PAP Chapter 8

“Tilt your head back a little more.”

Peeking his head into the separate studio space, a bustling scene unfolded before him. The set, occupying a large area, was quite extravagant. Flowers were placed all over the walls and floor, and the air was filled with a subtle floral scent, suggesting they were all real.

Yoohyun’s gaze, which had been sweeping over the incessantly flashing lights and the busy staff, landed on the center of the scene. Someone, a head taller than others was diligently following Sujin’s instructions as she held the camera.

“Mr. Yiwoon, lift your arm slightly.”

As if the bright lights pouring in from all directions weren’t bothersome, he held the pose without even blinking. His sophisticated yet youthful outfit was complemented by his commanding yet understated movements.

Broad shoulders, long limbs, a toned physique with well-defined muscles—his overall build, both strong and graceful, enhanced the fit of his clothes. With even simple gestures, he drew attention to himself. He blended with the grand backdrop as if he belonged in a different world, captivating even passersby, making them stare blankly.

Unlike those who watched Yiwoon with bated breath, as if mesmerized, Yoohyun observed him with an indifferent gaze before quickly losing interest. Although he had spotted the chair Sujin had prepared for him in the distance, he looked around for a secluded spot. Leaning against a wall where he was least likely to be noticed, Yoohyun glanced at Yiwoon again, who was being showered with camera flashes.

Yoohyun focused more on Yiwoon’s movements rather than his face. Thanks to his sister being a photographer, Yoohyun was more adept at posing, even more so than most models. He knew it well, but he still occasionally observed others like this to gain new insights.

Even though he hadn’t been watching for long, Yiwoon moved his body quite well. He seemed to know exactly what poses to strike to make the clothes stand out.

“Turn to your right.”

As his body turned, Yiwoon’s face also turned in the opposite direction. His eyes, which had been fixed on the camera until just now, slowly drifted elsewhere. They swept past the numerous people surrounding him, reaching a dimly lit corner without hesitation, locking onto a single spot as if rooted there.

“Good. Just like that……”

With the natural shift in his gaze, the shutter clicked without any further requests. Yiwoon, while pretending to be focused on the shoot, fully absorbed the person who had captured his attention.

Even though their eyes should have met due to the persistent gaze, all Yiwoon could see were smoothly lowered eyelids. They were facing each other, but Yoohyun, in contrast, was focused on Yiwoon’s legs. To be precise, his attention was on Yiwoon’s ankle, which seemed slightly strained from standing for so long.

Although generally indifferent, Yoohyun had a keen eye. He had noticed the moment when Yiwoon’s foot stumbled slightly as he turned to the right, as if in pain. Despite the throbbing pain, Yiwoon didn’t show it and discreetly rotated his uncomfortable ankle.

Having experienced leg injuries during filming himself, Yoohyun could immediately tell Yiwoon’s discomfort. But that was all. They weren’t close enough for him to express concern, and it would be odd to acknowledge it when the person involved wasn’t making a fuss.

Since it was none of his business, Yoohyun looked up indifferently. At that moment, his eyes briefly met Yiwoon’s. Though the gaze was clearly directed at him, Yoohyun dismissed it as a misunderstanding.

“…….”

Yoohyun tilted his head back completely and closed his eyes. His eyes often felt stiff and sore, so he had a habit of closing them whenever he had a moment. He inhaled and exhaled, trying not to be a distraction. Even this brief respite seemed to calm his throbbing head.

Despite Yoohyun withdrawing his fleeting interest, Yiwoon’s persistent gaze remained fixed on him. While diligently responding to requests for different poses, he stubbornly maintained his position facing Yoohyun.

“Mr. Yiwoon, your eyes are perfect right now! Let’s take a few more shots just like that.”

Sujin’s expression, which had been filled with admiration, suddenly brightened. Something that had felt almost perfect, yet somehow lacking, was now complete. Yiwoon was largely responsible for completing the shoot, which would normally have taken all day, in just half a day. He was so good at following instructions that she barely needed to instruct him.

Like a true actor, he conveyed subtle emotions with just his eyes and expressions. Just one thing; while his expression was flawlessly perfect, his gaze was subtly misaligned with the requested emotion. The main title stated in Sujin’s initial concept description was “A Boy in First Love.”

Although she considered it sufficient, it felt slightly lacking to be perceived as someone in “first” love. Aware of her high standards, she had decided to let it go, but now her thirst was finally quenched. Yiwoon eyes perfectly embodied the look of someone deeply in first love.

Thanks to this, the remaining shoot proceeded smoothly. The best shot, unanimously chosen by everyone, was the one where Yiwoon was looking directly at the camera. His beautiful features, harmonizing with the blooming flowers, captivated hearts, but a photo taken at the very end claimed the top spot.

Since it was a side profile shot, Yiwoon’s best features were accentuated. The emphasis on the softer side of his face with a softer expression further enhanced the youthful charm. Everyone who saw the final product couldn’t help but shower it with praise.

“Good work, everyone. We’ll continue after lunch. Enjoy your meal and come back recharged.”

“…….”

