Ashen || k.th.

37

"Are you ready, Y/N?" Hoseok asks beside me as I eyed the venue of my exhibit. I looked down and fiddled with the dress Seokjin gave me, deciding that it is the only dress suitable for the occassion in my wardrobe.

"I'm not really sure. What if they didn't like it? What if my works fail? Or they don't buy because it's ugly? Or maybe it--"

"Y/N, love, calm down." Hoseok said resting his hands on my shoulder as I bit my lip. "Everything's gonna be fine, okay?" I anxiously looked back at the humongous building.

"I'm shitting bricks, Hobi. I've never had something this big." I said as I slumped down from the car seat. The place itself extremely shakes me. I mean, it's one of the best art galleries in the US. Looking at it and thinking of my works that's hanged up inside makes me nervous as hell. I even questioned my talents.

"I know and I'm proud of you. Everyone is, Y/N. You've done great to get here so don't tell me that a building will make you scurry away. Besides, you look stunning in that dress and so does your works inside." Hoseok smiled up at me making my mood light up a bit. "How about let's not keep them waiting? It's time for them to meet the talented painter."

Hoseok was about to go down the car and open the door for me but I immediately stopped him and wrapped my arms around his neck.

"Thank you for being here when no one else is, Hoseok." I muttered as I feel his arms wound tighter around me. "You're the best."

"Anything for you, Y/N. It's always been a pleasure taking the place of your family." He said. I hopped of the car and took his arm. I heaved a sigh and began walking towards the venue.

----

I clearly remember the day my parents told me that I would never ever reach anything with the profession I chose. I can never make it big and painting will never amount to what a different career can give me. Before, I would ponder so hard about those words. Sometimes they make me regret, sometimes they make me proud.

But now, as I stood in the middle of my very own exhibit, all my regrets and doubts vanished. As I see people eye my work with awe and amusement, happiness course through me and I began feeling overwhelmed. My parents may be right. Being a painter won't give me much money. But it makes me happy. What's the sense of having tons of cash when you come home tired and unsatisfied? Painting is my passion and I'm more than proud of it. I felt so exposed to all of these people examining my works but at the same time, I felt free. In this exhibit, I managed to open up little by little about what I have been through these past months. And obviously, Taehyung's been a huge part of it. This whole exhibit is about him. Every work I've had in here is done with my thoughts about him. I am just so inlove with the person that I want to share how I feel. And damn, it felt good to do so.

I greeted everyone who's inside the venue. I wanted to somehow thank them for being here and giving me time to express myself. I must admit, I never expected these much people to come and see my work but I guess it's on the popularity of the place. I only know half of the people in here but even those I don't know came to congratulate me.

I heard someone cleared their throat behind me making me stop my train of thoughts.

"You know what they say?" A young man then stood beside me and looked at the painting I was looking at. He looks young yet professional with the way he sports his messy hair with breath taking eyes. When he noticed that he got my attention, he proceeded to speak.

"Behind every stunning and exquisite thing that exists, is a tragic story." He voiced out making me smile at the accuracy of what he said. It's a thing with art, you know? You automatically pour out emotions on an artwork no matter how good or bad those emotions were. "Is this of the same case?" He asked me as he finally looked at me with a bunny smile for the first time.

"Fascinating isn't it?" I heaved a sigh and returned my gaze to my work as he took his turn to look at me. "How something like these could come from a cataclymistic experience."

I heard him smile and he suddenly stretched out his hand for me to shake. "Jeon Jungkook. Nice to finally meet the talented woman behind these masterpieces."

"Y/N. Y/N Y/L/N. I hope you're enjoying the exhibit." I shook his hand and smiled back at him.

"Of course I am. I'm loving your works." Again, I just flashed him a smile and began to move forward towards another painting. To my surprise, he began walking by my side. "What's with your obsession with the grinning, brown eyed boy?"

He asked suddenly making me chuckle. He's very straight forward. He's actually the first one who threw me that question though I doubt that no one else noticed. I didn't paint portraits of Taehyung, no. I just put out some of his features on my works to remind me of him. I was about to answer him when I got called by the organizer to formally welcome the people.

"I would love to answer that question but I have to go. It was nice meeting you, Jungkook." He shot me a boyish smirk and a wink making me raise my eyebrows. I just shook my head and followed the organizer into a semi-platform built at the middle. I waited for my cue and when I recieved it I began talking.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen." I began, earning the attention of everyone. I felt nerves coming up once their eyes focused on me but I pushed it down with a smile and a deep breath. Just like how Jimin and Emerie adviced me earlier. "My name is Y/N Y/L/N and I would like to personally thank each one of you for coming to my very first exhibit."

"It has always been my dream to be able to share my passion and my talent to everyone. This really means a whole lot to me. I couldn't believe that I would be able to share a collection to this much amount of people." I smiled at each person I've made eye contact with. "I present to you, my collection titled Untouched. Because the man in almost all of the portraits.."

I trailed off once my eyes were met by a certain figure of a man. He's wearing a gray suit which complemented his jet black hair. His lean back is facing me so I couldn't see his face. For some reason, my eyes stayed focused on him as I seemed to be drawn into him.

"...is the most beautiful untouched art I've ever laid my eyes on." I said almost whispering. I noticed his back grew tense as he heaved a sigh, the movement evident from him broad shoulders. I teared off my gaze from the man and smiled at everyone again. "Again, thank you for coming and I hope you enjoy this little piece of my heart." Applauses erupt from the room but I was so distracted that I almost disregard it. My eyes went back to where the man was standing but he's not there anymore.

I just turned away for a second and he's gone.

People began crowding me, shaking my hands, and congratulating me. I appreciate it a lot, I really do. But I couldn't focus about it and I don't even know why.

A/N:The final chapters are gonna commeee! How are you all dealing with stuffs?

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