Work Text:
The sound of a bustling crowd could be heard all over the café. Kim Namjoon felt the handheld pager go off, indicating his drink was waiting for him at the counter. He quickly got up and walked towards the barista.
“One hot caramel latte!” Chirped the girl at the counter. Namjoon nodded, handed the girl the pager, and muttered a quick thank you as he walked away with his hot beverage. On his way back to the table he wondered if he should have ordered something for the people who would be joining him later, but he was not really sure what they liked to drink.
As soon as he sat down and sipped on his hot drink, he heard the front door of the café open up and saw two men walk in. An older man in his late 30s, his new manager Choi. Next to him was a young man with fluffy brown hair, who looked to be about Namjoon’s age. He had a very handsome face despite the stoic expression he was sporting.
“Namjoon-ah!” Waved manager Choi as he spotted him and went towards his table. “Hope you were not waiting long.”
“I got here not long ago. I just ordered a latte.” Said Namjoon pointing at his drink. “I would have ordered you something, but I was not sure what you would like.”
“I don’t like coffee.” Came the abrupt response from the younger man next to his manager, which took Namjoon by surprise. “I usually order herbal teas.”
“Namjoon-ah. This is Kim Taehyung-ssi.” Manager Choi gently patted the younger man’s back. “He is the photographer I was telling you about!”
After exchanging quick pleasantries. Manager Choi and Taehyung headed over the counter to place an order. Minutes later they both came back with a pager of their own.
Namjoon was what most people would call an “influencer” but he never saw himself as one, and had somehow managed to stumble into it by accident. From a young age he had an appreciation for all kinds of paintings and sculptures. As he grew older and visited other countries, Namjoon began to appreciate art even more. He felt calm every time he visited a museum or gallery. He started an art blog and an Instagram account when he was still in college pursuing a minor in fine arts. The goal was to document all his museum visits and write a small blurb about the pieces of art that would manage to inspire him. It was only meant to be an archive of sorts. But somehow his blog and Instagram became fairly popular, and he started getting invitations from all different museums. As the number of invites steadily increased, he found himself in need of a management agency that would help him coordinate things.
One of the first things the agency arranged for him, was to provide him with a photographer to accompany him around. During his earlier days, Namjoon would be the one snapping his own photos with just his phone’s camera, or sometimes he would manage to coerce one of his friends to go along with him so he could be photographed with famous art curators. But as some overseas museums had been reaching out to him, he knew his friends would not be able to simply drop things off to just go with him. Having an assigned photographer would make things easier.
But sitting there and watching his new team member get up and fetch his pastry and hot tea when the pager went off and return to the table with the same serious expression he sported when he walked in the café, Namjoon was feeling a little apprehensive about working with this stranger who seemed so distant. He could not pinpoint exactly why, but there was something that intimidated him about this man.
“So, Taehyung-ssi, manager Choi has told me you have been a photographer for quite some time! When did you get started?” Namjoon tried to put some of his uneasiness to the side and get to know Taehyung. After all, they would be working closely together, so he did not want things to be awkward between the two of them.
“I started taking photos when I was seventeen; while I was still in school.” Namjoon noticed Taehyung had a low voice, which added to his stoic charm.
“Very cool!” Namjoon knew very little about photography but figured it would not hurt to get interested in his new companion’s craft. “I bought a dslr a few years ago, but barely use it. Maybe you can help me with it so it can stop collecting dust at home?”
“Oh Namjoon-ssi, I prefer shooting in film. I may not be the best person to ask about a dslr.” Was Taehyung’s solemn response. If it had been anyone else, Namjoon would have thought they were humble bragging. But Taehyung seemed genuine about it.
Namjoon snorted. “Film? Do people still use that? Is that what you were planning on using for my photos?”
Taehyung did not say anything to that. He took a bite of his pastry instead. Namjoon could not tell if he had offended the younger man or if he was willfully ignoring him. Perhaps it was a combination of both. It really was difficult to get a good read on his new photographer. Namjoon tried to backtrack his impolite comment by adding:
“But would not it be easier with a digital camera? That way we can update my Instagram feed right away…”
“Do you usually upload photos right away to your socials?” The question startled Namjoon a little bit. It was true he usually liked to take a couple of days after a museum or gallery visit to be able to process his experience.
