Realistic or Modern 𝐅𝐎𝐎𝐋𝐒.

[neon reverie]

​

 

[neon reverie]

guess we are fools.

as the morning sunrise painted the canvas sky in a gorgeous collection of watercolour golds, pinks, reds and purples, the city of seoul slowly awakened for yet another day of activities such as school and work. na-eun’s life was not that different from average standard citizens in that regard, being currently on her way to work herself. or what you supposedly could label as work.

the humming of the black car provided a soothing lullaby, creating a peaceful environment. one where she could blissfully pretend the nerves were not eating her up from the inside and retreat back into reveries of her own whimsical mind.

it worked for some time, but as the destination neared, the nerves returned to spark under her skin – one thought so loud that it drowned out every other noise. she was going to be married after the end of this day. her heart raced a thunderous rhythm as the thought continued to circulate around in her head, and with each round, it added more fuel to the disquiet in her stomach. na-eun knew she should be grateful for this opportunity; starring in a popular tv show was not something every idol got the chance of doing, but the thought of entering a virtual marriage with someone of equal if not more stardom was more worrisome than exciting for her. undoubtedly, there would be fans of both sides who would be against whatever couple they formed, criticism as imminent as the sunrise you witnessed each day. of course, you could argue that she was exposed to the same kind of risk just being a member of a famous girl group, but to her, it was way different. this was not like some interview or a showcase or a concert you could rehearse or properly prepare for; this was on a whole new level of self-exhibition. here, people could watch her do mundane & couple activities and judge her even further. maybe even worse, her supposed husband could judge her.

na-eun took a breathe, eyes drawn to the reflection in the windows. perhaps it was due to the sleep deprivation or just general stress, but the idol did not look her freshest at the moment. luckily, that was nothing some quick make up couldn't fix. reaching inside her purse, she pulled out the powder foundation that was her trusted rescuer in times like these and proceeded to brighten up her complexion enough so that she at least didn’t look like a zombie. she was sure that her make up would be done again on set but they had also informed her that there would be a filming sequence of her arrival so it was better to be safe than sorry.

It was when she’d just put the foundation back in the small purse that the earlier motion of the car came to a halt and subsequently, so did her heart. na-eun hoped that the car stop was due to a traffic light or a crossroad, but one glance out of the window quickly refuted that. there, next to the entrance of what it appeared to be changdeokgung palace, stood at least three cameras waiting for her arrival.

an anxiety akin to the one she experienced moments before the actual debut of WISH rushed through her, and for a moment, na-eun truly regretted agreeing to do the tv show. alas, with a new comeback coming up, this served as great promotion for the group as a whole - so she supposed she just had to take on for the team this time.

another breathe was taken, this time to really steel herself, and with a small nod in encouragement to herself, the idol pushed the door open and stepped outside. a nervous smile accompanied her figure as she bowed to part of the camera crew and exchanged a modest hello. quickly she was led to a separate room where she was handed an envelope. na-eun opened it and revealed a mission card, which she read out loud to the camera.

“ please get dressed in this hanbok we’ve selected for you so you can meet your husband in the gardens later.”

her eyes averted to the rack in the room, a small gasp leaving her lips as a beautiful pink hanbok infiltrated her sight.

“ah, is this really for me?” she asked as she walked towards the rack and pointed at the dress. the camera man nodded in response while zooming in to catch the wonderment on her face.

na-eun pulled the hanbok from the rack and ran her fingers across the pretty fabric, unrestrained excitement showing in her expression. even while nervous, she could not hide the fact that she was thrilled to get to wear traditional clothing. they always looked so pretty.

the cameras were briefly taken out of the room so she could get changed. after trading her earlier attire for the hanbok, a make up specialist had entered the room as well to apply some soft complementary make up. next was her hair, her locks being brushed and tied up in a low ponytail. once her look was done, she was led out of the room and the camera started rolling again as she walked across the palace grounds towards the secret garden.

there, na-eun got directed to a single pagoda overlooking the water and asked to please stand there with her face to the water and wait for her husband to come. the mere word ‘husband’ managed to get her heart racing again, and the idol could only nod and do as told, afraid that her own voice would betray how nervous she felt about this whole ordeal. it didn’t help that there was a camera next to her and across the pond, undoubtedly capturing footage of her. even the beautiful scenery of the trees and the water could not soothe her this time. she could only hope that her husband, whoever he might be, was just as nervous as she was.

