"Dressing Zico"

After I made a date with Jong, I called Kim Marco. I had been checking on him every day to make sure that he was getting over his illness. It wasn’t determined for sure what he had but it was diagnosed as severe food poisoning. They had thought for a moment that he might have been poisoned on purpose but there was no way to prove anything. The last time we talked he had told me that he only had three days of medicine left to take and that he was coming back to work early because he didn’t like to think of me walking around Seoul unprotected. To hear him talk, you would think I stroll out into gangland every day and shout “Come and get me!” I usually told him to stay home and get well but tonight I needed him.
Every time I called, he answered, “Polo”. He was the cutest thing in the world.
“Hi Marco. How are you feeling?” I asked. Even as hurt as I was, he never failed to bring a smile to my face.
“I am well, Miss Elizabeth. Kim Marco is strong again,” he said. I loved when he talked about himself in third person. I just wanted to pinch his chubby cheeks so much.
“I’m so glad. Do you think you are well enough to do me a favor tonight?” I asked.
“Anything for you, Miss Elizabeth,” he said.
“I’m going to Club M tonight with a friend and I know you hate that place but could you go just this once and watch over me?” I knew I was asking a lot because it was Marco’s least favorite place in the world. Club M was a bodyguard’s nightmare but he didn’t hesitate.
“I will be there,” he said.
“Now listen Marco, your being there is going to be a secret okay? I don’t want my friend to know that you’re there. Can you watch me from a distance?”
“Who is this strange friend, Miss Elizabeth?” Marco sounded suspicious.
“He’s an old friend but he doesn’t know about you and I don’t want him to yet. Is that okay?” I asked.
“Yes, Miss Elizabeth. What time will you be there?” he asked.
“Seven,” I answered.
“Then Kim Marco will be there at six.”
“Thank you, Marco.”
“It’s my job,” he said. We both knew he would do it whether he was getting paid or not. I didn’t know if Zico planned on keeping a bodyguard for me but I would keep Marco on the payroll as long as possible.
It was time to start getting ready and I planned on being stunning. Not only was I hurt and angry but my pride had taken a beating as well. I had lost to Alicia Wright and that fact about killed me. So, not only did I want to make myself feel better by going out but I was feeling a little vengeful. And the best revenge against Zico was Lee Jong Suk.

At six-thirty, Jong knocked on my door. I had asked him to come to my room to get me because a little part of me wanted Zico to see him. He didn’t.
“Wow! I forgot how absolutely stunning you could be!” said Jong.
Bingo!
“Thank you, Jong! Just let me get my purse.”
In the lobby, we met Jaehyo and Ukwon as they were coming in. Jaehyo automatically grabbed my hands. “Where are you headed off to?” he asked.
“Jong and I are going to Club M,” I said.
“Uh, I need to speak to you,” said Jaehyo as he pulled me away from Jong. Ukwon stood with his arms crossed and stared at Jong. “What in the ever loving hell is going on? I told you not to do anything stupid and doing Jong is stupid!” he said.
“Zico left me,” I said.
Jaehyo’s face softened. “That bastard! I’m so sorry. But Elizabeth, Jong’s not the answer! He’s not a good guy.”
“I know what he is, Jaehyo,” I said. “I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me.”
“Why don’t you let me take you out instead? I can be fun. I can…” he said.
“It has to be Jong,” I told him.
He blinked at me for a second before asking, “Why?”
“Because Zico hates him,” I said.
Jaehyo shook his head and said, “Now see! You’re going to do something stupid and frankly, Jiho’s not worth it!”
“I won’t do anything stupid. I promise. I know exactly what I’m doing,” I said. I could tell that Jong was becoming impatient.
“Well, I’m going up to change and don’t be surprised if you see me there!” he said.
I smiled and kissed his cheek. When I walked back over to Jong, he looked annoyed but I ignored him. Without another word, he took my hand and practically drug me out the door. As soon as he got into the car, his hand went to my leg. Except for when he shifted gears, that’s where he kept it and even though my every instinct said to move it away, I let him leave it there.
He kept looking at me with a creepy smile until I couldn’t take it anymore. “Why are you smiling at me like that?” I asked.
