeup Artist.”
Aeri woke up, falling backwards with the chair, and crashing onto the floor. Her head and back suffered the fall, Yizhuo didn’t say a word about it. Aeri immediately got up, putting the chair back into place then Yizhuo took her seat. Yizhuo wouldn’t listen to Aeri’s repeating apologies; she just wanted her makeup done again.
“It’s Aeri.” Aeri finally says after her secondhand embarrassment that Yizhuo had to witness. Yizhuo didn’t like that name, it was too difficult for her to remember. Either because it was Japanese and she didn’t quite understand or because she didn’t even bother to remember it. “You're going by Giselle now, Aeri is too difficult.” Yizhuo says, “Get started please.” She was convinced that there was no way possible to get rid of the harshness in Yizhuo’s voice.
“You really are a hard muffin.” Aeri mumbles.
“I was still able to hear that. Hard muffin? You have a choice with words, Giselle.”
“I… tend to use food metaphors.”
“Ah, so you are still a child.”
”That has nothing to do with me being a child, Ning Yizhuo.”
🍰
“Wait? We’re talking about the same Ning Yizhuo, right?”
“Yes! Of course!” Aeri exclaims.
Min Jeong didn’t believe it. Yizhuo brainwashed her fans with her fake sweetness and kindness and Min Jeong was a victim to it.
“She’s so much different if you meet her. I swear, Min Jeong.”
“I have to see it to believe it.”
Aeri rolled her eyes back and fell back onto her bed. Min Jeong takes a spot next to Aeri, lying close to her. “We should go to the wig store.” Min Jeong says. Aeri pressed her fingers against Min Jeong’s head making her head move back a little. “Why the wig store? She won’t like me if I change my hair.” Min Jeong starts giggling as a smirk etches onto her face. She had a plan.
“No, I mean I should pretend to be you tomorrow. I’ll see Yizhuo at your work and see how vicious she is.”
“We don’t really look the same and plus we should have to dye the wig since my hair color isn’t in any of the wig stores wigs.” Aeri says, “Yizhuo will definitely notice.”
“You know I’m good with makeup too, not as good as you but I have great acting skills.”
“She’s an actress, she would be able to tell.” Aeri says.
Aeri eventually agrees to this foolish plan of Min Jeongs. The bright side was that it was a day away from Yizhuo’s bad attitude, she could rest and still get paid. She had a bit of anxiety about Yizhuo finding out but she trusted her best friend.
🍰
“Hello, Ning Yizhuo.” Min Jeong says as she patted her reddish brown wig of Aeri like hair. She sat down the makeup box on the table as Yizhuo stared at Min Jeong. “Did you do your makeup differently, today?” Yizhuo asks, somewhat bored and uninterested but she still asked. Min Jeong nods, taking out a big flat brush from the makeup box.
“Hey, you usually don’t use this brush.” Yizhuo remarks.
“Really? It must be this brush then.” Min Jeong picks up another random brush, dipping it in a dark shade of blush. Yizhuo stops Min Jeong, grabbing her wrist with her nails digging into her skin. “I use a light shade of blush. I should’ve told you yesterday since I told you not to use blush on me but I’ll allow it today.” Yizhuo says in a much softer tone of voice. Min Jeong smiles as Yizhuo wasn’t as bad as what Aeri described her to be.
“Oh by the way, my manager scheduled a dinner as we’re promoting the tv series. You're coming with me since I need my makeup fixed often, don’t wear anything ugly like what you're wearing right now. The theme is something elegant, not flowery and raggy.”
“But… I picked out this outfit.”
“I know, you wear the ugliest pieces of clothing.”
“Nevermind, I know exactly what you're talking about Aeri. This woman is a menace.”, Min Jeong thinks.
Min Jeong returns to Aeris place in complete shambles. She fell onto the carpet with mascara dripping down her cheeks and chin, “She’s absolutely suffocating!” Min Jeong exclaims as she starts rambling about how Yizhuo was bashing her sense of fashion and how bad Min Jeong was at doing makeup.
“I told you so.”
“I’m never filling in for you again!”
“Did she really hurt your feelings that much?!”
🍰
“I can tell the difference between you and your friend. Don’t try to fool me again, Giselle.”
“I’m sorry but you were being insanely rude to her, I’m okay with it but that’s my best friend.”
“So what?”
“Aren’t you worried that your fans will see who you really are?”
