Sehyun's POV
I stood in the lobby waiting for Sensei to finish talking with his acquaintance. A man dressed in a formal suit who kept nodding with a wide smile at Sensei's words. It appeared Sensei's unique ability of making everyone smile worked everywhere.
I leaned on the wall giving my tired legs some rest before they lost all strength. My head was still fuzzy from the entire business that went down in the restroom. Sensei was really unbothered doing such things in public. My eyes peeked at the two ladies standing opposite my direction. They kept staring at me and whispering amongst themselves with a giggle.
What was funny?
I subconsciously checked my appearance. I wasn't improperly dressed. Aside from the slightly visible red marks on my neck from the bite in the theatre I was fine.
Wait in the theatre?
Could they have?…..
Panic flooded me. My ears strained trying to pick up what they were talking about.
"In the theatre they kept…."
My eyes widened my cheeks warming. I told Sensei someone might see…
I looked at Sensei, he was still talking with the man in a suit.
What do I do?
I fiddled nervously with my fingers ruminating for a plan when I suddenly heard their voice.
"Hi!"
I jolted hastily taking a step back. "Huh?Me?!" I was flabbergasted and at a loss for words. What were they about to say?
Condemn us?
"Well…" the first lady exchanged glances with her friend. The other seemed on the verge of bursting as her face was redder than mine.
"Are you dating that handsome guy over there?" She wheezed her voice coming out softer than she looked.
Eh?
I stared at them taken aback by their question.
"Are you?" The first lady asked again calmer than the other.
"Well--I—We…." I fumbled for the proper words.
I'd never been asked such a private question by someone I didn't know. This was my first time talking to someone else other than Auntie and Sensei.
My heart thumped harshly against my ribcage. I was scared. Scared of what their response might be upon hearing my answer.
I felt an arm wrap itself around my shoulder so casually like that was where it was meant to be. The familiar scent of freshness cool and soft soothed my nervous nerves.
"Who's asking?" Sensei asked pulling me closer towards him. His hold on my shoulder firm and protective.
The other lady's eyes bulged so much I feared her eyeballs might drop. Her hands clamped over her mouth suppressing what seemed to be a scream. Her eyes fixated on Sensei's grip on my shoulder. My cheeks reddened further.
This was embarrassing.
I couldn't tell if they were mad or excited.
"Well, actually, we're BL fangirls. This is Soomin and I'm Manwol. There's this campaign were running it's called 'Find a ship; Sail the ship.' Soomin happened to notice you both in the theater so….." At this point Manwol's face slowly turned a shade of pink.
"Are you both a couple?" Soomin asked again her voice coming out in gasps.
I wondered if she was breathing at this point.
Bl fangirls, Find a ship; Sail the ship. I had no idea what it was all about.
"Take a guess. What do you think?" Sensei asked his voice slightly teasing. I could feel his burning gaze on me.
That was all it took for Soomin to finally let out the scream she desperately tried to bottle in.
"I told you my intuition is aways right. I have a ship sensing antenna." She shook Manwol back and forth.
Manwol held her hand. "Get it together will you? What if you scare them away?" She questioned.
Soomin's excited eyes shifted towards my wary ones. She gave me a wide smile. "Sorry for my out of character behavior. I'm usually much more restrained." She said facing me.
"That's before you sense a ship." Manwol muttered under her breath.
"So, how may we help you?" Sensei asked. He seemed to be alot patient with them which was surprising. He never liked talking much with others. Was it because they were fangirls?
Soomin reached into her bag and took out a notepad. "You guys are the 7th ship we've found since the beginning of our campaign."
"Should've been 12 if you hadn't scared the remaining five." Manwol uttered taking out a camera. My eyes widened—An instant camera.
I hadn't seen one since that day my father found out about the pictures.
Something seemed to stir within me as I stared unmoving at it.
"We'd like for you to share some information like how you met, who liked who first and who's T or B." Soomin flashed me a wicked smile as she finished.
