J9 One Shot

Heart

"This is a disaster!", the sudden outburst coming from the person who was sitting on the bed, sketching; broken my concentration.

"What, Joong? Why such frustration?", I turned around from my study table and asked him; my assignment that I was typing on the laptop was put on hold for a while, "What are you sketching?".

"I am not skilled enough to draw a portrait, yet", he said, pulling his hair in frustration.

"Whose face were you sketching that was so difficult?"

"Ermmm... It's alright P', go back to your work", he was mumbling without answering my question; suddenly more interested in looking at the tip of his pencil.

I left my chair and sat in front of him, reaching out to take his drawing pad that he held on liked his life depended on it. I turned the paper, and saw something not yet finished, but noticeable.

"Oh my, I never know my nose is that huge, or my lashes as lush as yours, but you got the lips right", I teased him just to see him pout. He took his pad back and about to tear the page if not because my hand grabbed his wrist, "kidding, Joong, you looked too tense, so I teased you a bit. Actually, it just needs a little detailing and adjustment, to get it right, the overall look is already there".

He sighed heavily, "Not enough time, P'. It is due tomorrow...".

"Well, you got another 12 hours before tomorrow, and, yours truly, model, is right in front of you, then what are you whining for, hmm?"

"But, you have your work to do too. I'll just look at your photo, it's okay, go back there...", he said and pointed to the table.

"Is the photo not sharp? Maybe, that's why you couldn't get the proportion right", I left the bed, took my laptop and sat again in front of him, "Alright, start, Joong! I'll do my work and also assist you, just give a signal if you want me to lift my face", I said, and smiled. Joong looked at me gratefully, and started drawing again.

From time to time, he would hum, and I would looked at him for a minute or two, and looked down again. We continued for a few hours that way, until Joong got the whole rough outline and only needed to detail it more with lines and shadows.  I moved back to sit at the table, and continued my work, until we both decided to call it a night, or rather morning, it's already three.

"Thank you, P', for your help, and sorry to burden you, your neck must be hurting to move your face up and down so much".

"Just a little. It was a new feeling though, being looked at so thoroughly".

"Meaning?"

"Liked, you dissected every inch of my face... ".

"Nervous?"

"No, alarming".

"Alarming? Was I looking at you liked a psycho or what?", he said and laughed.

"No, not at all. It was just, I realized, time had changed, that now, you could look at me without darting your eyes away, or I could be looked at, without feeling the heat on my ears. We must be too familiar with one another after all, liked besties, or bros".

"Oh...", he said, quiet dissapointed. I was curious of the reaction.

"What's wrong, Joong?"

"Ermm, nothing. Good night, P'".

I turned him around to face me before he could lie down to sleep, a big question mark on my face.

"That's not nothing, Joong. Spill...". He remained quiet. "Alright, let me ask you then. Is this about your drawing? What was the theme anyway, that you chose me? A friend? Someone close? Or no connection at all?".

"It doesn't matter, P'. Just ignore whatever it was supposed to be", he said, switched off the light and laid down, not facing me. I let go of the unanswered question and laid down too.

The next day, Joong woke up early, went down to have breakfast and submitted his assignment through online, and went down again to watch a movie with my mom.

I woke up on and off because of his movements, then woke up fully at almost ten, took my towel to take a shower. But, my curious mind wanted to see the finished product too. I took his drawing pad and smiling looking at my portrait that finally had a likeness that he aimed for. A sudden notification sounded on my phone, startling me.

It was from Porr, Joong's friend.

[P', Joong's phone is off, that kid, never charged his phone! Please tell him, the Prof said, he must submit his work according to the requirement, by tomorrow!]

(Sorry, Porr, but what is the requirement? He already sent his, right?)

[A Heart. Literally. It's a picture of a model that Prof sent to us, said he borrowed it from the med faculty just for variety; because all the items we had in the room, was already used for years by our seniors. But Joong sent a portrait of you. Prof was not mad, but he couldn't give mark as well. So, please help to tell him, na, P'. Thanks]

The moment I ended my chat with Porr, the same moment the door to the room was opened, and Joong came in. I looked at him and smiled.

Maybe, Joong was not wrong, because if it was me, I would also draw this heart that was standing in front of me too.

I passed my phone so he could read the message by himself; and beyond the door that I just closed; I could hear embarassed grunts from someone who must be screaming while covering his face with a pillow.

The End