05: in a different shade

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Sunghoon sat in Wonyoung's bedroom, the soft glow of the afternoon sun filtering through the baby pink curtains. His heart raced as he watched Wonyoung carefully lay out the makeup on her vanity. He felt a mixture of nerves and anticipation, unsure of what to expect but trusting her completely.

"Relax," Wonyoung said with a playful smile, sensing his tension. "I promise, I'm not going to make you look like a different person. Just... enhancing what's already there."

Sunghoon nodded, trying to calm his racing heart. He wasn't sure why this moment felt so important, but it did. It felt like a step toward something—acceptance, maybe, or at least a momentary reprieve from the storm inside him.

Wonyoung worked in silence for a while, brushing his hair, applying foundation, blending colors with a precision and care that made Sunghoon feel safe in her hands. She didn't rush, didn't try to change him. She just brought out the beauty she saw in him, the beauty he had never allowed himself to acknowledge.

When she finished, she stepped back with a proud smile. "Okay. Ready?"

Sunghoon hesitated for a second, his heart pounding in his chest. He slowly turned to look in the mirror, unsure of what he would see.

What stared back at him wasn't the Sunghoon he had always seen in his reflection—ordinary, plain, unremarkable. The person looking back was someone who seemed... radiant. His features were soft, his eyes bright and defined, his skin glowing under the gentle touch of makeup. He didn't look like a girl, didn't look like anyone else but... himself. A version of himself that felt like maybe, just maybe, he was enough.

Tears welled up in his eyes, and Sunghoon had to blink them away. He wasn't used to this feeling—the feeling of being beautiful, of being seen for who he was, not who he wasn't.

"You're perfect," Wonyoung whispered, her reflection smiling at him from behind.

Sunghoon swallowed hard, unable to find the words to express the emotions swirling inside him. He wanted to thank her, to tell her how much this moment meant, but all he could do was nod, overwhelmed by the kindness and acceptance she had given him.

Wonyoung reached out and gently wiped away a stray tear that had escaped down Sunghoon's cheek. "You know, it's okay to feel this way. It's okay to want to be seen. But you don't have to change who you are for anyone. You're amazing just as you are."

Sunghoon took a deep breath, his emotions slowly settling. "Thank you," he managed to say, his voice thick with emotion. "I didn't realize how much I needed this."

Wonyoung gave him a reassuring smile. "Anytime. You deserve to feel beautiful and loved, Hoonie."

They spent the rest of the afternoon talking and laughing, Wonyoung's easy companionship a balm for Sunghoon's aching heart. When it was time for him to go, he left Wonyoung's house feeling lighter, though the weight of his unspoken feelings remained.

As he walked home, Sunghoon kept glancing at his reflection in shop windows, his heart fluttering with a new sense of self-acceptance. It wasn't the solution to his problems, but it was a start—a small, hopeful step toward understanding that he was worthy of love and happiness, just as he was.

• ┈ • ┈ • ୨୧ • ┈ • ┈ •

The following morning, Sunghoon woke up feeling a mixture of anticipation and nerves. The previous day's makeover with Wonyoung had left him feeling more confident than he had in a long time, but today was a new test. He had agreed to let Wonyoung do his makeup again, this time for school, hoping that it might bring a new sense of normalcy to his daily life.

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