MOOD: can't believe i'm doing this.

LOCATION: secret garden, changdeokgung palace, seoul.

OUTFIT:

TAGS: dreamglow

coded by weldherwings.

 

[dreamglow]

olivver

Ilhoon was far less nervous about this whole thing than his bride to be. Even though this show was about getting married and they would technically be married by the end of it, he didn't take it seriously at all. For one, everything was done for the viewers and for all he knew, the marriage contract he was to sign might even be fake. Two, it could probably easily be broken off once the show ended.

With those thoughts in mind, he managed to drift off in the car ride over to the filming location. Far to soon for his liking, however, he was shaken awake by his manager. With a tired sigh, he climbed out of the car and was instantly greeted by show staff.

"Olivver-ssi," one of them addressed him. And oh yeah, he was going by his stage name here. "If you'll follow me, I'll take you to wardrobe and then hair and makeup." With that, the staff turned and began to lead the way, Ilhoon trailing behind like a lost puppy.

If given the choice, there was no way in hell he'd ever be on it willingly. No. the only reason he was on it right now was because the CEO of their company thought Empyre could use some promotion and what better way to do that than to send one of the members to a marriage show? So here he was, ready to get married to someone he didn't know.

Life absolutely ruled.

The staff directed him into the dressing room where he presumed his outfit was waiting and once inside, shut the door behind him. Then his brows shot to his forehead because... that was what he was supposed to be wearing? He'd never worn hanbok in his life, nor did he ever think he would. But apparently the universe had other plans for him because here he was, pulling on hanbok.

When finished, he exited the room and was directed to hair and makeup. In no time, his hair was styled to the stylists liking and a light shade of makeup was applied to his face. Then he was directed outside and was told to just walk over to the pagoda by the pond where his soon to be wife was.

Before he could ask any of the thousands of questions that were running through his mind, the staff disappeared and he was left with no choice but to walk over there. Normally, he'd shove his hands in his pockets but since he had none, folded his arms across his chest.

And still, even walking over to meet his bride to be, he wasn't nervous. He knew he should be but he just wasn't. Olivver stopped just inside the entrance to the pagoda, bracing himself.

"So I guess you're my wife?" he asked in English, and what a lame thing to start with. Then he remembered he was on a Korean show and quickly re-asked it in Korean.

mood: kinda bored

location: at the pagoda

outfit: here

tags: neon reverie

designed by dreamglow & coded by hanthesunbeam

 

[neon reverie]

guess we are fools.

na-eun’s chest heaved, filling her lungs with the crisp spring air, a welcome companion and balancing force against the sheer nerves rushing through her veins. a soft breeze tumbled through the air, greeting her skin with a calming kiss and slightly tousling the stray baby hairs from her ponytail. scenarios grazed her mind, brief in their connection but anxiety imbuing all the same. it would be a lie to say there weren’t any personas na-eun hoped to avoid with this whole fake marriage concept – may it be due to person themselves or the embodied image. there was just something damning about starring in ‘we got married’, the knowledge that a portion of each’s fanbase ought to hate it no matter the chemistry a weighty measure. there was rarely any selfishness found in the idol’s bones, but this time, it would be a lie not to admit to the thought that lingered in her mind.

i hope we are the least popular couple.

the patting of footsteps called forth na-eun’s attention, and her heartbeat doubled in speed. nervous as she was, her hands grasped the fabric of her beautiful pink skirt, her frame stilling partly out of anticipation and anxiety. words and sentences fumbled over each other in her head as na-eun clumsily tried to prepare for the fated moment. the idol took another deep breathe, but just as she’d collected a small sliver of courage, a voice flowed through the air. english words were spilled, ones she could understand, though, her attention was only honed in on one particular thing; the all too familiar quality to the male’s timbre.

na-eun’s figure turned and with widened eyes, she watched as a secret from the past had materialized right in front of her. memories flooded the mind upon catching the identical visuals of her ex-boyfriend, memories of a time spent in secrecy. emotions were threatening to unravel as na-eun stood face to face with the person she, with naïve hope, didn’t dare to think of starring with in a show like this. she let silence greet him for a moment, her mind running half a mile and throat stuck with all the words she wanted to say but couldn’t. there was a reason why no one knew of their shared past together, and there’s a reason why it should stay that way.

flashing images of news articles detailing the secret dating scandal, followed by a sea of criticism and hate occupied the mind, and na-eun was alerted to the rolling cameras as the sensation of the lenses tracking every expression and movement burned her skin. what was expected of her was clear, but difficult nonetheless. still, the idol did her best in summoning every bit of acting skills she’d obtained over the years and proceeded to bow respectfully, her face feigning a more starstruck kind of surprise.

