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Gunwook feels like he should let this be known first and foremost: he tends to misunderstand things. A lot of things, actually.
His roommate, Matthew, had once asked him to buy him a water bottle and he did. Just apparently not the right one because Matthew had complained about how the plastic one he had bought him was so harmful despite the fact that someone else would have bought it eventually. Matthew had also meant for Gunwook to buy him a metal reusable one, not a plastic one. Gunwook had been confused as to why Matthew asked him to buy him a plain black water bottle.
His (now ex) boyfriend Gyuvin had told him once that he wished Gunwook would think about him more. Gyuvin thought it was plain clear that he had initially meant through actions like buying him something he had mentioned once or even noticing something was wrong without Gyuvin explicitly telling him so. Gunwook, however, thought Gyuvin just wanted to know if he was in Gunwooks thoughts– nothing past that. Because of this idea, Gyuvin would get a text every few hours from Gunwook that would read: “just thought of u rn :)” with no further explanation.
It's not intentional, he swears. He’s just… not the greatest at understanding things that seem obvious. Plus, it's not like any of these misunderstandings have ever made a significant impact on his life. It's always been such frivolous things.
It's quiet in the apartment– or at least as quiet as it can get with Matthew screaming over Fortnite at nearly eleven at night. It's not like it bothers Gunwook, really. He was sitting right beside him on the couch as Matthew quietly pressed buttons on his controller as Gunwook read out random Craigslist ads. He's not sure when this became a routine for them: every Saturday night they would meet in the living room, with Matthew gaming on their television as Gunwook did work or just fucked around on his laptop until eventually they fell asleep.
“Another missing cat,” Gunwook mumbles as he scrolls past, “Do people just let their cats roam all the time?”
Matthew shrugs as Gunwook watches him search another shining chest, “Or maybe some people’s cats are just crazy escape artists.”
“Maybe,” Gunwook sighs as he looks back to his laptop screen, scrolling.
“It's true, I swear.” Matthew says, and Gunwook is tempted to believe Matthew but then again, this would probably not be the last time that Matthew would mess with him and Gunwook would believe him undoubtedly.
“Uh-huh.”
“No, I’m serious!” Matthew whines as he spares Gunwook a glance in between the fictionalized gunfire on screen, Matthew seeming to not even care for the situation happening on screen.
“Really?” Gunwook lifts a brow as he pauses on another missing cat ad. Jesus, people really needed to lock their doors.
“Yes!” Matthew exclaims, “One of my old roommates had a cat that could open doors by himself!” Gunwook practically rolls his eyes at Matthews claims.
“Sure, sure.” Gunwook mumbles as he continues scrolling past all the ads, ignoring the ones that were very clearly attempting to ask for certain favors without explicitly saying so.
Matthew grumbles next to him as he continues playing his game, mumbling something about how nine year olds were getting better. Gunwook doesn't even want to question why Matthew always thinks he was playing with children despite being a twenty two year old man playing the same game.
Nothing seems to really catch Gunwooks eyes– most of the ads were about missing pets, random jobs, and posts looking for people they passed by. Gunwook glances up at Matthews game again, watching him queue himself in for another game much to Gunwooks surprise. He hadn't even seen if Matthew won or not.
Gunwook scrolls down more, his finger felt as if it was glued to the down arrow on his laptop. He didn't find anything good and yet he couldn't stop himself from searching for more.
“Anything good?” Matthew asks after a few minutes of sitting in stillness, listening only to the quiet sounds of the tapping on Gunwook’s laptop and the muted sound of the television.
Gunwook almost wants to groan, his eyes beginning to tire from the excessive amount of missing posts for animals. Gunwook scrolls more though, eager for something– anything good.
“No, not really. I mean it's just,” Gunwook sighs as he scrolls once more before pausing at an … interesting post. He isn't even sure what it's asking for.
“Hm?” Matthew asks, confusion wracking his brain as he practically fights for his life in Fortnite.
Gunwook is still sat in front of his laptop once Matthew dies in-game, the cursor hovering over an entirely confusing title: Virtual Model Needed.
Matthew stares at the bright screen as he sets his controller down. Both men can't even seem to make out a single idea of what it could even mean.
“Virtual model?” Gunwook questions aloud as he scratches his head, “What could that even mean?”
“Like A.I.?” Matthew shrugs as he looks at Gunwook’s cursor still hovering over the ominous post title.
“Or,” Matthew begins to offer a new idea, “like Dress to Impress?”
A beat.
Another one.
One more.
Matthew isn't sure how long Gunwook pauses at his idea. He's not sure whether Gunwook is reving up an incredibly specific yet extremely simple sentence to tease Matthew with or if Gunwook was thinking of the sweetest, kindest, and incredibly thoughtful way of expressing his thanks to Matthew for such an intelligent mind of his.
“Huh.” is all Gunwook says after what feels like an eternity waiting for him to speak. Matthew’s jaw practically unhinges itself off of his face from Gunwook’s lack of words. Gunwook was always a man of many words which was why they got along soo well so for Gunwook to be well, lacking in words. It's odd. It's strange.
“Why would they phrase it so weirdly?” Gunwook pouts as he clicks on the ad. The page loads and Matthew is still entirely confused on what the ad calls for.
Both Matthew and Gunwook’s eyes are locked onto the description, their eyes scanning the page of text.
Virtual Model Needed
Model of 5’11/180cm or taller needed for digital modeling of clothing.
Will be paid hourly for this work. Please send all inquiries or headshot images to this number: xxx-xxx-xxx.
Gunwook stares at the screen, it was such a simple message and did not answer any of his questions at all. Why was there a height requirement? Why would they be getting paid to play Dress to Impress? I mean, he knew people were lonely and would do anything but good lord was this person desperate.
“Okay…” Gunwook says slowly as his eyes are still glued to the laptop, stuck to the strange wording of the ad.
“You know what this means right?” Matthew says with a huff and now Gunwook can't even begin to describe his confusion. Gunwook turns to Matthew who has a grin on his lips as he leans over to Gunwook.
“No, I really don't,” Gunwook admits as Matthew still smiles at him as if he would understand if he exaggerated his expression, “Really. I don't.”
Matthew groans, throwing his head back dramatically, nearly slamming his head into the back of the couch. Gunwook really doesn't want Matthew to injure himself and have to go to the hospital again for some dumb reason. It's already embarrassing that they're on a first name basis with one of the nurses.
“Send a picture!” Matthew grins, gesturing to the advertisement, “You fit the criteria anyway.”
“I don't have a headshot.” Matthew furrows his brows as he stares at the screen and then back to Gunwook.
Matthew waves his hands around in the air, his controller almost falling out of Matthew’s loose grip, “Then I’ll just take one for you! It can't be that hard.”
