OFF OF THE DEEP END | CHANGLIX ✔️

28: pretty boy

evermore // taylor swift

Ever since he'd met Felix, Changbin had been taken on a riveting ride of new experiences. Concerts, fancy hotels, planes, even leaving Korea for the first time. That thrilling rollercoaster continued today, as he walked through the towering doors of one of the most influential celebrity magazines's building reserved solely for shooting the famed magazine's covers.

Changbin had never been to a photoshoot. His admiring eyes had graced the shiny surface of album covers, trying to pierce together the individual parts and designs that transformed into a stunning cover. Never once did he imagine that his simple life working immersed in the inked pages of books would end up allowing him access to a celebrity photoshoot.

Yet here he was. White panels were set up on the walls and surrounded a singular white block, providing a space for the model to stand. Bustling cameras roamed the room, each individual placement done with absolute care and grace. There was a sort of rhythm to the net of cameras, incapsulating every angle of the room. Changbin felt out of place in the busy room, for it felt like everyone had a precise purpose but him. With Felix out of sight and the kind employee who'd led him to the room returned back at the information desk, he was alone in an unfamiliar setting.

Mustering all the courage he had left within him, Changbin sidled up to a professional-looking person, "Hey, do you know where Lee Felix is?" He tried to display the lanyard hanging around his neck in order to authenticate his validity to be witnessing the photoshoot.

After a critical glance at the laminated ID, the person responded, "He's in the dressing rooms. Over there," a hand was pointed towards an unmarked door, "Knock before entering, though."

Changbin bowed respectfully, "Thank you so much for the help!"

Navigating through the crowded room posed a problem. There was multitudes of surely expensive technology piled around the room or being wheeled around on carts, and the spare space was used as a walkway for the camera people. Eventually, after manifesting skills he'd obtained from hours of loosing in video games to Jisung, Changbin managed to steer his way through the congested room to the unassuming doorway he'd been pointed through.

He knocked once, twice, before stepping backwards and awkwardly waiting for someone to open the door. Diligently avoiding eye contact with the people rushing around him, it was relieving when the door opened and saved him from the clustered space.

The person who emerged carefully expected his identification, taking probably more time than needed before clearing Changbin's access. But, the two minutes of waiting passed quickly before he was ushered inside the room.

This part he was familiar with. The trays of makeup, carts full of hangers bearing clothes, and even some staff that Changbin vaguely recognized from all of his trips inside the backstage rooms of the stadiums Felix preformed at. The idol was nowhere in sight, however.

Fortunately, before Changbin could idle in the corner for what would sum up to be hours because all of his confidence had drained while asking the person for directions, a very kind member of Felix's makeup team guided him to the room Felix resided within. The door was nearly shut, only allowing a sliver of light to escape, and alluded nothing to what the purpose of the room was for.

When Changbin attempted to hoist the door open, a screeching sound emerged from the silver doorknob. The commotion of the room seemed to halt as every single person in the room stared at Changbin and the knob held in his hand. He hadn't even finished opening the door fully, but the urge to see Felix was the only thing that convinced him to forgo his dreadful embarrassment and continue on in his quest to find the idol.