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From high school up until college, photography was the only path Wilson was certain of. What started out as a forced activity for school credits turned to be Wilson’s greatest passion in life. He carried his love for photography everywhere, always bringing with him his trusty camera.
Everyone around him knew of his passion. If anyone thought of Wilson, there would always be a follow up referring to him as the camera boy. He would even ask his family members and sometimes his friend to be his subjects for photoshoots. Nonetheless, everybody knew he would follow this passion, and that he did.
He got into a good college that offered him valuable education to improve his skills as a photographer. As a result, he graduated skilled in his craft and started to break his way into the photography industry.
In the first few years of Wilson’s career as a freelance photographer, he slowly built a name for himself. Big brands would hire him for photoshoots. Sometimes, even fly him out when the locations were abroad. He’s glad that his photographer career became a stable source of income for himself. It not only helped him pay off his student loans but also allowed him to help with his parents’ expenses. Now, he lived comfortably and busy, his agent constantly emailing him new offers from brands to do their photoshoots.
At the time, one of these offers included a rising star in the modelling world. He couldn’t say he hadn’t heard of him, because everyone in his line of work had heard of him. Wilson could remember it briefly, seeing the model on the front cover of a magazine for the first time. Vantacrow Bringer took the world by storm.
So when his agent told him about a job from a brand that had Vanta as the model, he was curious to know what the hype was about.
Months later, he found his answer. Working with Vanta was like being on a smooth sailing boat. He followed instructions well, was always on time to shoots, and not to mention — very photogenic. It came to no surprise for anyone that the photos received nothing but praise from the general public. Wilson was pleased with his work. It seemed like the brand thought the same because the next thing he knew, he was taking jobs from the brand to photograph Vanta regularly.
Because of this, Wilson saw Vanta almost every few months, which then turned into 2 years. They’ve come to be familiar with each other’s faces and even considered themselves as friends. It didn’t take long for Vanta to start cracking jokes around him and for Wilson to start playful banters.
Over the last month, they’ve both been working tirelessly on a photoshoot for Vanta’s latest magazine. As usual, the photoshoot was a success, and so were the results. The pictures came out beautiful and Wilson thought that this was his best work yet.
Following the success of Vanta’s latest magazine shoot, the team decided to celebrate with drinks at the fanciest bar in the city. The bar was filled with fun chatter and people drinking. Some were already tipsy on the first drink, making for interesting conversations to come up.
“Is anyone dating here? I feel like a couple of you guys are taken.” Elira casually asked. A couple of them hummed in agreement. Luca, pouring another glass for himself, proudly announced his status as taken. Naturally, everyone grew curious and started to ask him a bunch of questions about his mystery partner.
While the others were distracted by Luca’s story telling, Wilson sneakily glanced at Vanta. The model was spacing out, his face flushed red. He was undoubtedly tipsy. Wilson snickered at his light weight friend. What an idiot, he thought.
Just then, Wilson was startled by someone elbowing him. He turned to look at the culprit. “What?” He asked, not liking the way Enna was smiling deviously at him. Nothing good ever came out of that.
“What are you looking at, Wilson?” She teased. Her eyebrows annoyingly wiggled up and down.
Wilson looked at her confused. She then pointedly gestured with her head at Vanta who was now face planted on the table in the few seconds Wilson turned his attention away from him. He instantly understood what his friend was implying. He glared at her. “Dude. You can’t be serious.”
“I’m being serious!”
He rolled his eyes and took a sip from his glass. He recalled how a lot of the team members have been quietly teasing them about how much they spend time together during and in between shoots. Wilson thinks it’s stupid.
Were friends not allowed to just hang out?
Besides, him and Vanta? That’s the most absurd idea he’s heard all day. Sure, they’ve been nothing but nice to each other ever since they started working together. Vanta is one of the few models he’s shot that he’d want to keep in contact with. He’s funny and approachable. He’s kind and humble about his success. Which is more than most models nowadays. They’ve had their moments while shooting that felt like a connection and Wilson would even like to consider them as close friends. But he’s never thought of Vanta as a romantic interest before.
“Go find someone else to cupid, Enna.” He sneered.
She groaned and mumbled something under her breath about how Wilson was such a killjoy before returning to interacting with the others.
Soon, the table erupted into monstrous laughter at something Doppio was saying while others were whispering among themselves. Wilson started a conversation with Claude, the creative director of the shoot, about upcoming projects. They shared how they were both booked and busy for the next month. Claude chuckled and raised his glass. “It’s a good thing I got no one waiting for me at home with how busy I am.”