“a-ah.. hello-“ were the first words she could utter, heart ever beating so loudly. “ yes.. i guess, you’re my husband then..” na-eun cringed at the awkwardness of her response. if the ground swallowed her whole just moments after, she’d thank it. alas, there was no disappearing into the earth, and knowing the tv show depended on them to keep the conversation going, the idol awkwardly pushed on.

“ i see they made us match.” her hand gestured to their hanboks, a small smile present on her lips. “have you ever worn a hanbok before or is this your first time as well?” it was a question she already knew the answer of but the audience didn’t know that, of course. “it really fits the scenery-" her eyes fleeted away from him to the view of the water and trees in front of them. "- i wonder what they are planning for us to do here…”

MOOD: just keep calm and act normal.

LOCATION: secret garden, changdeokgung palace, seoul.

OUTFIT:

TAGS: dreamglow

coded by weldherwings.

 

[dreamglow]

olivver

The time that passed between his question and an answer felt like an eternity to Olivver. An eternity he wasn't entirely sure he'd survive. Who was he kidding? He'd definitely survive. He thought this entire show was a joke in the first place and meant absolutely nothing, so he'd absolutely survive. He had no reason to be nervous.

Scratch that.

He had every reason to be nervous since his ex-girlfriend just turned around in front of him. Ex turned wife. What an interesting turn of events. Not.

As he thought about it, there was absolutely no way this was a coincidence. No way. The producers had to have known they'd secretly dated in the past, had to have seen them out in public somewhere or read the articles and decided to fuck with them. There was just too much involved for it to be a coincidence.

This had to be a punishment. A cruel, twisted punishment. And well, he learned his lesson. If this was the punishment for a secret relationship, he'd never date again. He was done with dating and relationships for good and would probably quit EMPYRE and go become a shepherd in the mountains.

But for now, he was stuck on this stupid show with a painful blast from the past. He needed to suck it up and move forward with this if he wanted to help EMPYRE with their promotions.

Time to put on your big boy pants, Olivver, he thought to himself. Get it together.

Swallowing thickly and trying his best to ignore the ten plus cameras trained onto his figure, he put on his award-winning grin and inclined his head in greeting. And wow that was difficult, but he managed to do pull it off. Hopefully.

Oh did they make us match. he thought bitterly, averting his eyes briefly before focusing back on her. Then he nodded. "Yeah, guess they did." he mumbled. Oh did he want to punch "them" in the face.

"Nope. Never worn it till now." And he probably wouldn't wear it again. He much preferred his jeans and tees. "But, I don't know. Maybe they'll make us swim in the pond wearing our hanbok?" It was said as a joke but honestly, he wouldn't be surprised if they did.

mood: please yeet me into the sun

location: the pagoda

outfit: here

tags: neon reverie

designed by dreamglow & coded by hanthesunbeam

 

[neon reverie]

guess we are fools.

na-eun didn’t need spoken words to discern the hidden regret behind his eyes. because despite the years broken up, she still knew him. beneath the calm sea, there was a maelstrom of something, and she didn’t blame him for feeling it. there was a reason the two parted ways after a year of secrecy; some lives were just not meant to be intertwined in the way a relationship should be and, in their case, their own dreams simply took precedence over what was.

yet… at times, often when black strokes painted the sky and reflected the galaxy around them, her thoughts would get pulled into their own orbit. being awake at late hours never bode well for realism in the mind, and na-eun spent more time pondering about the what-ifs than she’d like. her past relationships were not an exemption – olivver was not an exemption. their split was mutual, yes, but she could not help but think they were an ideal fit; timid as she was, he always managed to bring her out of her shell when together. always managed to make her smile, make her laugh till her insides hurt. he was her own secret she loved harbouring - her own tailor brand of risk she accepted and now, at times, maybe even missed. nevertheless, as easily as she could have her mind wander back to memory lane and get overwhelmed by melancholy, the idol was no fool. na-eun was well aware that these kind of reveries were only destined to be just that: a whimsical scenario crafted by a quixotic mind.

and even if na-eun wished to properly reunite with her ex, this circumstance was most definitely not the way.

surges of barely-controlled anxiety flooded her with every pulse of her admittedly thudding heartbeat. so many words travelled at lightning speed, though none of them quite stuck to the tongue. all na-eun could do was let out a soft laugh to cover up the embarrassing fact that she did not know how to talk to her ex. just like how she buried herself under the image of being overly humble and shy because being a natural conversationalist was just not in her blood.

luckily, her incompetence in conversing was saved by the producers themselves. out of a sudden, a distraction emerged as one of the staff handed them a pink coloured envelope. na-eun opened it and pulled out the mission card to read it out loud.

“welcome to changdeokgung palace. to make the most of this beautiful scenery, you will be participating in a couple themed … photo…shoot.“ her sentence fell slightly as the activity got revealed. she could have seen this coming with the concept of the whole show revolving around the stars doing these kind of romantic activities, but the idea of being in a couple shoot with olivver shocked her nonetheless. it was not something na-eun felt particularly comfortable with doing regardless of the person (though their shared past did manage to add an extra layer of dread in the stomach). her gaze travelled to her purposed husband as she tried to catch his reaction - but it was snatched again before it could truly land on olivver’s expression.

An older man entered the scene with a camera in his hand and na-eun hastily bowed as he approached them.

“ good morning ! my name is do jin-sang and i will be your photographer for the couple photoshoot today,” the man greeted with a bright smile. na-eun felt slightly bad for feeling as if he had doomed her when his expression exuded nothing but kindness, and hoped her own face didn’t betray any of the negative emotions swirling inside. if it was the case, however, the man showed no sign of it, continuing without skipping a beat.“I thought to start taking some pictures here by the beautiful pagoda if you two are ready…?”

no was the definite answer that resounded through her head, but she could not say that, could she? all na-eun could do, again, bound by the cameras surveying everything closely, was smile and nod while silently praying to every deity and ancestor to have existed.

please let this go over fast.

MOOD: panic time

LOCATION: secret garden, changdeokgung palace, seoul.

OUTFIT:

TAGS: dreamglow

coded by weldherwings.

 

[dreamglow]

olivver

Olivver was seriously considering saying 'fuck the show' and jumping into the lake and swimming across it to his freedom. Because this, the show, the concept, everything, was damn near unbearable.

It wasn't Na-Eun's fault. No. She probably hated it just as much as he did, if not more. Though they parted amicably and were still on good terms, it was still awkward. They had once been so close, two peas in a pod, and then it just ended. It had to end, neither of them could deal with the secrecy or the lies any longer, but that didn't mean he was happy about it.

His internal debate about whether or not to jump into the lake and swim away was pushed aside when she was handed an envelope and curiosity took over. What did it say? His eyebrows were furrowed slightly as he stared at it, waiting to hear what the contents were about. He heard up to 'couple themed' and then nearly jumped twenty feet into the air when a new voice was heard, having not seen the photographer approach. And oh sweet jesus. A photoshoot? Why? They literally just met, or re-met, and now they were being asked to act all cute and take pictures together? Hard pass for him. But he doubted he'd have any choice in the matter.

"Not quite ready, no," Olivver mumbled under his breath, but quiet enough so only he himself could hear. But then he cleared his throat and nodded slightly. "Yeah, we're ready." Or at least he was. "I'm only cooperating if I can make funny faces for one of the shoots, though."

It was said as a joke but wasn't really one. Not quite. He figured that they'd both relax a significant amount of they could let loose for a little, and being weird during a photoshoot was definitely a way to do that. Even if the answer was a no, he'd still be weird regardless.

mood: can i be weird?

location: the pagoda

outfit: here

tags: neon reverie

designed by dreamglow & coded by hanthesunbeam

 

[neon reverie]

guess we are fools.

"I'm only cooperating if I can make funny faces for one of the shoots, though."

a smile unconsciously crept across na-eun’s face as she heard this, the mind again digging into the archives and replaying old memories in the head. despite the years apart, it seemed that nothing had changed much about the boy who she called hers once. even though his stage exterior told a different story, the cursive lines within the soul shone as brightly and warmly as before. he had always been that person; the one who took enjoyment easy and viewed laughter as the ultimate medicine. in their relationship, he had been her personal peter pan, ready to whisk her away to neverland where fun is king and stress non-existent. in the same way, she’d been the one that kept him from getting lost in his own wonderland of adventures.

his anchor.

of course, this was all a thing of the past, and one better left in the box somewhere in the back of the mind. nevertheless, at that moment, na-eun could not help but feel a kindle of affection for him. it was one born from nostalgia rather than current happenstances, but there nonetheless. and for another delusionary moment, the idol even managed to feel a soothing sensation, like a cooling breeze against the skin on a hot day. maybe everything wouldn’t be so bad, a thought reasoned despite the immediate barrage of oppositions that followed. olivver was still a person who knew her discomforts better than a stranger, after all, and she knew him, knew him well enough to be reassured he’d try his best regardless of their past together. it was a comforting thought, that one, but fleeting all the same.

like the momentary weakness she considered it to be ( for the sake of them both), it buckled under the sheer weight of reality crashing down as the photographer responded to olivver’s comment. he let out a laugh, clearly amused, and nodded: “that’s totally okay. if it helps making you both comfortable, we can start with making a few less serious photos. feel free to act as silly as you wish.” his hand gestured at them to signal that the choice was up to them, before stepping back and readying the camera.

“just give me the sign and i will start with taking the first photos.”

na-eun’s eyes instantly travelled back to olivver’s face, her heartbeat gaining new levels of speed again as panic took root in the nerves of her body. in contrast to the person in front of him, this idol has never been great at improvisation, rather sticking to clear instructions out of fear she would mess up otherwise. admittedly, na-eun didn’t even know how to just act silly. her mother had always instilled in her how to look pretty and to not pull any weird faces because it would ruin the charm. her entertainment company operated in the same manner: smile, look cute if not pretty – that was the image they had to portray. so, to be left to her own devices with full approval – or even encouragement – na-eun felt quite at loss.

the multiple cameras zoomed on them didn’t help either, the sensation akin to being a deer caught in the headlights churning her stomach. “do…” na-eun began, eyes briefly wandering back to the camera man, before returning back to the person who she hoped to take the reigns, “ do we just pull weird faces or move around or…. ” her cheeks heated up slightly out of embarrassment. “ silly poses like finger guns or climbing on each other’s back..?” her words were a mere whisper, though she doubted the mic attached to her didn’t pick it up. na-eun just hoped the photographer itself didn’t hear it, or even worse, that olivver would find her suggestions even dumber than the concept of the photoshoot itself.

MOOD: what do we do?

LOCATION: secret garden, changdeokgung palace, seoul.

OUTFIT:

TAGS: dreamglow

coded by weldherwings.

 

[dreamglow]

olivver

Even though he wasn't looking directly at Na-Eun, Olivver didn't fail to miss the small smile that graced her features after he practically demanded to make funny faces. This was something he always did--it was nothing new. Whenever they'd been together and she suggested taking pictures, he'd outright refuse unless he could be weird in at least a few of them. Of course, he remained serious and professional during shoots with EMPYRE, but when alone or with Na-Eun, it was funny pics or nothing.

Both his mind and his gaze started wandering as he waited for the photographers response. But, when he heard the response, he snapped back into focus. The words "if it makes you both comfortable" and "act as silly as you wish" bounced around in his head. While he was happy that they could take funny pictures, he knew this wasn't her forte.

Sure enough, Olivver could practically taste the panic that started radiating off of Na-Eun's figure. He knew her like the back of his hand, just as well as himself. And taking funny photos was his element--not hers. He should never have suggested this, but it was too late to take it back now.

His eyes met hers when she looked at him, brows raising slightly as if to say 'do you want me to handle this'? Before he could verbally ask the question, she began to speak. Oli's gaze snapped to the photographer's when he heard her questions, waiting to see what his reaction would be (and whether or not it would be positive).

Although he heard the panic stricken whispered words, he doubted the photographer did, and that was probably for the best. While taking piggyback ride pictures would be fun, he figured it was too early for that. "Here," he started, taking a step closer to Na-Eun, "let's start with this." Olivver glanced briefly at the photographer before gently gripping her jaw and lightly squeezing her cheeks in order to make her lips pout. He then poked his own cheek with the pointer finger on his free hand turned to face the camera.

mood: let the sillies commence

location: the pagoda

outfit: here

tags: neon reverie

designed by dreamglow & coded by hanthesunbeam

 

[neon reverie]

guess we are fools.

her eyes existed as unique harboured windows to the soul, reflecting every bit of anxiety and anticipation that was weighing in her gut as she gazed at olivver. na-eun had shortly decided that it was best to focus solely on him, hoping it would mentally transport her into a separate realm of blissful ignorance. one where they resided within their own little facet of the world, buried in tranquil comfort and unyielding to the pressure they were supposed to shoulder. it was one of those feelings she did mourn upon parting ways with the idol in front of her, now only being able to experience it in a reminiscent sense when catching a fluttering memory of those times. but maybe this was as close as she would come to grasping that reverie-like sensation again; the light squeeze of her cheeks only awakening remembrances of that secret time spent together.

a muffled giggle escaped her na-eun’s lips at olivver’s action, amused by the rarity yet illicit normality of it. waves of nostalgia had washed over her, and the idol found herself once more swimming in the tide waters of the past. while utmost secrecy was key in their relationship, it didn’t withhold the two from documenting their silly moments together once in a while. the photos and videos were long deleted by now to eliminate as much risks as possible, but the memories still lived vividly in her mind. olivver still lived vividly in the mind - seemingly tethered to her essence - ( he was her first love after all) and na-eun could not help but wonder in the moment if this was a situation crafted by the very hand of fate. never had she imagined that the two would reunite in this way, yet here they were: silly faces plastered on both visages. like a snapshot from the past.

the photographer angled himself while snapping a few photos, before pausing to take a quick peek at the results. a bright smile appeared on the man’s face and he turned back to the couple, giving them the thumbs-up.

“you two are looking great! let’s switch up the expressions, and don’t be afraid to change poses as well!”

the photographer’s compliment alleviated some of na-eun’s anxieties about this whole couple photoshoot, her confidence being slightly boosted by it as well. perhaps it was the playful quality to the silly faces that made the air around them lighter, or maybe olivver’s presence did manage to take her attention away from the daunting reality of it all, but the idol felt more at ease and, may it be said, even a bit more daring.

emboldened by a rush of confidence, her body acted on their own accord, hands moving up to olivver’s face before pressing it against his cheeks, squeezing them together. a soft laugh ran past her lips as his features resembled that of a fish, amusement twinkling in her dark eyes. it was a carefree but vanishing moment, embarrassment flushing her cheeks as she suddenly realized she didn’t check if her actions were okay with him. deep down, na-eun knew that olivver probably didn’t mind, but the apology was uttered out of automatism nonetheless.

“a-ah sorry-“ the rest of her purposed sentence hung on the edge of her lips as the photographer spoke up again.

“okay, why don’t we try one more silly pose before moving over to the palace and shooting a couple of pictures there?”

na-eun knew what was left unsaid, the change of location undoubtedly also aligning with a more serious intent for the photos. the thought of entering new territory and having to act in a romantic sense with her ex manifested a bout of anxiety again, but the idol refused to let it anchor her down to the bottom of the sea this time. not when she could live for a short while in this illusionary world free of worries and expectations.

her gaze naturally travelled towards the one capable of pulling her into back that world, and almost selfishly, staked her hopes once again on him taking the reigns.

“what do you want to do?” she whispered, eyes gazing into his.

MOOD: i'll follow your lead

LOCATION: secret garden, changdeokgung palace, seoul.

OUTFIT:

TAGS: dreamglow

 

[dreamglow]

olivver

At the giggle, Olivver worked very hard to keep the huge ass grin off of his face. Oh, it was trying to break free, really trying, but he managed to keep it down. For now. He wasn't quite sure why he bothered fighting it, considering they were in front of a camera and smiling for pictures was a thing. But he figured that cheesing like a fool might not be the greatest idea at this moment.

He was spared from continuing the battle with the grin by the photographer's comments about changing positions and poses. He paused momentarily in order to figure out what face he was going to pull next, but before he could really dwell on it, he felt a hand grip his cheeks and push them together. Olivver's brows shot up in surprise (the good kind, of course) and it was just his luck that the photographer chose that very moment to snap the photo.

Sparing a quick glance down at Na-Eun, he immediately noticed the sudden change in her expression--the hesitancy and slight anxiety. He opened his mouth to ask what was wrong, yet before he could utter a word, he heard the stuttered apology. What was she sorry for? Squeezing his cheeks? Being silly and doing what himself and the photographer asked for?

Olivver shook his head slightly. "You have nothing to apologize for." he said, keeping his voice down. His eyes darted up when the photographer spoke again and suggested they start the serious pictures. He was fine with starting that shoot now, but knew that she wasn't. "Could we continue taking the funny photos for a few more minutes?" he asked, hoping the answer would be a yes to make her more at ease.

When he himself was asked a question, he paused, various photo ideas running through his head. What did he want to do? Everything he was thinking of at this moment was definitely too complicated, especially in the clothing they were in. "Just," he began, trying to formulate his ideas into words. "Tuck your top lip under itself so your teeth and gums are exposed and then do your best smile at the camera."

mood: smile and wave boys

location: the pagoda

outfit: here

tags: neon reverie

designed by dreamglow & coded by hanthesunbeam

 

[neon reverie]

guess we are fools.

na-eun should have known that olivver would be able to see the signs of discomfort through the cracks of her façade; regardless of the jesting energy that would often bleed into his actions and exterior, he had always been the one to pick up the tiniest yet unintended social cues. though, truth was that na-eun wasn’t as good at hiding the heart imprinted on her sleeve as she wished to either. it just seemed that no amount of training could wipe the emotions away from her face for long -- they always returned, like waves to the sea.

and thus, the streak of unease running beneath the thin veil had been captured by her ex. maybe she had hoped that he would turn a blind eye to it, would let the emotion flow wordlessly, like it was meant to do as an unproblematic idol. why? because if the years in the music industry had bestowed her with any wisdom it would be how easily expressions could be twisted in the hands of the scheming and wicked. the most neutral faces could be narrated as malicious disinterest, the tiniest lines of discomfort as defiance. the only face that mattered in the entertainment world was one of beaming smiles and laughter. if you can’t be the cloudless sky, be the brightest sun, or so her mother has always told her.

nevertheless, na-eun should have known that her ex wouldn’t sit still with her discomfort at the palms of his hands. he was too caring for that, too melancholically olivver. her heart echoed the sensation of something akin to a flutter that unfolded in her stomach with a skip of its own, feeling somewhat touched that he dared to request what she locked away in her mental chest of treachery. however, her management and mother had etched a dislike towards causing inconvenience into her being for a reason, and the fear of troubling the photographer rapidly drew its clutches around her.

“it’s ok-“ her whisper had only partly left her mouth when the photographer accorded his response.

“well, I will have to double=check if there is enough time for it, but let’s at least shoot this one photo and switch the scene. does that sound good with you both?”

na-eun nodded almost instantly, before turning back to her ‘husband’.

“it’s okay-“ she reassured in a soft tone, knowing that he might push the issue further for her. her hand found his for a brief second, perhaps out of lingering, comforting habit, and she gave his hand a little squeeze, her lips upturning lightly. “thank you, though.” the idol retracted her hand back before the gesture could reveal too many hints to their history on camera and turned to face the camera again. following olivver’s instructions, na-eun proceeded to do her best attempt at pulling the funny face he had in mind. it felt unnatural in many ways, and she didn’t dare to think about how unattractive it might look or how much the image would unnerve both her management and mother. yet, as embarrassing as it might have felt, there was something liberating about it too.

“perfect!” the photographer smiled, before giving off a nod towards the camera crew.

“alright. cut the cameras! we will move on to the palace – please follow one of the staff towards your next location.” another voice called out.

na-eun watched as all the cameras around them got lowered and started to move from their spot, along with the staff. she didn’t see anyone yet approaching them, lending the two a fleeting moment of privacy. surprisingly brave enough, the idol took this opportunity to speak up again, this time with old familiarity lacing her words.

“so… uhm… hi,” she breathed, “guess we didn’t expect this to happen, huh.” a small, nervous laugh escaped her lips. na-eun didn’t quite know why she was striking up a conversation right now, to be honest. maybe it was the subconscious reminder that the two had a past together, or maybe it was the reoccurring realization of what this program entailed, but there was this urge to make everything less …. awkward. although, holding conversations was admittedly not the idol’s strong suit. “you… aren’t bothered too much by it… right? i would understand if you are, of course. this could all be kind of risky after all and well… it’s been some time since we talked, let alone did something like this-”

MOOD: how do you feel about this?

LOCATION: secret garden, changdeokgung palace, seoul.

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TAGS: dreamglow