Archive of Our Own ^beta

All people are born with a mark somewhere on their body, a small drawing similar to a tattoo, which is only colored when you meet your soulmate. Of course, soulmates share the shape and colors of the mark, but where they have it can vary.

Sehun's mother and father had the same silver-painted crescent moon on their wrist and shoulder respectively, and as a child, Sehun had been interested in the idea of finding his soulmate, wishing he had a story as exciting as their parents, even though his mark was a little different from his friends'.

Sehun's mark had no sharp edges, and it had some parts that weren't even well marked. At first glance, it seemed that it would disappear with the passage of time, and even every time Sehun stopped to look at it, it seemed to lose a little clarity. It was strange, because all the marks he had seen were perfect drawings, leaving no room for doubt as to what they symbolized.

Sehun sometimes thought they were five little stars, although other times he thought they were snowflakes. At the age of ten, he had naively thought that the drawing would lighten up when he grew up, but that never happened. In contrast, there were days when he appeared to have a small black ink spot on his right collarbone, while on other days they looked like moles on his skin.

It was fortunate that it wasn’t in a very visible place because he was sure that he would receive more than one curious look. It was a bit disappointing—if he had to be honest—because in college he had seen dozens of marks daily, on the neck, nape, forearm, or the back of the hand, and they all seemed to glow, despite many of them weren’t colored.

Even his childhood friend’s mark, which was in the palm of his hand, didn’t lose its clarity no matter how many times he rubbed it. The diamond pattern remained intact, and according to Chanyeol, it had been that way for as long as he could remember.

Sehun had wondered more than once if there was something wrong with his mark, and although he had stopped caring about it over the years, a small part of him sometimes kept wondering. In his teens, he had been curious to know if his soulmate had the same mark, worn and imprecise, or in better condition. He had been worried that it would make it difficult for him to find his other half, but he had decided to trust what his parents had told him: that in addition to his mark being filled with color, he would feel  a special connection with that person, so when the time came, he would  know .

At that time, Sehun had been very hopeful and had tirelessly searched for a person who had a similar mark to his, finding nothing.

At twenty-six, Sehun could tell that he had stopped searching and had decided that it was best to wait for that person to just show up, continuing with his normal life until then. His mark remained the same as ever, blurry, so Sehun supposed he should take that as a sign. He had lost interest in knowing what it stood for, and perhaps that showed that he was about to give up on the matter.

Besides… there was Jongin.

Kim Jongin was one of his co-workers, and definitely one of the most charming men Sehun had ever met in his entire life. They were incredibly good friends, and the only reason they hadn't taken that step in their relationship was because they worked at the same company and the no-relationship policy hung over them as a warning. However, Sehun sometimes wondered if the mark on Jongin's neck was another reason. The older hadn't found his soulmate yet, but he could do so at any moment, and even though he had never been overly excited about it, Sehun knew that Jongin longed for that to happen.

Sehun didn't know if he was in love with Jongin, or just cherished him as a friend, but he wanted to give it a try, and maybe that's what caused his interest in finding his soulmate to wane in recent months.

He had decided. He would ask Jongin out on a date when he got to work the next morning. 

Regardless of whether he rejected him or not, which was unlikely, Sehun wanted to give both of them a chance. He would probably regret it in the future if he didn't, and since there was no sign of his soulmate yet, there was no reason to doubt.

He would. He would take Jongin out to dinner and everything would go incredibly well.

More than that.

[…]

He was nervous.

Sehun was nervous, so he decided to go to Jongin's favorite coffee shop to buy him his favorite drink, a Caramel Macchiato, before heading to the office. There weren’t many people in the place, and Sehun was thankful that there was only one person before him in line since he wasn’t arriving so on time.

"A strawberry and cream frappuccino, please," the guy before him ordered, staring at the display case that held various cakes and muffins.

"Your name, sir?"

"Baekhyun," he replied in a low voice, although Sehun was able to hear him since he was right behind him.

"Wait on this side of the counter, please." The girl behind the cash register smirked as the guy moved, letting Sehun step forward to order. "What can I offer you, sir?"

"A caramel macchiato and a cappuccino, please," Sehun replied, pulling his debit card out of his wallet, and holding it out to the girl. After she wrote his name, and Jongin's, he asked Sehun to wait with the previous customer so that she could continue taking orders. 

Sehun moved, glancing at the time on his watch to make sure he wasn't running late before his attention was stolen by the person next to him.

He had only seen his back before, but his face was definitely much more attractive. His silver hair was parted in the middle, exposing a bit of his forehead, and falling in a disorderly manner on his face as his eyes were still put in the display case of desserts in front of them, seemingly oblivious to Sehun's presence. He was wearing a plain white T-shirt along with a matching jacket and tight pants, making him stand out within that coffee shop.

Sehun looked away when he realized that he had been staring at him too intently and chose to reply to the messages Chanyeol had sent him that morning. However, he couldn't help but look up when he heard the guy once again, seeing him receive his order with a small smile on his face. Sehun had to admit that it was a pretty smile, but that wasn't what made him unable to look away.

One of his jacket sleeves had come up, and Sehun had been able to see his mark. Too similar to the one he had on his collarbones. A little more defined than Sehun's but with the same lines, forming five small sparkles on the front of his forearm.

"You..." Sehun muttered, stunned by surprise, making the other's eyes focus on him for the first time. "You have..." He pointed at his mark awkwardly, feeling confused when the guy glared at him.

Sehun frowned when he saw him walk away, and head towards the exit, and he didn't hesitate for a second to go after him. "Wait, uh, I'm Sehun and—"

"I don't care who you are," the guy snorted in response, without stopping, walking quickly with Sehun beside him.

"But you have—"

"It’s a mistake, you didn't get a good look at it." Sehun frowned at that, he couldn't have been wrong, he was sure it was the same mark. "Stop following me."

"Wait a second," Sehun insisted, gently taking his free hand to stop him, feeling the guy stiffen at the contact. "Just let me see..."

Sehun raised his sleeve slightly, and his eyes watched in wonder as the sparkles turned golden and the lines became clearer. There was no mistake. He had found his soulmate. After so much time…

"Let me go," the guy asked, pulling himself away when Sehun didn't let him go, still in shock. "Don't touch me again."

"I—" Sehun looked at him without understanding, it was a strange request, one that he certainly didn’t expect from his soulmate. "I have the same mark as you—"

"I'm not interested," the guy cut him off, and Sehun was puzzled by the annoyance in his voice. "I have a boyfriend, okay? Leave me alone."

"Boyfriend?" Sehun muttered to himself, frowning slightly. "Wait!" Sehun tried to stop him again, but the guy was already out of his reach, and his phone had started ringing in his pocket.

Sehun gritted his teeth, not knowing what to do. However, when he saw who was calling, he answered immediately.

"Jongin-ah," he greeted, trying not to let his voice show how frustrated he felt.

"Where are you, Hun? It's already eight o'clock."

"On my way, I'll be there in five minutes." Sehun hurried back to the coffee shop, where his order was waiting for him. "I'll bring you coffee."

He could almost hear Jongin's smile on the other end of the line. "Hurry up," he said before hanging up.

Sehun hurried across the street, where his company was located, and it wasn't long before he reached Jongin's desk. He was wearing his usual gray suit and his brown hair was perfectly arranged.

"Good morning," Sehun said softly, setting Jongin's coffee beside his hand.

"It will be good thanks to this," Jongin replied with a smile, taking some of his drink. "You said you had something to tell me yesterday, what’s it about?"

Sehun hesitated, remembering the way his skin had prickled minutes ago, the way those dark eyes had looked at him. "It’s nothing important, forget it."

"Are you sure?" Jongin looked at him with an arched brow.

Sehun smiled at him, clutching his briefcase tightly between his fingers. "Yes."

Jongin nodded, turning his attention back to the computer in front of him, and Sehun made his way to his own desk, internally grateful that the older wasn’t the one who insisted. He pulled off his suit jacket, and loosened his tie a bit before sitting down, letting out a heavy sigh that seemed to take his breath away for a moment.

The stranger’s face appeared in his mind, his soulmate, who apparently wanted nothing to do with him and didn’t seem happy to have been found.

What was his name? Sehun forced himself to remember because it was the only information he had on him.

Baekhyun, he had said.

Baekhyun.

It was a pretty name.

[…]

Some would call it a coincidence. Baekhyun would call it bad luck. Sehun would call it… destiny.

Meeting Baekhyun again in the coffee shop a week later had to mean something, especially since Sehun hadn't come there with that intention. He hadn't slept all night and really needed a coffee before going to work.

"I told you I'm not interested," Baekhyun told him when Sehun walked over to his table. "Besides, I'm waiting for someone."

"Your boyfriend?" Sehun asked, sipping some of his coffee.

Baekhyun smirked before nodding. "Yes, my boyfriend, so you better go."

Sehun pressed his lips together because it was more than obvious that Baekhyun meant it, and he couldn't help but feel a little disappointed that his soulmate didn't even want to know him. “Aren't you a little curious? Not even a little?"