“I develop my own film at home. But I also work with a lab.” Continued Taehyung without waiting for Namjoon to answer his question. “Their turn around time is pretty fast, and by scanning the negatives they can get us the digital copies right away. Usually within a business day.” Namjoon had nothing else to add to that. He did not really understand what Taehyung was talking about.
“I prefer working with film.” Added Taehyung. His tone indicated there was no room for further debate.
“Namjoon-ah, I think you should give Taehyung-ssi’s vision a chance….”
“It is not really a vision; I just prefer to shoot in film.” Intercepted the young photographer.
“Vintage has been the rage lately” continued the manager ignoring Taehyung without missing a beat. “Film can give your Instagram feed a more…. artistic aesthetic. A je ne sais quoi that will get the attention from people.”
“Let’s try it out for a few outings and if not, Taehyung-ssi can start using a digital camera instead.”
Namjoon’s eyes shifted to the young man sitting next to his manager, who had gone back to his pastry and seemed to ignore his companions. He really hoped that things would work out between them.
~~
Working with Taehyung proved to be a bit of a challenge at first. Namjoon always prided himself on being good at reading people, but with Taehyung it was difficult to really know what was going on with him. Taehyung seemed to go at the beat of his own drum. While it was difficult to tell what he was thinking about just by looking at his facial expressions, he would always blurb out the most random thoughts out loud, both enlightening and confusing Namjoon all at once. After working together for a few weeks, the best way he could describe his new coworker was by comparing him to a child. Not because he was immature; on the contrary, Taehyung had a wisdom to him that Namjoon found fascinating. But Taehyung also had this sense of wonder and genuine curiosity around him that most people his age had abandoned in favor of a more jaded persona. It made Namjoon curious to learn more about him and what was going on inside that head of his. He quickly realized that Taehyung was full of quirks and eccentricities, which only added to his charm.
But despite these challenges, he liked having Taehyung by his side as they visited museums and galleries. Taehyung was observant as to which artists had managed to capture Namjoon’s attention. Somehow they also got into the habit of telling one another which artwork had been their favorite after a visit. Namjoon enjoyed hearing about Taehyung’s comments about how a certain piece had moved him or had inspired him. When he used to drag one of his friends to help with photos, they would always answer with a blank statement. Taehyung had also started encouraging Namjoon to come with him to the photograph section of the museums they visited. It was nice having someone else who would let him geek out about art to his heart’s content and who would also share their love for it. He admitted to Taehyung he knew very little about photography prior to meeting him; but that maybe one of these days he would pick up a simple point and shooter camera and start snapping away.
“You better keep your word hyung.” Was Taehyung’s response. “I would love to see the world from your perspective one day.” Hearing this made Namjoon blush. This man really needed to stop blurting out random things.
~~
After being at the agency for two months, Namjoon got a call from manager Choi about a big opportunity. The Museum of Modern Art in New York, was preparing to run another exhibit by Korean artist Haegue Yang, and the New York Times wanted to dedicate a full page opinion piece on the importance of the younger generation becoming more interested in art. Namjoon would be traveling to New York for a short three day stay, to visit the museum and talk to some of the art curators. Taehyung would be accompanying him.
Neither one was exactly thrilled about the prospect of traveling overseas for such a short amount of time, but the budget was tight, and this was a work trip with limited sightseeing. Namjoon knew that if the article was well received, he would most likely be getting calls from other museums overseas. But despite the jet lag and the limited time they had in New York City, Namjoon was glad Taehyung was by his side. Taehyung dragged him to a local jazz club. Namjoon could not really say this was something that interested him, but he enjoyed watching him blab around all kinds of jazz musicians he had never heard of. It somehow reminded him of the school field trips he had taken with his friends back in high school, where they managed to sneak out of the hotel and end up at a seedy bar. He wondered if Taehyung and him would have been friends in high school.
~~
Namjoon received a call from Taehyung about a week after arriving back in Seoul. He asked him to stop by his apartment so he could show him some of the photographs he had chosen for the New York Times article. Namjoon trusted Taehyung had chosen the best of the bunch, but the younger had insisted on Namjoon’s final opinion before they submitted the photographs to the management company for review.
Taehyung’s apartment was located in a more industrial part of town, surrounded by warehouses. Namjoon wondered why his apartment was so far away from town, and if this was another one of Taehyung’s eccentricities to set himself apart from the crowd. But the minute he walked inside, he understood there was a more practical meaning.
