The bass from the speakers thumped against my chest as the lights of the private bar flickered wildly, casting neon shades of blue and red across the room. The Flavium staff was going all out tonight, laughing, drinking, and dancing like there was no tomorrow. It was a rare moment of celebration after a grueling month in the restaurant and out of all the places they could choose, they decided to go to a bar, specifically, this bar that was also owned by Mr. Laurent who insisted that we all just let loose and celebrate. Free of charge. Not that I was the type to ‘let loose.’

I sat in a corner, nursing a cold soju in my hand as I watched my coworkers stumble through their drunken euphoria. The atmosphere was electric, they were singing at the top of their lungs, others were downing shots like water, and a few were swaying on the dance floor, lost in the music.

But none of it caught my attention. No, my focus was locked onto one person. Vina.

She was in the center of a growing crowd, her signature smirk playing on her lips as she entertained her admirers. And she had a lot of them. Girls, mostly. They clung onto her arm, laughed at whatever she was saying, some even leaning in way too close for my liking.

My grip on my drink tightened. It wasn’t like this was anything new. Vina was attractive, too attractive for her own good. Her sharp jawline, her effortless confidence, the way she carried herself with that damn teasing charm, it was infuriating.

But tonight, it bothered me more than usual. The way they touched her. The way they flirted so openly. The way she didn’t seem to mind.

I took a long swig of my drink, trying to drown out the bitter taste of something else, something I refused to name. It wasn’t jealousy. No, it can’t be. Definitely not. Why would I be jealous? Vina could flirt with whomever she wanted. It wasn’t like we were— dammit.

I scowled and slammed my empty bottle onto the table. I needed another drink. Something stronger. Something that could make me forget the way I felt whenever Vina was near me.

The bartender raised an eyebrow as I ordered a round of tequila shots for myself.

“You sure about that, miss?” he asked. “You don’t look like a heavy drinker.”

I scoffed. “Just pour.”

And he did.

One shot turned into two.

Two turned into three.

By the fourth, the world was starting to blur around the edges, and my body sinking into a pleasant, warm haze.

But even as I felt myself drifting, my eyes never left Vina. She laughed at something one of the girls whispered in her ear, and something inside me snapped.

I wanted her attention. No. I needed it. But how? A stupid thought crossed my mind.

If she could flirt, then so could I. I stood up, wobbling slightly, and turned toward the bar where a group of guys sat. One of them, a decent-looking blonde, made eye contact with me. Perfect.

I sauntered over, ignoring how my steps felt heavier than usual.

“Hey,” I purred, leaning against the counter.

He grinned, clearly surprised. “Well, hello there.”

I forced a smile. This should work, right? If Vina could flirt so effortlessly, I could do the same. Maybe if I let someone else get close to me, I’d stop feeling this way, this awful, confusing, maddening way.

“Can I buy you a drink?” he asked. Before I could respond, a firm hand grabbed my wrist.

“She’s good,” a familiar voice cut in. I turned, and there she was. Vina.

She wasn’t smiling. In fact, she looked downright pissed.

“Excuse me?” the blonde guy asked, raising an eyebrow.

Vina ignored him completely. Her grip on my wrist tightened slightly as she turned to me, her expression unreadable.

“You’re drunk,” she stated.

I rolled my eyes, trying to pull away. “So? I can handle myself.”

Vina didn’t budge. “We’re leaving.”

“Like hell we are,” I muttered, but my words slurred slightly, betraying me. She sighed, running a hand through her hair before looking at the guy one last time.

“Sorry, dude. She’s done for the night.”

And just like that, she dragged me out of the bar.

Vina Rossi

Heidi was wasted. I didn’t even need to ask. The way she clung to me as I practically carried her out of the bar said enough. I should have seen this coming.

She had been glaring daggers at me all night, eyes burning with something I couldn’t quite place. And then suddenly, she was trying to flirt with some random guy? Heidi wasn’t like that. She wasn’t the type to drink recklessly either.

Something was off. But now wasn’t the time to ask.

“Heidi,” I sighed as I adjusted my grip on her waist, “where’s your apartment?”

She mumbled something incoherent; her face pressed against my shoulder. I sighed. Great. She was too far gone to tell me. I had no choice. I took her to my place instead.

The walk to my apartment wasn’t long, but carrying a half-conscious Heidi while she muttered nonsense against my neck made it feel like a marathon.

Once inside, I guided her toward my bed, gently laying her down.

“I’ll get you some water,” I muttered.

But as I turned to leave, her fingers wrapped around my wrist.

I froze.