Baekhyun shook his head, refocusing his attention on his phone, completely ignoring Sehun, who stood by his table for a few minutes before letting out an exasperated sigh. "Well, I'm running late after all."

When Sehun turned to leave, he came across a person much shorter than him, with black hair and big eyes that widened when he realized that Sehun's coffee was now on his shirt. 

“Oh my—I'm really sorry! Let me help you." Sehun tried to stop him, but the guy had already taken a couple of napkins from the table to wipe up the excess liquid in his clothes.

 "Don't worry, leave it like that." Sehun was grateful that his coffee wasn't so hot, he didn't even want to imagine the pain that would have caused. It wasn't a big stain, but he was going to have to change before the meeting that afternoon. "Really, I have to go to work."

"Stop it, hyung, you're making it worse," Baekhyun said, drawing Sehun's attention. 

Was that the person he was waiting for? His boyfriend?

"I'm really sorry, I can buy you another coffee as compensation," the guy offered, smiling slightly.

"It’s not—"

"That's not necessary, hyung, he was just leaving," Baekhyun answered instead, gesturing for his boyfriend to sit across from him. "I ordered for you.”

"Is he a friend of yours?" The guy asked Baekhyun before looking back at Sehun. "I'm Kyungsoo."

"He's not my friend," Baekhyun clarified, making Sehun chuckle at the tone of his voice.

"It's a pleasure, I'm Sehun. You don't have to worry, I was really leaving."

"It's a shame, I hope I didn't ruin your shirt..." Sehun smiled, downplaying the matter. The truth was it had also been partly his fault for not paying attention.

"Don't worry, I hope I didn't ruin your… date." Kyungsoo frowned at those words, and Sehun could see how Baekhyun tensed in his chair.

"Date? This isn’t a date,” Kyungsoo gently shook his head. "Baekhyun is my best friend."

Interesting…

"Really?" Sehun muttered, feeling Baekhyun's murderous look on his face. "How curious, because—"

"You're running late, aren't you?" Baekhyun reminded him, causing Sehun to look at him with a small smile on his face.

"Yeah." Sehun hid his amusement, seeing clearly that Baekhyun wanted him to leave. "I must go now."

Kyungsoo said goodbye to him kindly, unlike Baekhyun who only gave him one last look, and Sehun finally left the place. He walked in the direction of his office and went to the bathroom to inspect the damage.

He had a large brown stain on his chest, but if he buttoned his jacket, it might go unnoticed until he could call Jongdae, his cousin, to bring him a new shirt. Sehun hadn't been able to drink much of his coffee, but he felt more awake than ever.

He heard footsteps approaching, and Jongin appeared next to him yawning and looking exhausted. "It's good that you arrived, we should review these reports before the meet—what happened to your shirt?" 

"I ran into someone on the way here."

"Not a good start to the day." Jongin examined the stain, grimacing.

"Actually… it was good that it happened." Sehun smiled slightly.

"Did you lose your mind?"

Sehun just laughed, unable to forget Baekhyun's expression when his lie had been discovered.

He was single, and that changed things a bit.

Although… Sehun had no idea if he would see him again after that, or if Baekhyun would behave differently if that happened.

[…]

 “What are you doing here?” Baekhyun frowned, pausing before entering the coffee shop.

“I work here,” Sehun answered, sounding amused. “Right there, precisely.” Sehun pointed to the building in front of them.

“I’m not coming here anymore.” Baekhyun sighed and started to walk away, but Sehun had to stop him. It had already been three times, it had to mean something.

Right?

"Wait, you haven't bought your coffee yet."

Baekhyun looked at him for a while, perhaps considering it, but before he could answer his phone rang. It was a text message, and Sehun could appreciate the way Baekhyun's features turned unhappy as he read what was on his phone screen. 

“Great, this is just fantastic!” His sarcasm was evident, and Sehun couldn’t help but worry. Baekhyun looked frustrated.

“Did something bad happen?”

“It’s none of your business,” Baekhyun answered before ruffling his hair with a hand.

“Maybe I can help,” Sehun said quietly, not wanting to be intrusive.

Baekhyun’s expression became incredulous, and Sehun was sure that he would refuse his help, but he didn’t. He seemed to think about it, and this time his voice wasn’t as harsh as before. “The person I was about to meet here was supposed to be my model," Baekhyun started, and his lips twisted. "I study art and I don't have much time until the deadline, I don't know how I'm going to find a model now.”

Sehun raised his eyebrows, perhaps because he hadn't heard Baekhyun speak so much before, and also because he would never have guessed that he studied art.

"I can be your model if you want." His words came out before Sehun could think properly, and Baekhyun's laugh made him realize that he would never accept something like that. 

"You? I need to paint a nude, you know?" Sehun blushed, he hadn't even considered that probability. "You're blushing!" Baekhyun smiled and Sehun realized that it was the first time he had smiled at him. Really smiling, no mockery involved. “I'm kidding, I just need a bare torso. Do you still want to help me?”

Sehun stared at him, Baekhyun looked entertained and he had to admit that it was good that he wasn't ignoring him for the first time. "Yes, if you don't have a problem with that."

"Are you always this nice to anyone?" Baekhyun asked, looking distrustful.

“You’re not just anyone, you’re—” Sehun trailed off, but to his surprise, Baekhyun didn't get mad. He laughed again.

“Anyway, I was supposed to start today to paint. Are you free now?” Baekhyun looked him in the eye, and his voice turned serious.

"Well, no, my lunch break is almost over…" Sehun answered, and Baekhyun looked disappointed for a second, but then he looked at his phone again.

"When does your shift end?" He asked, apparently looking at the time.

"At six, I'm free after that."

“Fine, let's meet in my study at seven. Give me your number." Baekhyun probably saw the surprise on Sehun's face because he continued, "I'll send you the address.”

"Oh, right." Sehun told him his number, and after Baekhyun saved it, he looked at him again. 

"Listen carefully, this time you're going to help me, and I really appreciate it, but it didn't mean anything, okay? We will never see each other again.”

Sehun could see the determination in his eyes and wondered what was making him act that way. Had something bad happened to him in the past?

"Okay," Sehun replied, and Baekhyun relaxed. It was too obvious that it was almost funny. 

"See you then." Baekhyun walked away and Sehun pursed his lips with a bit of discomfort growing in his chest.

Baekhyun was his soulmate, but he didn't want to see him again after finishing his painting. 

Why?

Sehun wanted to understand.

[…]

Baekhyun looked at the time. It had been a few minutes since seven, but Sehun still hadn't shown up.

It was hilarious. It hadn't been in Baekhyun's plans to get involved with him, he had actually planned to ignore him until he got tired and gave up.

Their continued encounters had probably been some trick of fate, but Baekhyun didn't give a shit. Fate could be screwed. Baekhyun wouldn’t allow fate to change his plans or his life. He didn't want a soulmate, and he definitely didn't want to keep meeting a random stranger who shared his mark.

However, he needed a model and Sehun was the only option he had. Baekhyun didn't have much time to afford to refuse. Sehun was objectively handsome and willing to help him. Baekhyun would accept his help, finish the painting, give him something in return, and they would never cross paths again. 

After all, it wouldn't be the first time that Baekhyun did something like that.

A few knocks on the door brought him to his feet, and he raised his eyebrows when Sehun appeared in front of him.

"You're late".

"A meeting dragged on a bit, sorry," Sehun apologized, his eyes being careful and wavering.

Baekhyun didn't understand. Was he really like that? Or was it just a facade?

"No problem, come in." Baekhyun moved so that Sehun could enter and closed the door with a soft click. “This is my study, I think we will have to meet here three times, maybe four. You can leave that there.” Baekhyun pointed to a chair, where Sehun left his briefcase. "I'll try to finish it in three sessions, maybe two or three hours each... Are you okay with that?"

"I just have one question," Sehun said, his gaze traveling all over the place, looking at the numerous paintings on the walls.

"What is it about?" Baekhyun found himself curious to know what he was thinking.

"Are you selling all those paintings?"

"Why? Are you interested?" Baekhyun looked at Sehun's profile. He was looking at Baekhyun’s most recent painting. It was an oil painting of the Han River.

"Yes."

"No, they are not for sale," Baekhyun answered, sounding inflexible.

The last thing he could do was leave loose ends, and Baekhyun refused to let Sehun have anything of his with him.

"Shall we start?" Baekhyun walked over to the lectern that he had placed in the center of the room, along with all the watercolors that he was going to use.

"I never did something like this," Sehun muttered from behind him.

"You just have to lie down on that couch and stay still, I'll do the rest of the work," Baekhyun pointed to the couch a few feet away from him. "I figured it was your first time, so it'll be easier for you if you're just lying down. You won't get too tired."

 Sehun nodded, and walked slowly to the couch, where he sat under Baekhyun's watchful gaze. Without saying a word, he removed his jacket first, remaining in a light blue shirt and a blue tie. Baekhyun hid his smile when he saw him waver with the buttons on his shirt and he decided to order his brushes while Sehun finished undressing from the waist up.