Gunwook forgets about the whole situation four hours after he sends the picture to the guy with an extremely simple message: “This is for your ad btw.”
He forgets about it even a week later, with he and Matthew completely tossing the idea of getting a response back. It was probably some scammer ad, especially with the strange wording. (Matthew had initially thrown the idea that it was a weird sex ad that Gunwook had accidentally replied to. Gunwook nearly cried at the thought of that being true.)
Gunwook is sat on his bed, the screen of his tablet glaring back on his face as he moves the controls on his tablet. He picks items quietly as he listens to the only other people in his game who have voice chat argue over whether or not each other's outfits were ugly, as if they both weren't equally horrendous. His phone pings quietly, buzzing against his leg. Gunwook picks up his phone and can only stare at it in pure confusion.
unknown number
looks good. can you see me this friday @ 3pm?
Gunwook squints at the text, staring for so long that he barely manages to remember that he had a very intense game of Dress to Impress going on in the background. He tilts his head as he slowly types a response back, confusion lingering all throughout his mind.
gunwook
who is this?
Gunwook stares at his phone as he awaits a response, which takes little to no time.
unknown number
it's ricky.
Gunwook furrows his brows. Okay, great, his name was Ricky. Now just who exactly was Ricky? Gunwook scrolls through his mind internally, wracking his brain to look for anybody who had a name even similar to Ricky.
gunwook
?????
i don't know who that is
Gunwook wants to cry, seriously. First, he apparently lost the round of Dress to Impress because of the fact that he had both custom makeup and VIP and now he's dealing with some crazy person. Life could not get any worse.
unknown number
shim/shen ricky. or kim ricky.
depends on who you talk to
Gunwook stares at his phone screen in silence. He doesn't even know how to respond. The only thing he can even think about doing is slamming his against the wall in confusion and hope that that could clear his mind somehow. He does not do that. Instead, he does the closest thing to it.
“Matthew!”
He can audibly hear Matthew groan from his room as he makes his way into Gunwooks’ room anyway. The door creaks open to Matthew with his phone in hand as he stares at Gunwook with something that can only be annoyance.
“Yes?” Gunwook can hear murmuring on the other side of Matthews phone, probably on facetime with Hanbin.
“Do you know Ricky?” Gunwook asks as Matthew huffs, plopping himself on his bed and turning Gunwooks brightly shining tablet off for him.
“No?” Matthew says before he looks to his phone, “Do you know a Ricky?” Gunwook hears Hanbin hum momentarily before Hanbin speaks up.
“It sounds familiar.” Hanbin answers, “But I don't think I know who that is.”
“What is this about?” Matthew says as he leans over to try and glance at Gunwook’s phone but he covers it with his hand immediately so Matthew doesn't even get a glance of it.
“It's…” Gunwook sighs as he shows the phone to Matthew anyway, “I don't know who this is. Like, at all.”
Matthew holds Gunwooks’ phone as he reads the very few text message exchanges, reading the texts aloud for Hanbin to “hmm” and “ahh” at.
“It sounds like you're the one who sent something first.” Hanbin mutters after Matthew finishes reading the texts.
“What the hell would I have sent to a random person?” Gunwook laughs, expecting Matthew to laugh alongside him because, yeah, that would be stupid. But when his gaze lands on Matthew, the other man seems mortified or something worse than that. Like if you shit your pants during traffic hour or something close to that.
“Oh my god,” Matthew realizes as he stares at Hanbin on the phone, “the sex ad guy.”
Hanbin says nothing, he only gasps which by his reaction Gunwook can only assume that Matthew had told him all about him basically forcing Gunwook to send in his headshot for the, quote “sillies” unquote.
“We still don’t know if it's a sex ad for sure,” Gunwook says, “He could be like, wanting to play Dress to Impress.”
“What?” Hanbin says, “No, he like, definitely wanted a prostitute.”
Gunwook frowns, “Absolutely not. He said he wanted a virtual model and the game is quite literally that– Matthew literally told me that's what it means!”
Matthew freezes as Gunwook diverts the attention away from him and onto Matthew. Hanbin stares at Matthew through the screen, “Why did you tell him that.”
“I did not think it through,” Matthew defends himself, “but also why would you believe me!”
“Why wouldn't I believe you?” Gunwook buries his head in his hands. He wants to scream into a pillow. Or slam his head into a wall. Or cry. Or all three at once.
Matthew sighs as he picks up Gunwook’s phone, “I was just joking,” He types quietly on the phone before tossing it back onto the bed, right next to Gunwook, “besides it's all solved now. Don't worry.”
Gunwook lifts his head from his hands to stare at his phone, a new text appearing on his screen except that it was from him.
gunwook
sorry i just realized now lol
3 works! just lmk where :)
Gunwook realistically knows that he could have backed out. He could have apologized and made an excuse about a situation or an illness or just happened to accidentally move across the country on the exact day that he was meeting up with someone who definitely wasn't looking for a prostitute.
However, he doesn't think Matthew or even Hanbin would forgive him for backing out simply because he was a little afraid. Not afraid of him being a stranger– Hanbin and Matthew already had that covered. They both would be in the same cafe while Gunwook and the other guy, Ricky, would be there. He was afraid just incase that this Ricky guy would be weird.
Hanbin smoothes down a stray strand of Gunwook’s dark purple hair as he whines, “I’m just nervous.”
“It's not like you're going on a date or something,” Matthew laughs as he watches Hanbin's hand drop, pouting from his words, “You're just talking with some guy. Who might just be from a sex ad.”
“Or not.” Hanbin reminds him as he smooths down Gunwooks’ black sweater, “I’m sure you’ll be fine.”
Hanbin smiles at him– one of those bright, iconic Sung Hanbin Smiles™ that make you forget about all of your worries for a quick, blissful second. Hanbin grips Gunwooks hands warmly, “Just remember that Matthew and I will be there in the same cafe as you, keeping an eye on you.”
Hanbin's eyes dart to Gunwooks bag splayed out on his dining table, his pink tablet visible from where the two men were standing, “Just maybe don't imply you thought this was about Dress to Impress?”
Gunwook stares at the cafe windows from Hanbin's car in the parking lot. There isn't many people sat in there and even then none of them look like they were named Ricky. No offense to all these random people. Gunwook zooms into the cafe with his phone as he squints, examining each of their faces.
“This would be a lot less awkward if you had binoculars,” Matthew laughs from the backseat, watching through Gunwooks’ phone despite that.
“No it wouldn't, that’d be worse,” Gunwook grumbles, “plus they wouldn't have arrived in time for this.”
