Archive of Our Own

Gorya was mad.

No, not mad, she was furious.

She could not believe the audacity of Shasha. As soon as she got the call for Prim asking about the model's address, she felt her blood boil. Because why else was Prim looking for Shasha at her condo.

That could only mean one thing.

Bambi.

And that's how she ended up outside Shasha's door with Prim by her side, bright and early in the morning instead of going for her daily jog and matcha after. Ugh, Shasha was so annoying. So infuriatingly gorgeous and hot and charming and annoying. Gorya tsked, also annoyed at herself for falling for it.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm herself so she wouldn't slap Shasha as soon as she saw her. Was Shasha lying the last night they spent together? When she ran to Gorya after she fired her manager because she had no one else to turn to?

~~~

Gorya was drying the utensils of her parent's restaurant after a long day full of customers. She wouldn't admit it to her face but Shasha did help attract more customers since she started helping out at their humble, family-owned business. The shutters of the entrance were left slightly ajar and Gorya heard the rattling of someone pulling it further open.

"We're closed," Gorya spoke lazily, not bothering to look up as she continue her task.

"Even for me?"

Gorya looked up at the familiar, albeit tired, voice.

"What are you doing here?"

Shasha plopped herself down at the table, across from Gorya, hand in her head. Gorya stared at her incredulously.

"I fired my manager."

"Oh," Gorya responded in mild surprise. Shasha always spoke kindly of Woonsen. When she first told Shasha that her manager was swindling her money, she expected Shasha to be in denial, and she was. What she didn't expect was Shasha to fire her, and so soon at that. "What did she say?"

"She tried to guilt-trip me," sighed Shasha.

"The nerve of her," Gorya sneered, her moral compass not allowing her to pretend to be nonchalant about it. "She went behind your back and then tried to play victim instead."

As much as Gorya acted like she didn't care about Shasha, they both knew that deep down, after months of knowing each other, that Gorya worried about her. Especially as something as serious as this.

Shasha let out a small smile at Gorya's anger. "I'm worried I won't be able to find a new manager. I know I'm hard to work with, usually Woonsen helps me smooth things over. If it weren't for her, everyone in the industry would hate me."

"You may be insufferable," Gorya nodded and Shasha snorted at that. "But you're professional and in high-demand, I'm sure plenty of people would jump at the chance to be your manager."

"You really think so?"

"Yeah," Gorya shrugged and continued wiping the spoon she's been holding.

"What about you? Would you manage me?"

"Me?" Gorya laughed in disbelief. "I'm just a stylist. And why would I purposely want to spend all my time with you?"

Shasha smiled at that. It was just habit that this point. Gorya's words held no strong malice, just playful banter that morphed from a time where she couldn't even stand the sight of Shasha. Shasha knew that she still had a long way to go and that she still got on Gorya's nerves but she liked the place they ended up in.

"I know you'll be good at it. You like ordering me around. And I'd like to spend all day with you."

"I wouldn't."

Shasha laughed softly at Gorya's repulsed reaction and switched topics to the real reason she came over so late. "Can I stay over for the night?"

The 'no' that came out of Gorya's mouth was immediate. "You have a luxurious condo with a big bed for you to sleep in."

"But I don't want to sleep alone tonight. I will overthink if I made a mistake. I want to be by your side, you being close to me is enough to help me calm down. Please?" Shasha looked at her softly.

Gorya couldn't help it, her heart soften seeing Shasha like this and hearing her pleads.

"If not I might go to a club and bring a girl home."

Illusion shattered. Gorya snapped out of it and rolled her eyes. Of course she would, she was still a player at heart no matter how much she denied it.

"But I don't want to do that," Shasha defended herself quickly, seeing that she almost lost Gorya's favour in her argument.

Gorya pursed her lips slightly and looked at Shasha, trying to judge how sincere she was being. "If you're expecting that kind of comfort from me, go home."

"I'm not," Shasha shook her head. "I just want to lie beside you. I won't even touch you if you don't want me to."

Shasha stuck out her pinky finger and looked at Gorya expectedly.

"Can you even do that?" Gorya retorted sarcastically. "You seem to always have a hard time keeping your hands off of me."

"Only 'cuz you're so beautiful and you let me." Gorya rolled her eyes at that. "But if you don't want me to, I won't, I promise."

Shasha wiggled her pinky finger, goading Gorya to agree to her request. The slight smile on the model's lips made it hard for Gorya to keep her stubborn resolve. She looked into her eyes, knowing that behind that playful look, there was a small plea, begging for acceptance.

Gorya glanced at the outstretch pinky in front of her and back into those eyes staring at her. Gorya still had a hard time trusting Shasha but she wanted Shasha to prove herself. Gorya wanted Shasha to prove her wrong. If she didn't she would've left long ago.

Using the spoon she was holding, she cautiously touched it against Shasha's pinky, staring back at Shasha's gaze, daring her to show Gorya she means what she says.

"Don't make me regret this."

Shasha only grinned.

Gorya led Shasha to her room and gave her the biggest clothes she could find in her wardrobe. Shasha sat on Gorya's bed once she was changed and glanced around.

"Your room is nice."

"It's messy," Gorya said, looking at Shasha as she applied lotion to her hands.

"I think it suits you, it's messy but pretty."

Gorya paused and brows furrowed sceptically. "Is that meant to be a compliment?"

"Mhm," Shasha nodded earnestly while running her fingers through her hair.

"You have a weird way of complimenting."

"I mean, I meant it more like, there's art in chaos, y'know?"

Gorya had the urge to give her shit for it, because that was extremely cheesy. But she could tell Shasha was trying to be honest. That was enough for her, that's all she ever wanted from Shasha, so she just nodded and let it slide, accepting it. Plus she was tired.

