Work of Art || Luwoo

35

||Lucas||

Thankfully, I don't need to be in front of a camera today. My eyes are much too puffy to hide behind a layer of makeup and honestly, I don't have the energy to do something like that today. Even this fitting is too much right now. I didn't get much sleep after that walk with Jungwoo. I was too busy trying to come up with a solution that would let me keep my job and him. But I know all too well how strict the model world is and I know that there's no way that once Madame Maudelle finds out, she won't ever let me have my way.

I hate to say it, but I don't have much of an opinion on what I'll be doing today, so I pout a little and pull myself through today's scheduled plans. Once again, the make-shift cubicles are set up in that big room and I quickly loose count of how many outfits I put on, moving stiffly, barely talking. I try not to leave too quickly when the day is over and I get to go back home. I don't stay to help and instead, rush to the elevator doors. Even if I didn't want to get back home as quickly as possible to text Jungwoo, I wouldn't have stayed. I'm too tired to help. Alex is still in there after I overheard her offer to help pack things up. She can take over for me.

I hop in my car and rush home just to throw off my clothes and sit my desperate ass on the couch. I'm in too much of a rush and I forget to grab my phone out of the pocket of my other pants. I shove my hands in the pockets, waiting to feel my phone. But I don't.

>>Alex<<

Lucas leaves in such a rush, I don't even have to work very hard to get what I'm after. I didn't know when my ideas would carry through, I definitely wasn't expecting it to happen this quickly, or be this easy.
"See you guys tomorrow!" Lucas waves a hand as he rushes to throw on his jacket and heads out the door in a fast walk.
I guess he isn't going to stay and help tear down the cubicles today, so I offer to help instead. I need some way to earn brownie points with Maudelle, especially with the news about Lucas I'm planning to throw at her. The staff take to disassembling the stage and cubicles, and a few of the other models collect the clothes thrown around the room with me. Once our arms are fully draped with the outfits, we start to hang them back on their racks. Each model has their own section. Each clothing hanger has a list of measurements and modifications for the pieces.
"Hey, does anyone know who's phone this is?" Somebody calls from across the room.
I turn to look and they're waving a phone in the air. I take the phone from them and turn it over a few times. I recognize the case almost instantly. The edge is lined by Fendi logos and the dark green is just as shiny as when I watched him buy it. He always used a simple pattern as a password, too forgetful to remember anything more complicated. I've logged into his phone so many times, it's not very hard to remember the password he used to use. I cross my fingers and hope that he hasn't taken the time to change it. Sure enough, the code works and the phone lets me in. I roll my eyes noticing the wallpaper and turn the phone off again before anyone sees it. It makes sense that he'd set the picture of that giggling photographer wearing what I assume is his sweater as his wallpaper and not his lock screen. That way, no one will see it unless they know the password.
"It's Lucas'. I can give it to him." I say, pocketing the phone.

><

The project my agency came to New York for isn't supposed to take very long, so the company's bought a whole floor of a nearby hotel. I collect my hotel card from the front office. The door beeps when I swipe the card and a fairly luxurious room waits behind the door. I slip off my shoes and change out of my extremely uncomfortable clothes (even though they're designer). I pick the only pair of pyjamas out of my suitcase and fall back onto the bed. The sheets puff around me, making me sink deeper and deeper into the mattress. I could fall asleep right now, but I have things that need to be done. Lucas knows the rules of the contract, and he shouldn't be allowed to ignore them whenever he wants. I've given up so much for this job, so has everyone else. Getting up again, I take the phone from the desk hiding in the corner and type the familiar password. Just like earlier, a picture of Lucas and that photographer are set as the wallpaper. There's not much on his phone. Just a few games and apps that we all have for work. It makes it easy to find his messages. There are a few familiar contacts from the company and a few other names that I think are members of his family or friends. Jungwoo's name is close to the top of the list.

I don't really know how to text like Lucas, but does it really matter? Jungwoo won't be focusing on the way the message is written.

Lucas
I've been thinking and I can't see you and keep my job. People are starting to suspect things so I'm deleting your contact. Thanks for everything.

Short and to the point. I block Jungwoo's number before deleting his contact. I stuff the phone back in my coat and go to bed. I'll be busy tomorrow.

~~Jungwoo~~

I don't cry when I read the text. I go through my usual routine of getting ready for work. The message was a shock after what Lucas said at the river. When we first started dating, I didn't really believe that he was into me. He worked with so many people who were way more attractive than me. Models. And yet, he chose me. I always thought that maybe I was some type of toy to him. A trophy to show people just how easy it would be for him to find someone. I started to trust him after the night at his house. That he actually did care about me. Maybe I'm just being selfish, but it hurts to realize his job is more important. I can't see well with the water that's threatening to overflow my eyes, so I call Haechan. He's at my door in only a few minutes.

"Hey." I say, eyes red and a little puffy from my sad attempt at holding back tears.
"Common, tell me about it." Haechan waves me out of the apartment and I explain while we walk to the parking lot.
"Lucas broke up with me last night but I didn't get the text until this morning."
"He broke up with you over text?"
"Yeah." I sigh. "Nice, right?" I can feel the anger rise in Haechan.
"He's a coward. He can't even say it to your face." We take the elevator in silence. The drive to work isn't much different. I try to keep busy and avoid thinking about Him. It works for the most part.

I'm clicking on sections of a photo, touching up the skin and my phone rings. I answer without looking at the contact name. I'm too focused to look away from the photo.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Woo." Haechan never calls while I'm at work. "I was thinking."
"Oh no." I roll my eyes at the idea of another stupid plan being carried trough.
"You were supposed to see Lucas tomorrow, right?"
"Yes." Where is he going with this?"
"You should still go." I stop working and look at my phone screen, hoping he's joking.
"Please tell me you're joking."
"I'm being serious. This just doesn't feel right. Like I don't think he meant what he said."
"Texted." I sigh.
"Woo... Just trust me. Please."

~~~

I don't want to go but I do anyway, for Haechan. I drive myself to the coffee shop like we planned and take a seat at one of the outdoor tables. My heart is threatening to burst from my chest so I take deep breaths to calm myself. I didn't rush to get here. I told myself that Lucas wasn't worth my time and that I'd show up when we planned. No earlier. I'm so caught up in my self-pity thoughts that I jump when the chair in front of me is pulled out. Lucas sits down. My throat burns when I try to talk.
"What happened?" I squeak and Lucas' smile immediately changes to a frown.
"Nothing?" He says as if it's a question.
I scoff.
"Breaking up over text is nothing? Lucas, that's a big something." I want to keep my calm. To get answers. But I can feel the heat rising to my cheeks.
"Jungwoo, I wouldn't do that. What are you saying?" I snap.
"You wouldn't do that? Well you just did three days ago! You should've just stuck with your so important job instead of leading me on." I shove my phone in his face and I watch him read the message.
"I didn't send that." He murmurs.
"Who else would it be, Lucas? This is from your phone, it's your contact."
"Woo, lis-" I don't want to hear anymore petty excuses.
"Don't call me that. I'm leaving."

Author's note:
2k reads!! Thank you so much everybody who has voted, added this book to their reading lists and to those who have just took the time to read a chapter here and there. I say it all the time, but I never expected this book to get the attention that it has. Thanks again! ^•^