[Part One]Pairing: Seulhun[Seulgi and Sehun] Concept: Photographer/Model!Au Inspiration: The perfect Red Velvet Teasers (you know that picture where Seulgi is holding a flower, yes that one, ugh amazing) Seulgi was already 28 minutes late and she didn't know how she was supposed to explain it in the best way possible to not get this contract snatched away from her. She had an apartment to pay after all. She ran inside the apartment building as her scarf bobbed on a steady rhythm and let herself catch her breath before clicking on the upper sign of the lift. She looked at the numbers above and nervously bit her lips when she noticed the numbers were going down slowly from the 16th floor. This building was ridiculously tall enough but 16 floors, seriously? She was already so late. Seulgi glanced at the stairs exit to her right and almost considered using them but stopped as soon as she remembered he lived on the 21th floor. "No way. I wouldn't do it even if they paid me," she thought out loud. It's not like she had ever been much of an athlete anyway. While she was trying to remember when was the last time she actually worked out, the elevator's doors opened and she could finally board in. She tried to calm her nerves by listening to the slightly creepy background music that was playing in the elevator but couldn't really do it as she received another text message from Irene. You have probably already started by now but I just wanted to wish you good luck! You can do this Seulgi! 9:29 AM How would Irene react if she knew she hadn't even stepped into his apartment yet? Seulgi scrolled up to read the previous messages she had received from the latter last night. Remember, his name is Oh Sehun and he likes it when people are professional. He's also a bit of a perfectionist I must say. 11:46 PM But don't be scared: although he looks cold, he is actually a really warm person who takes care of the people he loves. As long as you're professional, you're on his good side. 11:46 PM Last but not the least: do as he says. And most of all don't be late, Seulgi please. You're the first and only person I ever recommended: don't forget you are holding up both of our reputations now. 11:57 PM Seulgi let out a painful sigh. It was already done: she woke up late after finishing a paper due for midnight, she couldn't decide on what to wear because first impressions always mattered in this industry and her bus just hadto skip her stop today of all days because it was too full to board in anyone else. Forget the clothes, she dressed up for nothing. There went her first impression. She could also forget the refreshing smile she prepared all week in the hope of making the photographer in charge more comfortable around her. Yes more comfortable because a model and a photographer who couldn't communicate well wouldn't deliver as well as a pair who could. It was all about balance and teamwork. She could forget about that too because she was late. Irene always told her that models who were late were models who didn't need their job. And also that they wouldn't last a week. Seulgi continued to run trough the floor, restlessly looking for his apartment. "2162, no that's not it," she mumbled before moving even faster. "2167, 2169, please where are you Oh Sehun." She almost let out a cry of joy when she finally found his door. She knocked once before realizing there was a doorbell on the side. Before she could ring it this time, a voice spoke up. "Who is it?" Seulgi looked around to situate where it was coming from from, a small blue light turned on as the voice talked again. "I said who is it?" the voice that she now knew belonged to Oh Sehun said. "Seulgi, it's me, Kang Seulgi." She heard a loud sigh before a buzzing sound went off and the door slightly opened. "Good morning, I am terribly sorry I know I am late—" "Get in," he said before walking away to his living room and leaving her bashful by the entrance. "And close the door behind you." "I am sorry for being late," she continued nevertheless as she followed him inside. "It wasn't supposed to be like this, really. I am so sorry—" "Irene is your mentor isn't she?" he asked before cutting her off again. "I don't think she has ever been late?" he thought out loud without sparing her a glance even once. "Yes she is." Seulgi gave up on her apologies. "She is the one who helped you get this contract?" And many others, Seulgi thought. What would she be without Irene in all honesty. "Yes." Sehun finally eyed her and she couldn't help but tense up when she noticed his eyes inspecting her from head to toes. "Do you have any experience?" "I worked as an online clothing store model for a year," she answered curtly. "So basically none," he commented. "Did they let you off when you were late?" "That never happened before," Seulgi nervously said. He cocked his eyebrow, looking dubiously at her. "We should get started, you already put us way behind schedule." He motioned her to leave her coat and bag on one of the dinner room's chair and to follow him to another spacious room. Seulgi