"You have to choose a pose, remember that it must be comfortable so that..." Baekhyun's breath hitched when he saw Sehun again. Fortunately, Sehun wasn't looking at him, because if he had, he would have seen his pathetic reaction to his bare chest.

He was a businessman, wasn't he supposed to be sitting behind a desk all day? How did he have those abs? Did he live in the gym or something?

Sehun shifted, facing him, and Baekhyun could glimpse his mark, it was on his collarbone. It was almost a copy of Baekhyun's, five golden sparkles that shone on his flawless skin.

For a moment, Baekhyun had forgotten that he would have to paint the mark too. 

“Pick a pose that you can hold for a couple of hours,” Baekhyun said, once he refocused. 

Sehun leaned back, resting his head on the pillow that Baekhyun had left there, letting most of his body rest on the couch. He shifted a bit and then looked at him like he was asking for his approval.

Baekhyun made sure his face didn't reveal his previous thoughts and nodded slightly. "Yeah, that's fine. If you need to stretch, just tell me."

Baekhyun sat on the chair in front of the lectern, and his gaze wandered from the blank canvas to Sehun a couple of times before he started to sketch. However, he couldn't be at it for long before he turned to Sehun again.

“You don't have to look at me, you can look at the ceiling, or at the wall."

"Does my look bother you?" Sehun asked, raising one of his eyebrows.

"No," Baekhyun half-lied, the reality was that Sehun's gaze was very intense, and it made it difficult for him to concentrate. "But it's better if I paint your side profile."

"Why?"

Baekhyun didn't have a real reason, but he made sure to sound convincing. "It will look better."

"Okay," Sehun replied and turned his head so that he was staring at Baekhyun's paintings. "Do you want me to be silent?"

"Well..." Baekhyun frowned, sketching again. Asking him for something like that would be rude, considering it was Sehun's first time being a model. "Do you want to talk about something?"

"I'm just curious."

"About what?" Baekhyun muttered, making sure to draw Sehun's profiled nose well.

“Why did you lie to me?” Sehun's voice didn't seem to accuse him, he just sounded interested. "You said you had a boyfriend.”

Baekhyun sighed, it was time. He had been waiting for Sehun to ask him about it, and he had already prepared his answer. "Kyungsoo hyung is not my boyfriend but... I wish he would be soon.”

"Do you like him?" Sehun's voice was low as if Baekhyun was sharing a secret with him.

"Yes. We’re roommates." Baekhyun licked his lips at the lie, he loved Kyungsoo, but not in a romantic way. "I told you that because I didn't think I'd ever see you again.”

“I get it.” Sehun nodded almost imperceptibly, holding still much better than Baekhyun expected.

He was quiet for a while, in which Baekhyun almost finished a very messy sketch. Sehun’s eyes were fixed on Baekhyun's paintings, and his breathing made his chest rise and fall. He was lost in thought, and his fingers were absentmindedly tapping the couch.

"Sehun," Baekhyun called him, making Sehun look at him. "You were frowning."

"I'm sorry," he said, his face relaxing instantly.

"I'm fast but I'm not painting your face yet," Baekhyun joked. "Is something bothering you?"

"No," Sehun shook his head, returning his gaze to the wall. "I was just thinking about work."

"You're supposed to stop thinking about work once you get out of the office." Baekhyun smiled, seeing that Sehun's expression changed a bit. "Let me guess, you are a workaholic."

"I'm not," Sehun replied, frowning again and looking offended.

"Don't you have anything else to think about?" Baekhyun didn't even know why he was asking, it was probably because teasing Sehun was fun. “Is your life that boring?”

Sehun's expression was difficult to read and that was a bit weird. Baekhyun hadn't known him for that long, but it was pretty easy to guess what Sehun was thinking. His face was very transparent, in his opinion.

"I got a promotion recently," Sehun said, in a hesitant tone, as if he wasn't sure if Baekhyun was really interested or not. "These have been tough days for Jongin-ah and me."

"Who is he?" Baekhyun asked, just to continue the conversation.

"A co-worker." Sehun seemed to think about it. "He's also a close friend."

Baekhyun noticed the way Sehun's voice changed, and he couldn't help but wonder. "Well, if you got a promotion it's because you did a good job, don't worry too much or you'll get sick."

"Are you worried?" Sehun joked.

"You can get sick after I finish this," Baekhyun smiled, staring at the canvas.

"I'm touched."

"I'm serious," Baekhyun muttered, redrawing Sehun's hands. "You have terrible dark circles under your eyes." His fingers didn't look so good either. He had to fix it. "And you look very tired right now."

"Is that a problem for your painting?" Sehun sounded really concerned and Baekhyun glared at him for an instant.

"You’re a fool."

"Excuse me?" Sehun sounded puzzled this time.

"You're a fool," Baekhyun repeated. “Does that concern you more than your own health?"

Sehun looked at him, but Baekhyun kept his eyes on his work. He could feel his intense gaze on him, but he didn't allow himself to feel intimidated. 

“I thought—”

“Keep your eyes on the wall.” Sehun did as he was told, and Baekhyun was able to finish drawing his fingers. The sketch was messy but good enough. The angles of Sehun's face were sharp, and Baekhyun had spent more time on it than usual. Although… “I think I have to redraw your lips…” he muttered.

“My what?”

"Your lips." Baekhyun erased some lines, being cautious. "Yours are plumper."

Sehun blushed, but Baekhyun didn't see that, and maybe it was good. "I think I want to keep quiet from now on." 

“What? Why?” Baekhyun was good at drawing faces, what was happening to him?

"You're messing with me."

Baekhyun giggled, and he erased the same lines again. “Don’t pout, otherwise I’ll draw you like that.”

“I’m not pouting!”

“You are,” Baekhyun glanced at him briefly, just to confirm his words. “Keep your mouth still for a bit.”

Sehun was silent, and after a few tries, Baekhyun was satisfied with the sketch. It was a very decent one, perhaps the best of him so far. He wasn't the type to redraw multiple times, but maybe sometimes it was necessary.

"You can talk again," Baekhyun said, erasing some extra lines that he didn't need.

"I don't want to," Sehun whispered, his eyes almost closed.

"Are you sleepy?" Baekhyun rolled his eyes. "Sleep."

"May l?" Sehun sighed softly and the muscles in his arm relaxed. "It doesn’t bother you?"

"I'm not going to kidnap you if that's your concern," Baekhyun scoffed. "I'll wake you up when we finish for today, sleep."

"Okay." Sehun smiled a little, but his eyes were still on the wall. "I'll try not to move."

Baekhyun snorted but smiled against his will. "Silly," he whispered, taking care not to disturb him.

Sehun's sleeping face seemed calm, and he looked even younger without his suit. How old would he be? Maybe three or two years younger than Baekhyun. He was a bit naive and maybe too kind, but he was—

Baekhyun shook his head, it didn't matter. It didn't matter what Sehun was like, he didn't care either.

He took his brushes and looked at his sketch, then Sehun, then his watercolors.

The sooner he finished it, the better.

[…]

"Hey." Baekhyun poked one of Sehun's arms with a finger. "Wake up." This time he poked him on the cheek, but Sehun didn't move. "It's ten o'clock, you should go home." He poked his neck and Sehun stirred before his eyes opened.

"You finished?"

"For today," Baekhyun replied, straightening his figure to hand him his clothes. "It's quite late, do you have a car? Should I call a cab?" 

"Yes please." Sehun started to get dressed, rubbing his eyes a bit before buttoning his shirt. "I guess you haven't had dinner yet." Sehun smiled at him, pulling on his jacket.

Baekhyun's finger froze for a second, but then he continued texting on his phone. "Your taxi will be here in five minutes." He pursed his lips as if that way he could prevent the words from coming out. "Maybe next time."

Sehun understood and nodded slightly. "Thanks."

"Do you want to see the progress?" Baekhyun put his phone down on the table and walked to the lectern, being followed by Sehun.

“I'd love to.”

Baekhyun's confidence trembled when Sehun saw the painting. It wasn't the first time someone else had seen his unfinished paintings, but this time he felt a bit self-conscious. Perhaps it had been because of Sehun's words, or because his bright smile widened at the sight of himself on the 45-inch canvas.

"Oh my god," Sehun said, and Baekhyun felt his anxiety melt away. "I knew it would be amazing, but this is—"

"Did you know?" Baekhyun raised one of his eyebrows.

"Your other paintings are impressive," Sehun replied in an obvious tone, his eyes fixed on the painting. Baekhyun licked his lips, it wasn’t the first time he heard that, and it was coming from Sehun, there was no need to be so nervous. "I’m really anticipating the end result."

"Me too," Baekhyun confessed.

The doorbell rang, and Sehun hesitated in his place before moving. "Surely that’s my taxi."

"Are you free this Friday?" Baekhyun asked in a gentle tone.

"Yes." Sehun took his briefcase from where he had left it. "I have a busy morning but in the afternoon I’ll be free."

"Can you be here at two?"

"Sure," Sehun replied with a smile before heading to the exit.

Baekhyun followed him to open the door for him. "Go home safely."

"I'll try." Sehun waved a hand in his direction.

