Chapter Text
Wonshik stared at the painting on the wall. It truly was a beautiful painting. A large painting. The height was almost as tall as Wonshik himself. The golden frame was ornate, framing the canvas as if it was chosen by the painting itself. Flowers etched in the gold danced across the metal in clustered patterns, hand-carved by a skilled artisan. This style would seldom be seen nowadays, what with the modern movement and all.
This painting was never bought, nor painted, nor even picked out by him. Wonshik had no intentions of having the painting to begin with.
“Sir! Before you move in! There is something I must inform you!” the tiny desk man squeaked, waving down Wonshik before he could enter the elevator.
Wonshik paused, towering over the portly fellow. The man huffed and arranged his glasses before looking up at him.
“There is a painting in your apartment-in the bedroom. It has been there for years. Our manager has forbidden anyone from removing it due to aesthetic and historical value and what have you. So please….respect the painting. This building is old as it is….it fits right in!” he explained with a deadpan expression.
Wonshik nodded before heading into the elevator. Being a graduate student studying music composition who dabbles in graffiti from time to time, he could not complain.
Wonshik stood and walked over to the canvas, studying it carefully. The painting itself was done with oil paint, the colors vibrant and bright. The scene was pretty. A field of flowers of pastel hues served as a backdrop to a man. The man looked somber, his gaze looking out to the viewer, his eyes large and deer-like. His face was pretty, well-sculpted. But he looked so sad. His hair was long and curly, tied back messily. His frame was lean but, from what Wonshik could see, well built. His skin was pale, and his hands small and delicate. Overall, he could be described as soft. He was dressed in a flowy white shirt, tied in the front by white cording. Fitting leather pants clothed his legs. His neck was adorned by a black leather choker, the center of which adorned with a hexagonal shape.
Wonshik gently ran his hand down the frame, looking eyelevel into the doe-eyes of the man.
“Why do you look so sad? What has happened to you to look so somber?” Wonshik mused, ruffling his black hair. “So beautiful…but so sad.”
He paused, looking over the painting before his phone chimed from the mattress. He went to pick it up.
To: Child 1
Wonshik-ah~~~~~ Have you fully moved in yet? It’s been like…..a day. Have you been eating? Check in you know? ^^
To: Hakyeon-hyung
Hyung. Calm down. I am fine.
To: Child 1
I am gonna visit you tomorrow~ I’m bringing the rest of the kids! And Leo ^3^ House warming party! You can’t say no.
To: Hakyeon-hyung
Hyung….
To: Child 1
Don’t you say no to ME. You can’t be a hermit, Wonshik-ah.
To: Hakyeon-hyung
Hyung….you don’t even know where I live kekeke.
To: Child 1
Please? Hyukkie misses you! You can’t say no to that face!
To: Hakyeon-hyung
It has only been a few days…agh...Fine…I’ll give you the address….cause I know you’ll find it some other way if I don’t.
To: Child 1
Love you Wonshik-ah~ ^3^
Wonshik sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Hakyeon was persistent. He could never hide from him. He would be found. Without a doubt. He looked around at all the boxes that were not unpacked.
“Guess I should unpack and set up my stuff…” he sighed, taking a quick glance at the painting as he heads to the living room. “Or Hakyeon will surely get on my back about it. Or worse. Do it himself.”
As he leaves he almost could swear that for a split second, the painting moved. Just a trick of the light he reasoned as he almost trips over a box in the hallway. Rubbing at his eyes, he walked into the living room.
A lot of work needed to be done. Boxes cluttered the floor, save for his mismatched furniture. Framed art and posters leaned against the wall. Most of the art was his own, save for a piece that Jaehwan drew him back in their days of rooming together. Jaehwan was an older student in the fine arts program. Wonshik met Jaehwan through Hakyeon. Wonshik had known Hakyeon since they were small. He introduced Wonshik to Jaehwan and Jaehwan’s former roommate, a quiet man by the name of Taekwoon. Taekwoon and Hakyeon had hit it off, and now they live together. Jaehwan now lives with a younger student at the university, a cute boy named Sanhyuk. Hyuk, as they all called him, was a good friend of Taekwoon’s from their hometown. He was the youngest of the five, but behind that cute exterior was a terror.
