ZB1/ZeroBaseOne Oneshots

Monumentous | Jiwoong x Matthew

At each step the girl took, Matthew lost more control of his body. His heart beat faster, his breath got heavier, his palms got sweatier, and his fingers gripped tighter at the denim of his jeans. He gulped hard, a weak attempt at swallowing down his nerves, and squinted his eyes shut. When he felt her hand cup his cheek, it wasn't a second more until her lips were on his. 

"Cut!" 

Matthew quickly steps back, flashing an awkward smile to the girl, before sheepishly turning to his director. He already knew what he was going to say; the same thing he said after the last four takes. That embarrassment washing over him again, avoiding eye contact with any of the other crew. He tried desperately to ignore that all eyes were on him.

The man pulled off his baseball cap with a sigh, walking past the cameras, towards the lush cherry blossom tree they were filming under. "We should have never given you this kiss. It's meant to be monumental Matthew, but you look like you're disgusted by her." 

It's not that the girl was ugly, but Matthew just couldn't get his head in the right space. "I'm sorry."

Today they were supposed to be filming the teaser trailer for ZB1's first full length album 'Love Impact'. It was themed around all the different ways you can express love, and thus, the trailer had all the members showing off different kinds of relationships, and each would end with a kiss. Matthew wasn't a fan of the idea from the very beginning, because he felt so awkward having to kiss a stranger on camera, and it only got worse when he found out what they wanted from him.

A kiss that awaken's all those feelings you never realized you had. Like an epiphany. It's got to be grand and powerful, maybe even life changing.

He still remembers how his heart dropped when the staff told him this. The weight was too heavy on his shoulders, he didn't have the strength to carry this type of burden. Every time he tried to hype himself up, he was reminded of the cameras, and the stranger he was going to have to kiss, and all of that self confidence crumbled away. He tried to think positively, and pray that he'd somehow manage to deliver on the day, but that may have been a wish too far out of reach. 

"Take a break Matthew." The man didn't bother to hide the disappointment in his voice, shooing Matthew away, like he had run out of patience.

Despite, his better judgement, Matthew didn't fight it. He simply followed orders, and headed inside the office building they had hired for the other shoots. 

He felt relived to see it was practically empty, and the only other person in the break room being his favourite group mate. "Hyung..." He whimpers, like a pitiful puppy, slumping down on the sofa beside him. He instantly lifts his legs up onto the sofa, as the older hooks his arm around his waist and pulls him closer. He leans his head on his shoulder; his hopeless gaze fixed on the wall in front of them. "I hate myself."

"Why's that?" Jiwoong didn't sound too concerned, gently rubbing up and down Matthew's side.

Matthew tilts his head up to meet Jiwoong's soft gaze. "I keep screwing up the kiss." He sighs. "I know it's just acting, but I don't want to kiss a stranger- or have everyone watch me. Why am I the only one struggling with this?" 

"The same reason I'm the only one you're cuddly with." Jiwoong says, lifting his hand up to play with Matthew's hair. "You're just not comfortable with it, and that's okay."

Maybe that would be the case if it wasn't a job requirement. Matthew hums deeply, and throws his head back in frustration. "I don't know why you're the only one I'm comfortable with hyung." Keeping his head still, he side glances to catch the smile curving Jiwoong's lips.

"How about I talk to the director? Sort something out for you? Just give me a minute." Jiwoong slowly and gently removes his arm from around Matthew, and lays him down against the sofa as if he was the most delicate piece of China.