It was during the month of August when Chanyeol showed his art studio to Eunhae. Summer was about to bid its farewell and leaves were starting to blanket the streets.

When they finally reached their backyard, Eunhae saw his workroom. From a few distance, she knew it wasn't big. It was a white shed with two windows. The color outside was already faded; the paint on some sides were already peeling, like dry scars of a wound.

Outside stood an easel in front of a wooden stool and cans of paint were on the ground.

"I usually paint outside." Chanyeol said and opened the door of his humble art studio.

A smell of oil paints along with turpentine welcomed the both of them when they got inside. Rays of sunlight passed through the windows which were enough for Eunhae to study the room. There was a table at the center of the studio filled with newspapers that have splashes of paint. The shelves beside the wall held cans of paint; most of them were already empty since it had been a while since Chanyeol last made an artwork. There were also some empty transparent plastic bottles that were cut in halves that contained his paintbrushes—thick, thin, angular, flat, and more—there was a variety of them.

Studying the three paintings hanged on the other side of the wall, Eunhae smiled. "You do landscapes?"

"Yeah, I'm fond of painting landscapes."

"I see..." She replied as she walked towards his artworks, noticing how he blended different shades of color perfectly.

"I do landscapes and I also transfer wonderful quotations on canvas." He explained.

"Yeah, I do remember that you collect quotes."

"Mom calls them encouragement. Actually she's the one who suggested me to do canvas quote paintings."

"That's nice." She said and noticed a small canvas decorated on one of the shelves. "Like this?"

"Yeah, that's my very first canvas quote painting."

"Painting is silent poetry, and poetry is painting that speaks." She read.

"A quote by Plutarch."

"They're wonderful, Chanyeol." She said with so much assurance which melted the boy's heart. "Where are your other artworks?"

"Mom and dad decorated them inside the house."

"Wait, you mean the paintings there were yours?"

He nodded and earned a smile of amazement from Chanyeol.

After a minute, they were called by Mrs. Park for snacks.

~:~

The two settled themselves at the area next to the living room, where the piano was located along with two small couches. There was a large picture window like the ones in the living room which showed the view of their lawn outside.

"Enjoy your Egg tarts, dears." Mrs. Park said as she placed the plate on top of the piano organ.

"I'm sure these are delicious just like your Bakewell tarts."

"Much better," Mrs. Park winked at the girl.

"I smell something spectacular!" Mr. Park shouted just before he emerged from outside.

"Dad!" Chanyeol beamed as he hugged him.

"Good afternoon," Eunhae greeted with a smile.

"Oh good to see you here, Eunhae." The older one greeted with his husky voice.

"Why are you here so early?" His wife asked, surprised.

"Well, boss gave me a day off earlier than I've expected."

"Really?"

"Honey, aren't you glad that I'm here? I've been away for days!"

Mrs. Park rolled her eyes and gave her husband a hug although it was obvious that she was indeed glad.

"Now let me have a taste of those tarts,"

"Jinho! Those are for the kids. Ours are at the kitchen."

"Oh, sorry, I just missed this." Jinho, Chanyeol's father, chuckled. "How are they, Eunhae? Aren't they delicious?"

"Absolutely," Eunhae replied between her munches.

"That's because they're made with love." The man winked and gave his wife a kiss on her forehead.

"Honey, you're so noisy. Let's go."

Eunhae chuckled as the two disappeared. She really appreciates Chanyeol's parents. Mr. Park, who's only home during weekends because of work, always wear a joyful grin on his face which looked like Chanyeol's. Although his hair was already grey in color, he acts so cheerful just like a child.

"They're so funny." Eunhae commented.

"Indeed," Chanyeol chuckled. "I would trade the world for those two."

As the both of them enjoyed the tarts, Eunhae wrinkled her brow upon noticing the painting pinned on the wall just above the small couches.

"Chanyeol?"

"Hm?"

"You painted this, right?"

"Yeah,"

Eunhae walked closely and studied it. And then, a smile of familiarity made its way on her lips. "Is this...the Mango tree that we climbed?"

Hearing her question, Chanyeol smiled at her recognition. "Yes. It’s what I’ve last painted."

"It's so beautiful."

Seeing the sincerity in her eyes, Chanyeol gave a bashful smile. He always finds it hard to reply whenever she compliments him.

When they have finally finished their snacks, the both of them dwarfed the chair in front of the piano.

"So have you already enrolled for the fall semester?" Chanyeol asked.