Taehyung’s place was a simple loft style apartment. Very little furniture adorned the place. But instead of going towards the living room, Namjoon followed Taehyung through a door that led to the garage. This was Taehyung’s studio. Although the space was not too large, it was pretty open which made it seem bigger. A series of industrial size tables were placed on the right side of the studio, carrying all sorts of film equipment. A small fridge sat on the corner of the room, looking a bit out of place but knowing Taehyung, there was probably a reason why it was there. Against the wall there were all sorts of photographs being displayed, most of them black and white and of different sizes, depicting several people and places. To the back of the room, there was a second door that was partially open. Namjoon could tell that it was Taehyung’s darkroom where he developed his film.
But what really caught Namjoon’s attention was on the left side of the studio. Crammed as close as possible to the wall were two easels, a painting resting on one of them. The floor area surrounding each easel and adjacent area was covered with old newspapers, paint splashed all over them. The painting on the easel was that of a face, but if you paid closer attention, it was actually a musical note representing the face’s features. The painting was simple enough, just a white canvas adorned by a black outline representing the face. But in the background, Namjoon could see colorful dots all over it.
“Did you make this?” Asked Namjoon as he got closer to the easel, careful not to knock over anything. “I did not know you painted!” Namjoon was completely fascinated as he continued to analyze Taehyung’s work. “It’s very you.”
Taehyung beamed with pride. “I just started this year! I have been playing around here and there. Right now, I am focusing on faces. It has been fun!”
“This year? Have you not painted anything before?”
Taehyung shook his head making his puffy hair sway back and forth. Namjoon found this adorable. “Nah, I just got the urge to do so this year. I went to one of those paint nights with a friend and had a lot of fun. So, I picked some paint and canvases and have been playing around with it. Surprisingly, it has helped me become a better photographer.”
Curiosity got the better of Namjoon, and he peeled his eyes away from the painting and towards the younger man next to him. “What do you mean?”
“Well, sometimes photography can become tedious work, you know? I have deadlines to be mindful of, and sometimes I have little energy to just shoot for fun. Painting nonsensical things allows me to just play around with no other intention than to just have fun.” Taehyung took a look towards the right side of the studio dedicated to photography. “I should not be painting in the same area where I keep my film, but I don’t have much space to do it elsewhere.”
“Fun…” repeated Namjoon under his breath, his eyes back on the canvas in front of him.
It had never occurred to Namjoon that one could just do something for the pure joy of it. Ever since he was young, his parents wanted him to do well in school and excel in academics. They quickly dismissed his requests to be enrolled in art classes, saying that it would take time away from his studies which were more important.
There was always a small voice in the back of his head that would sometimes wonder if his fascination with artworks, was a way to soothe his own failed artistic dreams. Perhaps he orbited around other artists and creative people as a way to live vicariously through them. Visiting museums and galleries and looking from the outside. A minor in fine arts was the compromise he and his parents had reached when he enrolled in college. He could get his minor in fine arts as long as this did not affect his grades in the business management program. The minute his grades were less than a perfect score, he would need to quit pursuing his minor.
He remembered those years very fondly. It had not been easy to juggle academia with creativity, but he wanted to protect that small window of opportunity his parents had allowed him to pursue. Namjoon decided to focus mostly on creative writing and art history. He had always enjoyed writing poetry and short stories, and he was genuinely interested in art history. But deep down he knew he did not want to focus on drawing or painting, because his skills were not up to par with his classmates’. There was no point in doing something you knew you were bound to fail at.
But here he was. Standing in Taehyung’s studio, admiring a simple painting the younger man had made in the spur of the moment just because it was “fun”. He guessed Taehyung had not concerned himself with the final outcome or how the face needed to be realistic. He probably just picked up black paint and let his imagination flow. Upon closer inspection, he noticed the small color dots were the size of fingerprints. Had Taehyung simply dipped his fingers on the paint and started decorating the canvas that way?
The sound of a camera shutter going off took Namjoon out of the haze the painting had put him under. A bit startled he looked to his right and saw Taehyung winding up his camera, a boxy smile on his face.
“Sorry, I did not mean to startle you, but you were looking at my painting in the same way you look at the ones in museums. I had to document it for bragging rights.”
“Maybe one day we may see a Kim Taehyung original at a museum.”