“We’ll start the rest of the shoot in about an hour.”

With the sound of the final shutter click, the first half of the shoot concluded. After a brief chat with Yiwoon, commending his hard work, Sujin quickly approached Yoohyun. Sensing someone approaching, Yoohyun straightened up from his leaning position.

“Why are you standing when I told you to sit? Your legs must hurt.”

“Just because.”

“What do you mean, ‘just because’? I even moved the chair to the back so you’d be comfortable. And why have you lost so much weight?”

“My weight is the same.”

“Your features look sharper than the last time I saw you. Haven’t you been eating well during filming?”

Sujin stroked Yoohyun’s forearm, which was thin but fairly toned, and immediately showered him with concern. Even though Yoohyun patted her shoulder reassuringly, her worries didn’t subside easily.

Because Sujin’s voice was loud, those who hadn’t noticed Yoohyun’s presence started to pay attention. Since Yoohyun had debuted a long time ago, most people knew they were siblings.

Sujin’s reputation as a famous photographer also played a part. As a sought-after photographer known for her artistic work, the person most often captured by her camera lens was, naturally, Yoohyun. Even the photos considered Yoohyun’s best pictorials were taken by Sujin, so their close sibling relationship was also a topic of interest.

Yoohyun briefly nodded at those who stared at him with curiosity but hesitated to approach him. Intimidated by Yoohyun’s characteristically cool aura, they returned the greeting with nods and kept their distance. Unfazed by those who treated him with caution, Yoohyun took the bag from Sujin’s hand.

“Have you decided what you want to eat?”

“Whatever you want, noona. Anything’s fine.”

Whatever he ate, in his current state, it would feel no different from chewing on sand. Even though he hadn’t eaten anything since last night’s dinner, he had no appetite. If it weren’t for Sujin’s suggestion, he might have spent the entire day surviving on drinks. He owned an expensive coffee machine but was too lazy to use it, resorting to canned coffee, so there was no way he’d bother eating proper meals.

“If you haven’t thought of anything, let’s have meat. So you can regain some energy.”

Since it was rare for Yoohyun to suggest eating something, Sujin decided on the safe choice of meat. Coincidentally, there was a restaurant nearby where they neatly grilled and served the meat. 

As Sujin quickly finished tidying up and was about to lead Yoohyun towards the exit…

“Photographer-nim¹.” 

A captivating low voice, wrapping around their ears, spread from behind them. Sujin, who was conversing with Yoohyun about his recent activities, turned around. Following her, Yoohyun also slowly turned. Yiwoon, now in casual clothes as if he had changed clothes at some point, stood there with a beaming smile.

“Are you going for lunch?”

“Oh, yes. How about you, Mr. Yiwoon?”

“I’m going to order a lunchbox.”

“Are you having a salad because you’re watching your diet?”

“Not really, it’s because I have to eat alone.”

“Why are you eating alone? Aren’t your staff members eating together?”

“Something came up, so they all had to leave for a bit, except me.”

Listening to the laid-back reply devoid of any shyness, Yoohyun soon felt a gaze directed at him. Glancing over, he saw Yiwoon looking at him while talking to Sujin, as if searching for the right moment to speak to him directly. Being so close, it was difficult to avoid a greeting. The hesitation in initiating a conversation meant that the other party was also gauging the right moment to address him.

Yoohyun, now fully turned towards Yiwoon, lifted his lowered head. Unlike when he looked down at his shorter sister, he had to tilt his head back to look at Yiwoon. He wasn’t short himself, but the man in front of him was much taller. At least 190cm… His face being so small probably made him seem even taller.

These were proportions he hadn’t realized before, having never faced each other so closely. Looking at Yiwoon’s face, now so near, a single word came to Yoohyun’s mind.

‘Beautiful.’

It was a purely objective assessment, devoid of any ulterior motives or emotion. In fact, ‘assessment’ wasn’t quite the right word. The word popped into his mind instantaneously, without any conscious thought.

Especially the mystical, differently colored eyes captivated Yoohyun’s indifferent gaze. They were beautiful, like several gemstones of different hues harmoniously blended together. Unlike cut and polished gems, they possessed a unique radiance inherent in their natural state. Even Yoohyun, who rarely stared at anyone so intently, found himself gazing blankly.

Even if he didn’t know Yiwoon personally, he couldn’t be unaware of the countless stories circulating in articles and broadcasts. As always, Yoohyun had listened passively, letting it all go in one ear and out the other. But seeing him in person, he could vaguely understand why there was so much talk about Yiwoon’s eyes.

While it was true that he had stared longer than usual, the interaction with a stranger didn’t last long, as always. His momentarily hazy vision cleared at the sight of Yiwoon’s bobbing adam’s apple and the distinct sound of him swallowing. When he came to his senses, he found Yiwoon looking down at him with a somewhat nervous expression. Staring at someone, regardless of the reason, was rude.

Yoohyun lowered his gaze, letting it slide down Yiwoon’s well-defined jawline. Unable to find appropriate words of greeting, he eventually settled for a nod. As his round head tilted, a faint chuckle sounded from above him.