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Test shots fire off with a pop and a high pitched whine at the reload, flashing lights against the textured backdrop featuring a painted crane and pine tree with the stand-in model posed on a silk wrapped stool. The set is exactly what she had asked for when planning the shoot. If the vibe they want is classic beauty and old money, they nailed it. The vibe matches her mood boards and planning book; seeing the whole atmosphere come into fruition thrills the artist in her. It had been months of research into Minhwa - traditional Korean silk painting -  followed by museum requests, commissioning a London based Korean artist, and finally getting it all to Boston to set up in her studio. She now knows more about painting in the Joseon Dynasty than she had ever learned in art school but there wasn’t a lot taught about art outside of Western cultures. Seeing her first Michelangelo in Belgium had been satisfying and was a great experience but her first time experiencing Japan had really sealed her affection for Eastern art. Minhwa, a traditional Korean folk painting style known as the “painting of the people”, reflects the common people’s honest desires for happiness, health, and good fortune, which was exactly the right tone for photographing a big Kpop star. From what she knows of the community, the fans are respectful and wish the best for the idols. Referencing history and creating the ideal background felt important for her subject. 

Lexie stands back from the set, watching the frames come up on the screen as she fluffs her curls absently, making them messy and fluffy around her face. The proofs look good but she won’t exactly know until she can get her model into place. He should be available any time now, as soon as hair and makeup are done with him. She finds her coffee that she ditched a couple minutes ago by her open notebook and takes another sip. She skims a finger down the shot listen last time to remind herself of what they need to accomplish. One of these days maybe she won’t get nervous before a shoot like this but last night her mind had been racing, keeping her awake as she double and triple checked lists. Everything was in order so she stressed out over nothing but then she’d arrived on set early anyway to look over everything again anyway. 

That morning, in the quiet as the soft morning light came through her windows, she’d run her fingers over the silk, steamed the clothing, just touched linens and moved set pieces around until it felt right to her. She’d charged every battery and set out her lenses until they arrived with her coffee. 

Truthfully, it’s beautiful. There’s nothing to be concerned about. Even the model is said to be wonderful. In preparation, Lexie had read his Rolling Stone article, called her friend at Louis Vuitton to get the inside scoop, watched videos of him online. She sighs and crosses her arms over herself, watching the door he’ll come through. Lexie had seen enough media of Lee Felix to know he is beautiful too. Kpop was a fairly new world to her but from what she could tell, these guys were content machines. He’ll be fine in front of a camera. It also meant she had plenty of results when she was researching which is how she had landed on the traditional silk paintings as his background. The vision had come from watching a Chuseok skit the group did on YouTube. When the magazine agreed to make her vision happen, Lexie had breathed a sigh of relief. She hadn’t been sure they’d go with something that required such attention. 

“Entering set.”

Lexie looks over to the door, holding out her hand for her camera. An assistant places the body in her hand, the familiar weight soothing. She’s held this machine in her hands for years. It’s anchored her in some of the moments that have scared her the most and pushed her far out of her comfort zone. She’s made it through them all. This is the biggest name she’s photographed so far, though it is for a publication she’s worked with before, which feels like an instillation of trust. They could have asked others, but they asked her. She breathes out and straightens up, smiling slightly before he even enters the room. 

“This way Felix,” one of the assistants leads him into the room and it’s like someone opened a window. He strides onto set and everyone holds their breath, bathing in the way he glows like sunshine, lighting up the world around him with a smile. He nods at the makeup artist and bids her farewell in his charming Australian accent, effusively friendly as he thanks her again. When he steps in, he greets everyone he can see. Quieter than she expected for someone as big a star as him. But there’s no entourage, no pretense. 

His gaze snags on hers and he starts to move in her direction. A flicker of warmth. “You’re the photographer?”

Lexie steps forward, hand out. “Hi Felix. I’m Lexie Wilder. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Hi,” he inclines his head, bowing slightly, as he greets her. “Nice to meet you.”

“We’re going to start here,” Lexie gestures to the stool, getting right to business. She’s not here to fawn, even though he’s even more beautiful in person. “We’ll grab some test shots, make sure the lighting’s looking right.”

He follows where she leads, sitting on the edge of the stool like he’s seen her sketches. His manner is easy. He rolls his shoulders and sits up straight, turning to follow her as she moved. They’ve dressed him in a modern interpretation of the male hanbok, soft blues and whites, without the manggeon or gat. 

“Now, I’ve read the article where you talk about heritage and how important learning different ways of expressing yourself is. We’ve drawn on that for this shoot.” Lexie explains, gesturing to the background. Felix turns to look at the painting for a long moment, humming deeply and giving a small nod. 

The way he turns back to look at her sends her pulse sprinting. No wonder he’s known as the group’s sunshine. “That sounds great to me. I haven’t been to Boston in a few years and I’m grateful to be back. Talk about heritage. This city is full of it. Lots of great stories.”

Lexie can’t help but smile. “Oh yes. Some of our families have been here a long time.”

“Yours?”

Lexie nods. “Since the Revolutionary war. Some were on the Mayflower. The family farm still exists a little more south, but there are a lot of descendents now.”

His smile makes his eyes crinkle and she wishes her lens was up. Surely she can get him to do that again. “And before that?”

Lexie chuckles. “Netherlands, I think. Denmark? Scandinavia area.” She smiled at him easily. “Anyway, sorry, enough of my family history lesson. We have hand painted, modern, Joseon Dynasty inspired silk painting to coincide with your modern hanbok interpretation. The release will coordinate with the anniversary of Hangul, which will be featured in the issue. Questions, comments, heartfelt concerns before we start?”

Felix watches her as she shifts on her feet, gesturing with her hands as she speaks, waving her camera around. He smiles softly. “No, not my first time.” He says gently, almost like a reassurance. 

Lexie nods, trying to settle into his energy. “Right. My first time shooting a Kpop star. I mean, you know, not shooting bang bang but artistically.” She turns her back on his, shaking her head and squeezing her eyes closed at the over-speaking she’s doing because of her nerves. She takes a deep breath to steady herself. “Can we put on any music for you? I think we made a playlist in anticipation.”

One of the techs jumps into action as she looks at them, pressing play on the laptop on the table. 

“This works great.” Felix nods, rolling his shoulders back and wiggling as he seems to settle into the stool. 

“Great so we’re going to start by having you look here.” Lexie motions to an area with her hand, directing his gaze as she comes in from another angle to capture him. “And look at me without just your eyes, not moving your head. Yeah, that’s perfect.”

The flash pops and for a moment, she doesn’t move, just looking at his eyes through the lens. 

“So you’re back in Boston for the first time in a few years?” 

It doesn’t take much to get him talking. Felix talks about the last time he was in the city, what he’s been doing since he arrived yesterday, the coffee place he went this morning, his hotel room, anything, urged on by simple prompts or even just a laugh from Lexie. He’s a yapper, which makes her job easier in a way. As he talks, people ease in, loosing the starstruck breathless nature faster. 

Soon the room is flowing with an easy energy, Felix talking in between shots, makeup artists darting in to powder him down, techs helping Lexie switch out lenses. He’s great at pausing to let her catch the shot without his mouth moving. He tilts his head just so, matching her rhythm, meeting her eyes between frames like it is part of the pose. If he wasn’t an idol, he’d be a great model. 

And then she catches it. The feeling is the familiar one she’s honed through years of doing her job. She got the shot. Immediately she can’t wait to see it on the bigger screen so she circles to the monitor, moving to pull it up, a thrill bursting through her veins as she looks at it blown up. 

“Oh you’re good.” Felix comes up behind her, closer than she expected him to be. He’s got a comfortable way to him, closing into her personal space with his hands in his pockets. She looks over her shoulder at him, his eyes scanning the monitor. 

“Well, you make my job easy.”

Flexi bursts into another genuine smile. “Aw nah,” he deflects. 

“You do. You’ve got a good way of moving with the camera.” Lexie gives him a look, checking her watch quickly. “Let’s do your last outfit change and then we’ll call it a day.”

It takes a couple of minutes for him to change, get hair and make up adjusted and reappear in her space. When he does, he meets her eyes and she’s sure her cheeks are pink. The charm crashes into her. How people don’t fall half in love with people they’re photographing all the time is beyond her. There’s only a few she’s photographed that have her convinced she’s half in love and Felix is one. She wasn’t much of a fan before but she will be now. His energy is infectious. 

“Ready?” 

Felix nods. 

“We’re going to lose the stool for these.” Lexie gestures to a tech to grab the stool so she can photograph him against the backdrop. “Can you fix your cuff? Just be relaxed and cool about it, like you would be adjusting it if we were talking about where to go to dinner tonight.”

“Where should we go to dinner tonight, darling?” He asks, looking down at his cuff and then up at her, casual but so suave. 

Playing into the charm, Lexie asks, “you feel like Mediterranean or something more like a tasting menu? Or are we going more for vibes like a listening bar or skyline views?”

“Ooo let’s do listening bar. That sounds great.”

“That would be Desnuda, then. Latin America and Asian fusion.” Lexie grins at him over the camera. “Which is fantastic because I love their anticucho.”

He beams and Lexie snaps it. She’ll catch that lightning in a bottle that is his smile. Interns are filming behind the scenes video content for social media around the outskirts, trying not to coo and giggle every time he smiles. If this wasn’t her professional job, Lexie is sure she’d be grinning like an idiot and melting into a puddle too. 

“Ah anticucho. Been awhile.” The tone of his voice is incredibly rich.

“It’s not quite like they make it in South America but it is good with yakitori sauce, and their sweet potato puree is divine.”

Felix shifts, moving from pretend fixing his cuff to a casual, hands in the pocket look. “So what time should I pick you up?”

Lexie snaps as he moves, catching his fluid movement. “Oh, I think we’ll be done at the same time. I’ll clean up the studio while you finish the video work.” She steps towards him, reaching to fix his clothing. “Is it okay if I touch you?” She asks quietly before fully making contact. 

Felix watches her with the intensity he’s been giving through the whole shoot. “Please,” he murmurs by way of consent. 

Her pulse quickens. Slinging her camera over her shoulder, Lexie adjusts the fabric to lay flat. She’s not immune to the way he smells, or the way he’s looking at her so carefully. Like maybe if he looks closely enough, he’ll know everything about her. She reaches up and fixes his hair, mostly because she can, and then steps back. “Perfect.”

Stepping back, Lexie lifts the camera again. This time, he steps towards her, eyes locked onto hers through the lens. Lexie steps breathing and takes the shot. 

Her wrist starts to buzz. That’s time. “I have to turn you over to social media.” She says, looking up from her watch. 

Felix looks to the interns that have been filming him. “Right,” he murmurs, then comes to stand by Lexie as she looks at the proofs on monitors. “Do you mind if I give you my number? For, uh… the next shoot.”

“The next shoot?” Lexie asks in surprise. “Do we have something…?”

“No, nothing scheduled. But I like what you’ve done here so we should work together again.”

“Professional reasons.”

“Right,” he smirks, mischief in his eyes. “We can chat about lighting.”

Lexie laughs but hands over her unlocked phone. “Lighting. Sure.”

“How else am I supposed to pick you up for anticucho? Duh.” He smirks and there’s a zing in her chest. 

“Of course we need to talk about lighting for this supposed next but completely unplanned shoot over anticucho.” She grins, finally giving in to his charm now that the shoot is wrapping. “Obviously.”

“Obviously,” Felix repeats with a sneaky grin. He leans in, kissing her on the cheek and pressing her phone into her hand. “Text me,” he whispers before pulling back to say, “so nice to meet you.”

