The Artist and His Muse

Chapter 27

"When are you planning to hold another exhibition?" Park Guk Shin took a sip of his steaming coffee and then set the cup down gently. He leaned back in his chair and eyed the younger artist.

Jungkook held his warm cup in his hands and stared at the dark liquid. His eyebrows came together and he narrowed his eyes. "I'm not sure," he said quietly. Yeon Ah helped host his last exhibition. He certainly wouldn't have her help or expertise the next time he did one.

"You've only done one, correct? Your - what do they call it these days...oh yes, fan base! Your fan base has grown!" The older man laughed lightly. "I may be using some social media but I'm nowhere near current on the terminology."

Jungkook grinned and looked at his friend. They had kept in touch since the exhibition and Jungkook had even been asked to sketch some of the older artist's family. He looked up to the older man and envied his talent; despite their age differences, the two had become quite good friends.

"Yes, my fan base has grown. But now that they know it's me, I'm afraid an exhibition would be swamped with fans." He would worry about the fans' safety as well as his own.

"Well, why not have your assistant do it for you?" 

Jungkook had not told his friend about Yeon Ah's abrupt departure or that she was now married and living...somewhere.   His smile faded at the thoughts of her and how he felt he had failed her. 

"Did I say something wrong, Jungkookah?"  The older man leaned forward on the table, a look of concern on his face.  He noticed how the young man's expression changed.  He saw hurt and sadness flitter across the young face. 

"No, you didn't," Jungkook sighed.  He pasted on a smile.  "The thing is, I no longer have an assistant."

Guk Shin sat back in his seat with a look of surprise on his face.  "Is this a recent development?  Haven't I been dealing with your assistant whenever I would contact you?"

"No, it's been a staff member who would pass along the messages directly to me.  No, my assistant has been gone for a while."  He laughed nervously and took a drink of his coffee.

"May I ask what happened?  I thought you two looked sweet together."

"Together?"  Jungkook laughed and looked away.  They were never together.  One more thing to add to his list of regrets.

"You weren't dating?" 

"No, sir.  Strictly business."  Those words held bitterness for him.  If he had allowed himself to forget the strictly business silliness, he might have gotten closer to her and she would still be here, with him, safe.

"Oh, I see.  I'm sorry for my mistake.  But, you seem sad when you speak of her.  Did you not leave on good terms?" Guk Shin knew he was prying into the boy's private business but it seemed like he needed to talk about it and hadn't done so yet. He was clearly holding something back.

"You could say that.  I'm sorry, sir, I have to get going.  We have a long night in the dance practice room scheduled." He smiled at his friend.  He wasn't ready to talk about this. It had almost been two years since she left but the wound in his heart was still raw and the regrets he felt towards her were always in the back of his mind.

He stood and bowed to the older man and with a promise to meet up again soon, he turned and left.

Guk Shin sat back in his chair and watched the young man's retreating back. He considered Jungkook a friend and, frankly speaking in just terms of his talent, he considered him a peer. However, he really had no place to pry into the boy's private life. Hopefully he had some good friends to help him with his problems. The old artist leaned forward and thoughts for a new painting began filling his head to the point he left his coffee on the table and hurried home to begin the piece.