Chapter 3: Chapter 3
A/N:
// text like this is used when the characters speak in their head; thoughts //
<< text like this is used when characters are talking with one another; basically the dialogue >>
\\ text like this is used with social media; calls, messages, texts, captions, etc. \\
-
It's finally the big day and Shen can't help but feel both excited and nervous for it. Once he got the tickets last night, he asked Beau to have it delivered to the studio where they're going to hold the photo shoot before informing Alex of the happenings that just went down with Vincent.
\\ Dude it hasn't even been a full day yet. You sure move fast. \\
Shen lets Alex tease him till he's satisfied because even he's is surprised by himself. He does defend himself a bit though, explaining how there was an opportunity he just grabbed on. This only earns him a deeper teasing from Alex but Shen just lets it slide for now. The two continue talking till they bid one another goodnight before they headed to bed. Shen didn't inform Vincent of his photo shoot because he wants to give off the idea that he's not going out of his way just to hang out with Vincent. In actuality, he really isn't since his photo shoot ends before their arranged time to meet but Shen just thinks it's better that way. Was it to somehow impress Vincent? Yes. Impress him how? Shen isn't too sure.
In the span of the volleyball match and both Shen and Vincent following one another, Vincent has been receiving a confusing slash surprising amount of followers on social media. Vincent didn't expect fans to take notice of them following one another, all the more receiving follows from them as well. They were mostly fans of the celebrities he played volleyball against but most of them were Shen's fans. Vincent doesn't really mind the attention he's receiving, not like 180 new followers is a big deal, but he's just a little baffled by it.
// There's nothing interesting about me. //
Shen just recently arrived at the SkyDome Arena an hour earlier than their arranged time to meet because he's hoping to buy a limited edition shirt of the volleyball team he's rooting for. According to the website he saw, they would start selling an hour before the match hence him coming earlier. He doesn't message Shen that he's already at the place but instead he takes a photo of the shirt he bought and posts it his IG before deciding to burn some time by looking around the place.
After Shen's shoot finishes, he excitedly changes into his casual attire before deciding to message Vincent on IG. He sees that Vincent posted a new story so Shen views it on impulse only to see the shirt Vincent bought. It was posted an hour ago so Shen decides to just reply to the story.
\\ You there already? I'm on my way. Have you had lunch? \\
\\ yes, im waiting here at the entrance. no, i havent eaten yet but there's some hotdog stands here. want me to get you anything? \\
\\ I have some food from fans with me. It's better than hotdogs. \\
\\ ok, im kinda hungry already. ill just get a smoothie \\
Shen doesn't reply because he's too busy finding a bag he can put some food in. He picks out some rice meals, some sushi, bread and fruits before rushing to the SkyDome Arena. He brisk walks his way there, grateful that no one recognized and once he arrives, he scans the area for Vincent and when he sees him, he can't help but admire his casual look. He's wearing a half black-half white sweatshirt, khaki shorts, a pair of white Nike shoes and a sling bag draped across his chest. His hair is kempt, his wrist donning a brown watch and his thumb sporting a silver ring. All-in-all, he's looking good.
Shen walks towards Vincent and they greet one another with a smile. Shen hands Vincent the paper bag filled with food and tells him they can bring food inside since they have VIP seats. Vincent exhumes excitement and praises the lord for celebrity perks, making Shen laugh as they make their way inside. Shen asks if he made Vincent wait but the latter explains that he purposely came early to buy a shirt. Vincent asks about the food and Shen tells him that they're from his fans. Once inside, Shen leads them to the VIP section and turns out it's just a really closer section to the court compared to the other seats but Vincent thanks him nonetheless.
<< Can I take a photo of the tickets? >>
<< Yeah sure. >>
Shen hands Vincent the tickets and he takes a photo of it before uploading it on his IG. He hits upload but suddenly remembered that he didn't tag Shen in it and apologizes to him. Shen says he doesn't mind and just ushers Vincent to eat before the game started. Vincent sits and targets the sushi in the bag and eats while watching the players warm up. They make casual conversation about the team they're rooting for and turns out they like the same team, making the mood brighter.