“I was right wasn’t I?” he said.
“About what?” I already knew what he was going to say so I don’t know why I asked the question. I just gave him an opening to gloat.
“About Zico and Alicia! He’s banging her again isn’t he?” asked Jong.
“Jong, please don’t be so crude. And no, he isn’t seeing either of us. He said he wanted to be alone for awhile,” I said.
“He’s banging her.” I gave him an annoyed look and he said, “Sorry. He’s sleeping with her.”
“Whatever. I’m with you now. That’s all that matters.” I looked out the window and felt Jong’s hand move a little further up my thigh.

It was Saturday night and the club seemed to be at maximum capacity. The line to get in was insane but Jong took my hand and skipped the line. He pushed his way to the front where two huge bouncers were turning people away.
“Yo! Lee Jong!” said one of the big men.
“Hey, Yoonmin! What’s up?” said Jong and they did some weird ritualistic looking handshake. Yoonmin opened the rope and let us through while people in line started yelling angry things.
Just like before, Jong put me in front of him and wrapped his arm around me to lead me through the crowd. It seemed that everyone knew him and missed him. Girls didn’t care that he was holding onto me either. They would come up and kiss him full on the mouth and then smile at me. He acted like this was all completely normal.
I looked everywhere for Kim Marco. I finally spotted him standing on a platform where he could look over the entire crowd and we made eye contact. He moved his coat to the side for a second so that I could see that he was armed and ready for anything. Just seeing him made me feel one hundred percent better.
“Want to get a drink?” yelled Jong into my ear.
“Definitely!” I yelled back.
We made our way to the bar and I was fondled the entire way. And not by Jong. This club always seemed like one big orgy. I couldn’t help but to keep looking over at Marco. I wanted to make sure he could always see me.
At the bar, I yelled to the bartender, “I want one of those blue fruity drinks please!” He nodded and started making it.
“It’s called a Blue Tornado!” yelled Jong.
“Oh! I wondered.”
“You really intend on getting hammered don’t you?” he asked.
“Why?” I asked.
He laughed. “That’s a strong drink.”
“I like them,” I yelled.
“That drink has another name in this club,” he said.
I looked at him.
“It’s called Foreplay!” Jong lowered his head seductively and raised one eyebrow.
I just smiled and took my drink from the bartender. I gave Jong my own seductive look and took a sip. Then, still looking at him, I downed the rest. I stabbed one of the cherries with a toothpick and put it in my mouth, slowly pulling the stick out and dropping it back into the glass. I yelled to the bartender to make two more. I wanted to see if I could drink Jong under the table. He looked surprised.
As we stood there, people kept coming up to talk to Jong. He was a popular guy here. I think he expected me to get jealous when the girls would kiss him and rub on him but I didn’t care. Jong was just the instrument of my revenge. A gorgeous fun instrument that I didn’t care to use since he was a big womanizer anyway.
I looked over the crowd. I had a feeling that most of these people lived for weekends and this club. On the balcony, I saw a familiar face. Jaehyo leaned against the railing and waved at me. I waved back and then I realized that he wasn’t alone. I also saw Taeil, Ukwon, and Minhyuk. I couldn’t help but smile. Jong nudged me and handed me my second drink of the night. It would not be my last. I drank it in two drinks.
“You should probably slow down,” said Jong.
I only looked at him and ordered another. Even the bartender gave me a strange look but he made it anyway.
“I told you I intend to get really drunk tonight,” I yelled to Jong.
“All you’re going to do is throw up and pass out!” he yelled back.
“That’s fine too!” I said.
I could feel my phone buzzing in my purse against my leg. I took it out and couldn’t have been more shocked to see a text from Zico.
Zico: Jong? Really?
I wondered who told him. I also wondered if I should reply but I decided not to. Why should I give him the satisfaction?
When I stood up to turn and get my third drink, I started to feel the other two. My head felt swimmy and a warmth was running through all of my veins. I took the drink and sat down on a stool. I felt my phone buzz again. I had two texts. One from Jaehyo and the other from Zico.
I opened the one from Jaehyo which read:
Jaehyo: Please don’t drink any more of those. I don’t want to carry you home. In fact, don’t drink that one.
