With the humid weather enduring for more weeks than expected, Oh Sehun was forced to add loose tank tops in his wardrobe to combat the heat.

He prefers to wear those fabrics in gray when he goes to work in the morning; and by work he means painting all day in his Parisian-inspired room. Who could have guessed that a broke twenty-five year old artist like him would be able to shelter himself in one of the most expensive replicas of Parisian structure in the middle of Seoul? Even he couldn’t believe his luck.

It was his mother’s good will to give him the room she had supposedly bought to be converted into a studio. She was a painter herself; the reason why Sehun developed a liking to the craft. However, because she often travels with her husband, Sehun’s step-father, she let her son have it to utilize.

Despite the room being small for a 5 feet 11 male like him, he spends most of his time there because he can easily focus in his work.  No one bothers him unlike in his previous apartment where the neighbour’s pet dog would bark all day, making it hard for him to get enough sleep.

Everything seems to be working fine until a sassy brat, who looked twelve but was actually eighteen, desperately looking for love, rented the room next door. 

A typical morning for Sehun involves painting. He was working on a portrait of a woman, inspired by a royal princess he saw on a historical movie. He chose to paint in the balcony because it was extremely hot to be working inside. Skilfully, he traced the brush along the clean canvass, forming a shape of a person’s head. He was zoning out from the world in full concentration but that didn’t last. A loud thud from the room next door startled him. As a result, the acrylic paint was smeared on the fresh canvass.

“Oh boy” was all he could say.

He turned to where the noise came from and saw a boy emerged in the veranda. The first thing he noticed was the curly blonde hair that adorns the sweet but frowning face. Sehun couldn’t help but stare longer, watching the boy throw a tantrum. He felt sorry to whoever was there with him. He figured the boy was in his early teens, twelve probably.  His plump lips were jutted down; arms crossed tightly on his chest.

“I’ll be fine! Just leave me alone already!”

“But young master—“

“Ugh! Go away! I don't need you! Shooo!” The boy screamed, lifting the flower pot in his reach and threatening to throw it at someone. Sehun’s eye twitched, thinking how painful it would feel to headbutt a sturdy pot like that. He heard a shuffling sound before the door was slammed loudly. Sehun watched the boy fan himself like a sassy brat. Up until that moment, he hadn’t noticed Sehun from the other side. He just went on rumbling words in his own little world. If Sehun didn’t clear his throat, he would’ve thought no one was watching him.

The blonde turned sharply and their eyes locked like magnets.

.

.

.

Am I...dreaming?

Sehun heard a loud gasp. The boy covered his mouth; eyes growing by the second. His cheeks turned a dark shade of red as he stared longer at Sehun. The latter rose from his seat and bowed politely.

“Don’t look at me!” the boy shrieked before Sehun could introduce himself. He dashed inside and closed the glass door. When he tried to peek, Sehun was still there, waving his hand. He quickly drew the curtains to hide.

“I think I scared him,” Sehun murmured, rubbing his nape. He decided to let the boy be and went on with his painting. Maybe he can introduce himself next time, maybe not. It didn’t matter really. For Sehun, as long as no more trouble arises, he was fine with having a not-so-friendly neighbour. Little did he know that a pair of doe-eyes was watching his every movement.

-

After the ruckus that led to their first meeting, Sehun heard nothing from his unlikely neighbour. The preceding days were peaceful. He found himself more inspired to work on his masterpiece with everything going smoothly.

After taking a shower one morning, he went to the balcony to get some fresh air. While drying his hair, Sehun happened to glance at the direction of his neighbour’s veranda and caught a fluffy blonde hair under the table.

He was quick to catch up with the situation. “Am I that scary for you to hide every time you see me?” he prompted, earning a dramatic gasp. “I mean no harm, boy. Just get out of there.”

 B-boy?! Me?!

In an attempt to contest with how he was labelled, the person hiding squirmed, struggling to stand up only to hit his head on the table. He winced.

“Are you okay?” asked Sehun worriedly.

The boy huffed, scratching his head. Sehun immediately noticed the expensive-looking sleepwear he was wearing. He figured that the boy was probably a sheltered boy who always gets what he wants.

“You should be careful next time.”

“I was careful!” the blonde contested. He immediately fixed his messy hair, twisting the ends to curl it nicely. He then turned to Sehun and tried to look at him straight in the eye but he couldn’t. For some reason, he just ends up blushing in front of the man. Well, who wouldn’t? The good-looking guy was exposing too much skin, being topless.

