Chapter Text
The fashion industry really is what people often paint it out to be: dark and wicked. Concealed in glamorous, embellished pieces and glitzy lifestyles. Models selling their bodies with the promise of a cameo at one of the top designer's runway was a regular occurrence that hearing about it never really shocked anybody anymore. Gone were the days when a chiseled body, prominent bone structures and an excellent posture were all you needed to succeed, these days it was all about who sold their body to whom and how often it happened. Fortunately for Kim Seokjin, he never had to experience that. Born with distinguished natural good looks along with a charming personality that was bound to leave you smitten, he was scouted by a well-known modeling agency at a young age. To be approached as a young college freshman who wasn’t sure what he wanted out of life, being blindsided with the promise of fame and fortune, it was a no brainer for Seokjin, he willingly signed the contract that very same afternoon. He gave up his dreams and aspirations, as well as his innocent youth in exchange for a rapid climb to fame and more money than he could have ever imagined. Whether or not it was rewarding was a completely different discussion. Each day he had a lavish apartment in the most upscale part of the city that he could return to, along with the privilege to purchase whatever he wanted regardless of the price tag, was something he really couldn't complain about. The career that had initially promised him fame and fortune, delivered. He got all that and more.
He was number one in the business. Easily the most sought out and recognized face of his generation. Younger models wanted to be him, older models were envious of his accomplishments, either way, Seokjin wasn’t in the industry to make friends. The truth was, he didn’t have any real friends in the industry. There were numerous rumors swirling around about how he had an easy ride to fame and how he wasn’t deserving of it all. Astonishingly, there were also rumors claiming that he slept his way up to the top. People didn’t care for the truth. They wanted juicy gossip to keep them entertained. Seokjin was so used to people talking shit behind his back that somewhere along the way, he stopped caring. He no longer bothered to initiate any conversations and only spoke when it was absolutely necessary. It was useless to build friendships in an industry that would swallow you alive if you displayed any signs of vulnerability. His peers would often label him as a snob, selective when it came to who he chose to keep around him, but nobody ever stopped to question why Seokjin was the way that he was, they only assumed.
He always arrived ten minutes before his designated call time, did his job, and left once the shoot was done. That’s the way he’s consistently chosen to work.
Seokjin had one final job before he planned to take a 3 month hiatus from the industry, as great as the paycheck was, his mental health was taking a toll. His agent, Yoongi, was sympathetic when it came to Seokjin’s decisions, unlike any other manager he’s been with, Yoongi was the only one he would consider as his friend. He was never the controlling nor condescending type, he simply allowed Seokjin to do whatever the hell he wanted to, within means of course. As long as his actions didn’t affect their paychecks, then Seokjin was free to do as he pleased. Yoongi was in charge of accepting or declining jobs, he would pencil book jobs in which he thinks Seokjin would approve of and consult Seokjin on whether or not he wanted them before printing out contracts. Through Seokjin’s 12 year career, Yoongi has been the easiest person to work with, which was why he’s kept him around for as long as he had, and that wasn’t going to change anytime soon. Yoongi has been overseeing his career choices seamlessly, until one decision changed that. Without Seokjin’s knowledge, Yoongi agreed to a contract with Kim Taehyung, an up and coming model whose career was currently skyrocketing to all new heights. The thing was, Seokjin wasn’t someone who worked too well with people whom he hasn’t met prior. He acted professionally when he needed to, but struggled whenever he had to engage in small talk. While it seemed like such a normal thing to do, especially during work, it was out of Seokjin’s element.
He came to the set early, it was a photoshoot for a spread dedicated to a famous fashion brand that was going to be featured in one of the most prominent magazines. Making a beeline to the make up chair, he patiently waited for the rest of the staff to arrive, keeping himself preoccupied with his phone. Some of the staff came in a few minutes after, engaged in gossip, which wasn’t a surprise since he worked in an industry where majority of people lived for gossip. Barely paying attention to what they were saying, there were some parts he couldn’t ignore since they were gossiping directly behind him. They weren't being discreet about it either.
“Did you hear about who Taehyung was dating?” Said one of the shorter girls, animatedly engaged in gossip as she prepared multiple hair tools, haphazardly placing them on top of a clean cloth.
“The CEO’s son? Geon Hoon, right? Can you believe it? No wonder he’s been landing gigs left and right!” Another woman, slightly older in age, giggled as they continued to gossip about the infamous Kim Taehyung.
Seokjin’s heard a lot about him, more than he would have liked since he really didn’t have time to listen to gossip, but here he was, helplessly glued to a chair while the topic of discussion was nowhere to be seen.
“He probably gives really good head. Why else would a chaebol keep such a..”
