"That's it, handsome. Now let's get to your hair."
Hana was just putting the finishing touches on Joonah's make-up, when Senghi returned from the convenience store, carrying a bundle of paper bags.
Senghi handed Joonah his breakfast bag. He accepted it silently with a slight bow and a smile, then slowly started unpacking the food.
"There you go. Hana, are we still on schedule?" Senghi looked at the mess on the vanity in front of Joonah, suddenly feeling stressed.
The stylist briefly glanced at her wrist watch and nodded.
"No problems, we will finish up in ten. Sit down and have a rest, Senghi."
As requested, she plopped down in the barber chair next to Joonah's and tried to concentrate on her own breakfast. Despite herself, Senghi found it hard not to steal glances at Joonah in the mirror - he was an image of stoic professionalism as he sat there, immersed in his phone, mindfully sipping his coffee. In a moment of confusion, Senghi suddenly felt her lower abdomen contract at the sight of Joonah's pouting lips around the straw of his coffee drink. She couldn't believe her own reaction, immideatly mortified. Her cheeks helplessly heated up, and right at that moment, Joonah raised his gaze and looked at her.
Senghi tried to feign indifference, forcing something that she hoped reminded of a relaxed smile. Inwardly, she cursed herself. He must have caught her staring at his lips. What the hell was wrong with her? She usually never lost her wits around men, at least not average-looking men like Joonah. However, she reluctantly admitted to herself, Joonah didn't come off as very average in person. There was something very charismatic and real about him, something that got to her.
Joonah gave Senghi a vague smile, a mix of confusion and curiosity in his eyes. If he was to be honest with himself (and unlike Goodwin, he mostly tried to be), he enjoyed the sight of his new manager. She was pretty, but not in the overpowering way of an idol singer or an actress, but in her own, captivating way. When he looked at her, listened to her voice or got close enough to smell her scent, he wanted to get even closer. He had felt it when they first met at the agency, and even more as he got in the car this morning. Senghi had a deep voice, and he constantly caught himself wanting to make her talk. And as they talked, he really enjoyed the conversation, the simple and blunt way she replied to any of his questions.
In the moment when he suddenly looked up from his phone and their gazes clashed in the mirror, her eyes seemed to have been fixed on his lips at first. He didn't know what to make of that. Was she craving coffee? Or maybe, just maybe, she enjoyed the sight of his soft, full lips enveloping the straw? The mere thought made a small jolt of electricity run through his stomach.
It was a strange feeling, being attracted to someone again, after years of not catching any sort of feelings for anyone. And still, this was exactly the scenario he had feared. He had better keep his act together, and not let old mistakes repeat themselves. His smile towards Senghi widened as he tried to think of something clever to say, but Hana unknowingly cut him off:
"Hair all done, Goodwin. You'd better get into your outfit now, or we will be late."
Senghi hastily got out of her chair.
"I'll go and warm up the car."
Back in the safety of the car's drivers seat, she fired up the Candy Crush app, playing intensly for a good few minutes. The warmth of the car fan was wasted on her, as her entire body was flushed with the struggle of keeping images of Joonah in the changing room out of her head. Having packed his stuff, she was all too aware of what kind of underwear he used. Those snow white, tight boxers...
Senghi closed her eyes, quietly groaning. She had to get a fucking grip now. Joonah simply was not for her. He was her client, for god's sake. A celebrity, not to mention a brat, who made his living touring the country with a variety circus, making a spectacle out of himself on TV.
She turned the reading lamp above the sun screen on, and stared at herself in the make-up mirror, quietly evaluating. The big, dark eyes, the small mouth and the nose that her mother had referred to as "too wide". The bobbed hair that had grown a little too long, grazing the pale contour of her neck. Senghi sighed. People kept telling her that she was pretty, but also that she ought to fix her nose or let her hair grow long, especially since she moved back to Korea. She never cared what any of them said - until now.
Four whole years had passed since she and Jean, her last boyfriend, broke up. After the mess of their affair, she had decided to never waste energy on men again. She liked herself, and that was enough. The only thing that could make her confidence crumble... well, that would be if she started feeling interest for someone again.
But... was she really interested in Joonah? Sure, she happened to notice that he had a set of great, full lips. The sight had made her slightly turned on, which he might or might not have noticed. Still staring at herself, she slowly shook her head. No, she wasn't interested. She was probably ovulating, having taken her celibacy too far, or she was just tired due to the early hour. Or all of the above.
Senghi flinched and straightened in her seat when suddenly the passenger door and the back door opened simultaneously, a masculine scent of hair products and cologne taking over the secluded space of the car. Once again, Joonah's gaze met hers in the rearview mirror, a teasing smile on his lips, as if saying 'we need to stop looking at each other in mirrors like this'. Or was that her imagination altogether? Flustered, she turned to Hana.
"All done?"
"Yes. Look at him Senghi, isn't he cute? I'm a frickin' genius."
"Um, yeah…" Senghi moisted her lips, searching her mind for an approriate answer.
"Come on, don't be shy. Look at my masterpiece. He's gorgeous, all dolled up and ready for the cameras." Hana's face was shining with pride as she reached out to give Joonah's silky bowl cut one last little puff.
Senghi swallowed, trying to gauge her own reaction, only to discover that there probably was something seriously wrong with her.
"He looks… great, Hana. Very 'BTS meets k-drama' or whatever", she replied in a feigned unbothered tone, while briefly turning around, pretending to give Joonah's appearance a thourough scan.
Joonah scoffed slightly at her words.
"Thanks, Senghi-ssi. I can't tell if that was a compliment or a diss, but I'll take it either way."
"Of course it was a compliment, can't you tell how flustered she is?" Hana excitedly blurted out. "See, Goodwin, this is next level for you, even being able to charm a scriptwriter. I'm working wonders with you today. "
Senghi laughed weakly, almost unable to grasp Hana's lack of manners, while she shifted her focus to the GPS and driving off. As she manouvered them through the now busy morning traffic of Seoul, she decided to try and save what might be left of her blushing face. She gave Joonah's outfit a quick glance in the rearview mirror, registering a black padded designer jacket and a pair of chunky vans sneakers.
"Well, I'm not a scriptwriter anymore, as you know. But I agree with you, Hana, I meant it as a compliment. That clean-cut street look suits you well, Joonah-ssi."
"Why, thank you." Even without looking, Senghi could sense the teasing glimpse in his eyes as he replied.
"Wow, look at the two of you, getting all flirty." Hana smirked shamelessly and started digging through her purse, eventually squeeking with delight as she pulled out what appeared to be a strawberry-flavoured chapstick. She turned to Senghi, carelessly adding: "The two of you would look really great together, not gonna lie."
Senghi leaned slightly over in Hana's direction, while reaching out to crank up the radio volume.
"What on earth are you doing? Stop it", she hissed through her teeth, causing Hana to chuckle and mime 'sorry' in reply - all while not looking even remotely sorry.