Picture Perfect | k.th

Chapter 21

"You all have free roam of this gallery but it's booked out for us for four hours. By two o'clock today, I expect to see you all of you here to tell me which piece you will be doing your art history thesis on. You can leave when you want but not before telling me. This is your final for the semester so make sure you do a thorough analysis. You can use some of what we discussed with our guest speaker but I want to hear your own thoughts because art is subjective. But do accurate research please because any misinformation is an automatic grade down," Professor Nam explained. He was usually a pretty chill teacher, but he was always serious about this semester midterms and finals. He loved seeing the culmination of our learning.

Taehyung and Haru were on either side of me, one with an utterly confused expression, and the other with a bored one.

Taehyung leaned over to me, whispering softly in my ear, "What's a thesis?"

I chuckled, "Oh you sweet clueless human. Be glad you don't know. I envy you."

Haru sighed, "Sohee, I can't do this. I'm going to go check out the sculptures and hope I can find some pretty women figures. Pray that I do well on this thesis." Haru sauntered off before I could even question her. I chuckled and shook my head, knowing that there was nothing I could to convince her to stick around.

I glanced up at Taehyung, offering a soft smile.

"Guess it's just us two," he hummed.

"Is that a bad thing?" I asked.

He held his hand out, palm up, "Not at all. It's...perfect."

I couldn't hide my smile as I placed my hand on top of his. Our fingers laced with one another until our hands were tightly clasped. A blush rushed to my cheek as he gingerly kissed my knuckles with a sheepish smile. So this is what it feels like to love without restrictions. Unapologetically in love with all the fear and uncertainties that come with it.

"Shall we?" I inquired.

He nodded, holding onto my hand tightly as we set off to explore the magical art exhibit. This moment was one I wished I could live in forever. Exploring my favorite topic ever, art history, with the love of my life, Kim Taehyung. For a moment, it just felt like everything was alright. Normal.

Taehyung was a wonderful goofball when he didn't feel so burdened by the insanity in his life. He would run up to various paintings random old men and try to imitate them and their serious expression. Or if he saw a bizarre scenario, he'd make a bunch of random voices to keep himself entertained.

And of course, if there was a more modern portrait of an attractive figure, Taehyung would use his prior portrait credentials and pose with the most breathtaking gaze ever.

It felt like...a normal date. Something that the both of us were long overdo. Moments full of laughter and peace.

We passed by a replica of Van Gogh's Starry Night, something that seemed to immensely pique Taehyung's interest. I was always a fan of more niche and unknown artists, but this particular painting had really caught his eye.

My heart swelled at the sight. I had spent my life so bored of the ordinary. I wanted something more and nuanced. But Taehyung, he had never gotten to experience the everyday. The ordinary was extraordinary to him. It reminded me to be grateful for the life I lived that was full of new and exciting experiences at every turn.

I came up beside him, slipping my hand into his, "This one caught your eye? Do you want to do it for your thesis?"

"The thesis is a long paper right? With research and stuff?" He asked.

I nodded, "It's awful but a huge part of university."

"I don't know why this one caught my eye, but it did. It's so enchanting," he said honestly.