~Minho's POV~

Since that night, I couldn't bring myself to engage much with Jieun. I felt bad for overstepping and making her uncomfortable, and even though I apologised, it didn't make me feel any better. I tried to put myself in her position: she was in a man's house, who basically forced himself onto her, and she must've not known how to get out of it. She must've felt trapped.

Damn...

Morning drop-offs were now extremely awkward. Neither of us seemed to know what to say to each other, and we've only engaged in small talk before I basically ran away to work.

And then, there's of course the matter with Flame, that Jieun didn't know about. Maybe it's better we didn't sleep together, because it would've been unfair to her if I were to just go back into Flame's arms.

Thinking about Flame, I realised that I haven't seen her in two weeks, but now, officially free from my work duties and with Nari no longer sick, I could get back to the schedule of seeing her for one hour every day.

This felt wrong, because I certainly started having feelings for Jieun, but...

I tried not to ponder on it too much, and simply opened In the Dark, clicking on Flame's profile and submitting a form.

---

CHARISMA – personal form

THINGS I ENJOY: Hello, Flame. I'm sorry for 'ghosting' you these past weeks. Work was chaotic, and it wasn't too safe to meet with this virus going around anyway. Are you free to meet me today?

THINGS I DON'T WANT TO DO: -

CONDOM / NO CONDOM: no condom

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: -

---

FLAME – personal form

THINGS I ENJOY: Hey. No worries, I've also been sick and couldn't do much for the past week anyway. I'd love to meet you today. Oh, and sorry for not saying anything last time you booked me. Life got in the way, and I didn't get the chance to respond to your form. Sorry!!!

THINGS I DON'T WANT TO DO: -

CONDOM / NO CONDOM: no condom

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: -

---

Her form came back quickly, just as usual, and reading through her words, a smile crept on my lips. I was glad that she would be there today, and I left work earlier – something I could afford since the album was in its final form, ready to be released soon, and the workload subsided – and took a long shower, got myself into some casual clothes and sprayed on Charisma's perfume.

When 6:45 rolled around, I opened the door to the room and all the lights turned off. Just the usual.

The only difference was Flame's demeanour. As soon as I reached her, she practically jumped on me and kissed me again and again with urgency, whereas normally, I would be the one to explore her body slowly and 'see' what she was wearing.

This side of her was really exciting, and I got hard immediately. We stumbled clumsily towards the bed, limbs tangled with each other, and she made me lay down as she removed my pants and put my dick in her mouth.

I rolled my head back and let her work her way down my cock, moaning ever so slightly, and moments later, I was fully inside her mouth. Her fingers went on my thighs, and she scratched them softly, making me buckle my hips up.

Oh, so that's what this is, huh? I would've asked if we could've spoken, but instead, I let out a soft chuckle.

Do you want me to fuck your throat?

I raised my hips again while grabbing the back of her head with my right head and pushing her down my dick. She let out a soft hum, sending vibrations to my cock and making me moan even more.

Carefully, I set out a rhythm, making sure she could take it, and fucked my way up her throat. With each thrust, I was getting closer and closer, but I wasn't sure if I wanted to come down her throat instead of fucking her, and one hour was way too little time to be able to have a round two.

I grabbed a fistful of her hair and pulled her away from my cock, hearing her shallow breaths.

Sitting up, I grabbed her hips and guided her on top of me. She was already wet enough to take me, so I pushed into her without hesitation, feeling her squeeze my dick with her walls.

Fuck.

I fucked her from under, keeping her hips in place, while she struggled to keep her back straight, supporting herself by pressing her hands against my chest.

She felt too good, and I wanted to feel more, so I sat up again and pulled her closer, kissing her lips, continuing to buckle up my hips and fuck her.

After a few more thrusts, she came undone, and I followed soon after. However, neither of us moved. We just kept kissing and kissing, hungry for more, aware that the hour would be over soon.

Her hands were around my shoulders as her nails softly scratched patterns into the skin on my back, my hands were keeping her in place, and our tongues danced.

~

~Jieun's POV~

It was all perfect. Charisma's kisses were all I needed.

I felt loved and wanted. I felt good, and it eased the guilt that I was just a prostitute.

It was all perfect.

It truly was.

Until it wasn't.

I had no idea one's life could change in the blink of an eye, in just a few moments.

Charisma and I kept kissing long after we finished, and all of a sudden, we heard a click sound and the lights turned on in what could've only been a technical issue.

We pulled apart immediately, looking at each other in shock, for the illusion had been broken. I wasn't Flame anymore, and he was no longer Charisma.