I answered him:
Elizabeth: Thank you for being so sweet Jaehyo but I can’t promise anything.
I wasn’t going to open the one from Zico but my curiosity got the better of me.
Zico: DO NOT DRINK THAT! I MEAN IT!
“What?” I said out loud and started to look around.
“Who keeps texting you?” asked Jong.
“Jaehyo,” I answered.
“Do you two have something going on?” he asked.
“No! He’s a good friend.” I still hadn’t spotted Zico. I looked up at Jaehyo but he didn’t seem to realize Zico was here either. Kim Marco was still standing in the same spot.
It took me four swallows to get this drink down but I did it. I was starting to feel better. I didn’t feel that drunk as I sat there but when I stood up, that’s when I felt it.
“Jong, let’s dance,” I said.
He smiled and put an arm around me. He took me to the center of the crowd and turned me to face him. I wrapped myself around him and let him move me whichever way he wanted. I don’t know if it was the alcohol or my pain or a mixture of both but Jong felt really good moving against me. A slow sultry song began to play and the lights dimmed to a low gold. I got the urge to kiss Jong’s neck so I took his skin between my teeth and gently nibbled. He began to do the same to me. I wasn’t as drunk as I should have been on three of those Blue Tornados and that was thanks to Master Pao’s miracle cure but I still let Jong do whatever he wanted with me. I think the fact that Zico was watching made it easier.
I put my head back to give Jong better access and I saw that the Block B boys were no longer hanging out at the balcony. I started to feel like I had a bunch of fathers watching my every move. It was sweet but I was beginning to get annoyed. I could feel my phone buzzing but I was ignoring it. Jong stopped moving and when I looked up I realized we were surrounded by Block B. Park Kyung and Pyo Jihoon were also there. I hadn’t seen them before.
“I think she may need to get some air,” Jaehyo said to Jong.
“I think you should mind your own business,” Jong said and let me go so that he could get in Jaehyo’s face.
I could feel my head getting even more dizzy and my body felt like it was floating. A strange man came up behind me and put his arms around me. He began dancing and started to move me away and I didn’t care. Jihoon pushed him away and said, “Get lost!”
“Yes, I probably should but right now I’m minding hers because you let her get too drunk to make her own decisions,” said Jaehyo.
I felt my phone buzz again. I reached into my purse and saw that I had three texts and one missed call. They were all from Zico.
Zico: Why are you doing this? I told you I just needed to work things out.
Zico: I don’t care if you are free to do what you want. If I see Jong do one wrong thing I’m going to kick his ass. And then I’m going to fire him!
Zico: Please stop. You win. You’re hurting me.
I looked around again to see if I could find Zico. Everything was mixing together and I couldn’t make sense of anything. Colors, lights, people, and movement was swirling together. No one was paying any attention to me so I moved away from them and went back to the bar. I knew I was slurring my words but I couldn’t make it stop. I ordered another drink.
When it came, I reached for it and started to take a drink but a hand covered mine and made me sit the drink down. The hand was familiar. I slowly looked up into eyes that I knew so well.
“Please stop,” said Zico. He didn’t yell above the noise but I knew what he said nonetheless.
I let go of the drink and he pushed it away. I wanted so much for him to put his arms around me and say that he was sorry and that he only wanted me. He didn’t. Instead he said, “You need to go home.”
I looked over to where Jong and Jaehyo were and neither of them had noticed that I was gone. They were in each other’s faces yelling things that I couldn’t hear. The other members were surrounding Jong and I was a little worried for him.
Zico took my hand and made a path through the crowd and led me outside. When I breathed in the cold night air, I became a little more clear headed. I saw that Kim Marco had followed us outside but he stayed a distance away. Looking at Zico made my heart hurt.
“How did you know I was here?” I asked him.
He gave his ticket to the valet. “Jaehyo came to my suite and bitched me out and told me that you had left with Jong.”
“Jong is right. Jaehyo needs to mind his own business,” I said. I felt bad immediately.
“You should thank Jaehyo! He probably just saved you. He’s in there right now getting into a fight on your behalf,” said Zico.
“I had Marco and that was all the protection I needed,” I said.