Both men laughed and Taehyung moved towards the right side of his studio, the one dedicated to his photography. Namjoon followed and sat on one of the stools Taehyung had placed by the main bigger table, the one he probably used to spread out all his photographs. Taehyung grabbed a manila envelope that was lying on the table and handed it to Namjoon.
“These are the photos I chose for the New York Times piece, but I can show you the others if you want to see what else is there.”
After nervously opening the envelope and carefully pulling out the stack of photographs, Namjoon started looking through them. Ever since Taehyung had started working alongside Namjoon, he found himself becoming more and more apprehensive as he reviewed the shots. The first time Taehyung showed him the first batch they ever worked on, Namjoon loved seeing himself reflected on the grainy film. He quickly realized that film held a certain charm that was hard to replicate with a digital camera, and he relented that his quirky photographer had a valid point after all.
But as they continued working together, Namjoon started seeing a slight difference in the way Taehyung was choosing to photograph. Maybe to other people it was barely noticeable, but Namjoon was really good at picking up subtlety. Taehyung’s photographs continued to highlight the artwork, of course. But he started photographing Namjoon in more candid shots, standing there and leaning closer to look at all the hidden details in a piece of artwork. He was unsure why, but seeing himself like this was slightly unsettling. This was not the Namjoon he recognized, the one who would pose next to a painting or sculpture with a big smile; this was a side of Namjoon that felt foreign to him.
The photographs Taehyung had chosen for the newspaper piece were beautiful as always. There was a slight warm tint to them which made the sterile and cold MoMa appear more welcoming. There was a shot showing his profile, staring intently at Mark Rothko’s No.5/No.22 painting. Another one of him with his back towards the camera, facing Betye Saar’s Summer Symbol. Taehyung had even managed to capture a candid of Namjoon laughing at something the MoMa’s director had said as they were walking around the museum.
“What do you think hyung?” An eager Taehyung asked. “ I personally like the vibe of these….it’s as if you are taking the viewer along for the ride. But I can show you the other ones I did not like as much.” Taehyung reached out for a second manila envelope placed on the smaller table.
“No, no. These photos are fine.”
“But I can tell you don’t like them…” the young photographer looked a little defeated.
“Can I say something that may sound bad at first, but is not meant to be that way?”
Taehyung gave another one of his boxy smiles, making his whole face light up. “Hyung, you are talking to the guy who is constantly blurting out things. I assure you I will not get offended.”
Namjoon laughed. “Fair enough.” But despite Taehyung’s reassurance, he took a pause and started to carefully choose his words. “Sometimes I feel nervous about seeing your photographs. Not because you will picture me in an unflattering light. But it feels weird seeing me in your photographs. It feels wrong somehow.”
Taehyung let out a low hum. Somehow he seemed to understand what Namjoon was trying to convey.
“Hyung, do you know why I became a photographer?”
Namjoon shook his head.
“I like capturing feelings, and preserving them in a moment.” Came Taehyung’s response as he stared into the distance as he was trying to recall what made photography so special to him. “I want to take my audience to that specific moment in time that has already passed. In many ways, a photograph is a time machine.”
“Photographing spaces is easier than photographing people. You are able to really capture the feel of a place without too much of a fuss. But capturing a person’s true self? That’s where it gets challenging. You see, it can be quite difficult to truly capture someone’s true self through a lens.”
“It is not because people are unable to give off a certain feel. On the contrary, people are always expressing themselves if you pay close attention. But the problem is that most people change the minute they feel the lens on them. The automatically stiffen up, and are unable to let themselves be seen for who they are. They feel the need to put up this persona to the world. But can you blame them? Showing your true self is something very vulnerable.”
Taehyung took a pause and looked at Namjoon. “But with you, I don’t have that problem. You are able to forget the camera is there and let yourself be every time you admire an artwork. I like that I am able to see the real you in those moments. Not the art connoisseur persona you put out for others, but the real person who wishes he could create art like that as well.”
Namjoon tensed up. He was not expecting Taehyung to get such a read on him. He was supposed to be the one able to read others and expect their next move. Taehyung was not supposed to have seen him this way.
“Namjoon hyung” Taehyung whispered as he placed his hand on Namjoon’s arm, as if trying to prevent him from running away. “Do you want to give yourself permission to play?” He nodded towards the other end of the studio, where the easels were.
Namjoon gave out a nervous laugh. “Play? What are you talking about?”