“Sorry, but can we get started? I’d like to be prepped for the shoot ahead of time.” Seokjin interrupted them, usually he didn’t care about people gossiping or who they were spouting nonsense about, but at the same time, he didn’t enjoy hearing people being called nasty names, especially if the person wasn’t in the same room to defend himself against these allegations. One of the girls plastered on a fake smile before rolling her eyes, probably annoyed that their conversation was cut short. Seokjin was most likely going to be called stuck up for what he just did, but again, he could care less.
His hair was done, and his make up was nearly finished when Kim Taehyung decided to make his presence known. He practically stumbled into the room, a slight limp in his step as he muttered out apologies for arriving late. People around the room were blatantly eyeing how disheveled he looked, as he hopped into the make up chair next to Seokjin’s.
He was attractive, like how people said he was. He also had an aura which immediately commanded the room’s attention, it was impossible not to turn your head once or twice just to catch another glimpse of him.
“Sorry I’m late. Kinda got caught up in something.” He muttered in a low, hoarse voice.
The stylists got right to the job and began applying hair products and bringing out the correct foundation and concealer shades for his skintone. As the make up artist was applying a hefty amount of serum to prep his skin, Taehyung hesitantly spoke up.
“Sorry for asking, but I have.. Uh, a little cut across my lip. Do you think you could add another layer of concealer just in case it shows on camera?”
Seokjin was the type of person who preferred to mind his own business, but there was such a compelling urge to turn around and see the cut. Once their eyes locked, it was awkward and Seokjin felt the need to come up with an excuse as to why he was staring in the first place. He flashed Taehyung a smile, the one usually reserved for interviews or whenever he had to deal with press.
“Hi. Nice to finally meet you, Kim Taehyung. I’m Kim Seokjin.”
Taehyung flashed him a blinding smile of his own, pearly white teeth creating a boxy shape. The cut in the middle of his lower lip was pretty obvious, Seokjin couldn’t help but direct his gaze to the wound.
“Of course I know who you are. Who doesn’t? I’m such a fan.” He enthusiastically placed one hand on top of Seokjin’s forearm and gave it a little squeeze. The sudden gesture caught Seokjin off guard but he continued to act nonchalant at the familiarity being displayed. Perhaps Taehyung was a touchy person, there was nothing wrong with that.
“Can I just say it’s just an honor to be working with you today, when my agent told me about it I thought he was kidding, cause who the hell am I to be working with the likes of Kim Seokjin?”
Seokjin chuckled, it was his primary instinct to laugh along. “What are you talking about? Your face is everywhere! I should be honored to be working with you. I liked your latest campaign, it’s like the clothes were designed for you. You did a really good job with the brand.”
Taehyung absent-mindedly nibbled on his lower lip, wincing once he was reminded that he had a wound there.
“Are you okay? Your cut is pretty deep.” Seokjin has never been the nosy type, but for some reason he couldn’t stop himself from commenting. The cut in the middle of his lip stood out like a sore thumb.
“Yeah, I’m clumsy. It happens all the time. So, tell me what it’s been like doing the opening walk for Paris Fashion Week?” Taehyung made a noticeably desperate effort to change the subject, and although Seokjin was curious, it really wasn’t his place to ask about his cut any further than he’s already had. It was certainly distracting, he had to constantly remind himself to avert his gaze whenever it landed on Taehyung’s bruised lip. They had a nice chat as they were getting their hair and make up done, exchanging stories about their experiences in the industry. Seokjin was extra cautious with what he chose to share since eyes and ears were on them, not to mention the two chatty staff members who were tending to them. As much as possible, he avoided the limelight when it didn't involve his job, and from the looks of it, Taehyung was trying to do the same. They discussed safe topics, these were mostly general topics that didn’t specifically mention anything or anyone.
Hair and make up passed by in a breeze, typically Seokjin was glued to his phone so it was a strange experience to spend his time chatting with someone while getting prepped. They were informed shortly after that the lead photographer as well as the coordinator assigned to the shoot had arrived and that the models had to change into their designated outfits before entering the studio.
“It was nice chatting with you, sunbae-nim. See you inside the studio!” Taehyung shyly stated.
“Hyung is just fine. See you.” Seokjin replied before heading towards the opposite direction where he was assigned, passing by Yoongi who was shooting him funny looks after overhearing part of his conversation with Taehyung.
He was putting on an all black ensemble that contained a long coat which had to be draped over his body, as he was admiring the overall appearance on the mirror, Yoongi’s reflection appeared.
“Kim Taehyung huh?” It was meant to be a teasing remark, one which was immediately shut down with one pointed look from Seokjin, he shook his head.