“I checked.” Gunwook adds. Gunwook sighs as he stares at the people in the cafe– none seeming to be giving off “Ricky vibes” as Gunwook would put it. A few older businessmen on their phones, probably complaining about some client. A couple of highschoolers, he can practically hear their soft giggling through the car.
Gunwook groans as he stares at the peoples’ faces through his phone, trying to see if he missed even a semblance of the so-called “Ricky vibe”.
They all watch people come and go in the cafe through Gunwooks’ phone, none of them seeming to fit Gunwooks criteria. Of course, until they eventually do.
A tall man walks in with blonde, nearly white hair– Gunwook honestly can't see more than that (curse him for not wearing his glasses only so he’d look “cuter”) but by Hanbins and Matthews gasps he can assume they see the exact man.
“Oh my god,” Matthew gasps as he stares straight ahead at the man in the cafe who goes to order, unknowing of the three of them staring at him from Hanbins’ tiny, beat up car. “Is that him?”
“No,” Gunwook squints at his phone, trying to make out the details of the man's coat, “His name is probably something expensive and pretty like..”
“Like?” Hanbin draws out, staring right into Gunwooks’ phone.
“Like Ricardo.” Gunwook shrugs, “I don't know.”
Hanbin removes his gaze from Gunwook's phone to stare at him blankly. Then he stares at Matthew, who has the exact same expression as him. A look that can only mean: Is he actually joking right now?
“So… Ricky?” Matthew asks and he can hear Gunwook pause in his thoughts. Gunwook puts his phone down in his lap as he stares ahead at the cafe window, observing who he assumes to be Ricky, who has sat down and is scrolling on his phone.
“Oh. Right.” Gunwook sighs, “I probably have to leave this car then.”
“Uh huh,” Matthew nods, “You do.”
“Don't be too nervous, Gunwook,” Hanbin says as he rests his hands over Gunwooks cold ones, his warm touch soothing most of Gunwooks nerves just at his gentle touch, “Remember we’ll be right outside.”
Matthew nods, agreeing with Hanbin's words, “And remember: if it is a sex ad, say no.”
Hanbin quickly shoots Matthew a look as if to tell him to please, for the love of god shut up. Matthew shrugs as Hanbin returns his gaze to sweetly look Gunwook in his eyes.
Gunwook can't help but be truthful every time he sees those round, sparkly eyes of Hanbins. It's almost like it's a truth serum for him so he can't really be blamed when his true thoughts come to light.
“If this really is a sex ad, is it bad that I would become a prostitute just for him?”
“Gunwook,” Hanbin sighs and Gunwook really thinks maybe just this once he will encourage his delusions. Maybe he’ll even tell Gunwook to go for his dreams despite his current dream being wanting to be with a man (A pretty man albeit, still a man).
Hanbin smiles gently as he smooths the back of Gunwooks hand, “Please don't do that.”
Gunwook stands in the middle of the cafe, he knows how embarrassing this is. He feels like a child who just lost their mother in a grocery store and is attempting to find her without the help of anyone else because he's a “big boy” now. Gunwook also feels embarrassed because he knows Matthew is probably laughing his ass off in the car as he watches him struggle while Hanbin is probably shushing him, telling him to be nice while he probably wants to laugh aloud with him.
“Gunwook,” He hears a gentle voice call him but not so loud that it makes everyone look in his direction but loud enough that it breaks the silence. Gunwooks head darts the way of the sound, his eyes meeting the warmest eyes he's ever seen. Honestly, they could compete with Hanbins own soft gaze and that means a lot. Really.
“Yes?” He asks as he walks closer to the man. He know he really shouldn't but god, he was cute.
“Ricky,” he smiles gently as he introduces himself and gestures for Gunwook to sit across from him at the table, “I wasn't too sure if you drink coffee so I just ordered tea. I hope that's fine.”
“That's- it's fine,” Gunwook smiles as he pulls out the chair across from Ricky, trying his best to ignore the squeaking noise from it being scraped gently across the floor, “How did you know my name?”
“Oh,” Ricky says softly as he stops leaning over into his own bag, “My friend recognized your headshot. Said you two used to date or something.”
Gunwook freezes from his words. Gyuvin. He realistically knows Gyuvin wouldn't ever say anything malicious and heinous about Gunwook– they ended on good terms, the two of them agreed on that. Even though that is true, Gunwook does fear that Gyuvin had said something bad about him. Like maybe the fact that he tends to spew random facts whenever he deems necessary, even if it isn't socially acceptable or even the fact that he snores pretty loud. Oh god, if Gunwook wasn't worried before he sure is now. His brain began to fill with all of his bad thoughts and habits that he had shown Gyuvin before, like those times he'd been too excited to tell Gyuvin something and had nearly slipped in front of the man or even that one time–
As if Ricky could read his mind, he reassures him, “Nothing bad was said, don't worry.” Ricky scrolls through his tablet, “Gyuvin only assured me that you weren't lying about your height and the fact that you do look like your photo.”
Gunwook furrows his brows, “People didn't actually…?”
“Lie?” Ricky huffs as he glances up from his tablet, “You would be surprised.”
“I think because I said in the ad that it would be virtual, people assumed we wouldn't meet up so they could just lie about their identity.” Ricky sets his tablet down on the smooth surface of the table before he takes a small sip of his amber orange tea.
“The wording was a bit odd to be honest,” Gunwook says as he watches Ricky set his tea back down on the table, “I wouldn't be shocked that people did that.”
“What?” Ricky nearly gasps, “Why?”
“The words virtual model doesn't exactly make sense to me, or really anyone. It's strange wording for starters.” Gunwook says, watching Ricky frown as he listens to Gunwook's criticism.
“I was initially going to put digital model but my friend said it sounded too odd.”
“Thank god.” Gunwook lets out, he quickly apologizes as he sees Ricky’s shocked expression as if Gunwook had just ran over all of the man's hopes and dreams, “It's just… with the way it's titled it sounds like you want a… specific favor.”
“Well, I do.” Ricky furrows his brows, “that’s why I put out an advertisement.”
“Not like that,” Gunwook specifies, lowering his voice to a whisper, “Like you were looking for sex. Basically.”
“Oh.” Ricky flushes as he averts his gaze back down to his tablet on the table, “I- did you think that? That I wanted that?”
“No.” Gunwook says rather quickly, watching how Rickys eyes dart up almost instantly, “I didn't know what you wanted, to be honest. I thought it was um, about a video game.”
Ricky glances at him nervously despite his words. His round eyes seem to shake as he attempts to check if Gunwook was deceiving him, his eyes falling down Gunwook's face before landing on his tablet once more.