“Are you trying to slander me?” She laughed at Aeri’s face. It was uncontrollable laughing, it was like she hadn't had a laugh in years and she had to release it all. “If that’s what you're trying to do, I’ll get my people to slander your life first.”
“No, I’m just worried about your fans' reaction to it.”
“You don’t need to worry about me, do your job.”
“I wasn’t worried about you, I was worried about your fans.” Aeri mumbles. Yizhuo caught it again, she kicked her bare foot against Aeri’s legs, making her tremble and fall backwards onto her bottom. It didn’t help that she had big blocky heels on. “If you weren’t a fan of mine, you wouldn’t be worried about my fans.” Yizhuo says, clicking her tongue. “Get up and resume.” Aeri scowls at her, getting up with her legs shaking as she gains back her balance.
“I might not be a fan anymore.”
“What? Do I need to win back your heart? Waste of time.”
“I wish you were a little humble.”
🍰
“A WHOLE FUCKING DAMN MONTH WITH YIZHUO I AM LOSING MY SH—“
“I think you should stop screaming and talk to her.” Min Jeong suggests, Min Jeong is usually the one to sympathize with people. She didn’t like Yizhuo at all but it was easy for her to say since it was Aeri’s situation not her.
“How? She refuses to have conversation with me longer than three minutes!” Aeri exclaims. She grabbed her pillow and started screaming into it as she felt like she couldn’t grasp her sanity for much longer.
“Yizhuo is terrible but you're with her everyday and you're lucky she didn’t fire you. You have to eventually get into her soft spot, Aeri.”
“Min Jeong! I can’t possibly think of Yizhuo being soft other than her appearance on TV.” Aeri says.
“You have to see it one day, maybe follow her around a little.”
“She told me not to act weird and that’s weird!” Aeri exclaims again, “I might have to quit soon.” Min Jeong instantly slaps the pillow off of Aeri’s hands. Her eyebrows furrowed and eyes hardened. “You can’t! This was your dream, wasn't it? You can’t give up so easily because Yizhuo isn’t friendly! You gotta make her into your friend, Aeri!” Aeri was shocked by Min Jeong’s declaration but touched that she cared so much about her dreams.
“That feels like an impossible task though.”
“You’ll make it, Aeri. I believe you, try to win her over.”
🍰
“Hi, Ning Yizhuo. I brought you some baked goods I made last night, I know you like strawberry pastries.” Aeri spoke in a soft voice with her arms filled of white boxes where they hold the goods and her makeup box was in her right hand. She struggled to put everything on the white table next to Yizhuo but she managed to do it. Yizhuo was stunned by how much Aeri baked for her, they all looked tasty and Yizhuo was quite the foodie.
Yizhuo gulped and looked away from the boxes, she didn’t want temptation to get the best of her. Since Yizhuo didn’t treat Aeri the best, Yizhuo feels that she doesn’t deserve to eat her baking.
“I don’t want them, give them to the staff and other stars.”
“I made them specifically for you, you’re my idol so I wanted to treat you to something nice.” Aeri says with a warm smile that makes Yizhuo groan. “Why did you go through all that trouble In making these cakes for me? I feel bad, Giselle.” Aeri blinks as she was surprised that a person like Yizhuo could feel guilty.
“No, no it’s okay. I don’t take any of it personally! Please, eat these. It would be a shame if you didn’t eat them.”
“Really?”
“Yes, please.” Aeri insisted.
“Next time, make me a strawberry shortcake.”
Aeri nods her head as a smile tugging at his lips, “I will, Uh it looks exactly like your hair color.”
“Oh this?” she puts her hand on her head, “This is a wig but I might dye my hair that color. Nice suggestion, Giselle.” Yizhuo smiles. She had a calm voice and everything nice like how she appeared on TV.
“Thanks, Ning Yizhuo!”
Yizhuo stuffs her cheeks with the baked pastries. Aeri saw more of Yizhuo’s smiles as she devoured the cakes. “This is better than any of the cakes I had at restaurants.” Yizhuo says with a genuine smile on her face. Aeri felt warm, she loved that Yizhuo enjoyed her baking and Yizhuo loved that Aeri was generous enough to gift Yizhuo cake.
”How can a 32 year old look so cute eating cake?, Aeri thinks.
🍰
Aeri was stranded at a party with Yizhuo, she didn’t have anyone else to bring. That surprised Aeri since Yizhuo was famous, wouldn’t she have other actress friends? Apparently, the answer to that was no, she only had her makeup artist and her manager.