Instead, we were Jieun and Minho; a teacher turned prostitute and her client.

I didn't know what to do. I was horrified.

Although I had my doubts that Minho could've, perhaps been Charisma, I never gave it much thought. Ignorance is bliss, as they say.

But now, under the blinding light of the yellow bulb above us, it was impossible to stay ignorant any longer.

Charisma was Minho, and I was sitting naked on top of him just moments ago, and I've been kissing him and having sex with him every other week.

"Oh my fucking God..." I let out, still in shock, and immediately moved as far away from him as the bed would allow, grabbing the duvet and covering myself with it.

"Jieun-"

"No." I shook my head, feeling tears forming in my eyes. "Don't... don't say anything. Just... just leave."

"Hey, it's okay." He tried to reassure me, but the sinking feeling in my stomach was making me sick. Anything he would say would just make the situation worse, if that was even possible.

"No!" I repeated, shouting this time and bursting into crying. "It's- it's not! Please, Minho, just... fucking hell, get out!"

Minho stood up without another word and I averted my gaze like the coward I am, trembling under the covers. He grabbed his discarded clothes from the floor, and exited to the small hallway, and a few moments later, I heard the door close.

I stood still for a few more moments, shaking and crying uncontrollably.

This wasn't supposed to happen.

Once I was certain he left for good, I got out of bed and grabbed my discarded clothes from the floor with urgency, dressing myself quickly.

I couldn't understand what happened, and I couldn't stop crying.

The way home was a blur, a mess of running thoughts that were making my head spin and hurt. It felt like a heavy weight dropped inside my stomach, and I was in a state of shock that I didn't know how to get out of, so once I arrived at my apartment, I let myself fall on the bed and buried my head in the pillows.

I cried, and cried, and cried, and somehow fell asleep. They say sleep fixes most things; maybe it would fix this, too. However, I didn't get the chance to rest too much, because my phone's loud ringtone ripped me apart from my dreams after only a few hours.

"Hello?" I answered in a haze, my head bursting with pain.

"Miss Park? We regret calling you this late. We are from the hospital. Would you please come here?"

"What?" I shot up instantly. "What's wrong?"

"Your grandmother is in critical condition... This would better be discussed in person. We will be waiting for you."

I ended the call and rushed out my room, not even caring to freshen myself up. I ran down the stairs into the street and waved to the first taxi I saw, jumping in it as soon as it stopped.

The driver threw me a look, and I quickly identified why, as I opened my bag to pull out my mirror and saw the state I was in. Dark mascara dried up under my eyes and on my cheeks, my hair was a mess; hell, I was a mess.

Glad to have a comb in my bag, I managed to brush my hair, I chewed some gum and removed my make-up with some baby wipes, and by the time I stepped out of the taxi and went into the hospital, I looked somewhat presentable.

"Miss Park, we apologise for making you come here so late. However, your grandmother's state hasn't been stable, and we are expecting the worst. It would be good if you'd go in and say your goodbyes, as we are not sure she's going to last the night."

The hospital staff was empathetic and delivered the bad news as professionally as one could, but it broke my heart, nonetheless.

This day has truly been shit.

First, Minho found out my most protected secret – that I'm a prostitute, a whore who sells herself for unknown men's money – and now I was in my grandmother's hospital room watching her life slip away.

It sucked.

Everything sucked, and I choked on yet another sob, and then I burst out crying even harder than before. I cried the whole time I was there with my grandmother, and when she flatlined, I was certain there was nothing worth in this life living for anymore.

Everything I worked for was gone, just like that.

~

~Minho's POV~

Although surprised that Jieun was, indeed, Flame, I wasn't completely shocked, for I had my suspicions. What I didn't know, though, was how to approach her from now on.

The next morning, I helped Nari get ready just like every day, but the drive to the school was ridden with anxiety. I didn't want to think about what she thought of me for using In the Dark, and I wanted to think even less about her expression when the light turned on and she saw me. To say she was shocked would be an understatement.

As much as I tried to stop thinking about it, I couldn't get out of my head the way she reacted – her stunned expression, her cries – and I didn't know what to think, or how to act. Would it be better to try and talk to her? Would it be best to give her more time to process things on her own?

I didn't know shit, and it was driving me crazy.

We went in the classroom and, for the first time since Nari got enrolled in this school, Jieun was not there.

"Daddy, where is Miss Park?" Nari asked innocently as I started fidgeting involuntarily.

Is it because of me? I couldn't help but wonder, watching as more and more kids kept coming in, their parents as confused as I was.