“Heidi—”

“Stay,” she mumbled. I hesitated.

“You're drunk,” I reminded her.

She let out a breathy laugh, her eyes barely open. “I'm not that drunk.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Yeah? Tell that to your wobbly legs.” She groaned, tightening her grip.

And then, before I could react, she pulled me down and… kissed me. My mind blanked. Her lips were soft, warm, and insistent. She wasn’t hesitant. Not at all. I should stop this. She was drunk. This wasn’t okay. But then she whispered against my lips,

“I want this.” And just like that, I was lost.

Heidi Kim

I was kissing her. I was kissing Vina. And God, it felt right. It felt good. Her lips moved against mine, slow yet deep, like she was testing the waters. My body buzzed with warmth that had nothing to do with the alcohol, my fingers tangling in her hair as I pulled her closer.

I didn’t want her to pull away. Didn’t want this to stop.

Vina let out a shaky breath, her hands hesitating before resting on my waist. I felt her grip tighten for a second before she abruptly pulled back.

“Heidi,” she rasped, her breathing uneven. “Stop, w-we shouldn’t—”

“Vina, p-please,” I cut in.

She stared at me. “You’re not thinking straight.”

I shook my head. “I am.” I lifted my hand, cupping her cheek.

“Vina, I don’t care anymore,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t want to keep pretending.”

She swallowed hard, her eyes searching mine. “Pretending what?”

“That I don’t want this.”

Silence.

A heavy, loaded silence that carried the weight of everything we had been ignoring. The unspoken words hung in the air, thick and suffocating. My heart pounded against my ribs, a frantic drumbeat against the quiet tension. I could feel the heat radiating off Vina, a silent promise in the charged atmosphere.

Then, Vina’s lips crashed onto mine again. It wasn't a tentative touch this time, but a claiming, possessive kiss that stole my breath. The way she held me, her hands gripping my arms with a surprising strength, the way she whispered my name like it was the only thing on her mind, it sent a shiver of anticipation down my spine.

“Heidi...” she murmured, her breath warm against my lips.

Her left hand traveled underneath my polo shirt, slowly, deliberately, until it reached my chest. My breath hitched. I bit my lip, trying to conceal any noise that was trying to escape from my mouth, a mix of nervousness and excitement swirling within me. But Vina, sensing my restraint, deepened the kiss, her tongue tracing the line of my lips before slipping inside. I couldn’t help but moan, a small, involuntary sound that betrayed my growing desire, as our tongues danced like they were in sync, a perfect rhythm of passion.

“Don’t bite it, just let it out,” her husky voice, rough with suppressed desire, sent shivers down my spine. She pulled back slightly, her eyes searching mine, a flicker of something intense and vulnerable in their depths. Then, with a slow, deliberate movement, she unbuttoned my polo shirt and slid it off of my arms, leaving me only wearing my bra. My skin prickled with awareness. Without a warning, she started kissing my chest, her lips and tongue tracing a burning path across my skin, burying her face between my breasts. Her hand traveled to the back of my bra strap and unhooked it, the click echoing in the sudden silence, leaving me bare in front of her. I wanted to cover myself, feeling a sudden wave of embarrassment, but she pinned both of my arms to the bed, her gaze holding mine, not wanting to hide anything from her.

“Fuck, you look so beautiful,” she breathed, her voice thick with emotion.

“Ah, f-fuck~,” I gasped, my mind in pure bliss, all I could think and see was Vina. The world narrowed down to the space between us, the air crackling with unspoken desires.

“Heidi, this is your last chance to tell me to stop because I won’t hold back even if you tell me to stop,” she said, her voice low and serious, her eyes burning into mine. The question hung in the air, heavy with implication.

My response was simple, a silent answer that spoke volumes. I gave her a soft kiss on the lips, a gentle affirmation of my desires.

“I want this, I want you, Vina Rossi,” I whispered, the words finally breaking free from the cage of my inhibitions.

“Shit, Heidi, I can’t hold back,” she groaned, her control slipping. She then clashed her lips with mine again, this time with a fierce hunger that mirrored my own.

I gave in. Completely. I kissed her back, meeting her passion with my own, letting the weight of my body crash down on her, closing the distance between us until there wasn't a single gap. The world outside faded away; the only reality was the feel of her skin against mine, the taste of her lips, and the frantic beating of our hearts.

And just for tonight, I let myself be selfish. I pushed aside all the doubts, all the fears, all the reasons why this shouldn't be happening.

This time, there was no hesitation. No uncertainty.

Only heat.

Only desire.

Only us.