She sat behind Yizhuo as Yizhuo chatted with reporters with her fake sweetness slowly fading away the longer the reports bothered her but she had Aeri fixing her speech and facial expressions towards the reporters and their mics.
Aeri had a black dress that was ill fitted that Yizhuo chose, they didn’t have many sizes and it was tight.
Yizhuo had a pink two piece dress, plastic hair clips, and the makeup Aeri had done over and over again for Yizhuo since she kept wiping her face with a napkin. Difficult as always.
“Ning Yizhuo.” Aeri says, “When are we leaving?”
“When my manager says so.” Yizhuo says.
“I’m uncomfortable.”
“And you think I’m not?”
“Let’s get out of here.” Aeri pulls Yizhuo outside of the party with Aeri’s hand gently grasping her wrist. Yizhuo doesn’t find this remotely a good idea but Aeri gives her reassurance to her on the way out. The girls end up at a restaurant where Aeri orders soju for herself.
“Why are you drinking?” Yizhuo asks.
“It’s been a while since I drank soju so I wanted to try it again.” Aeri takes a shot of it, regretting it as the taste was too bitter and it made her head feel funny. Yizhuo poured herself a glass but she was too hesitant to drink it so she just left it.
“You aren’t drinking? You poured yourself a glass.” Aeri says.
“I never had alcohol before.” Yizhuo says.
“Really? You’re 32 and never had alcohol before? You were probably there when it was invented.” Aeri snickered as she poured another glass, Yizhuo held a strong glare at Aeri again and she stopped laughing.
“You’re so childish.” Yizhuo says.
“I’m not being childish right now, I’m having fun. Have you ever had fun before? You’re so dense.”
Yizhuo frowns, turning her head away from Aeri. Aeri was used to this, Yizhuo would often give her the silent treatment. It truly amazed Aeri that Yizhuo hadn’t fired her yet since Yizhuo was always mad in some way.
“I’m sorry, Yizhuo.” Aeri says, “Don’t stay mad at me for long.”
“I’m not mad at you, I think you’re right.”
“Right about what?”
“I’m not getting any younger, only older. We should do something fun together.” Yizhuo says with a soft voice, “Let’s go to a beach.” Aeri grinned ear to ear, she was a bit tipsy too but that didn’t make her excitement any less. Yizhuo and Aeri run to the beach together, hand in hand, still all dressed up.
🍰
“We have to find her! She has to be somewhere in the area!”
“Ma’am, her personal makeup artist is gone too.”
“Gosh, Yizhuo was never like this before! Go find her, she wasn’t done talking to the reporters!”
Aeri and Yizhuo sat under the star-filled twinkling sky. She was a bit tired, so Yizhuo let Aeri lay on her shoulder for a while. They were just done playing around the water, throwing water at each other, being a giggling mess of girls.
“Are you still up, Aeri?”
Aeri hummed, her eyes were shut but she still listened.
“Do you think I’m too harsh? I might not be deserving to be an actress, what good am I if I’m not kind like others?”
“Ning Yizhuo… Don’t be too hard on yourself.” Aeri says.
“You can call me Yizhuo, I allow it.” Yizhuo says.
Aeri hums again, Yizhuo hugs her legs as she looks up at the bright sky.
“It feels weird talking to you like this, I never had a female makeup artist before. My past male makeup artists would always sexually harass me.”
“Yizhuo, don’t let anyone do something to you without your consent.” Aeri’s head rose up and they locked eyes. Yizhuo smiled with a flustered face, “So you can be mature.” She says. Aeri pinches Yizhuo nose with a frown. “I’ve been trying to tell you.” She lets go and Yizhuo starts to giggle and giggle and giggle. Giggling uncontrollably, Aeri puts her head back onto Yizhuo’s shoulder with a sigh.
“You’ve gotten easier to deal with.” Aeri says, “I like it when you giggle.”
“Umm, what else do you like?”
“You’re worried that you’re not good enough. I don’t like that first of all but I’ll tell you what I like about you, you have a cute smile. I like that, you like my baking, that's a big plus. I like how mature you look, it makes sense you’re eight years older than I am. Most importantly, I like how you work. You refuse any roles you don’t want, you work hard on your roles, and you change any lines that you don’t like, you take your job seriously even though you can be harsh about it.”
“Wow, I didn’t expect so much.” Yizhuo tries to hold back her smile. She could feel her cheeks have a slight burning sensation as they turn red. Yizhuo was flattered, she never had anybody tell her about her good qualities. “Thank you for making me feel good.” Aeri smiles, tucking a strand of her hair back. It was the perfect moment to kiss her but she had to ask first. She didn’t go back on her words.
