𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐧 • 𝐬𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧

26; true blue

invited to the president's room, minghao only followed seungcheol to the destination as the president was just in front of him, who arrived just now. seungkwan takes his leave, though disappointed that his companion was stolen.

minghao hoped that whatever explanation seungcheol has—no. minghao hoped that seungcheol did have an explanation.

back then, in the place where minghao was from, explanations come only when there are plans. only war and victory deserved explanations, because feats were all what people thought deserved explanations.

minghao hopes that he deserves an explanation.

"minghao," seungcheol's sturdy voice was shaking. "i am so sorry, that you had to find out that way."

minghao was not given a chance to speak when seungcheol dropped to the floor, crying uncontrollably like he wasn't allowed to shed tears tomorrow. he might be acting dramatic, but seungcheol paid no mind. he's truly guilty. he cannot help but let himself bursf.

minghao was shocked. though he has been with many strong men, who are much sturdier and stricter than seungcheol, the young man considers seungcheol as the strongest person he can lean on. seeing this strong person break down like a dam collapsing, it felt like minghao's heart broke down along with him.

he was kind of like a father, or an older brother.

seems like he truly regrets sending minghao there. if he planned on abandoning minghao in miyuni, then he wouldn't be sobbing on the floor, here. it could be acting, for all minghao knew, but minghao chooses to believe seungcheol.

after all, seungcheol believed in minghao first.

"damn it. minghao, i am really so sorry, for doing that to you and being such a mess." seungcheol gently takes one of minghao's hands, as the latter looked down at him. "i didn't want to leave you there. i didn't want to give you away to junhui—i was trying to betray him, i tried to be a really good betrayer, but junhui still found you. i am.. really, really sorry."

minghao did not let his small smile emerge, upon hearing seungcheol's explanation. i did deserve an explanation. he gave me one. i deserved it. i deserved it! seungcheol thinks that what minghao thought was of value, so he owed minghao an explanation so seungcheol's image in minghao's mind could stay positive!

minghao was valuable to seungcheol. that's nice.

"choi hansol," minghao states. at that, the tear-stained face of seungcheol was in view, looking up at minghao confusedly. "he was the first person i have ever painted. was it a coincidence, seungcheol hyung? because i am his replacement."

"minghao.... no, you are not." seungcheol sighed, rising up to his feet as tears ran down his cheeks. his hand remains holding minghao's. "i did not know that chan's best friend was my brother, and that you knew about it... but, minghao, he only reminded me of you.

"you were stolid, emotionless, and lonely. i know, just when i looked at your muddied face back in the war, that you did not want to be there. you had a passion, and you are yet to find it. just like my brother. hansol, he loved art. he loved paintings, so i made a company solely dedicated to art. of course, i did not ask you to join my company so i could raise you as a replacement of my brother—but it just happens that your passion was... well, art."

"i do not care if i am a replacement or not," minghao says. "i am happy here, nonetheless."

"no, minghao. you will never be a replacement for anyone. you are your own person. i took you in, so you wouldn't be like my little brother, and so that you could live a life that you deserve. you should never settle for less. while true that you remind me of my brother, i love you two separately. i love hansol for hansol, and you, for you."

minghao was now moved to tears.

he loves me. the person minghao leans on, loves him. minghao is very lucky. so lucky, that he can finally feel such an intense emotion as this. giving love—and receiving it.

minghao and seungcheol shared a hug, initiated by the younger.

seungcheol was blue. because just like the sky, he is just there, a constant, a fact. he was blue, because he is reliable, and stable. he was secure, orderly, and peaceful.

minghao rarely works with light colors for personal paintings, because light colors symbolize a lot of positive things, and minghao isn't sure on how to use them, because he hasn't experienced all of those positive things that light colors represent, and he is afraid that he would use them wrong because of his lack of knowledge.

seungcheol will indeed see the day that minghao paints something with bright colors.

"i do love and treasure you, hyung."

blue's complementary color was orange. and orange meant warmth, joy, enthusiasm, freedom, and change.

minghao might not show it a lot, but he belives that he is orange.