Bodyguard | Heesun

17

Heeseung hadn't realized how much time he spent by Sunoo's side until now. It has been a few days now since they've seen each other, a few days getting busy in their own way, and Heeseung would be lying if he said that he doesn't miss the warmth of Sunoo's body against his, the comfort of his lips against his, and the sound of his lovely laugh.

from : baby 🦊 — 05:14 p.m.
i'm just leaving Sunghoon's office!
miss u
come have dinner with me?

With a smile playing on his lips, Heeseung types down his response.

to : baby 🦊 — 05:15 p.m.
i'm out with a friend, i'm not sure about the time i go home
send me a picture of your meal!
i better not see another panda express take-out

A silent giggle as he sends his response, imagining the pout forming on Sunoo's lips at the implied scolding.

It's their fifth, if not more, attempt at meeting each other ever since the day Heeseung left Sunoo his painted portrait. And it is not that they do not wish to see each other, but rather that their schedules seem to clash with each other. Perhaps there is also a bit of something else, but Heeseung doesn't quite want to acknowledge it yet.

"Talking to your boyfriend?"

Heeseung laughs at Ni-ki's question, shaking his head in disbelief at the lack of hesitation in using that term. When he looks up from his phone, he meets Ni-ki's excited eyes. It's all so funny to him. "I have not once said that, how would you know?"

"Because I know you, Lee Heeseung. You haven't changed, you know."

"Yeah, you told me that last time," he chuckles, amused by the grin playing on Ni-ki's face. Although he hears a few notifications making his phone buzz, he slides it into the pocket of his jacket and keeps walking through the halls of his old university, his eyes sweeping his surroundings.

Today is the university's open day. A few, young people are wandering through the building and between the multiple students' works ranging from photography to fine art, and it is a nice way of reminiscing about the time both Heeseung and Ni-ki spent working days and nights on their Master's project.

"I gotta be honest, though, when you contacted me a few days ago about wanting to pick up photography again, I got surprised."

A silent laugh shakes Heeseung's shoulders. "Why? 'think it's too late? Or am I too old for this? I'm not even in my thirties, you know," he tries playfully.

"None of that," Ni-ki immediately clears out, "but I guess I thought that you wouldn't want to start over again, after what you went through as a freelance photographer."

A nod. Ni-ki isn't wrong. When Heeseung contacted him, he talked about the time he worked after graduating. Talked about the financial situation he was in, talked about the multiple refusals to expose his works or even the bad experience he had with clients that wouldn't even pay him after the work has been done—it is only natural that Ni-ki would think that, after this experience, Heeseung wouldn't want to try again. Wouldn't want that to happen all over again.

But it was another time. A time when having a muse wouldn't pay his bills. A time when having a muse wouldn't bring him clients—because he was a simple, unknown, and inexperienced artist who'd spend too much time creating for someone he had never even met.

Now, he feels like he can finally try again and follow his passion. Although... try is the keyword here. His obligations are elsewhere, and he can not simply abandon everything, abandon Sunoo, simply to pursue his dreams. It is out of the picture.