Work Text:
Gunwook was losing his mind. His camera hung heavily against his chest, entirely unaware that it was the sole cause of his current breakdown.
Then again, of course it wouldn’t know. It was an inanimate object. See? Gunwook was already going mental.
And it was all thanks to his art club. Who in their right mind assigns a project asking you to paint your favorite things in just one week, only to display it for the entire university to see? Gunwook seriously wanted to strangle his sunbae.
It wasn’t even that he didn’t know what his favorite things were; it was just that whenever he tried to paint them, they turned out looking incredibly basic. That was why he had dragged himself to the park with his camera, hoping to catch a spark of inspiration. So far, he had photographed the sky, the trees, and even a literal line of ants.
As he crouched in the grass, watching the ants team up to haul a stray breadcrumb, a loud laugh cut through the air. When he lifted his head toward the sound, the world seemed to stop.
Leaning against a tree with a phone pressed to his ear was the most beautiful person Gunwook had ever seen. Instantly, his hand moved on instinct, raising the camera to capture that otherworldly beauty. The man’s lips parted into another smile, and Gunwook’s heart skipped a collective beat when a pair of deep dimples appeared. The sunlight filtering through his faded pink hair created an almost ethereal aura around him.
At some point, those gorgeous brown eyes locked onto the camera lens. Startled, Gunwook began to lower it, ready to mouth an apology, but the man simply flashed a peace sign, his smile never fading. Gunwook snapped one last picture, feeling like he was about to spontaneously combust.
With trembling hands, he practically bolted out of the park, lacking the courage to glance back at the stranger even once.
☆
"He definitely thinks I’m a creep," Gunwook groaned, drowning his misery in an Ovomaltine milkshake. The camera sitting in his lap now felt like a cruel reminder of his utter embarrassment.
"He doesn't think that," Ricky said, giving his back a few comforting pats.
"Yeah, you said it yourself, the guy even posed for the photo," Gyuvin chimed in, agreeing with his boyfriend.
"But then I ran away! For all he knows, I'm some stalker or a creepy pervert who takes photos of strangers to post on questionable websites."
"Okay, now that big head of yours is just overthinking," Gyuvin countered. "Where are the photos? Maybe we recognize him."
Sniffling, Gunwook pulled up the display and scrolled back to the last few shots. Since Gunwook was wedged between them, Gyuvin and Ricky had to lean in close to get a good look.
"Hey, that’s Taerae!" Ricky exclaimed in surprise. "We share a few classes at uni. If you want, I can give you his Instagram so you can explain everything."
Gunwook accepted the offer, fully intending to send him a message.
Gunwook did not send Taerae a message.
First, because his Instagram was private; second, because he completely lacked the nerve. Instead, he spent his nights putting brush to canvas, meticulously painting his portrait and trying to capture every single detail from the photograph.
Four days later, the painting was finished. Seven days later, it was on display in the art club gallery alongside the other students' work. Eight days later, Gunwook ran into Taerae again. This time, standing right in front of the very painting he had inspired.
Gunwook stepped up next to him, using the proximity to look at Taerae properly. Up close, he was even more stunning than the reference photos or the long hours spent mixing paints had allowed Gunwook to realize. He quickly understood that neither a photo nor a painting could ever truly capture everything. No artwork, no matter how flawless, could ever do justice to the real Taerae.
He cleared his throat, drawing Taerae's attention. The shorter man blinked, looking a bit surprised by the sudden company.
"What's the theme?" Taerae asked, tilting his head slightly toward the canvas.
Gunwook felt his face heat up before he managed to speak. "Our favorite things."
"So, I’m one of your favorite things? Isn't it a bit strange for a stranger to be one of your favorite things?"
"I-I'm sorry, it's just that the moment I saw your lips- I mean your smile, your style and the way you... Like, I just... You made me feel something I haven't... Look, I-I just had to paint it," Gunwook stammered, his hands gesturing wildly and clumsily. "I'm really sorry, I shouldn't have done it without asking for your permission first."
Taerae let out a laugh, breaking Gunwook out of his anxious trance. The tension melted away as Gunwook found himself chuckling too, his embarrassment vanishing as quickly as it had come.
"I’m just teasing, you’re really cute. Honestly, I’m honored to be someone’s muse. I’m Taerae, by the way."
"I know, Ricky told me. I’m Gunwook."
"I know, the signature on the painting told me."
Gunwook couldn't wipe the smile off his face. From that moment on, the conversation flowed effortlessly. Taerae began to ramble about the piece, pointing out the details he loved most, the choice of colors, and how fascinating it was to see himself through someone else's eyes. He gestured animatedly, smiling and speaking with genuine enthusiasm.
As Taerae lost himself in his own words, Gunwook simply watched him, completely fascinated. He barely registered the actual words, entirely focused instead on the soft melody of Taerae’s voice and the way the gallery lights sculpted his features with every movement.
In quiet reverence, Gunwook memorized the scene, secretly hoping that Taerae wouldn't mind being his muse for many, many more paintings to come.