Chapter Text
“Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god-”
Gyuvin's excitement echoed through the dressing room as he forcefully swung open the door, his foot colliding with the wood. In his hands, he clutched his acoustic guitar and his trusty leather bound notebook. Ricky, caught off guard by the sudden entrance, coughed as a wisp of smoke slipped from his mouth.
"You didn't quit?" Gyuvin's voice portrayed a mixture of mild betrayal and genuine concern.
Ricky, struggling to find his words amidst the coughing fit, stole a glance at Gyuvin before responding, "I-I ran out of lollipops."
Gyuvin placed his notebook down, his hand delving deep into his pocket, eventually revealing a lollipop. A knowing expression adorned his face as Ricky, amused, questioned, "Do you always carry lollipops with you?"
Gyuvin acknowledged the inquiry with a hum, pride evident on his face, and then quietly revealed, "I got my lyrics approved."
“What? That’s amazing! I’m so proud of you-” Shocked by the news, Ricky jumped up from his seat and embraced Gyuvin, overflowing with pride. Gyuvin, taken aback by the sudden hug, placed his hands on Ricky's waist, and they swayed gently in each other's embrace.
Breaking the hug, Gyuvin locked eyes with Ricky, who was still reeling in astonishment. With a tender voice, Gyuvin whispered, "I want you to be the first to listen to them."
Ricky's shock transformed into an overwhelmed state of joy, and he couldn't resist leaning in to give Gyuvin a light peck, his heart pounding with exhilaration. However, Gyuvin quickly intercepted, blocking their lips.
“We are at our workplace right-” Gyuvin abruptly pulled his hand away, hastily wiping it on his shirt. "Did you just lick me?" he exclaimed in disbelief.
"Yes," Ricky replied with an air of pride, causing Gyuvin's hand to swiftly transition from Ricky's waist to his ass, delivering a firm slap that made Ricky wince in pain.
"What was that for?" Ricky demanded.
"You licked my hand," Gyuvin retorted.
"So?" Ricky pointed to his neck, where a concealed tattoo lay hidden beneath the concealer. "You literally left hickies on me. On my tattoo."
“That’s besides the point.”
“It’s not.”
“It is.”
Ricky rolled his eyes and muttered under his breath, "Way to ruin the moment."
Despite the tension, they remained in their current position, with Gyuvin's hands resting on Ricky's waist and Ricky's hand on his shoulder. Gyuvin then mentioned casually, "By the way, I'm keeping my guitar in your car. Keep your schedule free after the concert."
Curiosity piqued, Ricky inquired, "Sure, but why?"
"We're going on a picnic," Gyuvin revealed.
Ricky wanted to ask if it was a date, but he hesitated, fearing that it might jeopardize his chances of actually securing a date with Gyuvin. Instead, he simply nodded in agreement.
Gyuvin broke free from Ricky's grasp, picking up his guitar and notebook. He swiped Ricky's keys from the table and headed towards the door, with Ricky following behind, carrying his bag.
Before leaving, Gyuvin turned back to face Ricky and declared, "Oh, and by the way, it's a date." With that, he slammed the door shut.
Ricky couldn't help but giggle like a little girl. It was finally happening - it was a date.
"I'm beginning to suspect that you have an unhealthy obsession with skirts," Gyuvin remarked, his tone laced with a hint of amusem*nt.
Gyuvin stepped out of the dressing room, clad in a striking red and black checkered skirt that boasted a daring slit on one side, layered over ripped black jeans. He also wasn’t pleased with the white cut sleeves top that boldly displayed the words 'end of the f*cking world'. It didn't quite resonate with Gyuvin's taste.
Ricky, however, seemed unfazed by Gyuvin's comment, paying it little mind. "It's inspired by the band you're opening for," he casually replied, his attention focused on the task at hand.
Gyuvin took a seat in front of Ricky, who was armed with a hair dryer, ready to work his magic. Each member of the band had been granted their own dressing room, and Gyuvin couldn't resist stealing glances out of the window beside him. The sight of the massive crowd gathered outside the venue stirred a longing within him. Oh, how he wished they were there to support his own band. It must be quite a remarkable feeling to be adored by so many.