Wonshik opened one of the boxes on the table, pulling out a picture with all five of them together. They became inseparable- the greatest of friends. Hakyeon mothered them like children. He smiled, placing the frame on the shelf.
He then set to work, filling the bookshelf with pictures, little figures, and books. One of the figures was a little reindeer from an anime that Jaehwan loved. He lost it to Wonshik in a bet, and he has never let Jaehwan live it down since. Jaehwan loves all those animes and even managed to convert Hyuk to the darkness as well. Anime bros, as Wonshik liked to joke.
Slowly but surely, his living room began to look less like boxes and more like a living habitat. His TV was set up, all his CDs were organized, and even his walls were decorated with the various art and posters he had accumulated.
Soon the livability of his place increased as he made his way through the kitchen area, the bathroom, and finally his own room. His room was the last room to unpack, as he spent the day organizing everything else. Hakyeon would be proud of him, everything was clean and organized. Hell, there were even decorative towels in the bathroom (that Hakyeon imposed on him, but still). No promises could be made that it would remain that way.
Before he would embark on unpacking the bedroom he figured he would order takeout before it got too late. Rummaging through his box for papers and things, he found the menu and called in an order for jajangmyeon. As he waited, he put all his clothes away, albeit somewhat messily. Because putting away beanies, shoes, snapbacks, and every other clothing item known to man is exhaustive and time-consuming, his food arrived as he finished.
After paying, he took the food into his kitchen like a good adult and ate quickly. Wonshik did not realize how hungry he was. After eating he put the containers in the trash. Hakyeon would be proud he hasn’t left them on the counter-yet.
Returning to his room, he brought with him the sheets he carelessly threw into the linen closet. Sloppily, he dressed his bed up with the sheets. Deciding he gave up on organization, he threw the blanket over the mattress and unceremoniously flopped onto it. Yawning loudly, he sprawled his limbs across his large bed, closing his eyes briefly.
“Yah, so is this your definition of clean?” an unfamiliar voice snapped, bringing Wonshik out of his half-sleep state.
Wonshik jolted upright, looking around frantically, yet he saw no one. He rubbed at his eyes. Dreaming, yeah that must be what it was. Or so he thought.
“Oh I apologize, did I arise sleeping beauty from her slumber?” the voice quipped, the sarcasm was not left unnoticed.
He looked around in search of the voice, his eyes falling on the painting. The painting gave him a cheeky grin and a wave. The man was now smiling, dimples and all, at Wonshik.
“So….you gonna introduce yourself or is this going to be just all awkward eye contact?” the man asked, his laugh light and airy.
Putting two and two together, Wonshik immediately freaked out, flailing himself backwards, away from the now talking painting. He overshot and ended up on the floor with a loud thud.
“Hmm….clumsy one, eh?” the man asked, giggling airily, his face overtaken by his dazzling smile.
Finally getting his mouth to form words, Wonshik stuttered out. “T-this can’t be real. P-paintings don’t talk.”
The man in the painting pouted. “Well I talk. And I am also in a painting. So…there’s that.” He paused. “So do you plan on standing up? I can’t exactly help you up, being a painting and all.”
Wonshik clambered to his feet, slowly making his way towards the painting. He looked it up and down, watching the subtle movements of the man in the painting being….well, animate. Hesitantly, he reached out, running his hand over the surface of the painting, where the man’s shoulder was. The man’s doe-eyes followed his motion.
“Sadly, I cannot say I feel that. But. Rather than trying to explain…why don’t we accept and move forward?” he giggled, his smile simply dazzling. “My name is Lee Hongbin and you are?”
“K-Kim Wonshik. Ah…Hongbin…that is a nice name. So…so I am not dreaming? As in….this is really happening?” he spat out, still studying the painting with awe.
“Well. I am real. You are real. So yeah, I would figure all this is very real.”
Hongbin smiled again. Wonshik could not help but smile in return-it was infectious. Within his painted realm, he hiked up his chair closer to the surface, sitting down on it, studying Wonshik as though he was the painting and Hongbin was the outsider.
Going to sit on the bed, Wonshik coughed awkwardly. “So…how is it being a painting….that is sentient?”
“Boring,” Hongbin laughed. “I am not sure what you expected there.”
