SHUT DOWN | JENLISA

21

Jennie

The painting in front of me was heartbreakingly beautiful. It took up an entire wall, and it was hard to know where to look. The background was dark, and the brushstrokes were aggressive, yet they had a purpose.

There were two men, stark naked, and they were standing firm and strong in their stance. Their hair was a light brown, and it fell down their backs; their bangs were messy as they framed their identical faces. I could see the ruggedness of their noses, the lust in their eyes, and the sharpness of their jaws.

Their chests were riddled with small scars and curly patches of hair, and it added this almost savage-like appearance. My eyes travelled down their chests, their evident Adonis lines. I swear my fingers were twitching to trace every plane and the hard line of the men.

The painting made them almost seem alive, like I could feel their emotion. I looked down to see their hands placed on either side of a woman that sat between them on some gold and bejewelled throne. The throne was placed low, so you could see the men clearly.

You could almost feel their possessiveness shining in how their fingers clasped over the pearly whites of her shoulders. The woman's hands went over both of the man's as she held them to her. As if saying they are mine just as I am theirs.

Her eyes were straightforward and confident, and they shined like two gems at night. Her hair was light in colour, almost a pale blonde, and it fell like erratic waves down her back. I let my eyes wander down the slope of her elegant neck, down to her round breasts, the tips of her pink nipples were stiff, and then lower until I got to the lower part of her body.

She wasn't cleanly shaved or waxed. It felt so real. So raw. The woman's thighs were spread lightly, exposing her pussy, but not quite. It was almost a tease. There were so many emotions radiating off this painting that it made me delirious.

I could feel love, pain, lust, and need, and yet there was something overbearing all of those emotions. Balance. It was perfect, maybe imperfectly balanced. It was almost hard to remember that it was just a painting, for how it was painted made it feel real. Too real.

"I called it - Unorthodox." Irene said.

I turned to face her. Irene had bright pink hair styled like a pixie with too many piercings in her ears, nose, and eyebrows. She was in a floor-length black and pink dress. Her tattoos covered every inch of her arms and neck, and I knew her back, and chest was covered in them as well.

This woman loved to express herself, and I love that about her. She truly never cared about what anyone thought of her. As long as she was happy, it was good enough for her. Her doe eyes smiled up at me as she handed me a glass of champagne.

"I love it."

"You know this couple has been together for almost six years. When they approached me, the woman was very insecure, and the way her men reassured her was a sight to see. I mean the way they look at her, touch her...." She fanned herself dramatically. "It's like God; when will it be my turn?"

"I thought you were dating Jin." I took a sip, and she rolled her eyes.

"I was. Not anymore. I want to settle down, Jennie. I want a family, and Jin didn't. So, I'm back on the prowl. Either I find a man, or I'm adopting. Either way, I think I'm ready to be a mom."

"You'll be a great mother." I said, and her eyes shined as she smiled at me. "And I'll always be here if you ever need anything."

"You've always been good to me, Jennie. Thank you." She pulled me in for a hug, and I moved my hand out of the way so I could hug her as well.

I pulled away and tilted my head to the wall. "I want this painting, but don't do that thing you do where you lower the price. I'm buying it for the price you wanted to sell it for. Now come on, stop sapping, and let's toast to your success." I lifted my cup, and she did as well. "To you and to all the good and beautiful things life has in-stored for you."