“I heard he’s dating that Hoon kid though.”
“Doesn’t matter. I’m not interested.” Seokjin let out a brusque reply, surprising Yoongi with how sharp his tone was.
“You spent an hour chatting with him.”
“I was being nice. I can do that sometimes, you know.” It might have come out as defensive, which wasn’t Seokjin’s intention to begin with. But he didn’t exactly appreciate what Yoongi was insinuating.
“Mmhmm. Just be careful. That Hoon kid is bad news.”
As much as Seokjin didn’t want to discuss it any further, his curiosity got the better of him.
“How so?”
Yoongi took a seat on one of the nearby stools, tossing Seokjin a garment that was supposed to be part of the ensemble. “Thought you weren’t interested?”
“I’m not. Just curious. There’s a difference.”
The bitter chuckle that escaped Yoongi filled the small fitting room, clearly he wasn’t convinced with whatever bullshit Seokjin was trying to sell, but decided to humor him for today.
“He’s involved in a lot of shady shit. Or so I’ve heard. And Taehyung’s a nice kid.. and so I’ve heard again.”
It was so vague and barely answered Seokjin’s question, but he decided to leave it at that. He’s been nosy enough for his own good. He barely even knew Taehyung, and Seokjin knew better than to meddle in affairs that didn’t involve him.
“Looks like you’ve been busy, seems like you’ve heard a lot.” Seokjin jested, putting on the accessories the stylists picked out for him. Extravagantly gold statement pieces that weren't pieces he would actually pick out for himself.
Yoongi didn’t find his statement amusing. Not one bit.
“Yeah, yeah. These shoots last long, and you know how chatty people get, especially when they’re bored out of their minds. I’ll be waiting outside.” He left the room to give Seokjin some privacy. His thoughts drifted to Taehyung and the unsettling feeling his bruised lip gave Seokjin, he checked his reflection one last time and reminded himself that such trivial things shouldn’t bother him. He didn’t know Taehyung and Taehyung didn’t know him, and that was that. He was simply there to do his job. Brushing aside his concerns, Seokjin left the dressing room, meeting up with Yoongi before heading straight towards the set.
The set was typical, aside from the various matte black furniture scattered around the area, it consisted of a plain white background and multiple flashing lights. Seokjin was greeted by the lead photographer, Jeon Jeongguk, an up and coming photographer who was gradually making headlines for his controversial choices when it came to his freelance photography. He looked younger than Seokjin, which made introductions a bit awkward since he didn’t know how to address him, fortunately Jeongguk took the lead and right off the bat began addressing him as hyung. He ran his ideas through Seokjin while they waited for Taehyung’s arrival, seeking approval for certain shots he had in mind. In the middle of their conversation, Taehyung, who was still on the phone and was balancing it between his chin and shoulder while looking visibly upset, stormed out of his private dressing room and hurriedly jogged towards the set realizing that he was the only one that wasn't present.
“Can we discuss this later? I’m at work.” He whispered, but somehow Seokjin, as long as everyone within proximity overheard him but pretended that his hushed tone wasn't something that could be heard across the room.
“Why are you yelling? Hello? Hello?” Taehyung released the phone and began checking on the screen, it seems like whoever he was speaking to hung up on him.
“Asshole.” Another whisper that didn’t go unnoticed.
Straightening out his clothes, he began to introduce himself to Jeongguk, thanking him for the opportunity, while Seokjin quietly observed his demeanor from the side. Taehyung looked frazzled and annoyed, but again, it was none of his business. Once pleasantries were out of the way, Jeongguk instructed them to pose how they normally would, make themselves comfortable on set while they did some test shots. Seokjin pulled up a chair and began posing for the camera, meanwhile Taehyung maintained his distance and chose a spot which was quite the distance from Seokjin. When Jeongguk was finally satisfied with the lighting, he asked them if they could shoot together, the theme he had in mind was lovers that couldn’t be together. A forbidden love. An unrequited love of sorts, to which they obliged and went along with his creative direction. While Seokjin’s been doing this professionally for years, he couldn’t deny how it felt a bit awkward to wrap his arms around Taehyung’s waist from behind, resting his chin on top of his shoulder. It shouldn’t even be awkward, he’s never dealt with this problem before. But there he was, occasionally being scolded by both Jeongguk and Yoongi for being so stiff, that stiffness translated on camera and the result wasn’t up to par with their standards, especially Jeongguk, who was young yet known to be meticulous when it came to his work.
“This..” He pointed towards Seokjin and Taehyung. “Whatever this is, it won’t do.”