Lexie tilts her head, not quite believing what he said but she nods. “Good to meet you too. Good luck with the rest of your day.” 

He chuckles and nods. “Thanks.”

Felix is lead away by a separate team. Lexie blinks, staring at set as she replays what just happened before looking down at her phone to see a contact with his name and number still on screen. She locks the phone and tucks it into her back pocket. She’ll think more about that later. For now, she has a set to break down. 

Lexie lays in bed, headphones on, skin slightly tacky from the moisturizer she just smeared on. The shoot ended hours ago but she can still feel the electricity of the hour she had with him. Felix is magnetic and the shocks still seem to be running their course. She has been looking at his phone number on and off for nearly an hour. It might be good for her to just sleep and let the Felix effect wear off before she does something stupid. Like text him. She has pulled up and started like six messages at this point. Every time she’s started one, she deletes it and shoves her phone under her pillow, staring at the ceiling until she pulls it out and pulls up Instagram and sees him again and starts a new message. 

“This is dumb.” She murmurs, sliding the phone out from under her pillow again to pull up Instagram again. She flips to her reels and scrolls through a few. A couple travel, some bread making, a cottage core girlie she envies, a BookTok Ball in Scotland, new dungeons and dragons actual play launching, Felix at some Louis Vuitton event. She closes her phone, laying it on her chest. 

She could just say hi. She pulls up his contact again. She’s already added a picture from today, not that she’d ever forget who this number belongs to. She pulls it into WhatsApp again. 

>>> hey, just wanted to say thanks for today. the shots turned out great!

She lets it sit. Rewrites it. Changes it back to her original idea. Just better to say what she means. Simple. Easy. Not too much punctuation. No caps. No caps? That feel unprofessional but lowercase feels less aggressive. She’s not being aggressive. She’s not intimidating to men, just to boys. Her sister’s voice echoes in her head: she’s not too much. “It’s not too much. He gave me his number.” Lexie says out loud as she presses send. The response comes faster than she expects. 

>>> lexie, hiii. i should be thanking you. you made the whole thing feel like hanging out, not work haha

She giggles and turns onto her stomach, staring at the words. That’s a great compliment from a shoot. 

>>> that’s the goal. professional, but chill. get better pictures that way.

Chill, right. Like she’s trying to be right now. Thankfully it’s over text and he can’t see the way she’s blushing from the butterflies in her chest. 

>>>definitely chill.

>>> …also, you never told me what night to make a reservation for.

A double text. Lexie reads it over twice, not believing it’s real. He was serious about going to Desnuda? She’d been playing along with what she thought was a ruse, an easy way to keep him relaxed, playing in a headspace. He’d called her darling. It had been a joke, hadn’t it?

>>>ah, right, for dinner. you offering, or delegating?

His response is so immediate, it’s almost like he was reading her mind and had the text ready to go.

>>>offering. 100%. i’m a man of my word.

>>>when’s your next free day?

Her heart jumps. A date? No way. Must be a work thing. He had mentioned working together again. Keeping her expectations in check is the best way to avoid heartache. 

>>> depends. are we talking work dinner or off-the-record dinner?

>>> off the record. unless you want to bring your camera. looks like a place with a good vibe. 

Lexie giggles, curling up as she rereads the conversation. This cannot be real. Seeing him again will be such a treat. This time she’ll just get to watch him without a lens between them. 

>>>off the record, then. i’m free tomorrow. are you still in town?

>>>yes. 

Lexie slides the phone under her pillow, needing to calm down. As soon as it buzzes again, she whips it out. 

>>>7pm ms. wilder. let me send a car for you.

>>>that would require giving you my address.

>>>exactly.

Lexie smiles to herself, holding her phone against her chest. It feels too good to be true, but she types out her address anyway. It’s just dinner with a colleague technically. That’s how she’ll go into it, off the record. 

>>>see you tomorrow 

>>>can’t wait

She thinks about changing it before she sends it but that’s truly how she feels so Lexie presses send and squeals. Tomorrow can’t come fast enough. 

Not that she had doubted him but as Lexie stood outside waiting for the car with the details he had sent her about ten minutes ago pulled up on her phone, she felt nerves kick in. He wouldn’t go to all this trouble just to fake something. So she waits, patient another minute. People who plan on standing others up don’t send cars. That would be a new level of ghosting. The luxurious black car pulls up a moment later and when she climbs in, the driver asks, “for Felix?” And she nods, trying to ignore the thrill at doing so. 

The car takes off towards Tremont Street. Lexie settles in, tucking her phone under her thigh as she watches the city lights flash. She’s dressed up for dinner, more than she was at the shoot. Pulling out a small compact she bought in Italy, she checks her lipstick for the thousandth time. It’s a good look if they wanted to get a picture together. Not that she should expect that. Tempering her own emotions is what she’s going to need to focus on. This is just two creatives getting together for dinner. 

When she steps out of the car, the city is relatively quiet. A weekday in the fall means all the students are still in their dorms, studying. Fridays and Saturdays the streets are flooded but tonight the sidewalk isn’t crowded with lines of students trying to get into popular nightlife spots. She walks in and heads down the stairs, bathed in red light as she enters the sound level. The bar has people hanging around and Lexie does one scan of the room before she spots him sitting at a table by himself. He’s in a hat with a mask, easy enough for eyes to scan over him but she’s looking for him. There’s something jazzy on the record and she walks over to him, leaning over the chair at his table. “Hi, sorry, is this seat taken?”

Felix looks up, and the second their eyes connect, Lexie loses her breath. Even in this low red light, he’s beautiful. “Lexie, hi.”

That Aussie accent is going to make her smile every time. “Hi Felix.”

“Grab a drink before you sit. It’s on my tab. Whatever you want.” 

She nods, turning back towards the bar. Lexie slides in between a few people, smiling at the bartender and ordering a whiskey sour. She motions to Felix, and the bartender nods without another word. Taking her drink, Lexie heads back to the table and finally sits across from him, crossing her legs. 

“What is your drink of choice?”

She can’t help but smile, trying to hid it by sliding her tongue into the corner of the smile. “Whiskey sour. You?”

“Also whiskey,” he says, eyes crinkling in a smile she can’t see. 

“How are you managing drinking that with your mask?”

Felix meets her eyes as he unhooks the mask from one ear. “Not easily.” 

She laughs lightly, smiling as she finally sees his full face. 

“Hat and mask to help your anonymity?”

Felix sighs with a smile, nodding. “Some places I can go out and it’s not a big deal. America isn’t quite like that.”

“I’m sorry we’re not as respectful as other places.”

He shrugs. “Different celebrity cultures.”

“So what’s it like being such a big deal?”

Flexi sips his drink, being demure as he pauses to think. “They try and prepare us in our trainings but there’s nothing that can prepare someone for the way life goes after debut. It’s just… a constant rollercoaster.”

“The travel must be nice though?”

Felix bobs his head. “Yes and no. I miss my family and comforts. But I like to see so much of the world. Like I get to be here in Boston for three days but really only work for one. That’s nice.”

“Do you have a favorite place?”

“Can I get you two something?” Lexie looks up to the waiter with a blank look, completely forgetting to look at the menu. She’s been too distracted by Felix. 

“Can we have another minute?” She asks with a smile. “So sorry.”

The waiter walks away and she turns to see Felix smiling to himself. 

“What?”

“I just like that you say what you need but in a way that isn’t demanding. I watched you do it on set too.”

Now it’s Lexie’s turn to take a sip and think. “I used to be a really big people pleaser,” she admits. “But it wasn’t really how I wanted to be, so I changed it.”

“Just like that.”

“Well, no. I went to therapy. Had to analyze my behaviors, figure out how to approach situations in a way that was comfortable but set boundaries or gave other people clear direction on what my intentions were.”

Felix nods. “So what are your intentions for dinner?”

Lexie chuckles and looks down at the menu. “Oh maybe a pork belly bao? Or aji de gallina.”

“You said that with an accent.”

Lexie looks up. “I speak Spanish. Lived in South America for a little while.”

“I try to speak Spanish. I’ve got a little bit of vocabulary.”

“I’ve heard you’re quite the polyglot.”

“Mostly just English and Korean.”

“And French?”

He smiles widely. “Some French, yeah.”

“And Japanese?”

He adjusts his hat. “Oh, yeah, some.”

“Mhm. So that’s a polyglot, Felix.”

“Okay, but what about you?” He leans in, propping himself on the table.

“English, Spanish, some Russian but my Russian is very rusty.”

Felix’s eyebrows go up. “Russian? Why?”

“I lived in Ukraine for a little while. I was an English teacher.” 

“That must have been cool.”

“It really was.” Lexie leans forward, matching his posture. “It was my first time being abroad. I was scared. Came from a city that didn’t really use public transit to suddenly being in a place that I had to take a train every day. A language I had studied but wasn’t super great at. I’d never taught English before. And then suddenly I’ve got nine three-year-olds running around making fun of me because they think I can’t understand them and I’m over there going “English only” like they understand me or the concept of rules.” Lexie shakes her head. “We did a lot of dance parties to One Direction to get wiggles out.”

“Oh but not Stray Kids?”

“I don’t even think you had music out at that point.”

He laughs. “Okay, fair enough. So what’s your favorite place you’ve been?”

Lexie leans back, taking a moment to think. “Mm Budapest, Prague, or Kyoto. Oh but I really liked London too. I’m not a big Paris fan.”

Felix holds a hand to his chest. “I’m wounded. How dare you slander Paris.”

“You were just recently there for a fashion week, right?”

He nods, taking another sip of his drink. “Right. It was beautiful.”

“Where are you headed after Boston?”

“Korea. I’ve got some other things coming up that we’re getting ready for. Some pop ups. I’m filming a new show.”

“The fridge show?”

“How do you know?”

It’s Lexie’s turn to shrug. “I did research you before your shoot.”

“Do you always do that?” 

“Sorry to interrupt,” the waiter has appeared again. “Anything to eat?”

“We’ll take an order of the bao buns, an order of the aji de gallina, and the cod miso.” Lexie watches as he orders for them both, impressed he remembered what she had been thinking. He’s so effortlessly charming. 

When the waiter leaves, Felix takes off his hat, running a hand through his hair. The way the light spills across his face is beautiful. She wants to capture it. “I think you need to see what you look like right now?”

Felix’s eyes widen. “Is my hair that bad?”

Lexie shakes her head, pulling out her phone. “Just look at me, or anywhere. But up so I can see your eyes.”

Felix follows her orders easily, like he did in the studio, and strikes a simple pose, breathing softly as he stills. She sets up a portrait and looks at it for a second on her screen before she turns it to him. 

“Look at how beautiful this lighting is on you.”

“You always see people like this? Or just me?” Felix’s voice drops just above a whisper as he takes the phone to look more closely. 

“I see people, but, you’re not just people.” Her eyes move from her phone in his hands to his eyes, finding him looking right back at her. It doesn’t feel like she expressed her sentiments in the right way. 

His gaze lingers a moment, before his eyes crinkle. “Then I’m honored.”

Lexie tries not to full on giggle but something that sounds like a self-deprecating laugh does come out. “You’re just saying that because it’s a good picture.”

“Or because I quite enjoy the person who took it. I’m glad you texted.”

“Me too,” she says quietly, taking her phone back from him. She clears her throat, realizing she’s just looking at him. “So, what’s something comforting that you do when you’re away from home so much?”

“Usually I rely on my bandmates. But when they’re not around, I stay connected to my family as much as possible. And there are weird comforts, like how so many hotels smell the same?”

“Hotels smell the same?” She repeats, making sure she understood him correctly.

“Yeah, like clean laundry,” he laughs like he realizes how funny it sounds. “But thank goodness for video chat.”

