3

"Eul Yi Song"

I slowly turn around, my eyes falling on the grey haired male infront of me, a warm smile on his face and brown eyes lit up "Baek Ji Daewi"

When he finally reaches me, his hand ruffles my hair and I close my eyes as he laughs "I could barely even recognize you with the short hair and different colour"

When he moves back, I can tell he's grown inches taller, much to my surprise because we've always been super tall since high school but at least the same height "I thought you said you lived in America now"

He smiles, now tugging at my cheeks "I had unfinished business here in Seoul. What? Aren't you happy to see me Eul?"

"I wouldn't say happy...."

"Ya"

His hand clamps over my mouth as he says "Don't ruin this moment with your ever honest mouth. Do you still like tea hmmm?"

Later, we're seated at a cafe, two steaming mugs placed infront of us with the exception of me having a slice of cake next to my mug "Baek. Do you still avoid cake?"

"It's habit, I...."

I move the teaspoon that has a small bit of cake to his mouth and say "Ahhhh"

He seems to blush a bit as he says "Everyone is watching Eul"

"My hand is beginning to hurt"

Sighing, he opens his mouth as I slide the spoon in, a smile coming on my face "Good boy"

He blushes more intensely now "You really haven't changed, have you? Except the new hair thing"

"Do you like it?"

"I'm not sure.... It feels different than what you usually do" He says with a shrug "Tell me, did Jan Yi Song tell you to do this?"

I shake my head as I chew on the cake, the flavour bursting perfectly in my mouth "No. Noona didn't. She's changed too. Except she still likes you I suppose"

He smiles there "Really?"

"Yes" I reply, taking another spoon of cake into my mouth "But I told her you still had no feelings for her"

"Huh? Tell me you didn't say it like that"

I look up at him "How was I supposed to say it?"

"Nicer. Sugarcoated, if you this emotionless being can accomplish such a feat"

"..... You didn't tell me to so it's your fault"

"Eul Yi Song"

I don't answer him.

Since I'm already half way done with the cake, I move to the mug and begin to take small sips.

"What about you? Tell me what you've been doing for the past five years. You finished college last year right?" He asks.

I nod, setting the mug down "Yes. You weren't there"

"And I apologize, things came up and...."

"It's okay"

And he didn't bother trying to explain after that.

We both know that there was nothing I tried to avoid more than excuses.

I never saw the need for them, especially when it was the past.

They barely ever fixed anything.

They just made everything hurt more.

"So what do you do now?"

"I paint" I answer curtly "Appa lets me now"

"Really? I always thought you'd take over the company...."

"Noona is doing that"

"Huh? She has no head for business"

"I'm helping her"

"Oh"

True, Noona was not very smart to do those sort of things, that's why Appa made her a sort of bodyguard/caretaker to me.

That way, she would always be around me and instead of it to look like she couldn't handle the company without me (which is true) it would always look like she was naturally around me.

"Tell me something else. Is there a man in your life?"

Oh....

I take another spoon of cake in my mouth, letting it fill my mouth for a whole before I say "Yes"

"Tell me more. How did you both meet? How long you both have been dating? What he does for a living?"

"We met at an auction"

"Oh that's nice"

"He was drunk and seated outside the door, beaten up but there was an unconscious person next to him though"

Baek Ji Daewi's face registers that of shock before he says "A thug?"

"I'm not sure" I say wit a shrug "We aren't dating though. I like him anyway"

".... Right. He works where again?"

"A gay bar"

As Baek spews out the coffee he had been sipping from his mouth, I mentally slapped myself for saying the truth "A gay... What?"

"Are you homophobic?"

"No! No of course not, I'm just trying to..... Didn't you just say you like him?"

"..... You'd start worrying like Noona"

"I was already worrying when you said drunk, beaten and a man unconscious next to him"

I sigh, now staring at my now empty plate of cake, sipping the tea in my mug "He's really not bad"

"We both know you aren't good at judging people"

My hand grips around the mug tighter as I say "Yes. I know"

I suppose he hears the tension in my voice as he says "No, no I didn't mean it like that....."

I ignore him, taking my phone out of my pocket and checking for messages.

Nothing.

Kim Geon Woo....