The game starts and Shen takes it as an opportunity to get to know Vincent by asking him questions only on a subtle level. Things like what he does for a living, his hobbies, and some other common questions that don't come off as too invasive. Turns out Vincent isn't one to keep his guard up cause he just rambles on how he's an IT-graduate, how he works from home and how he enjoys reading and watching Japanese anime on his day off. Apart from volleyball, he also mentions having a younger sister and having a pet cat named Zeke. Vincent shares a few more things about hi. and as courtesy, Shen also pipes in about himself from time to time. Once they both feel a bit more comfortable around one another, their conversation gradually feels less forced and more enjoyed. It starts flowing naturally rather than stopping to think of a next topic. They get to know some small things about one another that help them enjoy the game all the more and for Shen, he's loving the transition of being just strangers to, dare he say, friends.
On one timeout, Vincent excuses himself to go to the restroom and since Shen is left alone in the seats, he decides to post an IG story himself. He takes a video of the arena, a couple of shots of the scoreboard and his favorite player before Vincent returns.
<< Did I miss anything? >>
<< Nope. The timeout just ended. >>
They both continue watching the game in excitement and on the deciding point, they both bolt up in their seats in a hug as their favored team wins the match. They cheer and holler, both pulling out their phones to capture the moment and when the hype subsides, they pack up their stuff and leave. Shen listens to Vincent ramble about his favorite athlete and he can't help but stop and stare at how animatedly Vincent talks about his favorite moments of the game. Once outside, they're still discussing their favorite moments of the game as they both turn into volleyball critics while also being fanboys of their favorite athlete.
<< That was so fun. Seeing Kayle play really gets me going, you know? Makes me wanna pick up a volleyball and smash it with all my might. >>
<< Did you have fun? >>
<< Totally! Tell your friend about it. He missed such a great match. >>
Shen then pulls out his phone and picks out a photo from the volleyball match to introduce his friends to Vincent one by one. He points to Papi first then to Kris, Gigi, Taylor and Pete. Vincent shares the memory he can remember of them and they laugh as Shen shares funny stories about them. Now that they're done watching the game, Shen thinks that it's still too early to go home so he asks Vincent if he had any other plans for the day. After all, it was still around 4 in the afternoon.
<< I was planning to go the bookstore to check if the new volume of the manga I'm reading is out now. What about you? >>
<< Well, I have no other plans. Do you mind if I tag along? >>
Vincent agrees and he talks about the manga he's going to buy as the two made their way into the mall. Apparently it's the most famous volleyball manga in the world and thank goodness Shen was familiar with it. He does admits that he hasn't seen it though and Vincent encourages him to read it, saying that if he'd like, he can lend him the copies he has. They arrive at the bookstore and while looking around, Shen sneakily messages Alex about his progress. Alex doesn't reply though and Shen doesn't get the chance to check for replies because then Vincent returns, holding a book and other multiple items.
<< I'm done. You're not getting anything? >>
<< There's nothing I particularly need right now. >>
Vincent's pays for his stuff and once they're out of the store, he rummages for something inside the paper bag and when he finds what he's looking for, he pulls out a cup sleeve and hands it over to Shen. Shen takes the cup sleeve and scans it, seeing a big letter S stitched onto it. He asks what the sleeve is for and Vincent says that it's his thank you for the game.
<< I saw in your IG feed that you liked collecting tumblers so I got this for you. >>
Shen thanks Vincent for the cup sleeve, his insides jumping in glee and bliss. He coughs to disguise a smile before deciding to invite Vincent for an early dinner to which he agrees with. Feeling elated, he leads Vincent to his favorite restaurant, sharing how the first time he ate there he knew it was going to be his favorite. They arrive at this super fancy looking restaurant and Vincent has to stop right outside for a second to take in the sheer upscale image of it and the sharp smell of expensive.
<< Shen. We are not eating here if we're going to split the bill. >>
<< It's okay. Neither of us are going to pay. >>
Shen then takes out a black card from his wallet and whispers to Vincent that it's the company black card. Vincent is honest to god surprised because he thought those things only existed in movies. Intrigued, Vincent asks about the things Shen can buy with it and Shen just opts to tell him the things he can't buy with it as they are lead inside and directed to a table. The two are given a menu and Vincent's eyes almost pop out of their sockets at the ludicrous pricing of the food. Shen laughs at his reaction before sharing that he had the same reaction too the first time he was taken here. Vincent says he now feels bad for all the people who are hungry in the world but Shen just convinces him that the price is just as delicious as the food they're going to have. Vincent isn't sold yet but he does scan the menu to find something he'd like to eat.