“A video game?” Ricky tilts his head to the side like a lost puppy. Or a cat, Gunwook thinks, he looks like if a cat got turned into a really pretty and handsome man. If that was even possible.
“Yeah it's…” Gunwook's words falter in his mouth, “Do you know what Dress to Impress is?”
Gunwook almost cringes at himself the seconds his words leave his mouth. Ricky still looks confused, even more now if that was even possible.
“It's… it's a dress up game. On Roblox. “ Gunwook explains, “I thought you wanted someone to play with you.” Gunwook leaves out the part about thinking Ricky was some super ultra lonely gamer guy. Ricky would have probably died at that assumption.
“Oh?” Ricky frowns, “I thought the description made sense that it was about real modeling not video games.”
“It was the title.” Gunwook admits.
“I thought the title made sense,” Ricky huffs, it almost seems as if he was trying to be cute but Ricky continues on rather quickly, “Anyway, you're just going to model some clothing for me. It's for my fashion thesis.”
“Oh?” Gunwooks eyes almost feel like they're going to pop out of their sockets, “You're a fashion student?”
Now that Gunwook had said it aloud, it was obvious. If not for the small markings on his hands, made by all sorts of tools, then by his clear knowledge of fashion. Ricky was dressed, well to be frank, much better than anything Gunwook could even think of. It's not like Gunwook is a bad dresser, he's really not. He knows what colors go with what and what he likes to wear but beyond that? He's absolutely clueless.
Unlike Ricky.
Ricky seemed to personify what fashion was. He put together different textures, shapes, and colors that Gunwook wouldn't personally think of using in years unless someone had recommended he do it. He truly was a fashion genius.
“Yeah, I am,” Ricky nods before he picks his tablet back up from the table, “I just need you to model this–”
He turns the tablet around, showing Gunwook a photo of some type of fabric with ruffles. He really couldn't tell anything about the garment.
As if Ricky could tell his innermost thoughts, he continues on, “It’s not finished, don't worry. I was going to ask you for your measurements over text but, I feel like you would have stopped messaging me if I did ask for them like that.”
Gunwook thinks if Ricky did, he would have thought about it in a completely different way not like, the size of his shoulders.
“Yeah,” Gunwook nods, “I definitely would have.”
“I know,” Ricky says in agreement, “but I need those measurements so, you can come over to my apartment when you're free so I can get those.”
“Huh?” Gunwook pauses at Ricky’s immediate invitation to come over to his apartment. He barely even met the man and while Gunwook knows that yes, this is a business arrangement but still, stranger danger, dude.
“You can bring your friends if you're worried.” Ricky says as he stares directly at Hanbin and Matthew in their car from the parking lot. Gunwook can only imagine how they're freaking out from here.
“I didn't think you–”
Ricky huffs in amusement, “You kind of notice when two people are staring at you for almost twenty minutes.”
Gunwook flushes at his admission, he can feel his skin getting warmer as the seconds pass by. He wants to blurt out some excuse but he can't really say it without being so embarrassed.
“It's okay.” Ricky reassures him, smiling softly, “It's cute.”
Gunwook flushes even more.
Gunwook goes to his apartment the next week. He brings Hanbin because he knows Hanbin wouldn't say anything unreasonable and also because Matthew had work. Unfortunately.
Both Gunwook and Hanbin stand at Ricky's apartment door quietly and nervously. They can hear shuffling in the apartment– maybe Ricky was just as nervous as he was and was losing his mind making last minute adjustments to his home.
“I’m leaving, I’m leaving!” He hears a whiny shout come from inside. It doesn't sound anything like Ricky– granted he had only spoken to Ricky for twenty minutes last week and even then it could be possible that he was lying about his voice for like, twenty minutes straight. Even then that was such a strange thing to do–
Another voice comes from inside the apartment, “I didn't even… Hao, you can be here while they're here. It's fine.”
Gunwook sighs with relief, catching a confused Hanbin glancing at him with such pure and utter confusion that Gunwook almost felt embarrassed to be relieved by what had just happened.
“No, it's fine,” Gunwook hears this “Hao” speak while more quiet shuffling, closer to the door is heard, “I have a date anyway. Seems real cute.”
The door creaks open and both Gunwook and Hanbin see this “Hao” guy and it almost feels like they're both trying hard to not make eye contact with him. If it wasn't embarrassing enough that they were both simply just too nervous to knock, Hao seemed to both be eyeing them up and down the second his eyes met their vibe.
“Oh they're both cute for you, Ricky,” Gunwook flushes at Hao's bold words as he walks past the two of them to leave the apartment.
Ricky sighs as he looks up at Gunwook's already flushed face from such a small comment, “Sorry.”
All Gunwook feels like he can even do is nod, swallowing Ricky's brief apology as he steps inside his apartment. As he and Hanbin slip off their shoes at the doorway, Ricky rushes away quickly within his own apartment. Gunwook nervously stands by the doorway as he looks around Ricky’s and maybe Hao’s apartment. He doesn't know quite yet. What Gunwook does know is that his apartment is nice. Gunwook already knew that when Ricky had to text him a code in order to even get in the parking lot but he didn't realize how nice it actually was. The doorway opened up into the living space, wide expansive windows opening up to the balcony that overlooked the busy city.
Ricky shuffles quickly back in, a roll of measuring tape rolled around his wrist and loosely hanging off of his hand.
“Are you ready to start?” Ricky asks as he begins unrolling the tape, glancing at Hanbin who opts to sit on the couch quietly, it squeaking softly underneath him.
“Um, yeah.” Gunwook nods, “I don't need to like, take off my shirt or anything, do I?”
“You don't need to.” Ricky says as he looks back at the tape in his hand, “You can lift up your shirt, whatever you're comfortable with.”
Gunwook nods as he watches Ricky pull the end of the tape tightly between his fingers. Ricky steps closer to Gunwook and only now does he realize the height difference between them two. It’s not like Ricky was so short he had to look down at Ricky but still, it was there.
“Lift up your shirt,” Ricky mumbles in between Gunwook's weird thoughts about their height difference. Gunwook complies, lifting his shirt as Ricky reaches around him with the tape. Quietly huffing as he stretches his arms around Gunwook, Ricky lines up the tape against his skin, the cold metal of the tape freezing on to his already warm skin.
“Is this not oddly intimate to you?” Gunwook blurts out as he watches Ricky jot down his measurements on his phone. Ricky releases the tape from his skin, “You can put your shirt back down.”
Gunwook releases his grip on his shirt as Ricky continues, his hands reaching to pull the tape around Gunwook's chest. Ricky's fingers work quickly at pulling the tape gently against him before answering Gunwook's question.
“No, not really,” Ricky lies, “This is just a part of my work.”
