Picture Perfect | k.th

Chapter 5

Sohee POV

"Miss Kang, to what do I owe this pleasure?" The administrative director greeted warmly.

"Good morning! I came to you because I was hoping you could help my friend out here," I said, motioning to Kim Taehyung who was dejectedly holding a sketch book in his hands.

He seemed pretty hurt after I had pretty bluntly laid it out to him that he was a non-existent piece of artwork that happened to come to life. It was probably traumatic to go from not being able to remember anything about your life to finding out you never had one to begin with.

He spent the rest of yesterday trying to crawl back into the canvas in any way possible. We tried so many different ways and outcomes, but his heart definitely wasn't into it. I felt bad for him, so I told Haru who we had strategically hid him from, that I was going to hang out with a friend from high school and wouldn't be home.

Then I dragged Taehyung out to a hotel and got us both cheap separate rooms so he could have a bit of alone time to process without having to worry about getting caught.

With shoving him back into the painting crossed off the option list, I decided to at least try and get him into our school so he could have some sense of stability while we figured it out.

"What can I do for your friend?" They asked.

"You see...his name is Kim Taehyung. He was recently the model in one of the paintings from the analysis class. I noticed him walking around campus aimlessly the other day and recognized him. I was obviously starstruck so I offered to take him out for dinner since he looked so confused. So believe my shock when this handsome model tells me he's been cut off from his family and is struggling to find work. This man...who is so insanely handsome that you'd think he's a sculpture himself! I know along with modeling that he has a talent for art as well, and I was wondering if we could take him in," I explained, knowing it was a stretch to expect anything.

The administrator blinked at me a couple of times, "Umm...what you're asking is a bit unorthodox...the people who got into this school weren't exactly charity cases. I can't just offer him a scholarship at the drop of a hat."

"I understand this is unorthodox, but he's an up and coming model, he would be the face of this prestigious school's alumni. I'd really like to help him and I know that our school is as charitable as it is prestigious," I buttered them up.

They sighed, "Okay, let me see if I can find some records on him."

"Oh-"

I glanced at Taehyung who was mindlessly continuing his doodle, obviously not present in this discussion one bit.

I kicked his shin, getting his attention on me. 'Perk up, otherwise you're not getting in,' I mouthed.

"Miss Kang, your friend doesn't have a record..." they trailed off in utter surprise.

"What? How could that be?" I faked an over dramatic voice.

"He doesn't have any education records, no medical records, no disciplinary records, no registration records, no legal records...Miss Kang-"

"That's outrageous! How could they screw up so badly?!" I snapped, trying to make a performance out of it.

I kicked his shin again.

"Ow—I mean oh my god! How could they wipe my records like that? The nerve of that jerk," he improvised.

Alright fourth grade improv classes, now is your big moment.

"I'm telling you, this is his family and his manager. They have something against him, I'm telling you. They have powerful connections and they tried wiping him from existence," I recalled dramatically.

"Why would they—whatever. Miss Kang, I really appreciate you trying to stick up for this...troubled friend of yours, but even if this situation was orthodox and not highly suspect, there's just no proof that he'd fit in here. What classes would he even take?"

"He can take all of my classes. I'll be his buddy so that he can get accustomed to the school a little more," I offered.

"Look Miss Kang, I like you, I really do. You're one of our school's most intuitive and intelligent students. We see you going far in your passions with art history and your kindness will extend into philanthropy. I want to support you endlessly. But unfortunately, this is something I cannot do for you."

Taehyung nonchalantly put the sketch book down, rolling his eyes at both of us arguing. Our gazes snapped towards the sketchbook that had been covered in 'doodles.'

Except instead of doodles, an exquisite depiction of the scene that had unfolded between us had been sketched. To mesmerizing precision, the angles and dimensions of the room had been drawn in perfect accuracy. The expressions and details to the three of us sitting was so detailed, it was almost exact.

So he was not only a sentient painting, but a painting that was artistically gifted.

"Did you draw this...in the time we've been here?" The administrator asked in awe, lightly tracing the sketch.

Taehyung shrugged uninterestedly, "Yeah..."

The administrator turned their gaze back to me, a little more sly than before, "Miss Kang, I don't really like to operate in an unorthodox manner, but, your friend here has quite an untapped talent for art. He would do marvelously in our advanced class, perhaps win against our supposedly undefeated rivals in some competitions. And as you said, we here love to nurture our students' talents so they can be the best versions of themselves. I'm sure I can nudge a full scholarship, if he agrees to be a part of some upcoming competitions."

I gave him an obvious look.

"Uh yeah sure. Thank you so much for the opportunity," he muttered.

"Splendid! I will work out all the details, but for now, let me show you to your dormitory. Since you're an up and coming model, you should get your own room for privacy sake," they said to which I firmly nodded in agreement.

We all got up, awkwardly shaking hands as the administrator eagerly awaited to show Taehyung to his room.

"Oh wait! Before you go...I got you something," I said, tapping his hand gently.

His gaze flickered up to my face dully.

I placed the newest model of a Samsung in his hands. The kind that flips and does all those cool things.

"I figured you could use a phone in this day and age," I whispered. "Right now it only has my number in it, but it's got games and—"

"I know how a phone works. Thanks. I'll get going now," he said coldly.

Ouch.

"Oh...okay. See you in class tomorrow! I'll text you the schedule since we'll have the same one. Except for the art class. I am definitely not as good as you are," I chuckled awkwardly.

"I guess it's a cruel joke that the painting can do art," he huffed before turning on his heels and following soullessly after the administrator.

Yikes. So maybe we had a bit of a rough introduction. But I was willing to really help him now since I was stuck with him in this world anyway.

Ugh...out of all the people in the world, it had to be me who had to have a painting come to life.