“One more drink and you were going to need more protection than Marco!” he said. “I told you! I know Jong! He has a pattern. Go to Club M, get the girl drunk, and use the hell out of her until the morning. Then he splits.”
“So.” I said.
“So? You know what? If you weren’t drunk right now, I’d leave your ass here and let you find out for yourself.” His car pulled up to the curb and he opened the door and waited for me to get in.
I looked at the car and then at Zico and said, “No.”
“Get in,” he said.
“No,” I said and turned to go back into the club.
Zico grabbed my arm hard and pulled me back. “GET IN THE DAMN CAR NOW!”
“NO! YOU LEFT ME. YOU LEFT ME FOR FREAKING ALICIA WRIGHT! I’M NOT DOING WHAT YOU SAY ANYMORE.” I pulled my arm from his grasp and walked toward the club. I heard him slam the door and I knew he was watching me walk away.
“COME BACK HERE OR I’M DONE!” he yelled.
I kept walking. Zico had to learn that he couldn’t have it both ways. He was used to having his cake and eating it too but this slice was walking away and if it turned out to be a mistake, then I would deal with the consequences later. He had to know that I wasn’t going to be twisted every which way by him anymore.
I went back into the club. The boys were being held back by various people but they were still yelling. I walked into the middle and took Jaehyo’s face in my hands. I kissed him and said, “Thank you for taking care of me.” He seemed stunned. I turned and went to Jong. “Let’s leave,” I said and put my hand on the man that was holding him. The man let go and Jong jerked his shirt back into place. I knew he wanted to spit one more insult in Jaehyo’s direction but I said, “Don’t. Come on.” We left.

All the way back to the hotel, Jong complained about Jaehyo and Block B. I didn’t care what he had to say and I only half listened. Since seeing Zico, I felt numb. I didn’t want to talk or think or feel. I didn’t know if I had screwed up my chance to get Zico back but I knew I didn’t want him to come back just because he didn’t want Jong to have me. I wanted him to come back because he loved me and couldn’t live without me. I was so sad.
Jong kept complaining and I didn’t think he had even noticed that I hadn’t spoken since we left the club. I don’t think he cared either. I went with him to his room and found that it was identical to mine. I sat in one of the chairs while he walked around doing things and when he handed me a bottle of water, I took it without saying a word. At that moment, I didn’t care what happened. I sat there with my eyes closed while he prattled on and then he came to me and took my hands. He pulled me to my feet and when I opened my eyes, the lights were off. I let the drink he had given me fall to the floor.
Jong had stopped talking. He began pulling pins from my hair and it tumbled down around my shoulders. He lifted my head with a finger and kissed me. It was a gentle sweet kiss that surprised me. He moved his hands slowly from my shoulders to my wrists as he kissed me and then put my arms around his waist. His arms went around me and he pulled me into him and held me tight.
He put a hand in my hair and gently pushed my head against his chest and he just rocked me like that. His breath fluttered my hair and his heartbeat was steady and even. I closed my eyes and listened to its rhythm. It sounded different than Zico’s. After a few minutes, he pulled away and pulled me over to the bed. We laid down, clothes and all, and he cuddled up behind me and just held me.
“You can cry if you want to,” he said.
I didn’t want to because I was afraid that once I started, I wouldn’t be able to stop. I snuggled down closer to him and let him surround me. He pulled my hair away from my neck and I thought he was making a move but he just laid his cheek against the back of my head and held me. I didn’t think it would be possible but the combination of alcohol and Jong’s soft breathing helped lull me to sleep.

The next morning, I woke up wrapped in a big blanket that I didn’t own in a room that was like mine but wasn’t mine. I sat up and my head felt like it would burst. My stomach burned and I felt sick. Looking around, I tried to remember where I was and then it started coming back to me. On the table I saw a tray with a silver dome beside a glass vase that was holding a single white rose. There was a note and when I got up to read it, I started to get sick. I had to run to the bathroom and I barely made it. And now I know why they call them Blue Tornados! I thought as I lost what was left in my stomach.