Baekhyun smiled goodbye at him and watched him walk away in the direction of the taxi. Once he saw the car move, he closed the door and let out a little sigh.

It hadn't been as bad as he had thought.

It hadn't been bad at all.

[…]

Sehun drank his coffee and smiled a little at his desk. It was a hectic morning, but he was in a good mood and his coffee was delicious.

"Sehun-ah, did you finish the proposal?" Jongin approached him with a folder in his hands.

"Yes, I already gave it to Junmyeon-ah."

"Already?" Jongin looked at him a little surprised. "That's very good, I need help with this, can you check the last balance?"

"Let me see," Sehun received the folder and opened it, turning the pages quickly.

"Thanks." Jongin let out a long breath. "Tomorrow's meeting will be a headache."

"Junmyeon-ah is already freaking out." Sehun laughed. "I think he should get some rest."

"I don't see you that worried," Jongin said in an amused tone.

"It's almost all set, Jongin-ah, there's nothing to worry about," Sehun grabbed a pen so he could write a few things.

"I was thinking..." Jongin started, tapping his fingers on the desk. "We can have lunch together when the meeting is over."

"I can’t." Sehun grimaced, and his eyes caught Jongin's expression falling. "I already have plans, sorry."

"It's okay," Jongin assured him. "Shall we go out this weekend? It's been a while since we went out."

"That sounds good."

"It's a deal, then. Let me know when you finish that." Jongin winked at him before he returned to his desk.

He was right. They had been terribly busy with work and hanging out together seemed like a very good idea to relax.

Besides, it had been a long time since he had spent time alone with Jongin.

[…]

"You're early," Baekhyun said when he opened the door. "But you look less tired than last time."

Maybe it was Sehun's impression, but the fact that they had texted the night before made the atmosphere between them more relaxed. Even Baekhyun looked a lot more confident talking to him.

"I'm afraid I'm not going to sleep today." Sehun entered the study and left his briefcase on the same chair as before.

"It was a bit boring, so it's okay." Baekhyun pulled up the sleeves of his beige cardigan and walked over to the couch. "I ordered fried chicken, I didn't know if you'd like it or if you've already had lunch, but..."

"I like it," Sehun interrupted him, and Baekhyun smiled.

"Great, let's eat before we start." Sehun walked over to the couch and sat next to him, leaving a few inches between them. "Did you come from work?"

"Yes, but they gave me the rest of the day off."

Baekhyun looked at him, handing him a tray of fried chicken and a can of soda. "You should have told me, we could have met another day."

"I wanted to come," Sehun smiled, loosening the knot on his tie.

"I see, you've already got a taste for modeling."

"Maybe," Sehun joked, eating a little, looking relaxed. “You haven't told me when your deadline is.”

"In less than three weeks," Baekhyun muttered, his lips twisting slightly.

"That’s quite early." Sehun watched him nod, his eyes on his tray. "Was it difficult to find a model?"

"A little," Baekhyun sipped from his can, feeling Sehun's gaze on him. "Yixing always used to help me with these things, but he unexpectedly traveled to China a few days ago. After some searching, Seungho agreed to model for me, but that moron canceled me at the last minute.” Baekhyun looked annoyed for a split second, but his expression softened as he continued. “That was when I was with you.”

“You will finish it on time,” Sehun assured him, no hint of hesitation in his voice. “You’ll see."

"We only have to meet two more times," Baekhyun agreed. "Not affecting your work."

“Don’t worry about that,” Sehun shrugged, looking more than comfy on Baekhyun's couch.

"Said the one who was always thinking about work," Baekhyun mocked, seeing Sehun's smile appear on his face.

"Perhaps I’m taking your advice into consideration." Baekhyun stared at him, and Sehun feared he had said something wrong for a second. The silver-haired’s expression was always hard for him to read.

“I’m always right,” Baekhyun said after a while. His voice didn't show anything,

“That's a bit presumptuous." Sehun loved fried chicken, it was a lucky chance that Baekhyun had ordered that.

"But it's true." Baekhyun smiled slightly, and something on his face seemed to light up. "Oh! I almost forgot." Baekhyun stood up, and Sehun watched him approach a ledge.

"What is it about?"

"I bought this." Baekhyun sat down next to Sehun again, taking his tray and letting him see what was in his hand. "I'll have to redraw your lips, but the idea came to me in the morning."

Sehun looked at the object with raised eyebrows, a pack of cigarettes from a brand he knew well.

"Will it make me look good?" He asked him with a half-smile.

"Without a doubt."

"I quit a while ago," Sehun admitted, and he could see the way Baekhyun's shoulders tensed. "Is it necessary to light it?"

"No! You should just do it like this." Baekhyun took one and placed it delicately between his lips, staring at the wall as if it were the most interesting thing in the room. "It will look sexy."

"Do you really believe it?"

"Of course!” Baekhyun smiled, and his voice was so excited when he said, "I’ll draw you better than any french girl.”

Sehun could only laugh, but he agreed. "Okay, let's do it."

[…]

“I can’t feel my arm,” Sehun complained.

Baekhyun chuckled. He knew Sehun was lying. "Just give me two more minutes."

"I'm tempted to light this cigarette," Sehun said in a conversational tone.

"Don’t," Baekhyun answered quickly, earning himself a quick look. "I bought it just for artistic reasons."

Sehun involuntarily pouted. "Okay, but I'm dying for something sweet right now."

"You can buy an ice cream as soon as you get out of here." Baekhyun made sure to add a little more shadow to Sehun's chest. "It is really hot today."

"I’ll definitely do it."

Baekhyun took a few last strokes before putting the brush in place. "You can move now."

"Thanks God."

Baekhyun rolled his eyes. "It wasn’t that bad.”

Sehun smiled, evidencing that he was just playing. "No, but my arm is seriously numb."

Baekhyun walked over to him and reached for his shirt with a small smile dancing on his lips. "Give me that." Baekhyun took the cigarette from his lips and put it in the back pocket of his jeans.

"Artistic reasons," Sehun repeated, looking amused.

"And because you look sexy," Baekhyun reminded him.

[…]

"Are you telling me that I’m not your first soulmate? How is that possible?" Sehun frowned, seeing Baekhyun nod. "I've never heard of anything like that."

It was the third session and the topic had come up naturally, although Sehun didn't quite know how exactly it had happened.

"I'm telling the truth, I met him a few years ago when I traveled to Japan with my parents."

Sehun fell silent, thinking of someone else being Baekhyun's soulmate. It made him feel uncomfortable. He could feel a little tingle inside him when he was with Baekhyun, almost imperceptible, but it was there.

Had Baekhyun felt that with someone else before him?

"I don't understand," Sehun muttered, almost crushing the cigarette between his lips.

"When I was born my mark didn't look like this, it was a little three-leaf clover," Baekhyun explained, his gaze shifting between Sehun and the painting. "When I was sixteen, my father was transferred to the Japan office. We moved there for a while and I met my soulmate. He had the same mark as mine, and they turned green when we met.”

Sehun listened carefully, feeling a bit incredulous, but Baekhyun had no reason to lie to him, did he?

"He was ecstatic, he said he was lucky that I was someone... handsome." Baekhyun hesitated on the last word but continued. "He followed me everywhere, at school, home, library, everywhere. It was unbearable.”

Sehun frowned and wondered if Baekhyun had thought that of him when they had met at the coffee shop for the third time.

That made a few things make sense now.

"If I must be honest, at first I thought I might like him." Baekhyun paused a little, as if he was thinking about what to say. "But then I received the acceptance letter to study art here in Seoul and I took the first flight back."

"What happened to him?" Sehun dropped the cigarette in his chest.

"He asked me to stay there, and my parents did too, since they couldn't travel with me." Baekhyun stopped painting to get some water. “At the time I believed that giving up my soulmate wouldn’t be as bad as giving up my dreams.”

“Do you regret it?”

"Not at all." Baekhyun smiled a little. “That sounded cruel, right?”

"You're being honest," Sehun replied, and Baekhyun nodded. It was obvious that he wasn't lying.

"A few months after my return, my mark had become a formless stain. I didn’t understand what was happening, but a friend from college explained to me that the connection had been broken, and that there were second soulmates. He said that I would surely find you soon." Baekhyun looked him in the eye. “Over time it became clearer, although its shape wasn’t defined until a few months ago.”

"Mine changed all the time, it only stopped when I met you," Sehun mumbled.

"That's because your soulmate was never defined, until now apparently." Baekhyun saw the mark on his arm, the color was bright and vivid. "I guess you weren’t expecting something like this."

Sehun was silent, assimilating that new information. He had never heard anything like that before. He had never considered that the reason behind his unstable mark was that he didn't actually have a soulmate.

He hadn't had a soulmate until a few days ago.

"Sehun?”

"I just..." He tried to say something, but his mind was a mess. He couldn't sort out his ideas.

"Hey..." Baekhyun walked over to him and grabbed the glass of water from the floor, the one that he had left there for Sehun. "Are you okay?" Sehun nodded and felt Baekhyun's hand in his. "Hey, it's not that strange. Some people aren't born with an assigned soulmate because they have multiple options. Fate is fucking weird and a pain in the ass."