<< I wanna try the beef tenderloin. >>
They both order and while waiting for their food, Vincent takes out his phone and is surprised by the sheer amount of notifications in it.
<< Holy shit. >>
Vincent's cursing alarms Shen and he immediately asks what's wrong. Instead of telling him, Vincent shows Shen his phone only for Shen to see that Vincent's IG followers has skyrocketed to at least 2,000. Shen then takes out his phone and he immediately goes to his fan club's account and just as he expected, pictures of both him and Vincent at the volleyball match are the most recent updates. There were candid shots, a side by side picture with both his and Vincent's story and the most raved on picture was them hugging ad they cheered at the win of their favored team. There were also videos and Shen hands his phone over to Vincent to show it to him.
<< Wow your fans are quick. I was already half-expecting this but I don't get why they're suddenly following me. Is this a sign of my blossoming stardom? >>
Shen laughs at Vincent and asks him if he's okay with the attention he's receiving. Vincent says he's fine with it and even offers a selfie with Shen since his fans already know they're hanging out. Shen then takes his phone out and they take a selfie and this time he tags Vincent. Shen laughs at how Vincent's phone doesn't stop vibrating and Vincent jokingly puts it on his nape, pretending it's a massaging machine. Shen then starts to share stories about his debut and after a while their food arrives and they start to eat. Shen was lowkey watching Vincent's reaction to the food and when Vincent lets out a satisfied groan, he knew that bringing Vincent to the restaurant was the right choice.
While they eat together, Shen continues to tell Vincent about his debut, his experience in the acting field all while making sure to leave openings for Vincent to talk so as to not make the conversation solely about himself. After they have the main course, Shen orders them dessert and despite Vincent feeling bad for the price of the food, he's left with no choice but to accept as well because the food was honestly the best he's ever had.
After they eat, Shen and Vincent do some window shopping around the mall to walk away their bloated stomachs. They hop in from store to store as Shen was looking for something to spend his money on while Vincent was looking for the big 'SALE' signs to save some of his money. When they get to a sports outlet, this time Shen finds limited edition tumblers to spend his money on while Vincent gets a sweatband for the head that was on sale. As they were paying, the lady behind the counter recognized both of them, catching their attention.
<< Oh my gosh Shen! And you! You're that guy from the volleyball match! Oh my gosh, hi! >>
The lady behind the counter starts fanning herself as her ears and cheeks flush a bright red as excitement and fangirling replaces her breathing. Shen greets the lady like he usually does with his fans while Vincent is sporting a similar shade of red as the lady but does greet her back as a courtesy. She fangirls as she hurriedly asks for a picture with the two of them. Shen looks to Vincent for permission but Vincent was also looking to Shen for permission as well. With a smile directed at the lady behind the cashier, Shen replies with a nod before the lady circles around her station to stand between the two before holding out her phone for a selfie. After that, she calls a workmate to have him take their picture and when they finish, they pay for their items before leaving the outlets, a look of disbelief still pasted on Vincent's features.
<< Looks like someone's becoming a celebrity huh? You got your first fan to ask for your photo. How's it feel? >>
<< Quit it, I'm not a celebrity. That's you. >>
<< A-huh, well I, for one, think you'll make a great celebrity. You got the looks and the charisma to pull it off. >>
Shen curses himself for hitting on Vincent but thank god, the other man is still reeling from his first ever experience of having a complete stranger recognize him from the internet and asking for his picture.
<< Really? You think so? Is this what it feels like when you were devirginized? >>
<< Vincent! >>
-
Vincent sends Shen off to the parking lot and for one last time, Shen offers Vincent a ride but he politely declines as his place is on the opposite way from Shen's.
<< How about I just drop you off at the nearest station so you don't have to walk? >>
<< That actually sounds swell. Sure, I'll take you up on that offer. >>
They hop onto Shen's fancy car and Vincent can't help but feel a little jealous since he's still saving up for a car. He asks Shen about the car and shares that he's planning to buy one but still hasn't decided on a model. As a celebrity with brands to promote, of course Shen recommends the brand he's using and shares the things he likes about the car. Vincent says he'll think about it before he fishes his phone out of his pocket. He checks his IG again and this time, his followers have ballooned to 2,200. He shows it to Shen on a red light before contemplating on whether to post a story of him with Shen. He asks permission from Shen and when Shen says he's ok with it, Vincent takes a circling video of the inside of Shen's car, starting from his window side and slowly turning towards Shen, zooming in on Shen's side profile once he lands onto him.