I came out and looked at the tray of food and said, “That’s sweet of you, Jong but there’s no way I can eat that this morning.” I did read the note though. It said:
Elizabeth,
You are as beautiful in sleep as you are awake. I hope you are dreaming of me. I have a meeting this morning but I hope that we can have dinner tonight. I didn’t know what you would like but I ordered you some breakfast. I hope you feel better in the morning light. Sleep well.
Jong
I had no idea what to think of this Jong. Was this an act? I knew how to handle Jong, the womanizing jerk but what was I supposed to do with Jong, the sweetheart? I rubbed my face to wake up more and then I picked up the note and read it again. I folded it and when I opened my purse to drop it in, I realized that my phone was buzzing. I had six texts from Zico and three missed calls. There was also two texts from Jaehyo. I almost decided not to read them but I couldn’t do that.
Zico: I’m sorry I yelled. I didn’t mean what I said.
Zico: Jaehyo said that you left with Jong. It’s been three hours. Where are you?
Zico: Please answer me. I’m waiting in your room but you aren’t here and it’s 2 am.
Zico: It’s 4 am. Please tell me you aren’t with him. I’m going crazy!
Zico: ANSWER YOUR FUCKING PHONE!
Zico: Your bed hasn’t been slept in. You aren’t answering your phone. If you aren’t back by noon I’m calling the police.
Jaehyo: Where did you go? Let me know that you are ok
Jaehyo: Jiho is going to call the police if you don’t call soon. Just a heads up
It was 11:48 a.m. and the last person I wanted to see was Zico. But I needed a hot bath and some aspirin desperately and I also didn’t want to see the police. I put my phone back into my purse without answering any of the texts and took the rose from the vase. One of the thorns punctured my finger and as I put the wound in my mouth, I wondered if that was a bad omen.
I went to my room and instead of finding Zico, it was quiet. I was so glad. I went into the bathroom and shut the door. I ran a bath, took some aspirin, and stripped off the clothes that I had slept in. Slipping into the bath, I felt like I had died and gone to heaven. For a few minutes at least until the door was slammed open and I felt like my head had split open. I squeezed my eyes shut against the pain.
“WHERE IN THE FUCKING HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?” he yelled. That didn’t help my headache in the slightest. I began seeing stars. Every noise drove into my brain like a hammer and the louder the noise, the bigger the hammer.
“That’s none of your business anymore,” I said in a very soft voice. The pain in my head was starting to effect my stomach and I thought I might be sick again.
“DON’T GIVE ME ANY OF YOUR BULLSHIT TODAY, ELIZABETH! YOU DID IT DIDN’T YOU!” He came over to the side of the tub and leaned down toward me. “ANSWER ME!”
“Did what?” I asked with my eyes still shut against the pain.
“YOU FUCKED JONG! THAT’S WHAT! TELL ME! TELL ME SO I CAN HATE YOU!”
“Not that it’s any of your business but no, I didn’t have sex with Jong.”
A big splash in the tub made me jump and the water rushed over me. I opened my eyes to see Zico, clothes and all, on his knees hovering over me. His face was inches from mine.
“Don’t lie to me. Tell me the truth so I can kill him and send you back to America!” His voice was a low growl and I was afraid of him.
“I swear to you, Zico. Nothing happened between me and Jong last night. I slept. That was all. I promise. I had so much to drink that I fell asleep and I woke up alone this morning.”
“WHERE did you wake up alone this morning?” he asked in the same growling voice.
“In Jong’s room,” I whispered.
He stared at me. I was actually becoming scared enough to tremble. “Why didn’t you answer your phone?”
“I told you. I fell asleep as soon as we got there. I didn’t hear my phone.”
“Why did you go to Jong’s room if you didn’t intend to let him fuck you?”
“I don’t know. I wasn’t thinking straight. I never intended to do anything with him, Zico.” I was starting to shiver. The whites of his eyes were red.
Zico hung his head and closed his eyes. His breathing was hard and labored and I knew he was trying to control his anger. He stayed that way for a long minute and then he looked back up at me. “If I find out any different, I swear I’ll kill you both!”
He stood up and water went everywhere. It rained down from him and I had to close my eyes and turn my head. He stepped out of the tub and walked out, leaving a water trail in his wake.
I had no doubt that he meant every word that he had just said.

Notes