𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐧 • 𝐬𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧

5; first impressions over a cup of coffee

evening falls, and he has just finished painting.

minghao was worried about his dirtied clothes, until choi seungcheol came in his room quite forcefully. minghao got quite startled.

"... sir?" he asks in a confused tone, looking towards the panting businessman.

"what did those two tell you?! if they said anything bad, don't believe them! if you ever see them again, kick th—oh... right, i mean, don't kick them because you might end up killing them." seungcheol sighed, walking closer to minghao. "... did they do anything to harm you, though?"

"on the contrary." minghao replied, being able to feel light-hearted after his talk with the two artists. "they persuaded me to start painting again. they are very good at persuading."

"they persuade me to always pay for dinner, too. i think it's already called 'tricking'."

"oh... maybe that's because you're a rich man, sir."

"just call me hyung, or seungcheol." the president waves his hand off, and minghao raised his eyebrows. he was allowed to call a commander... by his first name? "anyway, by what you said, it seems like you stopped painting. why?"

minghao looked away. "i was reminded of something."

seungcheol exhaled audibly. if you focus better, you can hear his heart drop too. he instead looks over at minghao's canvas to see what he has come up with. "so! what did you decide to pai....?!"

seungcheol trailed off, amazed.

with the cranky painting materials seungcheol provided, minghao made a pleasant painting. there was a silhouette of a person akin to minghao, which he used black paint for. then, there were a pair of anatomically correct hands painted in red. it looked like this came out of minghao's personal feelings, and it was pretty good for someone who has never painted before.

"you could easily beat me in painting!" seungcheol exclaimed, mulling over minghao's painting longer than he's supposed to be. minghao felt... quite happy. "you're so good at this! but maybe i should put you to classes first... or should i have one of the artists teach you instead?"

minghao was praised. he gave not much effort to the painting he had made, since he only followed what his thoughts were telling him to do on impulse and got a satisfactory reaction from seungcheol—while before, he always risked his life yet he never got any sort of positive reaction.

what should i say again? "thank you, s—hyung."

seungcheol averted his gaze at minghao in delight. "you deserve it. you know what i see when i look at you?"

"scars?"

seungcheol laughed awkwardly, shaking his head. "n-no, no! that's not what i mean. i wanted to say that i see potential when i look at you." seungcheol laughed, crossing his arms. "right! the job i had in mind for you was to be an artist for my company, remember? so... do you think you'll like the job i'm offering now that you've tried it?"

minghao hums, contemplating. the job required being prepared to get into messy explosions of paint, being able to convey the meaning of color, being able to understand clients' wishes and understand it properly. it was hard. maybe even harder than being in the war.

but somehow, it made minghao a little bit more lively, and a little less dull.

gulping, minghao faces seungcheol. "i am willing to work under your company as an artist, hyung."

seungcheol then beamed, offering his hand to minghao once again. hopefully, he doesn't bite it this time. "i should put you under another artist who works here, and he'll teach your everything before i can claim that you are an official worker in my company. deal?"