Picture Perfect | k.th

Chapter 2

Haru and I linked arms as we made our way to Jun's off-campus house which was just a few blocks away from the dorms.

The party was already raging from the sounds of the loud music and chatter across the way. Our heels clacked against the ground as we eagerly waddled over to the house.

Jun was already waiting by the front door, greeting the guests as they sauntered in.

I sidled up to him, "Now why would the life of the party sit out here when you could be living it up inside?"

"Oh look who decided to show up," he huffed.

"We were glamming up," Haru defended.

"Well while you did that, I already staked my claim on a couple of them. You fell behind Sohee," he shrugged.

I pouted, "No...we were supposed to look together."

"You snooze you lose," he shrugged.

"No~ come with me let's go hit up the dance floor," I whined, linking arms with him and dragging both him and Haru to the center of the party.

Everyone greeted us, instantly surrounding us in a mosh pit of sorts. I was lucky that everyone at this school was so welcoming and kind to one another. Everyone was friends with everyone and there was rarely vocalized drama within our batch.

"I'm getting drinks, what do we want?" Haru asked.

"Surprise cocktail please," I chirped.

"Bring out the shots," Jun huffed.

Haru laughed, "Alright, one's starting slow, the other is diving right in."

Jun threw an arm around my shoulder as she walked away, "So a little birdie told me that you got your hands on a painting of a drop-dead gorgeous looking man."

"Pfft, now who let that one out," I laughed.

"Well I'm just saying, if you've got arm candy like that, there's no reason for you to be out there searching tonight," he hummed.

"It's a painting. You can't kiss a painting," I rolled my eyes.

"What if he comes to life? He's from an alternate universe and he's a prince. Whisks you off to his universe to be his bride. Then you'll get all the kisses in the world," he wiggled his eyebrows.

"Are you drunk already?" I questioned.

"Tipsy at best, anyway that doesn't matter. My point is, I'm not even kidding. My dad used to tell me these crazy stories of an alternate universe or something when I was a kid and they were totally believable. I'm just saying, maybe this guy isn't just a painting," he suggested.

Haru came back with the drinks. I took mine and strategically stood in front of Jun's shots.

"Why don't you sober up a bit first then come back and drink these?" I said.

"No thanks," he huffed, moving me out of the way with the surprising strength of determination.

I shrugged off what he was saying, but something in the back of my mind was nagging at me. It was incredibly bizarre how lifelike that painting was. It was too realistic. There wasn't even a hint of it being a painting. I mean maybe it was a photograph and we were being scammed.

Alternate universe, definitely not. Very strange situation, sure. It was odd to give a painting such a human name. But maybe it was a model just like someone said it was. I mean it's believable, he's like if the universe took the finest marble and cut that man out of it.

Oh well. No point in dwelling on it now. There was a dance floor with my name written all over it.

Time Skip

"Sohee...I love you man," Haru said, gulping down the water after I forced her to stop drinking for the night. "You're like so...rad. There aren't rad people these days. -hic-"

I giggled, also pretty tipsy, but still cognizant enough, "Thanks Ru. You're also pretty rad. But you look exhausted, so maybe we should get you home."

"No!" She threw her hands up in the air. "The party is just getting started. Plus, don't tell her, but I think that girl over there really really likes me. And she's so pretty. Women are so amazing, like I worship them. My religion is women from now on."

"Women are great...but you are a drunk woman," I pointed at her.

"No you," she giggled.

"Mm...tipsy...at best. Now go say your goodnights and let's go home," I doted.

"You're not my mom~ I can take care of myself," she huffed.

"We have an alcohol protection pact together," I reminded.

"But Sohee...she's so pretty. Like it's not even funny, who is that pretty? Women are...but that's besides the point. Girls are amazing, and this one, sheesh," she stumbled over her words.

Jun, who was only slightly worse than me at handling alcohol, came over to us, "I don't think Haru is making it home. I've got a nice big room...for her that I saved."

"Help me bring her," I said.

We each took one of Haru's arms around our shoulders and basically dragged her to one of Jun's spare rooms. It was quiet and isolated from the rest of the party, so hopefully no one would be disturbing her to do something less than legal.

"I'm going to call in. I've got a painting to hang," I declared.

"Invite me to the wedding," Jun giggled.

I said my goodbyes to those who were left and made my way, semi-drunkenly home. I wasn't a lightweight so I was pretty aware, but I was in that happy state of feeling buzzed. Ah...drink responsibly friends.

I took off my heels halfway to home because they were just killing my feet and staggered on the cold cement back to our dorm. The rest of the people staying in our facility had definitely gone lights out, and I had to make sure I didn't get caught by that irritating night patrol guard. So I quietly made my way in, being extra careful not to drunkenly make a mistake.

Thankfully, I slipped past without a problem, and quickly staggered back into my dorm room.

The wave of tiredness hit me like a truck the second I got back. With no energy to change, I tossed my shoes somewhere near the door and my keys on the table.

Kim Taehyung was still posing handsomely in his little frame, staring directly into my soul. I knelt down beside him, taking a better look at his face. His eyes were almost like those pictures at haunted houses where the eyes followed you. They felt alive. Like they were looking at me.

"Man I am buzzed," I sighed, laughing to myself in a daze. I looked back at the portrait, "You know, you are handsome. You must've been one fine model to look like that."

I kissed my hand and gently tapped it to his cheek.

"Don't tell anyone I did that...because I'm a bit tipsy. Sleep well Kim Taehyung," I said, before trudging to my bed and collapsing on it, the second my body felt the bed frame.