Wonshik shrugged. “I’d suppose. So why did you look so sad in the painting before?”
“Well,” he hesitated. “Perhaps that was just how I was painted. I have many secrets, Mr. Kim. One day….maybe you will find out.”
“Well I have secrets to you know!” Wonshik huffed.
“Like how you still have your high school uniform in your closet?”
“How do you know that?” Wonshik gasped.
Hongbin pointed to his eyes. “I saw you put your clothes away. Which I may add….you don’t organize at all do you?”
Wonshik remained silent before standing up. Grabbing workout clothes from his dresser he turned to Hongbin in his frame.
“So I’m going to take a shower, sleep….and we will take this up in the morning, yeah?” he spoke slowly before backing into the doorway.
“Have fun. I will be here. As always,” Hongbin chimed sassily.
Wonshik headed off into the bathroom, shutting the door behind him. Bringing his hands to his face, he sighed.
“Of all places to move too, I have a talking painting,” he groaned. “Well, at least it could be a potential conversation starter. Or my first class ticket into the nearest mental institution. Probably the latter.”
He jumped in the shower, and within a few minutes was already out, toweling his hair dry and clothed in a tank top and gym shorts. Returning to his room, he shut his door.
“So did you even shower?” Hongbin asked, studying Wonshik with a sense of disbelief.
“Eh? What? I showered? See?” he shook his hair, sending water flying to prove it.
“Setting records in speed-showering then, Wonshik?” Hongbin snickered. “You really make me laugh.”
“I’m clean!” he protested.
“Getting wet and washing up are two different thi- “
“Turning the light off, Hongbin!” Wonshik growled, throwing the room in darkness and hopping into his not made bed. “Hey…do you even like sleep?”
“What kind of question is that? I am inside a painting. What need do I have for sleep?” Hongbin scoffed.
Wonshik was already out cold, snoring rather loudly. Hongbin thought it was kind of cute.
******
Wonshik awoke to the sound of a shrill ringtone, Hakyeon’s to be exact. He groaned, flailing around sleepily to find his phone.
“Hello? Hyung?” he rolled out, his voice thick and heavy with sleep.
“Wonshik-ah!!! Wake up! It’s pushing noon! Also I am on my way to your place with the kids. See you in twenty minutes!” Hakyeon exclaimed through the line before abruptly hanging up.
Wonshik pawed at his face, trying to chase away the sleep. He looked over at the painting, unsure to expect it to talk or not. Hongbin was not in his “painting pose”, as he called it, but staring at Wonshik, blatantly trying not to laugh.
“You snore. And dance. In your sleep,” Hongbin stated.
“You watched me sleep?” Wonshik asked, scandalized.
“You scared the shit out of me at least five times last night, you aren’t exactly easy to ignore! Also….you may want to get dressed if your friends are coming.”
Wonshik padded over to his closet, pulling out a black hoodie and jeans. He took his shirt off and was about to remove his pants when he heard an intake of breath, and remembered a live painting was in his room.
“Not today, bro. Not today,” Wonshik clucked, throwing a sheet over Hongbin’s frame.
“Hey! What the fuck? A sheet? Really? Aish, such a child!” he protested, his voice muffled by the sheet. “It’s daarrrrrrk!”
Ignoring the complaining painting, he dresses himself, covering his black hair with a beanie. When he felt it was to his liking he took the sheet off of Hongbin.
“There is no way I am keeping you in my room like this,” Wonshik stated as he picked up his frame off the wall.
“Ah. YAH! What are you doing?!” Hongbin squeaked, being thrown forward against what is technically the painted side of whatever Hongbin existed in.
Ravi carried the complaining painting to the living room where he hung him back up with care. He nodded at his own handiwork.
“Oh….Wonshik. How forward, already introducing me to your friends? I am so flattered!” he laughed, crossing his arms across his chest.
At that moment, Wonshik heard the persistent knocking of Hakyeon and company at his door. He spun to face Hongbin.
“No. Return to your painting pose or whatever and stay quiet. Please?’ he pleaded as he headed to his door.
“Killjoy.” Hongbin pouted as he reverted to his somber painting pose.
Wonshik sighed before opening the door. Upon opening the door he was assaulted by 65 kilograms of hyung.
