Worlds Apart - Taekook - Book 2

Chapter 242 - L.O.V.E

"Heeju! Look! She... she is glowing." Sukmin said out loud, transfixed by the four models walking the runway.

P.J and Jin were wearing blazers that lit up with rainbow l.e.d lights. Their baseball caps had light up peaks and their trainers also glowed. The black trousers and gloves made it striking as all of the floodlights switched off, plunging the area into the darkness of the evening.

Heeju and Irene, also dressed in black trousers and gloves, had l.e.d capes that looked like wings when they lifted their arms. It was a striking start and people in the audience reacted with gasps and sounds that reflected their surprise.

Billy smiled as he caught Marie's gaze as they sat either side of Sukmin. Glancing at each other with unspoken joy, hearts swelling at the awe and happiness emanating from the young man that had them feeling what they imagine to be the closest they'd ever felt to being parents.

"D-do you think Ara would give me a hat with lights?" Sukmin asks.

"I bet she would. We can ask her." Marie has no doubt that Ara would give him anything he wanted.

Backstage the buzz of excitement was heightened. The four models were frantically getting out of their electric outfits, changing into their next one.

Four outfits.

All three members of each team wore the same outfit, regardless of their ethnicity, gender, sexuality, body shape... regardless of everything.

Ara gifted them all with a silver heart that she'd had made when she saw one of Heeju's doodles. The heart looked like the doodle had come to life, curved and twisted precious metal that represented her theme. Ara offered every model a choice of how they would wear it, with most opting for earrings which hung delicately from their ears.

The only difference, aside from their choice of heart, were the choice of footwear, with each individual choosing a pair of rainbow themed shoes from the collection. Some wore trainers, some had toe peep heels and some, like Phoenix, chose huge platform boots that made her long legs look even longer.

One of Honsool's songs started. It was edgy and perfect for group one. Irene led her trio up the steps to take their positions on the first part of the T shaped stage and runway.

This was their moment and each of them were consumed with their own thoughts. Irene strutted her stuff, thinking about the pose she would pull at the end of the catwalk where cameras would flash and people would show their appreciation for her. In two days she would be in New York and three days after that, Rio de Janeiro... it was a dream job for someone who loved to travel as much as she did.

Jimin and Ash followed, each one starting their walk once the one in front finished their pose and began their walk back. The stylist to the stars was in his element! Usually the man behind the scenes, rarely in front of the camera unless he was at an awards show or accompanying his husband somewhere. Jimin fell in love with the black pleated skirt with a peep of colour between the folds. He vowed to add a skirt or two to his own wardrobe, especially after Yoongi sent him a dick pic in response to the photo he sent him earlier. It wouldn't be long before his husband was home and Jimin couldn't wait.

"There's Ash!" Sukmin cheered.

'Uncomfortable' was probably the best description of how Ash felt as he walked the runway. He waved at Sukmin, the boy he was probably more fond of than he should be. He realised how Billy and Marie must have felt and he could suddenly relate to the fear that someone could be taken away. He didn't have any official claim on Sukmin. The boy's parents could show up at any time and take him away. Sukmin himself could disappear and Ash had no rights that would enable him to see him again. Ash wondered if any of his foster families had ever felt like that about him? For some of them, he wasn't there long enough and no one stayed in touch once he moved on so that answered his question. It didn't bother him, not now anyway. Now, he had Heeju and within the next week they would be living together. Overnight, his life changed and he was eternally grateful that his best friend had dragged him to the airport. Ash worried that Ara and Yejoon would be angry and blame him for holding their daughter back but they'd been supportive and they even said that they'd expected the change of plan much sooner but both admitted they didn't want to interfere because they wanted to support them both in their decisions.