“Really though. So when do you fly back?”

“Tomorrow morning.” 

“It’s got to be a long travel day.”

Felix sighs and leans back. “Yeah, it really is. Like fifteen hours in the air.”

“But you’ll be back with your members, which must be a good feeling.”

Felix studies her for a moment, tilting his head. “Yeah, it will be,” he says slowly. 

When their food arrives, they quiet, listening to the record the has been put on. Felix checks in to make sure he food is good and Lexie offers to split half her aji de gallina, which he gladly accepts. She finds being with him easy. A whole, kind person with an extraordinary job. 

When dinner has finished up, Felix snags his drink from the table and sits back, crossing his leg casually. “What’s your next creative project?”

Lexie takes her glass and holds it in her lap, thinking over her schedule. “We have a couple new product lines we’re shooting soon for ad campaigns.”

“Any personal work happening?”

“Personal work doesn’t pay what I need at the moment. Maybe someday.”

“Do you always do people and product?”

“Mostly. I wanted to do fine art or documentary when I was in school but that’s a much harder way to make a living. You need the right connections.”

“But you like what you do?”

“How could I not? I get to meet people like you.”

He smiles bashfully, running a hand through his hair. 

“I should let you get going if you have such a long flight tomorrow. Was there a project you wanted to talk about?” She had assumed there would be some business to the meeting but they hadn’t quite gotten there yet. 

Felix furrows his brow and then shakes his head. “No, not in particular.”

“Oh,”

“You thought I asked you here on business? And showed up dressed like that?”

Lexie looks down at her outfit. “Trying to make a good impression.”

“Ah, you don’t need to worry about that, but I probably should get going. Don’t want to wake up late.” He stands and Lexie follows suite. “Let me get you home.”

He offers his arm and Lexie takes it, walking up the stairs with him. As they near the doors, she stops him. “Hat and mask?”

“Oh,” Felix puts his disguise back on. “Good call.”

They leave the restaurant and there is a car waiting for Felix. He opens the door and Lexie scoots across the back bench of the SVU.

“I could have gone around.” He teases as he climbs in behind her and removes his mask.  

“And walked into traffic? No way.”

As they drive through the city, Lexie points out some of the landmarks in a kind of mini tour. When they pull up to her apartment building, Felix steps out and holds out a hand for her. Lexie politely takes it and carefully steps out, watching her skirt. “Thank you.”

He leans in to kiss her on the cheek. “Let’s be in touch.”

Lexie nods. “Talk to you soon.”

Felix smiles and Lexie heads inside, swiping her card to unlock the front door and then turning to wave at him through the glass. He’s still standing there when the elevator comes. 

Lexie keeps her apartment lighting soft as she undresses, cleans her face, and tidies up the apartment. When she collapses into bed, she pulls up the photo of Felix from dinner. She does some light editing of the exposure, the vibrancy, nothing to him but just changing the light and color to be more of what she remembers. It’s never something she’ll share, just a private moment for her. 

The city outside her window is a wash of gold and shadow. She closes her phone, setting it aside as she sits cross legged on her bed, watching the way the plane lights fly between stars. She’d left a soft smelling candle burning. Her apartment feels like a cozy safe space and so she giggles, pulling her knees to her chest. She had dinner with Felix. Not just a Kpop idol but a genuinely nice guy; it’s been a long time since she’s even had a nice dinner with a man. Her last dinner date was with a man who spoke so quietly she could barely hear him and mostly talked about his mom. He’d then asked her to pay and drive him home. 

She’d never had much luck with dating. The man she thought was her high school sweetheart ended up liking men and the nice guy she spent six months on cheated on her with two different women. It had been years since she’d found a man worth her time, let alone worth giggling over. She tips over on her bed, reveling in the butterflies. One night of being happy about spending time with him is allowed, and tomorrow she’ll wake up and be practical and remember that she’ll probably never see him again. 

Her phone buzzes. Lexie blindly reaches for it, expecting her sister or parents. When she turns the screen towards her, squinting in the bright light, she about drops the phone on her face. The message is from Felix.

>>>Hey, are you awake?

Lexie’s thumbs hover over the keyboard. 

>>>Maybe. Who’s asking?

The response comes quickly, as he seems to be inclined to do.

>>> The guy who can’t stop thinking about a photo he wasn’t supposed to let you take. 

Her heart stops, but she knows she’ll delete it if he asks. 

>>>Want me to get rid of it?

>>>No. I was just thinking that I haven’t looked like that in a long time.

>>>And what would that be?

>>>Peacefully happy. It’s weird. I don’t usually see that version of me.

>>>You perform a lot. And when you’re not, sounds like people aren’t usually taking pictures of you. Probably trying to give you a break. 

There’s a pause that’s long enough that she worries that she’s said the wrong thing. So she sends the edited version of the picture. 

>>> Maybe it needed the right person behind the camera.

Lexie holds the phone to her chest, kicking her feet and squealing. She settles herself with a deep breath and looks at the screen again.

>>>Do you ever get that feeling… like something small happened, but it’s going to matter later?

“What the fuck…” Lexie whispers, pushing her hair back from her face. This can’t be real. 

>>>Yeah, I think I felt that recently.

>>>Good, I was hoping I wasn’t the only one feeling that.

The three bubbles are coming up again before she can think of an appropriate response. 

>>>Maybe next time you can get another one.

>>>Next time?

>>>Definitely next time.

Lexie sets the phone on the charger, her chest fluttering as she rolls over in bed. Next time. He seems to keep talking about seeing her again and she’s not going to complain. If anything, she cannot wait to see him again. 

Chapter Text

It was supposed to just be for work. So when Lexie wakes up to multiple messages from Felix about having to be at the airport early, it feels like a dream. She blurry dismisses her alarm and then sees the multiple WhatsApp notifications. Confused because usually only her aunt texts her on WhatsApp, Lexie opens the app. 

>>>Travel day. 

>>>It’s soooo earlyyyy

>>>Flights before six am should be illegal.

>>>Who wants to got to Korea thes early? Shouldn’t this be an overnight flight? This flight is full!

>>> Why is the lobster place open? Who is eating lobster at five in the morning?

Lexie rolls over and chuckles, smiling at her phone. 

>>> I once watched a man eat twelve wings and a beer at 6:30am. It was wild.

>>>But you’re in Boston. People eat lobster at all hours.

>>>I think legal opens at like 5am.

>>>You’re finally awake! hiiiii hi

>>>I did not eat lobster. Or wings. I got coffee.

>>>Dunkin?

>>>Starbucks like a normal person. Again, I’m such a normal person. 

>>>Right. Right, I forgot. So normal Mr. LV. 

>>>Why does an idol like you have to be at the airport early anyway? No way you just sit in the waiting area like everyone else.

>>>I wasn’t really all the early. They drive me right to the plane and I board last. 

>>>Oh, so princess treatment. Very normal. 

>>>You know everyone else for that flight had to be there at 2am?

>>>heyyyyy

>>>At least you have wifi. 

>>>Have to. I have lyrics to memorize. Back into practice tomorrow. 

>>>Oh, for the new album promotion?

Lexie remembers reading about the new album. They broke a bunch of records with it, even in the US. Most articles online anticipate they’ll announce a tour soon. Maybe she’ll be able to go see them on tour if they come somewhere close to Boston. Probably New York. She wouldn’t mind a weekend in New York for a concert. Take the train down. 

>>>You know so much more than you let on at the shoot.

>>>I wasn’t going to be like “hey I stalked you online nice to meet you”

>>>Weirdly, that wouldn’t have been as out of pocket as it sounds.

>>>Really? Well, I researched you. You’re easy to google. So there.

>>>I’m going to google you.

>>>Go ahead. I know what you’ll find. 

She has to get up for work. So Lexie leaves her phone on the charger and pulls on her watch, swinging her feet over her bed to hit the cool wood floors. She’s always meant to get a carpet here so it wasn’t such a shock in the mornings. Popping on her headphones to help push her short curls back from her face, she starts the Stray Kids playlist. She shuffles to find her slippers, padding from her bedroom to the bathroom for her skincare routine. She’d gone to Japan for a week over the summer and bought herself a whole routine at Cosme. She’d never been much of a skincare girl beforehand but now it was part of her routine since it has proved to even out her skin tone. 

She washes her face, applies her skincare, fans her skin to help it dry down, and then starts her very basic makeup routine. Her watch buzzes but she resists the urge to check it, even though she hopes it’s still Felix and not her family. Felix is much more exciting. 

When her makeup is finished, she spritzes her setting spray and fluffs her hair with volumizing paste. She’ll need a haircut soon. The shape of the curls is starting to go a little too triangle head for her liking. 

>>>You’ve won a bunch of awards. No one told me. 

>>>Did you look up my work before you met with me?

>>Yes, of course I did. But I didn’t think to look at your credentials. 

>>>Impressive Lex

That casual use of the nickname makes her stop. She stares at her phone a long moment. Lex is a perfectly acceptable nickname, just not what she expected from someone who lives in a highly respectful and boundary abiding country. So she’s going to try it back. 

>>You’re pretty impressive too Lix.

Lexie grabs her bag and a protein bar, stuffing it in her camera bag, and heads out the door. Something is wrong, she pauses with her foot still in the door, thinking about what she’s missing. Water bottle. Lexie ducks back inside, grabs her water bottle and heads for the T stop to take the train downtown for work. 

>>>Headed to work. Wishing you a safe and normal flight 🤍 

>>>Work hard. See you soon.

It starts small. Once he lands in Korea, Felix starts to send a picture every morning of the sky wherever he is. Most of the time it’s a patch of sunrise above buildings in Seoul, but one morning it’s the Eiffel Tower. There’s never an explanation, just a picture and one word

>>>Morning

So she starts sending him a picture of her morning: laptop, coffee, the train, messy buns, sunlight coming in her window, the way the trees are starting to change in Boston. One morning she sends the Veggietales song “Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything” which confused him until she explained about going to Boston in the fall, which made him laugh. 

>>>Forecast clear. Over to the weather in Boston. 

The picture he includes is some beautiful skyline. Lexie snaps a picture of her coffee on the desk next to her keys and lens cap.

>>>Boston is expecting rain and high seas. But beautiful water colors of trees. 

>>>Are you okay?

>>>Just busy. I’m okay. 

>>>Where are you?

>>>London. Gong Cha shoot. 

>>>I love London. 

>>>Come see me. 

>>>Can’t. I have new beauty product to shoot this week. 

>>>Soon then 🤍  FaceTime later?

One of them is usually half asleep when they FaceTime. Tonight it’s Felix. She’s finally home from work at about six but that makes it seven am for him. She has him propped up on the counter against her flour jar on video, though most of what she can see is a dark hoodie. He’s not quite totally awake, which happens when they go this. “I picked up some gochujang from H Mart. I heard it’s good to add to vegetable soup. And then I saw this recipe on instagram that was for this dumpling soup. So I got mandu too.”

“One of these days I’m going to eat your cooking.”

“One of these days I’ll cook for you. Do you know how to make mandu?”

“No, brownies I can do.” He turns over so she can actually see his face, softly lit by the late sunrise coming though his window. 

“You’re so soft when you wake up.”

“Only you and Seungmin get to see me like this.”

“Bare faced and sleepy?”

He hums deeply in agreement. The FaceTimes are her favorite. She gets to see him in real time, hear his voice whether it’s groggy and deep or tired and slow after being at the studio all day. “When are you coming to Korea?”

“When are you coming to Boston?”

“I don’t like the thirteen hours of difference. Or the fifteen hour flight.”

