Chapter Text
Nocturne op.9 No.2 by Chopin was being played on the piano. An American shorthair cat named Baul was sitting on his blanket, watching his hooman playing the familiar notes for the second time that day. Hyo Seop wasn't a fan of pianos, but lately he's been feeling a bit sentimental and Chopin was one of his favourites. That was one of the many perks of having much more time to spend at home than usual. Suddenly the cat jumped off the sofa, going out to the kitchen. Hyo Seop thought he was hungry so he stopped playing and followed his beloved pet. That was when he noticed his phone buzzing on the counter. It was his manager. - Make sure to get a long, good night's sleep on Wednesday. - he said without saying hello.
- Why? - Hyo Seop asked.
- You and Sung Kyung are gonna do a photoshoot together for ELLE Korea. - his mouth went dry at the mention of that name for some reason.
- It's Monday already and you're only telling me this now? What if I had other plans?
- But you don't. You barely even leave your place if not necessary. And it's not like you don't nail any photoshoots.
Hyo Seop sighed. - Where and when?
- 9 in the morning. I'm not sure about the address, so I'll text you all the details you should know. - he said and hung up. Hyo Seop was staring at his phone for a while. A photoshoot with Sung Kyung? So will it be just the two of them then? Should he text her? But what would he even say? Besides, he was sure she knew about this photoshoot way before him, if she wanted to talk, she would've texted. They haven't seen each other for months due to the virus and the last time they texted each other was on his birthday. He opened her text messages. Actually, it wasn't. It was after the Beaksang Awards' nominees were announced.
SK: Congrats for your nomination! Way to go pal, you deserve it!
HS: Thanks! Actually I was doomed about the nominees, I mean I think our show was more than successful. You and Suk-kyu should've gotten nominated at least.
SK: Don't worry about that now. It's a huge accomplishment, well done to you!!
HS: Thank you. We should catch up later when this virus thing is all gone and everything goes back to normal.
SK: Ya sure, you owe me and iced americano, remember? ;)
Baul was meowing at the now smiling Hyo Seop. - Don't look at me like that! - he gnarled and went back to the living room.
Lee Sung Kyung woke up at 7 in the morning. It's been a while since she did her last photoshoot. Clipping her hair back, she went to the bathroom and did her morning routine she payed great attention to, that's why her skin always looked so perfect. Who could tell she was turning 30 this year?! After leaving the bathroom, she went to the kitchen to give some food to her two cats and dog that looked like a white teddy bear. When she returned to her bedroom, she opened her wardrobe to pick up that day's outfit. She was excited to see her on-screen boyfriend after months, she didn't want to look too shabby. At first, she put on a simple wrap dress that emphasized her ever so long legs, but changed her mind in the end and decided to dress business casual which meant her wide leg trousers, a white T-shirt and her white sneakers. She didn't put any makeup on because she knew she would have to wash it all down and get it re-done several times that day. She couldn't help smiling on her way to work while thinking about what her agent said. This photoshoot was all thanks to the show's fans who were begging and even made petitions about the two of them doing an interview and/or photoshoot together. This all meant they did a wonderful job about letting people believe the love between Cha Eun Jae and Seo Woo Jin.
- Ya! - she screamed, waving at him with a huge smile on her face when she got there. He was politely talking to a cleaning lady in her fifties. "Charming as usual" - she thought to herself.
- Long time no see, Sung Kyung. - Hyo Seop said and hugged her. - Have you been well?
- Well I would've been bored to hell but thanks to my children I always had good company. - she said, referring to her pets.
- Ajumma, you sound like an old lady. - he smirked. Sung Kyung stayed silent. Did he say something wrong? - You look great, by the way.
- You too! - she smacked his shoulder. - 26 looks good on you! - she said, referring to his Korean age. In Canada, where his family lives, he would be 25. She couldn't help smiling at the fact he blushed at her compliment.
- Do you know anything about this photoshoot? My manager likes to keep me in the dark. - Hyo Seop said.
- If I had to guess, I would say we might need to scrub in. Apparently there was a petition from the fans that ELLE Korea should do a photoshoot with us, bless their hearts. - Sung Kyung smiled.
- They're so cute haha. - he said, laughing awkwardly. It's been months since they finished shooting the last episode but he was just as nervous now as he was during their kissing scenes.
