Chapter 11: First Day as His Boyfriend (The Couple Photoshoot from Hell)
If I ever invent a time machine, I'm going back 24 hours to slap the pen out of my own hand.
Signing that contract?
Worst. Idea. Ever.
I had exactly one night to process "Congratulations, Haruto, you're now the vampire idol's public boyfriend."
And by "process," I mean lie awake until 4 a.m., staring at the ceiling and occasionally screaming into my pillow.
So when Riku woke me up at 6 a.m. with the words, "Get dressed, we're going to a shoot," I nearly cried.
"A shoot? Like… guns?" I mumbled, half-asleep.
"No. Photoshoot. Couple concept."
I sat up so fast I pulled a muscle. "COUPLE WHAT?!"
The agency's studio was a different planet. Bright lights, racks of designer clothes, makeup artists buzzing around like caffeinated bees.
And me?
A broke college student in a Uniqlo hoodie, wondering how I got here.
"This is him?" a stylist said, looking me up and down like I was a thrift store clearance bin.
"Yes," Riku said without hesitation, casually flipping his silver hair back. "My boyfriend."
The stylist's eyebrows shot up, but she didn't comment—just dragged me toward the dressing area like I was a mannequin.
An hour later, I was wearing:
A perfectly tailored cream sweater.
Slim black pants that made me feel naked.
A scarf that probably cost more than my laptop.
When I stepped out, Riku looked up from his phone—and smirked.
"Not bad," he said.
I glared. "You're enjoying this way too much."
The shoot began.
First pose: me sitting on a couch while Riku leaned over the back, chin resting on my shoulder.
Photographer: "Closer!"
Second pose: Riku holding my hand while we looked into each other's eyes.
Photographer: "Closer!"
Third pose: Riku's arm around my waist, his face inches from mine, both of us pretending to laugh like we were in love.
Photographer: "Closer! More passion!"
Me: internally screaming.
The worst part?
Riku was good at this. Too good. His gaze was intense, his touch effortless. Every time his fingers brushed mine, my brain short-circuited.
"Relax," he murmured once between shots, voice low enough for only me to hear. "If you look this stiff, they'll think I'm forcing you."
"You ARE forcing me!" I hissed back.
He chuckled softly, which somehow made it worse.
Then came the final pose.
"Okay," the photographer said, clapping his hands, "last one! Riku, hold Haruto like you're about to kiss him."
My soul left my body. "EXCUSE ME?!"
But Riku just smiled—slow, dangerous, amused.
He stepped closer. I stepped back.
He stepped closer again until my back hit the studio wall.
"Relax," he murmured again.
Before I could say relax my ass, his hand slid to my jaw, tilting my face up.
The camera clicked. Flash. Flash. Flash.
I couldn't breathe.
He didn't kiss me—but his lips stopped a hair's breadth from mine. Long enough for every staff member in the room to gasp.
"Perfect!" the photographer said. "You two look like you're in love!"
I shoved Riku away the second the flash stopped. "You're insane!"
He just smiled faintly, adjusting his jacket. "Contract, remember? Boyfriend duties."
I wanted to throw the scarf at his smug face.
On the way out, my phone buzzed.
It was a news alert:
"Vampire Idol Riku Kurosawa's Boyfriend Revealed—See Their Adorable Photoshoot!"
…The photos were already trending.
And judging by the comments, my life was officially over.
TO BE CONTINUED…