She made her way under the sheets and Shasha followed, laying down beside her. Before Gorya's head touched the pillow, Gorya pointed a finger at Shasha and said, "Don't get the wrong idea here, I'm only letting you stay here 'cuz I feel bad for you."

"I know," Shasha nodded and glanced up at Gorya who was still sitting upright.

"Then why are you facing this way and looking at me like that. Turn around." Gorya gave Shasha a shove at her shoulders but she didn't move.

"Can't I look at your pretty face? Why? Worried that it'll make you want to change your mind and do something else aside from sleeping?" Shasha joked smugly, not budging.

Gorya tsked, irritated as she ran her fingers through her hair.

"Shasha," she warned sternly, raising a hand up as if to hit her. "Behave."

"I'm joking, I'm joking," Shasha laughed and put her hands up to protect herself.

Gorya rolled her eyes and finally laid down, staring at Shasha with her brows furrowed. "What? Why are you still looking? Go sleep."

"Can I ask for a request," Shasha looked, voice softer and more vulnerable this time.

"What is it?" Gorya asked, curious at the sudden change in tone.

"Can you hold me?"

"No," she said on instinct, so used to turning Shasha down.

"Please? Just hold me? I just want to feel that I'm wanted."

"Why don't you ask one of the hundreds of girls you bring home to do it instead? They want you." Gorya didn't mean it in a spiteful way, just tired and maybe a little curious.

Shasha paused and closed her eyes, breathing in deep as if she was fighting an inner battle within herself. Gorya's eyebrows relaxed and her eyes slightly widen when Shasha's gaze rested on hers again, full of sincerity and longing. Shasha looked like she was going to reach out to grab Gorya's hand but then remembered she promised she wouldn't touch her. She gripped the sheets between them instead.

"But I want you," Shasha whispered, so softly that Gorya thought she misheard it. "And I want to feel wanted by you. I want to be wanted by you."

Gorya felt her heart squeeze, as if begging her to acknowledge that Shasha had forced her way in there somehow and created a soft spot just for her.

What else could Gorya do but say, "Okay."

Shasha smiled gently and turned so her back was facing Gorya. Gorya carefully moved closer, cautiously lifting an arm to wrap it around Shasha's waist. Her movements were unsure and the action was foreign.

"I'll only hold you."

Shasha sighed in contentment and nodded.

Sure, they had slept together a couple of time. Maybe a handful. Okay much, much more than a handful of times, but Gorya had never hugged her like this before. Sometimes, Shasha would try to cuddle with her and on the rare occasion where Gorya didn't slap her arm away and allowed her, it was always Shasha that was hugging her.

Never Gorya hugging Shasha.

She didn't hate it, in fact, she quite like the way her arm rested against the dip of Shasha's waist and the way she could feel her breathe with her hand on her stomach. With Gorya being so close to the back of her head, she could smell the floral scent of her shampoo.

It was calm, relaxing. So why was her heart thrumming against her chest?

She heard a shuffle in the sheets and felt Shasha moving ever so slightly. Gorya felt the soft, delicate graze of Shasha's fingers against the hand she had on the model. The touch felt electric, almost too much from how gentle it was. She almost pulled away but Shasha's larger hand covered hers, not forcefully, just lightly brushing over it, as if testing the waters to see if it was okay, if Gorya would pull away.

She didn't, so Shasha pressed her hand into Gorya's and squeezed it tenderly before relaxing.

Gorya couldn't tell if a minute or an hour had passed but she was still awake, still looking at the back of the taller woman's head, still trying to make sense of what all of this means.

Gorya was confused. At Shasha's words and actions, at her own reaction.

Was this all a game or was this real?

"Shasha," Gorya spoke quietly unable to stop herself with the questions whirling through her mind.

She thought Shasha was asleep but then she heard her go, "Hmm?"

"What do you mean you want me?"

Shasha was quiet. It took her a moment before she turned around, careful not to disturb or scare away Gorya's arm on her waist. They were face-to-face, so close to each other now that they could hear each other's breathing.

"Exactly what I said, I want you."

"You want a lot of things. A lot of people."

Shasha shook her head, "No, just you. I want you. Only you, Gorya."

Just you, only you.

Gorya didn't believe it, even though her heart stuttered.

"What about all the other girls you've flirted with, bedded even? What makes me any different?"

Shasha smiled at her, hushed and mellow, almost sad, even.

"You see me for who I am. You let me be who I am. I feel safe with you."

Gorya just stared, letting Shasha say what she wanted to, not having the words to respond anyway.

"I really want you to feel that way with me too, Gorya. I want you to want me, like how I want you."

She blinked. Once, twice, trying to understand what Shasha was telling her right now. She knew the woman next to her had trouble expressing her feelings and being open. So this was new. But, she knew Shasha had used her words before to sway people, charm them into doing what she wants. She was no fool.

And yet.

Maybe it was too late, maybe emotions were running too high, but something in Shasha's voice and eyes made Gorya want to believe her, convince her that she was being honest.

But Gorya couldn't let herself be won over. Not yet. Not until she knew for sure Shasha said what she meant. Because right now, she didn't know what to believe.

"How can I trust you? I can't."

Shasha sighed, but smiled. "I know, I knew you'd say that." She lifted her had, hovering over Gorya's face, waiting for her to swat her hand away. When she didn't, Shasha tucked a stray strand behind her ear, carefully cupping her jaw and forcing Gorya to stare into her eyes. "I'll show you, let me gain your trust, let me work for it. Just be patient with me."

Shasha let go of her cheek and brought her pinky up to her face. "I'll prove it to you, I promise."

Gorya wanted to believe her. So she did. She removed her hand from Shasha's waist and wrapped her own pinky around her's.

"Prove me wrong."

~~~

Prove me wrong, my ass!

Gorya was fuming the more she remembered that night. All those pretty words and promises and Gorya can't believe she almost trusted her.

