“Really, we were born in completely different centuries. Like you are in the 20th century and me in the 21st.” Min-a differentiated, actually making sense. That was when Seung-ho stopped in his tracks. “What?” Seung-ho nearly yelled. “You mean children born in the year 2000's are now 20-something?” Min-a laughed at his theatrical response. “Now you get why I always say you are so old.” His laughter died off as he came in front of a door. “This can't be real…” Min-a muttered, his face quickly turning to a frown. “What is-” Seung-ho was about to ask, turning his face in the direction of Min-a's gaze and suddenly it made sense. They only reserved one dressing room for them. “Is this supposed to be a joke?” Min-a raised a rhetorical question, his initial joyful mood evaporating. “Min-a, let's just go with it. Why does it rile you up anyways? It's only me.” Seung-ho shrugged but Min-a stared at him as if he was crazy. “That's the goddamn point, it's you!” he pointed at h
“Are you okay?” Seung-ho's voice interrupted his little hormonal dilemma. “I’m okay,” Min-a answered a little quickly, face-palming mentally before trying again. “Unfortunately, I think your coarse palm might have left small bruises on my dick…” he teased Seung-ho with a straight face and the older man almost believed him. “I thought I was being-” Seung-ho started apologizing, red shades blazing his ears, and spattered on his cheeks causing Min-a to grin like a maniac. When he realized he was being teased, he released a breath of relief. “You little piece of…” he shook his head, grinning along with Min-a. They shared eye contact as they settled down from their laughter till the room got quiet. It was an awkward tension of who was going to speak first and what they were going to say that wouldn't make the other run away. “What?” Min-a was the first to speak, sick of the pressure as it was becoming too intense. “I don't know...just waiting for you to bolt out of the door a
“I agreed to be your art coach for free, this is the least you could do,” Seung-ho said nonchalantly. “Technically, you haven't taught me anything.. So since I'm helping you, a newbie, who’s having his first ever modeling shot, I'm your coach.” Seung-ho was startled by his reasoning, but he recovered quickly though, a faint smile tugging his lips as he spoke softly. “Please, teach me.” Min-a chucked, smiling proudly. “Fine, I will let you be my student.” he placed both hands on Seung-ho’s face, staring deep into his icy blue eyes. “All you have to do is, focus on me.” What felt like an empty studio suddenly started chanting. Kiss!! Kiss!! Kiss!! Apparently, the workers wanted them to put on a show. Seung-ho saw the conflict in Min-a’s eyes as he felt his hands withdrawing from his face, so he placed his hands over Min-a's, restraining him. “Do you trust me?” he asked him. “No.” Min-a replied, a little too quickly. “What do I do? It’s already late” Min-a tensed up
“I got the first strike, that’s all that matters,” Seung-ho rejoiced, lifting the can of the white platform and hugging it in his arms. “COME HAVE A TASTE..” He dipped his fingers into the can and slowly brought it out, letting it drip back into the can. “You are so on..” Min-a picked up the custard yellow can and a paintbrush. Skillfully, he dipped it into the can and aimed for Seung-ho’s face. It went perfectly across his face. “You didn’t..” Seung-ho wiped his face, splashing the dull yellow down on the white platform. “Please, you are starting to look mean, it’s just for fun…” Min-a stepped back with every step Seung-ho took toward him. He waited for him to get just close enough before he swiftly aimed for his face again. This time, getting a chunk of it on his nose and neck. Seung-ho gasped in shock. “You tricked me!” he exclaimed, whipping his face only to smear it with more. “You fell for it...that’s on you..” Min-a chuckled and turned the table doing a littl
Seung-ho took his towel and paint-stained suspenders, leaving the bathroom for Min-a and his thoughts. Min-a knew he wasn't being delusional, he had heard of big companies who attached cameras in private spaces just to get some dirt off some of the K-pop idols and other celebrities who used their facility. If only the stubborn man was patient enough for him to explain. Min-a ended up taking his shower with his briefs on, taking them off when he had his towel safely wrapped around him. He got to the dressing room to meet Seung-ho dressed in gray sweatpants and a white T-shirt. The same was placed on his side of the dressing table. The silence got louder with every second that passed. Min-a managed to dress up in the awkward silence till he couldn't take it anymore. “So, you can’t be mad at me for something you misunderstood…” Min-a blurted out, dropping his hair band back on the table. He was fully dressed in the same white shirt and sweatpants. Seung-ho glimpsed in hi
“It’s okay. That one there has no hospitality skills, so that's on him.” Seung-ho remarked, looking in Min-a’s direction as he lay sprawled on the white cushion watching whatever was playing on the TV. Min-a met their eyes, both of them slightly glaring at him. “What?!” he exclaimed, his eyes moving between them. “You left me behind with your lunch, that’s what..” Seung-ho raised the brown paper bag to his face. “And you had an important visitor coming and you didn’t bother to tell me?!” Eun Hye hissed at him, adjusting her hair properly in the process. Min-a groaned, rolling his eyes. “Those bags don’t even weigh that much.” He said to Seung-ho before he turned to Eun Hye, “Mr. Kwan is not strange, and I thought you would be knocked out from drinking, how was I supposed to know—” She didn’t let him finish his accusations before she kicked him in the leg, causing him to yelp in pain. Turning to Seung-ho, Eun Hye gave him her warmest smile. “Mr. Kwan, please come in,” Sh
Seung-ho woke up to the sound of muffled K-pop music playing from afar but sounded so close at the same time, almost like it came from inside the same building. The music faded as his focus was claimed by the man who slept next to him. A small smile spread across his lips, Min-a was downright adorable when asleep. Stray strands of hair framed his face, tempting Seung-ho to resist the urge to brush them away. One thing he did forget was that he was close to him, breathing directly on Min-a’s face ultimately causing one of his hair tendrils to tickle his nose, therefore waking him up. Min-a groaned, fluttering his long, beautiful lashes open. The first thing he saw was Seung-ho’s chiseled jawline and twinkling blue eyes close to his face. The next thing that came to his mind was pushing Seung-ho as far away from him as possible, only to forget he was the lanky one so he fell off the bed instead. A painful groan left his lips as his body collided with the floor. Seung-ho laughed
“He would be fine.” Eun Hye said after Min-a slammed the door shut. Seung-ho walked towards the kitchen, “will it be okay if I have a glass of water?” He asked, turning halfway around to meet Eun Hye’s gaze. “Of course,” she nodded. Eun Hye strolled up the few steps that separated the kitchen from the living room area to join Seung-ho. He had a long glass cup half filled with water then he stared lost into space. Eun Hye waved her well-manicured hands in Seung-ho’s face, causing him to blink rapidly before he met her and sighed. “I was just wondering how a name could get him so mad.” Seung-ho shrugged, dropping the glass on the granite counter, “thank you for the water.” He smiled in an appreciative manner. “It’s not like I was planning to keep you thirsty anyway…” Eun Hye chuckled nervously before slowly coming to a stop. She took some seconds to process what she said, realizing how improper it sounded. Kwan Seung-ho squinted his eyes at her, cocking his head to
“Teacher and student my foot…” Duncan smirked. “I guess Min-a does have a type.” He walked away from the half-done painting to the others on the walls. Some were unhinging, reminding Duncan that he would never fully understand the kid's twisted mind. The most captivating was a dashing play of Red and black. If anyone could portray angst, using nothing but color palettes to depict struggle and elegance, it was Min-a. That was his specialty. He didn't need to paint human beings. As Duncan remembered him saying; “Feeling is not a human quality, feeling is an energy that can be shown through any medium, from sound to silence.” “This boy only grows scarier everyday.” Duncan muttered to himself, leaving the gallery worthy experience behind to finally sit on his bed. The bed dipping didn't even wake Min-a up, he had his long hair sprawled across his face. Duncan was amazed by how lush and long it had become since the last time he saw him a
For most of the ride back to Seo’s Family home, Duncan Laurence and Seo Eun Hye spent it catching up on each other's lives and accomplishments, which included the fact that Eun Hye made it to the CEO status she always dreamed of being as a kid. They got to the mansion somewhere around five in the evening after Duncan made them stop at his favorite ice cream spot around the corner. It had gone through an entire renovation and a lot more ice cream flavors had been added to its serving menus. “I don't know if it's just me but I think Mr. Kwan doesn't really like me..” Duncan still felt unsure because he barely knew the guy. He just met him today and yet, nothing about him felt receptive. It was almost like he was back in the Netherlands again where he was seen as a foreigner just because he had bold Asian genes. “Kwan Seung-ho?” Eun Hye couldn't help but laugh. “If only you witnessed our first few interactions. He is a straightforward person and very b
Duncan chuckled, shaking his head as he racked his mind for memories. “I think I was there when he was born.” He muttered proudly. Seo Eun Hye rolled her eyes at his revelation. She filled in for Duncan, giving Kwan Seung-ho the details she knew he was asking for. “Deon is like our closest buddy while we were growing up. I mean, at one point, I thought Min-a had an infatuation, like a ‘man crush’, or something for Deon because of the way he followed him everywhere..” Eun Hye smiled fondly at the memories of Little Min-a wanting to sit on Duncan’s lap no matter the space around them. And Duncan never once complained or pushed him away. “Man crush?” Seung-ho did not like that choice of phrase at all, it didn't taste good on his tongue. “Yeah..that was a pretty accurate definition.” Duncan nodded. “Min-a was the most adorable kid. He was such a lively little turbo-energy boy.” He reminisced with fondness in his eyes. “He would make us
After Duncan Laurence’s mother's death, he moved back with his father to The Netherlands where his father worked and lived with their extended family. His mother, Kim Haera, was best friends with Jin Eun Min, Min-a, and Eun Hye’s mother. As devastating as her death was for little Duncan, it didn't stop him from chasing his dream in Architecture for it was all he could remember doing as a kid. Drawing was the similar ground that brought him and Min-a closer despite their age gap of 4 years. He was the first to recognize Min-a's artistic skills and so he got him his first set of canvas and paintbrush on his 10th birthday. Min-a, unlike other kids, didn't start art by drawing their favorite cartoon character or a friend, he started by drawing shades of different lighting because he wanted to see how it made him feel. That was Duncan's confirmation that Min-a was a special kid. His views still hadn't changed about him as he sat on the waiting bench fo
“I kept screaming “Haneul” while he jerked in my arms, convulsing. He said something like “Sorry, Mother.” before he lost consciousness. But after he woke up, he said he didn't remember anything, so we never talked about it. I think the name always triggers him after he does something he knows he shouldn't.” Eun Hye finally met his eyes with her teary ones. Seung-ho pulled his hands away from Eun Hye’s. This information only made him feel worse. “Mr. Kwan.” Eun Hye was about to warn him not to let Min-a know about this when her phone vibration disrupted her. Thinking it was Min-a, she picked it up fast. “Min-a?” Eun Hye called out in excitement. “No, Deon. I have been at the Seoul airport for 2 hrs now. Weren't you supposed to pick me up?” Duncan sounded stressed. His plane had been delayed for a whole 24 hours and still, his designated chauffeur was not on time. “Oh shit, I’m so sorry., Deon. It was actually Min-a, who was supposed to come g
“Miss Seo, What are you doing here?” Seung-ho couldn't restrain the disappointment in his voice. He rushed all the way to the door, abandoning the pasta he was making, thinking Min-a had decided to come early. He was now aware of how delusional that sounded. Kwan Seung-ho instead met with Eun Hye in her white business suit and black inner blouse. She had a small cracked smile on her lips as she looked him up and down. He suddenly realized why she was staring at him awkwardly. He still had the baby blue apron. “Oh.., wait a second..” Seung-ho rushed inside to try and keep things in order, only to rush back to the door again, recalling he left her standing outside. “Where are my manners? Please come in.” He ushered her in, speed walking back to the kitchen to turn down the heat on the pasta and beef sauce. He came back to meet her looking around his house with fascination glimmering in her eyes. “But, why are you here?” Seung-ho repeated his question.
“I know you hate excuses but…Father was the one who pressed me to urge you to convince Kwan Seung-ho to sign the contract… ” Eun Hye mentioned. Shit…that was another excuse. “-even though! I told him you guys aren't close. He found that hard to believe, he said that he saw the pictures for the magazine and you guys seemed pretty close already. He said that I better insist you do it quickly, before or on Friday. I ran out of ideas. I didn't know what to do.” She carefully slid down the door, resting on her bum. “Can you believe that?” Eun Hye scoffed, “In three days, Father expects us- uhm..me to sign Mr. Kwan like it is going to be some easy fit. You know how he is, he won't budge. I don't know why he wouldn't listen to me, I'm not a miracle worker. Most of the impossible tasks he gave me were carried out thanks to you, Min-a.” Eun Hye suddenly stood to her feet, feeling a renewed energy. She could still do this, they could do this. They have always been a bracing team
The last time Min-a smoked the devil lettuce was sometime three years ago, it wasn't in his best interest but he did it anyway. “Have you ever smoked weed before?” Ji-ho snatched it from his hands, taking one out of the bag and handing it to him, before taking one for herself. “Yeah. But it's been a long time..” Min-a sniffed the blunt, “a really long time.” He added. “Well, when I want to abstain from alcohol, I take weed. I would have been a junkie if weed wasn’t such a problem here.” Ji-ho mumbled the last part as the blunt already sat between her lips, lighting it up. She stood up, took her cat into her bedroom, and closed the door. Usually, she would let him inhale it so he could chill the fuck out a bit. But seeing Min-a here, she couldn't predict if he was going to be an extreme animal lover who would feel she deserved jail for letting a cat inhale weed. Ji-ho dressed up her knee-length shorts, sitting down to start sorting the bag of sea
“Oh my,” Ji-ho gasped dramatically. “It's not a fucking date, woman.” Min-a immediately added. “Min-a, you really know how to make a woman feel loved,” Ji-ho muttered sarcastically. “Hmm, as much as I would love to any other day, I can't today. I'm really tired and I don't think I want to deal with another hangover, it might kill me sooner than I'm supposed to.” Ji-ho joked, waiting for Min-a's reply. She heard him sigh, saying “Alright.” His tone sounded disappointed and it tugged at her heart. “But I got some really good weed, and I'm about to prepare dinner. We could eat, drink wine, and smoke weed just like the average American white woman that we are..” Ji-ho teased, causing Min-a to bark out laughter. He found it hard to believe she could also be funny and laid back when she wasn't being loud and an attention narcissist. “Alright, send your address then,” Min-a started his car the instant he got Ji-ho's address. It was deep in the city