It was unheard of for the Kim Seokjin to mess up so badly during a shoot, it was even more humiliating since it hasn’t even been ten minutes since they started and the lead photographer had been nothing but vocal in regards to his disappointment. They tried to recreate the entire scene from scratch, and even experimented with different poses just to see which one would seem the most natural. But no matter what they did, everything was below satisfactory. Unbelievably underwhelming for two of the most sought out models.
Their managers, Yoongi and Namjoon, were already visibly distressed as they watched the chaos unfold before their very eyes. Seokjin has always been known as a perfectionist when it came to his job, small or big gig, it didn’t matter, he showed up when he had to. After multiple test shots, the frown on Jeongguk’s face was beginning to become more and more apparent, he let out a frustrated sigh and requested for a break. The rest of the staff immediately spread out, mainly to get out of sight from Jeongguk’s rampage, Seokjin had his head hung low as he sauntered his way to Yoongi, wondering how the hell he managed to fuck up the within the first few minutes. It was an amateur move, a position he didn’t imagine himself being in after maintaining a reputable name for himself in the last decade. A rookie mistake that could potentially tarnish his name.
“What the hell was that? You were stiffer than a board. And even saying that out loud probably offends the board.” Yoongi blatantly pointed out, cutting right to the chase as always.
A sigh escaped Seokjin, beyond disbelief that he found himself in such an unwanted predicament.
“I’d like to know as well. This has never happened, you know that. I finish my shoots within the first few takes.”
“Exactly. So, what is it? Are you uncomfortable being paired with Taehyung? Should I ask for a replacement?”
Before Yoongi could bring his phone out and search for a replacement, Seokjin was quick to refuse his offer. There wasn’t anything wrong with Taehyung, he was doing his job. It was him. Seokjin had no clue as to why he acted like an awkward teenager during the shoot. He was holding on to Taehyung’s waist, but somehow the feeling wasn’t there. He wasn’t giving Jeongguk the shots he wanted and it was starting to become a problem. Without another word, he headed towards the monitor and asked Jeongguk’s assistant, a man named Hoseok, if he could review the photos so far.
He was horrified to see the results for himself.
Frame after frame, even if their bodies were connected in one way or another, his facial features gave out a very indistinguishable look of exasperation. It made him cringe looking at how his face turned out. Yoongi was right, he was stiffer than a board, visibly uncomfortable.
Footsteps were approaching him from behind, he turned to look for the source and spotted a sheepish Taehyung trailing behind his manager. Namjoon, similar to Yoongi, looked highly upset to say the least. Disappointed to see that even Taehyung seemed to be struggling with the shoot when he usually accomplished them with such ease and precision.
“I think it would be wise to review the photos, to see where you can improve.” Namjoon stated, mouth downturned as the photos flashed before them.
“You’re so much better than this, Tae.” He added, a hint of despondency in his tone.
“I know I am. It’s been a rough week, my bad.”
“Its because of him again, isn’t it? I’m asking as a friend now, not as a manager. Tae, we’ve gone through this..”
Seokjin’s ears couldn’t help but perk up over accidentally overhearing their conversation, it was considered rude to eavesdrop but what was he supposed to do when they were standing right behind him and Yoongi? He discreetly turned to Yoongi and noticed how he was barely moving, and Seokjin knew him well enough to know that it was because he was listening in to their conversation as well.
“I don’t want to talk about it.” Taehyung replied, eager to put an end to the conversation altogether.
“That’s the problem, Tae, you never want to talk about it.” Namjoon hesitated before letting go of the subject at hand and began discussing work-related aspects, throwing out ideas on how to act more naturally in front of the camera, not like somebody like Taehyung needed novice tips.
Taehyung's phone began to ring, while he continued to stare at the screen. Namjoon couldn’t help himself and rolled his eyes, shooing him away with his hands as Taehyung scurried off to the dressing room to pick up the call.
“Looks like you have quite a lot on your hands.” Yoongi commented, receiving a groan of acknowledgment on Namjoon’s end.
“Tell me about it. Seokjin-ssi, a piece of advice.”
Being the polite person that he was, Seokjin took this as a cue and stepped closer to Namjoon.
“Don’t date assholes.” A dimpled smile appeared as he began walking back, heading after Taehyung.
Seokjin was left confused, shooting Yoongi a look to which he merely shrugged in return.
“You heard the man, Jinnie. Don’t date assholes.” Yoongi teased.
“I don’t even date. What are you talking about?” Seokjin shot him an annoyed glance in return which made Yoongi chuckle mischievously.
“I know, I know. Just kidding. We still have to figure out what went wrong with the shoot.”
And just like that, they returned back to discussing options that could help improve the results of their photos. Seokjin couldn’t deny how stiff and uncomfortable he looked in photos, but couldn’t wrap his head around it since it’s the first time he’s ever been placed in such a situation.