Prim was about to ring the doorbell when Gorya forced her way to the front instead and banged on the door. The burn of her fist was nothing compared to the heat she felt running through her body.

Not long after, Shasha opened the door, clad in a robe and house slippers.

Gorya wanted to strangle her.

Shasha's eyes met Gorya's first before she even noticed Prim. Gorya wears staring daggers at the woman in front of her.

"Where's Bambi?" Prim asked sternly.

"Probably in the shower."

Shasha's nonchalant tone made Gorya want to punch her even more.

"Can I come in? I want to-"

Before Prim could even finish her sentence, Gorya was shouldering her way in between the two much taller women and into the condo. As soon as she walked in, she caught sight of the culprit halfway down the stairs.

Bambi. Walking down as if she owned the place. Asking Shasha if she made breakfast. In the dress shirt Shasha gave Gorya when she stayed over.

The. Exact. Same. Shirt.

Gorya crossed her arms and looked up at her, glaring at her so hard she was sure she'd burn holes into her face.

Bambi's steps and words faltered when she noticed Gorya's presence and now Prim's who had walked closer towards Bambi. She looked like a deer caught in headlights as Prim stood right in front of her with her arms folded.

"We'll give you two space to talk," Shasha broke the tension. "Gorya and I will wait upstairs."

The way Shasha said it was as if they themselves didn't have anything to talk about, which they certainly did. She rolled her eyes, she wasn't gonna be the first one to initiate it, though.

Shasha fucked up, Shasha's fuck up to clean.

"C'mon, Gorya," Shasha urged and tried to place a hand on the small of Gorya's back to guide her upstairs.

Gorya immediately shrugged it off and marched up the stairs herself, only stopping to look down and Bambi and her current attire.

The. Exact. Same. Fucking. Shirt.

Gorya made a disapproving sound, loud enough so that Shasha, who was just a few paces behind her, got the hint. But she didn't bother to look back at her, she just made her way to Shasha's bedroom.

The one where she had spent countless nights in indulging in something she knew would be trouble.

The one where Bambi had slept with Shasha in last night.

God, she needed to cool off before she commits murder.

She threw herself onto Shasha's arm chair beside the bed and started scrolling through her phone, anything to try and get the nasty image of Shasha and Bambi curled up together in bed. Gorya heard the door click shut as Shasha walked in. She heard the footsteps of the model approaching her but she didn't look up, not even wanting to see her face right now.

Shasha leaned against the floor-to-ceiling window of her condo and looked at Gorya, studying her features. Gorya still didn't look up. Shasha knew she had trouble expressing her emotions and reading them on other people, but she wasn't completely useless at it. She could tell Gorya was beyond pissed off, that much was made extremely clear.

And she knew why, but did she know how to solve it?

"Nothing happened between Bambi and I last night."

Gorya's gaze finally flicked up to acknowledge Shasha and Shasha felt the slightest bit of relief that Gorya wasn't completely icing her out.

"So what?" She turned her attention back to her phone. "You've never told me before, you don't have to tell me now."

Shasha knew that Gorya knew back in the early days when they first started hooking up, Shasha had still been intimate with other women. Not that she was actively searching, but it was so easy to just play along when women were throwing themselves at you and old habits die hard.

But that had been months ago, long before she realised she wanted Gorya more than just a fuck buddy. Long before she realised she can't just be fuck buddies with her.

Because there was something about Gorya that Shasha craved. Yes, she was physically attractive but Shasha also ached to really get to know her, to understand her on a deeper level. She wanted to be the one that Gorya came to for everything. To rant, to celebrate, to kiss, to fuck, but most of all, to love.

Because fuck, she really was falling for Gorya.

"I just want you to know. I haven't slept with anyone else in months either."

Gorya could sense a vague pleading tone in Shasha's words, but she was gonna have to do a lot more than that if she wanted Gorya to believe her.

"Bambi just needed someone to lean on because of her problems with Prim. That's it."

"You must be really good at it, providing emotional support to others," Gorya replied sarcastically, not really believing Shasha's words.

Shasha wanted to remind Gorya that she did come to her for the exact same reason at one point, but she bit her tongue, knowing it would stoke an even more impossible flame that she couldn't put out.

Gorya turned her attention back to her phone when she noticed Shasha had remained quiet. Gorya would be lying if she said that hearing Shasha's words didn't calm her down, even if it's just a little bit. But like she thought, it was gonna take a lot more than that for her to truly trust her.

Gorya heard the other woman take a deep breath before approaching to stand right in front of her. Shasha knew she was playing with fire, doing what she was about to do, but no risk no reward, right?

Shasha placed her hands on either sides of the seat of the chair Gorya was on and bent down, leaning in to come eye-level with the hot-headed woman before her. At the position she was in, it was impossible for Gorya to ignore her, so she set her phone down and looked at Shasha, narrow eyes meeting her own round ones. She clenched her jaw.

"What?"

"I swear, nothing happened."

"Why do you care so much about what I think?" Gorya challenged her.

"Because I want you to trust me," Shasha whispered in response.

Gorya caught the way Shasha's eyes flit down to her lips, as if holding herself back from kissing her. Gorya raised a brow, knowing she had the upper hand in this situation did calm a temper a bit more, seeing how desperate Shasha looked trying not to kiss her.

Gorya crossed her legs and raised a hand to Shasha's chin, index underneath with her thumb against it. She leaned in a bit closer as she nudged Shasha's face up, forcing her to tear her gaze away from her lips and back at her eyes.

"You want me to trust you?" Gorya questioned with her voice low, strict but with a vampish undertone to it. Shasha only nodded, as if in a daze. "Then tell me what you did last night. Be honest."

"We didn't do anything," Shasha insisted quietly.