“Play with colors and textures! Just grab a canvas and let your imagination run free. Do not think too much if you are doing things right.” Taehyung’s face inched closer with every word. “Just let yourself play and explore.”
“But this is a brand new shirt Taehyung-ah! I don’t want to stain it.”
“I can let you borrow an old t-shirt if you want.”
“I don’t want these pants to get paint on them….Maybe let’s plan for another day?”
Taehyung looked at him suspiciously as he moved his hand away from his arm. “Next Tuesday, 3 p.m. sharp. I won’t give Manager Choi the photos from the MoMa shoot until you come back and paint something on that blank canvas.” He motioned towards the easels again. “You better show up Kim Namjoon!.”
~~
Namjoon was not exactly sure how he allowed Taehyung to blackmail him in such a way. He could have easily told Manager Choi that the photos were ready and to contact the young photographer for them. But a part of him also wanted to go along with whatever crazy idea Taehyung suggested. The younger one kept texting Namjoon throughout the week, showing him all sorts of tubes of paint and new colors he had recently begun working with. It allowed Namjoon to perceive a new side of Taehyung.
“Namjoon hyung, did you know that blue is the rarest color in nature?” Taehyung had excitedly texted him one day.
He knew this, of course, something he had learned through the art history and art theory classes he took in college, but he did not want to spoil Taehyung’s excitement. He had tried sharing a few titles with his young colleague, but Taehyung had quickly dismissed him, saying he “learned better by doing instead of reading.” Perhaps Namjoon needed to start doing the same.
When Tuesday finally came around, Namjoon tried his best to not show up before 3 p.m. A part of him was excited to see Taehyung again, but another just wanted to get this silly thing over with. He had spent two hours the night before trying to think of something he wanted to paint, but kept coming up short. His drawing skills were not the best and he did not want to just waste Taehyung’s materials, just to paint a stick figure.
Just like the previous week, Taehyung took Namjoon directly to the studio instead of the living room. Somehow this studio was starting to feel familiar, even if this was only his second time here. He wondered if he would become a regular here. The minute they stepped into the studio, Namjoon moved towards the right side, the one dedicated to photography, and the one farthest away from the easels and the canvases. Taehyung noticed this but chose to not say anything and just smiled to himself as he grabbed a plastic palette and started squirting some paint on it.
Taehyung started chit-chatting about something, as he dragged a small round table and set it near one of the easels and placed the palette on top of it. Namjoon was too nervous to really pay attention to what was being said and started fidgeting on the same stool he was sitting on last week. He noticed the painting of the face had been moved elsewhere. Unable to keep looking in that direction, he shifted his attention to the photographs adorning this area of the studio. It seemed the majority of them were placed on the wall facing what Namjoon assumed was Taehyung’s main workspace. There was one with four guys smiling and waving at the camera standing outside a bar, probably some of Taehyung’s friends. To the left side of the group, on the bar's window, Taehyung’s reflection was barely visible. Below that photo there was one that grabbed Namjoon’s attention.
It was the photo Taehyung had taken last week at his studio, when Namjoon was looking at Taehyung’s painting. The black and white film somehow making Namjoon appear much cooler than usual. It reminded him of the other ones that had been taken at museum and galleries.
“I’m sorry. I just really like that photo.” Taehyung had come closer to the workspace. Namjoon noticed the tips of his ears looked a bit red. “I hope you don’t mind?”
Namjoon did not mind at all. He actually felt quite happy at the thought that Taehyung liked his photo enough to have it by his workspace. Of course, the most reasonable explanation was that Taehyung had liked the overall composition of the photograph and not exactly the subject.
“Are you ready?” Taehyung motioned towards the blank easel looming on the opposite side of the studio. Namjoon had forgotten all about why he was here to begin with. A sense of dread overtook him, and he wondered why the young photographer needed to be so pushy.
“Taehyung-ah, I have just never been good at drawing. What will I even paint?” He protested as Taehyung took his hand and walked him over to the easel. Namjoon was trying really hard to not think about the way his stomach flipped the minute their hands touched.
“No one is ever born good at drawing.” Counteracted Taehyung with clear amusement in his voice. He dropped Namjoon’s hand when they were both standing in front of the easel with a blank canvas. Namjoon wondered if Taehyung would mind holding his hand just a little longer. “It takes practice and lots of ugly drawings.”