"Yeah. A week ago. Mom went with me."

"That's good to hear."

"By the way, I have news for you."

"What is it?"

"Well, on the last day of my summer class in La Grazia, Miss Yang, who's the head of the school, gave me an invitation." Eunhae explained. "She told me that there will be a grand ballet recital. Like, all ballet schools in Eunhye will perform together in one event. And she told me to audition."

"When will it be held?"

"This December...it will be a Christmas-themed event."

"Eunhae," Chanyeol smiled with so much pride. "That's wonderful. Have you finally auditioned?"

"Not yet. But I will, next week."

"Alright, there's no doubt that you're gonna pass it."

"You think so?"

"Absolutely," He nodded without hesitation. "You know, I'm not a dancer but every time I see you dance, I see so much grace in you. I mean, you don't dance to please others, but rather, you dance because it's your God-given gift…and you're being a wonderful steward of that gift."

Hearing his statement, Eunhae smiled and rested her head on his shoulder. "I hope you’re aware how lucky I am to have you in my life, Chanyeol...Play a song, please."

"Alright, anything for you," Chanyeol replied and started to make a melodious sound by letting his fingers explore different sharps and scales.

He could smell the scent of her shampoo that smelled like watermelon and he could clearly feel her steady breathing. Being so close to the girl that he finds so beautiful, Chanyeol felt tears threatening to fall from his eyes—not because of sorrow, but because of joy.

Then, after a while, Eunhae dozed off as Chanyeol continued to play as if he was determined to stay in that moment for eternity.

~:~

When classes started for Eunhae, it had become a hobby of theirs to spend time at the park near her University. The two would sit beneath the shade of a big tree. They would bring a favorite book from their shelf and let the other read it.

Beneath the shade, they will sit side by side. Sometimes they would lie on the ground, and read with each other's presence. But most of the time, Chanyeol was the one who reads while Eunhae reviews her lessons.

When her last subject was finally dismissed, Eunhae bade goodbye to her college friends and went straight ahead at the park to meet Chanyeol.

When she finally entered, a smile emerged from her lips after seeing him beneath their favorite tree at the park.

"And there she is," Chanyeol smiled and gave her girl a hug.

Eunhae breathed in his scent just before they parted and sat on the blanket that Chanyeol laid on the dry ground.

"You brought extra blankets?"

"Yes, I did," Chanyeol said as he pulled them out from his bag, "because it's getting colder."

"So how's your day?" He asked as he put a blanket around her.

"It's alright. We had film showing," she replied, “and I have an upcoming recitation about Shakespeare's Hamlet."

"Which means that you have to read his novel now,"

"I know,” she smiled and waved a copy of Hamlet that she borrowed from the library, "and I got a new book from my shelf for you to read since you already finished the other one."

"What is it?" He asked. "Make sure I haven't read it before alright."

Eunhae chuckled as she fished out a paperback from her bag. "Here,"

"Rekindling Happiness," he read.

The girl nodded. "It's a great book. It was about a man who took a giant leap of faith in order to put back together the broken pieces of his heart."

"That's interesting." He smiled. "I'll read it."

Then after a while, Eunhae laid herself on the blanket and rested her head on Chanyeol's lap as she read the book.

Every time he finishes a chapter, Chanyeol would peek at Eunhae who was completely immersed at reading her assigned novel.

Then, after a while, when Chanyeol was finally caught up in his reading, Eunhae was the one who glanced at him. Sensing her stare, he raised his brow.

"What?" He asked, noticing a smirk on her face.

Eunhae shook her head and chuckled a little. "Nothing,"

Unconvinced at her answer, Chanyeol just playfully shook his head and saw how Eunhae fixed back her attention at the book.

"Have I told you that I love the way how the sunlight makes your brown eyes sparkle?"

"Hm?" Eunhae asked, taken aback.

"I mean like this very moment," Chanyeol peered and reached out one of his hands as if he could hold the ray of sunlight itself, "the sun peeking through the branches and here you are being kissed by its light."

"Chanyeol," Eunhae chuckled as she studied his face. "I don't know if your outspokenness creeps me out or flatters me."

"Sorry," He laughed.

"Don't be, it's part of who you are and I love it."

"As you wish," Chanyeol smiled.

Then, he gently her hair and loved how they slid between his fingers. "But really, it's true. You look beautiful from where I am right now."

After receiving a smile from Eunhae, Chanyeol leaned in and gently kissed her forehead.