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━━━  " 📂 " ‍..⃗. ༉

𝙍 𝙊 𝙈 𝘼 𝙉 𝘾 𝙄 𝙉 𝙂

! chapter eighty-six ─── ʚĭɞ

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Miyeon was sat in the back of her father's company car within minutes after leaving the apartment building, smiling at all of the movers she passed in the hall, and as she exited the building, she leant down to pet the cat that had appeared by her feet.

Her fingers twisted and turned in her lap as she sat in the back of the car, the driver heading towards the address that the photographer had sent her.

She wasn't going to lie and say that she wasn't excited, because really, Miyeon was beside herself, overflowing with the emotion. She could only hope to feel that way when the car pulled up outside the building.

But other than excitement, Miyeon was a bundle of nerves. She could barely remember her last shoot, and knowing this was a couples one wasn't exactly easing any of those jumpy feelings. But if she had worked with them previously, then perhaps it would be more comfortable for her.

And it seemed that she did feel just as excited, as she thanked her father's driver as he arrived at the building, a smile on her face

"Thank you." The girl had hesitated as she stepped out of the car, feeling as if she had forgotten something but not exactly knowing what. Then it had hit her, and she had rushed back to the door, peering at the driver, who smiled.

"No problem, Miss Hwang. Would you prefer for me to return when you are finished, or would you rather I wait nearby?" The driver asked.

"Either!" The girl had a bigger smile on her face than the driver had seen in the while - and as he had worked for Sangwon for years, he had seen her smile gradually fade, and seen just how sad she looked when she returned to school. And in that sense, it was nice for him to see her smiling - and the other staff who knew Miyeon would be happy to here it. "Oh - and here." The girl had her arm sticking into the window, and in her hand was several notes of money. "If you decided to stay you should get something to eat, my treat."

Before the driver could even begin to deny her money, the girl was rushing away from the car.

Miyeon was still excited, feeling pleased that she had managed to give the driver some money so that he didn't have to just sit there and wait for her if he decided to, but she couldn't help but have a little anxiety flutter in the stomach as the presence of butterflies.

Pushing open the glass doors into the building, Miyeon paused, listening for the tell-tale noise of a photo shoot. The click of the camera shutter, the photographer and director shouting criticism, compliments and improvements, the general talk between the other staff.

Finally she heard it, twisting down one of the corridors and even just able to see the flash of the camera at the end of it. She sped up a bit, far too excited for what could easily become a mundane task, and she turned the corner, passing through the doors into the large room.

And promptly froze.

It seemed the photographer had already found someone to fill the role, and it wasn't someone who Miyeon expected. The photographer hadn't even mentioned it was Seojun who was the male model, but that wouldn't even have bothered her. But what did tug at her insides was the fact that Jugyeong was the female model.

"We'll take a break!" The photographer shouted, after a woman had approached and mumbled something in his ear. Putting down his camera, he turned to Miyeon with a smile on his face. "Gosh, you didn't get my calls?" He asked, moving towards her.

"No.. but I can guess what they're about." Miyeon's smile of excitement had turned into resignation, conflicted with disappointment but also happiness for her friend. "No worries.. just let me know when I can actually do a shoot. I'll be looking forward to it."

"You're an angel." The photographer replied, looking relieved. "I'm lucky you're not one of those demanding types. I apologise for making you come all the way out here. You're welcome to stay and watch, but otherwise I'll let you know."

"Thank you." The Hwang girl nodded as the photographer turned back to his camera, her dark eyes gliding across the busy scene and landing in the couch. Jugyeong was laid on her back, looking up at Seojun as something transpired between them.

Even despite the feelings that had grown since she had become friends with Seojun, her disappointment was mainly because she didn't get to be in the photoshoot. She watched, slightly wistfully as Jugyeong looked taken aback, dressed in the prettiest pink dress.

She was crossing her ankles, turning on her heel to return the way that she came where she heard her name. Jugyeong had spoken it, her voice soft and questioning.

"Hwang Miyeon?" Seojun repeated, voice harsher with confusion as he looked up and met her eyes, a smile appearing there that made him seem genuinely happy to see her there, even if he didn't understand why.

Miyeon's heart suddenly began to beat faster as Seojun moved carefully away from the sofa, his hand slipping from the small of Jugyeong's back.

"What are you doing here?" He asked as he approached her, leaning on the doorframe and looking down at the much smaller girl. "I thought it was moving day?"

"It is.. my dad hired an interior designer and they're watching the movers." Miyeon answered the second question first, and with a gesture of his hands Seojun invited her to answer the first one, eyebrows raised. "And I got a call from the photographer saying they needed a female model." She murmured with a sigh, forcing a nonchalant smile on her face.

"You're the one they were waiting on?" Seojun asked. "Or the one they called in because she didn't show?"

".. I assume so. But it's good that Jugyeong is doing it. You two look good together." Miyeon could hardly believe what she was saying, and hardly believe she was saying it with such conviction, not one thing wavering.

Seojun's cheeks were dusted in pale pink for just a moment, and he swallowed, pushing his hair out his eyes as he tried to distract himself from it. "Thanks." He murmured, before seeming to look more confused. "What's wrong?"

"Hm?" Miyeon's eyes shot up to meet his as he asked it, head tilting to the side as she took it in. "Wrong?" She almost choked on the word, the reminder of the things she had been feeling twisting in her stomach. "Nothing really.. I suppose I'm just disappointed. I really liked the idea of doing a photoshoot."

"I'll make sure you get one." The Han boy promised, pushing himself up from the doorframe. "You're doing okay with everything? Eating well, feeling okay?" His gaze flickered down to her wrist for a moment, questioning.

"This is probably the worst place to ask something like that." Miyeon sighed, shrugging. "Like I said, I'm just disappointed. But, I'll leave you two to it. Have fun Seojun, and don't do anything stupid."

"You sound like my mom." Seojun shook his head, chuckling. "You should visit her soon, she's worried after hearing about what happened with your mom."

"I'll come by sometime." Miyeon said softly, before beginning to step away. "Tell Jugyeong that I think she looks incredible. Have fun."

And with that, Miyeon walked away, completely and utterly determined to not let her jealousy get the better of her, and that she would act normal and not let it turn her bitter.

That was the last thing anyone would need.

❛ AUTHORS NOTE ━━ hi i forgot yesterday but tysm for 300k so soon! it's literally only been 73 days since i published this book and what it has achieved in that time is absolutely out of this world i can't thank any single one of you reading this enough <33

anyways enjoy the extremely slow slow burn