Ashen || k.th.

34

"Y/N?" Chae apperead on the doorframe of my work room, clutching her doll in her tiny arms.

"Yes, Chae? Is there anything wrong?" I stepped outside and closed the door since the smell of paint is not really good for her.

"I just noticed, whewe's Hyung?" She asked for Taehyung making my stomach drop.

A couple of months have passed since he was gone. I am doing well as of now, better than months ago. Despite the struggles to get back on track, I managed to live the life I used to have before him. The life that I almost forgot. I'm slowly getting used to not having him beside me. I think I'm moving on.

"W-Well.. He's.. Uhm. He's gone, baby." I crouched down to her level and smiled sadly. I saw the joy drain from her eyes as she pouted. I can imagine how I look exactly like her before.

"Why? He doesn't want to play with me anymowe?" She sniffled.

"No, baby. He just needs to go."

"Will he come back soon?" She asks as she eyes me with so much expectations.

"I really don't know, baby girl. But one thing's for sure."

"What is it?" She asked.

"He will definitely miss you and your games. Hyung's in a better place now, Chae. He's happy." She nodded even with the hint of confusion on her face. How am I even supposed to tell a kid that Taehyung's a ghost all this time and he's gone now for good?

"I'll miss him too." Chae mumbled. "But if he's happy, then I am too!" Chae said, making me smile. A child's heart will always be pure in any situation.

"Oh! I have something to show you!" She grinned happily and held on to my pointer finger as she drags me to the couch.

"What is it, Chae?" I asked as she pushed my thighs to sit on the sofa. She gathered a paper and faced it towards me.

"Look, Y/N! I draw me, you, and Hyung!" She pointed at the messy drawing of three stick figures holding each other's hands.

"That's beautiful, Chae." I patted her hair as I look at the smiling faces on her drawing. It looks so innocent and pure in my eyes.

"Weally? I wanted to show this to Hyung because he said, I draw good!" She beamed proudly. My heart thumps in my chest everytime she mentions him. The walls and pillars I've built around my mending heart seems to shatter down as I'm reminded of his memory.

"And you do, sweetheart. That's a work of art." I pecked her forehead lightly causing her to giggle.

"I wemembew Hyung telling me that one day, I can be as good and you awe in painting. He said I can be as pwetty as you too!" She smiled at me.

"Really? What else did he say?" I asked. She got comfortable as she sat on my lap and look up at me.

"He said, one day, when he's not here anymowe, I should visit and play with you and make sure you don't cwy. Because he said you are too beautiful to cwy, Y/N." She muttered. The next thing I knew, tears were rolling in my cheeks as I crumble infront of Chae.

"Why awe you cwying, Y/N?" She asked, her lips beginning to pout. If Chae and Tae have something in common, it would be the fact that they hate seeing anyone cry. "Hyung will be sad too. I'm gonna be sad too." She cupped my cheeks in her small hands as her nose got redder and redder. She tries to stop herself from crying as I pulled her close to me in an embrace.

"I just miss him, Chae. So much." I whispered. She began lightly caressing my hair as I silently weep.

"How about we grab some cereals to eat?" I suggested after some time as I wipe my eyes dry. She took my hand as we skipped towards my kitchen. Chae and I were busy talking about something when my doorbell rang. The security guard of our building handed me a clean envelope before I closed the door.

"What is that?" Chae asked curiously.

"Just a letter, baby." I decided to read it later and sticked it on my fridge. "You done there?"

"Yep! Finished it all!" Chae said proudly.

----

Three months ago, I spoke to Seokjin about wanting to start a new solo exhibit. Since he's one to know the best galleries that hosts art exhibits, I immediately asked for his advice. He recommended different galleries and I sent a proposal to all of them. And today, I recieved a letter from one of them. It was from Walker Arts Center! I was insanely excited that I was hopping on my bed.

"SEOKJIN!" I screamed when he picked up the phone. I was so giddy, I just can't help it.

"Woah! Calm down, woman. What's up?" Seokjin laughed.

"Do you remember Walker Arts Center?" I asked while grinning, hopping like a bunny on my bed.

"Of cou--"

"THEY RESPONDED, SEOKJIN! THEY ACCEPTED MY PROPOSAL!" I screamed through the phone.

"Wait what?! Really!?" Seokjin exclaimed. I nodded even though he can't see me.

"They did, Seokjin. Thank you so much!"

"It's all you, Y/N. Congratulations! You update me about it, okay?"

"Thank you. I will Seo--" I was cut off when I heard someone else on the end of the line.

"Walking stresses the hell out of me, Jin-hyung." A very raspy voice said. For some reason, I was filled with chills all over my body. 'That's one sexy voice.' I smiled to myself.

"I have to go now, love. Congratulations again." Seokjin said.

"Yeah. Thank you, Seokjin. Take care." After that call, I immediately phoned Hoseok to tell him the good news. He's about as excited as I am and went on blabbering how proud he is of me. I thanked him endlessly as I know I owe a huge part of me to him. He has always been there to support me and I could never forget that.

"Y/N?" Hoseok asks at the other line after we shared some moments of silence. I hummed in response. "Taehyung would have been so proud of you."

I heaved a sigh and looked at his portrait that I painted on my bedside table. I moved closer and traced his face with a sad smile.

"He is, Hobi. He is." After I dropped the call, I picked up Taehyung's portrait and sat on the bed with it in my hands.

"I hope you're happy for me, Tae. I'm doing this all for you." With that, I proceeded on telling him how my day went, my thoughts, and expectations for tomorrow before kissing his portrait goodnight.

With a sigh, I realized that I will never forget about Kim Taehyung. Who he is to me, how he makes me feel, and how I feel towards him. Sure, I can trick myself about being over him with friends and work around. But when nights creep in and I'm all alone, my heart reminds me of everything about him.

How could I ever forget my favorite work of art?

A/N: HmmMmmM...

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