"Between friends, unspoken feelings can feel like a fragile thread pulled taut; one denies its existence while the other hides behind its delicate weave, both yearning for the courage to unravel what lies beneath."
Ian and Julian, long-time best fri...
I loved you long before I had the guts to let you know
- Julian ♥
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Here I am, in Dale's studio, currently wrestling with this odd mix of excitement and self-consciousness as he insists on capturing my true self without a shirt on. Classic Dale is always up for some spontaneous shenanigan, and I swear it feels like I've walked into some well-thought-out planned crusade.
And me being me, of course, it's almost impossible to resist showing off, even if it involves me standing half-naked in front of a camera.
So when he suggested a little impromptu photoshoot, I figured, why not? Though I should've known better than to expect a regular session when he started hinting at the whole "shirtless" thing. But since my curiosity got the better of me, without hesitation, even for a moment, I agreed to give it a shot.
So with an ecstatic "Sure, why not? It sounds like fun." I hopped into the scene.
My pal Axel is laid back on the couch, his attention focused on a video he's been hoping to watch for a while. The least he could do is give me some moral support rather than bluntly ignore me.
And for a while, Dane led me to the backdrop, setting up his camera stuff and adjusting his lighting. He seemed especially enthusiastic and enthralled. I agreed, which made it feel better in most ways, I guess; it helped keep my mind over the fact that I have absolutely no idea or zero plans for what to do next with Ian. I messed up big time. This was a good distraction, and I needed this distraction.
"Alright, let's start," Dale had said after a bit of maneuvering with all his expensive equipment and gear. Suddenly, I felt unsure as I stood stiffly.
Dale walks over with concerned eyes. "Are you feeling alright, Julian?" he asks, his right hand settling down on my shoulder.
"Yeah. Of course." I lied. It was impossible not to feel nervous. I've never taken a shirtless photo in front of a crowd—doing it alone was better. There, I was shameless, delusional, and proud to do it however I wanted.
As though he saw through me, he squeezed my shoulder blades. "Just relax and be yourself."
With a shrug, I decide to go along with it. I'm no stranger to attention, and maybe this could be fun—emphasis on the maybe. I peel off my shirt, trying to look effortlessly cool, but deep down, I hope I'm not making a complete fool of myself.
With a shake and a deep breath, I tried to put myself there. "Okay, okay, let's do this!" I declare, pretending to be all cool and suave. But the truth is, I'm slightly nervous. There's something about being nearly naked in front of a camera that's both exhilarating and embarrassing.
Dale gives a small smile and walks back to continue. And about twenty minutes in, it seems I was doing a pretty good job as Dale flowered me with compliments, and that may have given me an ego boost.