Sehun laughed at that, partly because Baekhyun was trying to comfort him, and he had never thought that they might be in that situation. It was almost funny.

"I mean it, you must not let fate guide your feelings, much less your life." Baekhyun’s eyes were crudely honest, and Sehun knew he really meant well.

"You're right," Sehun said, seeing the sparkles on Baekhyun's arm. "I’ll not do it."

"Good boy." Baekhyun smiled. "Water?"

Sehun accepted the glass and emptied it. "I have a doubt."

"What is it?" Baekhyun stood up and went back to his chair.

"Don't you feel anything when you are with me?" Sehun stared at him and could tell that his shocked expression was genuine.

"What do you mean?"

"I heard that..." Sehun tried to hide his embarrassment. "My parents said they felt something special when they were together."

Baekhyun frowned, looking thoughtful. "I don't know, I've never felt something like that."

"I see..." Sehun put the cigarette back between his lips. "I don’t feel it either," he lied.

"Maybe it only happens when they're really meant to be."

"Maybe," Sehun repeated, and smiled a little. "I think it was distraction enough, don't you think?"

"Yeah," Baekhyun looked at him, as if he wanted to be sure Sehun was okay. "Shall we have dinner together after this?"

Sehun was somewhat distracted, but he nodded nonetheless.

Was it possible that soulmates were one-sided?

There were so many things that he didn't know. Maybe it was really possible.

Because he did feel something when he was with Baekhyun, he could feel his mood lighten. He felt a bit dazzled every time Baekhyun smiled at him, and his smiles made his insides tingle.

But Baekhyun didn't feel anything.

And maybe they really aren’t meant to be.

Because if there was a second soulmate, why not a third? 

[…]

“Let’s sit there,” Baekhyun pointed to a table close to the air conditioner and Sehun followed him. “You said that you like jajangmyeon, right?”

“Yeah,” Sehun answered. He had said that in the previous session, while they were having lunch together. It made him smile that he remembered that.

“Let’s order that, what do you think?” Baekhyun sat down on one of the chairs, and put some small silver locks out of his forehead. 

“I agree.” Sehun sat down across from him, and took off his jacket, remaining on his white shirt. 

The waiter came to take their orders, and after they ordered a few bottles of soju as well, he walked away.

Baekhyun was wearing a baggy hoodie, and the contrast between his outfits was something Sehun didn't realize until then. They were very different, but somehow they were there, having dinner together.

Fate had a strange way of doing things sometimes.

"Tell me something," Baekhyun said, after his fourth glass of soju. "Have you ever fallen in love?"

Sehun was taken aback, but somehow he felt that he had to be honest. Baekhyun had told him something important to him, so he could do the same.

"Once," Sehun admitted. "I was in college, he was a swim club guy and we dated for a few years, but it didn't work out."

"Can I know why?" Baekhyun seemed curious, but he was also willing to change the subject if Sehun wanted.

"He cheated on me," Sehun said, taking a sip of soju.

"What?" Baekhyun frowned. "He was an asshole."

Sehun smiled slightly. "He married her a few years later, she was his soulmate."

Baekhyun's expression was funny, especially since he didn't seem to believe what he was hearing. "Did you love him?"

"Yes, but maybe not enough." Baekhyun nodded slowly, processing that information. "After that, I've had a few relationships but they didn't last long," Sehun admitted.

"Regardless of whether she was his soulmate, he was an asshole," Baekhyun snorted.

Sehun’s smile widened, Baekhyun looked really angry. "I've already forgiven him, I don't hold a grudge against him."

"It's because you are a good person."

"How can you know that?" Sehun asked, raising one of his eyebrows.

"I'm good at reading people," Baekhyun defended himself, crossing his arms.

"In any case," Sehun continued, "he apologized appropriately."

Sehun didn't really remember him with bad thoughts, he preferred to remember the good of their relationship, he had been his first love after all.

"It's a bit discouraging that this happens to people like you, what's left of the rest of the world?" Baekhyun joked, lightening the mood.

"Have you seen yourself in a mirror?" Sehun asked, pretending seriousness.

Baekhyun threw a piece of bread at his face. "Shut up."

"I'm serious." Sehun smiled, causing Baekhyun to laugh softly. "I'm sure Kyungsoo will agree to go out with you."

Baekhyun's laugh faded little by little, and his gaze drifted to the empty plates in front of them.

"What about you?" Sehun tilted his head to the side, not understanding that question. "Is there someone you like?"

It was probably because of the alcohol, but Baekhyun seemed to want to know more about him, or he probably just wanted to divert the conversation to him.

Sehun probably never would have said that out loud, but the soju had done strange things to him, and there was the fact that it was Baekhyun, his soulmate. 

Maybe they weren't meant to be, but maybe he was the best person to tell him something like that.

"Well..." Sehun started, completely catching Baekhyun's attention. "There's someone, but I'm really not sure.”

"Not sure about what?"

"Sometimes I think I just appreciate him as a friend." Sehun thought about their weekend, they had gone to a club together, and they had fun... but nothing more.

The courage and desire to try something else that he had had a few months ago didn't seem to be there. And that was frustrating.

It made him wonder if he had really wanted to.

"Tell me a little more about him," Baekhyun muttered, somewhat hesitant.

Sehun thought a bit about his answer. "He’s very handsome and good-hearted. He’s a bit clumsy at times, but he puts a lot of effort into everything he does. He’s always helping the people around him."

"He sounds like someone amazing."

"He's a great friend," Sehun agreed. "Whoever is his soulmate will be lucky."

"Are you sure you don't like him?" Baekhyun questioned him.

Sehun hesitated. His doubts must have meant something, but he didn't want to think about it too much. "I don't know," he said honestly.

Baekhyun poured some more soju into their glasses and handed one to Sehun. "I hope you find out soon."

"I hope that too."

They both drank from their glasses, and Sehun felt a bit dizzy, but still with some consciousness. "Do you know something?" he asked with a smile. "I think you’re very talented."

"What's that about?" Baekhyun giggled.

"I just wanted you to know it."

"You're nice even really drunk," Baekhyun joked. "Thanks."

"I'd like to buy one of your paintings," Sehun confessed, seeing Baekhyun's cheeks take on a bit of color, even though his face had turned red from the alcohol.

"I said they are not for sale."

"It's a shame," Sehun looked at him in the eye, "because my mother would have liked your art."

"R-Really?" Baekhyun licked his lips, not sounding as determined as before.

"Yes, she loves to go to exhibitions, sometimes I accompanied her when I was younger."

Baekhyun became thoughtful for a moment. "I'll think about it."

Sehun nodded with a satisfied smile. "Take all the time you need."

If Sehun thought about it, maybe it wasn't so far-fetched that Baekhyun was his soulmate. His mother had always been fond of art, and Sehun had grown up hearing her talk about it, even though he didn't share the same passion as her. 

"I will," Baekhyun replied.

And maybe Sehun was already delirious, but he already seemed willing to accept.

[…]

“Hey,” Kyungsoo greeted him with a smile, and Baekhyun froze. "I came here because you weren't at home."

“Hi,” Baekhyun said quietly and tried to act as normal as possible. “I’m pretty busy right now.”

“Oh, is he here?” Kyungsoo looked intrigued, and Baekhyun nodded. “I’m interrupting, right?”

"Well..." Baekhyun looked at Sehun, who was lying on the couch with his gaze on him. "We're almost done, actually." 

Baekhyun let him in and approached Sehun with a worried expression. "I hope you don't mind Kyungsoo hyung's presence."

"No problem," Sehun replied with a simple smile.

"It's good to see you again, Sehun-ssi." Kyungsoo moved closer to the couch so Sehun didn't have to move.

"Same here," Sehun gently shook his hand.

"Baekhyunee told me that you work in an office." Sehun nodded, although a part of him couldn't help but wonder what other things Baekhyun had said to him. "How does modeling feel?"

"It's an interesting change," Sehun replied, seeing Baekhyun sit in front of the lectern again. "I think I'm bad at it though."

"That's not true," Baekhyun muttered, painting something that Sehun couldn't see. "We have been here many hours, and you haven't yet tried to escape."

"Thanks for helping him, really." Kyungsoo smiled warmly at him, and Sehun could understand a bit why Baekhyun liked him, the guy was genuinely nice. "I don't want to be a bother, so I'll just sit there."

"You don't bother, hyung." Baekhyun looked at him, and his expression softened. "How did your audition go?"

Kyungsoo sat down a couple of meters from Sehun so that he could see them both. "I went to audition for a supporting role in a movie," Kyungsoo explained to Sehun, grimacing before continuing. "They said they would call me, but I doubt they will."

"Maybe they will," Sehun said.

"They'll be stupid if they don't," Baekhyun snorted.

Kyungsoo rolled his eyes in exasperation, but his smile was somewhat shy. "He thinks I deserve an Oscar," he told Sehun.

"It's true!" Baekhyun exclaimed, pointing a paintbrush at him. "Don't you dare say otherwise."