"They say there's a first for everything! She was never late before!" One of the parents exclaimed, and I felt even worse.

Was she not going to show up at her job because I found out that she-

"Good morning!" An older woman walked in the classroom, to the confusion of all the parents that decided to stick with their children until Jieun came. "Sorry for being late, I just found out myself that I'll be teaching this class until the end of the week. But not to worry, I'm sure the kids and I will get along great!"

"Daddy." Nari's eyes became glossy as she tugged on my sleeve to make me look at her. "Did something happen to Miss Park?"

"Oh, sweetheart. I'm sure nothing's wrong." I tried comforting her as some parents asked the substitute teacher what happened.

"It's a personal matter and she called in just as the school opened and spoke directly to the principal, so I don't have any details." The teacher explained apologetically, and I pat Nari's head.

"Do your best today, and I'll see you a bit later, hm?" I smiled, and Nari nodded unsure.

As soon as I got out of the school, I pulled my phone out and dialled Jieun's number, but it instantly went to voicemail.

I tried again and again, but nothing happened. She either blocked me, or her phone was turned off.

I even went to In the Dark, but the app was down, with a notice from the developers informing everyone that due to some maintenance issues, all the rooms had their lights turned on, which obviously caused ruckus. They informed everyone there will be monetary compensation for the inconvenience and shut the site down temporarily.

The fact that Jieun took the whole week off made me feel uneasy. She wasn't the type of person who'd just go missing for a whole week for nothing, which told me that she couldn't possibly do this simply because I found out that she's Flame.

Something must've been substantially wrong.

I drove to her building, and the painful realisation that I have no idea where she actually lives hit me like a truck. I only knew the building, but other than that, there was no way for me to find her unless I went from door to door and knocked, hoping people would open.

The only thing I could think of was to go to the hospital, and once I got there, I went directly to the front desk and asked about Jieun's grandmother.

The news was sombre.

I learnt that she passed away late into the night, and my heart tightened in my chest to the thought of Jieun navigating this traumatic experience on her own, right after the shock of having me discover she is Flame.

I asked the hospital if they knew where Jieun took her grandmother, and they said they recommended her a funeral home, so it might be worth checking there.

I ran back to my car and drove to the funeral home, and sure enough, Jieun was there, alone, on a chair in the waiting room. She looked bad, like she hadn't slept, with big dark circles around her eyes. She wasn't wearing black clothes. In fact, her clothes resembled the ones I saw last night on the hotel room's floor when I picked up mine after the lights turned on, which meant she maybe didn't even go home to change.

I approached her carefully, and as soon as she saw me, her eyes lit up a bit and she stood up. I didn't hesitate to wrap my arms around her, and she hugged me back, crying her heart out.

She let out loud sobs, and I was so glad I found her here, because the thought of her staying and suffering alone broke my heart.

"My- my grandmother-" She started, but it seemed hard to talk between her cries.

"Shh. I know. I know." I hugged her tighter, my right hand moving towards the back of her head, keeping her close.

"What will I do now?" She continued crying.

"Let's just take it one day at a time. I'll take you home so you can take a shower and change, hm?"

"But... my grandma- she's being cremated. I... I need to stay here..."

"I'll stay here. I'll drop you off at home and then come here until you call me to come pick you back up, okay?"

"But..."

"You need to get some rest and freshen up for the funeral, Jieun. I'm here, okay? I'll stay here with your grandmother while you get ready, hm?"

"... okay." She nodded reluctantly, but I was glad she listened to me, nonetheless.

"Let's go."

I drove Jieun to her apartment, making sure she's okay, I took her phone and connected it to the charger while she went in the bathroom and turned on the water, and then, just as promised, I returned to the funeral home and discussed with the director to set up some more details for the funeral.

Once that was done, I went back to school and picked Nari up.

"Daddy, what's wrong?" She asked after I excused her for the rest of the day.

"Nari, I have some sad news to tell you. Miss Park's grandmother passed away."

"What?" Nari's eyes swelled up with tears. "But why?"

"She was very, very sick..."

"Is that why Miss Park missed school today?"

"Yes. She is not feeling very well, so daddy will stay with her for the next few days and take care of her."

"But... what about me?"

"Well, I was thinking that you could also come with me and be there for Miss Park and cheer her up, but... you can also stay with aunt Ye-Jun and uncle Jinki for a few days, if you want. You don't have to decide now."

"No." She shook her head. "I want to stay with you and Miss Park, daddy."

"Okay. That's fine. But you can tell me anytime if you change your mind, yes?"

"Okay. Daddy, where are we going now?"

