A Portrait of You

A hundred and one

To where does an artist gets his inspiration?! maybe from nature, maybe from people they love, maybe from random strangers, maybe from a dream. He wasn't famous like Da Vinci but he was trying his best to make a living. He was commissioned to do portraits, of many young socialites and royalties alike, He was Nam Woohyun.

2 years passed since his graduation exhibit and knowing the name of the nameless face. 2 years had passed since his first love died but still he loved the man he never met that long. He never knew why but Sunggyu had kept him from loving any other person but him; and though he only sees the man in his portraits, Nam Woohyun won't deny the fact that he loved him.

"If only we can meet again Sunggyu." Woohyun muttered before dozing off.

"Well we can Woohyun-ssi" Woohyun opened his eyes and saw the face he longed for in two long years.

"Sunggyu?!" Woohyun asked and the man nodded and patted the space beside him. Woohyun took a seat beside Sunggyu and how he wanted to just hug the man forever.

"Thank you." Sunggyu said with a peaceful smile.

"What for?!" Woohyun asked and Sunggyu smiled widely.

"For making me come alive with your works. I am really happy that you were able to draw portraits of me that easily." Sunggyu confessed and Woohyun blushed as he scratched the back of his head.

"I guess I was inspired." Woohyun softly replied.

"Hey Gyu, am I dead?" Woohyun asked and Sunggyu chuckled.

"I am but you? definitely not!" Sunggyu answered and Woohyun was a bit disappointed. "You're not happy?" Sunggyu asked and Woohyun did not look at him.

"It's just that I have this longing to be with you." Woohyun shyly said and Sunggyu patted him on his shoulder.

"Listen Woohyun, why don't we make a deal?" Sunggyu suggested and Woohyun gave him a confused look.

"let's meet after you finish your hundredth artwork." Sunggyu said and Woohyun gave him more question marks.

"You're really cute Namu" Sunggyu said then gave him a kiss on the lips.

Woohyun woke up with the buzzing phone alarm, it was just a dream. But he was satisfied none the less as he finally saw the man he was longing for, for the last 2 years.

"I hope you'll keep your promise Sunggyu because I'll keep mine!" Woohyun muttered as he walked out of his bedroom.

...

Woohyun's popularity grew and grew as his paintings sold millions and he was given awards from left to right. Royalties were lining up to get his services and one by one his portfolio grew and grew.

"I'm very thankful that you agreed to do our portrait hyung, it really means a lot." Myungsoo gladly greeted as Woohyun entered the living room of the Kim mansion; and not it wasn't Myungsoo's but Sungyeol's as the two have apparently got engaged last year.

"What are friends for Myung? And besides I miss this place! Can I visit Gyu?" Woohyun asked and Myungsoo nodded. The two walked the familiar halls and entered the familiar room where Sungyeol was staring at the largest portrait of his brother.

"Yeol, Woohyun hyung is here." Myungsoo announced, breaking the train of thoughts of his fiance.

"Oh Woohyun-ssi! I'm glad you came today." Sungyeol greeted as he shook the painter's hand.

"Well I was just informed that you got engaged while I was stuck in London. So I guess this is the only gift I could give you for your engagement." Woohyun said as he smiled.

"ah, you're too sweet! How's your European tour by the way? It's been another 2 years since your last visit here? Sunggyu hyung must really miss you!" Sungyeol asked and Woohyun walked towards the painting and touched the portrait's cheek.

"I miss him too, the feeling's mutual." Woohyun muttered and all three smiled.

"Four years and yet you still love him?" Myungsoo asked his best friend, looking at his fiance as if to say that he's not bad mouthing his older brother.

"Yes Myungsoo, four years isn't enough to make my heart forget." Woohyun said before drinking the tea offered to him.

"So are you going to stay in Korea for good?" Sungyeol asked and Woohyun shook his head.

"Just long enough for me to finish my hundredth painting." Woohyun said and the couple nodded.

....

a couple of months on and Woohyun was practically finishing up the portrait of the lovely couple, it was his eternal gift to his best friend and his first love's brother. He took out the paint brush and dabbed some blue paint on the canvass. He picked up a nice purple and blended it with the blue. stroke after stroke, he was able to build the layers of color and depth of the painting. And after the seventh day, he was able to finish his hundredth painting, the one dedicated to the happy couple. Woohyun looked at his work and smiled.

"yah Gyu, I'm done but can we meet after my hundredth and one work? I have a surprise for you!" Woohyun conveyed to no one in particular before walking out of his studio and cleaned up.

The hundredth work of art was given as the couple got married in front of thousands of guests. Everyone was at awe with the masterpiece and how Woohyun had captured reality through his canvass. Myungsoo and Sungyeol were truly grateful for the gift.

"I'll be showcasing some of my works a few months from now. They're the ones not commissioned by private people so I am excited to show it to everyone." Woohyun told the couple as they chat after the wedding.

"I bet they're wonderful hyung!" Myungsoo exclaimed and Woohyun gave him a smile.

"Do you have a collection title Woohyun?" Sungyeol asked and Woohyun nodded.

"A hundred and one" Woohyun said and the two nodded, quite intrigued at the choice of title.

...

The days passed like just any normal day, lest for the fact that Woohyun struggled to finish the last piece of his collection. He was rather pale and exhausted as the exhibition date drew nearer but he had his faith. He took his brush and painted the canvass with all his strength could master. And finally as the last paint was dabbed, he closed his eyes and smiled.

"Hundred and one, I'm finally done." Woohyun said as he affixed his signature, closed his eyes and rested.

...

The exhibit opened with a silence as the mass went to gave their respect to the fallen artist. No one knew why Woohyun had hidden his condition but he had made such an impact through his works that the world was saddened at the loss of a great man and artist.

And as the light focused on each painting, 2 works stood out: right in the heart of the exhibit was Nam Woohyun's 2 greatest masterpieces, His first portrait of the nameless face, and his last portrait of himself. The two paintings looked at each other with expressive eyes and subtle smiles. To observers, they may just be coincidence but to knowing souls, it was fate bringing the two together, even if it was just through Nam Woohyun's expressive portraits.

a/n: i'm sorry if this did not live up to your expectations T_T 

I hurriedly wrote this or else I'll forget about the plot