░Glitch in Time

You can't change the past, but you most certainly can change the future

Sehun lay in bed with his hands behind his head. His mouth was pressed in a fine line as he feels his head going in spirals due to his parent’s constant arguing. Like usual, He spent the time counting the number of speckles on his designed ceiling. Although this time, a sudden slam of the door rattled the house along with Sehun’s thoughts. Exhaling slowly, He squeezed his eyes shut and opened them. He sat up and tousled his hair in frustration. As usual, his parents were disputing over money. Something he wished they wouldn't let interfere with their marriage. He picked at his blanket as he sat in thought for a while. With a sigh, Sehun grabbed his coat and headed off to the city.

✴

“Sehun oppa is prettier than most girls!”

“Sehun oppa is model material.”

“Oh Sehun for sure would succeed better than these scums.”

Sehun chuckled to himself on his way to where the business card he received a day prior leads him to.

He laughed dryly and threw his head back with an “Oh...!”

He clutched at his aching head for a bit until the voices in his head stopped. What had come of the Sehun months ago? The one with the perfect grades, the one who always smiled, the one who was always one step ahead of everyone, the very same one that was going to get into Seoul National University? He snorted in realization that he was replaced with the new Sehun.

The new Sehun crept on him one day when he was about to walk out the front door and head to school. On Sehun’s way to turning that doorknob, Sehun witnessed his parents arguing for the first time. The loving, cuddling parents were replaced with screaming lunatics waving the bills around. Slowly hands crept out and covered his eyes, the new Sehun replacing the old. He became apathetic to everything, a security blanket to prevent him from feeling and getting hurt in the future. It was almost an act. When he got failing class’s notices, he just shrugged them off. When his friends wanted to hang out with him, he made up excuses that he was busy. Slowly Sehun’s life became a lonesome mess and he missed a year of college.

Getting ahold of himself, he pushed through the doors of the modeling studio and walked around with his hands in his pockets. The person at the front greeted him and all it took was one look at him before she was directing him to the studio. He mentioned to the photographer about the business card he got from the agency and they agreed upon immediately doing some test shots. At first glance, Oh Sehun was perfect. 

Maybe the others were right; Sehun did possess a special modeling talent in him. With great confidence, he posed for the camera, making sure whoever laid eyes on his photos would be charmed and fooled.

A light brown haired boy put up the volume on his iPod as he grabbed the broom and began sweeping up the grand studio. He landed this job after hearing about how infamous the studio was. Of course his goal was never to be the cleaning guy, but instead to be a photographer. That’s what he came to Korea for.

“Come back when you show me a promising shot!” The man had said before Luhan watched his beautiful snapshots- each capturing people when they'd least expect it, or in their greatest moments being ideal- flutter about in the air. He bit his lip, clutching his camera tightly before collecting them. Even though the man had been rude to the 19 year old at the time, Luhan still admired him. He ended up taking up the job as a maintenance guy with another motive. He’d still get to be at the studio, watching as the professionals did their job, secretly watching and secretly learning.

As he was sweeping and jamming out to one of his songs, his eyes suddenly looked up and attached to the young model in front of him.

“Whoa,” Luhan let out in amazement. The room flooded with luminous flashes from the constant amount of pictures the photographer was taking, the brunette changing his pose every so often. The elder was fascinated at this young man showing such a mature side of him, a side Luhan was sure wasn't his true self. Luhan stood there for a while until Sehun’s eyes met with his. Luhan’s eyes widened up a little bit before awkwardly going back to his cleaning in the hall. Luhan couldn’t explain why, but he was feeling a bit excited. Almost like the two were supposed to meet. Maybe he was Luhan's promising shot.