After reconvening and discussing what could be improved, they gave it another shot. Multiple flashes of light, along with audible grunts coming from Jeongguk once he reviewed the results.
“Its still too stiff.” He let out another frustrated sigh.
For a veteran model like Seokjin, it was humiliating to be unable to do his job properly. A long pause filled the room, and Jeongguk released another sigh.
“Looks like we won’t get this shoot done today.”
The statement caused panic amongst the staff, along with Seokjin and Taehyung who knew that they had a deadline.
“But the brand specifically wanted..” Seokjin tried to intervene, only to be stopped by a steady hand being held up in front of his face.
“The brand asked for results, and it’s my job to provide them that. These photos are far from what I envisioned and I’m not going to reassign your roles to anybody else since they asked for you and Taehyung. Here’s what we’re going to do, we’ll postpone the shoot for a month, 4 weeks gives you and Taehyung a enough time to work on your.. chemistry, or whatever it is you need to work on that’ll give me different results.”
Jeongguk stated matter-of-factly as his frown deepened while he went through the rest of the photos on his camera roll. Clearly he couldn’t capture the particular vision he had.
“A month???” Taehyung cried out, filled with worries since his budding reputation was on the line. They were working for one of the most well-known fashion brands on the market, and more than anything, he didn’t want to be labeled as a failure. “What are we supposed to do for a month?”
“Figure things out then. Bring me results.” A shrug was the only thing Jeongguk had to offer before walking away from the set, ready to wrap things up and head home. He was known for being meticulous when it came to photoshoots but neither Taehyung nor Seokjin expected him to want results no matter how unorthodox his methods were. Who postponed shoots for a whole month? The brand had to be dead set on having all three on board to even consider Jeongguk’s proposal to begin with. Perhaps it gave Seokjin some sort of solace to discover how he wasn’t as replaceable like he thought he was. It was reassuring to know that years of hard work resulted to Seokjin creating a household name for himself, but this did little to diminish the fact that he had just fucked up his job. He couldn’t even begin to figure out how to resolve the issue when he didn’t know what the issue was in the first place. His photoshoot simply showed him how aloof and awkward he was on camera, which was a first for him since he’s always been natural in front of cameras. Languid movements and breathtaking facial expressions, these were traits which Seokjin was known for.
“What now?” Taehyung sneered out to nobody in particular, genuinely confused on what he should do next, when his phone screen lit up again, his ringtone echoing across the quiet studio.
“Pick up the call and I’ll discuss things with Seokjin’s manager. Is it.. nevermind. Of course it is. Why am I even asking?” An exasperated murmur was heard from Namjoon, as he shot both Yoongi and Seokjin an apologetic look.
“Let me guess, the asshole?” Yoongi replied, and with a quick nod in response from Namjoon, it was his cue to stop asking any further questions.
“So, what are we going to do? How do we fix this?”
“Well, Jeongguk mentioned how he wanted chemistry, so somehow we have to make that happen between Seokjin and Taehyung.”
“Easier said than done. How exactly do we do that? Chemistry can't be forced. Well, it can, but that doesn’t seem to be the case here.”
Yoongi and Namjoon were going back and forth as if Seokjin wasn’t in the same room, nonetheless, he kept his mouth shut and listened in.
Finally acknowledging Seokjin’s presence, Namjoon turned to Seokjin with a devious smirk. He looked as if he already had a plan in mind.
“Seokjin-ssi, how comfortable are you with spending a few hours a day with Taehyung?”
Seokjin, who was used to spending most of his time alone, with the exception of his manager, Yoongi, was taken aback with the question. A few hours a week was fine, his social battery could manage that, but a few hours a day was out of the question. He was worried that he wouldn’t be able to find any common ground with Taehyung. What were they even going to discuss on a daily basis? What if there was dead air between them majority of the time? There were so many questions going through his mind that Seokjin was robbed of the opportunity to even answer for himself when his manager beat him to it.
“That’s fine. For the most part, his schedule has been cleared up. This was the biggest deal of the year and well, everything around it can be adjusted.”
Seokjin had his mouth hung open, in disbelief with how easily Yoongi agreed to whatever it was that Namjoon had in mind when usually he was reluctant to new ideas.
“Wait, that’s fine and all but wont anyone.. I don’t know, get mad at the idea of me working so closely with Taehyung?” In all honesty, it wasn’t fine, Seokjin was worried about a number of things, Taehyung’s rumored boyfriend being the first on that list.