"We will go home to change into black clothes to show our respect, and then we will go to Miss Park's apartment."

"Is Miss Park very sad?"

"Yes, baby. She is very, very sad."

"I will have to do my best to make her happy, then!" Nari spoke, determination in her eyes.

"Yes, you do that. Nari, when we get there, make sure to tell her you're sorry for her loss. You can also hug her."

"Okay, daddy. And what do we do after we go to Miss Park's apartment?"

"We will go to the funeral home and help Miss Park with anything she needs. Lots of people will come to pay their respects for her grandmother for the next 2 days, and they might cry. It's okay to cry too, baby."

Nari nodded, and we hopped into the car and drove home. Surprisingly, there weren't many questions she wanted to ask about death, or what would happen later on. The only thing she asked was if she could give Jieun a drawing she made, showing her, Jieun and her grandmother eating pancakes together in the hospital.

I told her she should give it to her.

~

I encouraged Nari to knock on Miss Park's door, and a few moments later, the door opened.

Jieun was looking worse than before. She was haggard and pale, and her black clothes only contrasted her tiredness more.

She looked down at Nari, who snatched her hand away from mine and jumped into her arms. Jieun welcomed her and hugged her tight, and Nari started crying.

"I'm sorry for your loss." She whispered softly, and Jieun started to cry as well, although I could tell she was doing her best to keep composed and not break down in front of Nari.

However, when Nari pulled out the drawing from her bag and handed it to her, Jieun burst into tears again, and they both hugged each other for a few minutes.

"Are you ready to go?" I asked her softly, and she simply nodded, locking the door behind her.

I took her hand and held onto it, guiding her to my car, and she didn't say anything.

~

The day went on as planned by the funeral director. Jieun's grandmother's ashes were placed in an urn in front of a large arrangement of flowers, with a picture of her smiling at the top of the arrangement.

I made sure to order a lot of flowers for the ceremony, as well as the best food to be served, just because I didn't want Jieun to have to worry or think about anything. I also arranged a shuttle bus and accommodations for the night for her grandmother's acquaintances from their hometown and was pleasantly surprised to see that a lot of them honoured my offer and came to the funeral.

I wanted everything to be perfect for Jieun, as I couldn't imagine how she was feeling right now. The funeral home was also impressive, with how quick they managed to set up everything after the cremation.

Thankfully, Jieun also seemed as happy as one could be in these circumstances to see so many familiar faces and hear stories about her grandmother, a woman so apparently loved by her community.

Nari was stuck to the hip with Jieun for most of the evening, until it got too late and Ye-Jun and Jinki came to pay their honours and pick her up to take her to their place until tomorrow.

"You don't have to stay here, Minho." Jieun turned her head towards me, a sympathetic look on her face. It was now over 1 AM and most people went back to rest. "You should go home."

"And leave you alone? I don't think I can do that." I patted her back gently.

"It's no biggie. Don't you have work tomorrow?" She shrugged me off, as if trying to downplay the situation.

"I took the week off."

"You shouldn't have."

"I know." I smiled. "But I wanted to."

"Minho... thank you for everything." She looked in my eyes, then quickly averted her gaze. I grabbed her hand to make her look back at me, which she did.

She looked so tired, I wanted to hug her.

"Don't thank me. It's the least I can do. You've been helping me out since day one."

"I didn't do anything. Just..."

"Just everything." I chuckled. "You helped me with Nari more times than I can count, you even recommended me that art school she loves so much, and also... I love spending time with you. So, really, this is the least I could do."

Jieun simply nodded at my words.

"Have you eaten anything? You did so much around here..." She looked around the room as she spoke. "You even brought my grandma's friends from our hometown. How did you even do that?"

"I have my ways." I boasted, and I saw the ghost of a smile on her lips as well. "And that's what I should ask, but I know for a fact you didn't eat anything today. You didn't even touch those sandwiches I brought you earlier."

"I didn't have an appetite... besides, Nari got hungry and ate them eventually." She shrugged.

"It doesn't matter if you don't have an appetite. You still have to eat, Jieun."

"Are you scolding me?" She chuckled softly, and my face instantly brightened up.

"Yes. I'm gonna go bring you a plate of... whatever I can find, and you better eat this time. I'll watch you."

I stood up to walk away, but she grabbed my hand, stopping me, so I turned back around.

"Yes?"

"Minho... thank you. Really. Thank you."

With that, she released my hand.

~

(A/N) they found out!!!

in the most shocking way, but, oh well!

This chapter is a bit tough to read, filled with emotions, but I hoped you enjoyed it either way

Love,

Storm