✴

Later, Sehun walked out of the room and went into the lounge where he could find himself a cup of water. He didn’t know pretending to be someone you're not could be so hard, but it was. He was busy standing upright all day and posing and turning his head every which way it could possibly turn. After filling up the paper cup with water, Sehun sat on the cool to his touch, black metal chair nearby and closed his eyes as he took in the refreshing drink gulping it down in no time. His left eyebrow cocked a bit when he heard a squeak of a chair next to him. He opened on eye and took a look at what could possibly be beside him. There, he found a bright angelic looking boy with skin as pale as snow and hair colored a lighter shade than his, landing stylishly in front of his forehead. Perhaps too pure to be a model, but Sehun wasn't sure what story was behind the boy.

Luhan just grinned at him, making Sehun feel more awkward by the moment. Sehun cleared his throat and let out a “Hi?”

Luhan smiled and shook his hand eagerly; the boy had enough force to possibly snap Sehun’s hand off.

“Hello, I’m Luhan. “ Luhan introduced himself. Sehun couldn’t help but notice the boy did have a bit of an accent to him, but still almost perfect Korean.

“I’m Sehun. Who are you?” He asked bluntly.

“I’m Luhan! “ Luhan whined just having introduced himself.

With a small chuckle getting wiped off his face with his hand, Sehun replied, “I meant 'what' you are.”

Sehun didn’t know what possessed him but he ended up flicking Luhan right in the forehead causing the boy to bring up his hands up to his forehead and rub.

“Hey watch it!” He gave Sehun a noogie, earning him a scowl.

“I work here.”

Sehun nodded slowly, so he was like him.

“You’re a model.” Sehun simply stated towards the boy, quickly and full of judgment. 

Luhan shook his head. “Don’t wish to be.”

“Photographer?”

“I wish.”

“What is it you do?” The dark haired questioned the latter, a bit irritated.

“I clean.” Luhan laughed. “I’m secretly listening and watching to some tips though, see I want to become an amazing photographer like them, but I need your help. Please, do me a favor and become my model just for one day?”

Sehun was taken aback a bit as he looked back at the boy staring at him with pleading eyes. Become his personal model? He looked back at Luhan, looking unamused. Sehun couldn’t help but travel his eyes down to the boy’s lips- which he was nervously biting on. Unwantingly, the yes had escaped his lips without realization, perhaps it was because he was drawn to the boy's plead.

His response earned him a thumbs up followed by a, “Great!”

Luhan slipped a card into Sehun’s pocket and left with a pat against his chest, leaving the younger boy in somewhat of a daze. What just happened? The angelic boy had taken him in as his project.

✴

Sehun returned home a bit satisfied he now had a job. Perhaps now he could at least help out his parents a bit with the bills. As he entered his house he saw his father sitting at the table. He had his eyes closed against his folded hands. Sehun realized he didn’t even have a bite of his food yet.

“Father?” Sehun crept closer to the man, afraid he’d get scolded blindly.

“Yes...” His father’s voice sounded tired and Sehun knew for a fact he must be. Sehun had a seat at the table. “If it’s about the money… you know I could help...”

“Your mother and I are getting a divorce.”

Sehun stood there silent, his voice caught in his throat for a moment as he felt it getting tight.

“Dad... I could help pay... I know things are rough…”

His dad just looked at him, “I’m willing to accept your money, since I need to pay the bill by the end of the month if we still want to stay here, but other than that it’s over with your mother and I.”

With that his father got up and left, leaving Sehun sitting there frozen for a bit. Sehun just shook his head and clenched his fists. He was fine. He didn’t care anyways.

✴

The next day, Sehun found himself at Luhan’s house. It was a tiny yet cozy house painted in a cloudy white, accented in a silver lining that could bore Sehun to death as he was modeling.

Luhan pursed his lips after trying to get an awkward Sehun to pose. It was useless, Sehun just wasn't feeling comfortable and he couldn't explain it in words.

“Come on. Man, do your stuff.” Luhan chuckled.

If Sehun could set a topic for his awkwardness, it'd have to center around Luhan, it wasn’t even the kind of awkward that was creepy, but the type where he felt embarrassed and nervous.

Luhan took a deep breath and brought the camera up to his eyes, looking at Sehun through the lens. “Now pose.”