"At all?" Gorya challenged back with a raised brow.

Shasha eyes wandered down again, this time towards Gorya's posture, noticing her bare shoulders and the way she was leaned slightly forward. Gorya would've rolled her eyes and scoffed if they were talking about anything else. She was amused, all her anger nearly dissipated noticing the way Shasha was looking at her. But she still needed answers.

She moved her hand from Shasha's chin, instead placing her four finger and thumb on the underside of her jaw. Gorya lifted up, not gently but not too roughly either, to make Shasha look her in the eyes again.

"Look at me and tell me what you did."

"We kissed," Shasha admitted. Gorya's brows raised a little. Not that she was shocked, because she had already assumed something did happen, but at how easily Shasha confessed to her the truth.

"She kissed me, I didn't really kiss back," Shasha interjected quickly, seeing the look on Gorya's face.

"But you didn't stop her," Gorya concluded, voice still carrying that low tone that made Shasha both tensed and intrigued.

"No."

"Why?"

"I don't know," she said truthfully. Gorya hummed in thought. "I should have. I don't know why I didn't stop her, but I should've done it. Bambi wanted a distraction and I wanted to help. I don't think I was thinking properly either after a night of drinking." Shasha sighed and closed her eyes.

"And you thought letting her kiss you was how friends help each other?" Gorya questioned incredulously.

"It was stupid, I'm stupid," Shasha replied defencelessly.

"But do you regret it?"

"Yes," Shasha said instantly, looking into Gorya's big brown eyes, as if asking her to search in them to prove that she was being honest, telling the truth.

"Why do you regret it?"

"Because it made you upset."

"Do you know why I'm mad at you?"

Shasha opened her mouth to speak but then stayed quiet. She knew if she said Gorya was jealous that it would just reignite the fire she's been working hard to extinguish. So she just looked at her, waiting for her to explain.

"Because of what you said to me the night you slept over at my place. The promise you made to me," Gorya's voice was still stable but Shasha picked up a sense of hurt underneath the facade.

Shasha immediately felt guilty, even more so than right after Bambi pulled away after kissing her. Her brows furrowed in worry as she gazed at Gorya.

"I'm sorry."

"Do you still mean what you said?"

"Yes, of course," Shasha nodded slightly, not wanting to disturb the hand that was still under her jaw.

Gorya tugged her to pull her in even closer than before, so close that their lips almost brushed each others.

"Then act like it," Gorya muttered firmly, her grip tighten slightly.

Shasha exhaled slowly, not being able to help herself anymore. She was about to close the almost non-existent gap between them when her phone started buzzing in her pants pocket.

She wanted to ignore it but Gorya released her hold on Shasha and shoved her shoulder instead, not too forcefully but enough for Shasha to move back. "Go answer your phone."

Gorya leaned back and watched Shasha blink at the sudden change. Gorya almost smirked seeing Shasha so disoriented, trying to compose herself again as she looked for her phone in her pocket to answer.

Gorya may not have fully forgiven her just yet, but she definitely didn't want to rip Shasha's head off anymore. Lucky Shasha.

"Hello?"

Gorya was lost in her thoughts, thinking about the way Shasha looked at her, how genuine she seemed to be, how open and honest she was. Maybe Shasha did mean what she said and was serious about it.

She was pulled out of her own head when she heard Shasha's frantic voice cutting her line of thoughts.

"Okay, okay, I'll be there." She hung up the phone and started furiously typing. "Fuck!"

"What's wrong?" Gorya asked, studying the frustrated model.

"Woonsen booked me for an event and didn't tell me." She ran a hand through her hair, trying to call someone on her phone but failing. "I haven't done my hair or makeup, I don't have an outfit either, ugh!"

Gorya soften at seeing how worried Shasha was. Sure, sometime she wanted to punch her in the face, but that didn't mean she wished ill upon her. Even if she still had to make up to Gorya.

"Do you need help?"

Shasha sighed in defeat, turning to Gorya as if she knew she was already on thin ice and was feeling guilty about even asking more from Gorya.

"Can you help me pick an outfit that matches the theme and concept? Please?"

"Tell me what I need to know," was all Gorya said.

After showing her the concept and theme, Gorya wasted no time rifling through Shasha's expansive closet, looking for an outfit.

She eventually settled on an oversized brown suit with a striped white shirt and a red tie to go with it. After Shasha put on the outfit, Gorya helped her make the final adjustments, pinning and fixing anything she deemed out of place.

"Your hair and makeup will be done at the venue, I already called some friends that can help you with that."

"Thank you," Shasha spoke as Gorya fixed her tie. "I'd be so fucked without you."

Gorya gave her a look, but smiled, still not used to Shasha being so sincere. "You don't have to thank me so many times. It's weird, you can go back to being annoying now."

Shasha grinned, typical Gorya, wanting Shasha to be more honest but still pretending she didn't like it because it was too mushy and cheesy.

"I mean it though, thank you, Gorya."

Gorya let out a breathless laugh and slapped the lapel of Shasha's jacket. "Enough."

"Well," Shasha started, leaning in a little so she could be closer to Gorya. "What can I do to thank you then? Or make it up to you?"

Gorya looked up at Shasha. Hand still on her tie, she yanked at it. The sudden force took Shasha aback, making her bend down to face her.

"You can thank me..." Gorya spoke in that low teasing voice again and paused. Those large eyes hypnotising the model. "... by keeping your hands and mouth to yourself, and keeping that promise of yours."

Gorya released her grip on the tie and walked to grab over to grab her bag on the bed as if nothing happened.

"Your ride is downstairs, I'm leaving now."

Shasha looked at her after she snapped back to reality, thought about it for a moment, then reached out to gently grab Gorya by the wrist before she could leave the room.

"Wait."

"Hm?"

"Can you come with me? To the event? I really don't want to go alone."