“WONSHIK!!” Hakyeon screeched as he tackled Wonshik to the ground in a bone-crushing hug.
Wonshik squeaked as he hit the floor. “H-hey, hyung.”
Taekwoon abruptly pried Hakyeon off Wonshik, giving Wonshik a small nod of quiet acknowledgement. Wonshik clambered to his feet, his face tinted red. His friends made their way inside, Taekwoon keeping a hold on Hakyeon’s waist so he wouldn’t fly off and assault Wonshik again. He sat him down on the loveseat, leaving Hyuk and Jaehwan to sit on the other couch, facing Hongbin’s painting. Wonshik smiled, trying to not make eye contact with Hongbin in his frame.
“I love the new place hyung!” Hyuk smiled. “It….screams…. ‘I graduated college but I’m now in grad school hell’ swag!”
Wonshik laughed. “Thanks Hyukkie….so do you guys want anything? I don’t really have much here…”
“We brought a few things…call it a house-warming offering,” Jaehwan piped up, sounding somewhat tired.
“Hyung….you sound so tired?” Wonshik stated, sitting on the arm of the couch.
Hyuk spoke up for him. “We may have watched an entire season of this new anime last night….and didn’t really sleep.”
“Yah! We leave you two alone and you guys can’t take care of yourselves!” Hakyeon griped, cuddling against Taekwoon’s side.
They talked for a while after that. A lot of small talk. How are you, what have you been up to, have you seen that new drama, etc. It was all very chill. Until Hyuk got up to study the painting hanging up on Wonshik’s wall.
“So, Hyung…where did you get this painting from?” Hyuk asked, running his hand down the frame unceremoniously.
“Came with the place. Due to historical purposes, I cannot remove it,” he explained, as all eyes were on the painting.
“Hmm….it’s just some guy though. Rather boring. He looks so sad too. And his eyes…are too big, He looks funny!” Hyuk giggled.
“Who are you calling ugly, you brat?” Hongbin screeched, placing his hands on his hips angrily. “Learn some manners. Aish.”
Hyuk blinked a few times, his gaze running between Hongbin in the frame and Wonshik on the couch. His mouth formed the perfect “o,” the words stolen from his mouth. Rather than asking why he is talking with a painting, he flew off on Hongbin.
“A brat? I am no brat, you cheap piece of canvas!” Hyuk snapped, shaking off the scathing term.
“Cheap piece of canvas? Why if I wasn’t stuck in this damned painting I would smack you!” Hongbin screeched.
“As if you ever could, flower boy.”
“Yah, kid watch your mouth. I am a respectable piece of fine art.” Hongbin deliberately fluffed his hair.
Meanwhile, Jaehwan, who is sitting close to Wonshik’s shelf, discreetly reaches over and pulls something off the shelf, putting it in the pocket of his hoodie. No one noticed him with the drama over Hongbin the talking painting. Not even Hakyeon or Taekwoon noticed, and their vision could put hawks to shame. Jaehwan could do nothing but grin like a child who got his way. Except. He was a child in an adult’s body who finally got his way.
“So is no one going to address the fact that the painting is talking?” Hakyeon interjected. “And moving? Because those things do not happen. Are we just going to ignore this?”
“It’s Wonshik’s place. I’ll believe it,” Taekwoon stated bluntly.
“Yes. We are going to ignore it!” Hyuk chimed in, breaking his gaze away from Hongbin.
Hongbin looked like someone had just burned him. “This brat…”
Their gaze then fell on Wonshik, who was already playing with his hair nervously. He sighed and muttered a string of fancy language under his breath.
“Yes the painting talked. No we are not crazy. And no he is not some piece of cheap canvas. His name is Lee Hongbin.” He explained, before turning to Hongbin.
Hongbin, eyes wide, laughed awkwardly and smiled, waving politely. “Erm…hello.”
Jaehwan waved energetically. “Hi! I’m Jaehwan! The boy you sassed out? That’s Hyukkie! And the silent guy? That’s Taekwoonie! And the other one is Hakyeon!”
Jaehwan was not fazed by the fact that Hongbin was a painting. Hakyeon sighed and put his face in his hands.
Hongbin smiled politely and nodded, his face red from embarrassment. Looking away from them, he fiddled with his collar, unable to meet their gazes.