“Can I kiss you?” Aeri asks.
Yizhuo’s eyes grew large. She froze when Aeri’s words register in her head, she felt good about Aeri so good in fact, no one can compare to Aeri in her heart. She nods, then Aeri’s lips crash onto her lips. They were soft and tasted like cake.
“Will you be my girlfriend?” Aeri asks with a smile.
“Umm… C-can I think about it?”
🍰
“Jimin? Why are you bothering me?” ,Min Jeong picked up the telephone talking to Jimin with such a bitter and harsh tone of voice like how Yizhuo talks. Aeri rushed downstairs due to the noise she heard, she saw Min Jeong on the phone and decided not to bother.
”I’m sorry Min Jeong. I want you back.”
”You say that everytime and when I get back home to you, you treat me like I’m not a priority of yours.
”I promise I’ll put you first, please come back.
”I don’t want to be first, I would at least want to be a second since work is important to you but I’m not coming back.
”Why, Min Jeong?”
”Because you don’t treat me well anyway, I had enough of you.”
Min Jeong hung up the phone with quiet sobs.
“You deserve better, Min Jeong.” Aeri says as she brings her friend into her embrace where she cries until she fell asleep. Aeri sighs as she carries her body to the couch and lays a blanket on top of her snoring Min Jeong self.
She dialed Yizhuo’s number with a smile.
“Let’s meet up again.”
🍰
“Wow, your house looks so pretty. Everything is pink and fluffy.” Yizhuo remarks.
“Thanks, I have quite the theme.” Aeri says.
Aeri gets to the kitchen as she promised Yizhuo she would bake for her. Aeri threw on her light pink apron and matching gloves to pull the look together. Also, she needed them.
“What are you making for me?” Yizhuo bounces up from her chair as she peeks at what Aeri was preparing for her. Aeri giggles, bringing the plate to the table. “You’re acting like a child now.” Aeri says with glistening eyes. Yizhuo turns her head away from Aeri with her arms crossed. “Yizhuo, you should try it.” Aeri says, picking up Yizhuo’s fork and picking up a small piece for Yizhuo to eat. “What if I don’t?” Yizhuo says, she was holding in her laughter as Aeri pinches her nose with a chuckle. “I’ll kiss you on the cheek.” Aeri says. Yizhuo failed to hide her smile, she took the fork from Aeri and tried a bite of the strawberry shortcake.
🍰
“Do my makeup quickly.” Yizhuo crossed her arms, the harshness in her voice returned. Yizhuo hadn’t acted like this towards Aeri for a while now, she knew something was wrong with her.
“What’s wrong?” Aeri asks softly.
“The night we ran to the beach… My manager scolded me earlier for running away so suddenly.”
“I’m sorry, Yizhuo.”
“I’m not mad at you, I just don’t like it when someone scolds me!” Yizhuo exclaims.
“I understand, I’ll make sure to tell them when you’re going somewhere with me.” Aeri says as she pulls out a tiny brush to paint Yizhuo’s lips with. Yizhuo grasps Aeri’s hand as Aeri applies her makeup on. “Thank you.” Yizhuo says, Aeri nods with her eyes smiling back at Yizhuos.
“Yizhuo!” Her manager called.
“What is it?” Yizhuo asks.
“It’s been six months and you haven’t fired, Aeri?”
“Why would I need to fire her?”
“You don’t, I’m just shocked that you kept her for that long. It’s refreshing seeing you not angry all the time, keep the good work Giselle!”
“See? She can’t remember my name because of you.” Aeri giggled as Yizhuo fondly gazed at Aeris laughing face, her heart never felt more in love. Yizhuo sneakily pecked Aeri’s red cheeks.
“You can’t do that! Don’t let anyone see you.” Aeri whispers.
“Okay.” Yizhuo giggles.
🍰
It’s Min Jeong’s birthday today, she couldn’t skip it for the world but that meant she would have to leave behind Yizhuo for the day. Aeri felt bittersweet about it but she promised Min Jeong. So, she asked to get filled in for.
Aeri already baked a cake for her best friend. Min Jeong loved vanilla and cinnamon, so of course the cake had to be that. Min Jeong spent the whole day at Aeris place, it was quite small but enough for two people.
Min Jeong laid on Aeri’s couch either reading comics or switching between TV stations.