Wilson returned the sentiment. “Same, I’m too busy these days. I haven’t even visited my parents in god knows how long.”
Claude looked at him puzzled. “But I thought you and-”
He was cut off by Luca’s loud voice grabbing everyone’s attention. “Chug! Chug! Chug! Chug!” They both turned to look at what was happening. Wilson gasped as Vanta continued to chug down an entire bottle of sake. “Oh my god this idiot.” Wilson muttered.
Claude laughed. “Damn, your man knows how to get the audience cheering.” He commented as everyone laughed and cheered at Vanta’s display. After downing the whole thing, the model slumped down on his seat, feeling tired and dizzy. Wilson shook his head. The night was still young, and if Vanta was already this drunk, he just hoped that he wouldn't be the one puked on at the end of the night.
—
Two hours passed by and everyone was undeniably drunk or tipsy. One by one, the group started to disperse as everyone decided that it was time to go home. They got up from their seats and fixed themselves up. All except for one.
“Hey Vanta get up, we’re going home.” Wilson tried to wake the model from his trance. He was certainly the one who drank the most out of all of them in the group and was the only one who looked like they were about to pass out any second.
“I think he’s out of it, man.” said Elira. “Luca, can you help him up?”
Luca approached a drunken Vanta. “Time to get up!” He slings Vanta’s arm around his neck and lifts him up from his chair. “Alright so who knows where he lives?”
To everyone’s dismay, no one answered. Elira looked around worried. “Um, can anyone let him stay over at their place?”
This time, Enna answered. “What about Wilson? His place is just nearby.”
It made sense, Wilson thought. His place was the nearest to where they were right now and everyone knew they were friends. They were probably the closest ones here in terms of personal relationship. He shrugged. “Sure. He can crash on the couch.”
At this, Luca took no time to transfer Vanta into Wilson’s hands. “He’s yours now, buddy.”
Wilson glanced at the man on his shoulder. His eyes were barely open and he reeked of alcohol. The blond man scrunched his nose. “He reeks.” The group laughed at his comment as they made their way out of the bar. Those remaining said their goodbyes and wished the others well before heading off.
Elira was kind enough to stay with Wilson and their drunk friend until they were able to find a cab. Wilson thanked Elira for waiting with them before shutting the door and finding a comfortable position for Vanta. He struggled to get the man to sit up straight. Frustrated, he puffed his cheeks and settled on letting Vanta’s head fall on his shoulder.
”Where to, sir?” The cab driver asked, looking at the both of them through the rear view mirror. Wilson replied with his address, a good 10 minute drive from the bar. The cab driver hummed and started the car. He probably noticed the smell of alcohol on both of them as well as the tired look on Wilson’s face and decided to keep silent for the duration of the drive, only letting the late night music on the radio play.
Wilson leaned against the door of the car and stared at the passing cars. He then saw his reflection on the window and noticed Vanta on his shoulder. In the 2 years they’ve known each other, this was the first time he’s seen Vanta pass out from drinking. It surprised him that he didn’t get to see this sooner with the amount of times they’ve gone out for drinks together with their co-workers.
He looked down at him and caressed the other’s beach blond hair lightly. “You should control yourself next time.” He sighed.
Soon, the cab arrived at Wilson’s condominium. He thanked the cab driver and lifted Vanta out of the cab. Vanta was now half awake. Kind of.
His eyes were barely open and he clung onto Wilson’s shoulder like a cat as Wilson dragged his weight to the elevator until they got to his front door. The smaller blond hurried to input his passcode, tired from carrying Vanta’s weight all the way. He let himself in with a Vanta hanging on his shoulder and quickly sped to lay his friend on the couch.
Wilson let out a breath. As he was about to go into his room to grab a blanket for Vanta, the man abruptly sat up, reached for Wilson’s hand, and pulled him down with him on the couch. They crashed onto the spacious couch with Vanta holding Wilson tightly into his chest, keeping an arm wrapped around him— like cuddling him.
Wilson gasped in shock and attempted to look up at Vanta’s face but was stopped by Vanta’s hand on the back of his head, holding it and caressing it gently.
At present, Wilson is wide eyed in shock at what was happening, his hands stiffly placed clutching onto Vanta’s shirt. Okay, so he was just forced into a bro cuddle and he can’t get out because his bro is holding onto him like a tarshir. That’s cool. Cool cool cool.