<< Don't forget to tag me. >>
Vincent replies with a 'yes, of course' while he's still taping before ending the recording. He then tags Shen just as he asked, and hits the upload button. Moments later, Vincent's phone starts vibrating aggressively and he's bombarded with messages from fans and a steady increase of followers.
\\ Are you two dating???? \\
\\ Omg #ShenVin u two are so cute!!!!!! \\
\\ Holy shit is this real???? \\
\\ Yessssss from volleyball to Shen's front seat. The progress is too fast!!! \\
\\ UMMMMMM, I SAW YOU TWO BUYING BOOKS TOGETHER OMG #SHENVINSHIPISSAILING \\
Vincent starts laughing in his seat as he reads the comments and messages out loud for Shen to hear and Shen reciprocates the laughter as well.
<< Dude your fans are crazy. I can't believe they can come up with such shameless comments. >>
Shen laughs at that and shares how Vincent should see the fan fictions they write. Vincent asks if he reads them and he just tells him not all the time because he finds it weird to read about himself doing things so out of his personality. But he admits though that it's entertaining enough that he appreciates the effort made by his fans.
As they neared the drop off of Vincent, Shen's phone on the dashboard rings and flashes a video call notification from Papi. Shen swipes on the screen to answer it and puts it on loudspeaker as he's greeted with Papi, Pete and Kris all mushed together, trying to fit in the screen.
\\ Hey Shen! Where are you? \\
\\ Here, I'm driving right now. Why are you guys together? Where are you? \\
\\ Here at Kastilla! The higher ups will have a meeting tomorrow so they gave us a day off tomorrow. Where are you now? Come and join us! \\
\\ Really? Sure, sure I'll come. I'm just dropping Vincent off. \\
\\ Vincent? The one we played volleyball with? He's there with you? \\
\\ Yeah. We watched a game together earlier. Say hi. \\
\\ On cue, Vincent shows himself in front of the camera and they all greet one another. \\
\\ Vincent it's you! You're that bastard captain that gave us one hell of a game last time. Do you remember me? I'm Papi, the one who kept blocking your team. \\
\\ Block? If I remember correctly you couldn't block any of my attacks. \\
The three guys on the phone then proceed to trashtalk with Vincent and Shen just watches in amusement as he continues to drive, nearing Vincent's drop off. When they arrive, Vincent waves goodbye to the guys but they go ballistic behind the scream and demand for Vincent to tag along.
\\ Goodbye my ass! Where do you think you're going? Come on and tag along! Don't be a sissy! There're free drinks and we get to stay at the VIP section. I guarantee you wouldn't want to miss it. \\
\\ Don't listen to Papi and Pete. If you have to go you can. \\
\\ Aw Kris? Why are you suddenly being so polite? \\
\\ Dude we just met the guy and you're already cursing and calling him a sissy. \\
\\ Ok, ok. I'm sorry Vincent. Pete is too. Let me rephrase that. Would you like to join us for some tea? \\
Kris smacks Papi behind his head and Vincent bursts in laughter at the exchange of the guys and can't help but get carried away by their mood and characters. He quickly thinks if he's got any more responsibilities at home and when he remembers that he's got none, he fishes out his phone to text his roommate that he'll be out late.
\\ Alright, alright I'll tag along. But only under one condition. Papi has to call me 'daddy'. \\
Papi laughs dryly as he slowly raises a middle finger to the screen making everyone of them in the call burst out in laughter.
\\ See you in a bit! \\
Vincent retreats from the phone and Shen turns it back to him.
\\ Oi Shen you better keep that new friend of yours on a leash. \\
Vincent hears the comment and shouts an 'I heard that' to which Papi replies with a 'Good because I intended for you to'. Shen only chuckles at their exchange before telling Papi that they'll make their way there before ending the call. Shen then turns to look at Vincent and smiles at him shyly.
<< So yeah, those are my friends. >>
<< So much for celebrity etiquette. >>
<< Sorry? >>
<< No, no. It's my type of crowd. >>
<< Ok then. You good to go? >>
<< Let us. >>
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone