2 AM Tales

In A Weeks Time : Part -1

Kim Taehyung

***

If it was up to you, you would never leave your room. Just spend your days in front of your illustrations and canvases, drawing all day long. But art school has other plans and you need to attend your classes in your third year if you want to make it to fourth. So, with a heavy heart you save your work on your iPad, get your classwork and move out of your comfortable room.

"Goodbye, Ren." You wave at your roommate.

"What time does your class end, Y/N," asked Ren while removing her headset.

"I only have Sculpting with Professor Megan today, but knowing her she will extend the class until we finish our last assignment, cause winter break is near." You breathe a heavy sigh and pack some snacks.

Ren laughs and says, "You love art, Y/N. You just want to do it in your safe place. You are bloody good at it too."

"Thank you, Ren. How is your next single coming along?" Ren was a music major and although she looked like a punk half the time, she was a prodigy pianist. But she also loved metal rock and was secretly a famous DJ.

"You'll be the first to hear it when it's done, bub." You laugh at the endearment she has for you and close the door after saying a 'bye.'

You were glad that Ren was your roommate, when you first arrived at the university you were anxious who would be your roommate; you didn't want some weird girl who would sneak in her latest "rendezvous" into your shared dorm and make you feel uncomfortable. Ren was not like that, she was sweet, chill and knew that you liked your space. You guys became close over the years and now she is one of your closest friends.

You clear your thoughts before entering your class and were surprised to see a lot more people than you expected. Did you get the wrong class? You quickly look up to see the class number but you are at the correct door. So, why are there so many people here?

You enter the class and head straight towards your usual seat, waiting for Professor Megan. While waiting you decide to cut off the conundrum of the class and work your sketch book. You were in the middle of the sketching, when someone came and sat beside you.

"What you doing here?" You asked Ren, surprised at seeing her.

"We got an email from our professor that he would be taking up the next few classes earlier because he is going on a vacation soon. But because all the other classes were full, your professor and mine agreed on sharing the room." Ren explained.

"Oh, I am glad your class was merged. I was kind of worked up about why there were so many people I didn't recognized." Before either of you could say anything both your professors came onto the podium.

Ren's teacher was the one who spoke first, "As my students are aware that I will be leaving, I decided to merge my class with Professor Megan. And as we were on our way to the class, we came up with the idea of doing a joint assignment between our subjects."

"What Professor Ben means is that you guys will pair up with each other and do an assignment. My students will be assigned to make a sculpture of their partner with the instrument they use."

Professor Ben continued, "While my students will observe their partners art style and compose a small piece that describes it. And I know that a lot of your share dorms together so your partners will be chosen by drawing names." And their goes your chance to work with your best friend.

"This so unfair, I wanted to make you a cool song." Ren mumbles to you.

"Me too, I wanted to make you see how beautiful you look when you play the piano, Ren." You reply to her.

Ren doesn't know but for her birthday, you are going to give her something you were working on for a while.

"So, the music major student will come and pick chits with the art students name on it and they will be partners for the next week and prepare their work." Professor Megan announces.

One by one each musician went and choose their partners. It was soon Ren's chance and you hoped to God that she would get your name, but unfortunately, she got paired up with another student.

Ren also seemed disappointed when she read the note, she gave you a small smile as she made her way to her partner. Not a lot of people were left so you keep your eyes on each person who made their way to choose next and see a boy dressed in brown pants and sweater making his way towards the bowl. He picked up a note and said "Y/N"."

You were surprised at first, and he called out your name again. You snap out of your daze and raise your hand. You kept your gaze low as he made his way towards your desk. You sense him as he sits near you.

"Hello, I am Kim Taehyung and I will be you partner this week. Nice to meet you Y/N." You turn towards him and see his hand stretched out to you.

"Nice to meet you too, Mr. Taehyung." You shake his hand and give him a smile. He smiles back and you think to yourself, he is the most handsome man you have ever seen. He had long wavy hair which he parted in the middle, he had a sharp jawline and full lips, large almond eyes and a cute nose. His face was art personified.

"As the class is about to end, take this time to familiarize yourself with your partners." Says one of the professors, you wouldn't know which one spoke because you were still starting at him. You catch yourself before it is too late and quickly look away.

"I am sorry for staring," you mumble, apologetically.

He shook his head, with a smile and said, "It's fine. You were just looking at your next art piece." His joke takes away some of the awkwardness and you give him a shy smile.

"So, should we get to know each other?" He asks after a short silence.

"Um, sure. What would you like to know?" You reply, not knowing what to say.

"How about you tell me about your favorite artist?"

"I kind of have a lot of them." You mumble, before reciting them. "Freda Kahlo, Da Vinci, Dali Monet, as well as Picasso. Then there is also Amrita Sher-Gil, M.F. Hussain, Tagore and umm.... It's a long list. Sorry." You chuckle to hide your embarrassment from the rant.

"No need to apologize, I did ask a very vague question. Even I have a lot famous artist I look up to and hope to be like them, but they were not the reason that made me want to pursue music. My dad is the reason why I feel in love with music. He loved singing and I would always find him humming. And I wanted to be just like him, so I started humming and it turned to singing and eventually I picked up my first instrument." He smiled at the fond memory.

"So let me change my question. Who inspired you to pursue art?"

You think over for a moment and find no reason to not share this with him so you give him a small smile and start "It's nothing special. I was always shy in my younger years and couldn't communicate well, so my fifth-grade teacher told me that if I can't express myself with words, maybe I should draw my feelings, before I share them." You awkwardly hide behind your hair, shielding him from you.

"That is so sweet. Are you still in contact with your teacher?" You don't see what kind of expression he has. You are too self-conscious to face him.

"Um, No." You shake your head and get a glimpse of him looking at you.

"Okay." He says and moves to take out his notebook.

You feel the need to keep this conversation flowing, but you think 'What should I ask him?'; 'Did I make the conversation tough by not sharing more?'; 'Does he think I am too guarded?' You shake your head to clear off these thoughts turn to him and question the first think that comes to you mind.

You realize what you are about to ask but before you can stop yourself, the words roll off your tongue, "Is your father alive?"

To be continued...

Thank You for reading :)