“Who?” Namjoon asked, before suddenly realizing who Seokjin was pertaining to. “Oh. Him. Don’t worry about him, he’s always mad anyway so it won’t make much of a difference. Besides, we’re doing this so that you and Tae can act more comfortably around each other. And if that translates behind the lens, we get paid. Everyone’s happy.” The genuine resentment from his tone was pretty obvious to anyone listening in, and if Namjoon said it was fine, then it probably would be fine. He placed his personal discomfort aside and agreed to his proposal. It was simple, really, all he had to do was spend a few hours with Taehyung until they reached a certain level of comfort with each other. Seokjin reminded himself that the sole reason he was agreeing was for work, nothing more.
“If you’re absolutely certain that I won’t be overstepping any unprofessional boundaries..”
“I’m certain. You worry too much, has anyone ever told you that?” Namjoon teased with a fond smile. Seokjin reminded him a lot of Taehyung when Taehyung first started out, a worrisome young man stepping into one of the most intimidating professions in the world. He felt sentimental recalling how naïve and pure Taehyung used to be before life got ahold of him.
Yoongi chuckled, knowing all too well how Seokjin was prone to worrying about the most miniscule things simply because it was in his nature to do so. “He does. I tell him that all the time. If Taehyung’s manager proposed the idea, wouldn’t it be rude to turn him down?” His comment added even more pressure, giving Seokjin the little push he needed to finally agree to what Namjoon suggested.
“Only because it’s part of the job.” Seokjin huffed out, turns out he wasn’t left with much of a choice to begin with anyway.
Nodding as he was deep on thought, Namjoon quipped. “That and I think you and Taehyung will get along just fine. He’s rather reserved at first, but once he gets comfortable, he can become quite a handful.”
“His hands are free.” Yoongi added, ignoring the death glares from Seokjin and decided to let the remark slip.
Seokjin left the scene and let both Yoongi and Namjoon discuss the rest of the logistics and iron out the details. He passed by Jeongguk’s assistant Hoseok, who shot him a quick apology for postponing the shoot to a much later date than planned to which he simply offered an understanding smile in exchange. He lowered his head to acknowledge staff members as he passed them by, walking faster than intended to finally arrive back at his private dressing room. Seokjin couldn’t wait to gather his belongings and head home after an uneventful day, maybe even ponder upon what went wrong earlier on his way home. He was stopped in his tracks when he heard sniffling as he turned the corner, located in a dark staircase was a silhouette of a person with his face covered by his hands as he continued to cry. If it wasn’t for the excessive rings and bracelets, Seokjin probably would have never guessed that it was none other than Taehyung with his shoulders hunched forward, concealing most of his features. Seeing how he was hidden in a dark area, Seokjin could only presume that he was in there seeking for privacy, the only problem was that it was the only hallway leading back to his room. Seokjin contemplated scurrying back to his manager and wait it out, but the louder Taehyung’s wails got, the harder it was for Seokjin to even move his feet back to the direction from which he came from. He was stuck. Making a mad dash out of there suddenly wasn’t in his list of options anymore. If he chose to purposely ignore someone crying his heart out then his subconscious would never let him hear the end of it. Giving himself a few minutes to at least think of something appropriate to say to someone who may or may not appreciate his presence, Seokjin mulled over his words, keeping his back pressed against the wall like an idiot in hiding. But as usual, life has never worked in his favor. A loose button attached to his dress shirt thought that it was the perfect time to make an appearance, it fell to the ground, even bouncing away from him creating several small thuds across the floorboards, startling Taehyung who wasn’t even remotely aware that someone was nearby. The heat quickly rose and spread across Seokjin’s features, he’s never wanted to disappear so badly in his life. He ploddingly appeared from around the corner, there was no use prolonging his embarrassment since his button notified Taehyung ahead of time that he wasn’t alone.
He bore a sheepish smile as he stepped out, rubbing the backside of his hair since he didn’t know what to do with his hands. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt but this is the only path leading back to my room and..” He stopped midsentence as soon as he saw Taehyung’s bloodshot eyes staring back at him in confusion. “I.. Uh, I’ll get going. I’m sorry to bother you.” Seokjin was more than ready to escape the scene as soon as he could when Taehyung had an outstretched hand in front of him.
“Don’t go.” Spoken in the softest, most tender tone. “I mean, if you want to stick around, please do. I could use the company.” Quickly directing his gaze back to the ground. Seokjin honestly didn’t have it in him to say no, especially when Taehyung looked so sullen and alone.
