/love paint\

'First Place Ribbon' Gold

Even from the other side of the door I had still heard the doorbell ring throughout the apartment. I had let Ren know that I was stopping by after school, but apparently ten minutes ago he got 'busy' with something else.

I trusted Ren but even I wasn't naive enough to believe his lies...all the time. After a few seconds had past of me staring at the door I pressed the doorbell again.

Tucking my hands in my pockets and pulling my scarf up higher, I turned to look at the street a few feet away. Why couldn't they have picked an apartment building like most normal people do? "I swear if I freeze out here I will haunt you for the rest of your life, Choi Min-Ki."

"This must be serious if you're using full legal names." Upon hearing the voice that was definitely not Ren I felt my shoulders stiffen.

Turning with a sheepish smile still hidden behind my scarf I was met with the sight of what seemed to be a barely awoken Baekho. Keeping any comment about how it was already three in the afternoon at bay, I quickly apologized. "Sorry. I was just looking for Ren obviously."

He let out a yawn before waving me in. "Reason or not come inside before you get to haunt him for the rest of his life."

I accepted his invitation outweighing the fact that we would be alone with wanting to keep from freezing. The apartment's warmth instantly brought relief to my numb limbs once the door was closed behind me.

Watching Baekho walk over to their kitchen I caught myself staring at his back much longer then I cared to admit even to myself.

Not that I noticed his sweatpants and tight shirt combo or anything. No, not at all.

A blush rose to my face but if anything I would have been able to pass it off as an effect of the cold.

Get yourself together, Mina.

I shook my head gently as if that would erase my previous thoughts before removing my shoes by the door.

"You can sit in the living room while I finish making this." Baekho informed me from within the kitchen. Not wanting to be found in the same spot I walked over and took a seat on the couch.

My eyes wandered around the small living room before taking notice of a particular picture on one of the bookcases.

To be honest it surprised me that I had even spotted it with all the mess that poor piece furniture held. It looked like anything they cleaned up from the room was squeezed somewhere on there.

Without wasting another moment I walked over to look closer. The picture held a twelve year old, proud version of myself. Proud because for the first time in my life one of my own works had won an award.

Sure it had just been amongst my same aged classmates, but it meant the world to me. I had been incredibly reluctant to enter it as I hadn't shown anyone besides my parents and Ren one of my works.

After winning that day I continued pursing art as much more than just a way to help me cope with my struggles. It became a passion that I slowly grew confident in.

"For the longest time I had thought that was Ren's sister." Baekho's sudden close proximity had me scrambling in an attempt to not drop the picture. I heaved out a sigh upon safely putting it back in its place.

"Every time I asked him all he would say was 'yeah sure'." We both focused our sights on the few frames scattered around on the bookcase. "I let it be until a week or so ago when I was looking for a movie to watch, and one glance at it made me feel a sudden déjà vu."

"I can't believe Ren has this. Honestly sometimes he acts more like a parent then best friend." My smile instantly reached up high at the thought. "But yeah that was the first time I had entered and won something."