Spring Day

Part II

The days passed by quickly. Jin adjusted to life in your apartment, and you found that life was so much more enjoyable when you had someone to share it with. Namjoon and the others often dropped by to check on Jin, and you hosted several potluck parties. Jin began to paint in his Artist's Corner, and his completed paintings added color to your studio.

Sometimes, your students would ask if they could watch him paint, and Jin always let them. If he was in a particularly good mood, he would teach them a thing or two about painting. Jin became known as "my piano teacher's painter friend", and although the kids quickly figured out he couldn't see, they thought nothing more of it. They found it amazing how Jin could paint such beautiful things without looking, and would sit there for hours watching him if their parents let them.

Many of your students had hearing disabilities or other limitations. Whenever they became insecure about themselves, you would sit down next to them and ask them: "Do you see Mr. Jin over there?" The child would nod, watching Jin's brush glide over the white canvas. "What's the first thing you notice about him?"

"He's really good at painting," the child would reply. "He paints really nice pictures."

"Do you notice that he can't see? Does it bother you?"

"Well, yeah, but it doesn't really matter, 'cause he can paint pretty pictures."

Then, you would get on the child's level and look into their eyes. "You're the same way. When people see you, they notice your beautiful smile, and your lovely eyes, and how well you play the piano. They don't care that you have a disability, because that's not what matters most. If Mr. Jin is upset that his eyes don't work, then he wouldn't be here painting when you were here, would he? He is happy being himself, because he knows that what matters most is him being happy, and not what other people think about him. When you see him painting, do you focus on his paintings or his eyes?"

"His paintings."

"Exactly. So, don't worry too much about your disability. You are beautiful just the way you are." You would smile at your student, and the child would smile back, hopeful again. In the corner, Jin would smile to himself, pretending that he didn't hear the conversation concerning him. But before the child left, Jin would wave him or her over and ask them if they thought his painting looked okay, and since he can't see, would they please give him a suggestion on how to make it better? He would follow whatever suggestion they gave him, and sometimes, he would let the child paint something on his canvas. The kids often went home with a small picture that Jin painted for them, whether it was as simple as a blue jay or a miniature landscape painting.

"Mr. Jin is so nice," your students often told you. "I absolutely love his paintings. I wish I could be as cool as him." He quickly became somewhat of a legend among your students, who told wild tales of Jin's artistic abilities to their friends. Soon, "my piano teacher's painter friend" was a neighborhood hero, attracting crowds of children. You gained several piano students because of this, and Jin began to host weekly art lessons. Every few months, there would be an "art show", where the students' works would be displayed along with some of Jin's completed pieces. The townspeople could buy Jin's paintings at the show, and Jin made a healthy profit each time.

Life was great. Although it wasn't filled with extraordinary events, you felt happy and contented all the time. Each day, you woke up with a smile, ready to see what life has to offer. Jin came to see the apartment as his own, even splitting the rent with you. "It's much more fun to live with someone," he said. "Only after living with you all these weeks did I realize how lonely I was before."