“I know but still,” Gunwook says as he watches Ricky type more numbers into his phone and then releasing the tape, “Being so close… It has to be weird sometimes.”
“Depends on what I’m measuring.” Ricky shrugs as he holds the tape against his sternum, stretching it out against his shoulders. “Things like your chest and waist aren't that odd.”
“I never said odd,” Gunwook corrects him as Ricky releases the tape again, quickly making note, “I said intimate. Being intimate and odd are not the same thing.”
“They can be both sometimes.” Ricky comments as he leans closer to Gunwook, “Lean in closer, I have to measure your neck.”
“Sorry?” Gunwook pauses at his command. Yes, he knows Ricky had never really told him what the garment would look like but also he's never been asked to measure the width of his neck.
“Like lower your body a little.” Ricky says and Gunwook does so, complying to Ricky's kind of strange command. Ricky hums quietly as his fingers rest against Gunwook's throat, his fingers holding the tape gently but still tight.
“It feels strange sometimes but not intimate. I don’t know the models enough to label it as intimate,” Ricky releases the tape as he types on his phone once more, “Like you. I don't know you well enough to even label this as intimate.”
“Hm.” Gunwook nods as Ricky continues on measuring him without another thought. Ricky continues on measuring him in silence with the sound of cars driving past below them echoes through the large apartment. Ricky finishes quickly in silence as he wraps up his measuring tape in his hand.
“I’m done,” Ricky says as he looks over his notes full of measurements. Gunwook wants to peek over and be nosy even though he knows what's in the notes but, still. “I’ll message you if I need any more measurements.”
“So that's it?” Gunwook asks and Ricky nods promptly.
“That's it. I don’t need anything from you until we need to take the photos but that won't be for another few weeks.” Ricky says, “You won't have to think about this ever again until I message you.”
Oh but Gunwook did think about it. So much. He couldn’t stop thinking of what Ricky could possibly be making him wear. Oh god, why did he even agree? He could have said “No, actually, I don’t want to do this!” but he was too stunned by Ricky’s looks that he didn’t realize actually how nerve-wracking this was. Why didn’t he ask for sketches? Ricky could make him wear a flimsy piece of fabric and call it a day. Gunwook huffs as he thinks about all the strange and outlandish ideas that Ricky could possibly have for his fashion thesis. Ricky was well dressed, yes, but it’s not like Ricky could have incredibly fucked up ideas in his head.
“If you keep pacing so much, there’s going to end up being a tornado in here,” Matthew chides from the couch, watching some cartoon on the television. Gunwook nearly forgot that Mathew lived here too, too enveloped in his pacing and his very strange line of thoughts.
“Sorry.” Gunwook says, pausing his pacing momentarily as he walks closer to the couch, watching over Matthew’s cartoon absentmindedly. Matthew shrugs as he hears Gunwook’s quick apology.
“It’s just…” Gunwook sighs and the second the breath of air escapes his lips, Matthew pauses the television before turning around in his seat to look up at Gunwook. Matthew’s round eyes stare at him, waiting for his next words.
“What do you think Ricky is making? Like do you think it’s gonna be weird?”
“Weird?” Matthew questions with a lifted brow, “Like you think he’ll make you wear clown clothes, or what?”
“Ricky wouldn’t do that.” Gunwook crosses his arms, pouting softly as he watches Matthew stare at him blankly in response to his faithful words.
“You don’t know that,” Matthew mumbles. Gunwook groans, he didn’t know that actually. Ricky could be an actual maniac and put him in the ugliest clothing pieces known to man and maybe he just put on a facade as some extremely well dressed man so he could fool Gunwook. Gunwook wants to cry at the thought of that.
“I wasn’t thinking of weird like that!” Gunwook exclaims as he covers his face that’s slowly rising in temperature, thinking of his original thought of so-called “weird clothing.”
“Oh?” Matthew seems interested from Gunwook’s train of thought, “I’m like, pretty sure you have to be fully dressed for something like that.”
“You don’t know that!” Gunwook exclaims, “You’re not a fashion student!”
“And neither are you.” Matthew points out, “You could always, I don’t know, ask him about it?”
Gunwook pauses from his freak out. Oh my god, Hanbin was rubbing off on him too much that Matthew finally started to make sense and not encourage his weird, outlandish delusions. Gunwook would never tell Hanbin about that though- he’d tease Matthew too much and Gunwook would have to hear him complaining about Hanbin’s silly, frivolous teasing.
Gunwook shakes off that idea as he pulls out his phone, pulling up his and Ricky’s last exchange of texts.
gunwook
how’s the project going?
Gunwook wants to slam his head in the wall. Oh god, he was so embarrassing. How was the project going? That was basically like asking Ricky “heyyy u didn’t forget right? lol.” Gunwook shuts his phone off, hoping Ricky wouldn’t visibly cringe from the sight of his text and stare at his phone in confusion.
ricky
it’s fine
Gunwook stares at his phone. Oh god, Ricky thinks he’s annoying or something else. Gunwook doesn’t even know what that something else could be because they’ve literally only met twice and he doesn’t know if it’s even possible to garner hatred for someone you’ve only seen twice in your life.
ricky
i’m shopping for lace rn
[photo]
[photo]
Gunwook stares at the text on his phone, Ricky had sent him photos of the lace. The two pieces of lace were similar but still different enough to where he could see how Ricky would be choosing between the two. They were both white but the first one had more flowery details whilst the other one seemed more elegant with its satin detailing. He wasn't sure why Ricky had updated him on this, it's not like Gunwook really knew anything about fabrics and sewing.
gunwook
so i take it it’s good?
ricky
yeah but it's a bit boring
and lonely
but it's fine
Gunwook stares at the text for what feels like an eternity before he does what feels like the dumbest move of his lifetime.
gunwook
oh i’m sorry ab that :(
do you want company?
Gunwook watches the three bubbles at the bottom of his screen load. And then stop. And then start again. And then stop. It repeats for six times that Gunwook can count before he opens up his notes app, drafting a long and detailed apology to Ricky for even thinking of saying that. They’re not friends– not really. Ricky only “hired” him for his thesis and he and Ricky barely speak outside of anything relating to his fashion thesis. Gunwook cringes as he stares at his apology which is only two words so far: I’m sorry. Gunwook stares at his notes app for an eternity before a text pops up at the top of his screen. He clicks on it so fast that Gunwook almost feels like his phone would have exploded if he clicked on it any faster.
ricky
sure :) i’ll be home in like 5 minutes
you remember the code?
Gunwook doesn’t know when he makes it a routine to go over to Ricky’s apartment while he works on the garment. The first time it was incredibly awkward. Maybe even worse than that. Gunwook had sat quietly at Ricky’s living room table while the man sat across from him, sewing in silence. It’s not like Gunwook had nothing to do, he did. By that, he does mean playing Dress To Impress for hours on end while Ricky hummed quietly as the sewing machine echoed between the two of them.
