Time to Love (BTS & Red Velvet Short Stories)

Bellatrixia: I

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A group of models posed in front of the blinding lights of the camera. Dressed in an assortment of stripped, flowery, bold and geometric two-piece and one-piece bikinis.

Tanned skin. Toned arms. Glowing skin. And legs. Legs that go on for days.

The Christmas chill barely left the air and a bunch of photoshoots for the summer special has been made already. After all, spring is shortest season of the year.

Everyone seemed to be looking forward to the summer trends that's about to cascade like the gushing waterfalls.

That is, everyone but the photographer behind the lens of his camera, clicking away at a rhythmic pace. His face was stoic and focused and a bit intimidating; as if he should be joining the models before him.

It was not because of the horrible summer weather that he began to despise it - in fact he would usually enjoy eating chilled watermelons on a sunny afternoon. Neither was it because of the excessive outings with his family, friends and co-workers that he began to dislike it. But it was the fact that he had to take pictures of the same crappy summery concepts for magazines, advertisements or editorials.

He wanted to do something different with perception of beauty in the fashion industry.

Summer is burning, and so is Taehyung's passion for body positivity, inclusion and diversity and these pictorials are not in any way helping with any of it.

It was, however, the job that paid for rent. This did not mean however that he never tried submitting suggestions to the advertisers as to the vision he sees in the industry.

"That's it for today. Great job everyone!" Taehyung clapped his hands and smiled around the set after he clicked for the final set of photos. He tried to sound cheery, after all it was not these models' fault that the industry demands a physique like them.

As the models made a beeline to review the pictures on the monitor a hand grabbed Taehyung's arm and he was dragged on the side by the head producer of the photoshoot Ms. Katy.

Which meant. Not. Good. Nothing comes out of the producer's mouth that's doesn't give Taehyung stress.

"You know the photoshoot scheduled in 2 weeks?"

He gulped. "Yeah? The one well be shooting on an actual beach location?"

The producer nodded.

"What about it?"

"Well. There seemed to be some itsy-bitsy changes that the higher ups made." She said as she made gestures with her fingers trying to quantify how minor the change would be.

Taehyung rubbed at his nape and let go of the camera that he was still holding, letting it cling on his neck, "By itsy-bitsy you mean..."

"Exactly!" Ms. Katy snapped her hand and placed a hand on her hip. "They wanted to change the concept - apparently they reviewed the suggestion you submitted and... I don't know who but someone suggested to give it a shot, quite literally, if I may add."

Taehyung was stunned. Too many thoughts running on his head, trying to take over his awareness. He did not know whether to feel burdened or happy at the news, but more than that, he was afraid if he will be able to prepare and deliver the shoot properly.

"Taehyung. You there? Hey. hey. This is not the time slack off." She clapped in front of his face and the young photographer jerked in sudden alertness. "The location will be the same. I have reviewed your suggestion as well. Since the concept was about "Dive in Diversity" we have already contacted some unique individuals who could do the shoot."

"Can it be not be famous personalities, or people that have a huge following on Twitter or Instagram as your specifications?" The photographer pleaded with his eyes. He just wanted the photoshoot to depict people as ordinary as they are enjoying the summer heat.

"Yah! What do you think of us? We're not the Flash 'ya know." Ms. Katy smirked, "But, well, you got the one and only producer over here to do this job right. Or else the both of us..." And she gestured a straight line across her throat.

"Does that mean you got the right people?"

"No! It means we're both dead." Ms. Katy paused, "Ohh. You meant for the shoot? Yeah."

"But the management wanted you to include our seasoned endorser."

"And who's that?" Taehyung asked, not quite oblivious to the obvious.

Ms. Katy flicked his forehead, "Who else, your ex, Bae Joohyun."