“Me neither,” Lexie leans on the counter, looking at him through the screen. She sighs, “hard when your best friend lives half a world away.”

He perks up, actually moving the phone to frame his face. With a raised eyebrow, he repeats her, “best friend?”

She shrugs. “I talk to you more than I talk to anyone else. More constantly at least. And I feel like I tell you anything.”

“Tell me something you haven’t told me before.”

“Uhhh hm. Okay, uhh have I ever told you about the time I was stalked in college?” She asks with a raised brow, feeling like that will get him curious.

“What? No.”

“I like the way you say no. Naur.” She teases, trying out his accent. “But yeah. There was this guy who lived near me and his roommate’s friend was my friend in high school so we met playing games one night. And then he was everywhere.” Lexie pauses, taking a sip of her water and pulling up her hair. “On my bus, outside my classes. My roommate thought it was cute so she’d let him in the apartment and he’d just be there when I got home from work.”

“That must have been scary.” Felix is at full attention now, sitting up and looking at her. “Did he hurt you?”

“No, thankfully. That next semester is when I went to teach English in Ukraine so I left the country. I never saw him again.”

“Fled the country to escape a stalker. Well now I know where to find you if you’re ever in trouble.”

Lexie laughs, backing away from the counter. “Eh, I’m not running away to Ukraine any time soon, though I did love it there.” She feels a little wistful at the memories of sitting on her balcony in Kyiv, sipping her tea. Turning back to finish unloading her H Mart haul, she holds up a Japanese product. “I love these. Had them in Japan last summer. I got a pack every day at seven eleven.”

Felix squints. “Oh, yeah, I’ve had those. But every day Lex?”

“I don’t get to go to Japan like you do.”

“But you get them at H Mart.”

She rolls her eyes at him dramatically. “I didn’t know that when I was visiting. I just enjoyed daily seven eleven visits.”

“Coffee?”

“It was so good. But I mostly went for the matcha.”

“Got it. I know what to bring you when I visit.”

“When are you coming?” She asks, leaning on the counter again and pouting at him. “You’ll probably be here before I’m in Korea.”

“I wouldn’t bank on that.”

“You sound tired already,” she says. “Is everything okay? Do you have a busy day? Or are you just sleepy?”

“You sound like a lullaby,” he murmurs, giving her a little embarrassed smile like maybe he didn’t mean to say it. 

There’s silence for a beat before Lexie laughs, breaking the tension. “Oh, we are not to the point that I’m singing in front of you yet.”

Felix follows her lead, moving away from the comment. “Isn’t that what best friends would do?”

“Get here and we’ll go for a long drive and maybe then you’ll hear me sing.”

“Deal.”

The playlist appears in a message one day, asking her to be a collaborator. Inside are his favorite piano pieces, a few Stray Kids tracks, and — tucked quietly at the end — one soft English indie song she once said she loved.

>>>You made me a playlist?

>>>For concentration.
She plays it every night on the way home.

If she doesn’t hear from Felix by lunch, she’s worried. He’s ingrained in her routine. They text every day — not constantly, just consistently.
Little things.

>>>Got rained on mid-shoot. Camera survived. Makeup didn’t. 

>>>If you don’t hear from me, text Chan. Dance practice might kill me.

>>>They opened a Cava down the street from the studio. There goes my paycheck lol

>>>Happy Chuseok!

>>>The forecast calls for snow. It’s not even Halloween!

He starts checking if she’s eaten, how her workout was, if she’s sleeping. Lexie answers honestly, and sometimes even sends photos of her dinner just to make him smile. He sends his meals too, sweaty selfies, his sky pictures every morning. Once he sends a selfie in the recording booth and Lexie watches the live like seven times listening to any indications of the atmosphere around him. Anything to get more glimpses about his day to day since she can’t be there. 

For having only met him once, she finds herself missing him. So she starts sending voice notes when she thinks of him, little bits of her voice narrating her thoughts or her day. It’s the first time she’s had someone she feels genuinely wants to hear from her that much. 

She is in the studio late, exhausted, cleaning up. So she presses record. “Hi, Sunshine. I’m just cleaning up the studio. Oh shit”- There’s a crash as one of the c-stands is unbalanced, falling over. “Uh, it’s fine. Just a c-stand. I removed the counter weight before the fill. We did some perfumes today. They are beautiful bottles. Do you have a signature scent? I really like London Fog by House of Brandt. I wear that a lot in the fall and winter.” 

It’s late for him when she picks up his Facetime call. He doesn’t usually call without texting her first. 

“Hey,” he whispers. There’s something about the way his eyes are a little red that lets her know immediately that something is wrong. 

“Hey. You okay?”

“Yeah. Just… tired. Everything feels loud lately.”

“Having trouble sleeping?”

“Yeah,” he shuffles in sheets that now she knows are not his own. He’s away from home. 

“Where are you?”

“Japan. Just a short thing. I wish it was you shooting the pictures.”

“I wish it was too.”

“I miss you.”

Her heart thuds. Is this weird? To miss someone like this? To connect over wifi, not in person. “I miss you too.”

“One of these days I’m going to figure out how we can hang out. Because we’re not just colleagues anymore.” His voice drops. “Are we?”

“No, I think we’re friends now.”

“Good. I like that.”

“Felix, what’s going on?”

“It’s just loud. It’s a lot.”

“Are you homesick?” 

He rubs his eyes. “I miss my parents. I feel like I spend a lot of my time missing people.”

Lexie’s heart falls. Poor boy. He’s being so vulnerable. “Want me to talk you to sleep?”

Felix sniffles. “Please.”

She talks about nothing — about weather, coffee, film cameras — until his breathing slows, his stress fades from around his eyes, and he starts to breath steady and soft through her phone speaker. She watches him sleep for a minute before hanging up.

>>>Okay so important question.
>>>If you could only eat one breakfast food forever, what’s the pick?

>>>This is clearly a trick question.
>>>But fine: eggs benedict. You can make them so many ways. Rashers benny. 

>>>Bold. Alright

>>>You sound like you’ve given this speech before.

>>>I’ve lost friendships over this debate 😂

>>>Do you ever get nervous on stage?

>>>Every time.

>>>But it’s good nervous.

>>>Like your stomach knows something big’s about to happen.

>>>That’s a nice way to think about it.

>>>What about you? Nervous before a shoot?

>>>Only when I care about the outcome.

>>>So… always?

>>>Touché.

>>>Rehearsal ended late. My feet hate me.

>>>Feet are important. You should keep them happy.

>>>I tried. They rejected diplomacy.

>>>Then it’s war.

>>>I’m losing. Send morale support.

>>>You got this

>>>How do you stay grounded?

>>>Like, with everything — performing, interviews, all of it.

>>>My family.

>>>And baking.

>>>Baking?

>>>When I mix ingredients it feels like control.

>>>Even if everything else is chaos.

>>>That makes sense.I think I take pictures for the same reason.

>>>You bake with light.

>>>That’s a poetic way to say “you overexpose half your shots.”

>>>😂 ignore me

>>> Morning check ☀️

>>> Caffeine consumed yet?

>>>Not yet. You?

>>>Too much. And it’s late. 

>>>Might start vibrating.

>>>Send proof.

Lexie laughs at the messy haired selfie he sends. 

>>>You look like a cryptid.

>>>Rare photo of the elusive Coffee Goblin.

>>>You know Stays would die to see Coffee Goblin. Double dog dare you.

>>>Ughhhh no. 

She gets a notification he’s posted a story ten minutes later. 

>>>I owe you a treat. 

And she sends him $10. 

>>>Since I’m not there.

“Hello, this is Alexandra Wilder.” Lexie answers her professional line one late afternoon. She’s well caffeinated, went for a walk in the Common during lunch, and is now sitting at her desk going through the new shot list she received. Good mood. She’s got Felix’s check in for the day. 

A bright, professional voice replies, “Hi, Ms. Wilder! I’m calling from JYP Creative. We’re preparing a new visual campaign and documentary project for Stray Kids’ upcoming promotion. Your name came highly recommended by the Seoul team.”

Lexie pulls out her other earbud so nothing can distract her, shocked. “I’m sorry?”

“Ideally, we would love for you to come to Korea for six to eight weeks. You’d be embedded with the group during album preparation — behind-the-scenes coverage, interviews, creative photography. The goal is something intimate, authentic.”

Lexie puts her palm on the desk, steadying herself, pulse racing. This can’t be real. “You… want me to come to Korea?”

“That’s right.”

“When would you need me?” Documentary work. Her favorite. 

“Two weeks.”

Lexie breathes out, looking over her cubicle walls at the projects board she’s committed to already. “Can I get back to you? I need to see if I can move some things around. What’s the best number?”

Lexie writes down the number in her planner, drawing a box around it and labeling the box so she doesn’t forget.

“Can you send over the contract so I can take a look at it?”

“Of course. Is this the best email for you?”

Lexie confirms her email, hanging up on the woman. She stares at the polaroids of her nieces pinned to her cubicle wall, shaking her head, then pulls up her global clock. It’s so early in Korea. She shouldn’t call when it’s eight am. He’s not been sleeping well anyway.

>>>Text me when you’re up.

>>>Are you okay?

>>>I need to talk to you, not text you.

The call comes through and Lexie stands, pushing into a small room in the office. Felix pops up, already styled and ready for the day. He looks to be in a car. “Hey, Starling,” his smile is tired. “You look—wait, you’re grinning. What happened? You had me all worried.”

Lexie’s fingers are on her lips, unable to believe the words she’s going to say. She takes a deep breath. “So… I just got a call.”

His brow furrows, ready for anything. “Good call or bad call?”

“From JYP, Lix.”

Felix blinks, tilting his head. “…what?”

“They want me to come to Seoul. For the next Stray Kids promotion. Eight to ten weeks. Behind the scenes, photos, the whole thing, documentary style.”

For a moment, he just stares at her  across the digital distance and then, slowly, the smile spreads across his face, bright and unstoppable. “You’re serious?”

“Yeah, I can’t believe it.”

“You’re coming, right?”

Lexie sighs, running a hand through her hair. “Well, they want me in two weeks. And I’m booked.”

“Lex,”

She smiles at him, biting her lip. “I’m going to see what I can move around so I can make it work. Twelve weeks is a long time to clear my schedule.”

“You’re coming.”

“Yeah, Lixie, I’m going to come.”

That smile he had splits into a wide grin. “Amazing.”

Chapter Text

Lexie hadn’t meant to smile through the whole flight, but she couldn’t help it. She’s read through the contract like ten times by now, replayed the process. The band specifically requested your style. She hadn’t asked how they knew her. She hadn’t needed to. They’d had a follow up call, she’d sent her documentary portfolio which felt so old now when she looked at it, reviewed the contract, moved her schedule around and now here she was. 

Documentary Photographer: Stray Kids Album Concept Project. She scrolls through the brief again, the packet with her apartment, her schedule, her life for the next two months or so. After confirming everything, Lexie had started into Korean lessons. It’s so different from Spanish or Russian, the two languages besides her native English that she knows. An entirely new alphabet, but after some study, she found that Korean makes a lot of sense. Using it in day to day interactions was going to be something else though. 

The objective they’ve set for her is to capture an authentic, behind-the-scenes visual narrative documenting Stray Kids’ creative process and promotional preparation for their upcoming album. The focus is to highlight connection, creativity, and contrast — the human energy that fuels performance, balanced with the quiet moments of reflection and growth that happen offstage. Utilizing her distinct visual tone — emotional realism, intimate framing, and warmth through light and texture — is central to this campaign. The intention is to produce imagery that feels lived-in and honest rather than posed or stylized, aligning with the group’s evolving message of authenticity and resilience. She has briefs on studio rehearsal candids, quiet late-night shots, interpersonal details through behind the scenes portraits, environment studies, and group dynamics all while creating a portfolio of concept integration. It’s a large task but she feels ready to take it on. She’s an observer in this role, not a director. 

