Chapter Text
Since he can remember, Sunghoon is already used to the amount of attention that he could coax from the people around him. Never once did he ever crave nor beg it from anyone, this attention was given to him solely for his sheer existence. Before he knew it, he was already walking down the crimson carpet, wearing luxurious brands to showcase each and every priced art piece on the runway.
He was twelve when he first walked down a runway show. He could vividly remember the look on his parents’ faces when they watched him from the front seats of the show. Cameras flashing from every corner of the place, in an attempt to capture a historic moment—or so they called it.
‘The only son of the two most influential supermodels in the industry, finally making his first appearance on a runway show.’
That was the headline that made him infamous for being the only nepotism baby who garnered attention for merely existing with a perfect face, a cheat pass that he got from both his parents. As time passed, he grew up more and more perfect, which later earned him a new nickname as the “Darling of the Heavens”, an inside joke amongst the models in the industry—after all, he can’t really be loved by the heavens so much to create him entirely perfect.
What's his only flaw, you ask? His attitude.
“You’re fired.” Sunghoon spoke monotonously, allowing the expensive piece of clothing to drop onto the floor, the same exact piece that he was hooking on his index finger just a moment ago.
His assistant’s eyes—former assistant’s eyes dilated at the realization of his words. But before the woman could even utter a word in defense for herself, Sunghoon was already marching past her and heading straight into the studio.
Sunghoon could care less about that one measly assistant—former assistant of his, because right behind him were two other assistants waiting to tend to his needs. His reason for firing the other one? Simple. The girl was always making mistakes right before every important event. He has an inkling that the girl was purposely trying to set him up. He was already too kind to even allow her a second and a third chance, after he almost lost a luxurious brand ambassador contract, when that assistant girl neglectfully made him wear an outfit that came from a brand-competitor.
When he finally walked through the entrance of the big studio, everyone turned to look at his direction. The staffs and the people at the studio watched with careful eyes, the way he stalked towards the front of the setup with his head held high.
Sunghoon’s mere existence was eye-catching enough without much effort; more so when he’s already wearing an overly expensive outfit that accentuates the perfect contours of his body, as well as a makeup look that suits well with all of his strong facial features.
One could only think that he was indeed the darling of the industry. Way too perfect for everyone to see.
The model’s eyes immediately raked the place to look for the person in charge of the set for this photoshoot. When his eyes landed on the person sitting by the camera stand, he made his way towards him without any hesitation. Sunghoon doesn’t know the man, but he can tell just by the way that the other was sitting that he was in charge of the place. He was almost taken aback when the man finally looked back at him, for a moment he had a quick realization that the latter was actually quite attractive himself. No—really, to say that the man was merely attractive was a complete understatement. He could pass as a model himself if Sunghoon was being honest.
“It’s nice to finally meet you, Mr. Park” The man greeted, standing up from his seat to extend his hand in an attempt to be casual and polite, despite the fact that his tone was rather monotonous than warm.
Sunghoon, who was already in a foul mood, only managed to quirk his lips, flashing an obviously ingenuine half-smile before reaching out to shake the photographer’s hand.
“The name is Kim Sunoo. I’ll be your photographer for today’s shoot.” The photographer added when he noticed the conflicted look on the model’s face.
It was a rather casual interaction between two professionals in their field of work, not until it turned a tad bit awkward when instead of letting go of the model’s hand, the photographer pulled the latter closer to himself.
“Personally, I’d like to keep things professional in this place. Let’s make this place an interesting workspace for both of us, Mr. Park” The photographer made sure to flash his infamous endearing smile before letting go of the model’s hand. His tone was not harsh nor was it intimidating, but his words definitely had a few undertones.
“I know how to work professionally, Mr. Kim. You might want to take your own words into consideration, because you need it more than I do.” Sunghoon couldn’t help rolling his eyes before he made a sharp turn to walk towards the slightly elevated platform of the set.
As soon as the model took a step closer into the platform, the entire studio dimmed down almost in an instant. Sunghoon was quite taken aback by the sudden change of the ambiance. What remained of the many lights that illuminated the studio was the singular light bulb that hang quite low from the ceiling of the studio.
The theme of the photoshoot was quite daring, in a way that the colors chosen for the props and backdrop was a sharp contrast to his own skin tone. Crimson littered the set, making him look paler than usual.
For his outfit, Sunghoon wore a plain white dress-shirt that hugged his form quite tight around the waist area; it was just enough to accentuate his slim torso, while his pants flowed smoothly down to his feet.
When a staff came closer to his side to hand him a long curtain-like red fabric, he was confused at first but was quick enough to understand what it was for.
Every single person in the studio watched carefully how the supermodel gracefully melted himself into the set of the photoshoot. He was so graceful in a way that he managed to make himself look perfect under the dim lighting. The way he leaned back on the long table behind where it was placed singularly on top of elevated platform; the way he looked even more majestic under the scarce lighting as if his own skin was glowing while wearing nothing but plain white clothes; the way the red fabric complimented his delicate features. Sunghoon was made for this. He was perfect.
The people were way too focused on Sunghoon who was fixing his position on top of the table that they almost forgot the main person in charge of the shoot who was now standing right in front of the supermodel.
After a while, Sunoo walked closer towards his main subject for the shoot. There was a completely blank look on his face when he stood by the foot of the platform while fixing his camera lens.
“Are you sure you can cater to my level of professionalism?” He asked offhandedly, raising his eyes briefly only to watch the rush of annoyance beginning to creep up the model’s beautiful face.