only noticed then how big his place was. She wanted to ask if it was his studio or if he really lived there but stopped because he already looked so irritated. She came to the conclusion that no matter how rich he was, renting a studio this big every month was unthinkable. This was definitely where he lived. He went to his camera and started setting some things up before finally breaking the awkward silence that was making Seulgi go crazy. "Where were you on the day of the initial shooting?" he asked as he cleaned the lens of his camera with a black cloth. She had almost forgotten why she was even here in the first place. The story was that Seulgi only obtained this contract because a well-known brand clothing needed someone to replace a model who bailed out last minute for personal reasons and Irene insisted to make her stand in. This company's fashion magazine was something people always anticipated and it was a big deal for everyone but Seulgi who never really understood the hype about fashion but who agreed anyway because the pay was good. It was a really short contract that contained only two (well-paid) photoshoots with many other models. Things got more complicated when she couldn't come to the first shooting but her boss who had been extremely kind told her she could get her pictures taken by the same photographer on another day. She was ecstatic to the thought of not losing this job but felt bad when she heard that the photographer refused to reschedule another shoot for her. "He asked that you go to his place instead," her boss had explained to her. "He refuses to take out all his equipment a second time just for one person. A person who didn't even bother showing up, as he said." She recalled agreeing to it right away because she thought that was the least she could do. But now she felt a lot less bad with that cold attitude of his. "Huh? Hm… I had something… to do," she awkwardly said. It's not like Seulgi couldn't tell him that she had a really important exam on that day that couldn't be reported unless for serious medical reasons (and a magazine photoshoot obviously didn't fall in those clauses), but that guy didn't look in the least interested by what she would say and only waited for the moment he would be able to nag at her for missing an important shoot. "That's it?" he asked not in the least impressed. "You do realize that you'll only get solo shots right? And unless you're Jun Jihyun or Lee Sung Kyung, that's gonna be awkward." Seulgi shrugged. She didn't actually have to tell him anything. He was just the photographer, she didn't owe him any explanation. Her employer knew why she was absent and agreed because he said that he wouldn't force her to choose her job over her studies before signing with her. "I guess," she simply answered. "But I'll still do my best." Sehun put down his lens and walked to his computer that was right in front of the set to fix some things. He rolled his eyes didn't he? I swear I saw his eyes roll. "You can go change in the bedroom at the end of the corridor. The stylist came to deliver the clothes for the shooting earlier." "Is there any makeup artist? Or hairstylist?" "Do you see anybody else in the room?" he asked disinterestedly without looking her way. "No." "Then you have your answer," he said before getting up to turn off one of the blinding lights. "Should I do it myself?" "Irene said you could do it on your own so I didn't think it was necessary to hire one for you." "She said that?" Seulgi asked, feeling a sudden wave of pride hit her. Irene was definitely the best mentor she could ever have. "Yes she did so could you please hurry a bit?" he asked looking annoyed by her multiple questions. "I have to be out of the house by 4." |||||| "Can't you shut up a bit?" Sehun asked for the third time as Seulgi wouldn't stop talking. "It helps me relax," she reasoned before swiftly moving her long wavy hair away from her shoulders. "I don't want to know about your weekend." "What do you want to talk about then?" she started. "I mean we can talk about the weather but that's not interesting. On the other hand, I was wondering why you were a photographer and not a model, I mean objectively speaking you definitely have the looks for it." "Look at the camera and not my face." "But they're at the same place," Seulgi pointed out before Sehun took a step back from his camera and tiredly rested his palms on his hips. "Listen, I need to concentrate and I obviously can't pick up anything good when your lips keep moving." "Honestly, why do you need to concentrate when the camera is already on a tripod? It's not like you were holding it and needed to be stable: you only have to click on a button. How hard can that be?" He stopped feeling suddenly more annoyed than ever. "Okay, listen to me airhead," he started gravely. "That's just sorude—" "Fine then, temporary rookie model who only heard of this industry last week, my job is not a joke. Thisis not a joke," he said as he pointed to the whole set. "So you either take this seriously or you get out." Seulgi was