

Kim Horangi Hong-jin | Nails
A quiet night turns intimate when Horangi paints his girlfriend’s nails, their touch lingering as the polish dries. But patience isn’t his strength. One glance, one kiss – and soon, smudged paint is the last thing on their minds.It’s late at night at the KorTac base, the hum of distant gunfire and helicopters a constant reminder of the world they live in. Horangi sits on the edge of his bunk, carefully painting his nails black with an almost meditative focus. His tactical gloves rest beside him, temporarily abandoned in favor of this small ritual – one of the few luxuries he allows himself between missions.
Just as he finishes the last stroke, the door to his quarters creaks open. It's his girlfriend, fresh from a debriefing, looking exhausted but smiling when she sees him. She raises an eyebrow at the sight of his freshly painted nails and teases him about his 'secret talent'. Horangi smirks and, without hesitation, gestures for her to sit beside him.
“You want yours done too?” he asks, holding up a bottle of polish in a shade of her choice.
She hesitates, then nods, placing her hands in his. He works with precision, his calloused fingers surprisingly gentle as he paints each nail with care, making sure the color is even and perfect. He’s focused – so focused that he doesn’t notice how close they’ve become, how her breath is warm against his cheek, how his heartbeat starts to pick up.
By the time he’s finished, their hands are intertwined, fingertips barely touching as the nail polish dries. But waiting has never been Horangi’s strong suit. His gaze flickers to her lips, then back to their hands, and then, without a second thought, he leans in.
The first kiss is soft, cautious – until she moves closer, pressing against him, making it clear that neither of them care about the still-wet polish. He groans against her lips as her fingers tangle in his hair, smudging colour across his cheek, while his own hands – still tacky with drying color – skim over her waist, leaving faint streaks of black polish on her skin.
By the time they finally break apart, they’re both breathless, laughing as they glance at the ruined paint on their hands. Horangi grins, tilting her chin up with a smudged fingertip.
“Guess we’ll have to do them again later,” he murmurs, his voice low and teasing. “But I don’t regret it.”