He breathed in before speaking. “Vanta? You awake, buddy?” He asked, loud enough for his friend to definitely hear him. Vanta grumbled in response, telling Wilson that he was not totally awake, but not asleep either. ”Can you let go of me? You're holding me a little too tight.”
The hand on his head let go and he could finally look up at Vanta. To his surprise, he was met with purple eyes staring directly at him. Suddenly he was aware of how close they were, their breaths mixing. He could see every detail on Vanta’s face; his scars, the eyebrow slit, and the slight blush he still had due to his alcohol intake.
Vanta’s eyes drifted downward until they stopped on Wilson’s lips. The other, who had a front row seat of everything that was going on with the model’s face, noticed his wandering eyes. He blushed, feeling his stomach turn and his head screaming at him to make sense of anything. He couldn’t handle the eyes on him anymore when Vanta visibly bites his lower lip while staring at the other’s lips.
”What are you doing?” Wilson breathed out. “I need to get your blanket.”
Vanta didn’t answer. Instead, he brought the arm wrapped around Wilson to the other’s face. Wilson was free to leave the close proximity, Vanta’s arm no longer wrapped around him, but he couldn’t. He couldn’t turn away, he couldn’t put distance. He froze.
The face of the man in front of him was holding him steady in his place. Vanta’s eyes trailed back up to look at Wilson directly in the eye.
“Hey…” Vanta started, his voice low. “Do you think…” He stops again. He hesitated before he finally asked. “Do you think I could kiss you right now?”
Wilson was taken aback. Never in a million years did he think Vanta would ask him that. He was under the impression of him and Vanta being nothing more than friends. Vanta asking permission to kiss him? He couldn’t believe it. His logical reasoning led him to believe that it was just the alcohol talking. But for some reason, he couldn't believe that either.
It took a while for Wilson to find the composure to respond. “I don’t think you should.”
Vanta kept quiet for a few moments before he spoke. “Yeah, you’re right.”
Wilson thought that was the end of it and he could finally get up, go to his room and hide, completely forgetting about the blanket for his dear friend. But just as his mind was finally telling him to get up, Vanta continued.
“I think… If I kissed you now, I won’t stop there.” Vanta’s hand dropped from his face, the touch of skin he felt no longer there. But he couldn’t get up.
Wilson burned. The heat no longer just encapsulated his face but his entire body. He realized that as soon as Vanta had said those lines, his eyes closed and he passed out. He stared at Vanta’s sleeping face, and although he knew he should’ve gotten up and distanced himself away from his friend, he couldn’t bring himself to do it.
A few minutes passed with him staring (admiring) Vanta sleep. It was most likely already past two in the morning. Wilson finally stood up from the couch, slowly and carefully, making sure not to wake his sleeping friend. He looked down at the figure passed out on his couch, sighed, and kneeled down in front of it, placing his arms on the edge of the couch and resting his head on them.
He grumbled. He didn’t feel like sleeping. He didn’t know what to do. He looked at Vanta, who’s face he’s seen up close before, who’s figure he wasn’t a stranger to.
”Would you have said all of that if you were sober?” He wondered out loud.
Vanta replied to him with the most obnoxious snore he’s ever heard, one he’s heard a lot in the dressing rooms when the model is resting in between shoots. Wilson snorted at that. He stood up once again and turned around. “Idiot.” He muttered before walking towards his bedroom.
Opening the door to his bedroom, he stepped in and quickly closed the door behind him, locking it. He slumped down against the door, legs folded up and head buried in his hands. His face was disorientated as he tried to control his facial expression. His mind was full of questions, for Vanta and for himself.
His brain forced him to recall what happened a few minutes ago. He didn’t notice it then but with a clear head, he remembered how Vanta looked at him. It was as if it was only Wilson he could look at at that moment, as if he was the only thing worth looking at. As if he was worth everything to him.
Then there was the lip bite. Wilson groaned as he visibly turned more red, his blush deepening just by recalling the view of his friend biting that god damn lip while staring at him. It was unfair. He can’t tell exactly why it was unfair, it just was.
But what threw him off the most? The gentle touch on his cheek. The way it felt so light and careful. He was so careful with Wilson that it made him go crazy. At the thought of Vanta’s touch, Wilson unconsciously brought his hand up to the cheek that met with his friend’s tender skin.
What was he doing? This is insane. Tonight wasn’t meant to go like this. He was just lending a helping hand for a friend in need. So why….
He groaned once again, letting his hands fall to his side as his legs hit the floor. His head laid back on the door with a thud.
When did it become so confusing? And why was he so heavily affected?