Everyone was silent, which is normally Taekwoon’s specialty. Jaehwan looked around at them and cocked his head.
“So is this how we treat a new person of our friend group? You guys are quieter than Taekwoon. Now THAT is scary.” Jaehwan huffed. “Hongbinnie here is clearly as sentient as the rest of us. We should treat him as one of us too.”
“Don’t call me that,” Hongbin interjected.
“So we are just going to accept a rude painting into our lives as someone to be friends with?” Hyuk asked, his voice monotone.
Everyone looked at him. “Yup.”
******
The days passed, and Hongbin was certainly still there. It was an interesting dynamic. Hongbin remained hung up in the living room, since Wonshik was beyond unsettled with him in his own room. With Wonshik in classes and in the studio, he was gone for a large portion of the day. But at night he would come home and hang out, talking with Hongbin.
“So what is it like being a painting?” Wonshik asked one day, sprawled across the couch that Hongbin faces.
Hongbin blinked a few times. “How is being a painting? Well, how is being alive?”
Wonshik paused, genuinely mulling it over. Hongbin laughed and shook his head, running a hand through his wavy hair.
“See? You cannot answer! It is like that…I couldn’t describe it. Though…I guess I could say it’s boring? Or lonely? I mean…I am trapped here. With nothing but flowers. And a watch. Oh! And I get a great view of your shelf. I can tell you everything on there in order from highest to lowest.” Hongbin smiled, the sass not missed in his tone.
He even banged his hands lightly against the painted surface for emphasis. Wonshik shrugged, naturally he didn’t understand how he felt. But who really would? It isn’t every day when you have a sentient and talking painting.
“I’m sorry….I got rather…whiny?” Hongbin apologized, running a hand into his hair.
“No do not apologize. I was the one who asked!” Wonshik smiled, making the younger smile too. “Hmmm….let me see if I can find a way to keep you at least partially entertained while I’m gone, yeah? Even though I am clearly the best part of your day”
Wonshik winked, making Hongbin giggle, the latter covering his mouth with his hand shyly.
Later that night, Wonshik retreated to his room and decided to give Hakyeon a call. Dialing the numbers on his phone, he sat down on the edge of the bed.
“Hello Wonshik-ah! How are you?” Hakyeon answered cheerily. “How’s Hongbinnie?”
“I am fine. I was actually calling about Hongbin.”
“OH GOD IS HE OK? What did you do to him!? Wonshik did you ruin the painting?”
“NO. No, no, no. Hyung, no. He is perfectly fine! And wow, way to use the blame game. What am I Hyuk? Jaehwan? I am not that horrible! Hongbin is just bored…when I am not there.”
Hakyeon sighed in relief. “Oh. Ok. Good. Sorry I doubted you, Wonshik! Well…if he is bored why don’t you… I don’t know…turn on the TV or music or something? Something to keep him occupied?”
Wonshik paused. He really hadn’t thought about that. That is actually a smart idea. While not forgiving on his electric bill, that could provide him with something other than silence and staring into the room.
“Thanks hyung! I will do that!” Wonshik grinned.
“No problem! That’s what mothers are for, Wonshik-ah.”
“Hyung….”
“You know I am the group mom do not deny it!”
“I am gonna hang up now, hyung.”
He hung up before Hakyeon could continue. Tossing the phone onto his bed, he went back into the living room. Hongbin had his back turned to Wonshik, playing with the flowers that served as his backdrop. At that moment he studied Hongbin’s backside, how his shoulders were sculpted, and his back strong. Wonshik looked away as Hongbin turned around.
“Hongbin…what if I left the TV on for you when I leave?” he suggested. “So you would have something to entertain you.”
Hongbin smiled, pausing for a moment. Then a blank expression crossed his face.
“What is a TV?”
Wonshik blinked. He was about to say something until he realized that Hongbin would not even know what a TV is. Or anything really for that matter.
“A TV is….like a box,” Wonshik explained. “And it displays shows and films. Moving pictures and stories. It is fun. It is like art…but moving.”
The brunet nodded slowly, trying to imagine what was being explained to him. “So. It is like a book? But it is being shown to you rather than you imagining it for yourself?”
The raven haired man laughed. “That is one way to put it. Watch, I will turn it on.”
