PHOTOSHOOT

That photoshoot was a work of art, a lot of people have repeatedly said so. But although it has received praise there are still who opposes greatly to it. The haters have done nothing but call her names and lay out facts as to why she was not, and was never going to be, deserving of being so close to their beloved oppas.

But that’s not what bothers Soojung.

In fact, mean comments never bothered her anymore. Sure they stung a lot when she was just starting in the industry but now she’s mastered the art of ignoring her faceless bullies. She has been in this kind of profession for six long years; that was enough time to get use to the fact that you’ll never be able to please everyone.

What bothered her was that a particular someone wasn’t even affected about the fact that she was in a photoshoot that included a ton of skinship with boys. Compliments are highly appreciated, compliments that come from him are very much rejected. How can he be so nonchalant about this?

But the true question was, why was she so bothered about the fact that he didn’t care at all?

That’s because if it was him in her place, with two girls draped around him, she would have exploded like a raging volcano. Soojung knows that she would react exactly like her haters did. Well she wouldn’t have resorted to social media but she’d probably give him a cold shoulder.

“Looks like somebody’s not having a good day” speaking of the devil.

She turns to him with the same familiar teasing smile that makes her heart flutter.

“It’s none of your business” she frowns at him not even bothering to hide her frustration.

“Are you on crimson curse? Shouldn’t you be having it next week?” he says with the same joking tone that he’d used a while ago.

Soojung didn’t know if she should be impressed or creeped out about the fact that he knew her menstrual period.

“How the heck did you know that?” Soojung says while making a face.

“You turn into a shark every time you’re on your period” he smiles. “So I diligently memorized the dates so that I know when to avoid you.”

“Sehun, if you’re here to piss me off then I’ll tell you that you’ll definitely taste my wrath” Soojung warns and he just responds with a chuckle.

Forget butterflies, Soojung feels as if the zoo is in her stomach whenever he smiles or chuckles or laughs and maybe every single thing that he does. He still hasn’t dyed his hair into an absurd color and Soojung is absolutely delighted. She’s always hated the colors that he uses (even though it makes him look slightly better). She’d always preferred his natural hair color.

“On a serious note though,” Sehun says with a serious tone. “How are you holding up?”

“Sehun, it’s not like this is the first time that has happened. I’m used to this already” she reminds him, dismissing the subject easily,

“Freedom of speech doesn’t give them the right to be mean though” he says with an angry expression as if he’s the one getting the hate and not her.

No matter how annoyed she had felt a moment ago, she just couldn’t but help feel thankful towards him. He’s always like this, always genuinely concerned about her wellbeing. Sometimes their words bothered him more than it bothered her and maybe that’s why she’s so attracted to him.

* * *

The next time they meet, Sehun’s dripping with sweat and Soojung wonders why it never made him disgusting. Maybe it was because of the fact that she’s used to seeing him this way or she’s gone crazy. It’s probably the latter. She greets him with a big smile and hands him a bottle of water,

“You work too hard” she says while taking a seat beside him.

She saw s exit the practice room a while ago, but never saw him with them. Knowing him, he was probably going to practice some more.

“Apparently, my “lazy dancing” isn’t impressing anyone” Sehun says jokingly but she knows how much its affecting him.

His group had such a large fan base, it was hard to imagine that he had haters too. Soojung couldn’t help but feel guilty, Sehun had his demons too and she didn’t even notice that. She should have been more comforting, or maybe offered more encouraging words. He was always there for her but she’s never been able to be there for him.

“Soojung, I may not be as used to it as you but I’m not offended by their words” he tells her. “I just use their words so that I’d improve even more.”

It’s seems as if most of the time, he could read her mind and he just knows the words that she wants to hear.

“Sehun, I didn’t know you were capable of being deep” Soojung jokes, remembering that she should be reassuring him not the other way around.

He rolls his eyes then wipes the sweat on his forehead. “What brought you here?”

“Can’t I visit my best friend?” she asks as if that was the obvious answer.

“Really? Visiting me? Or maybe visiting someone else?” he teases with a stupid grin on his face and Soojung is just confused,

“What do you mean visiting someone else?” Soojung asks.

“I mean you did such a good job on that photoshoot that I thought maybe you like one of them” he asks toying with the lid of the water bottle.

Soojung couldn’t help but stare at him. Did he really thought that she was just using him? She was being completely obvious about liking him according to her members, how can he not notice it? Soojung has been dropping hints for a long time, can he really not see that he’s the one that she likes?

“Soojung I was just kidding, don’t take it ser-“

She didn’t let him finish, she immediately stormed out of the room. Soojung knows that she shouldn’t be angry at him. She could have just told him about how she felt. Knowing her dumb best friend, she should have seen it that he would never be aware of it. He never is aware of things even if they were about to slap him in the face.

* * *

After four days, eight hours and fifteen minutes (yes, she counted) of ignoring him; Soojung finds herself cornered in one of SM’s practice rooms. She’d been able to avoid him like a ninja up until now, but it seems like she wouldn’t be able to evade him anymore.

“Look Soojung, I’m really sorry if I said anything wrong the othe-“

“Said anything wrong?” she interrupts him. “You didn’t say anything wrong.”

“Then what did I do?” he asks and when she looks him in the eye she sees that he’s genuinely clueless.

But in some ways, this is just made her angrier. She couldn’t understand where this anger is coming from but she used it to be able to say the words that she’s been keeping for so long.

“I like you, no I think I love you. And it hurts that you never seem to care that I’m with other boys. That you seem to think that I like them when I’ve been doing nothing but show that I really really really do like you” she says those words all in one go.

She’d never imagine that she’d be able to confess to him. She’d never imagine that this was how she’d confess to him. Despite that, Soojung feels an imaginary weight lifted away from her shoulders. It somehow felt relieving that she’d been able to say the words she’d been wanting to tell him for a long time.

“Soojung I think I’m a really good actor” Sehun starts and Soojung glares at him. How can he joke at a time like this?

“Just because I don’t show it doesn’t mean I don’t feel it” he says and she couldn’t believe what she just heard.

“Keep going” Soojung says because she desperately wants to hear more.

“Don’t you think I envy Taemin hyung and Jongin?” he asks. “I want to be in their places of course.”

“But instead I’m stuck with Chanyeol hyung” Sehun says with a little smile on his lips.

“Soojung, I am jealous. But do I have the right to be?” he asks with sincerity. “I mean I’m not your boyfriend. I nothing special, I’m just a friend.”

“But do you want to be?” she asks although a little bit unsure.

“Want to be what?” he asks and she tries to stifle a laugh. How dumb can he be?

Soojung rolls her eyes and waits for him to process her question. Not a minute later his eyes widens as if he’s a child who’s just seen Santa delivering his gifts on Christmas eve.

“Of course I want!” he says with the biggest smile she’s seen on him. “I’ve been wanting to ever since you’ve asked me to but kimbap for you”

“Pabo, then why didn’t you ask?” asks but she’s laughing because this was something she never expected too.

“Let’s just say, I was a little unsure” he replies eyes smiling. “Mind if I try something?”

“Try what?” this time it was her turn to be confused.

Instead of answering, he smiles and pulls her into his arms. He leans over to whisper an “I love you” into her ear and then closes the gaps between their lips.