Chapter 11: Passion

It was a Wednesday afternoon when Myungsoo came to the atelier. He wore all black as usual and brought all his equipment.

Hayoung and Naeun were handling a small class of students. Mostly children and young adults since they had no school on Wednesday evenings.

They were painting self portraits of themselves in whatever style they wanted.
Naeun was preparing the paints and brushes when Myungsoo strolled in with a charming smile on his face as he greeted the children.

It caught her off guard for a moment, how nice he was with kids.

“Who is that beau gosse?”

“He must be Madame Naeun's petit ami. They seem close.” Two teenage girls gossiped about Myungsoo being Naeun's boyfriend in french.

Myungsoo turned towards them and when they realised they were being watched, they ducked back under their canvases giggling.

“Chut!” Naeun shushed her two students, flustered that Myungsoo had heard them talking.

Whilst he was busy taking picture of the class he noticed Naeun hovering over the two girls.

She was talking to them in a civil manner even though she looked like she could explode because she was losing her mind.

“Je ne suis pas sa petite ami!”

I am not his girlfriend!

She insisted to her students who were more than amused by their unhinged teacher.

Myungsoo chuckled when he saw her trying to control the bunch of rowdy kids.

“Is it always like this?”

“No… I guess they're just excited. They'll quite down when Hayoung gives them some food.” Naeun sighed, exhausted by their antics.

“She's a very dependable assistant.” Myungsoo noted.

“Poor girl has to work multiple jobs to pay her tuition fees. But she's happy. I guess that's all that matters.”

When Hayoung started distributing their juice boxes and food only then did the kids sit still.

Naeun sat on her desk tiredly picking apart the wrapper of one of the extra cupcakes and began to devour it.

Myungsoo sat across her and was also eating one of Hayoung experimental cupcakes.

“She's a culinary genius.”  Myungsoo nodded his head as he finished his lemon and lavender cupcake.

“Tell me about it.” Naeun said before finishing her cupcake in one last bite.

She had a smudge of pink icing on her lip and Myungsoo quickly grabbed a tissue and reached across the table to wipe it.

“I always seem to be cleaning up after you songsaengnim.” He said slyly whilst smirking.

“Stop it.” Naeun pushed his hand away. “It's annoying.” She grumbled whilst turning to look at the children.

It was then when he saw it clearly.

Her love for art.

Her adoration of the kids.

Her passion.

The glimmer in her eyes that awed him.

And Myungsoo knew he would do anything to make sure that glimmer never disappeared.

The kids all left around 5 in the afternoon, they wished him goodbye warmly, still referring to him as their teacher's handsome "petit ami". Naeun simply rolled her eyes at Myungsoo's apparent giddiness and her students stubbornness.

She was cleaning out back and Myungsoo was playing chess with the last of her students.

“Jacque, your maman is here to pick you up.” Hayoung informed him and the boy ran away after briefly saying bye to Myungsoo.

He packed the abandoned chess peices and helped Hayoung clean up the art supplies. Hayoung stole glances at him and shook her head, he realised this after a minute of cleaning next to her.

She looked as if she was bursting to ask questions. But she was hesitating.

And he knew that.

“Go ahead. It's obvious you can't hide your curiosity.” He made the first move.

She turned to him in pure eagerness.

“I know it isn't my place… but I have to ask… are you serious about Naeun unnie?”

“I like her. I can't help it.” Myungsoo admitted but shrugged it off because he knew; she probably didn't see him like that.

“Really?”

“When I first saw her I thought she was the most beautiful girl I've ever seen. And when I finally had the chance of actually meeting her I was able to confirm my convictions; that she's also beautiful inside.”

Hayoung smiled and curled her fingers.“I know she seems cold outside and she doesn't take you seriously. But I think she likes you too.”

“How are you so sure?” Myungsoo's left eyebrow raised in suspicion.

“She doesn't have any guy friends. I have a theory that…” Hayoung hesitated again but relented when she saw Myungsoo's impatient eyes.

“That someone hurt her so bad that she doesn't really trust people anymore. Just… be very aware.” Hayoung whispered to him, choosing her words very carefully indeed.

“What do you mean?”  Myungsoo asked, but before the girl could reply Naeun had called her from the backroom.

“Hayoung! Can you clean the work tables before you leave?!”

“Deh unnie!” Hayoung scurried off to finish her duties.

When Myungsoo finished packing up his equipment, Hayoung had already rushed to her next part time job and so he didn't get to question her on what she had said.

However his inquisitiveness still burned to know what Hayoung had meant when she said that Naeun doesn't trust people. He was looking through all the shots on his camera when he realised he was alone in the atelier with Naeun. But where was she?

“Be very aware.” Hayoung had said to him.

He found her at the very back of the atelier, engrossed with a painting of what looked like an oil painting of some purple orchids.

Orchids.

He vaguely remembered her carrying orchids at the market when they first met.

She was truly concentrated, she didn't even realised his presence.

Or how beautiful she looked as her slender  hands moved elegantly against the canvas, painting lines of pale lilac. The sunset outside reflected inside the room, creating a beautiful halo around her.Her hair was in let down in messy waves and she bit her lips unconciously, turning Myungsoo's stomache upside down. She wore a painter white garb that had infinite splatters and stains on it. Nonetheless she looked absolutely beautiful.

Belle.

She was still the same belle he had met.

So untouchable and distant.

And yet there she was right infront of him.

He didn't want this moment to go to waste.

Naeun didn't hear the click of the camera, when Myungsoo secretly stole a picture of her.

"I dream my painting and I paint my dream."
― Vincent van Gogh

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a/n:

Please do comment ! I actually am more motivated to write from all the lovely comments and feedback you guys gave me !

Kamsa ~  ^_^