His small TV has seen better days, but that did not matter. It lasted through his undergraduate years in the dorms. Now, it was small in an apartment, but it was fine for just the two of them. Wonshik searched a bit on the table, finally finding the remote, buried in a pile of paperwork he had accumulated.
The TV clicked on, displaying the local news. A newscaster was discussing a new construction plan set to take place in the local park. Hongbin’s eyes lit up at the spectacle, leaning into the invisible painted barrier that kept him inside his painting. He looked like a child who had discovered sugar for the very first time.
“Wow! That is so cool! It is like you are there!” Hongbin laughed, mesmerized by the screen.
Wonshik could not help but smile at the enjoyment that Hongbin was experiencing. Maybe listening to Hakyeon wasn’t so bad after all.
******
Day after day, Wonshik would leave the TV on before he left. Every day he would put it to a different channel to discover Hongbin’s likes and dislikes. This in turn created a set list of channels for Wonshik to cycle through.
This whole scenario turned into his morning routine. Wonshik would wake up, say good morning to Hongbin, eat, get dressed, put on a channel, say goodbye, then leave. Day in and day out. It was a nice routine.
One day, Wonshik came home to Hongbin sobbing in his painting, the choked sounds and sniffles heard from the door. He stepped closer to the living room to hear Hongbin talking to the television.
“No! He hadn’t done that! It wasn’t his fault! Don’t do this to me!” Hongbin cried out, not even noticing Wonshik had arrived home.
Watching the spectacle for a while, Wonshik was stunned to see so much emotion. He was curious as to what the brunet was watching. From the sound of it, he figured it was a drama.
“Hey, Hongbin,” Wonshik interrupted. “What are you watching?”
Hongbin squeaked and looked away to see Wonshik in the room. Embarrassed, he wiped his face with his sleeve and took a few shaky breaths.
“Welcome home, Wonshik! It was…just a drama. I’ve been watching all day! It’s so good!” he replied, his face red.
Wonshik turned to face the television. Taking a seat next to Hongbin’s frame silently, he observed the actors on the screen.
“Oh! I have seen this one before. Hakyeon used to make me watch this with him!” Wonshik exclaimed, recalling the drama.
“DON’T SPOIL THE ENDING PLEASE!” Hongbin squawked, dead serious.
“I won’t. Mind if I watch with you?”
Hongbin nodded his head, giving Wonshik permission. The latter settled into the couch then, his eyes trained onto the screen. They both continued to watch, with Hongbin chattering to the TV, much to Wonshik’s amusement. In the middle of an episode however, Wonshik fell completely asleep. His hand rested comfortably on the frame of Hongbin’s painting, almost protectively.
******
Watching television with Hongbin grew into another part of his routine at night. They would watch anything- movies, the news, dramas, even infomercials. But he liked all of it because it brought so much enjoyment and happiness to Hongbin. And Wonshik didn’t even register that was why he liked watching television with Hongbin as much as he did.
Wonshik was in the studio. It was as if the clouds had lifted and the world was in perfect balance. He had managed to write up several decent songs in the past few weeks. It was a miracle, considering how much of a hard time he was having before. That did not make anything easier, because his advisor always wanted something extra from Wonshik each time he submitted anything. It was a stressful cycle. But it was manageable.
Jaehwan decided to pop into the studio that day with Hakyeon. Truthfully, it had been a decent amount of time since they spent any substantial time with Wonshik. Without realizing it, he had managed to spend his time only in class, the studio, or home with Hongbin.
“Oh look! My estranged child!” Hakyeon cried out in exaggeration running over to assault him with a hug that essentially had the poor guy trapped in a vice made up of Cha Hakyeon.
“Hi Wonshikkie!” Jaehwan smiled. “We came to visit because Hakyeon thought you were dead or missing.”
Wonshik lowered the headphones from his ears, keeping them around his neck. He laughed before turning his head to see Hakyeon’s face.
“You thought I was dead, hyung?” Wonshik asked, his voice monotone.
“YES! We haven’t seen you in forever! Even Taekwoonie asked about you! You know he doesn’t care about things that often!” Hakyeon blubbered.
“To be fair, it has been a while…” Jaehwan piped in. “We haven’t seen you in a while!”