silenced in a matter of second. "What? You don't like me calling you a rookie model or is it the rest that made you uncomfortable?" he sarcastically said. "Is it false? Because last time I asked, your agency told me it was a reallyshort contract." "No, it's fine," Seulgi mumbled without looking up. She felt intimidated by his stern tone all of sudden. It's not like he said anything false. She was in fact a model with an unusually short contract and she had never cared too much because she always focused on the good pay before those words came out of his mouth. She indeed had started not too long ago if he didn't want to acknowledge her past experience but it didn't mean she wasn't taking this seriously or that she was bad at being a model. Irene told her she was a natural in front of the camera anyway. "But can I add one last thing?" she anxiously said. "No." "A talented photographer shouldn't put too much focus on the model but more on the settings of the surroundings that he can change. Like the lighting or the angle of the shot and the model will shine without having much to do." "I know that, but what do youknow about photography?" he spat "Actually—" "You said onelast thing and there's usually nothing after the last," he coldly said. "Now shut up." Maybe she had missed her chance to finally tell him she was majoring in visuals arts and that she had taken three photography classes by now. She wasn't a photographer yet but she definitely knew a thing or two and was more used to being behind the camera than the one in the photos. They continued to take pictures for 4 hours straight as she had three different outfits to use for the shooting with Seulgi refusing to talk more than necessary and him directing her over the set. "Go there." "Turn around." "Can you move your hair out of your face? No not like that." He stepped closer and did it himself. That was probably the seventh time if Seulgi counted correctly that he went to fix her up himself. He arranged her arms, moved her hand wherever he wanted, pushed her gently aside and fixed her hair among other things. Is that what Irene meant by professional? Because he looked like he knew exactly what he wanted and how he wanted it, picturing not only the final shot but also the feelings the photo would gather from other people. Without noticing it, Seulgi was becoming more and more attentive to his work. He was the real deal after all. It was like going to the movies to study other actors when you were an inspiring one. Might as well take notes. At the same he pulled back the strap of her dress over her shoulder as it was sliding down. She would have probably felt embarrassed by such intimacy but he looked so focused on getting his task done that she thought she was foolish for overthinking. He was used to fix his models' clothes. She couldn't shake off the feeling of his hands over her skin even after he went back to his initial spot to take more pictures. "Look my way Seulgi," he suddenly dropped the honorifics which startled her. "No not like that. You're selling clothes, not car assurance for people who got hit by a truck," he sighed. Seulgi scrunched her nose. What kind of comparison was that? "Can you bent over a bit? I'd like to focus on the lace," he said as he took the camera off the tripod and crouched. "Ah," he sighed. "This won't work." Then, they went outside on his patio (as he lived on the last floor he had access to one) because he kept complaining that he couldn't get enough natural light inside. Even the patio was spacious for a loft. Everything was just so big and vast that Seulgi couldn't get used to it and constantly compared his place to her own. She couldn't understand how he could afford such a place as a photographer with how young he was. Did he take pictures for Beyoncé or something? Her teachers in University always told her how hard it was to be recognized or even acknowledged in this closed industry where the same people would always get the best gigs. If you wanted to become someone, you could only count on yourself and your talent. Seulgi could count on her face too but that was only if she planned to live in that small two-rooms apartment in some sketchy and secluded place of Seoul forever. She didn't even know how she successfully paid her studio every month, her apartment's bills, saved enough to eat the bare minimum every week and still go to class with only one income. Thank God she landed on that contract with the help of Irene even if it was extremely short and would only be able to help her for so long. "I said that way, Kang Seulgi." And he was back again with it. Seulgi wanted to ask him why in the world he was calling her with her full name but she remembered how petty she naturally was and if he wanted her to shut up then she would for real. The cold breeze hit her bare legs and that's when she remembered that she was outside with only a short night gown and a cherry-blossom printed yukata on top to protect her from the cold. She automatically shivered and wondered how long she would last with someone as