Interrupting Gyuvin's musings, Ricky observed, "Your piercing is healing nicely." His words snapped Gyuvin back to reality.
"Yeah, but I can't sleep on that side anymore," Gyuvin replied, shooting Ricky a sidelong glance. Ricky had neglected to mention that it would take a minimum of nine months to a whole year for the piercing to fully heal, leaving Gyuvin stuck with the discomfort of sleeping on one side.
Ricky let out an awkward laugh before resuming his hairstyling duties. After dampening Gyuvin's hair, he generously applied an excessive amount of gel to his hands. With a deft touch, he pulled Gyuvin's hair back, revealing his forehead. Ricky meticulously combed the strands, allowing a few to gracefully fall onto Gyuvin's forehead. His navy ends, slightly overgrown, barely grazing his eyes.
Ricky admired his handiwork, while Gyuvin couldn't help but admire his talented stylist.
Ricky crouched down to meet Gyuvin's gaze, ready to apply his makeup. In that moment, Gyuvin playfully planted a gentle kiss on the corner of Ricky's eye. No matter how many times their lips met, Ricky's heart would always flutter when Gyuvin bestowed a peck upon his face. The tenderness of a kiss near his eye never failed to melt him.
"Isn't this our workplace now?" Ricky teased, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Gyuvin grinned and replied, "Well, it's not exactly my workplace."
Ricky simply nodded, relishing in the affection shared between them.
"I must say, I like your brown eyeliner," Gyuvin remarked, tracing the winged liner's end where he had just kissed Ricky. "It gives you a cat-like appearance."
Ricky scoffed, playfully retorting, "Ah, yes, you and your weird ‘cat Ricky’ agenda."
Gyuvin smirked, confidently stating, "But I'm winning, aren't I?"
Ricky hummed in response, reaching for the same brown liner he had used to enhance Gyuvin's eyes.
"Wouldn't you consider using a lip tint on me?" Gyuvin inquired, his voice filled with curiosity as Ricky reclined.
"Do you want it?" Ricky raised an eyebrow, his tone tinged with intrigue. Gyuvin wasn't typically one to wear lip tint, but then again, he wasn't exactly a makeup enthusiast either.
Ricky perused his assortment, contemplating between a delicate peach shade and a soft baby pink.
Just as Ricky was about to ask, "Which one do you-" he was abruptly silenced by a forceful pair of lips pressing against his own. The kiss was demanding, rough against Ricky's smooth lips adorned with a strawberry-scented gloss as Gyuvin pulled Ricky closer, his hands gripping Ricky's waist as they found themselves on the dressing table. Their kiss intensified, passionate and sultry, leaving them both gasping for air but unwilling to pull away just yet.
Suddenly, the door creaked open, forcing them to separate, their faces flushed with embarrassment.
Beomgyu entered, his expression awkward as he stammered, "I can... come back later. Sorry-" before hastily slamming the door shut.
A moment later, it swung open again, revealing Beomgyu's face. "We are all gathered in the waiting room, though. But! We can wait," he announced, glancing at Gyuvin and giving him an awful, not at all discreet, wink before retreating once more.
Ricky gazed at Gyuvin, who appeared less flushed but still processing the whirlwind of emotions.
"Thank you for the lip tint," Gyuvin winked at him before following Beomgyu outside.
Ricky gently touched his cheek, a small, satisfied smile gracing his lips. "Kim Gyuvin, you will be the death of me..."
Finally, Gyuvin found himself standing on the grand stage. The crowd, a mix of fans who were familiar and unfamiliar with Our Season, seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the performance. Starting off with their debut song, Gyuvin and his bandmates rocked the stage, belting out a few more hits from their album. The audience responded with headbanging and enthusiastic cheers, their screams echoing in Gyuvin's in-ear monitors. The moment the performance ended, the crowd erupted in a deafening roar.
As the lights dimmed, the members of TXT were lifted up from beneath the stage, creating an air of anticipation. When the lights came back on, the cheers grew even louder, filled with excitement and energy. Gyuvin shot Beomgyu a thumbs up as Beomgyu and his bandmates took their positions in front of their microphones, ready to perform Loser=Lover.
As they danced and sang, Gyuvin couldn't help but be captivated by the audience joining in, singing along to certain parts of the song. The thrill of it all was exhilarating.