"Sunbae"

I put the phone back in my pocket as I look at Baek "Would you like to see my paintings?"

As he face lights up, I remember some bits of how we were back in high school.

Though he was my senior with just a year, we both always stuck together, possibly because he was naturally friendly to everyone and thought I had zero friends so stayed.

After he graduated, he moved to America and promised to always talk to me when he could.

I wasn't surprised he never checked up on me.

Hurt, but wasn't surprised.

"You're more quiet than usual"

We're in his car now, driving to the gallery as he spares me glances "Are you really not happy to see me Eul?"

I sigh "It's not you. I'm glad you're home Sunbae"

"Ya. Can you just call me Hyung instead? I think we've passed that level of formality"

"No"

"Ya!"

As his face tightens, I chuckle before he sighs and says "You still make certain jabs at my blood pressure"

"You're easy to jab though" I say, looking away.

".... I suppose that you HAVE changed a bit. A little. I'm just not sure how I feel about it.... The small humour you have... And the hair.... Did... Did he make you do this?"

I turn to him "Make me?"

He slightly shrugs "You just aren't the type to make impulsive decisions about your appearance. You... You never cared"

.... Did I?

True, I... I always looked how I though I should.

Proper, normal...

Just an average looking being to be honest.

But Kim Geon Woo....

'Have you ever thought of dyeing your hair pink?'

'Must you always dress so properly though? What's wrong with a casual jacket and sweatpants?'

'And let's not talk about the fact you probably don't know what a joke is'

Kim Geon Woo.... Makes me want to be... Interesting...

Why... Why isn't he even picking my calls?

"Impulse is good" I finally say "The gallery is over there. You can just make a left now"

When we're finally parked, he notices the amount of guards at the entrance and says "Wow. Why is everywhere so.... Tight?"

"There is an expensive artwork here. Appa sent them down here personally to watch over" I say as I use a retina scan to get the first main door open.

As we enter, they are paintings hanging on the walls which Baek keeps awwwing....

Though they... They don't seem to even make me feel happy anymore.

They feel like something I had done when I wasn't even sure about what I wanted....

When I was still in the dark.

Until he came.

"Come see something"

He turns to me, his wide eyes staring at me with surprise as I open the door to another room.

Before he comes in, I block his view "I'd need you to close your eyes"

He stares at me surprised as I add "I'd hold your hand so you wouldn't be scared"

He scoffs there "I wouldn't be scared"

"Okay" I say as I stretch out my hand to his and he holds me "Close your eyes please"

He does so, and when I'm sure he actually can't see, I take him inside and slowly shut the door, putting off the lights and saying "You can open them now"

As he does so, he lets out a cuss as he topples and falls on me whole I hold him "Careful Senpai"

"What...where are we?"

I stare around the room that's pitchblack, except that they were stars around, the whole place looking like we were standing outside under the midnight sky.

Exceot here the stars were all around us and there were shooting stars....

Even a milky way at a corner.

"Don't touch" I say as I hold his hand and pull him back "The painting isn't dried yet"

He turns to me, an aghast look on his face "How did you...."

"It's two months old" I say as I put my hands into my pocket "It's to be as realistic as possible. Do you feel the wind around too?"

"Yes.... Staring at the sky when you really aren't outside... A beautiful one nonetheless... How big is this painting?"

"It's a whole room" I say with a shrug.

"So.... So it's not for sale?"

"For relaxation maybe" I say.

"Relaxation? Really?"

"It's peaceful. I like it. Do you?"

"It's perfect Eul"

Maybe Kim might like this too....

It's his gift anyway.

As my phone buzzes, I quickly take it out of my pocket and stare at it, the small excitement I had disappearing as I pick the call "Zephyr?"

"Kim Geon Woo has left the bar"

What?

"Where is he going? Home? Where?"

"He.... He got into the car with another man Madam"

.....

"Follow him and send me the coordinates" I say before hanging up and facing Baek "I have to go now"

"What?" He asks with actual confusion "I thought...."

I snap my fingers as light fills the room and Baek shies away then say "Something came up. You can still go around if you like, but I suppose I'd arrange another meeting with you Sunbae. It was nice meeting you today"