“Gunwook,” Ricky had interrupted the silence between them, stopping his movements to look at Gunwook.
“Hm?” Gunwook asked as he averted his gaze away from his tablet. He knows he was probably going to lose the round if the sight of his bald head, mismatched outfit and full beat was anything to go by but he could care less about his outfit. Ricky slid two rolls of lace across the table to Gunwook, “Which one?”
“Which one?” Gunwook repeated, his brows furrowing as he processed Ricky’s words, “Whichever one you like more, I guess.”
Ricky groaned, “Don’t say that.”
“What?” Gunwook whined as he gestured towards the rolls of lace, “I’m just saying, it’s your work so-”
“And it will be on your body so please,” Ricky begged, “Pick one.”
Gunwook laughed, “Pick whichever one you think will look better on me.”
Ricky almost screams. Ricky can’t even count on his hands, or even his toes or even all of them combined how many times this has happened to him. Absolutely ridiculous.
Gunwook almost lets out another hearty laugh at Ricky’s face. Not because he was making a funny face but because he was trying so hard to look upset it was funny. Ricky’s eyes were squinted as he stared at Gunwook, his lips nearly downturned into a pout as he screams internally.
“Choose one.”
Gunwook sighed as he stared at both rolls, one was flowery and the other was more elegant and chic. It was obvious what the answer was.
“That one.” Gunwook pointed to one of the rolls, and if he saw Ricky grin from his choice, he chose to ignore it.
The third time he goes over, Ricky isn't even there. Gunwook has to knock on the door to get inside the apartment and when he does, he’s greeted by Zhang Hao. Hao doesn’t even greet him, he opens the door with a simple look up and down of Gunwook before he re enters his apartment, leaving the door open for Gunwook to walk into the apartment.
Gunwook looks around the apartment, watching how Hao sits back down on their leather couch without sparing another glance at him.
“He’ll be here in five minutes,” Hao says, his eyes still glued onto his phone, “It shouldn’t take him very long.”
Gunwook nods, shifting to sit on the far edge of the sofa, glancing at Hao every few minutes as if Hao would suddenly do something crazy or even think about kicking him out. It’s not like he would though, Hao had no reason to besides like, interrupting his peaceful and lovely day that would have happened without Gunwook showing up.
Ricky shows up eventually. However, it’s not five minutes like Hao had predicted. Instead, it was twenty. When Ricky bursts into the apartment, he has multiple plastic bags slipping off of his shoulders as he drops them to the ground with a groan. He mutters something quietly in Chinese that Hao responds to with a loud laugh. One of those laughs you’d only ever hear from a father with two kids, not a twenty-something year old fashion student.
“I didn’t know Tuesdays were the days that apparently everyone decides to go to the craft store,” Ricky sighs as he picks the plastic bags back up, silently beckoning Gunwook to follow him. Gunwook follows him quietly, pushing Ricky’s bedroom door open for him as Ricky tosses the bags on his well-made and clean bedsheets.
Ricky sighs as he practically throws himself on his bed, face down. Gunwook can only stare at Ricky in what feels like utter confusion. Ricky explains nothing but scoots the bags away from him and near the pillows, making space for Gunwook to possibly throw his own body against Ricky’s bed just like he did seconds before. Gunwook sits down quietly next to him, laying back against his bed as Ricky mumbles something against the bedsheets.
“Hm?” Gunwook asks as he stares up at the ceiling fan spinning quietly, the sound of the fan blades whirring around as Ricky adjusts himself, turning over to look at the same thing as Gunwook.
“I don’t wanna work on it,” Ricky whines, stretching out his words, “My hands hurt and I’m so tired.”
Gunwook glances at Ricky beside him, his dark round eyes following the dangling charms from the fan. Ricky seems so focused on the fan that Gunwook forgets that he was whining mere seconds before.
“What have you finished so far?”
Ricky nearly jumps out of his bed at the mention of his project. Gunwook follows Ricky with his eyes as he watches Ricky pull out a hanger from his closet.
Ricky turns around with his hand curled around a velvety pink hanger, “Sit up.”
He follows his instructions so easily it almost feel like they were built into him. Gunwook leans up on his forearms to watch Ricky stand closer to him, taking the piece of garment that’s finished off of its hanger delicately.
“Lift your chin.” Ricky says softly before buttoning the shirt collar around his neck, the soft lace he’d picked out previously gently tickling his adam's apple.
Ricky removes his hands from the collar around his neck. Looking at the details on the collar and then back up at Gunwook.
“Pretty.” Ricky says fondly and Gunwook has no idea if he’s talking about him or the garment. He doesn’t wish to know what exactly he was talking about.
The fifth time he comes over, Ricky is extremely focused. Like, so focused that Gunwook is slightly fearful to make a noise. Gunwook stares at Ricky from the apartment entrance, his eyes seeming so focused on sewing lace on another piece of fabric. His fingers move nimbly as he carefully places the pieces of fabric onto the bed of the machine.
“You can sit down,” Ricky abruptly interrupts Gunwook’s thoughts of not wanting to interrupt him, “I need you to try something on for me.”
“Oh?” Gunwook tilts his head. It had only been a week or so since he had last visited Ricky, he didn't know the man had finished a majority of his project.
“Don’t be so surprised,” Ricky laughs gently, glancing up at Gunwook, “Hao was complaining all week about how loud my sewing machine was when it was late at night.”
Gunwook chuckles as he moves closer to where Ricky was sewing, dropping his bag on one of the chairs near the table.
Ricky pauses his sewing to stand up and shuffle to his room. Gunwook can hear the clinking of hangers as Ricky looks through his room for the garment. It doesn't take very long for Ricky to find it and present it to Gunwook in the living room as Ricky probably had been staring at his project for hundreds of hours on end.
Ricky holds the top of the outfit to Gunwook, showing off the shirt full of lace, pearls and ribbon. Gunwook can't help but stare in awe as he looks the piece up and down, carefully examining the top through his squinted eyes.
“I just need you to try out the sleeves,” Ricky says, lifting the flared sleeves of the piece to show off to Gunwook, “I forgot to measure your arms. So I did just guess your arm length. As weird as that sounds.”
“Okay,” Gunwook nods, pushing one of his sleeves up as Ricky lifts it to his arm, sliding the sleeve against Gunwook's arm. It was loose around his arm, he wasn't sure whether it was supposed to be like that or if Ricky was sooo generous and thought he was much more muscular than he actually was.
“It's supposed to be loose, don't worry about that.”