“Want some icepack? I got one inside,” Sehun suggested, ready to leave. However, the boy prevented him from doing so by picking a crumpled paper on the floor and throwing it at him. It hit Sehun’s shoulder, causing him to halt.

“I- don’t need it!” insisted the blonde. He was shaking his head stubbornly.

Sehun grabbed the paper on the floor and unfolded it. There, he saw his name printed in bold letters. “What’s this? How did you know my name?”

The boy jolted, biting his fingers. He got caught. There was no excuse for what the man saw. He wasn’t good in fabricating lies because he has always been straightforward. With this man ogling him, he was rendered speechless. His heart was racing in a mixture of fear and shame. Sehun could feel how terrified he was but he needed answers. “Mind explaining this to me?”

“I saw your name in the mailbox downstairs.”

Sehun raised a brow, doubtful, “Okay?  But why is it on this paper? You even added….hearts on the side.”

The blonde spun around, covering his face. He was murmuring incoherent words while stomping his feet. “This is embarrassing! This is embarrassing! You shouldn’t ask questions like that! It’s pretty obvious why do you have to push this on me I can’t believe this you really want me to say it but I can’t say it—“

“Whoa whoa! Hold it right there!”

The boy shook his head, unstoppable, “Why do you need to ask this?! I’m so embarrassed! I’m caught!”

Sehun flicked his ears.

“I shouldn’t have done that! I can’t face him now!!!”

“Listen—“

“This is the end for me! You’re an idiot, LuHan! You’d die alone! No more love. No more kisses. No more hugs! You gave yourself away. Gaaaaaaahhhh!’

Amidst those jumbled words, Sehun was able to grasp one thing. LuHan.

“Okay, LuHan. Will you stop grumbling for a while?”

“And now he knows my name! Why is this happening to m- AH!” The blonde spun around, pointing a finger at Sehun. “You know my name!”

Sehun sighed, “You said it yourself.”

“Oh.”

-

Sehun knew exactly what’s going on with LuHan. He was developing a crush on him which is normal for a “teenage” boy. The older didn’t make a fuss about it, thinking that it will eventually pass. He also experienced such a thing when he was younger so he couldn’t blame the other. It wasn’t a big deal- not until LuHan proposed something to him. The fidgety boy who got caught yesterday seemed to have gotten a new persona as he talked to Sehun across the balcony. He was more composed, almost glowing under the morning sun. For once, he didn’t look twelve. Sehun couldn’t help but be curious about his real age.

“Mr. Oh, I think you already know how I feel about you.”

Sehun’s forehead wrinkled because sounded so serious, “I do?”

LuHan narrowed his eyes briefly before he cleared his throat, “You do. You have seen the paper. I wrote your name with hearts on it. That means something.”

“You like me,” Sehun interjected to spare him from (more) embarrassment. LuHan already looked like a deflating balloon. The former didn’t want him to struggle any longer so he said the words on his behalf. (Deep inside, he’s also eager to know if it was true.)

The boy averted his gaze from the man and took a sip from his bubble tea. Despite the seemingly strong front, his hand was actually shaking. “Yes and I have a proposal to make. Since you know that I… like you… I want us to know each other and go on a date.”

Sehun cocked his head, unsure if he heard the words right, “Say that again?”

LuHan rose to his feet and exhaled sharply. He did his best to maintain an eye contact with Sehun as he spoke, “I want to know more about you that’s why we have to go on a date.”

Sehun wanted to laugh at how he was able to say those words with a straight face but he controlled himself. The boy might cry on him who knows. “But you’re young—“

“I’m of legal age if that’s what’s bothering you. Eighteen to be specific.”

Sehun was rendered speechless at the realization.

“But this isn’t the date you know of. It’s not about going to places and acting all lovey-dovey. I am not ready for that.” His face flushed deeper when he imagined himself holding Sehun’s hand. Not yet. He’s really hot and handsome but I need to know him first. I need to make sure he’s got a stable income to support me in the future. I need to make sure he’s not taking drugs or anything. I need to make sure he can love me well.

“Uh, LuHan?”

Startled, the boy jerked and pushed away the unnecessary thought. He pulled himself together and continued, “Our date will be…here.” LuHan gestured at the balcony that separates them. “This is what I want us to do.”

Sehun scratched the back of his ear, unsure if he’s willing to listen, but he does it anyway.

“Every morning at 7, we’ll meet here.”