- Take a deep breath, it's not laporascomy. - she smirked, noticing how nervous he was and left to get ready.
As it turned out, they didn't have to wear anything that had something to do with doctors. It was a photoshoot where they had to show off their amazing chemistry as it was on the show. Of course, Hyo Seop's ears went a little red after hearing it, but Sung Kyung kept it casual. She was as energetic as ever and it made him more relaxed after a while. At first, they had to do their "indoors" photos. He was wearing blue chinos and sneakers with denim jacket, his bangs down which he preferred. Sung Kyung had a simple blue dress, also with white sneakers. Her hair was in a ponytail, leaving her long neck free. Hyo Seop thought this hairstlye suited her very well. Although everything looked good on her. At the beginning, most of the times he couldn't help smiling when he had to look into her eyes deeply, he felt so awkward. If it wasn't for Sung Kyung's cheerful personality, the whole shooting would've been a mess. It's not like him to act so unprofessional at a photoshoot - his manager thought but was relieved after the first small break, when Hyo Seop got a little bit more relaxed. While making another hairstyle and makeup for Sung Kyung, he was being interviewed alone, since it only took him about ten minutes to change into jeans and a blazer. His hair stayed pretty much the same. He was told to sit on the chair and the woman next to him started asking questions.
- I didn't know the beach would also be involved. - said Hyo Seop in the car as they were headed West.
- Actually I didn't know about it either. - Sung Kyung looked at him. It was only the two of them, the driver and one of the makeup artists in the car. They told them they could go there in different cars as well but they preferred being in the same one since they had a lot to catch on with each other. - But I don't mind though, it's been years since I was there.
- Well I wouldn't mind doing only these kinds of photoshoots from now on. - Hyo Seop smiled and looked out of the window so he couldn't see Sung Kyung blushing. - Did I tell you I got Baul from this neighbourhood?
- Oh you did? - her eyes lightened up at the mention of the cat. - How's he doing? Do you have any pics of him? - she leaned closer to him as he took out his phone out of his jeans' pocket. - Don't tell me you also have a complete folder of him on your phone!
- Of course! He's like the love of my life - he laughed. Sung Kyung took his phone and started swiping the pictures, making "Aw" and "Oh" sounds. He couldn't help smiling. When she got to the photo where Baul was lying on Hyo Seop's shirtless body, she quickly swiped forward, looking at him if he was watching. But when he started telling the story of how Baul once started growling at the mailman, he was looking out of the window in a nostalgic way, so she turned a little bit so that Hyo Seop couldn't see the phonescreen and went back to that specific photo. It wasn't a bad picture to look at. Baul being a complete cutie and Hyo Seop's abs were perfectly toned. Well he's a very good-looking guy, she knew that before so why was she feeling nervous all of a sudden?
- So you're saying you also have a folder of them? - he asked, looking at her again. She nodded, opened the mentioned folder and gave her phone to him. Now the roles were reversed. He was going "Aw" and "Oh" and Sung Kyung was telling stories. Hyo Seop couldn't help smiling at the ones where she took selfies with either her cats or dog. Cute. And so were the pets - he thought to himself.
- I could look at these kinds of photos every day. - Hyo Seop sighed.
- Me too. - Sung Kyung said, thinking about that one where Baul was lying on his chest.
- I can keep sending pictures of him if you want me to. - he smiled.
- Deal! - she said, punching his arm. They stopped on the way to the beach to get something for lunch.
For the beach photoshoot, they had to dress up all-white at first. In between getting the shots done, they started playing around, kicking the water onto each other, some photographer quick-wittedly snapped shots of them. When getting the "steamy shots" done, Sung Kyung felt Hyo Seop's heart beating fast when she had to put her hand on his chest and felt strangely pleased about it.
It was past six already when they got back to Seoul, both of them tired. - I'll send the pictures to your agents when they're ready. - the man in charge of the photoshoot said. Sung Kyung went to the bathroom before leaving, but Hyo Seop already left when she was ready to go, so she sighed and left to get in her car. When she got home, she took a hot shower and went to bed. She was just about to fall asleep when her phone gave a buzzing sound. It was Hyo Seop.
HS: Sorry I had to leave so quickly without saying goodbye, I got an urgent call. I still owe you an americano, are you free tomorrow by any chance? :)