Deep End | Hyunlix

17

Felix stood outside HH Art, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts as he glanced up at the building. I.N stood beside him, his presence a steady comfort, even if he had been forced into coming along for this particular venture. Felix had practically begged for the art gallery's name, and although the younger insisted on accompanying him, Felix was thankful for the company. He had a feeling this wasn't just curiosity driving him to visit; it was something deeper, something he couldn't quite explain.

"There's a big crowd today," Felix remarked as he looked around at the mass of people gathered in front of the gallery. "Do you know what's going on?"

I.N glanced around as well, fidgeting. "I think they're waiting for something special. One of Hyunjin's new pieces is coming in today."

Felix felt a thrill rush through him at the mention of Hyunjin's name. A new piece? He couldn't help but feel excited, his curiosity piqued even more than before. His mind had been so preoccupied with the art pieces since I.N had shown them to him, and now, seeing the crowd, he couldn't wait to see it for himself.

"Let's hope the crowd isn't too crazy once we get inside," I.N mumbled, clearly uncomfortable in the growing sea of people.

"Looks like they're letting people in in sections, so it shouldn't be too much longer for us," Felix said, bouncing a little on his feet from excitement. He glanced at the younger. "You know, you didn't have to come with me."

"I know, but I figured it's better to be cautious," I.N replied, shrugging. "We don't know if it was a coincidence or not that you ran into him at the café. Plus, it's nice to be out with you."

Felix couldn't help but smile at that. He knew I.N was trying to look out for him, just as the rest of the team had been. But there was something warm in the younger's words, and Felix appreciated it more than he let on. I.N had always been supportive, and he was one of the few who truly understood what Felix had been through, even if Felix hadn't opened up completely yet.

"Oh, good, it's our turn next," Felix said, his excitement barely contained.

I.N looked at him and smiled, noticing the joy that Felix couldn't hide. At least he's having fun, he thought.

When they finally stepped inside the gallery, Felix's breath caught in his throat. The entrance was decorated with a striking angel statue, draped in black cloth with blood-red stained hands. It was a disturbing yet mesmerizing piece, and Felix couldn't tear his eyes away from it. His mind tried to process what he was seeing when an excited murmur swept through the crowd.

"Looks like the new piece is being revealed," I.N said, nudging Felix, who was still staring at the statue.

Felix snapped out of his trance and followed the crowd to the next room, where a large painting was being unveiled. His excitement bubbled over as the black silk fabric was pulled away, revealing the new piece, a stunning black-and-white abstract portrait with splashes of red. The intricate brush strokes captivated Felix, and he could hardly breathe as he took in the sight of it. It's beautiful, he thought, his heart racing.

After a few moments of gazing at the painting, Felix turned to I.N. "Let's come back when there's less people," he suggested, noting how crowded it had gotten around the new piece.

I.N nodded in agreement, and they moved to explore other areas of the gallery. As they walked through the other rooms, Felix couldn't help but marvel at Hyunjin's work. Each piece seemed to convey a sense of melancholy and beauty that captivated him.

"His style is so beautiful," Felix said quietly, as they stood before another painting. The stark contrast of black and white against the piercing red was hypnotic. He felt drawn to it.

"It's definitely unique," I.N agreed, clearly taken with the artistry as well.

They wandered through another room, where Felix stopped in front of a piece of a lone bird, its wings outstretched amidst a dark swirling background. The piece radiated an overwhelming sense of loneliness, and Felix's fingers itched to touch it, but he resisted the urge, clasping his hands together to stop himself.

"There's just something lonely about them," Felix murmured, his voice soft as he studied the painting.

I.N glanced over at Felix, noticing the look of deep thought on his face. Felix had always been one to analyze things with such depth. He had always been able to look beyond the surface, and seeing him so absorbed in the art made I.N wonder what he was truly feeling.

"I think there's more to these paintings than just their beauty," Felix said quietly, but before I.N could respond, the room where the new piece had been revealed had cleared out.

"Hey, let's go see the new piece before more people come," I.N suggested, gently pulling Felix's attention back to the room.

Felix nodded, feeling a nervous energy coil in his chest. As they made their way back to the room, his palms grew sweaty. When they entered, the room was completely empty. Felix could hear his own heartbeat as he walked closer to the new painting. He couldn't tear his eyes away from the brushstrokes, the way the red bled into the black and white. He felt drawn to it like he was supposed to understand something, though he couldn't quite put his finger on what. Without thinking, Felix reached out to touch the surface of the painting, but a voice immediately stopped him.

"Please don't touch," a security guard said as he walked up beside Felix, stopping him.

Felix immediately stepped back, looking apologetic. "Oh, I'm sorry," he said, feeling embarrassed.

The security guard nodded and walked away, leaving Felix and I.N standing in silence. The two of them resumed their silent appreciation of the painting, but now there was an unspoken tension in the air.

"You know," I.N said finally, his voice thoughtful. "It kinda looks like you."

Felix blinked, caught off guard. "W-what?"

"The painting," I.N explained, pointing to the piece in front of them. "It kinda looks like you."

Felix's eyes widened as he looked at the painting again. Does it look like me? he thought, his heart suddenly racing. The more he looked at it, the more he saw what I.N meant. The figure in the painting had the same dark, intense features that Felix often saw in the mirror, though slightly abstracted in the art.

Before he could say anything, a man walked up to them, his voice cutting through the silence. "Hello, are you Felix?"

Felix's eyes shot to I.N, his heart skipping a beat. Who is this? he thought, his instincts immediately going on alert.

"Umm, who is asking?" Felix replied, his voice tight.

"Your presence has been requested. Please follow me," the man said, turning to walk away.

Felix and I.N exchanged a look, both on guard. But with little choice, they decided to follow the man, unsure of what to expect next.

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