The song came to an end, and the members of Our Season were escorted off the stage. Hanbin couldn't help but express his awe, "That was just...damn."
Gunwook chimed in, "I want us to have a concert too now," and Yujin nodded in agreement.
Jiwoong, wiping off the sweat from his forehead, added, "It was tiring though. How do they do that for three hours?"
“Maybe because they aren’t almost thirty-” Gyuvin was about to respond when Jiwoong playfully smacked him on the head, cutting off his sentence.
Yujin and Gunwook snickered, while Hao simply rolled his eyes. The band then disappeared into their respective dressing rooms.
Excitement filled Gyuvin as he quickly changed his attire and freshened up his face. He eagerly hopped into Ricky's car, ready for the date.
“I’m driving.”
Gyuvin declared, his voice carrying a hint of superiority. With a swift motion, he seized the keys from Ricky's rear pocket. Ricky, taken aback by this unexpected act, managed to utter a snide comment, albeit flustered, "Can you even drive?"
In a mocking manner, Gyuvin reprised, his tone piercing with sarcasm, "Can you even drive?"
Ricky retorted with a dismissive scoff, "Wow. Real mature of you."
Gyuvin took his place behind the wheel, while Ricky, for the first time, assumed the role of a passenger princess. However, the sensation of luxury quickly dissipated as the car jolted forward abruptly. In response, Ricky instinctively gripped the handle on the vehicle's roof, his dreams of a serene journey crushed, as he was transformed into the survival princess.
Seeking respite, Ricky voiced a demand for a drink during their travel. It was merely an excuse to catch his breath, and thus he was presented with a delightful pink strawberry smoothie because according to Gyuvin, “We are cutting back on caffeine.”, he said while sipping his cappuccino.
"We should get some snacks as well," Gyuvin proclaimed, already whisking Ricky away to the convenience store.
Ricky remarked nostalgically, "This feels remarkably familiar." Gyuvin, equally nostalgic, recalled, "Yeah. Do you remember when you refused to let me buy any desserts?"
With his arms crossed, Ricky justified himself, "Well, that was because you had already bought an immense amount, courtesy of my money."
Gyuvin responded with determination, "Well, now is the time to repay you," prompting Ricky's content approval. The two made their way through different aisles, collecting necessary items. Ricky's initial instinct led him to the donuts, accompanied by a carton of milk. As he pondered over the numerous options of chips before him, his concentration was disrupted by a voice.
A young woman, dressed entirely in black attire, including a hoodie and sweatpants, a camera slung over her shoulder, admired the small stud adorned with a dangling star.
"I like your helix piercing," she commented, her eyes briefly glancing at Ricky's neck before returning to meet his gaze. “Oh! Thanks,” Ricky rescinded and with a smile, she walked away.
Ricky gazed intently at her retreating figure, a sense of familiarity washing over him. However, his thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a tap on his shoulder, causing him to turn around and face Gyuvin, who held a collection of snacks in his arms.
Soon enough, Ricky found himself once again confronted with Gyuvin's reckless driving.
Gripping onto anything he could for dear life, he couldn't help but exclaim, "Slow down, will you?!"
“The sun is about to set. Shut up!" Gyuvin retorted, causing Ricky to shut his eyes tightly.
In an attempt to calm his nerves, Ricky resorted to chanting prayers and taking deep breaths, all while the car jolted and his body lifted from the seat whenever Gyuvin failed to slow down over a speed bump. He couldn't help but fear that his first date with Gyuvin would also be his last.
"We have arrived!" Gyuvin exclaimed, prompting Ricky to slowly open his eyes. However, he felt a slight dizziness as he quickly stepped out of the car and proceeded to vomit behind it.
As Ricky paused to catch his breath, he realized where they were. Turning to face Gyuvin, who was gazing out at the lake with the sun barely touching its horizon, Ricky couldn't help but feel a surge of emotions.
The lake blushed under the red sun's gentle caress, sparkling with beauty. When Ricky looked back at Gyuvin, who was smiling at him, he could swear that he fell in love with him all over again.
In a soft voice, Ricky asked, "You remember this place?" Gyuvin's response was immediate, "Of course."