Oh.
Gunwook moves on, his focus moving from the fit of the sleeve to the length of it. It wasn't short, which he can tell that's mostly what Ricky was afraid of telling from how he seemed to glance down at how it fell against Gunwook’s wrist.
“Is it too long?” Ricky stares at the fabric as he hushedly asks. His hands hover over the fabric, wanting to lean in closer as he watches Gunwook feel the fabric.
“It's good.” Gunwook says but Ricky still seems so concerned about the fit. His eyebrows scrunch up as he stares at the fabric.
“Ricky.” Gunwook huffs, almost sounding upset at the fact that he was doubting himself but his tone held no weight.
“You're sure?”
Gunwook grabs Ricky's cold hands, he can feel the small cuts on the edge of his finger from god knows what now. “I’m positive.” Gunwook nods, reassuring him, “It's going to look great.”
Gunwook was right. Not that it really matters. Ricky can't count on his hands or even his and Hao’s hands combined the amount of times Gunwook has been right– whether that be those strange facts that he has an unlimited amount of, or just random guesses. Anyways, it looks fucking fantastic is Ricky’s point. It's not finished though because why would it be?
Ricky can’t even count the amount of times where he's thought he was finished and went out drinking to only realize hours later that he needed to add a few more details. That always resulted in him sewing the tiniest details hungover with an earth shattering headache as Gyuvin could only laugh at him, watching him in immense pain.
Ricky sighs as he cuts more lace, probably his sixth roll of it in this past month. Ricky sighs again. He feels like he can't do anything or else his hands will fall off and his career will be completely over. Well, his career that hasn't even really started yet. That's not the point.
“Oh? Gunwook’s not here?” Gyuvin walks into the living room, glancing around the room as if Gunwook would magically appear in thin air.
“Nope.” Ricky grunts as he threads his needle, “I don't want him to see it.”
Gyuvin chuckles as he crosses his arms, “He's going to see it eventually.”
“I know that.” Ricky stares at him, “Besides, he's been busy, too. He can't come over every time I message him to.”
“You’re messaging him every time?” Gyuvin's eyes go wide at the sound of that. They’re so round that he understands why Hao keeps calling his eyes boba.
“No, I’m not,” Ricky shakes his head as he laces the thread into his white lace, “Sometimes he messages me first or he just shows up. It’s cute.”
“Oh my god, you want him bad.”
Ricky looks up at Gyuvin, his brows furrowed as if Gyuvin had just said something deeply offensive to multiple groups of people and not like, a presumption.
“Gyuvin, you don't know that.”
“Yes, I do.” Gyuvin pulls out a chair across from Ricky and Ricky almost lets out an instinctive groan. “You acted this way with– what was his name?”
“You don't even remember his name!” Ricky whines, tying up the thread as Gyuvin scrolls through his phone. Ricky internally prays that Gyuvin somehow deleted the hundreds of photos including Ricky and his ex-boyfriend.
“Well, you do! You know exactly who I was talking about!” Gyuvin whines back at Ricky like some sad, pathetic puppy.
“So?” Ricky huffs, tossing his finished lace aside to cross his arms like an upset toddler.
“My point is… you like him. Like, seriously.”
Ricky rolls his eyes at Gyuvin’s statement? Presumption? Guess? Whatever it was, Ricky did not like it.
“I’m not sure he likes me, even if I did like him. Which just to clarify, I don't.” Ricky quickly adds in before Gyuvin can somehow add a quip in between the breath he takes in between his sentences.
Gyuvin sighs before he asks, “Well… what does he act like?”
“He's shy.” Ricky states, “But not like, shy as in when I first met him. Like he was sort of awkward then, probably since we didn't know each other. And also his friends were watching us from the parking lot.”
Gyuvin's wide eyes dart up so fast from his phone that Ricky wouldn't be surprised if somehow Gyuvin's round eyes just popped out of his head.
“It wasn't a big deal, alright?” Ricky assures him, “Anyway, now he's still sort of shy. I mean he's himself but now he acts cute naturally and almost like–”
“Like he wants to be praised?” Gyuvin lifts a brow.
“Yes…” Ricky answers, staring at Gyuvin as he shakes his head, laughing to himself in the silence of the apartment.
“He likes you too.” Gyuvin smiles before his wide grin turns into a gasp abruptly, realizing something, “Ma Jingxiang! That was his name!”
“Oh my god.”
Ricky tries to ignore Gyuvin and even Hao’s teasing throughout the week as he works and eventually finishes his work. It doesn't work– especially not with Hao cooing everytime he catches Ricky smiling at his phone, implying he was texting the man. Ricky usually was but still, he can smile at things on his phone other than a guy texting him. He has duality, he can smile at other things.
He can't really ignore their knowing looks when it comes time to take photos of Gunwook for his fashion thesis. Zhang Hao rented a photo studio for Ricky's thesis photos, completely ignoring Ricky's begging to just let them take the photos in their apartment. Hao had simply sighed as he gripped Ricky's shoulders loosely, staring into his eyes gently, “I’m renting this studio whether you like it or not.”
Ricky groaned, “You really don't have to. I can just take photos in my room, it’ll be fine.” Hao stared at him with a lifted brow, probably creating some long winded rant about how Ricky's room probably wasn't ideal especially not with the scraps of fabric that he’d thrown in the corner of his room or even the random sewing needles strewed around his room.
“Ricky,” Hao began and Ricky already was internally winding up a groan from the sound of his name.
“Your piece is too pretty to take photos in your, no offense, ugly little room.”
That somehow, was enough to convince Ricky to not take photos in his room. So here he was, in the photo studio paid for by Zhang Hao, putting makeup on Gunwook. They had the studio for hours on end, Zhang Hao hadn't given him a clue as to how many hours he'd paid for, only telling him, “Don't worry about taking a while,” and that was all.
Ricky had clipped his hair aside, cute pink hair clips decorating Gunwook's purple strands. Gunwook was quiet as Ricky painted his foundation on, whether that be out of unsureness or simply because he was on his tablet like a toddler. Ricky watches his screen as he dabs the foundation on, watching Gunwook move expertly.
“Is that… the game?” Ricky asks quietly. He can't even churn out the name, his memory being completely fried from the previous month and a few weeks of only being focused on sewing and losing his mind.
Gunwook giggles at Ricky's question, “Yes. Yes, it's the game.” Gunwook almost wants to laugh at how Ricky remembers his silly game he’d mentioned offhandedly at their first meeting, never mentioning it ever again.
“It's cute,” Ricky says, putting another of his products on Gunwook's face, “Were you playing this every time you were at my house? It looks so familiar.”
