Work of Art || Luwoo

27

~~Jungwoo~~

Friday nights tended to be slow for Jungwoo. He would sometimes be offered to go somewhere with someone, but after working for a full day, all he ever wanted to do was go home and relax. He didn't even bother putting away his photography equipment or files. His bag of supplies laid beside the door in a limp pile that wouldn't be touched until Monday morning when he returned to work. Nothing interesting had been playing on his cable, so he decided to continue working on his paintings. When he found Lucas' number in his pocket, continuing the art piece had been the last thing on his mind. He didn't continue to work on it that day, too focused on talking to the model who happened to be the subject in his piece. As usual, he sat his phone beside him as it played some of his favourite songs. He laid out some paint brushes and paints and continued from where he left off.  The painting was close to being completed and Jungwoo felt excitement and a sense of pride for making such a large work. He sat, content, in front of his eisle and let the real world fade away as he focused on what sat in front of him.

~~~

Jungwoo's hand slipped and sent a dark flick of brown paint across a small section of the piece. Thankfully, Jungwoo had been painting a section of hair and the brown streak could easily be covered up. He looked over at his phone, which buzzed in time with the catchy tune that blared through the small space. At that moment, Jungwoo regret choosing such an alarming sound for his ringtone and made a mental note to change it once his fingers weren't coloured with different paints. 

Although the sound caused Jungwoo to muddle a section of hair, he couldn't be angry. Lucas was calling.

Jungwoo reached for the towel closest to him and hastily wiped off as much paint as he could from his fingertips. He used his knuckes to answer the call and pushed on the speaker button, so he wouldn't have to hold the phone to his ear with paint covered fingers.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Jungwoo." Jungwoo's smile slowly faded. Lucas' words quiet and sad.

"Is everything alright?" Although he didn't mean to, Jungwoo's voice came out as a squeak. His heart picked up speed as he waited for an answer.

"Yeah, I- can I come over for a bit?" Lucas stuttered.

"Yeah, of course."

"Alright, thanks."

It took everything in Jungwoo not to explode. Lucas had only driven Jungwoo home a few times and he had never seen the inside of the apartment. Finally having Lucas come inside seemed like an exciting thing to happen, but Jungwoo wished that it wouldn't have happened like this. He threw his phone down and focused on cleaning up. He had better things to worry about than a bit of dried paint stuck to his hands. He hurried to put away the paintings that laid around the space. He loved to paint his inspirations, but having a large painting of the person you were trying to have a relationship with wasn't something that Jungwoo found would be particularly attractive. A little bit obsessive, if anything.

The last bit of dishes were gathered from the coffee table and counters and thrown in the sink and the small trinkets lying around the place were reorganized into some sense of cleanliness. Lastly, Jungwoo rushed to his wardrobe and grabbed a loose-fitting long-sleeve with a pair of jeans that weren't covered in dried paint. On the way back to the living area, Jungwoo glanced at himself in the mirror that hung in his hallway and fixed some loose strands of hair that sat out of place. Out of nerves, Jungwoo paced around the couch and table. Lucas sounded extremely upset on the phone and it hurt Jungwoo to hear the way his voice cracked. Thankfully, it didn't take long for Jungwoo's worrying to be interrupted by a knock at the door. The sound was startling and Jungwoo nearly tripped over his coffee table out of haste to open the door. He twisted the locks and swung the barrier open to reveal Lucas, who stood stiffly in the doorway.

Jungwoo gestured for Lucas to enter, the invitation took, and pulled Lucas to the couch where he sat with too-perfect posture. A model. Not a piece of wood. Jungwoo thought to himself.

"Well?" Jungwoo spoke softly, worried that talking at a normal volume could get Lucas more upset. He didn't want to be prodding into something that wasn't any of his business. Maybe Lucas just needed something-or someone- to take his mind off of things.

"I'm sorry." Lucas mumbled as he stared at the couch below him.

"You're sorry for what?" Jungwoo raised an eyebrow and looked at the boy who sat in front of him questioningly.

"I don't know what I'm doing." Lucas shook his head. When he composed himself again, his brows knit together and he bit his lip, battling with himself and trying to find the proper words. Jungwoo became more restless as he noticed the struggle for words.

"You're not making sense, Lucas." Jungwoo continued to speak in a calm voice.

"I used to have a girlfriend, and another before that, and I probably dated some other girl before that. It's always been girls, Jungwoo. I don't know why I'm doing this to you." Jungwoo's heart sank as Lucas spoke. He always knew about Lucas' previous girlfriends because of the Caller articles  and gossip about them. He knew that one day, the two of them would probably have this conversation, but he wasn't even remotely ready. He would never be.

"That's alright." Said Jungwoo as he shifted a little closer.

"No, it's not." Lucas finally met Jungwoo's eyes. Lucas' dark eyes shone a brighter shade of gold from the tears that threatened to fall down his cheeks.

"Why not? I already knew about that." Jungwoo brushed Lucas' fingertips lightly.

"I'm practically using you, Jungwoo. I- I don't even know if I like you." Lucas' words cracked and Jungwoo noticed him slouch more.

"Look at me." Jungwoo spoke to the top of the other's head. Lucas continued to stare down.

"Look at me." Jungwoo said again. He took Lucas' chin in his hand and pushed his head up gently. Their faces only a few inches apart.

"Stop." The word came out of Jungwoo's lips like a light wind but they carried an icy tone that matched that of a cold winter. Lucas looked forward now without the help of Jungwoo's hand.

"What?" His mouth hung open, still resting on the other's palm.

"You're not using me. I know what I'm doing, Lucas. Please, don't worry about me like this. I'm okay." Lucas pressed his forehead against Jungwoo's dark blue hair, the later's face against the model's expensive shirt that smelled lightly of cologne. He could feel light breathing move the hair that grew from the crown of his head.

"Thank you." Was the last thing Lucas said. They stayed like that for a while until Jungwoo shifted his position so that his head laid against Lucas' shoulder. He switched the television back on and the two watched mindlessly for what felt like an eternity, happy to be in each other's company.