"Why? I already told you I'm a stylist, not a manger."

Shasha smiled at Gorya, trying to convince her. "You don't have to do anything, I just want you to be there with me. Please? I really need you there today. You're the only want I want there."

And there it was again, Shasha claiming Gorya was the only one she wanted. God, she really hated the way she caved whenever Shasha used it against her.

Before Gorya knew it, she was standing behind the sea of crowd that was taking photos of Shasha. Flashing lights illuminated her face as she posed for the cameras. People could say what they wanted about Shasha, but she was good at what she does.

And so was Gorya.

Gorya couldn't help but admire her own work up on the stage. Sure, she was following the theme and concept but the type of clothing she made Shasha wear was completely self-indulgent. Her gaze dragged up and down, admiring how fucking good Shasha looked in that outfit. She always thought she looked best with a suit and especially a tie to match.

Who could blame her for jumping at the opportunity when she saw the chance?

Gorya knew Shasha caught her staring when their eyes met. Shasha smirked at her purposely posed with her fingers gripping the know of her tie, slightly pulling at it while she looked directly at her.

Ugh, it was annoying how hot she looked.

She wanted to slap that cocky grin off of her face.

Shasha was asked to pose with a few more important people before the questions started flooding in.

"Why are you here alone today?"

"Is it true that you fired your manager?"

"What happened to between you and Woonsen?"

"Did she do something that made you fire her?"

"I heard it was over money, is that true?"

Gorya noticed the way Shasha tensed up at being bombarded by so many questions. She was clearly uncomfortable and yet the questions didn't stop coming.

"Um, sorry, I-"

"Excuse me, excuse me!" Gorya elbowed her wat to the front and and tried her best to block Shasha from the harsh lights of the camera despite her much smaller stature. "I'm sorry, everyone, but Shasha has another event to attend, I'm afraid she doesn't have time to answer your questions."

Gorya grabbed Shasha by the hand and lead her off of the stage, pulling her pass the screaming crowd and into a narrow alley behind a building.

"God, none of the reporters followed us, right?" Gorya questioned once they couldn't catch sight of anyone in the distance anymore.

"I don't think so," Shasha replied, looking around to make sure.

Their eyes eventually drifted down to where their hands were still linked.

Gorya pulled away, even though Shasha seemed like she was trying to hold on tighter. Gorya used her now free hand to adjust her jacket while Shasha crossed her arms, looking down at Gorya.

"When you said I should keep my hands and mouth to myself, were you also included?" Shasha joked with a grin.

"Hey," Gorya said sternly. "I was just trying to help you. So why are you flirting with me now?"

Shasha just smiled. "Thank you for your help then. I wasn't ready to answer those questions yet."

"Again with all the thank-yous, I've heard you said it more times today than I have since knowing you, it's weird."

"Well," Shasha dragged, closing in on Gorya, making her back up against the building wall. She placed one had beside her head and leaned towards her. "Should I show you my appreciation in another way then? I saw the way you were looking at my when I was on stage."

Gorya let out a humourless laugh but let herself be trapped by Shasha's arm. "Just this morning I was ready to take your head off. You really think you can do this now? That I would just let you have me after some words from that pretty mouth?"

"So you think I have a pretty mouth," was all Shasha heard apparently.

"Mm," hummed Gorya. "A pretty mouth that you should keep to yourself."

Shasha laughed, she knew they were going in circles, so she decided to come back to this later. She had other things she wanted to discuss and she definitely wasn't above mixing business with pleasure.

"Y'know, you really do have the instincts to be a manager. Why not be mine?"

The double entendre wasn't lost on Gorya but she choose to ignore it.

"No."

Shasha's brows furrowed slightly.

"It's not my thing, I already told you. I'm a stylist, not a manger."

"But you'll be amazing at it."

"Find someone else."

"But I want you," Shasha concluded, voice softer now.

Again, the underlying meaning of her words didn't go over her head, but she brushed it off.

"No," Gorya fought back firmly. "I already told you, can't spend the whole day with someone who always gets on my nerves. It'll drive me crazy."

"You drive me crazy," Shasha quipped back, not even trying to pretend she wasn't flirting.

"I know," Gorya said, unphased. "Maybe I should send you to a mental institute."

Shasha laughed quietly. "Fine, I promise I'll try to not get on your nerves." She held up her crossed middle and index finger. Gorya looked at them and back at Shasha in disbelief. Shasha grinned and changed it to a scouts honour. "Oops." She wiggled her fingers. It felt like a taunt to Gorya.

"No," Gorya said again. "You can barely keep your first promise you made to me, now you want to make another?"

Shasha hummed, moving in closer again. "Speaking of promises, you didn't answer me. Does keeping my mouth and hands to myself also extend to you?"

As much as Gorya was annoyed with Shasha, she couldn't resist toying with her. It was fun having the arrogant, flirty, stupidly gorgeous model wrapped around her finger. So she let herself have some fun.

"It depends," Gorya played along, looking up at Shasha who was now hovering over her. "Will you behave?" Gorya couldn't help but tug at that tie around her neck again. There was a reason why she specifically liked it on her.

Faces now in front of each other, Shasha let out a soft breath. "You know I will."

Shasha's hand hovered over Gorya's waist, waiting for her to tell her off. But she didn't, so that large hand rested against the dip above her hips, almost covering the side of her entire midriff. Gorya let it slide this time because she knew she still had power over Shasha.

"Do I, though?" Gorya dragged a nail along Shasha's jaw. Gorya let out a small, satisfied smile at the way the taller woman slightly shivered and squeezed her waist.

God, she really did miss the way Shasha held her. The way that hand gripped her so carefully yet firmly, it really did make her feel wanted.

"You should by now, 'cuz I don't do this for any other woman."

"Do what?"