It means she’ll be spending a lot of time with the idols. Her position includes full access to rehearsal spaces, recording studios, and select on-location shoots, and limited access during live broadcast recordings. Everything is under an NDA. This album hasn’t even been announced yet, but she’ll have hands in creating the whole thing. 

By the time the plane lands in Seoul, Lexie hasn’t slept a wink.

She’s never been to South Korea so there’s the usual rush of landing somewhere new. Following the lines, she makes her way through immigration, reporting that she’s coming for work in her very broken, but practiced Korean. They take the documents she was sent and wave her through. She wanders out into the greater area of the airport to look for her luggage. Normally, she’s a carry-on only packer but eight weeks in the fall and early winter requires more than a carry on. Not to mention she needs room to shop. 

There’s a man with a paper that has her name on it. She waves to him to identify herself. As she nears, she greets him and bows, trying to follow the culture guide they sent her so she doesn’t appear disrespectful. He reaches for her bag and wheels it out into the Seoul night.  It’s chilly, as she expected based on reports, so Lexie pulls her coat from where it is draped through the arm loop on her backpack and shimmies into it without much grace. 

The door is opened for her and Lexie slides in, relieved to be out of the airport and on her way. The exhaustion is starting to hit her now that she’s made it. The clock in the car reads almost ten am. Luckily she’s not expected in the office until tomorrow. It won’t be helpful if she sleeps so her plan is to get into the apartment, find lunch, and map her walk to work so she has less chance of getting lost and more chance of being early tomorrow. 

What she really wants is to call Felix. 

Except he’s at work. Where she’ll be tomorrow. Lexie leans her head on the window, looking up and out as they get into the city. It’s all foreign, all new, and she’s so excited. Her phone buzzes in her hand. 

>>>There are rumors that a certain photographer just landed.

>>>Welcome Lex. See you tomorrow.

She smiles to herself and settles in, not quite ready to say anything back to him yet. It’s not an urgent message but the idea that he’s listening for hints of her makes her smile. Maybe he missed her just as much as she missed him. She keeps the hope tucked away in a corner of her heart, private and guarded. She’s only seen him in physical person on two occasions. Seeing him again could be different. But from all the conversations and texts and voice notes, she doesn’t think so; she’s actually pretty sure she’s going to get to hang out with her best friend for eight weeks. 

The apartment is cute, and bigger than she expected. One room is furnished as a bedroom, the other is made into an office, though from her understanding, she’ll be in the office every day. There’s a long counter with an induction stovetop and barstools. She drops her backpack and camera bag on the couch, tempted to rest but if she sits, she’ll likely doze and that’s dangerous right now. So instead, she opens her suitcase and begins unpacking, looking specifically for her shower stuff so she can freshen up. 

She fills the dresser, hangs up her nicer things, starts to put products in the cabinet above the toilet in the bathroom. She wants to make a trip to Olive Young soon. She didn’t pack all her full size things, just enough to get her through a few days, particularly on hair product. She has no idea what kinds of curly product will be available in Korea. Once she finds all her needed things, Lexie hops into the shower. Figuring out how to work showers thankfully is not a public experience or she’d be embarrassed every time. It never seems intuitive.

Flopping on the bed after the shower, Lexie pulls out her phone. It’s been two hours since Felix texted. That feels long enough to have kept him waiting. 

>>>I have landed. I have showered. I need to go to work to figure out my path so I don’t get lost and then find food. 

>>> If you’re going towards the office, meet me at Lamb Nikuya.  

>>>Shouldn’t we wait to “meet” until tomorrow?

>>>I saw the memo. People know we know each other. 

>>>They know you were hired because of your work for that shoot. 

>>>Okay. Then I’ll meet you at Lamb Nikuya. Says it’ll take me 40 minutes.

>>>See you in about an hour then! 

Figuring out public transit and how to get to work is important. First things first, she needs to find a convenience store so she can get a t-money card and fill it up. The map is telling her she’s a couple minute walk from a 7-11 so Lexie stuffs her swollen feet into some comfy shoes, packs her little side bag, and heads out. 

Getting a card isn’t hard. They seemed very familiar with helping out foreigners. She gets down into the metro and takes a deep breath. She’s navigated public transit all over the world, she can handle this. Thankfully there are English names of the stations so she’s not trying to sound out the very minimal alphabet she knows. Lexie gets into a car headed towards the office, hopefully, and counts each stop, comparing it with her map. Her heart is pounding and she knows she’ll be fine, she knows she’ll get where she needs to go. She’s gotten lost before in a foreign country and figured it out. If all else fails, she can have Felix come find her. When her stop comes up, Lexie exits and steps to the side, double checking the map again to see which exit she needs. Navigating up the stairs, she is back in the cool breeze of fall in Seoul, looking at the tall buildings surrounding her. This area must be magnificently lit up at night. Turn Right at GS25. Lexie scans the streets and follows the signs. Walk straight until a mobile shop. Spotted. She turns left and follows until the JYP building comes into view. Work, sorted. Now to find Felix and food.

It’s only a couple minutes before she’s walking into Lamb Nikuya. Felix is already there in his hat, mask on, petting a very cute dog as he talks to the owners. When she walks in, he looks up and though she can’t see the smile, she can tell he’s beaming under the mask. He says something in Korean to the owner so Lexie slows her approach. 

“You made it!”

“I did! Managed the metro and everything.”

“Welcome to Seoul!” He guides her to a table towards the back. 

“Okay so what do we have?”

“The lamb is what we come for.” Felix calls over the waiter and orders with his kind smile. She recognizes the word for thank you. He turns back to her. “How are you? How are you finding Seoul?” Now having been in the city, Seoul is loud in a way that felt alive — not the honking and sirens of Boston, but a constant rhythm of voices, laughter, and the hum of Hangul neon signs turned on in broad daylight.“I’m exhausted, and I really like it here already. Can you help me find an Olive Young soon?”

“I’ll help you find anything you need.”

“Thanks for helping me get food.”

“You didn’t think I’d let you survive your first night here on convenience store kimbap, did you?”

She tries not to smile, and fails instantly. “I was considering it, yeah.”

He groans dramatically. “Absolutely not. You needed real food after a flight like that.”

It’s endearing. They food arrives and Lexie realizes just how hungry she is, growing impatient as she watches Felix handle the grill like a pro — flipping pieces of marinated lamb, brushing them with a little sauce, laying out sides like an arrangement. 

She picks up the piece of lamb with her chopsticks, blowing on it before tasting it and nearly groans. “Oh my god.”

“Told you,” he says, smug but soft. “Good?”

Lexie nods, still chewing. “That’s not good. That’s dangerous. I might move here just for this.”

Felix laughs, the sound warm and boyish. “Perfect. Then I’ll have an excuse to keep taking you out.”

“Now, don’t make promises you can’t keep.”

Felix chuckles. “I don’t intend to. Let me make it for you the way you’re supposed to eat it.” He hands her another bite, wrapped in lettuce with sauce on top and she happily pops it in her mouth. 

Between bites, he teaches her how to mix the dipping sauces properly, teases her for forgetting the lettuce wrap order, and makes her try makgeolli, which she decides tastes like sparkling bread dough and can’t manage to say properly no matter how many times Felix tries to help. By the time they are done, the grill is cooling, and she is full and drowsy, the jet lag finally settling in hard. She perfectly content, curled up in her chair.

 “You okay?” Felix asks, watching her. It was as easy as she hoped, the two of them being together physically after so much time on the phone. He’s the same person. 

She nods, smiling. “Better than okay. I think I like it here.”

He tilts his head, a small smile playing at his lips. “Yeah?”

“Yeah. And you make it feel… less intimidating.”

For a moment, he just looks at her. Then, softly: “That’s all I wanted. I still kind of can’t believe you’re really here, even though I’m seeing you with my own eyes.”

“It is kind of wild that we’ll be working together again.”

He nods, looking at her with those big boba eyes and freckles and her heart leaps. “We should get you home before you crash here at the table.”

“I’m fine,” She mutters, yawning. “I need to stay up so I can work tomorrow.”

“I don’t think you’re going to make it. Maybe a nap and then dinner and then you can crash for good.”

“I need to figure out dinner.”

“I’ll send you something.”

“No, Felix. I need to figure it out.”

“Just for tonight. I’ll take you grocery shopping after work tomorrow.”

Lexie sighs. “Okay, fine.”

“Give me your address.” 

She smirks at him and holds out her hand for his phone. “I’ll update my profile.”

He hands it over. “Don’t be naughty.”

“I’m never naughty.” She counters, finding her contact and adding in her address. Then she pulls the phone back and snaps a selfie, going to add it as her profile picture until she sees one clearly from one of their video calls. “You took a screenshot?”

Felix shrugs. “I needed a profile picture of you.”

Lexie rolls her eyes. “Alright, fine. Well now you have a new picture of me.”

“Perfect.” He grins at her. “I have to go back to work before people start to wonder where I am. Are you okay to get home?”

“Yes, dad.” 

Felix pays for the meal and walks her out. “I’ll see you tomorrow?” Lexie holds out her arm for a side hug but Felix wraps her up in a full one. Her whole body relaxes into him. “I get to do this now,” he whispers, patting her back and giving her a squeeze. 

“Kinda weird to be in person and be able to touch you.” Lexie agrees.

“Well, once we’re in that building we can’t but here…”

“I mean, probably shouldn’t be seen too much in public either. What will all the Stays say?”

Felix sighs and lets her go. “Yeah, probably true.”

“I’m not going to wreck your image, even if we’re excited to see each other. So we’ll hang at my house or whatever.”

“Yeah, that sounds like a good plan.”

“Okay, go work hard. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He nods and she turns to go the direction she came, headed to go crash for a few hours.

“Alexandra,” she’s met with a bow after being led up to the offices. She is in a conference room with a long table, all eyes on her. Usually she is the eyes on others and this is suddenly uncomfortable. She sticks out here. “We’re pleased to have you.”

Lexie bows back. “Please, call me Lexie. Only my grandma calls me Alexandra.”

She’s gestured to a seat. “Lexie,” her attention turns towards the new person who has addressed her. “Since hiring you on, we’ve had a bit of a change in creative direction.”

“Oh?”

Another voice. “We hired a new creative director for the upcoming project. Instead of doing documentary style, we’ve got a concept for the new album launch.”

Lexie’s heart drops. If they’re changing the direction, this would change her contract potentially. “Good thing I haven’t unpacked yet, hm?” She tries to joke with an easy smile. 

“Oh, no, please unpack.” The team looks between each other, one saying something low in Korean. “We just want to know if you’re amenable to changes in the creative brief. We’d like to keep you as lead photographer.”

Lexie looks between the faces and nods. “Yes, I’m willing to stay on for our original contract with a different creative brief.”

Another person enters the room and Lexie turns to see a woman walk into the meeting. Min Seo-jun. Lexie’s studied her projects for years. She’s one of the leading creative directors at the moment. Lexie inclines her head when they meet eyes. Working under her will be a great honor. 

“You must be Lexie.”

“Yes ma’am.”

Min Seo-jun nods. “You’re the one who did the Minhwa shoot of Yongbok?”

“Yes,” Lexie confirms. 

