a work of art [meanie]

Chapter 1

930 words

  

  
Wonwoo crawls up from his comfortable, warm bed. He groans as the cold air hits his skin. He would love to just jump back to his bed and wrap the huge blanket around him.

But no, he has to go to school.

As he realizes what is waiting for him, his mood drops even more. He has the dullest, longest and most awful class ahead him; physics.

"Physics in the morning? Is that even physically possible?" he mutters to himself as he looks for a clean shirt to wear.

Physics - like many other subjects such as math and chemistry - make him frustrated because he feels like he will probably never be able to remember all those things he should.

Even though he knows that it's reasonable to study physics and it's quite logical, he still lags behind other students because he can not force himself to study. He is just simply not interested.

It feels like he can feel his brain physically hurting when he tries to commit something difficult - for example mathematical formula - to his memory.

Sighing in defeat, Wonwoo grabs his backpack and heads downstairs to eat breakfast.

Later, on his way to school Wonwoo notices that the weather has gotten even colder since the day before. If it was cold yesterday, today it's freezing. He's feeling himself a bit chilly although he's wearing a thick, slightly oversized sweater under his warm jacket.

Wonwoo has to walk with hasty steps in order to arrive to school on time and when he finally gets to school he tries to align his breathing as he enters the classroom, quickly going to his chair in the back of the classroom.

Wonwoo groans quietly as he takes out his physics book and drops it to the desk. He will not enjoy the following hour.

Few classes later Wonwoo is still quite restless. He would so much rather be at art class instead of studying math. It indeed is called stuDYING for a reason.

Wonwoo twiddles the pen in his hand and starts drafting a bird to his notebook. The next class he'll attend to is art. Finally.

Wonwoo really enjoys expressing himself by drawing and painting. He loves how he can forget basically everything while drawing or painting. It's like he leaves this world completely for a while. And that's what it's all about; escaping the reality.

But right now it's impossible to flee from the reality; he is stuck in the math class.

He sighs and tries his best to concentrate on listening whatever the teacher is talking about.

I'll only have to last for this one hour and then I'll have my art class, He thinks, trying to encourage himself.

After that painfully long math class Wonwoo heads towards art classroom, headphones on his ears. He's always listening to music because he's always alone as he does not have any friends. But it does not bother him. Or at least not much.

Being alone and feeling lonely are two completely different things for him. And it seems that some people don't always quite get it.

Wonwoo himself doesn't mind being alone, but he can see the pity in people's eyes and he can almost hear their thoughts of poor lonely boy, he must be so sad.

He greets the art teacher politely and goes to get his work from his locker where Wonwoo always leaves unfinished works after class. It's a watercolour painting of a guy whose chest is open and there are dark birds inside him.

Wonwoo goes to his seat and continues working on his painting for next two hours without stopping.

Just before the class ends Wonwoo is done with his work. He lifts it up a little bit to see the result.

"I really like this one," the teacher suddenly says behind Wonwoo, startling him.

"Thank you, I'm quite proud of it to be honest," Wonwoo smiles.

He talks with the teacher for a while meanwhile other students are already rushing out of the classroom. The teacher is so nice, probably Wonwoo's favorite teacher ever. He is quite old but still so youthful. He has lot of wise thoughts since he has experienced a lot during his long life. Wonwoo wants to be like him when he is old.

"I've been thinking about this for a while and now I'd like to ask if you'd want to start working with me?" the elder asks suddenly.

Wonwoo stares at him blankly for a while, not understanding the question.

"I mean, I'm in charge of few art courses for kids and I don't think I'm able to handle all of them alone," he clarifies.

"Oh wow, me? Really?" Wonwoo asks in a surprised tone.

"Yes, you, my talented child," he confirms, slightly chuckling, making Wonwoo laugh at his statement.

Wonwoo loves almost anything associated with art so the thought of getting money of helping some children draw and paint sounds really good to him. He never thought he would get as pleasant job offer as this one. He has worked - and still works - as a cleaner in a cafe nearby but he has never liked it. Cleaning other's mess is not pleasant, especially when he has to clean the toilet. But because he likes money - who wouldn't - he decides to keep the job at the  cafe as well.

More money, he thinks as he nods to the elder, smiling widely.

They make employment contact after Wonwoo answers with a yes and Wonwoo leaves school, much happier than when entering it.