“You’re all dressed up.” Aeri remarks.
“I have to be! It’s my birthday!” Min Jeong cheered.
Min Jeong had a birthday hat on and her makeup done herself.
“So, what do you want for dinner?”
“Could you make sushi?”
“Oh boy! I would need seaweed then, I’ll be right back!”
“Okay!” Min Jeong says.
Aeri hopped out from the front door with her wallet in her hand. It wasn’t that late, it was about five pm but the sky sure was dark and lacked stars. Maybe they would appear later.
She went to the store and bought a few packets of seaweed and a bottle of mayonnaise. Then, Aeri passed by the place where she drank soju with Yizhuo. Yizhuo was sitting there alone outside with her makeup messed up seemingly by tears, it was a concerning sight to see Aeri had to check up on her.
“Yizhuo?”
“Aeri… I missed you.” Yizhuo says.
“Today is Min Jeong’s birthday, I had to stay with her. I’m sorry.”
“I know, don’t apologize.”
“Are you okay? Your makeup is ruined, did you cry?”
“A fan… harassed me.” Yizhuo takes a shot. Then another, she kept going until Aeri stopped her.
“Who harassed you? I’ll file a report.” Aeri switches into defensive mode. Her eyes hardened, she asked again. Yizhuo didn’t know who it was, she just knew it was a fan. “Someone like that shouldn’t be called a fan!” Aeri exclaims as she grows angrier for Yizhuo, “Let’s file a report, Yizhuo!” But Yizhuo didn’t want that, it made her upset for a bit but with Aeri’s caring presents she no longer was sad about it.
“I want to try more of your cooking.”
“Yizhuo, don’t change the topic.”
“It doesn’t matter to me anymore, I’m happy because I’m with you now.”
“Yizhuo—“
“Can I?” Yizhuo asks.
Aeri sighs as she takes a seat across from Yizhuo. Her forehead laid on her fist. “I’ll bring you over to my house and we can celebrate with Min Jeong.” Aeri says in a much calmer tone of voice and her mood improves as she sees Yizhuo’s smile. Everything was better now.
“Aeri, I’ve never been in a relationship with a girl before.”
“Me either.” Aeri says.
“Do you think we’ll last?” Yizhuo asks.
“I do.”
“You know… I’m an actress, I'm not a regular person. You’ll receive a lot of backlash, can you handle that?”
“For you, of course I can.”
“What about my attitude?” Yizhuo asks. Aeri reaches for Yizhuo’s hand across the table. Their fingers intertwined together and a smile forms on both of their faces. “I find it cute at times, even if I don’t I can tolerate it.” Aeri says, “My day wouldn’t complete without you.” Yizhuo blushes because of Aeri or the alcohol, Yizhuo couldn’t figure it out.
“Our age gap?”
“That doesn’t matter to me.”
“I’ll be your girlfriend then.” Yizhuo gives in.
Yizhuo and Aeri take a stroll back to Aeri’s place with their hands holding each other gently. She opens the door knob then Min Jeong appears at the door, her eyes widened at the sight of Yizhuo standing next to Aeri. Min Jeong quickly runs over to the couch and hides behind it.
“Ah, why did she…”
“Oh! I forgot you caused my friend here, Min Jeong, a lot of emotional damage after she did your makeup once.” Aeri bursted into laughter as Yizhuo looks back at Min Jeong with a baffled chuckle and baffled expression. “Tell her I’m sorry.” Yizhuo says softly, pressing her lips together. Aeri nods and walks in then places the store bought items onto the kitchen counter.
🍰
“One… two… three… Happy Birthday Kim Min Jeong!”
Min Jeong blows out her candles with delight drawn on her face. She still couldn’t help but side eye Yizhuo whenever she caught a glance of her.
“I think your friend still doesn’t like me.” Yizhuo remarks.
“You gotta give her a little time.” Aeri says.
“Happy birthday, Min Jeong!” Yizhuo yells with her hands cupped around her mouth.
“That’s sweet you're not chewing me out anymore.” Min Jeong says as she cuts a big slice for Yizhuo. “Here, I still haven’t totally forgiven you but I’ll give you the biggest slice for your efforts.” Yizhuo chuckles, taking the plate of cake and stabbing it with a fork, feeding a piece to Aeri. Min Jeong takes a bite of her cake, it wasn’t as sweet as Yizhuo and Aeri being all lovey dovey.
“Ah, when am I getting a new girlfriend?” Min Jeong sighs heavily.
The end! 🍰