Gunwook wants to shrink down in his chair, never to be seen again. He’d never realized Ricky would have remembered the bright pink screen glaring back onto his glasses as Ricky had checked his garment's fitting while Gunwook was playing.
“Why do you remember that?” Gunwook whines as Ricky puts another one of his various powders on him.
“Why wouldn't I?” Ricky pouts as he dabs Gunwook’s face with a sponge, “You were so focused on it, your face was so cute.”
Gunwook ignores his face heating up at Ricky's words to laugh, “You should have been more focused on your project than me.”
“I still finished it, didn't I?” Ricky teases, pointing at him with the end of his makeup brush. Gunwook nods, hoping Ricky can't see his flushed cheeks peeking through the thin layer of foundation.
Ricky finishes his makeup rather quickly with his excuse being “your skin is already good, there's no need for makeup,” and definitely not admitting that he couldn't stare at Gunwook for that long without visibly turning red, thinking of Gyuvin's words from the nights earlier.
Gunwook has issues getting into Ricky's piece because of course he does. Ricky thinks the universe is secretly out to get him with the amount of situations he's been in in the past few hours where he needs to be so close to Gunwook that he can feel his breath brush against his own flushed cheeks.
Ricky buttons the high collar of the top, the cold metal of the crest pressing against Ricky’s thumb. Gunwook stares at Ricky in the full body mirror they had propped up against the wall. He didn't know why Ricky had acted so humble about his work, acting like literally anyone could make the same things.
The high collar pressed against his adam’s apple, the delicate lace he’d picked out a month before pressing against the top of the collar. Pearls were delicately sewn into swirls across the neck, transitioning into the wide white sleeves of the garment. The lace ruffled against the bottom of the sleeves and against the long seam running down the arm. The lace hung down from his top, like a jellyfish onto the long white skirt.
“Pretty,” Gunwook mumbles, making Ricky jump from his words. After nearly slamming his head into the bottom of Gunwook’s chin, he clears his throat.
“I need you to turn around,” Ricky gestures vaguely, “to tie the back. You know.”
Gunwook agrees, turning around for Ricky to tie the ribbon on the back of his piece. He was so nervous at the prospect of Ricky’s cold hands brushing against his skin. It’s just for a project, Gunwook has to remind himself, the blush on his skin never leaving despite how many times Gunwook repeats it to himself.
Ricky's hands tie the ribbon so softly, his knuckles brushing against Gunwook's skin so gently it almost makes him cry. Ricky huffs as he finishes tying the white ribbon, tightening it once more for good measure.
“Oh, it’s cute!” Hao practically squeals as he looks the outfit up and down, “It was cute on the hanger but Ricky, wow.”
Gunwook watches Ricky's cheeks turn pink at Hao's accumulation of compliments, dumping them all on Ricky rather quickly so he couldn't have even a single second to deny his words.
“Alright, come on,” Hao carries on, glancing at Gunwook, “let's get the photos done.”
Ricky can't stop staring at Gunwook. He knows realistically he would still be staring at Gunwook, whether he liked him or not. But oh my god, he could not keep his eyes off of him. Ricky's eyes are practically glued to Gunwook's body– his eyes staring at the makeup on Gunwook’s face, the light orange blush complimenting his face. The warmth on his face radiating through the makeup, his smile making Ricky's smile beat a little faster than normal.
Hao makes small comments here and there, directing Gunwook so easily as he takes photos. Gunwook follows his lead so well that Ricky doesn't even feel like he has to be here to observe the photos, only to watch in awe as Gunwook poses. He watches Gunwook move so professionally, as if he’d done this before and never bothered to tell Ricky about his previous experience. His body moved entrancingly as Hao spoke gently, most of his words being praises.
It doesn't take very long for Zhang Hao to finish taking the photos, especially with Gunwook being so cooperative and well, good. Hao presses the button on his camera, showing Ricky all the hundred-something photos he'd taken of Gunwook for his thesis. Ricky still couldn't stop staring at Gunwook even if he was right next to him, looking at the same photos as him. His eyes felt like they were glued to the camera screen, in awe of the pictures.
“They're good,” Ricky looks at Hao, “Like, really.”
Hao smiles as he turns to look at his own photos, “Thank you. Does that mean we're done now?”
Ricky sighs– whether out of exhaustion or realization, he does not know. He nods anyway, “Yeah. I’m finished.”
“Okay well, I’m going to pack up so we can leave,” Hao nods, looking around the studio to stare at the various photography equipment in dread, “Don't forget to kiss Gunwookie goodbye.”
Ricky flushes at Hao’s words, wanting to deny them but he can't as Hao practically runs away from him the second those words escape his mouth. Ricky wants to find Gunwook though, and tell him goodbye. Maybe not give him a kiss– that seemed really odd for a simple goodbye to someone who helped him with a school project.
Ricky finds Gunwook staring at the garment in the mirror, he doesn't even seem bothered with his face. His eyes stare down the white fabric of the garment, his eyes moving so slowly as he practically examines the piece on his body. Ricky's never felt more appreciated than now.
“It's nice, Ricky,” Gunwook says, his eyes still glued to the mirror, just this time staring into his round eyes as he speaks.
“Not just nice, you know what I mean,” Gunwook corrects himself as he turns around to face Ricky, “It’s– I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Ricky laughs, “I would hope so.”
Gunwook flushes from his words. It's felt like this entire time he's been at this shoot, the skin on his cheeks have been stained pink. He doesn't hate the feeling of it though.
“Oh,” Ricky gasps, “We're um, we’re done.”
Gunwook tilts his head to the side, “... With?”
“Well, everything,” Ricky gestures to the photo equipment that was being put away by Hao and Gyuvin, “I’m officially finished with the work.”
Ricky smiles as he speaks, happiness flowing through him as he probably doesn't want to see another roll of lace for another few months. Even though Gunwook is happy for him, he can't help but question what will happen to them.
“So, I won't see you again?”
“If you don't want to.” Ricky says softly, his voice nearly turning to a whisper at the mere thought of that happening between the two of them. Gunwook didn't want that to happen either. His heart would wither away and rot away from the inside out if he ever let that happen.
“And if I do?” Gunwook grins, teasing him with his words.
“Then you know what to ask me.” Ricky teases back, looking at Gunwook with his round eyes that they could only be compared to tapioca pearls.
“Ricky,” Gunwook begins and Ricky can't help but love the way he says his name. He wants Gunwook to repeat it again and again until it becomes a part of him, ingrained into his heart and soul.
“Would you like to go out with me?”
Ricky wants to scream internally, giggle, twirl his hair, kick his feet and then scream again. But he doesn't. Because he's so definitely normal about this.
Ricky nods despite his insane thoughts, “Yes, I would.”