Shadows of the Spotlight

Chapter 10

Concerned, I hurried inside the changing room, only to stop dead in my tracks. My cheeks flushed as I saw him shirtless, the complicated top only draped over his head, completely obscuring his face.

"I'm so sorry!" I exclaimed, quickly turning around, but before I could leave, Arc spoke up again.

"야, 여기 있는 동안 날 좀 도와주는 게 좋을 것 같아? (Hey, you might as well help me while you're in here)," he said, a playful challenge in his voice.

With my heart racing, I slowly turned back to face him, my mind swirling with embarrassment and a strange thrill. "Okay, fine," I said, trying to sound casual.

I stepped closer and helped him free his head from the fabric, my fingers brushing against his warm skin as I carefully maneuvered the top. The closeness was electrifying, and I was acutely aware of his presence, every detail from his toned muscles to the way his eyes sparkled with mischief.

"그냥... 가만히 있어. (Just... hold still)," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. I slowly unwrapped the straps from his head and freed him from the top.

The small changing area felt even more cramped with Arc standing there shirtless, his toned physique illuminated by the soft overhead light. I caught a glimpse of his defined muscles, and my cheeks instantly heated. I shifted my gaze to the floor, suddenly feeling flustered.

"어, 잠시만요, (Uh, just a second)," he said, breaking the silence as he rummaged through the garment bag.

"시간을 가져라. (Take your time)," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. I could hardly look at him, focusing instead on the clothing that hung from the bag. The outfit was a complicated top, adorned with intricate straps and layers that seemed to twist around each other.

Arc glanced at me, his expression playful. "나에게 지시만 하기보다는 내가 이 문제를 해결할 수 있도록 도와주시는 게 어때요? (Instead of just giving me instructions, why don't you help me figure this out?)" he teased, raising an eyebrow.

I swallowed hard, my heart racing. "나—어, 해볼게요. (I—uh, I can try)," I stammered, stepping closer, forcing myself to concentrate on the task rather than his bare skin. The air felt thick with an awkward tension as I took a deep breath, pushing my shyness aside.

"좋아요, 여기에 무엇이 있는지 봅시다.. (Okay, let's see what we have here)," I said, carefully picking up the top. It was a deep blue, rich in color, with straps that crisscrossed in an elaborate pattern. "이건... 복잡해 보이는데. (This looks... complicated.)"

Arc chuckled softly. "알아요. (I know)."

I moved closer to help him put it on, carefully draping the top over his shoulders. My fingers grazed his skin briefly, and I felt a rush of warmth spread through me, but I quickly focused on aligning the straps. "이건 여기로 가야 해... (So, this goes over here...)" I murmured, pointing to one of the straps.

"알겠어. (Got it)," he replied, his voice steady. He turned slightly, allowing me to adjust the fabric. I could see his reflection in the mirror, and for a moment, I marveled at how effortlessly confident he was.

As I worked, I became more comfortable, my shyness ebbing away. "이 스트랩은 네 등을 돌아야 해. (Okay, now this strap needs to go around your back)," I instructed, gently guiding him. "이걸 잡아줄 수 있어? (Can you hold it while I adjust this?)"

"응, (Sure)," he said, his eyes meeting mine for a brief moment, and I felt a flutter in my stomach.

With each adjustment, I felt more at ease, the initial awkwardness transforming into a collaborative effort. "됐다! 이제 완벽해! (There! I think we've got it)," I announced as I stepped back to admire my handiwork.