“I can’t do that.”

“8.”

“Okay.” Why am I agreeing to this?

LuHan rolled his eyes. “Next, we eat breakfast together.’

“How?”

LuHan patted the table next to him, “We face each other.”

Sehun cringed at his idea.

“You cook your own breakfast, I make mine.”

“Huuuhhh~….alright, alright.”

When he noticed that Sehun wasn’t protesting as he had expected, LuHan’s smile slowly appeared. “After breakfast, you go to work.”

“I paint. That’s my only job.”

LuHan pondered for a moment. Painter. Hmmmm…. A classy job. I guess that would work. “Okay. Where do you paint? Do you own a studio? Do you hold workshops? How many clients do you have?”

Sehun’s eye twitched at his inquiries. “I work here; all day all night. No, I don’t hold workshops and I have a few clients.”

LuHan waved off the voice at the back of his mind, saying it wasn’t enough, “That’s fine with me. Since you don’t leave for work, I presume we can eat lunch together as well.”

“I cook mine. You make yours.”

LuHan grinned, “Correct!”

Instead of getting annoyed, Sehun was starting to enjoy the conversation more than he had expected. He comfortably leaned on his chair and listened to more of LuHan’s interesting ideas of their so-called “date.”

He ended up memorizing seven more rules which include the following: telling LuHan about his life; painting his portrait; eating dinner together; stargazing; spending time together before going to sleep; saying good night to each other and a flying kiss which Sehun was most worried about.

He couldn’t decipher how LuHan was able to make him agree with all of his plans. It just happened naturally. He was intrigued and for Sehun to take an interest on something rather than painting was saying a lot.

-

Sehun woke up with a loud banging on the wall. Half-awake, he shifted into a sitting position and covered his ears. He was trying to figure out what time it was. He was still sleepy from painting all night. When he glanced at the wall clock, all hell broke loose. He quickly put on his pants and went to veranda where an angry-looking LuHan welcomed him.

“You’re late,” he accused. He was sitting on the chair, leg crossed. Sehun could see the deep frown he was sporting. He wasn’t impressed.

“Sorry. I forgot about today.”

LuHan snorted, “Already? How disappointing.”

Sehun pulled a chair and slumped down, rubbing his sleepy eyes. “I’ll make it up to you.”

LuHan’s eyes twinkled, “Really?! You’d do that for me?”

Sehun nodded idly. He didn’t know what he was getting himself into. LuHan rubbed his palms excitedly, “Well, I’d like you to pick that flower.” He pointed the pink rose in one of Sehun’s flower pots. The older agreed quickly, thinking that LuHan’s request was easy-peasy. He didn’t expect that the boy wasn’t done yet. “Hold that near your lips and I’m gonna take a photo of you.”

Sehun’s face paled, “What for?” His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down when LuHan flashed him a toothy smile. “For my phone’s wallpaper.”

“That’s it! You look really handsome!” LuHan squealed. He quickly pressed the button of his camera to capture the breathtaking sight. Unknown to him, Sehun’s palm was sweating. It was the first time he modelled to someone who, unfortunately, was difficult to please, wanting him to act princely.

“Are we done now?” he asked when LuHan forgot about him; too absorbed with the photo he got.

“Oh! Yes, yes! Thanks! I really love this,” confessed LuHan, hugging his cell phone. He appeared genuinely happy and Sehun couldn’t help but smile.

Because he wasn’t able to prepare breakfast, LuHan was kind enough to give Sehun a part of his meal. They talked leisurely under the sunny weather and LuHan was able to discover more things about the older. He was twenty-five, single (LuHan was so relieved to know this) and an only son. The blonde also revealed a few things about himself. He was the youngest among five children from a family of businessmen. Because he had a different interest from the rest of his brothers, he left home to find his own dream. He always wanted to be a singer.

Despite the railing that divides them, Sehun had a chance to observe him closely during their conversation. LuHan had long, wavy lashes that fan gently along his paper white skin whenever he blinks. His cheeks and lips were naturally pinkish, like that of a doll.

LuHan was actually gorgeous for a boy.

After their meal together, Sehun got inspired to paint. He prepared the canvass and sketched the boy’s portrait. His hand moved adeptly against the clean sheet as he visualized his face, creating beautiful lines that eventually formed into a set of pretty eyes. His were careful but passionate. He didn’t miss a single curve that made LuHan a living goddess in his canvass.

-

The last time LuHan had see