Fate | Jakehoon

chapter 26: no regrets!

"Can you loosen up? You're quite stiff ," the photographer tells Sunghoon.

Sunghoon tries not to furrow his eyebrows so much as to not look angry and to relax his shoulders. He's on a photoshoot for the Cosmopolitan magazine, together with Jake. They're doing a special collaboration with Tiffany & Co. for the September issue.

Currently, it's Sunghoon's turn for the solo shots since Jake finished his, and then they're up for the unit ones.

"Cover your left eye so we can highlight the ring and bracelet," the photographer says and Sunghoon does it. "Ok, let's see what we have," she motions Sunghoon to come take a look at all the pictures of him taken so far.

They're not too bad.

"I think they turned out pretty good. You look very handsome, so I doubt anyone's going to notice a bit of stiffness," the photographer assures him.

"Thank you," Sunghoon responds with a slightly embarrassed chuckle upon hearing the compliment.

"You can go change for the unit photoshoot."

Some staff members accompany Sunghoon to the fitting room and hand him a new outfit for his photos with Jake. The stylist rearranges his hair and he gets a make up retouch.

From the corner of the mirror, Sunghoon spots Jake watching something on his phone while waiting. He's ready, dressed in a pair of blue jeans, a black top and a black leather jacket, which suits him.

But it makes Sunghoon wonder if the bruises on Jake's arms and back have gotten better.

When Sunghoon's finished, they return to the shooting studio. The photographer gives them a few pointers on how to pose together and showcase the jewelry and they move on to filming the videos. 

"You should walk up until you're fairly close and then look at each other with a neutral expression," she instructs and on her signal, the two comply.

Sunghoon's staring Jake in the eye for the first time after everything that's happened.

It's difficult, though, to look at Jake impartially when Sunghoon feels an intense emotion of sadness and desire. 

He'd do anything to kiss Jake again and hod him in his arms.

"Now turn towards the camera," the photographer says and the first video is complete. "For the next one, you're facing each other. Jake-ssi, you put your arm across Sunghoon-ssi's chest, up to his shoulder and tilt your head forward to the right to look at the camera that's coming from Sunghoon-ssi's direction," she gives a detailed explanation. "Sunghoon-ssi, you look to your left."

"Jake-ssi, look at the camera please," the photographer, who's gotten closer to them for the shots, says.

"Oh, yes. Sorry," Jake apologizes.

The photoshoot continues with a series of playful shots, as they are handed magnifying glasses to playfully mimic searching for something, followed by striking poses with their team sign. For the last session, they're sent to another outfit change, similar to the previous ones. Two giant cameras await when they return, which means they still have to film something. 

The photographer offers her suggestions for the final poses, which begin individually, and culminate with Sunghoon standing up behind Jake, who's seated and touching Sunghoon's wrist.

A touch that makes Sunghoon feel more at ease. The same old, soothing effect Jake always seems to have on him whenever nerves creep in.

"Woah, so handsome!"