Sehun let his mind wonder for a bit, escaping stress and looking at the camera with his ice piercing stare.

He could see Luhan’s smile as he started snapping away photos.

Sehun tilted his head at a different angle as he admired Luhan for the first time. His eyes started glazing over Luhan’s small shoulders, down his slim waist, onto his legs, between his legs; quickly back up to the camera, blushing a bit. Did Luhan capture that?

“You’re expression was good just a minute ago.” Luhan said from behind the camera. “It gave off appeal.”

Sehun shook his head and tried to keep his thoughts as straight as possible.

Then a sneaky thought popped into Sehun’s head.  Can he even turn guys on?

Sehun didn’t know what it was but he started posing more confident, more outrageous if you could call it that.

He began his lips, seducing the camera or was it the person holding the camera? Somewhere deep inside Sehun, he wanted Luhan to fall into his charms, into his trap. 

Sehun shook his head and then focused back on the camera posing with flare.

✴

“You were great!” Luhan chimed as they were walking to a nearby store to purchase a few drink to have after their successful shoot. Luhan has his camera strap around his neck and flipped throughout the pictures from their shoots just minutes ago. They both found it successful for different reasons. Sehun found it a success because he believes Luhan caved into his image; however Luhan managed to capture that one perfect shot. He paused at the shot he admired. The one where Sehun was relaxed and somehow drifted away into the clouds.

Luhan suddenly turned and snapped another picture of Sehun, catching him off guard again. 

Sehun jolted a bit at the surprise of the flash. "Ugh, I hate when you do that." He rubbed his eyes, the white flash blinding them.

In response, Luhan just let out a chuckle and took some pictures of them side by side.  In each of them, Sehun would be looking at the camera with just a hint of a smile on his face.

"That's such an old camera."

Luhan tilted the camera around studying it. "Sure is, but just because it's old doesn't mean it's not as good as the rest. It still takes wonderful photographs."

To prove it, Luhan snapped another picture of the two, laughing when Sehun's eyes appeared bug eyed in the photos.

Sehun just stared at the laughing boy, clearly unamused. "Hey... delete it..."

"That's another thing," Luhan poked Sehun’s nose in. "I never delete my photos."

"Tch. That camera will fall apart soon anyways."

Luhan smacked Sehun's arm. "Would you leave my camera alone? Just believe in it."

Sehun just raised an eyebrow.

"I'll get them printed sneakily at the studio in a few days, when I work then. There, does that help a little." Luhan just shook his head and gave Sehun a thump on the forehead. "Payback."

Whining, Sehun rubbed his forehead. "That deserves a free drink!"

Luhan smiled friendly before putting an arm around his slim shoulders. “Go on, let’s get whatever your heart desires, hyung will pay for it all.”

✴

Sehun took another swig of his alcohol before staring around at Luhan’s place again. “You should really decorate this place up a bit it seems a bit…, “Sehun rolled over Luhan’s way and wobbled his head “Dull.”

Luhan looked back at Sehun, them making eye contact before Luhan broke into a small smile. Did Sehun really want to taint his pure walls?

“It is. But I don’t own any paint.”

“Too bad.”

“I can get some.”

“No I’d rather not," Sehun objected, suddenly feeling guilty, like he's committing a sin. 

“Come on”

“No.”

Luhan just smiled and tugged on Sehun's hand dragging him to his feet and pulling him to the store. Sehun followed with a small smile tugging on his lips.

✴

It was Midnight and they had run back to Luhan’s caring six different buckets of paint, each a different neon color.

“This is crazy.”

“Your idea.”

“I merely suggested it.”

“Yeah ok.”

They began painting the room around, Luhan rolling paint over Sehun's body.  Sehun looked down at his clothing. "Hey you stained my clothes!"

With a chuckle, Luhan continued rolling paint over him. "Like they weren't before. Look at those ridiculous patterns."

“Hey!" Sehun laughed and chased Luhan. 

Luhan laughed and tried running away from Sehun