perfectionist as him who made her keep the same pose for minutes at -4˚C. Her cheeks were already flushed and she knew that in less than five minutes her nose would go red. She turned to him to face the camera but noticed that he had been taking picturse since the beginning. Does he think a shivering lady is attractive enough to appear in a magazine?she thought. Is he nuts? "Alright, that's great Kang Seulgi," he said as she cringed to the way he continued to call her. "Turn around a bit, good! Don't move!" Seulgi tried thinking of hot things to pretend she wasn't dying inside and that it wasn't winter but summer instead but it didn't work. The only thing that could help her was to think of her salary. "This flushed look is amazing on you," he commented after taking a few shots. Seulgi grimaced. It wasn't a flushed look, she was freezing to death. "Act like you feel warm, relax a bit you look tensed," he said with his soothing voice. Seulgi sighed a heavy sigh. Just how was she supposed to do that. "Hang in there, one more pose and we're going back inside," he encouraged her before changing position. "One more minute, we're almost done." Seulgi was a bit surprised by his change of behavior but said nothing about it. He took more photos by the second and asked her to move only once. Pitying me now? He quickly ran inside after telling her that they could go back in and surprised her with a blanket as soon as she stepped into the loft. He dragged her by the kitchen and poured her some green tea. She would have preferred hot chocolate but she couldn't even move her lips without trembling to rant over it. "If you ever feel sick we can stop now," he cautiously told her. "That was silly I shouldn't have made you go out like this." Seulgi glanced at him before taking a sip. "It's fine, it's not like I have another shoot or anything tomorrow. I won't have any anytime soon." Sehun almost smiled at her but was abruptly stopped whens she said: "I'm just a rookie who lives off short contracts, nothing really impressive." He bit his lips and she could have sworn he looked like he felt bad. Maybe she should have shut up for real after all. They went through the rest of the photoshoot in a more tranquil and peaceful way than how they started and Seulgi eventually went back to what he revealed to her was his own bedroom to get changed into the clothes she arrived in. "Nice eyes, foul mouth, annoying personality but really nice eyes," he said before giving her some sample of her shots. She would have thanked him for complimenting her 'nice' eyes twice in one sentence but the rest didn't please her and she didn't want to break her silence spell so she pretended to not have heard. She slightly bowed to him but it was only because she refused to say anything else. "I'll see you next time?" he asked before she could pass through the door. Next time? "What is next time? Or when is it instead," she asked before she could remember to not talk and face-palmed herself for it. "The second part of the group photoshoot," Sehun let her know with a slight grin. "You really know nothing about your own schedule do you?" "I'll be there," she assured him without doing much of his last remark. "Not late, huh?" "Right on time." "And you can't bring food on the set." "I know." He checked his watch one last time, probably worrying over being late for his meeting but not wanting to let it show. "Alright, I'll see you there." [Part Two]Seulgi was not only proud of herself for not coming late to the photoshoot but also for arriving first. It was 6:00 in the morning and she was already inside the building waiting for the staff to finish setting up everything. There were 4 people restlessly moving around with new decorations in their hands and mumbling things to not forget to do and 2 stylists running to get the right assigned clothes for each model.
There were only 6 people in the room except from her and Seulgi could already tell this day would be tiring and hectic. She wasn't used to be photographed with so many people in the room and she knew there were 5 other models for this contract, which meant over 20 people if she counted their managers, their personal hairstylists and makeup artists in this secluded place. This couldn'tnot be chaotic. She sat down in a chair at the back to not be a burden to the hardworking staff, waiting for someone to finally notice her and tell her what to do. Eventually, some other models arrived and quickly made their way into the changing rooms without bothering anyone. As Seulgi was about to follow them, thinking that they could probably help her, she heard Sehun's voice coming her way. He wasn't alone and he didn't look one bit tired like Seulgi was. He looked quite refreshing. Sehun bowed to everyone before he let his big bag of equipment for another man who was probably an assistant to set it up. "Don't touch the camera, I'll do it myself," he instructed before bowing to the younger male. "Thank you Kun." Seulgi stopped in her tracks and her eyes automatically followed Sehun. He went over to the coffee