“But what if I just end up painting stick figures?”
“Hyung!” Yelled Taehyung as he playfully smacked his forehead. “Stop being dramatic. You don’t need to be the next Monet or anything.”
“If you end up painting stick figures, then you end up with stick figures in your painting! You know, for a guy who likes contemporary art, you seem to forget that you can just paint shapes if that is what you want to. No one is asking you to produce a realistic portrait.”
Namjoon faced the blank canvas again and looked at the colors Taehyung had placed for him on the plastic palette. A plastic cup filled with water and some brushes had been placed next to the palette. He was trying to remember which color combination would produce what colors, but somehow nothing was coming to mind. He felt nervous.
Unable to watch the indecision any longer, Taehyung moved closer and dipped two fingers in the red paint. He drew a curvy line in the middle of the canvas with his fingertips.
“What are you doing?” Panicked Namjoon.
“I am breaking it out for you and making it less precious. Here, now you can go ahead and paint.” He tapped the tip of Namjoon’s nose with a red finger leaving a slight red dot on it. The clown analogy was not lost on Namjoon but he decided to ignore it.
Much to Taehyung’s joy, Namjoon took a deep breath and placed the brush on the red paint and started painting around Taehyung’s line. He was not exactly sure where he was going with it, but he tried to focus on just having fun.
A satisfied Taehyung moved away towards his own workspace, giving Namjoon the space to create as he pleased. At one point he heard the soft sound of a shutter coming from Taehyung’s area. While his initial reaction was to panic as he felt very much outside his element, he knew the younger man would never make fun of him. With that reassurance he was able to go back to the canvas in front of him.
After an hour or so, Taehyung broke his concentration when he moved next to him and asked him if he was getting hungry by any chance. He felt a little exposed having Taehyung see his painting, but there was nothing he could really do about it.
“Oooh Leiter! I like it hyung!”
Namjoon was happy Taehyung seemed to recognize what he painted. He had tried to recreate from memory, the photograph of a girl carrying a red umbrella in the snow. He had spotted the photograph during their short visit to New York, when Taehyung had dragged him to a gallery dedicated to photography. He was not sure why he had picked that exact photo to clumsily recreate, but he supposed the red line left by Taehyung had something to do with it. It was far from perfect, but it was his. He did not know why he had put so much resistance to it, but he was glad Taehyung had pushed for it.
“Don’t forget to sign it and date it!” Added Taehyung excitedly and pointing a finger at the bottom right hand side corner.
Namjoon felt a bit silly. This was no masterpiece after all, but nonetheless he grabbed the smaller brush, and after dipping it in black paint, carefully put KNJ with the date.
“Now, was that so scary…?” Taehyung had begun, turning towards his hyung, but breaking into laughter the minute he took a look at his face. He had forgotten all about the red dot he left on Namjoon’s nose.
“I can’t believe I have become your personal jester, Kim Taehyung.” Muttered Namjoon as he tried to scrub the paint off his face. But seeing Taehyung laugh at his words made him dip his own finger in the red paint and leave a similar dot on the younger man’s face. “Here, you can be one too. This caused Taehyung to laugh even harder.
He was not really sure what overtook him at that moment. But something about the way Taehyung seemed so carefree made Namjoon grab him by the waist and pull him closer to him, essentially causing the giggling to stop. He was not really sure what made him make a move like this, but now he did not know what to do next.
“You sure freeze a lot. Are you going to stare at me in the same way you stared at that blank canvas before you started painting?” Taehyung’s voice was just above a whisper. Their proximity making it easier for them to hear one another. “Or do I need to draw another line for you to act?”
“I think I got it this time”. Namjoon bridged the small distance between them, and kissed Taehyung softly, his left hand gently holding onto his waist while the right one gently caressed his cheek. As the kiss deepened, his right hand moved to cradle the back of Taehyung’s head. He wanted nothing more than to remain like this for as long as possible.
As the kiss began to slow down, they started placing pecks on each other’s lips. Their smiles getting wider and wider.
“You are right. I think you got it this time.” Taehyung managed to say after Namjoon placed one final soft kiss on him. He grabbed Namjoon’s hand and pulled him out of the studio. “Come on, let’s get something to eat.” This time, he did not drop Namjoon’s hand.
As both men exited the studio, giddy like two teenagers, Namjoon looked back at his painting. Perhaps he would be a regular at this studio after all.