"Plead and beg."

Gorya raised a brow at that. "I'm not seeing any pleading or begging, though."

"I swear I'll behave," Shasha groaned, giving in, resting her forehead against Gorya's. "Please, I swear, Gorya."

Gorya laughed at her desperation, it sounded like seduction to Shasha's ears.

Shasha was far gone, but she was always one to seize an opportunity when she found it. "See? You like bossing me around and I like listening. You'd be a great manager for me."

Gorya moved her head to the side so her lips were lightly brushing against the lobe of Shasha's ear.

"No," she whispered breathily, almost like a moan which made Shasha almost lose all restraint she had on herself.

She was at her wit's end trying to hold herself back and Gorya was high off of the power trip she was having, grinning at the way she felt Shasha's fingers flex at her waist, knowing she was trying hard to contain herself.

"Can I kiss you? Please, Gorya?" Shasha pleaded into Gorya's ear, voice rough from how hard she had started breathing.

Gorya giggled at the sound and hummed. The hand at Shasha's jaw travelled around to the back of her neck, fingers lightly scratching at the baby hairs there, the exact way she knew Shasha liked. "You can do better than that, Phi."

Phi.

The only time Gorya calls Shasha Phi was when she was teasing her, as if making fun of the fact that this older, bigger, more experienced woman was no match for her.

And fuck, it got Shasha every damn time. She'd do anything Gorya ask her to.

"God, Gorya, please, let me kiss you. Let me show you how much I want you. Please." Shasha was practically panting shamelessly at this point but she didn't care, she would get on her knees and beg just to have Gorya's lips on hers.

Gorya grinned seeing how desperate Shasha was just to kiss her.

Gorya guided Shasha's face back to face her, moving in slowly and Shasha closed her eyes with her lips slightly parted. Shasha was ready to let go, to completely devour the red-headed woman in front of her and Gorya could sense it.

Gorya let out a soft laugh and whispered, "No."

Shasha opened her eyes and Gorya slipped out of her grasp with ease, taking advantage of Shasha's confusion. She turned her back on the model and sauntered away.

"Gorya, wait-"

"Earn it, Phi."

Shasha sighed loudly and leaned against the wall she just had Gorya up against just seconds ago. Three times. She got played three times by Gorya just today.

She couldn't help but laugh softly as she tried to calm herself down.

"At least think about being my manager?" Shasha called out.

"No!"

Shasha smiled as she watched the small fiery woman walk away.

~~~

Gorya was enjoying her time relaxing at the sauna a few days later when she saw a familiar figure approach the room she was in.

"Oh god," Gorya muttered to herself when Shasha sat across from her, looking as smug as always.

"Hey," Shasha smiled at her innocently.

"Is this a coincidence?"

"And if I say it isn't?" Shasha asked.

"I'd say fuck off."

Shasha laughed and leaned forward. "Be my manager, Gorya."

Gorya sighed tiredly and crossed her arms. "Why do you want me to be your manager so bad?"

"Because I'm comfortable with you and I know you'll do a good job," Shasha shrugged. "Why don't you want to be my manager."

"Because I don't want to be in charge of your life and I don't want to spend all day with your annoying ass."

"Is there anything aside from that?" Shasha questioned, brow raised.

Gorya scoffed at that, "I'd say those are two pretty big, valid reasons."

"Well, objection, you'll only be in charge of planning my work schedule and dealing with clients, and you say you don't want to spend time with me but if you really mean that, you could've left. You could leave now."

Gorya narrowed her eyes at Shasha. "Fine, I also don't want to be one of those managers that sleeps with their artist."

"Well, I'm not hiring you to sleep with me," Shasha's shit-eating grin became wider. "You already do that for free."

Gorya rolled her eyes and huffed. "Shasha. That's not what I mean. I just don't want to get caught up in some public rumour since you're also a celebrity. Plus, things might go bad or be awkward if we have a falling out since we're sleeping with each other."

"C'mon," Shasha implored. "You even being in my vicinity is enough for rumours to spread. Plus I had a falling out with Woonsen, so it can happen with anyone."

"Is that supposed to make me feel better?" Gorya questioned.

"No, just proving a point that there's gonna be risk involved anyway, doesn't matter if we're sleeping with each other or not." Shasha sighed and stood up. "But I can't force you if you don't want to do it."

Gorya thought about it. She wasn't necessarily opposed at the idea of being a manager in general and she did pity Shasha who looks like she couldn't even handle scheduling her own events. Plus Shasha was always asking her for help anyway, why not earn something while she was at it?

"Wait," Gorya reached out and grabbed Shasha's wrist before she could leave. Shasha turned to look at her. "I'll do it."

"Really?" Shasha smiled but raised her brows as if she didn't actually think Gorya would accept her offer.

"But," Gorya stopped her before she got too excited. "we will have no physical contact in public. You can't touch me or hold me or even look at me for too long."

Shasha weighed her words and sat down beside her. "What do you mean by that?"

Gorya turned to face her, wanting to show that she was being serious. "That we have to maintain a strictly professional relationship when we're in public. You always tried to cross that line before but this time I really mean it. I don't want to get even more attention than I already will get being your manager."

"But I can still have you when we're in private," Shasha stated in confirmation.

"Remember what I said about having to earn it?"

Shasha tilted her head back and laughed softly. "Okay, fine, if I earn it, I can still have you when we're alone?"

"Hmm, I'll think about it," Gorya replied. "So, take it or leave it."

The model looked over at Gorya. "Fine, as long as I can have you some way." Shasha hummed. "Besides, maybe you might change your mind."

Shasha teased the stylist, now her manager, by creeping a hand towards hers. Gorya immediately caught it and threw it back at her. Shasha laughed and Gorya just sighed, wondering what the hell she just got herself into now.