“Good, you’re exactly who I want. You did such a good job capturing the art history in complimentary style to him which is what we’re going to need with this new project.” Her deck appears on the screen behind her. Someone is paying attention. “Excellent. Alright, so I’ve been in conversation with Chris and the production team. Originally, we wanted to do the documentary, really dig into the lives of idols, because they expressed to the last director just how personal the project is. While the project is personal, it’s beautifully artistic. It’s mature. It’s powerful. And as I was listening, I kept thinking of geomatic sunbursts. Rich materials: chrome, glass.” The deck changes slides. “So what I’m envisioning is an Art Deco renaissance. We take the architectural style and translate it into packaging, photo work, SKZoo outfits. Futurist, Seoul-meets-Gatsby. Fusing 1930s luxury with 21st-century rebellion”

“If I may add Director Min, it’s like romanticizing of the kpop machine.”

“Exactly. It was a celebration of the machine age with clean lines, symmetry, and an admiration for machine-made objects. We are going to admire the machine-made band.”

It sits wrong with Lexie. What she knows of Stray Kids is that they work hard for themselves. The members have their hands in every part of the process. They’re part of the machine, like any Kpop band, but they are not a machine made brand. “What are you imagining the photography work looks like?”

“I still want you to have the access you had before. Specifically, I want you in the studio listening to the new stuff come to life so you can hear why I chose Art Deco. It’s an era with a wide range of influence and I think the album is the same. I can hear what they’re processing and how it is going through the system of brains and coming out the other side as a brilliant work.”

Lexie has a lot of research to do. She remembers something about a surge in metalwork during the Silla period that she could potentially start tying into the new project. “I am no longer to document them?”

“No, I think we want to be more artistic than the truth. They’re ready for a new era and they deserve that.”

Lexie nods. That she agrees with, though not doing documentary work will limit her time with them to more formal shoots. But this project sounds fascinating. Merging all the dichotomies of the band: elegance and chaos, symmetry and distortion, gold and neon. The whole concept is fascinating to her. The Art Deco movement celebrated structure, power, and modernism. It was an age of ambition captured in glass and brass. This campaign revives that visual language in a world ruled by noise and color. “I will send over the deck and new brief later today. Please go get set up at your desk and I’ll meet with you tomorrow to go over the timeline.”

Lexie stands, giving a bow, and dismisses herself to find her desk. 

When the brief comes in, Lexie is working her way through possibly the best matcha latte she’s ever had. She flips to the visual notes, which is what she’s most curious about. 

1. Symmetry & Composition:

Architectural framing, vertical balance, and layered lighting inspired by the Chrysler Building and Bauhaus geometry.

Use of shadows, reflections, and glass to echo duality (idol vs. individual).

2. Color Palette:

Metallic golds, emerald green, obsidian black, and deep crimson.

Neon accents in turquoise and violet for modernity.

Textural contrast: silk and chrome, smoke and light.

3. Typography & Branding:

Sleek sans-serifs and stylized geometric lettering reminiscent of vintage signage.

Repeating linear motifs and angular borders for album packaging and digital overlays.

4. Lighting:

Split-light portraits to convey internal duality.

Neon edge lighting for performance stills.

Use of film grain and lens flare for cinematic nostalgia.

Lexie flips to the next page. Something got lost in translation maybe because the notes are there for her now. 

Photographic Style (Lexie Wilder):

• Observational realism blended with cinematic intimacy.
• Documentary approach to rehearsals and quiet moments.
• Candid focus on reflection, emotion, and imperfection.
• BTS series titled “In the Quiet Light” — Lexie’s recurring photo feature.

Deliverables:

• Concept Poster Series (8 member portraits + 1 group composition)
• Behind-the-Scenes Documentary Photography Book (40–60 select stills)
• Digital Gallery “The Neon Empire Files” for JYP Official Website
• Limited-edition Photo Book: “Empire in Motion”
• Series of Photo Cards x 2
• Accordion album covers x 8

Instead of a movie, they’re doing a documentary book. A “making of” series, using the construction and building themes. Empire in Motion. That will need to be her driving line through this project. Two sets of photocards means probably six shoots are minimum, but potentially up to ten. She sighs, nearly rubbing her eyes before she remembers that working here means wearing makeup. Tomorrow they’ll do more talking. For now, she’s officially logged in, updated, and jet lagged. She’s not sure what else she’s supposed to do today so she decides to read through the rest of the brief. 

This project isn’t about idols being untouchable — it’s about them being monumental and mortal. Even under gold light, people breathe. Let’s make this empire glow — and crack.

They’re sticking with the idea of showing the idols through their process documentary style, but they’re showing them in the ways they have becomes monumental, more than mortal.

Lexie knew the building was big having seen it from the outside but inside feels a bit like a maze. She needs to find the dance practice rooms so she can be introduced to the band officially and start getting a feel for what equipment she would need to properly shoot in these rooms. She has a small map drawn by her desk mate, Park Ji-hoon, a junior retoucher. He seems soft spoken and she’s sure they’ll get along fine, but this map he’s made of her of the floor she’s supposedly on is not all that helpful. She huffs, looking at the intersection she’s standing in to see if there is any signage she can translate. None. So she listens. 

A clap. Lexie turns to the right. One unified stomp. This has to be the right way. Then she starts to hear the music. The first room isn’t them but the second one she sees Felix through the glass. For a moment, Lexie just watches them move. It’s mind-blowing the control they have, the way they are so in sync. When they seem to break, she knocks, unsure of the etiquette, before entering. The members are all there, lined up with choreographers hanging in the wings. Felix’s eyes find her first, fighting a smile as their eyes meet. She lifts her fingers in the smallest wave, trying to be unobtrusive as one of the moves is being corrected. 

“Annyeonghaseyo.”

Then there are more eyes on her. “You must be our new photographer.” Lexie turns to meet Bang Chan’s eyes, smiling at his easy confidence as he comes towards her.  

Lexie nods, blinking once to remember how to speak. “Yes — Lexie Wilder. It’s nice to meet you.” She greets him with a small bow as she’s getting accustomed to doing instead of shaking hands. 

Chan extends his hand anyway with a grin that would melt anyone. “Bang Chan. Thanks for working with us. We’re excited to have you on board and get to know you. ” His handshake is firm, his tone kind, but it’s the eye contact that gets her. Grounded. Present. Effortlessly magnetic. Felix had mentioned Chan is charismatic, but he’d undersold it. 

For a second, Lexie can’t process English or Korean. “Of course,” she says quickly, then winces inwardly. “I mean — you’re welcome. I’m glad to be here.”

He chuckles softly, tilting his head. “Sure about that?”

Lexie blushes, cheeks and neck immediately hot. She nods. “Yes, absolutely.”

He nods in return and then sweeps an arm out towards the group. “Sounds like its time for introductions, hm?” He claps once, all eyes turning towards him. “Stray Kids, this is Lexie. She’s the lead photographer for our next project. All the way from Boston. She’ll be with us a lot for the next three months.”

Lexie lifts a hand and waves, smiling at the group. Right now they seem like normal, sweaty guys. She knows that will change the more time she spends with him. 

“Lexie, we have Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Felix, Han, Seungmin and I.N.” Each waves in turn as their names are called, most smiling at her kindly. 

Lexie bows towards the group. “It’s so good to meet you all and work on this project with you.”

Chan turns towards her, eyebrows up. “What do you need from us today?”

“I’m just checking lighting today.” Lexie explains. “Observing so I know how to do my job.”

“Then weeee,” he looks at the group, drawing out the word, “are going to continue our practice. Let me know if you have questions.” He says to Lexie with a grin, pointing at her teasingly as he walks backwards towards the line. 

Lexie smiles, unable to help herself. “Thank you.”

He turns back to the group and continues instruction in Korean. Curious eyes linger on her as they get back into formation. Lexie is given a stool by one of the choreographers and urged to sit against the wall so she can watch. 

She spends a few hours watching their dance practice, taking notes about the lighting, about the movements, and drawing diagrams of the space as she watches them move through it so she can have some idea about what space she can use and how much they need. It feels weird to not have her camera with her, her safety net to fiddle with when she’s not sure what to do with her hands. Instead, she spins the ring on her finger, this feeling is exactly why she bought one that she can fidget with. Her eyes keep drifting to Felix. There’s something that still doesn’t feel real about seeing him in person. As much as possible, she focuses on the group movements as a whole, but there are som that draw her eyes. Bang Chan’s energy doesn’t stop being infectious, Hyunjin is such control over his body that she sits in awe. 

When practice is over, Lexie slides from the stool and dismisses herself, waving goodbye. “Gamsahamnida!” 

She’s met with a chorus of words she doesn’t understand before she walks out of the studio, ready to find her way back to her desk so she can look at what else is on her schedule. 

“Didn’t know you were into charisma.” Lexie looks up from where she’s packing her backpack, getting ready to leave now that Director Min left for the day. She finishes putting her laptop in the sleeve and looks up, even though she knows the voice. Felix stands in the doorway, hair still damp from a recent shower. He looks so soft in his sweatshirt. 

“What?”

“With Bang Chan today. You sure seemed flustered. Did that charm get you?” He detaches himself from the doorframe with a suave, teasing smile. 

“I was not flustered. And I’m not into charm. I was just nervous.”

“Because he’s charming,” Felix clarifies with a raised brow and a smiles that pulls up at the edge, like he’s trying not to show just how cocky he’s feeling. “I warned you.”

“Not well enough,” Lexie shoots back, shouldering her bag. “You can’t tell me you’re immune to his charms.”

“I’ve grown up with him. Doesn’t affect me anymore.” Felix shrugs. 

Lexie rolls her eyes. “Oh okay.”

Felix chuckles. “C’mon. Let me walk you out before Chan gets another chance to make you forget English.”

“You’re not going to let that go, are you?”

“Never.” They spill into the hallway, Lexie’s cheeks a little pink, smiling to herself, and Felix looking at her, shoving his hands into his pockets. 

“I think meeting all these new people is just a lot. I’m introverted, you know. So it’s… a lot to be around so many people where I don’t speak the language.”

Felix’s brows come together. “Are you overwhelmed?”

“A little bit, which could look the same as starstruck.” She pauses pushing the elevator button. “But I probably was also a little startstruck. Was it embarrassing?”

Felix touches her arm in reassurance. “He’s so used to it. I’m sure he didn’t think about it again.”

Lexie nods, breathing out. “Okay. That’s good. I don’t want to be silly. I’m sure it’ll be better as we get to know each other.”

“Yeah, you don’t get starstruck with me.”

They step in together. “You’re different.”

“Oh, yeah?”

“Yeah,” She glances over at him, trying to hold a smile back. “Yeah, Felix, you’re different.”

He looks over at her, eyebrow up. “You going to elaborate?”

Lexie shakes her head. “No.”

“Fine then.” The elevator doors open and they step out. “Can you get yourself home?”

“I think so. I’ve got the Naver app. I’ll be fine.” 

Felix walks her to the front door, which slides open to a blast of cool autumn air. “Okay, call me if you have issues.”

“And how would you find me.”

“Share your location with me. For safety. Since I’m your best friend and the only person you know in Korea.”

Lexie pulls out her phone and adds Felix to her safety features. 

“Okay. Text me when you get home.”

“Yessir.” She reaches an arm out and gives him a side hug. “You be safe too. Fan girls lurk everywhere.”

Felix laughs, shaking his head and pulling a hat out of his bag. “You clearly haven’t seen the Clark Kent effect.” He pulls a mask over his face. “Now no one knows who I am.”

“You looked like that in Desnuda and I still clocked you.”

His eyes crinkle. “Be safe. See you tomorrow.”

“Goodnight Felix,” Lexie says as she takes a few steps backwards, waving to him as they separate.

Her first shoot is with the entire band: eight people, eight different kinds of chaos. It feels like a right of passage. 

