Serendipity

Chapter 5: Dysfunctional and broken

Her heart was racing. Dalmi couldn't remember the last time she felt this buzz of adrenaline as she paced around her large bedroom, glancing every so often in her floor length mirror to see the length of her dress following her curves and hugging her as if Dosan was holding her.

Partly wishing Saha hadn't gone home and left her mind to wander, she was thankful she had time to herself. It felt as if since she had broken off her engagement with Han Jipyeong, she hadn't had time to pause. Yes, Saha had asked her if she was okay and had been supportive as well as the multiple phone calls from her mother demanding she explain herself but she didn't know what to say.

As much as she felt trapped from being in a false relationship, she was never able to put her finger on exactly why she hadn't made the right connection with anyone worthy of her, unable to explain the feeling why. That was until that night in the bar when she first met Nam Dosan.

It wasn't so much of his good looks or the way he carried himself but the way he was able to capture her gaze and keep her entranced in something she couldn't quite understand.

Clear to anyone else, his eyes would sing seduction and careless interest but to her she saw sorrow and a look of longing that she couldn't help but relate to, like she found solace in his warm eyes that seemed to match hers.

When she was near this complete stranger, she felt safe, locked in his knowing gaze, she felt awake.

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It felt like hours had passed but the moment she had heard the elevator ding, Dalmi realised she had been staring into her own reflection, lost in her thoughts as she blinked away the build up in her soft eyes.

A few seconds later, the familiar calling of Halmeoni came expectedly.

"Dalmi-ya, Nam Dosan is here for you!"

Dalmi took a deep breath, picking up her clutch from her vanity before addressing herself once more in the mirror; adding a final coat of Lacome lipstick and a few twirls and pats of her perfect brown curls, she readied herself for her entrance, hoping she looked as he had imagined when he sent her this gorgeous dress.

As she walked down her grand staircase; once filled with busy steps of her extended family but now only the steps of her and Halmeoni on occasion, her eyes immediately sought his as his warm smile registered with her gaze.

The sight of her gliding down the stairs was enough to make his breath hitch, his jaw clench and his chest tighten an ounce too much.

Dalmi was picture perfect, in every light. Dosan was unable to take his eyes off her. Her dark chocolate hair cascaded down the right side of her neck while her left was bare with only a diamond earring dressing its side. It was like the softly porcelain skin was teasing him, waiting for him to taste her skins.

As he imagined his lips on her once again, his palms started to sweat and he persisted to swallow deeply as she got closer and closer, not bothering to notice Halmeoni as she scuttled off in another direction, out of the couple's way.

Only as she stepped down the last step was he snapped from his guilty reverie and obliged to step fourth, offering her his hand and with the other, a single pink peony bud.

As if she didn't have enough peonies to last her a life time, she took to small sentiment and placed it to her nose as she inhaled the sweet scent, closing her eyes.

Opening them slowly, she was greeted by his dark gaze, totally intent in her actions as she looked up and smiled, the tingle from his thumb rubbing against the back of her hand growing throughout her body until it reached her stomach.