~~~

A few days after Gorya agreed to be Shasha's manager, she found herself at an antique furniture store. Shasha didn't explain  where they were going or why she needed to be there, only that she needed to come along.

"So, why are we here?" Gorya questioned as she looked around the place. "Does this have something to do with your work."

"No," Shasha shrugged and Gorya stopped in her tracks to look at her. "I just like coming here to browse."

"What?"

"Mm, it's nice, don't you think?"

"Why did you bring me here then?" Gorya tsked in annoyance. "I thought this was work-related."

"I didn't say it was, so that's not my fault."

Gorya scoffed. "You can't just ask me to follow you just because you want to hangout at a furniture store, what if I had more important things to do today?"

"Do you have more important things to do?" Shasha asked, arms crossed casually.

"That's besides the point," Gorya brushed it off and Shasha smiled knowingly. "Why are we here?"

"Well, if you really want to make it work-related, as my manager, you should get to know me and my preferences better." Shasha tilted her head towards the aisle further into the shop.

Gorya grumbled under her breathe but followed her anyway.

They wandered around the store, Shasha mostly talking about her thoughts on certain stuff and really just anything that came to mind. Gorya was staring at a unique looking lamp when all of a sudden she heard Shasha go, "Look here!" And made the sound of a camera shutter going off when Gorya turned.

Gorya raised a brow in amusement, slight smile on her lips. "What are you doing?"

Shasha pointed at the large, vintage camera she was standing behind that was directly facing Gorya. "I'm taking your picture for a change, since you're always the one behind the cameras and I'm always in front of it."

Gorya couldn't help but let a small laugh escape her lips at the other woman's antics. "Suddenly you want to be a photographer?"

"Never thought about it," Shasha shrugged. "Just saw a pretty girl in front of her and thought I should capture her beauty."

"God, that was terrible," Gorya groaned but the subtle smile didn't leave her face.

"Have you thought about being a model," Shasha asked genuinely. "You could be really successful at it, you have a face for the cameras."

"No," Gorya immediately shook her head and leaned against the camera, arms folded on top of it. "I don't like the hot bright lights and people instructing me what to do. Besides, I don't think I have the height for it."

Shasha laughed and followed Gorya, resting against the camera as they faced each other. "What you lack in height you'd definitely make up for in looks."

"You are so cheesy, but I know," Gorya agreed nonchalantly. "I just never pictured myself modelling. I rather create." She paused and tilted her head, looking at Shasha. "What about you? Have you ever thought about doing something behind the cameras?"

"Hmm, I think so. I often imagine what it's like to direct or photograph or even style instead of what I do now. But I never really had a choice in modelling, it was just what I've been doing since I was a kid so I never gave anything else much thought."

"I think you could do it if you wanted to," Gorya said thoughtfully. "I always thought you liked being a model."

Shasha shook her head. "It's just something I'm used too and I'm good at. It was my planned career path so I just stuck with it. I don't even know if I would be good at anything else."

"With how persistent and particular you are, I'm sure you'd be good at anything if you really wanted to be."

Shasha didn't know how to respond because truth be told, she had never opened up about this to anyone before, let alone imagine receiving encouragement that she should pursue other things that might interest her. For the longest time, it had been drilled into her head that all she was was a pretty face and that she should do as she was told.

Gorya saw a wave of realisation pass through Shasha but decided not to push her about it. She just stared at her and let her process her words. It was times like these were she wished Shasha would open up more about herself. She really wanted to know what exactly was hiding under that insufferable exterior.

Shasha smiled at Gorya when she noticed Gorya was just looking at her. "Let's look at other things, shall we?"

They walked further down the store and came across an aisle full of old rotary phones.

"Ring ring, ring ring, ring ring!"

Gorya turned around with a puzzled looked and saw Shasha holding up a phone to her ear, mimicking a ringing telephone and eying at Gorya to pick up one of the many phones in front of her.

Gorya humoured her, even though she thought it was extremely silly and embarrassing. She picked up one of the phones and put it to her ear. "What is wrong with you?"

Shasha grinned and twirled the cord with her free finger. "Just wanted to get the attention of pretty girl, can you blame me?"

The red head scoffed and rolled her eyes, but her lips held a faint smile. "I'm gonna hang up."

"No wait!" Shasha urged, laughing. "I have something to say."

Gorya stopped and looked up at the model, phone still at her ear. Shasha turned her head to look at her properly. Something about how Shasha gazed at her made Gorya want to look away, those usually sharp eyes so soft. Full of unspoken longing that Gorya had been trying hard to ignore when she noticed it present every time Shasha looked at her. It was so intense today that the shorter woman had to dart her eyes away for a second, the tiniest smile appearing on her lips before she could stop it.

"How about dinner, you, me, at 7pm. Then we can head back to my condo later for dessert."

And now she was ready to punch the taller woman. "In your dreams."

"Well then I must be dreaming, because it already came true before," Shasha smirked at Gorya, lifting a brow up for emphasis.

"Bye." Gorya slammed the phone down and started walking away with a laughing Shasha following after her.

As they browsed, Shasha spoke up. "I could spend an entire day here." She trailed her fingers along the edge of an antique couch. "When I touch these old furnitures, I imagine the family that used to own it. Like this sofa here. How they were like, what memories did they shared on it? Did they cry or laugh together on this couch?" She pointed at a dining table a bit further down. "Did they sit around that table and share a meal every dinner? Did they talk warmly with each other?"

Shasha slowly moved to sit on the sofa and Gorya followed suit.

"Why don't you buy a house then?" asked Gorya. "You'd have a lot more space to get all the furniture you want."

Shasha shrugged. "What's the point? I live alone anyway. A bigger house would just feel lonelier."

"You don't think your family would come back to live with you?"

