Work of Art || Luwoo

43

~~Jungwoo~~

Who knew that waiting for someone to answer the door could feel like such an eternity? I'm so giddy to give Lucas the good news that I keep having to bite my lip to hide the smile that's stretching from ear to ear. I rock back on my heels to keep myself busy while I wait for the door. The separation between my good news, and my boyfriend finally opens, giving me the perfect shot at a hug. I lunge a little too quickly and feel Lucas take a few steps back to steady himself. I can't help it, I'm just happy for him.
"I love you." I mumble into his shoulder. My cheeks hurt.
"I love you, too, Woo." It takes a second for him to rest his hand against my back. "What's gotten into you?" He asks, still hugging me.
"I've got good news." I say before pulling him into his own home and giving all the information I have with just one breath.
Lucas' eyes stare at me blankly, but the corners of his mouth are lifted just slightly.
"So I'm working for Caller now." He says it more to himself than to me, but I nod in confirmation.
"Well your contract would be with us and Mode Maudelle now that we have the new production agreement. As far as I know, Caller Magazine would be managing you, but you'd still be modelling for Mode." Silence. Is that a good sign?
"You'll get a confirmation call tomorrow." I say.
Lucas grabs my forearms and pulls me back into him. I'm close enough that I can hear his deep sigh brush against my hair just above my ear.

||Lucas||

It feels weird riding to a show in a Caller van. Although it isn't the Mode Maudelle busses I'm used to, it's still very clear they know what they're doing. There are other models signed to Caller who sit around me. We've already changed into the first set of clothes and try to sit as still as possible while makeup artists touch up their work. I hold my breath each time we pass over a dip in the road.
As usual, I'm escorted into the venue through a stage door and led to a dressing room where Maudelle's models are already set up. I recognize a lot of the faces in the room and they look back at me with a smile. Everyone's busy getting ready, so not much talking happens between the models, but many of my closer friends I made while at Maudelle smile at me, too or nod. They look proud somehow, and I know that my reason for leaving has been spread through the company.

|||

Madame Maudelle doesn't talk to me much during the after party. She keeps our conversations brief and way too professional for the amount of years I've known her. I'm not surprised that she handed me over to Caller so easily since I'm sure that her best model leaving was a little bit of an embarrassment on her part. But I have Jungwoo's supervisor, Bree and the rest of her management crew pulling me around to talk to higher ups and promote myself.
A gentle hand takes my elbow and turns me around. A wave of euphoria crashes into me when I realize that from this point forward, I no longer have to hide the person who means the most to me in this world. Woo's dressed in a simple suit, the only accent on him is the thin gold bracelet that I bought for him. It's twisted into the cuff of his shirt, so I pull on the clasp to reposition it. I can feel Jungwoo's eyes on my face while I fix the band and although the action lasts for less than a second, it means everything to me because once I readjust the bracelet to my liking, I slide my arm under his, and pull his face towards mine. I feel Jungwoo's smile against my lips. It's quiet for a moment, then I hear the familiar shutter of cameras, and the lights flash through my eyelids. Let them take the pictures. I think. Im finally with the person I love, and nothing can change that. Do I really need anything else?