The Art of What-If: A Drabble Collection

Color Theory (KS)

"I've always loved to do makeup brands," Krist began, staring at the email that Mae Yui showed him about the endorsement offer.

He looks up at her and blinks, suddenly remembering a flash of a memory in his head.

Hands grazing his jaw all the way to his cheeks. Breaths mingled in a gentle breeze, the coldness of the room contrasts the heat pooling below. Lips pressed, beautifully dancing with each—

"Krist? Nong!"

"Yes, Mae?" He startles, flush deepening into his cheeks, shaking his head at the memory. He finds himself grinning sheepishly at her while Mae Yui scolds him to be more attentive.

He had a small interview scheduled in an hour, and the makeup artist was finishing her last touches on his face. Yui was already done scrolling through the schedule and it looked like she was texting somebody on her phone.

"I'm forwarding the offer to Singto since the company wanted it to be a couple event," she says. Krist straightens in his seat, effectively startling the makeup artist, "It is?"

"Yeah, I thought you've already read through it."

"Yes," he replies, eyes darting somewhere else, avoiding her gaze. He was too busy reminiscing a memory to even notice that it was a couple work.

It was still one of the things that he still has to get used to, following the announcement of their new series and partnership. Every time their manager gives them a new project, it still feels surreal that he knows he'll be working with Singto. Except for the fact that there are more days that he sees him in a week than he doesn't.

It excites him.

He can't help but grin like an idiot just at the mention of the said Phi.

A vibration from his phone indicates a message.

From: P'Sing (Singtuan)
3:40 PM
Are we doing the lipstick event?

To: P'Sing (Singtuan)
3:42 PM
Yeah, if you also want to! I'm down for it.

From: P'Sing (Singtuan)
3:43 PM
You do love makeup events. Okay, let's do it. See you tonight?

To: P'Sing (Singtuan)
3:45 PM
Ok! You can order takeout. You are being a nag again about how we've been skimping on game time this week.

From: P'Sing (Singtuan)
3:46 PM
Let him suffer. I'll buy KFC.

Krist laughs. It was barely even into the afternoon, and he knew that Singto didn't have any work today and he preferred to stay indoors and be lazy. Probably binge-watching the recent anime he's been obsessed with.

He turned to Yui who was already beckoning him to get ready and be alert for the interview, happening in a few minutes.

He stares down at the box that the makeup artist brought with her. The variety of colors creates a different effect on one's appearance with every single shade.

Krist finds himself smiling again.

_____________________

Sticky. Gloss. Lips. Hands. Tongue. His hands were around his neck, combing through his hair.

This time, it's the gloss. A rose pink gloss and a strawberry one. Both are flavored and applied thickly on their lips. In a dimly lit bedroom, 12 hours before their event.

Krist could taste the sweet strawberry on Singto's lips, perfectly mixed with the gentle rose flavor. The sticky gloss should have been weird, but with the heat melting between them, it's just right.