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Beautiful. Thats the word to describe it.
Sometimes, you just cant believe what is front of you most of the time.
It doenst feel real, but it is.
"Wow..".
"Sounds really exciting right? Wanna come?".
It is real actually, you sometimes dont cope at all.
"Huh?".
"Wanna come with me?".
"Uh? Where?".
"The museum, are you not listening to me?".
Annoyed but always light-hearted.
Mingyu has been talking about this exhibition at the museum non stop ever since it was announced, and while you're always there to pay attention to whatever topic he brings to the table, lately you've been getting distracted by him.
See, Mingyu and you have been dating for quite some time. While things have not gotten all serious yet, your feelings for him grow as you spend more and more time with him. And of course with that, the things that you both do also grow.
Longer talks, kisses, touches, hugs. The temperature only seems to rise up and not planning to slow down.
Its not like you mind it, but you know, you wanna keep having conversations without spacing out cause hes looking way too fine for his own good everytime you see him.
Back on track, please.
"Oh! Yeah, y-yeah. The museum, sure! Sounds like a lot of fun". You say, tripping over your words and fastly blinking.
"It's all settled then. Lets go now". He takes your hand, tight.
"Wait, now? Let me change my clothes at least!". This took you by surprise, you surely were not listening.
"You look great! Lets go! I wanna take some pictures before it gets too crowded".
Before you can start putting your feet on solid ground after being up in your head, Mingyu drags you to his car and starts driving towards the location, and you are not going to lie, you're feeling a bit nervous.
Its not the first time you and Mingyu go out on a date. You guys have done tons of them, you've been to his schedules and even spend time with his bandmates of Seventeen. What happens is that, in all of those occasions, you always had time to sort of.. prepare yourself and look the part. For you, and cant help for Mingyu as well.
And its not like you look bad, or feel bad about yourself. But damn, couldnt you get to change into another hoodie?
"Theres not too much people, thats nice. Seems like we got here right on time".
Time is passing too quickly, how come you guys are here already? Looking at the entrance of the place, theres people outside and going inside, and everyone seems as giddy as Mingyu. He takes the chance and parks the car in front of the doors, and when you both get out and start walking (hand in hand, must admit), the exciment takes over completely.
The musem is big, to not say huge. Beige, white, light brown on its walls and ceilings, smashed with all kinds of different statues and paintings, you feel overwhelmed as you guys keep walking and admiring every single thing.
You didnt even notice you started smiling, as if you've now stepped into a 90s movie.
"Mingyu.. This is so.. Wow.." You cant help but to laugh a bit, you're speechless.
And you also dont notice how, Mingyu is laughing with you as well, sweetly amused by initial response.
"I know, lets go over here. Heard they have some ancient architecture as well".
For a good amount of 35 minutes, Mingyu has been showing you all the things the exhibition has to offer. He explained how, since its a very famous one, it only comes two times a year, three if the demand is really high. So it all depends if you're lucky enough to get a ticket.
You feel your heart flutter a bit. Mingyu could be with anyone else who knows more about the colors, the frames and the forms, that to you, seem like a strange language you cant quite understand yet.
But hes here with you. So accidentally, due to that little thought of happiness, you squeeze the hand thats holding yours.
"Everything okay? Wanna sit down for a moment?".
You smile, hes always caring for your well being even in the smallest ways.
"No, Im okay. Lets keep looking, I think there was a painting that caught my eye".
The painting in question, is one thats located at a corner of the place. And standing now in front of it, you get a clear view.
It's a figure, colored in olive dark green, touches of browns and wine red. Whats interesting about it, its that the figure is holding its own jaw, tilted head to the right side and with a expression that reads boredom all over it.
You like it, you have never seen one like that before. It's very simplistic but has some attractiveness to it.
"What do you think of this one?". You ask Mingyu, who looks at you with his lips pursed in a thoughtful face.
"I think.. its sucking the energy out of me".
You laugh a bit loud, making an echo. Quickly, you cover your mouth and look to the sides. The atmosphere has gone quiet since theres barely people here, just you both and other 3 at the extreme of the hallway.
"But if you like it, then its fine by me. It's very abstract as well". He finishes, lifting his shoulders in a lazy manner.
"Yeah, I thought that too. It's weird somehow but normal, maybe its the design".
"The colors also play a role here. The palette its not bad, but combined together without at least one color thats bright or more pale makes the whole work very serious, and it can feel boring to admire. Maybe thats why it was placed here, it doenst stand out unless you really look out for it".
Once again, you have been robbed speechless. Mingyu is one individual who knows about basically anything he can get his hands on, its so impressive and surely captivating you cant help but sigh in.. in what?