"Could you sign an autograph for me before you get famous?" Sehun joked, making Kyungsoo laugh.

"Now you sound like him too," Kyungsoo was amused, shooting Baekhyun a look. "You're soulmates, after all."

"Hyung..." Baekhyun whispered, his expression had turned serious, but his voice only had a hint of warning.

"I know," Kyungsoo let out a sigh, and this time he looked at Sehun. "Isn't he a bit stubborn?"

"He is," Sehun agreed, though something inside him had twisted.

"I wish to find my soulmate soon," Kyungsoo sounded hopeful, and Sehun glanced at the silver-haired from the corner of his eye. Baekhyun had his brow furrowed. "I think it must be great."

"It really is," Sehun replied, and Kyungsoo widened his smile, looking pleased by his answer.

Regarding Baekhyun, Sehun couldn't see his face, hidden behind the canvas.

[…]

"He's a nice guy," Kyungsoo said after Sehun left the study. "And he's helping you even though you were very rude to him."

"I know." Baekhyun sighed, his lips twisting slightly as he remembered how he had acted with Sehun when they had met. "He’s kind, patient, and funny... he even told me earlier that he could stay longer if I wanted..."

Kyungsoo stared at Baekhyun, who was still looking at the door with an interesting expression on his face. It was easy for Kyungsoo to know what he was feeling. Regret.

"Did you want to?" Kyungsoo asked, seeing that Baekhyun turned to him.

"I..." Baekhyun frowned and approached the lectern with quick steps. "I almost finished it."

"Don’t change the subject".

Baekhyun stared at his painting and Kyungsoo did as well in deep silence. It was beautiful, without a doubt, but Kyungsoo noticed something that he hadn't seen before in Baekhyun's paintings. The brushstrokes were very delicate, and precise. Baekhyun used to paint quickly, so his strokes were always a bit messy. Also, the colors he used were mostly warm tones, and that gave the painting a domestic air. Kyungsoo couldn't name another of his paintings that would have given him that impression.

"I wanted him to stay but..." Baekhyun trailed off and flinched as if he had just realized what he was about to say. “Forget it.”

“Hyunee…” Kyungsoo started, but Baekhyun shook his head.

“Forget it.”

Kyungsoo grimaced, he knew what Baekhyun had been about to say. He knew him very well. "How many sessions has it been already?"

"Five," Baekhyun whispered, clenching his hands into fists.

Kyungsoo tried to hide his disbelief from him. He could remember perfectly when Baekhyun had told him that it would only be three sessions. "And how many are left?"

"Just one."

Kyungsoo didn't say anything at that, he just looked at the painting again and smiled. "It’s wonderful."

"I still have to do some details of the hair, and shade his arm more..."

"And he needs to be here for that?" Kyungsoo asked with an arched brow, watching Baekhyun look away from him.

"Yes." Baekhyun nodded and started sorting his brushes.

“If you say so,” Kyungsoo muttered, trying not to sound like he was making fun of him.

Baekhyun needed to figure things out on his own, and Kyungsoo knew he would soon.

[…]

What was he doing? Had he lost his mind?

"Idiot..." Baekhyun whispered as he searched for his keys. Indeed, he was an idiot.

And maybe he was also a liar because he hadn't canceled the session that morning despite knowing that he no longer needed Sehun's presence.

But he really didn't need him?

"Baekhyunee?" Sehun's voice made him jump, he was a few feet from him at the entrance of his study. "Are you okay?" The concern in his voice was so evident that Baekhyun's chest tightened.

"I’m perfectly fine." Baekhyun opened the door and let him pass quickly.

"I was a little late, sorry." Sehun put his suitcase on the table, and Baekhyun couldn't help but raise one of his eyebrows as he noticed that Sehun was wearing his usual blue suit.

"I just arrived too. Isn't it your day off today?

"Yeah, but I'll go to the office after we’re done here," Sehun ran a hand through his hair, which looked a bit messy. It was obvious that he hadn't done it like he used to. His forehead was covered.

"What? Why?" Baekhyun's lips twisted. That wasn’t in his plans.

"Jongin-ah needs help with something," Sehun explained, smiling softly at him. "He said he would buy me donuts and I couldn't say no."

Baekhyun tried to smile back, but he wasn't sure he succeeded. "I see..."

 "Shall we start?" Sehun pointed to the couch and Baekhyun nodded, feeling something twist in his stomach.

"Yes, it won't take long."

Sehun undressed and lay down on the couch. Baekhyun sat in front of the canvas, his fingers were shaking a little, but no one other than him knew about it.

"I'm glad you can finish it on time," Sehun said, in a joyous voice that made Baekhyun clench his teeth.

"Me too." Baekhyun used a thin brush for Sehun's hair, using white paint for lighting. "I hope you like the end result."

"You doubt it?" Sehun looked at him, but Baekhyun hid his face behind the canvas.

"You didn't want to see the progress after the first time," Baekhyun said weakly.

"I want you to surprise me."

Baekhyun suppressed a sigh, feeling his fingers freeze for a moment. It was stupid, the painting wasn't for Sehun, he wasn't supposed to want to impress him.

But he really wanted it.

"Today is the last session," Baekhyun muttered, avoiding Sehun's gaze. "But I won't show you today."

"When then?" Was it hope that he heard in Sehun's voice, or was he imagining things?

"Next week," Baekhyun replied.

"After your deadline?"

"Yes."

"Okay, I'll wait until then." Sehun smiled at the wall and Baekhyun finally looked at him.

The sun coming through the window was bathing his perfect skin, making him look ethereal. The sun made the five sparkles shine, like little diamonds embedded in his collarbones.

Baekhyun swallowed hard and concentrated on the painting in front of him again.

He saw the same sparkles, the ones he had drawn and redrawn infinitely many times, until they were perfect, exactly the same as the real ones on his arm.

"Baekhyunee?" Sehun called him.

"Yes?" Baekhyun moved again, painting more thin white lines.

"Can I ask you something?" The silver-haired made an affirmative sound and Sehun continued. "You said we'll never see each other again after you finish your painting..."

Baekhyun froze in his place and looked at Sehun, who was still staring at the wall. He didn't look angry, he seemed confused.

"Did you change your mind?" Sehun asked curiously.

"Evidently," Baekhyun said slowly, very slowly. “I… I regret my initial behavior. I was very rude, and you didn't deserve that...”

“I know why you did it, you don't have to worry about it,” Sehun cut him off, his voice bringing calm to Baekhyun’s heart. “Also, you've been more than nice in the last few weeks.”

“But still…”

“I forgive you if that's what you want, but I've already forgotten.” Baekhyun sighed deeply, feeling a small weight lift off his shoulders. "Does that mean we are friends now?" Sehun’s voice showed his excitement.

"Friends," Baekhyun repeated, nodding as he absorbed the word. "Yeah, I'd like that."

Liar, something whispered in his mind, but he ignored it.

"I'll buy you dinner on Monday." Sehun winked at him and Baekhyun scrunched his nose.

"Actually, I was planning to take you out for lunch after this," Baekhyun confessed, "to thank you for helping me."

Sehun opened his mouth, but nothing came out, and Baekhyun smiled at that reaction.

"But Jongin was faster."

"We can save it for another day," Sehun offered.

"Yes, that would be great." Sehun nodded, looking pleased, and Baekhyun turned serious. "Now look at the wall, we don't want to make him wait."

Sehun obeyed, and Baekhyun continued with his task, trying not to show that there was hardly much else to do.

[…]

"A table for two," Jongin told the waiter, who nodded and led them to a table in the center of the restaurant.

It was one of Jongin's favorite places.

"Thanks for coming to help me, I don't know what I would have done without you," Jongin said, once they were seated.

"You would have done the same for me," Sehun replied, flipping through the menu and wondering what to order.

"That's true." Jongin giggled a bit and his expression turned slightly excited. "This was the last session, right?"

Sehun nodded, he had told Jongin that he was helping Baekhyun by being his model. However, he had omitted the detail that Baekhyun was his soulmate. For some reason, it was something Sehun wanted to keep to himself.

Not that he didn't trust Jongin, it was just a hunch.

"Yes, I hope he gets a good grade." Sehun bit his lower lip, trying not to think too much about it. He was anxious enough already. "He had worked very hard on that painting."

"Did you see it? How did it turn out?" Jongin was interested.

"Not yet, he said he would show it to me next week. But I know it will be good, I have seen his other works and they are really... fascinating." 

Sehun had been clearly impressed, especially since the colors in his paintings were so unique. Baekhyung didn’t use the ones that someone would normally use logically, but he took risks by experimenting with different tones and textures.

Sehun didn't know much about art, but he could tell that Baekhyun was someone special.

"He must be really good," Jongin said, with an amused smile. 

The waiter came on his orders, and as soon as he left, Sehun resumed the conversation.

"Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised if he was one of the best in his class." Sehun smiled at the memory that appeared in his mind. "If you could see his concentrated expression, you would know what I'm talking about, he sometimes got so immersed that he was slow to answer me."