machine and served himself a hot cup of coffee, that he didn't add anything to she noticed, and started fiddling on his phone. She didn't exactly want to go brag about coming early or even show off how she came before him, but maybe Seulgi wanted Sehun's attention after all. "Good morning," she said with a bright smile. "Good morning Kang Seulgi," he said back with the same usual tone he used for everyone. Seulgi noticed that his voice sounded a bit deeper than what she could recall from last week and figured it was because it was too early. "Don't you notice something different?" she tried with a grin. "That you're actually nice with me?" "Wrong." "You cut your hair?" "No I didn't. You're awfully wrong at this for someone who spent hours taking pictures of me." Sehun scoffed. "Then what?" he asked before looking over her again. "I came early," Seulgi deadpanned. "Oh," he simply said. "What a disappointment of a reaction," Seulgi let out. "I thought you would care more about me not being late." "What does that have to do with your outer appearance, you should have told me where to look at first." "I thought it was obvious," Seulgi said with a shrug. "I expected you to do more about it considering how pissed you were last time I was a tiny bit late." 28 minutes were not exactly considered being a tiny bit late in nobody's dictionary but Sehun grinned because she was cute. "I didn't think you were the type to fish for compliments." "I'm not," she blushed. "It's just that I believe people should give credits where its due." Sehun let out a short sigh before putting back his phone into the back pocket of his jeans. "Good job Kang Seulgi," he said before patting her head like he would do with a dog (notice that she didn't get offended one bit). "But don't forget that you also have to get changed." Seulgi looked at him walk away but called him back before he got too far. "Stop calling me Kang Seulgi it's seriously getting embarrassing," she told him as she scrunched her nose. "What should I call you then? Seulgi Kang?" "Just call me Seulgi, for God's sake Sehun." ||||| Two hours into the photoshoot and Seulgi was done with her first set of photos. She was now on stand by waiting for the other models to be done with their own pictures behind Sehun who was busy photographing them. She had changed into a dark red velvet dress with high heels and her makeup was a bit bolder than what she was used to with red lips and darker eye shadow but she personally thought she didn't look too bad. It was just different. Her hair was let loose on the side and had been straightened by the hairstylist which made her look even more different. Seulgi tried to talk with the other models while waiting for her turn but her effort were in vain. It's not that they were outcasting her or were mean, but they were just used to see each other from working in past projects together and always talked about the things they had in common which made Seulgi feel left out. So the only occupation she had left was to watch Sehun direct other people around the set and do what he was good at: taking pictures. "Next," she heard him yell before cleaning his lens and taking another sip of his coffee. Next? She was next. Seulgi took quick and small steps until she arrived in front of the camera where Sehun was already waiting for her. "Yes, Seulgi here," she said out of habit. She had always presented herself before being photographed when there where other models to make it easier for the photographer to recognize her and tell her what he wanted but that wasn't necessary with him. He knew who she was, obviously. "What is your concept this time?" Sehun asked her as he fixed his camera on the tripod. "Concept? What concept?" Seulgi asked back wondering if she hadn't forgotten to read another document this time. "Try to make your clothes talk Seulgi." Seulgi raised an eyebrow but didn't have the time to process his last sentence as Sehun started taking pictures. Seulgi looked over her attire to grasp the meaning of his words and turned back to Sehun. "You mean to understand what I'm trying to sell?" she innocently asked him. "Focus on the camera," Sehun ordered. "Tell me what kind of woman would wear these clothes." Seulgi pursed her lips. "A confident woman? A fierce woman," Seulgi answered. "That's right, so give me the most charismatic glare you have." And so she did. Seulgi received a few praises here and there from Sehun for exuding the right feelings as he continued to give her instructions. "Have you ever been cheated on Seulgi?" "N-no why are you asking," she stuttered. What was it this time? "Then have you ever watched a movie where a woman had been cheated on by her boyfriend?" "Of course." "Have you noticed how they usually try to take revenge on him by becoming prettier and stronger?" Seulgi nodded. "Do you think you can show me the same confidence these women had?" Sehun asked before distancing himself from his camera to look straight into Seulgi's eyes. "I can try," she mumbled. Seulgi did amazing although she had never been in such