Naked truths and muses

-Alright, explain it to me again, Felix sat down in the library, leaning his back on a shelf.

-I have it from my aunt who had it from her husband who had it from his brother who had it from his grandpa and so on. It's been in the family since forever. Basically the one that dies passes on his curse to a loved one. I received it when I was 2 months old. Since then 400 years had passed, Jisung explained.

-What about grand grandma?

-I met Araeum long time ago. I loved her, but she didn't love me. She was happy with her husband. After her passing, I remained friends with him for a while. He found himself a new wife and I argued for disrespecting Araeum. I hated him for that.

-So you spent 400 years without any love shown towards you. Until Minho hyung appeared.

-That's right.

-Well, that-

Felix suddenly stopped when he heard a book hitting the floor.

-Who's there? he got up and looked around the corner.

He found Jeongin trying to pick up the book.

-Hello, hyung! he smiled awkwardly.

-Jeongin, you scared me, Felix let out a breath. What are you doing here?

-I was doing some research for uni. I'm taking some classes online in my free time.

-That's good.

-Hey, have you seen Seungmin? I'm afraid he got upset with me and I want to talk to him.

-I thought... I thought he was with you. He came yesterday, but I was busy with Changbin hyung. He didn't call me.

-I'm worried, Jeongin said with puppy eyes.

-I'll call his mom, Felix assured him. The moment I find him, I call you.

-Thank you, hyung! Jeongin bowed and exited the room, not before making a brief eye contact with Jisung.

-Sorry about that, Felix took a seat on the floor again.

-He heard us, Jisung said dead serious.

-What? Felix looked up at Jisung's distressed expression.

-He heard our conversation, he clenched his fist.

-I'm sure he thought we were talking nonsense. Or about a book.

-I don't trust him. This is the secret I held for years. I can't let any other person find out about me.

-Not even hyung? If you... If you happen to fail, will the curse go to hyung? Felix swallowed his fear.

-It's possible.

-Another reason to break it.

Hyunjin's apartment -Hyung, you're here! Hyunjin dragged the older in his apartment and covered his eyes with his hands.

-Are you kidnapping me? the older joked.

-No, silly... I have a surprise for you. I'm so excited, I can't stay still!

-Are you sure it's not from the caffeine?

Chan kept on with the jokes just to make himself forget Hyunjin was so close to him. He felt his face burning under the touch of the taller's fingertips.

-Okay, you can look!

He unlocked his tangled fingers and let the light blind Chan for a bit before the older adjusted to the neon lights in the room. In front of him there were 3 paintings: different styles, different stories, but one common dominator: a man that looked like him.

Chan stared in disbelief at Hyunjin as the latter was waiting eagerly for any kind of reaction.

-Are they... me? Chan almost chocked.

Hyunjin nodded like a kid and maintained the eye contact.

-You painted me again?

-This is my new collection. The exhibition of the Seoul's Art museum will take it. I have been working at it ever since I met you. What do you think?

Chan was speechless. He couldn't believe his ears.

-Why me?

Why him? Well that was a stupid question, but his brain malfunctioned the moment he met Hyunjin.

-What do you mean by that? Hyunjin's smile faded slowly. You're my muse. You're the beauty I've been searching for. Why... Why can't you see it for yourself? You're beautiful! he gripped Chan's collar and dragged him closer, their lips being centimetres apart.

Suddenly they both became aware of it and their faces matched perfectly with the red paint on the canvas.

-I... I don't know what to say, Chan mumbled.

-Do you like them? Hyunjin looked at him with glassy eyes.

-I love them, Chan smile sincerely.

What he meant was "I love you".

-Please let me paint you again, Hyunjin smiled shyly. I have never felt more alive than when I was painting you, he took Chan's hand between his owns.

Chan felt his heart racing in his chest. His whole body was burning. He couldn't take his eyes off the boy, he couldn't move, he couldn't speak. Frozen and stroke by billions of lightning bolts of love, he stared into Hyunjin's eyes and refrained himself from doing something more.

-Well? Hyunjin tilted his head, still expecting an answer.

-You can do whatever you want with me, Hyunnie. I'm all yours, Chan managed to say.

For Chan those words meant he was helplessly going to adore the younger even if the feelings weren't to he returned.

For Hyunjin those meant Chan accepted his role as a muse, which meant by extension, being always besides Hyunjin.

A detail that Chan may or may not have realised at the moment.

Even if Hyunjin was oblivious, who said Chan wasn't as well?

Minho's apartment -Minho? Minho! Minho! Minhooooooo! Chan barged into his best friend's apartment and called for the latter.

-In the shower!

Chan paced anxiously towards the bathroom and knocked before entering.

He could see Minho's bodyshape from behind the bath curtains.

-What? his head popped out, his hair holding shampoo bubbles.

-He asked me to be his muse!

-What?

-HE ASKED ME TO BE HIS MUSE? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WHAT ARE WE? 'Cause we all know DaVinci and Monsa Lisa weren't just buddies.

-Who?

-The painter!

-No, who asked you?

-Hyunjin! Man, keep up! Chan whined.

-I'm sorry, I think I skipped a few episodes and may I remind you I'M NAKED?

-I don't care as long as Jisung is not in there with his back facing you.

Minho sighed and gathered his composure.

-Okay, slow down! What happened to his haircut?

-He kept asking me whether if he should cut it shorter and then buzz cut?!

-Oh, so he did that. As aspected, Minho giggled.

-What? What is "that"? Chan leaned on the sink, desperate for answers.

-So for context, Hyunjin was really introverted back then. He was avoiding people. Just like Jisung. I went with him to cut his hair and he asked me the same things.

-What did you say?

-That it's fine as long as he's happy. He started opening up to me and became my friend. That was his little test.

-Oh... So I'm his friend. Great, Chan pouted.

-But I have never heard him talking about a muse, Minho placed his hand under his chin to think throughly, almost forgetting he had to cover himself with the curtain. You know what's strange? He usually paints old couples, kids, body parts, nature or faceless people. No familiar faces. I asked him about it and he said he paints people that he sees in his dream. Complete strangers.

-But he painted me 4 times, Chan said confused.

-Maybe he dreams of you, Minho smirked. Whatever the reality may be, you have to tell him about your big fat crush before you'll go mad, Minho joked.

He looked past Chan and froze in shock.

-Shit, he cursed under his breath.

-What? Chan asked clueless. He's behind me, isn't he? Chan figured it out.

Minho nodded and whispered an apology. He knew he fucked up.

-I was... Hyunjin started. I was going to ask if you have any milk and then I heard your voices. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have entered without calling first, he ran away embarrassed under Chan's destroyed expression.

"Min, where are you? I'm worried. Jeongin told me he left you a couple messages too. Your parents haven't heard from you for two days. I'm really scared, Min... Please, say something! Please call me!"

Felix left a message to Seungmin while going up the stairs.

-Still no sign? Jisung asked, trying to be emphatic.

-No... As he tried to open the door Hyunjin slammed it to the wall and went to his apartment without even looking at them.

-What was that? Jisung asked shocked.

Chan appeared at doorway, bumping his head to the wooden door.

-Hyung, I'm sorry! I didn't know he was listening! I'm so sorry! Minho followed him with only a towel around his waist.

Jisung didn't understand a bit of the mess he was witnessing, but he knew to cover Felix's eyes to prevent the boy from seeing his brother wet and almost naked.