"You guys became close in no time," Jongin commented, but to his surprise, Sehun seemed surprised by that.

"Well, I think so."

Jongin smiled a little, Sehun didn't seem to realize how fond he sounded when he talked about this Baekhyun guy. "I think you admire him."

"Is it so obvious? I wish I had his talent, my mother would have been very happy. You would have seen her face when I told her I wanted to stop taking drawing classes."

"But you're good at other things," Jongin pointed out.

Sehun laughed a little. "I guess you’re right. Anyway I hope that he will let me buy one of his paintings.”

"Did you offer to buy them?" Jongin didn't even wait for his answer. "Of course you did."

"If you had seen them..."

"I’d understand what you’re talking about." Jongin finished for him.

"Exactly!" Sehun nodded, smiling brightly.

Jongin stared at him when the waiter brought his orders, and it was very obvious that Sehun’s thoughts at that moment only revolved around one person.

Honestly, he could now understand his behavior over the past few weeks. Sehun was in a good mood every time he came to work, leaving as soon as the clock struck six. In the past he would stay a while longer, or he would finish something that he still had to do.

Jongin had known him for years, and it was the first time he had seen him genuinely excited when talking about someone.

"I'd like to meet him," Jongin said honestly. He must be someone interesting if he had gotten Sehun to keep talking about him.

"Oh! Maybe we can hang out together one day," Sehun seemed delighted with the idea. "I'll ask him."

Jongin nodded, and listened carefully as Sehun kept commenting on how quickly Baekhyun had managed to make the sketch, or how fun it had been when Baekhyun had noticed that Sehun had slightly changed his hairstyle in the fifth session.

He was sure that Sehun would do the same when Jongin liked someone. Besides that, it was really endearing to see how observant Sehun had become, being able to relate every detail of Baekhyun.

Jongin believed that Sehun was somewhat clueless, but that had definitely changed. Sehun had changed a bit, and Jongin was pleased to see him like this.

He looked happy. 

[…]

"He's here," Sehun whispered, a small smile forming on his lips.

"Who's here?" Jongin asked, grabbing his jacket, ready to leave the office.

"Baekhyun," Sehun replied, already on his way to the elevator. "We'll have lunch together."

"Oh, I'll go down with you."

Sehun nodded and they entered the elevator together. In just a few seconds, they made their way to the exit, where Sehun could see the silver-haired figure, waiting for him.

"Baekhyun-ssi!" Sehun greeted him, watching him turn with a smile that it seemed to tremble when he saw Jongin next to him. "This is Jongin-ah, I have told you about him."

"Hello," Baekhyun said, looking at Jongin with a polite expression.

"Nice to meet you, I've heard a lot about you," Jongin replied, smiling at the way Baekhyun blushed faintly.

"I hope he said nice things," Baekhyun said, smiling in Sehun's direction.

"Of course!" Sehun exclaimed.

"That's a secret," Jongin said in a confidential tone. "I'll let you guys go to lunch now, see you later, Hun." Jongin offered a hand to the silver-haired. "Hope to see you again, Baekhyun."

Baekhyun nodded, shaking his hand gently, and finally Jongin walked away from them.

"What would you like for lunch?" Sehun asked, but Baekhyun kept looking at Jongin's back, in a trance. "Baekhyun-ssi?"

It took a couple of seconds for Baekhyun to finally blink and look at him. "H-His mark..." he muttered, puzzled.

"What about his mark?" Sehun asked, not understanding.

"I-It's... It's the same as Kyungsoo's.”

Sehun froze, and like Baekhyun, he couldn't say something at first. "Are you sure?"

"Pretty sure." Baekhyun nodded, and Sehun tried to remember what exactly Jongin's mark looked like.

"Are they two six-pointed stars?"

"And they are one on top of the other, yes." Baekhyun looked a bit overwhelmed.

"That’s a strange coincidence," Sehun muttered. "Jongin will be euphoric, he really wanted to find his soulmate."

Baekhyun twisted his lips, he didn't look too happy for his friend.

And then Sehun realized the problem.

"Hey." Sehun put a hand on Baekhyun's shoulder to try to comfort him. "You'll be fine?"

"What are you talking about?" Baekhyun looked at him, his expression somewhat confused.

"Well..." Sehun hesitated, not sure if it was okay for him to intrude. "You like Kyungsoo, and Jongin is his soulmate, will you be okay with them getting to know each other?

Baekhyun raised his eyebrows, and seemed to understand what Sehun was referring to. "I..."

"I can wait to tell Jongin-ah if you want," Sehun offered, worrying as he saw Baekhyun's expression turn difficult to read.

"You don't have to do that," Baekhyun whispered.

"But—"

"Really." Baekhyun smiled at him, and Sehun felt a little relief run through his body. "Let's go have lunch."

"Okay." Sehun dropped his hand, and followed Baekhyun, who started walking. "Where are we going?"

"A place that I really like," Baekhyun explained, "and I think you will like too."

Sehun bit his lower lip, he couldn't tell if Baekhyun was really okay, or was pretending to be.

Sehun still remembered Kyungsoo's words and his excitement at finding his soulmate. Baekhyun would probably be a bit disappointed, right? After all, Sehun knew that Jongin wouldn’t hesitate to approach Kyungsoo.

"Baekhyun-ssi..." Sehun muttered doubtfully. "You know you don't have to pretend with me, do you? If you want to talk..."

Baekhyun gently shook his head. "I'm not pretending," he promised.

And Sehun felt his shoulders relax at those words. "Is that place very far from here?"

"No, just a couple of blocks." Baekhyun seemed eager to resume the conversation. "I used to go there with my parents before we moved in."

"Sounds good."

"You won't find better kimchi, you'll see," Baekhyun assured.

"I'm dying to get there, I'm starving."

"I bought this for you." Baekhyun took out a couple of sweets from his pocket. "I got the best grade in the class," he said in a proud tone.

"What?!" Sehun stopped, and Baekhyun did the same, balancing on his feet. "Are you serious?"

Baekhyun nodded, smiling adorably. "I was never more serious, my professor even told me it's my best painting so far."

"I'm so proud of you," Sehun couldn't help but say, watching Baekhyun's expression go from shocked to embarrassed.

"I couldn't have done it without your help." Baekhyun's cheeks were a soft pink color, and his words were shy. "I really appreciate it."

Sehun was moved by those words, Baekhyun took his paintings very seriously, and that he was saying something like that made him feel more than satisfied.

"I had a lot of fun," Sehun admitted.

"I’d like you to be my model again sometime next."

Sehun didn't expect something like that, especially since he didn't think he'd done a great job. 

"I'm sure you could find someone better," he said, “with more time, surely you—”

"But I want it to be you," Baekhyun cut him off, looking determined.

Sehun was slightly flattered by the assurance in his voice. "Will I have to be half naked again?" he joked.

Baekhyun's laugh was nice to hear, and something seemed to tickle inside Sehun. He had gotten used to it a bit by now, but he had to admit it was kind of pleasant.

"Mmm, we'll see."

[...]

"Are you ready?" Baekhyun asked in a tone that he hoped wouldn't quite show his own nervousness.

"More than ready." Sehun looked more than good in his casual clothes, but definitely what made him look lovely was that sparkle in his eyes.

Baekhyun hoped not to disappoint him. He had worked hard on the final details of the painting and had even added a few things after presenting it in his class. He hoped Sehun would like it.

He really wanted him to like it.

"Okay, here we go." Baekhyun removed the cloth that had been covering the painting and carefully watched Sehun's reaction, not wanting to miss a thing.

Sehun's face showed various emotions, but they were all visibly positive. His mouth fell open, and he seemed speechless for a moment, his eyes roaming the painting endlessly, absorbing it.

Baekhyun waited for him to say something, feeling ridiculously anxious. Even with his professor, he hadn't felt like that, somehow Sehun's opinion had become more important.

The most important of all, actually.

"You are so damn talented,” Sehun said in a whisper, still with his eyes fixed on the painting. "I... I don't know what to say, I mean, I’m fascinated. It's... I don't know much about art but... I love it."

Baekhyun was finally able to breathe again and felt his heart ease within his chest as well. He had liked it, and that was all he needed to be happy. 

"I really love it, the colors are... very warm, I like them." Sehun finally shifted his gaze to him, and the smile he offered was so sweet that Baekhyun felt his breath catch in his throat. "I like everything."

"I-I'm glad to hear that." Baekhyun fiddled with his fingers, feeling a bit nervous under Sehun's fond gaze. "I really wanted you to like it."

"Did you doubt it?" Sehun asked as if that was something ridiculous. "I know how much effort you put into it, there was no chance I didn't like it."

Baekhyun felt a little dizzy with happiness, and he walked over to Sehun so he could look at the painting next to him. He liked it too, it was one of the few paintings of his own that he liked.

"I think we make a good team," Baekhyun said in a light tone.

"You're giving me a lot of credit." Sehun laughed shortly. "But I think the same."

Baekhyun felt Sehun bump his shoulder into his in a playful way, and when their gazes met again, Baekhyun couldn't look away. Sehun's eyes were so warm, and he had spent weeks admiring every part of him, not daring to touch, his fingers burning with the desire to do so. 