“Okay, guys,” she calls, voice steady but warm. “We’ll start with group shots first, then move into solos. Just have fun with it, yeah?” Music is pumped into the room, causing some of them to dance and wiggle around. This is going to be like corralling toddlers. 

A chorus of of unintelligible affirmations follows.

Lexie is nervous. She’s met them but she doesn’t really know her crew yet and isn’t sure how well her instruction will be followed. It’s going to take some time to get the training wheels off in this new space. She lines the boys up, instructs on mood and facial expression. They do fine until someone giggles and then they all have to take a moment to recompose themselves. 

Thankfully, it’s smooth. The boys can follow her direction and the assistants on the shoot all seem to be able to follow her as well. Lighting gets moved, bounce and fill cards and lined up where she needs them, and overall, she settles into her familiar rhythm for a shoot. Her nerves have led to this moment and it’s not as bad as she thought. 

From the outside, no one would’ve noticed anything, but to Lexie, every small slip from Felix was impossible to miss. He lingers closer towards her, his gaze goes to her eyes when she gives direction to the camera, his expression softens just slightly whenever she speaks. At first she thought she was imagining it, but then it was undeniable. He was watching her carefully, like he still didn’t quite believe she was here. 

And every time she caught him looking, he’d flash that bright, practiced idol smile.

Felix’s turn for solo shots comes and Lexie moves into the space, adjusting the lighting herself instead of asking an assistant to do it. 

“Hold still,” she says, eyes flicking up to meet his.

Felix freezes. 

“You okay?” she asks quietly, giving him a small smile.

He blinks, forcing a chuckle. “Yeah. Just trying to look cool.”

She shakes her head. “Relax.”

“Relax?”

“Yeah,” she murmurs softly, lifting the camera. “You can ease into this. This is about cinematic intimacy. Try to give me that. Not cool.”

The easy look that followed wasn’t as forced. He eased into that domineering look she had seen from past shoots, looking right at her in that piercing way he was able to do. Ridiculously cool and powerful.

Click. Lexie lowers the camera, her heart doing something inconvenient in her chest. “Got it.”

Chapter Text

It’s supposed to be simple. 

Lexie has the route planned out. She needs some additional linens, some towels and a comforter as it gets colder. So she looked up Muji and has looked the path over a couple times. She’s starting to feel more comfortable using the public transit so it shouldn’t be too hard. It’s been a week and so far she’s figured out the grocery store. So she boards the train midmorning on a Saturday with her tote bag, headed for Muji. 

Lexie sits on the train, zoned out for awhile as she listens to her Korean learning podcast, silently mouthing the words along with the practice track. The podcast ends and as she pulls out her phone to pull up the next episode, Lexie looks up at the view. The scenery outside has changed. Lexie is looking at unfamiliar stations flashing by in rapid Hangul she can’t read fast enough. Her stomach sinks.

“Oh, no. Oh, no.”

The announcement comes over the intercom in Korean, cheerful and incomprehensible. Panic blooms sharp in her chest. She has no idea where she is. At the next station, Lexie gets off, heart racing, the platform half-deserted. She knows she’s not thinking clearly, but it’s not the first time she’s been lost in a foreign country. There was that time in Budapest. She survived. She takes a deep breath and turns to her map, trying to figure out where she is, but the map won’t load. Her heart is racing. Panic doesn’t make anything better so she sits on a bench and closes her eyes, focusing on her breathing for a moment. She can’t be too far outside of Seoul; she wasn’t on the train for more than an hour. 

There isn’t anyone to ask on the platform, not that her Korean is good enough to ask for or understand directions yet. She tries her phone again, the map still hasn’t loaded. She pulls up the translator, trying to take a picture to translate the Hangul. The app stalls, giving her the circle of death. There is a beautiful lake she can see from where she’s sitting. She looks back up at the hangul, trying to sound it out. Ilsan? She snaps a picture and sends it to Felix.

>>>Do you know where this is?

>>>Ilsan? Yeah. Why?

>>>I’m lost.

It’s a minute before he responds. 

>>>Wait, you’re in Ilsan? How did you manage that?

Her phone buzzes a moment later. “Hey Felix.”

“Are you okay?

Lexis chuckles, “yeah, I’m fine. I don’t know where I am but I’m fine.” She shivers as a cold wind blows through the platform. 

“Well, just stay there. I’ll come get you. Ilsan is like a whole different town, Lex.”

“Shit,” She sighs, dropping her head to her hand. “You don’t have to do that, Lix. Just tell me how to get back? My phone isn’t loading anything for some reason. I was just trying to get to Muji. I need a towel.”

“I’ll be there soon. And then I’ll make sure you get to Muji safely. Don’t move.”

Her chest warms as his insistence. “Okay.”

“Okay, I’m coming. Stay put.”

“I’ll be here.”

When he steps off the train and spots her, his laugh carries across the platform.“Of course you’d get lost and still look like you’re on the cover of a travel magazine.” He takes off his mask when he sees only her on the platform. 

Lexie’s head snaps up, finding him across the way. “Shut up,” she teases through a smile, her cheeks heating.

As he walks towards her, he pulls off his scarf. When he reaches her, he throws it around her neck and crouches down in front of her. His eyes are warm and it makes her smile.  “Cold?”

“Maybe a little. Mostly just embarrassed.”

Felix shrugs, brushing it off. “Hey. No shame in getting lost. You’re in a new country. You’re allowed to have human moments.”

“I just thought I was getting the hang of it. I’m disappointed in myself.”

“You’ve been here a week.”

“The signs are also in English.” She argues, going over the things she’s been playing in her head to chastise herself.

“Public transit takes time to learn.” Felix responds with a gentle smile, doing that sweet thing he does where he soothes all her worries and negative talk. “Still want to go to Muji?”

“Yes, but I don’t want you to have to spend your whole day with me.”

Felix sighs. “Lexie, the fact that you’re here and I can come rescue you and we can go shopping together is something I never dared hope for when we were just friends over the phone. So let’s go shopping. Next train is in a couple minutes. “ He stands and holds a hand out to her. She puts her hand in his and he flinches. “Your hand is so cold!”

Lexie retracts her hand and stuff it in her pocket. “I was out here in the cold for like an hour. It’s cold.”

Felix tsks his tongue. “Well, you were the one who got yourself so far outside of the city without noticing.”

Lexie rolls her eyes. “Okay, yeah, but you insisted on playing knight in shining hoodie and coming to get me instead of just telling me how to get back.”

He bumps into her as they walk down the platform, a playful look on his face. “Okay, fair. I just like seeing you. I still can’t quite believe you’re here. Like actually here.”

“You’ve seen me every day at work.”

He replaces the mask. “Sure, but that’s work. Now you’re just like here, in the world of Seoul. Dressed like a normal person.”

“You don’t think the way I dress for work is normal?”

“It’s business professional.” He gives her a wink. 

“I have to look put together.” She insists with a laugh. “I don’t have the excuse of dance practice to wear a hoodie in the office.”

He looks a little smug. “Anyway, I like seeing the casual you. No shoot, no office, no dinner. Just comfortable.”

She looks down at herself. “This?”

He looks her over. “Yeah, just you.”

The train arrives and they walk on, finding two seats together, Felix fixes his hat, keeping his eyes down. “Do people recognize you a lot?”

“The funny thing is that they’re not always looking. The voice gives it away more often then not.”

She leans her head against his shoulder. Felix’s arm find its way around her, his thumb tracing lazy circles against her sleeve.

“You know,” he said after a while, “next time you wanna see more of Korea, maybe just ask me to take you instead of trying to run a solo expedition.”

She smiles, her cheeks pink. “Deal.”

When their stop comes, Felix jostles her and they step onto the platform. “Towels?”

“And a comforter.” She looks up at him, feeling relief as his eyes meet hers. “Thanks for coming for me, Felix.”

He touches her cheek with a smile. “Anytime. I’m serious about you letting me give you a tour.”

“I didn’t want to force you to be out in public.”

Felix gestures around. “Most people leave me alone here. It’s not like that everywhere but Seoul is good like that. If we do a tour, I’ll make sure we have a body guard, just in case.”

She nods. “Okay, sounds good. Now where is Muji?”

Felix tips his head, turning towards an exit and leads her up onto the street. She follows until she sees the red sign and bursts into a smile. “Oh I love Muji. This is going to be great!” She holds the door open for Felix and then follows him in, stopping as she realizes that he might not want to shop with her. “If you need to go, don’t let me keep you.”

Felix turns to look at her, eyebrows furrowing. “I don’t have anywhere to be. Do you now want to shop with me here?”

“No, it’s not that. I just don’t want to occupy your day.”

“Didn’t we go over that already? I like being able to spend time with you in person.”

Lexie’s heart warms. “Okay, just wanted to give you an out if you wanted it. Since you don’t, do not let me buy more than towels and a blanket.”

“No promises.”

“Felix,” Lexie hisses, looking around to make sure no one caught onto them. 

He shrugs innocently and starts up the escalator. “I’m not good at saying no to you, yet.”

She follows a stair or two behind him and they level out to the men’s floor. “I’m assuming you don’t shop here.”

His eyes crinkle, the only tell that he’s smiling. “No, not really.”

They take the next escalator up to the women’s floor, and then one more to home goods. Lexie starts to wander the displays. 

“What kinds of towels do you need?”

“Shhh you’re gonna get caught.” Lexie eyes him over the aisle. He looks offended for a second before he laughs. 

“Oh okay, so I’m not being helpful.”

“I want green towels. I want two sets. Body, hand towel and wash cloth. I’m not living here but the towels they gave me are awful.”

He listens, holding up a dark green towel as they stroll and she nods.

“Is it soft?”

Felix runs his hand over it and shakes his head. 

“I don’t want it too scratchy,” she sighs. “That’s part of the problem with the current ones. Drying feels like the towels are trying to take my skin off.” She hold another one up, meeting his eyes. “Do you like the color?”

He eyes it for a minutes and shakes his head. 

“Hm, I’m not too fond of it either.” Lexie holds up a dark blue. “I could go for blue too. I think this color is better.” 

Felix tilts his head and then nods. “I like it.”

“Okay, blue it is. Do you see the hand towels for this one?” Felix comes around the corner to help her look and finally holds out two, putting them in her basket. Then he throws in washcloths. “You’re so efficient.” 

He crowds into her space, dropping his face near her ear as his hand rests on her arm holding the basket. “Let’s get you a blanket. I think I’ve been spotted so I’d like to move quickly.”

Her heart jumps and she looks over her shoulder to see what eyes are on them. “Maybe I need to start bringing a hat and mask.”

She hears Felix chuckle before her moves to the next section. The blanket selection isn’t any faster. She touches all the blankets, narrowing them down as quickly as she can until she’s convinced of one, debating on the second. “What do you think?”

“Hand me the one you would like to watch a movie with. Keep the one you want to sleep with.”

Lexie hands him the second blanket. 

“Great. Let’s check out.” He leads her over to the line, his head on a swivel.

“What happens if they see you with a woman?”

“Rumors. But in some ways it’s good you’re here for work and you’re a creative I’ve already worked with. Easier to say we’re friends. I’m just helping you pick out some stuff you need for your stay.”

“But that is what’s happening.”

“Not to everyone else.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Stop, don’t,” He shakes his head. “I want to be here with you. I knew the risk.”

They stand in line and thankfully it moves quickly. Lexie checks out and then realizes Felix is buying the other blanket. When they go to pack up their stuff, she points to it. “What’s that for?”

“Movie nights.”

“I was only supposed to buy one blanket.”

His eyes crinkle. “You did. I bought this one for movie nights at your place. Now I have my own blanket. And you can use it if I’m not there.”