He awkwardly hovered above Taehyung, not certain if he should also take a seat next to him on the steps or not. Taehyung moved a few centimeters away, scooting towards the side to give Seokjin room to sit next to him, in which Seokjin took as an invitation. And so he did. They sat side by side in the dark for who knows how long, Seokjin didn’t know what to say in this situation. It was not in his place to ask Taehyung why he was crying, and so he stayed quiet, waiting for Taehyung to speak when he felt like it. He fiddled with his thumbs, anxious and overthinking things. Maybe he should’ve left Taehyung alone and waited things out with Yoongi. Maybe it was a bad idea after all. Before he could go into more self depreciation regarding his choices, Taehyung spoke. It was almost a whisper, barely audible that Seokjin probably would have missed it if it wasn’t so silent. There was just something so desperate about the way Taehyung asked him if he could stay, that even if he was given a choice, Seokjin wouldn’t budge from where he was seated.
“I’ll stay. I don’t have anywhere to be anyway.” It was true for the most part, the only thing waiting for Seokjin was his couch and a couple of episodes from his favorite drama, but other than that, he didn’t mind keeping Taehyung company.
Taehyung let out a small hum, maintaining the silence between them. It was eerily silent and the way Taehyung tried to discreetly wipe his tears away did not go unnoticed. Seokjin tried his best to distract himself by looking at a metal trashcan, or the molds forming on the wall, trying to focus his attention on to just about anything to get rid of the awkwardness since Taehyung was obviously going through something and he wasn’t the best person when it came to consoling. Or any affection for that matter. Being so far detached from your emotions makes you wary it comes to displaying affection. It wasn’t that Seokjin was insensitive, in fact he was labeled as someone who was too sensitive so in time, he learned how to tone down his emotions until they disappeared from the public eye completely. Some may call it a fear, and maybe it was some sort of fear Seokjin had. Emotions were a dangerous thing, and Seokjin feared the dangers that came along with it.
After Taehyung calmed down, he rested his cheek on top if his open palm, turning his head sideways to now face Seokjin who was still struggling to stare at inanimate objects around him.
“Sorry about that, not the greatest first impression.” He sheepishly smiled, chuckling at his own vulnerability.
“First impressions never last anyway.”
“You’re quite the pessimistic one, aren’t you?” Taehyung teased, his gaze felt heavy even if Seokjin couldn’t see it for himself.
“Sorry.. I try not to be.”
“Its okay. I feel like pessimistic people have a stronger grasp on reality. They see things for what they are since they aren’t stuck in some fantasy driven bubble.”
Seokjin dropped his hands below his knees, suddenly feeling like he’s been called out. Taehyung was stating facts that he could relate to, points he couldn’t deny since they were true. From a young age, he’s always felt like he needed to grow up. Mature more quickly. There wasn’t any time to stop and savor the moment, he was always on the go, chasing after the adrenaline rush of it all. So yeah, maybe he saw things for what they were since he grew up in an environment that didn’t allow anything else.
“Yeah. Maybe.” He whispered out.
Taehyung’s phone which was placed in his pocket began vibrating, he ignored it and pretended like nothing was happening. It stopped before it began vibrating again which went on for a few minutes. Seokjin eyed the phone lighting up, watching the light dwindle down only to light up a few seconds after.
“Uh, aren’t you going to get that?”
“No.” Taehyung responded almost immediately, waiting for the vibrations to stop.
Although he was curious, Seokjin knew better than to ask further. It wasn’t his business, and if Taehyung wasn’t bothered by it, he shouldn’t be too. Again, he shouldn’t stick his nose in business that has nothing to do with him. The vibrations continued for a few more minutes until they completely stopped, a sigh of relief was released from the person sitting next to him.
“It wasn’t important. Just someone who was bound to bring even more tears.” Taehyung stated out of the blue.
“Good thing you didn’t pick up the phone then.”
Seokjin decided to play along, it didn’t take much for him to figure out on his own who was behind the other line. Rumors were spreading like wildfire, and almost everyone in the industry knew who Taehyung was dating since it wasn’t exactly a secret. He didn’t have anything against the man Taehyung was dating, heck, Seokjin didn’t even know him, but if a man could make someone as nice as Taehyung cry for whatever reason, surely he wasn’t a good person to begin with. Of course he didn’t know Taehyung, neither did he really know the man he was dating, but he had a feeling that when it came to Taehyung, first impressions really could last, as contradictory as it was to his earlier statement. Maybe Taehyung could be the exemption for that rule.
“Don’t cry. It’ll make you less pretty if you do.” Seokjin said it in jest, it was something that he didn’t really exert much thought into, a phrase said on a whim since he didn’t like seeing people cry.
Taehyung kept silent for a bit before teasing back. “Why? Do you think I look pretty, Seokjin-ssi?”
The heat immediately rose, making its way to Seokjin’s facial features. The words were difficult to get out, what was he even supposed to respond to that?