Sigh.. that sensation, from back when you guys started comes again, like a wave. You take a deep breath, trying to figure it out.
But before you can even nod to what hes saying, hes pulling out his phone.
"Let me take a picture of you with the painting".
You open your eyes a bit more, blinking. What?
"No! Im not doing that, why? You say it was energy draining".
"Maybe if you stand there, it could look better. Come on, for me".
Oh no, hes doing it. The pout and those puppy eyes that always convince you to do anything he asks. You sure are weak.
You stand to the left of the painting, unsure to how exactly pose. He takes two steps back, and looks at you with funny eyes.
"Dont act like a kid! Pose like the figure, it will be cute".
Rolling your eyes in a loving manner, you get in action: holded jaw, tilted head and bored expression. Since the person in the frame has its eyes closed, you close yours too, and put a little smile, ready to be captured.
You hear the sound of the photo being taken, twice. And when you open your eyes, whats in front manages to make your heart beat fast.
Mingyu decided to get on his knees to take the picture and get a full shot of your body. You're not familiar with the tecniques of photoshoots and such, but you know its for him to get a good angle.
What gets you its that hes in kind of a trance, looking at his phone with touching expression. His smile is so visible hes not trying to hide it, and everything about it just screams love.
Hes looking at you like hes in love.
Oh my god.
"Mingyu?".
Your voice gets him out of his mind, and he shakes his head softly, like trying to come down from whatever cloud he jumped on.
"Are you oka-"
"You look beautiful".
Silence.
Your cheeks feel warm all of sudden, so to cover up, you just smile and thank him silently.
Getting up, he puts his phone back on his pocket and grabs your hand again. Walking back to the center of the museum, this time, you guys are holding hands more tight, afraid of letting go somehow.
"The dog looks very cute, thats all I can get".
Before coming back home, you and Mingyu sit down to rest at one of the benches that are situated in another corner of the museum. Here, you guys have the pleasure of looking at another simple painting (a more smaller one).
A yellow house on the beach with little splashes of green, a baby blue sky, dark blue ocean, white sand, and a little doodle of a chocolate dog at one of the sides. You wouldnt doubt this was made by a 5 year old kid.
"What are we supposed to get from it anyways? Some kind of inspiration?". You ask, joking lightly.
However, Mingyu remains silent. Ever since taking your picture, all the words you've been getting from him are some, to not say none.
"Mingyu?"
He hums, showing that hes been listening to you.
"Everything okay?". Your voice sounds a bit worried now, you cant read whats written in his face.
He sighs and nods, with a little sided smile.
"Yeah, sorry. I was just thinking".
"Penny for your thoughts?"
"I wanna live in a house like that".
His eyes are locked in the painting, like hes trying to make it come alive. You look at it once again, rising your eyebrow.
"A house like that? Didnt know you were a beach type of guy". You're now laying your head on his shoulder, eyes fixed on the ocean thats standing in your view.
"I dont think I am, but I thought it would be nice, I would build it myself, brick by brick. And we can watch the sunset everyday, and swim in the water when we want to".
You turn your head so quick to look at the man speaking, your neck could snap. We? Mingyu wants a house.. for you both?
You only let go a what the fuck? internally, when he lets his mouth run.
"I realized something today.. I've been thinking about you, about us, actually, and.. I feel good when Im around you, when Im with you. From when we started til today, I.. sort of.. cant help but come back to you, every time".
Your only response is to blink, as you continue to listen.
"And looking at this made me, kind of come down to that. I started thinking, and the thought of the house seemed sweet, cute at first.. but something just fell.. off, like it was wrong to just, live there by myself. Then you crossed my mind, and everything felt alright".
You wanna say so many things, your head is spinning. But you cant get a single notable word out. So taking your silence in, Mingyu keeps talking.
"What I really mean is that, I want us to go foward, to the next stage. I know it sounds crazy and probably I am speaking too soon but.. I dont know, I guess.. I want you to be by my side.. Im in love with you".
The sensation from all this time crashes into you, cause it finally clicked. It settles, and you realise it too.
Hes in love.
We, are in love.
You kiss him, short but full of energy, which caughts him off guard.
"I wanna be by your side too".
You dont say it back, not right now, but you mean it. So he smiles brightly, like a christmas tree, and kisses you again.
A bit much longer this time, giggling in the middle of the kiss.
After it, you put your chin on his shoulder, looking at his eyes. The painting got enough attention.
You have a work of art all for yourself. More beautiful, more daring, more exciting.
"I want the painting we saw earlier at the corner though".
He huffs with amusement, and steals a quick kiss from your lips. Then lands another one in your forehead.
"I'll make you a new one, I promise to capture the best of you".