Manwol slapped the back of her head. "Quit doing that. Are you possessed." She asked.
Soomin gave me a pitiful look. "I was just asking some questions. The cutie wouldn't mind answering right?" She asked her eyes shimmering.
I froze. "I—"
Manwol interrupted me. "Ignore her. She's crazy. We just need a picture. Is that fine with you?" She asked looking at Sensei.
"Sehyun, do you want it?" Sensei asked me instead.
Picture? I could feel flutters in me belly.
I'd only taken pictures of people I'd admired being asked for a picture meant…. They admired us?
For being a couple?
Happiness coursed through every part of me. "Yes. I'd like…" I said unconscious of the fact that I was smiling.
"He's so cute! I wanna hug him." Soomin squealed.
"No." Sensei and Manwol snapped immediately.
"You're not permitted. No one is." Sensei added.
Soomin gave a jerky nod. "Yes sir. Noted."
Manwol raised the camera shaking her head. She seemed beyond used to Soomin's behavior. "Then, I'll be taking a picture." she aimed it at us gesturing for us to get into a position.
Sensei's hand slid down my waist and pulled me so I was facing him. My head shot up to look at him stunned. "Sensei!"
His lips quirked a grin. His eyes sparkling with a teasing charm.
I was about to speak when I heard a flash then a soft whir.
Soomin let out a delighted cry. "He calls him Sensei, isn't that romantic?! Lemme have a look at the picture." She reached for the picture in Manwol's hand but she slapped it away. "It's still damp you crazy thing." She hissed.
She pouted and looked at us a sly smirk on her face. "Hey handsome, you can release him now."
It wasn't until then did I realize Sensei's hand was still wrapped around my waist and my body crushed against his. I squirmmed against Sensei's hold. This lady was making me really flustered.
She giggled watching the both of us. Her eyes held admiration. Just like how I admired the boys I took pictures of.
"Here, it's done." Manwol presented the picture to me. My hands reached out for it nervously.
I observed the picture. It was the first of Sensei and I. It was beautiful.
So beautiful I wanted to keep it from the rest of the world. Rest of the world that held contemptuous gaze.
"Beautiful isn't it Sehyun, you both look so in love. I hope your ship sails forever despite the perilous times you both might face on the stormy sea." Soomin said with a warm smile.
"We wish you both happiness." Manwol added.
"T-thank you." I whispered softly.
Soomin grasped my hand. "Hey cutie should we exchange numbers? I have a lot of tips I could give you during your…" She cackled devilishly.
I could feel my legs collapse underneath me. Sensei's grip on my waist tightened.
Pah!
"I told you to quit doing that! You want to be arrested for harassment?! It's enough that Sehyun's boyfriend hasn't beaten you up yet. Leave his hands or I'm leaving you here. You keep wishing for death." Manwol yelled pulling Soomin away.
She looked at me. "Don't you forget me huh, I hope me meet again!" She shrieked as Manwol pulled her away.
"I'll definitely find you later huggable cutie!" Her voice faded dramatically as they disappeared from our sight.
We were lucky there weren't anymore people in the lobby otherwise, I would've dug a hole to bury my face.
"Sensei, let's go home." I gazed up at him gripping Sensei's shirt.
"Acting all clingy now?" Sensei teased pinching my cheeks.
I blinked, unsure how to recover. "I—"
He chuckled sweeping me off my feet. "You must be tired."
My body went rigid. Compared to Sensei, Soomin didn't come anywhere close to making me feel flustered.
I'd have resisted being carried like this but, Sensei was indeed right. I was exhausted.
The thrill of the movie, Sensei's touches, and teasing from Soomin made me completely burnt out. I leaned into Sensei's hold feeling his heart beat rhythmically.
But despite that, I had the best night of my life.
It was oddly satisfying finding people who were BL fangirls. Even though I had no idea what it meant, I was sure they were beautiful people just like Soomin and Manwol.
And I admired them.