“Will you ever shut up and do your job??” Sunghoon snapped, already past his limit. To him, first impressions matter a lot when you’re meeting someone for the first time. This is their first time working with one another, and somehow this man already managed to push him way past his limits.
Sunghoon can only wonder at the back of his mind if this was the actual person that everyone in the industry keeps talking about— rather known as the world-famous prodigy photographer of the modern century. It seems as if they’re all just mistaken. Can you really blame him? Ever since he walked into the studio he had never once felt an ounce of professionalism from the man. The first thing he said was all about professionalism, yet he can’t even take his word for himself.
“I will do my job, only if you agree to make this boring photoshoot more interesting for the both of us. Save us from this garbage-concept that your management pushed through.” This time, Sunoo was looking directly into Sunghoon’s eyes with a fiery dept in his gaze. His lips were slightly curled on its end.
It took a moment before Sunghoon finally realized what the latter was doing.
Sunoo was challenging him; goading him to get a reaction, while he stood before him with a camera still in his right hand.
“What do you want to do then?” Sunghoon asked with a deep frown on his face. He was not aware that he looked sinfully enticing in the eyes of the man before him.
In fact, everything he does will only ever be perfect in the eyes of Kim Sunoo. Kim Sunoo who loves beauty, elegance, and perfection. Sunghoon would probably never understand, but the same exact moment that he walked through the door of the studio a while ago, Sunoo was already entranced by his entire appearance.
Inside the mind of the world-famous photographer, Kim Sunoo. To have a very gorgeous man as perfect as Park Sunghoon to ask him a question of ‘what do you want to do?’? Sunoo can only hope that he can still remain calm and composed while he enumerates the things that he would want to do with the model if he ever had the chance to speak of it.
Sunoo is well aware that this is a very dangerous territory he’s threading on; he can list a thousand things that he would want from the supermodel right this instant, but none of it would be fit for work. The model will surely slap him across the face and storm off the studio before he even finishes the first thing he would enumerate to him.
“Have you ever done any photoshoots with daring concepts before?” Sunoo threaded, an attempt to lighten the weight of the bomb that he’s about to launch forward on the model.
Sunghoon looked at the photographer with a weird feeling in his lower stomach.
Sunoo didn’t miss the way that the model’s eyes glazed over with interest at the very mention of daring concepts. It only seemed to goad him on like a fiery beast waiting for the prey to bite off the bait that he delicately placed himself.
“No…” Sunghoon still managed to respond, despite the weird feeling in his gut that’s warning him not to engage in the conversation.
Perhaps it’s a new feeling for him because this is the first time that a photographer ever openly asked him about such things, but he didn’t allow it to show on his face.
After all, he had actually never done anything of the sort, not once did he shoot a daring concept in his entire career. Sunoo was right, this concept was a recipe of a flaming hot pile of garbage, the kind of concept that his management recycles every time magazine company offers the model a photoshoot. It’s the same sort of thing over and over, the kind where they just put a variety of luxurious clothes on him; tell him to pose; and then call it a day. Either way, the result was always good, so they go along with it. Only, it got boring for him by the time he reached the fifth photoshoot.
That can only be the reason why a part of him was piqued by the photographer’s inquiry. At least, that’s what he believes so. He assumes that the photographer is planning to offer him a daring concept for this shoot.
Well, it’s safe to say that Sunghoon wasn’t wrong for his assumptions. It’s just that, Sunoo wasn’t offering him the concept. He was challenging him to do it.
After a while, Sunoo looked at the model from his head down to his toes and scoffed, conceit evident in his tone as he mocked, “Never mind, I don’t think daring concepts would fit you any way.”
If that wasn’t enough to make the model’s blood boil, Sunoo wouldn’t mind adding salt to the injury. But gladly it was more than enough to coax a strong reaction from the model.
Sunoo felt a sense of self-satisfaction just by seeing the model’s face slowly turning a shade brighter than his pinkish tone. He couldn't help the way his eyes slowly trailed down from the model’s face, and down to the model's exposed collar area.
He could only imagine what the model would look like if he was leaning against that table with nothing on. Sunoo wondered what it would be like to feel his fingers along the expanse of the model’s supple skin.
It wasn’t long before the model was marching down the slightly elevated platform to stand in front of the photographer with a very angered look on his face.
“What did you just say?!” Sunghoon was furious, he could swear right then and there but he refused to stoop low just because this photographer insulted him and his talent for modeling.
Sunoo didn’t look fazed at all by his presence before him, almost as if he was nothing but a block of concrete. “Don’t take it to heart, Mr. Park. I’ve had many photoshoots with various kinds of models here, I know a capable one when I see one.” Sunoo stepped closer into Sunghoon’s space, so much so that the latter almost stepped back to keep a safe distance between them. Only, his ego and pride got the better of him. He reached out to grab the model by the nape as he leaned in just to whisper in his ear.
Sunghoon remained rooted in his spot, stubbornly awaiting what the photographer was going to say. He could care less about the tension that they managed to arise within the studio; his entire focus was on the other.
Tension broke when Sunoo finally finished what he was dwindling about.
“Right now, I don’t really see it.” Sunoo continued, lips curling up when he felt the other’s body slowly growing tense. “Prove me wrong.” He added.
It was so easy. Sunghoon was so easy to prod. A very sheltered doll that he can so easily taint and manipulate to his satisfaction. Sunoo can almost feel his skin burning with the desire to own the brat. To watch Sunghoon waltz in the palm of his hand while he takes his sweet time, savoring the sight from up above.
Because he would be the one to do that. Only he can do that.