He didn't know if he moved first, maybe he did, but it didn't really matter. Their lips met in a kiss that seemed to melt Baekhyun's body, and Sehun kissed him back, being gentle as always but skillful, guiding the kiss so that soon Baekhyun was out of breath. However, there was no way he could stop that kiss, the one he had been wanting so much… 

Sehun kissed him deeply, and Baekhyun parted his lips a little to give him full access to his mouth. One of Sehun's hands grabbed his waist, and Baekhyun tugged at his shirt.

Closer, he wanted him even closer.

He felt intoxicated, his thoughts narrowed to Sehun, and he could only focus on the way Sehun locked him in his arms. Baekhyun didn't want to escape, he was where he wanted to be.

He was a good kisser, Baekhyun wanted to kiss him for hours, and he could almost feel his whole body tingle. He had never felt anything like that, but he wanted to get drunk on the sensation. He wanted to lose himself in Sehun's lips and the warmth of his body. It was so good that he couldn't help but complain when Sehun pulled away a bit to catch his breath.

However, his lips returned to kiss him without waiting too long. And it was Baekhyun's turn to explore Sehun's mouth, sighing each time Sehun held him tighter in his arms. 

His feet moved on their own, and Baekhyun pushed Sehun onto the couch that he had used so many times before. But this time, Baekhyun climbed onto his lap so he could comfortably kiss him. Sehun smiled against his lips and Baekhyun shivered as Sehun's hands slid down his legs. 

He felt a bit overwhelmed by how good he was feeling that he didn't even realize that he had started to move his hips over Sehun's. And he would have continued to do so if it hadn't been because Sehun lightly bit his lower lip, making him moan weakly.

"Baekhyun." Sehun's voice was a little lower than normal, and he sounded out of breath. Baekhyun kissed him once more, wanting to prolong the moment. "Baekhyunee," he said again, more softly.

Baekhyun kissed his chin, and moved down his jaw, breathing in the intoxicating cologne that Sehun always used to wear. His skin screamed for being adored, and Baekhyun couldn't take it anymore, couldn't take any longer without touching it, without kissing it. He wanted... He needed… 

"Stop," Sehun said, taking him by the shoulders so he could look at him. Baekhyun tried not to feel rejected, but it was kind of difficult. Sehun's expression had turned serious, and Baekhyun sensed that he wasn't going to like what he was going to say. "I think you're confused."

"C-Confused?" Baekhyun managed to ask, not understanding what he meant.

"You don't really want this," Sehun said, and seemed to want to say something else, but Baekhyun was quick to correct him.

"I do want it, I—"

"No, you want Kyungsoo. You like him, he's the one you really want." Sehun's voice was firm, but Baekhyun could see in his eyes how much he had struggled to say that.

And Baekhyun felt his world reeling.

"No, it's not like that! I—"

"You don't have to lie to me." Sehun smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "I think I'd better go."

Baekhyun felt a short kiss on his forehead before Sehun stood up, leaving him on the couch. He tried to say something, but he knew that no matter what he said, Sehun probably wouldn't believe him. He had seemed convinced that Baekhyun liked Kyungsoo. And if only Baekhyun had told him the truth earlier…

"Sehun…" Baekhyun called him before he reached the door. "Could you stay?"

"I can't do it," Sehun seemed to have used all of his willpower to say that. "I don't think I'm strong enough."

Sehun left the study, and Baekhyun felt a lump form in his throat when the door closed. 

What had he done?

[…]

"Are you sure he likes someone else?" Jongin sounded incredulous. "He didn't give me that impression."

"He told me so himself when we met," Sehun muttered, watching TV in his living room. Jongin had gone to see him after he called him and Sehun didn't hear very well. 

"But he kissed you..." Jongin pointed out.

"That doesn't mean anything."

"How can you say that?" Jongin frowned, he couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"I told you, he's confused, he probably didn't want to do it." Sehun grimaced, letting out a heavy sigh.

"What about you? Did you want to kiss him?"

Sehun thought about the kiss—kisses, actually. He thought about the way he had reacted. He had gotten carried away, kissing Baekhyun like he was the air that he had been needing all along. He had wanted to kiss him, of course he had, although he hadn't dared to do it until Baekhyun had taken the first step. From there, Sehun lost control, letting his feelings drive his actions.

But it had been wrong because Baekhyun didn't want him. He wanted someone else. 

And Sehun... He didn't think that what he felt had something to do with the mark they shared. He liked Baekhyun, and he didn't even know if he had ever tried to stop his feelings despite his warnings, but what he did know was that Baekhyun didn't want a soulmate.

He had told him that from the first moment.

"Yes, I really wanted to."

"You like him," Jongin confirmed.

"Yes, but he—

The doorbell made them look toward the door, and Jongin raised one of his eyebrows. "Are you waiting for someone else?"

Sehun denied it, and he went to the door to open it, having no idea who it might be.

However, of all the possibilities, Baekhyun was definitely the last of them. 

"Hi," the silver-haired said, looking more than nervous. "Are you busy now?" 

Sehun didn't know what to say, his brain seemed to have disconnected.

"Look who's here, I think we invoked him," Jongin told Sehun as if he had suspected who it was. "You two need to talk. I'm leaving."

Jongin patted his friend on the back and winked at Baekhyun before leaving Sehun's apartment.

Baekhyun didn't move, he hadn't expected Sehun to have company, much less him. However, what Jongin had said planted many questions in his head. Had they been talking about him?

"When I gave you my address, I never thought you would come," Sehun finally said, letting him in.

"You didn't want me to come?" Baekhyun asked with some panic.

"I didn't say that." Sehun shook his head, not quite believing that Baekhyun was there. "Do you want something to drink? There's soda, and also juice."

"No, I just want to talk to you." Baekhyun swallowed hard and followed Sehun into the living room, where he sat on the sofa at the younger's request.

Sehun turned off the TV before sitting down next to Baekhyun, leaving several inches between them. He didn't trust himself. "If you come because of what happened the other day..." Sehun started, not knowing how to go on. He hadn't expected them to have that conversation so soon.

"I lied to you," Baekhyun said suddenly, and the guilt in his voice was as palpable as it was painful. "I lied to you that I had a boyfriend, just like I lied when I told you I liked Kyungsoo hyung. I don't even know why I did it, at first I wanted to put distance between us, but then I didn't know how to tell you the truth. I was afraid you would be mad at me."

Sehun looked at him in surprise, processing his words. Baekhyun had his gaze fixed on his hands, which were trembling slightly. 

"I... I was stupid, I should never have lied to you, and I'm terribly sorry. Everything else I said was true, I promise. When I kissed you, I..." Baekhyun blushed but seemed to take the courage to continue. "I did it because I like you and because I wanted to. I don't know how it happened, but... I feel good when I'm with you, I even purposely took more time than necessary to finish the painting so that we could spend more time together... I like that we text each other late at night, and I like to make you laugh. I want to keep painting you, and get to know everything about you…"

"Baekhyunee," Sehun muttered, taking one of the other's hands between his and giving it a light squeeze. Baekhyun's eyes met his, and Sehun could see all his doubts. He was opening his heart to him, and Sehun was dying to kiss and erase all his insecurities. 

"Did you find out how you feel about Jongin?" Baekhyun asked before he could say anything.

"Yes," Sehun answered confidently, seeing Baekhyun's lower lip tremble. "He's not who I like."

Baekhyun didn't want to rush to conclusions, but the sparkle in his eyes betrayed him.

He knew it. 

"I like you, more than you can imagine," Sehun said, just in case he wasn't entirely sure. 

"Forgive me, for having lied and being—" 

Sehun kissed him to shut him up, and this time it felt even better than the first time. Baekhyun liked him, and somehow, that caused him to lose the little self-control he had tried to have before.

Baekhyun let him assault his mouth, with almost the same desperation that Sehun had. His hands tangled in his dark hair, and he sat back on his lap. Sehun let his hands run over Baekhyun's body over his clothes, leaving a trail of kisses down his neck, hugging him tightly when Baekhyun murmured his name, like a prayer.

"I want to touch you," Baekhyun whispered, almost out of breath, his eyes bright and slightly unfocused. "Please…" His hands slid across Sehun's chest over his shirt.

Sehun smiled, and kissed Baekhyun's little pout. "I would like to touch you too." Baekhyun's face was slightly flushed, but he looked gorgeous and endearing, with his eyes full of affection and his lips well-kissed. "You are a work of art," he muttered, against Baekhyun's temple.

Baekhyun giggled and hooked his legs around Sehun's waist, clinging closer to him. He didn't say anything, but Sehun could perfectly read his intentions. 

"Hold tight," Sehun said before standing up with Baekhyun in his arms.

Baekhyun laughed against his neck, and Sehun could only rub his nose against his hair on the way to his room.

"I'm not going to let you go, ever," was the last thing Baekhyun said before kissing him again.

And Sehun couldn't agree more. 

Maybe, they were meant to be together after all.