a situation and earned good remarks from the staff too this time. They then took a small break for a makeup re-touch. Seulgi wanted to ask Sehun how to keep doing great as she felt like she had used all her good ideas for posing but he had gone to the back to refill his cup and was now caught in a talk with another model. When Sehun came back, Seulgi was told that her pictures came out extremely well so she could get changed into her own clothes for lunch break and that it was another model's turn. Seulgi didn't want to say it, but maybe she had preferred missing this one photoshoot too to get Sehun all to herself. She went to her changing room and put back her jeans and her white blouse before coming out of the room. She looked back at Sehun who was busy with the same model, giving her instructions, smiling to her and basically giving her all his attention. Seulgi sighed as she took the elevator to leave for a restaurant down the streets. "I should have asked him his number when I had the chance." ||||| After lunch break, everything went pretty quickly as some models needed to leave for other appointments and they were done in three hours. Apart from another girl who looked a bit older than her, Seulgi was the last model left on the set and most of the staff had already gone home. Seulgi was in her normal clothes busy taking off some of her makeup when she heard Sehun come into her changing room. "Are you almost done? I need to give the studio back to another photographer," Sehun said before fixing a chair back to its place. "I think there's another girl left in the room next to mine," Seulgi distractedly said as she looked for her sneakers. "Nope, she just left," Sehun let her know before handing her her other shoe. Seulgi nodded. "I'll help you out," Sehun said before crouching down to tie up her shoelaces. "Are you thatmuch in a hurry?" Seulgi asked as she looked at him from above. "When do you have to sign out?" "In ten minutes," Sehun answered. "I didn't think you would take so much time to get changed honestly. I think we're the last people left." Seulgi shrugged without telling him she did it on purpose. Taking her time for absolutely nothing and going all the way to start getting changed after almost everyone else had left. This was all planned. Seulgi watched the models leave one by one, bidding goodbye to Sehun before deciding to open the locker of her room. "Ten minutes is enough for me to do it myself," Seulgi said before retracting her foot. "Just let me finish, I already started." Seulgi smiled. "Where were you during lunch?" Sehun continued. "I went looking for you." "Me? Why?" Seulgi asked as Sehun let got of her shoe. "I thought that I could maybe invite you to a nice restaurant I found recently. It's really close to this place," he said trying to remember the exact location of the restaurant. "I think it's called—" "Presto?" Seulgi asked and smiled when she saw Sehun's surprised expression. "That's where I ate. They have really nice pastas." "Well that's a bummer," Sehun almost pouted. "You should have waited for me. "I never thought you would invite me out Sehun." "Why? Because you think I can't be nice?" "More like because I didn't think you were interested in me," Seulgi explained. "I mean why would you?" "You mean, why wouldn't I?" he gave her a soft smile. Seulgi blushed and cleared her throat. "I could list a few reasons why but I am against self-dissing so you would have to discover them at your own risks." "It can't be that bad," Sehun grinned. "You don't know me," Seulgi claimed. "I can be super late, I talk a lot and I laugh at things people usually wouldn't laugh at." "I'll take the risk," Sehun said before taking her hand in his which startled her. "You're quite bipolar, honestly," Seulgi thought out loud. "Wasn't it last week that you were picking on me for being late?" "I also praised you a lot for your professionalism," Sehun countered. "I'm giving credits where its due." "When?" Seulgi asked dubiously. "When you were out in the cold," he reminded her. "You didn't even complain once. Do you know how many models would have filed a complaint for that?" Seulgi awkwardly pondered on whether to tell him that she was just being petty or keeping up his good impression of her. Well, he would eventually get to know it if they hung around each other for a bit. "Didn't you say that you had to leave the place in 10 minutes? I think we're a bit overdue, Sehun," she said to change topic. "Oh right!" Sehun exclaimed before pulling onto her hand. "We need to get out of here before I get smacked by that sunbae." As they were out of the building and away from any sunbaethat Sehun was talking about, Seulgi turned to him with a shy smile. "If you want to redeem yourself, I'm all in." "Redeem myself for what?" Sehun asked before putting his equipment into the rear box of his car. "You can invite me to another restaurant. I mean, I haven't had dinner yet." "Are you hungry?" Sehun chuckled. Seulgi nodded. "Then it's on me." [END]
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