Lexie can’t help but smile. “Ridiculous.” She murmurs. “Inviting yourself over for movie nights.”

“Well you can’t come to my place.”

“Why? Seungmin doesn’t like me?”

“No, you’re not approved yet.”

Lexie’s jaw drops. “What do you mean I’m not approved?” She pokes him in the ribs. “What do you mean?”

Felix giggles and darts away from her. But then he sobers, sighs, and comes closer, looking at her with his big brown eyes, holding her hand so she can’t poke him again. “You’re not here permanently, Lex.”

She shrinks back, her smile falling. “Oh,” it hurts more than she expected. “Yeah, I get that.” She swallows. “We should go, I guess.”

He looks wounded for half a second and then directs her to the escalator, hand hovering at her back but not quite touching her. 

When they enter the station, Lexie taps his arm. “I can get myself home. That way you won’t be seen with me at two locations.”

Felix sighs, dropping his head. “Yeah, okay.”

“See you on Monday. Want me to take your movie night blanket with me?”

Felix hands her the bag. “Soon?”

She ducks under the brim of his hat to meet his eyes. “Soon Lixie,” she confirms, smiling to see if he’ll return it. His eyes crinkle and she knows they’re fine. 

Knowing they’re separating smiling, she steps onto her train with his new blanket to take home.                                                              

When she gets home, Lexie pulls out Felix’s blanket from the shopping bag, folds it carefully and sets it on the couch like a guest. She stands in the dim light of her apartment, looking at it for a long moment as she just misses him. It’s better than when they were oceans apart but the fact that work is the safest place for the two of them to see each other makes her sad. The last thing she wants is to put him at risk. So she wraps her arms around herself and goes to put his sweatshirt on. 

>>>Seoul tour. You and me.

>>>And how do you plan on getting us around without people noticing. 

>>>Bodyguards. Cars not trains. I pre-wrote a statement. 

>>>Like what? Giving a foreign coworker a tour?

>>>Yeah, exactly.

>>>And you’re approved.

The answer takes a little longer than she expects. 

>>>Totally.

“Okay, approved by Seungmin.” Felix says, leaning over the seat, bare faced and grinning without a mask. 

Lexie laughs as she ducks into the car he sent to her apartment. “Seungmin doesn’t count Felix. He doesn’t have any authority.”

“Seungmin has authority.”

“You two are both maknae.”

“Hey, we’re equal members.”

She slides in and reaches over to give him a hug. “Hi.”

“Hi,” He squeezes her and then urges the driver on.

“So you got me out of the house on a Sunday. What’s the plan?”

Felix hums, then counts on his fingers as he remembers the list. “Mangwon Market, Han River, Namsan Tower for today.”

“Sounds like a good plan.”

“Should be places we can blend in like tourists.”

“You? Blend in?”

He gestures to his outfit. “I look so normal.”

Lexie laughs. “Okay, normal boy. What’s your favorite thing at Mangwon?”

“Well you’re going to have to try tteokbokki.”

“I’ve had tteokbokki.”

His face falls. “What?”

“What do you think I’ve been eating for dinner?”

“I didn’t think about it.”

They arrive at the market and his disguise goes on: hat, hood up, mask on. Lexie looks around where they are dropped off. “Bodyguards?” 

Felix points out two huge men watching them across the street. “They’ll give space but not too much.” The market is really like a long street lined with booths on either side. There is a covering to keep the weather out, not that they need to worry about the sun today. Felix gestures for her to enter before him. “If you see something that looks good, say something. We need to get hotteok for sure.”

“What is that?”

“They’re like sweet pancakes with brown sugar inside. Maybe some mandu. This is also a great place to just shop. Especially if you need souvenirs.”

“I haven’t bought anything for souvenirs yet. Not really. Just my blanket.” Lexie walks in, finding the flow of people moving past others in line. It’s a bustling market full of locals. She trusts Felix is behind her as she navigates into the crowd. 

“Here, try this?” Lexie pauses, looking behind her when she hears a voice and Felix pushes a cup into her hands. 

“What is it?”

“Japchae. Uh, sweet potato noodles with veggies.”

Lexie takes the offered chopsticks and grabs a chunk to put in her mouth. She raises her brows at him. “Mmm yes!”

And that’s how it goes. Felix stopping to buy food and just handing them to her with the most basic of explanations. So Lexie just puts them in her mouth, willing to try everything he hands her. To her surprise, she doesn’t spot a camera. Not that it means anything but it feels like maybe they are just blending it. Felix seems content and not too tense. When the end of the road comes into view, she starts to feel a little disappointed that it was about to be over. “What if we bought a friend thing? Are friendship bracelets a thing here?”

Felix looks at her, tipping his head. “Ah, um, I don’t think friendship bracelets are a thing.” He looks around at the stalls. “What about keychains? I’ll pick you one and you pick one for me.”

Lexie nods, crossing the street to enter a small booth. There are tiny keychains hung on a couple of towers, Lexie looks them over and finally picks one with a small metal pendant with an engraving that resembles the sun. She pops into Felix’s point of view. “Ready?” Felix looks up and holds up the one he’s picked for her. It looks like a beam of starlight. Lexie holds her up for him to see. “We’re on the same wavelength.”

Felix laughs. “Excellent.” He reaches out to take it and goes to the counter, paying for both. The shopkeeper says something to him and Felix nods. Then he switches the chains so Felix has the star chain and Lexie has the sun chain. He thanks the man with a slight bow. “We’ve got part of each other now.” He says, bumping Lexie as they exit. “Car should be meeting us at the end.”

She nods and follows him out. He opens the door for her and she slides in, making room for him. He follows her in and takes off the mask. 

“These are so cute.” He beams at her, holding up his keychain. Lexie reaches to touch it as it shines. 

“It’s perfect,” she murmurs, returning his smile. “Better than friendship bracelets.”

Felix attaches his to his keys. Lexie attaches hers to her little crossbody bag.

The sun is setting as they arrive at a park on the river. Felix stops at a vending machine, grabbing two peach waters. He walks her over to a bench and sits, setting her water down next to him like an invitation. “This is what everyone does,” he explains. “Just sit here and talk.”

“About what?”

“Doesn’t matter.” He smiles, looking out at the skyline. “About home. About stupid stuff. About how much better the city looks when you’re not lost.”

Lexie snorts softly. “You’re never gonna let that go, are you?”

He turns to her, eyes warm. “Never.”

They sat in comfortable silence for a while, the hum of traffic across the bridge like distant ocean waves. Then, quietly, Felix leans over and says, “you know what I like about Seoul?”

“What?”

He points across the river at the soft glow of lights reflected in the water from a restaurant bustling with people. “It’s full of stories. Layers of people who come here and live whole and complete lives. You’re part of that now.”

Her throat tightens at the tenderness. “You make ordinary things sound like magic.”

He shrugs. “The ordinary can be magical. You’re magical.”

She twists her water open and scoots a little closer to him. “I’m glad you see me as magic. That’s really nice.”

“The way you capture people in pictures has to be magic.”

“Speaking of,” she pulls out her phone. “Can we take a picture? I was just thinking to look back on this.” A panic rises in her chest. “But I know you’re asked about pictures all the time so now worries if you don’t want to.”

Felix slings an arm around her and pulls her even closer, then pulls down his mask. “We can take as many as you want.” He winks and sticks out his tongue, so Lexie does the same.

She sighs at the picture. “It’s not fair how cute you look doing that. I just look like I’m trying too hard.”

He squeezes her shoulders. “No, you don’t. The ordinary is magic, remember?”

“And you’re some ethereal angel.”

“So they tell me,” he teases, rubbing his hand on her arm. 

“Did you want to talk about anything in particular?” She asks, looking up at him. 

He shakes his head and replaces his mask. “No, I just wanted you to have the experience.”

Lexie leans her head on his shoulder. “I like being here,” she starts. “When we used to just have video calls, I lived for getting to call you. Like I was homesick for a person. You became the person I wanted to tell everything to. And I realized one night that you felt like so much of my life but I didn’t know that I was much of yours. I didn’t know your members, your family, never seen where you work, or even much of your apartment. There was a week or two I felt really foolish because I’d started calling you my best friend and there’s always that question of if the person you call your best friend considers you to be their best friend in return and I’d see videos of you online and think about how you already have seven best friends and wondered if you had room for another. How the world loves you. There are people that spend money to be able to have a video call with you.” She breathes out, watching the way the lights dance on the water. “Then you called me that night. You were so sleepy. But you had to get up and get going. And Seungmin asked who you were talking to thinking it was him. You told him it was your best friend. I glowed the whole next day knowing that’s how you categorized me.”

Felix listens patiently and when she looks at him, his eyes are watery. “You are my best friend. Just because there are others doesn’t mean you are less.”

“I’m glad I get to be more a part of your life now, even if it’s only for a little while that I get to be in person.”

He’s quiet for a long time. “I like you being here. More than I expected because I missed you, but I miss my family too and just make do. I’m used to missing people.” He takes a deep inhale, then leans and presses his lips to her temple affectionately. “I’m so grateful for you. I never expected that Boston shoot to change my life but here you are.”

Lexie grins at him, giving him a playful elbow in the ribs. “Is this the right kind of conversation for the Han River?”

He chuckles, straightening his back in a stretch. “Yeah, I think so. Good job. We’ve established we’re best friends, which I thought was already understood.”

Lexie rolls her eyes with a laugh. “Sometimes it’s nice to hear.”

“I’ll say it as many times as you need.”

Their next stop is Namsan Tower Observation Deck. It’s cold when they make it to the top. Lexie zips her jacket up, hunkering down into it. Being dark now, Felix isn’t as worried about people seeing him and seems a little easier. 

“Sometimes you can’t see much,” Felix had warned as they went up. “Depends on the day and the weather.”

He opens the door for her to let out onto the deck. “One day we’ll have to come back so we can do Baekbeom Square Park and Namsan Hanok Village.” 

Lexie nods. “Okay, I have eleven more weekends.”

“We’ll do it before it gets much colder.”

“If you can’t be that public-”

“Stop. We’ll figure it out. Today wasn’t bad.”

“I just never want to make you uncomfortable.”

“I should be able to still live my life. We’ve been okay today.”

Lexie nods and steps closer to the edge. “Wow,” she breathes, looking out at the city below them. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like this.”

He turns toward her, that small, private smile tugging at his lips. His hand finds the small of her back. “You looked at me like that the first time we met.”

Her breath catches. “What?”

“Like you’d just seen something you’d never forget.” 

“Felix,” she feels her heart pounding against her ribs. Surely people look at him like that all the time. The way he says it, like a secret, makes her think maybe it meant something important to him. “I knew I’d never forget you after meeting you. You were so kind and soft that day in the studio. I was scheming on how to get you back for another shoot.”

“I just wanted to make sure I saw you again. Because I didn’t want to forget you either. There is just something. Maybe the artist’s souls in us just connected but I knew I needed you in my life.”

“I never expected to be a part of your life past the shoot.”

“I know. But I wanted you to be. And somehow, we’re here now. Seoul looks better with you in it.”

There’s an ache that she needs to ignore. “Are you always so sweet?”

Felix chuckles. “Yeah, so I’ve been told.” 

She bumps his hip with hers and he bumps her back. “Today has been great.”

“Yeah?”

Lexie nods, still looking over the city. “I really like Korea.”

“I think Korea likes you too.”

They stay looking out at the city until Lexie shivers so much Felix rushes her inside. “Time for home?”

Lexie hesitates because she doesn’t want it to be over but she nods. “Yeah, probably a good idea.”

So he slings an arm over her shoulders and takes her to the elevator.