“I.. Umm.. It’s not what you.. You see..” He stammered, feeling more flustered by the second. Fortunately Taehyung erupted in giggles. Loud, melodious laughter that began to fill the empty stairwell.
Seokjin was momentarily knocked senseless, stunned as he watched Taehyung in awe. Breathtaking. Wondering if it was okay to consider him in such a way when he fully intended to draw a professional line between them. Thinking that it was inappropriate did little to soothe the butterflies erupting within Seokjin, he felt lightheaded for a moment, getting lost in the sound of Taehyung’s gentle laughter and how different he looked compared to how he did during photoshoots.
“Sorry, I should stop teasing. You should have seen the look on your face though.” He abruptly stood up, dusting his backside before descending the steps. Taehhung turned to Seokjin as he spoke. “Thanks for keeping me company. It means a lot that you would do that for a stranger. See you around, Seokjin-ssi. Have a good evening.” And those were Taehyung’s final words before disappearing into the dimly lit hallway. Seokjin couldn’t even respond, he whispered a faint goodnight that was that was too softly spoken to be heard by anyone, watching as Taehyung’s shadow disappeared from his view. The throbbing in his chest made him second guess his decision, but an agreement was an agreement, whether or not he had a signed contract to show for it. He remained in the staircase for who knows how long, considering Yoongi showed up startled half to death to come across a figure in the darkness, Seokjin could presume that he’s been there for quite a while.
“Jesus fucking christ you scared the living daylights out of me!” Yoongi screeched out, instantly looking around the hallway to check if anyone witnessed him losing his composure.
“What are you even doing there? I thought you headed back to your room and left by now?”
“I thought so too.”
His reply puzzled Yoongi even further. “So why haven’t you left? It’s very unlike you to still be hanging out after a shoot. And whatever brooding, mysterious shit you’re trying to pull right now, well, I don’t like it.”
“I’m not trying to pull anything. Geez. Can’t a guy be left alone with his thoughts in solace?” Seokjin retorted, annoyed as he replied.
“In the dark? Are you insane?” Yoongi quipped in return, rolling his eyes. “Anyway, Namjoon and I discussed things and since you and Taehyung still have some solo projects lined up, well, for the most part, you just have to do a few interviews before you go on your break. Point is, we figured meeting on a daily basis isn’t a good idea.”
Seokjin instantly felt relief, whatever weird shit that happened earlier wasn’t going to happen again.
“Instead, you’ll meet on the weekends. We’ll make sure to free up your schedule to align with Taehyung’s. Don’t worry, Namjoon and I won’t come along.”
“Why not???” Seokjin stood up, alarming Yoongi yet again with how exaggerated his reaction was.
“Why are you freaking out? You’re both adults. Figure things out. Think of it as a hangout session with a friend, no biggie.”
Except he and Taehyung weren’t exactly friends. There was also another huge problem besides the fact that Seokjin suddenly associated the word breathtaking and Taehyung in the same sentence.
“Isn’t he dating someone?”
“So? I didn’t say you guys would hook up. You’re hanging out, Seokjin. What’s the big deal? You’re not going to ask his hand in marriage. Relax for once, will you?” Being his manager for years, Yoongi has grown accustomed to Seokjin’s unnecessary worries and did his best to ease them.
“He won’t mind?”
“As long as you’re not screwing his boyfriend then I’m sure he could care less. Are you heading home or not? I don’t plan to spend the rest of my night discussing this with you in the middle of an empty corridor. Besides, that stairwell is giving me the creeps.” A slight shiver blasted past Yoongi as he began heading straight for Seokjin’s dressing room. Seokjin was still hesitant but decided that he could worry about it later, in the comfort of his apartment. His bed was calling him, it was his cue to follow Yoongi back to the room in order to change out of his current attire and head home for the night. Usually he told Yoongi about everything and anything but for some reason, he purposely left out the part where he caught Taehyung crying and how he stayed behind just to keep him company. Yoongi dropped him off, and Seokjin came home to an empty apartment as usual.
Before he went to sleep, images of Taehyung laughing so carefree as if he wasn't troubled in the slightest came to mind. And how he wished he could see Taehyung in that manner more often. It was scary. He knew he and Taehyung were bound to meet more often, to work on their chemistry for the shoot, nothing more and nothing less. So why did it suddenly matter what state of being Taehyung showed up in? It shouldn’t matter. It really shouldn’t. But perhaps what was terrifying was that Seokjin knew that somehow it did matter in the end.
Shutting his eyes, he forced the vivid images of Taehyung out of his head and eventually fell asleep replaying the sound of his laughter on repeat.