𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐧 • 𝐬𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧

23; ghost of happiness

in the train back to zuivet, wonwoo was asleep. seokmin and minghao sat side by side, clutching their art supplies close. the train was quite packed this time.

the sky outside turned dark an hour ago, and most of the people in the train are asleep. seokmin and minghao were tired, but they didn't want to sleep with empty stomachs.

minghao wanted to ponder about his performance in earlier's commission, but seokmin wants to engage in a conversation. minghao didn't want to pass up an opportunity to talk to one of the happiest people he knew, so he sets his thoughts aside for tonight.

"you are truly amazing, minghao. i admire you!" seokmin's eyes turn into cresents, showing minghao the biggest smile he has ever seen.

"oh, the commission?" minghao raised an eyebrow. "i doubt it. you are much better than me. you could have expressed sire jihoon better than i did."

seokmin was someone who wasn't afraid to take risks. in his paintings, he uses the boldest of colors and the thickest of lines. seokmin is not afraid to mess up. minghao envies that—he couldn't afford messing up, where he was raised. up until now, he hasn't changed.

"no, that is not what i meant—i, well..." seokmin chuckled, scratching his nape. "you are doing great at living, minghao. you have been through so many things that i cannot even imagine, and you have rised up from there to here so impressively!"

"... why are you telling me this, seokmin?"

"because i mean it." seokmin chuckled, taking one of minghao's hands in both of his. "you are actually curing my art block, if i may say."

minghao's shoulders slumped.

ah.

nobody has ever told him that. he was being praised for just living, while back from where he was, life was not an important matter compared to victory.

for the all the time he was in zuivet, minghao did not realize how far he had come. biting seungcheol's hand when he introduced himself feels like yesterday's news to minghao! where did time go? how fast was it going that it zoomed right past minghao?

today, minghao can smile. that was enough for him to determine whether his life has taken a good or bad turn.

after holding eye contact with seokmin, minghao wraps his arms around his friend. seokmin jolted, but he laughed and reciprocated the hug, even patting minghao on his back.

"thank you, seokmin."

"of course, dear friend!" seokmin laughed, pulling away from the embrace. "i love complimenting people. it's like a superpower!"

minghao was now confused. all of a sudden, a 'super power'? "do enlighten me."

"complimenting other people is like seeing ghosts. you tell them what you see that they don't see about themselves, and they realize that what i said was true. and then, contrary to how people react when you tell them about ghosts—they smile when complimented! what a beautiful reaction!" seokmin clapped twice, directly looking at minghao. "i said what i saw in you, and you gave me a hug. your reaction was really delightful!"

minghao sighed, melting into a puddle. seokmin is truly precious. he finds such happiness in seeing other people smile, which is simple yet heartwarming. what's funny is that he is also willing to pick up a rifle and shoot at whoever threatens his friends! isn't he a really good person?

"tell me, seokmin," minghao starts. "why do you paint?"

seokmin's eyes dart to the ceiling, deep in thought. seconds pass and he gives minghao the answer.

"if you're looking for a simple answer, then it's because painting makes me happy and the people who see my painting make them happy. otherwise, if you're looking for a profound answer..." seokmin's pointer finger and thumb found their was to seokmin's chin. "remember what i said about complimenting people is like seeing ghosts?"

minghao nods once, then seokmin continues. "painting is also like seeing ghosts. there are some things in life that we wish to see, but cannot be seen so easily. but, for some reason, i can envision those unseen things in my head—and i use my brush to put it in a canvas so everyone can behold it as well. and then, they feel emotions. and then, i feel happy!"

minghao looks at seokmin's smiley face. his smile felt contagious—and minghao did nothing to stop himself from also smiling. minghao wonders, if he was brought up in an environment like where seokmin grew up, would he be like this too?

minghao is almost envious that seokmin can flash a smile so easily. he wishes to be brave and carefree like his coworker.

"that is an enlightening way to put it," minghao says. "thank you for answering."

"no problem, minghao! ask anything any time. except routes! i suck at navigating! actually, you know, if wonwoo hyung did not come with us, we would be anywhere else other than miyuni!"

the two friends share laughter, lightly doing so in fear of waking the other passengers in slumber.

happiness is a ghost. it was always around, but minghao couldn't see it. now, that his mind was getting clearer day by day, he can already see its silhouette.

the ghost disappears again as he remembers seungcheol.