He then laid out a picnic blanket in front of the car. Without uttering a word, Ricky sat down, feeling the cool breeze and the warmth of the sun easing the tension in his shoulders. Gyuvin returned with the snacks and a guitar in his hands, asking, "Isn't it beautiful?"
Ricky hummed softly, the gentle rustling of leaves tickling their feet. A sense of tranquility washed over him, enveloping him in a profound peace. As the sun descended, its golden rays merging with the serene lake, Ricky and Gyuvin sat side by side, leaning on their palms, their fingers lightly brushing against each other.
The silence was broken when Gyuvin began strumming his guitar, a melodic tune resonating harmoniously with the picturesque scene before them. And then, he sang. His gaze locked with Ricky's, he poured his heart out through his raw lyrics. Ricky could feel it, each word a testament to Gyuvin's emotions. The lyrics spoke of love, and Gyuvin's voice dripped with sweetness, his eyes filled with a hint of intoxication. It was enough to make Ricky's heart melt.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the song came to an end. Gyuvin leaned in, planting a tender and delicate kiss on Ricky's lips. In that moment, Ricky felt a sense of belonging, as if he had finally found his home.
Their lips barely apart, Gyuvin whispered Ricky's name, his eyes locked onto Ricky's with unwavering intensity. "Ricky, I love you," he confessed.
Ricky's eyes sparkled with joy, his smile stretching wide, causing small wrinkles to appear at the corners of his eyes. He embraced Gyuvin tightly, his heart overflowing with love. "I love you too," he replied.
"Can I be with you?" Ricky asked, his voice filled with hope.
Gyuvin laughed, his response filled with warmth and affection. "Yes," he said, sealing their new beginning with a shared kiss.
They indulged in the snacks, savoring each bite while exchanging tender kisses and whispering sweet declarations of love under the gentle moonlight. Their bellies content, they nestled beside one another, their eyes fixed upon the stars that seemed to twinkle solely for their delight.
A serene tranquility enveloped them, but alas, it was not destined to endure.
The peaceful ambiance shattered abruptly when Ricky's phone vibrated, jolting him from their idyllic reverie. He hesitated for a moment before declining the call from Seonghwa.
Soon after, Gyuvin's phone erupted with a flurry of notifications. With an exasperated eye-roll, they sat up, reaching for Hao's phone. A tinge of concern laced Hao's voice as he inquired, “Gyuvin! Where are you?”
"With Ricky, why?" Gyuvin responded, his tone tinged with curiosity.
Hao's urgent plea to return home immediately hung in the air before abruptly ending the call.
"Mei told me to check Twitter," Ricky interjected, his voice tinged with a mix of confusion and apprehension.
"Hao insists we come back," he revealed, his phone buzzing incessantly with a barrage of texts.
Ricky obliged his sister, his curiosity piqued as to why her voice seemed to be trembling with urgency.
Oh God.
“Gyuvin.” Ricky’s voice was soft as he turned his pallid face to Gyuvin for a mere second before again facing the screen.
Gyuvin's heart skipped a beat as they leaned over Ricky's shoulder, a chill coursing down their spine. "Ricky, what..." his voice trailing off.
Ricky's trembling fingers scrolled down, revealing a series of incriminating pictures.
A snapshot of them together in a thrift store.
Followed by an image of them outside the motel in Thailand.
Followed by an image of them outside the motel in Thailand.
A picture of Ricky standing at a distance from Gyuvin’s window and the latter’s shocked face.
And then, the most damning of all, a picture of Ricky kissing Gyuvin in the photo booth, their faces captured in perfect clarity.
It finally hit Ricky. The girl he had seen earlier at the convenience store, she was the one Gyuvin clicked a picture with at the thrift store. Is she-
Gyuvin couldn't suppress a strangled cry that escaped from the depths of their throat as Ricky screamed at himself for not being careful enough.
A rustling sound nearby diverted their attention, their hands tightly intertwined as they snapped their heads to the source.
Shutter.
A wave of icy dread washed over them. This couldn't be happening, Ricky pleaded silently. Let it be a cruel figment of their imagination.
With trembling fingers, he refreshed the page, instantly regretting his decision.
The most recent picture displayed them, staring directly into the camera, frozen in that very moment.
Reality had cruelly caught up with them.