"Family?" Shasha laughed humourlessly and crossed her arms as she leaned back. "My mom has a new family now. All she wants from me is money. Sometimes I wonder, why the hell am I even working so hard for?"

"Hmm," Gorya thought. "You could use money to buy your happiness." She looked at the woman beside her. "So many people stay single nowadays, a lot of people enjoy treating themselves than worrying about someone else."

Shasha tilted her head at Gorya. "Do you want to stay single?"

She thought about it for a moment, lips pursed and brows furrowed for a second, an expression Shasha couldn't help but find completely adorable.

"Either is fine with me," Gorya responded. "I like being independent and doing what I like. But when I see my parents being lovey-dovey in the kitchen, I think it's cute." She laughed at a memory. "One time they had a big argument. I ran in because I thought something happened with all the shouting. Turns out, they were just arguing about if it should be called fish sauce with chilis or chilis in fish sauce. It was completely ridiculous. They just fight over nonsense!"

Shasha just rested her head against her hand and listened to Gorya speak. She loved how animated she got when she was passionately telling a story. She smiled as the stylist continued to speak.

"Then the next day, they were laughing and dancing together in the kitchen like nothing happened." Gorya's sight trailed off into the distance as she grinned, imagining her parents. "I just want to experience it at least once. To have someone to argue over nonsense and then dance with when it's over."

Gorya turned back to look at Shasha and saw her looking back fondly. She couldn't help but feel the way her heart clenched at the sight. She pulled her gaze away and sat at the edge of the couch, scared of falling deeper if she looked longer.

She noticed Shasha's hand slowly creep into hers, giving her enough time to pull away if she wanted to. Gorya looked around, assessing to make sure they were alone. She meant what she said about not being caught together in public.

She knew it would be better to take her hand away, less complicated for the both of them. But she let Shasha hold her hand anyway and intertwine their fingers, setting it in between them. The touch made her pulse race.

"I can argue with you," Shasha spoke earnestly.

Gorya laughed as if it were a joke, but she felt shy. She tried to brush it off. "Hah, nonsense. Don't take advantage of the situation. I just saw that you were sad and felt bad for you."

Shasha smiled, not sadly but a twinge of something else somewhere in there. "Are you saying that as my manager?"

"No," she shook her head. "I just see a lonely model who puts up a front despite being loved by everyone."

"Everyone but you, apparently," Shasha joked half-heartedly.

"I'm not everyone."

Shasha couldn't help but let out a laugh and nodded in agreement. "You're right, you aren't. If you were I wouldn't be trying so hard."

All of a sudden, Shasha stood up and looked down at Gorya who was confused by the sudden movement.

"I said I can argue with you," Shasha started. "But truth be told, I already argue over nonsense with you everyday, so that part is fulfilled." Gorya tsked at that with a smile. Shasha stretched out her hand offering it to Gorya. "Let me make the other part happen for you."

"What?" Gorya looked at her hand and back up at her.

"Let's dance."

"Dance? Here?"

"C'mon," Shasha dragged. "I'm in the mood for it."

"No!" She shook her head and crossed her arms stubbornly. "We're in public."

Shasha looked around. "There's no one here." She leaned in a bit. "C'mon, take a chance on this lonely model, please?"

Gorya sighed and let herself be pulled up by Shasha, letting her win this time "You're crazy."

"Already told you I am for you."

Shasha guided one of Gorya's arm around her neck while letting the other hand rest on her shoulder. Gorya felt Shasha own hands drift down to her waist

"Step slowly, slide," Shasha guided as they swayed together across the floor.

"Spin," Shasha said and she lifted her arm up for Gorya to twirl under. The movement were clunky and awkward but Gorya let herself smile at how Shasha was trying to coordinate the two of them.

Shasha let Gorya spin out before pulling her back in, guiding her hand to rest itself on her shoulder again but pulling them even closer to each other.

They moved in silence together before Gorya noticed the way Shasha slowly moved in, leaning down slightly as if to kiss her. Gorya almost lost herself and accepted the kiss before she realised who they were and what they were doing in public.

"Hey," Gorya spoke, voice a little shaky but somehow firm. She pushed Shasha's shoulder back, creating some space. "What are our rules?"

The model sighed and looked down at Gorya's soft lips before she closed her eyes. She looked like she was trying to gather all her restraint. "Can we just forget the rules? Just this once?"

"No," Gorya stated but her resolve almost vanished the moment she felt Shasha's hands meet at the small of her back, resulting in them moving in closer to each other. With how close they were to each other, Gorya had to turn her head to the side so their faces wouldn't touch.

"Will you trust me, Gorya?" Shasha whispered softly into the shorter woman's ear and Gorya almost shivered at how intimate this all seemed, almost too real and raw. "Will you take a chance on me? Please?"

Gorya did answer but her face flickered. The sincerity bore her down, making her softer and melting the exterior she was trying so hard to enforce in front of Shasha.

Would it be so bad if she trusted her? Would it be so bad if she listened to her heart instead of her head for once?

She slowly and cautiously let herself lay her head on Shasha's shoulder, as if if she moved too fast she might snap out of her haze and push her away.

And to her surprise, Gorya didn't want that.

So she let herself melt into Shasha's arms, letting her hand rest on the taller woman's lean upper arm while Shasha's arms remained firmly secured around Gorya's waist.

They swayed together. Shasha's right arm moving up Gorya's back to engulf her properly. She smiled to herself. She loved having Gorya in her arms like this.

Being this close and gentle with each other had Gorya's heart drumming against her chest, so hard she was sure Shasha could feel it too. This was uncharted territory for them. It was new and scary and Gorya could help but like the feeling of it.

She suppressed the millions of concerns and thoughts that ran through her mind to revel in the moment because right here, right now, it was all she wanted. One thought, however, did linger the entire time as they continued to dance.

'Would it be so bad if I fall too?'