"Thanks again for the help, Jonghyun. Honestly if I pull some all-nighters then I could have it finished by this weekend and turn it in a few days before the deadline." I placed my phone in-between my cheek and shoulder as I unlocked the studio door with my now free hands.
"It's the least I could do for one of the nicest people I've met."
I laughed at his words from my spot in the hallway despite having already opened the door.
"Let me know when you leave so we can go out---as a thank you." I hurriedly added, making a face at how weird my words could have been misinterpreted.
He agreed nonetheless with the same kindness his words were always laced with before we both said our goodbyes and hung-up. I let out a sigh as I gently tapped my phone to my forehead. Just a few all nighters and I should be done. Who needs proper sleep anyway....
"If you stand still any longer I might actually believe you're a sculpture or something."
The scream got caught in my throat as I instead choked on my own spit from the scare. I let my phone fly in a, thankfully for Baekho, completely distant direction from his spot.
His smile was wide in amusement as he walked over to pick up my phone from its landing spot. The annoyed expression stays on my face long after I've shut the door behind me and had taken a seat across from him on the only other stool in the room.
"Now that I'm done mentally dying of fear." I rub the bridge of my nose, "You're here early."
"Yeah, sorry I hope you don't mind." He apologized. For the completely wrong thing if you asked me.
"No it's fine. I gave you a key for a reason." I wave off, leaning my elbow on the table we were sat close to. Even if I hadn't had the most time to clean up the room was still in walkable condition.
"So. I overheard that you're almost done. Looks like you won't be needing to deal with me for much longer huh." Baekho's attempt at a laugh came out measly to say the least. And I was sure even he took note of it due to the cough that came out afterwards.
I didn't question it--out loud. Maybe he just felt awkward for what he had said the first time we met. I gave him a reassuring smile watching as the crinkle between his eyes slowly relaxed.
"Hey! Maybe I can get that picture off of Ren for you." I exclaimed with a small clap. My ears felt warm from having the small outburst but he hadn't seemed annoyed or scared by it.
"Oh, uh sure if you can. But don't worry too much about it. I'm sure I'll come across it sooner then later."
The air grew quiet and I couldn't help but stand up to disrupt the silence. "Let's get started then. The sooner we get done the sooner you can get out into the world again."
I walked over to the new canvas that I had begun. This one had come out a bit bigger then the original as it was a twenty-four by thirty sized canvas. But with the new ideas storming around in my head I knew I would need more space.
"Take your time. I want you to get the perfect grade that I know you deserve." Baekho's words caused me to momentarily stop behind the canvas as the ends of my lips tilted up.
Time went by before I realized that the night sky had took over. Or rather yet that Baekho had pointed it out. "As much as I like sitting in one spot for three hours straight how about we call it a night?"
I rubbed my eyes before nodding in agreement. "Sorry. You know you could have said something sooner. That way Ren wouldn't be at our heads for spending so much time here."
"Ren's a good friend for worrying about you. You should head out more often."
"With the fact that this is my last year before college I don't have much time to be going out with Ren to hang-out. Plus I'm not so sure if I'm going to continue my art studies in college, so I'm spending the most time on it now incase I don't."
"Why would you do that? From knowing you these few weeks I can tell it's something you really care about."
"Well to be honest it would be difficult to find a stable job with an art major. Not to mention that I suffered through too many higher courses to just let all that hard work, and sleepless nights go to waste."
"Well to be honest I don't think you should give up on a dream no matter how unattainable it may seem." Baekho's voice grew quiet, but that hasn't stopped from continuing.
"I don't know if Ren ever mentioned it, but I use to love singing when I was younger. I stopped because I was thinking the same thing you were. That I'd never be able to make my life with a job like that."
To be honest I had let myself believe that numerous different events could have led Baekho to become the person he was today.
Never once did I stop to think that it all had to do with the more often realism of having to give up one's dreams in order to make it in the adult world.
I couldn't process anything to say in return as I stood still with my backpack in my hand. It took me even longer to finally look him in the eyes. The same eyes that I now saw in a new light.
His only response was that warm smile that he now showed more often. Before grabbing my arm to lead me out of the studio. With flushed cheeks thankfully facing his back, I walked with him outside.
🌹🎨
🎨🌹
a/n: I love seeing so many nu'est books being written and updated
+there are three more chapters left
YOU ARE READING
/love paint\
Fanfiche was just a model for her next art project. but oh how he wished he was more ©-biaswrecker