“You shouldn’t talk,” Hakyeon called over his shoulder. “Mr. Hyukkie and I are gonna binge watch One Piece over the course of a week!”
Jaehwan looked away. “That was necessary for living, hyung. And you know that too!”
Wonshik laughed, before finally coaxing Hakyeon off of him and into a chair. Hakyeon eventually calmed down and sat.
“So…what have you been up to Wonshik-ah? You have been so distant!” Hakyeon squeaked. “The kids all have missed you!”
Jaehwan pouted to add to the effect, despite being older than Wonshik. His pout was one to tug at the emotions of anyone, for Jaehwan was the cutest member of their friend group. Hakyeon looked over at him and nodded, as if to prove his point.
“I’ve been busy with classes, and my TA job, and the studio,” he chose to leave out Hongbin.
“Why don’t you hang out with us anymore? We invite you all the time!” Jaewhan asked innocently, gripping a pillow in his lap.
“I am always so tired, so I stay at home,” Wonshik stated, which isn’t false considering he is tired often anyway.
“With Hongbin,” Hakyeon interjected quickly.
“Pardon?” Wonshik looked at him.
“With. Hongbin. You spend all your time with Hongbin that you’ve become a homebody. Is that normal Wonshik-ah?”
“Is anything about that situation normal?!” he cried out in rebuttal, folding his arms across his chest.
“Well, I’ll admit that nothing about a talking painting is what we call normal. Point is, you have gotten very close to the painting….to Hongbinnie. And we are just a little concerned for you….you know? I mean…he is not real…he is a painting. He is not human. I don’t wish to be mean, because I think Hongbin is great too. But you have seriously been spending a lot of time with him.”
“Yeah, well I wish he was real,” Wonshik said quietly.
Hakyeon just blinked at him. Jaehwan, while listening fully, was already elsewhere, immersed in his own thoughts.
******
Wonshik, as per Hakyeon and Hongbin’s insistence began to pick his social life up a bit more after that. He learned to balance his time between responsibilities, his home life with Hongbin, and his friends. It was working out well. Hakyeon was pleased. Hongbin was pleased. Everyone was happy.
Asleep on the couch, Hongbin watched him sleep, unbeknownst by Wonshik. This happened once in a while, and to Hongbin, it was cute. Watching the little things and habits he had. The snoring was left to be desired, but all in all Wonshik was adorable in his sleep. Suddenly, Wonshik’s phone began to sound with his ringtone for Hakyeon.
With no signs of life from the sleeping body, Hongbin had to take action. He got closer to the paint of his painting.
“Wonshik….Wonshikkie….wake up! Your phone is ringing!” he cooed loudly.
“Hmmm…..oh! Shit!” he sleepily grumbled, as his hands flailed around for his phone.
He spent a few seconds like that till he finally found the source of the noise. Taking care to not have the call sent to voicemail and have Hakyeon sent on a panic attack, he quickly answered.
“Hyung? Why so early?” he groaned, rubbing his eyes with languid movements.
“Wonshikkie!!! Pack a bag for the weekend stat!” Hakyeon exclaimed from the receiver.
“Why?”
“Because! Taemin, and Jongin and I have a dance convention …point is we want you to tag along! It will be fun! Also I don’t take no for an answer! Plus I am actually already with them…on the way to pick you up. So yeah! Get ready!”
Hakyeon hung up after that. Wonshik sighed. He always gets dragged into events like these. But at least dancing is interesting to him, even though he never pursued it unlike them.
Hongbin chuckled. “So what did Hakyeon want?”
“He’s taking me to a convention with Taemin and Jongin. So apparently I will be gone for a few days,” he explained, getting up to get a bag out of the closet to put his stuff in.
Hongbin pouted. “Ah. Well, have fun!”
“I’ll call Jaehwan and Hyuk to house sit for the weekend!” Wonshik called from the bedroom, where he was hurriedly putting clothes and such in a bag.
Hongbin sighed. A whole few days without Wonshik? That has not happened before. He has never left for more than a day at a time.
A few minutes after, Hakyeon hammered on the door. “Yah, you better not be asleep again!”
Wonshik jogged over to the door and opened it. “No, not asleep again.”
“Ready to go?”
Looking over at Hongbin, who gave a small smile. Wonshik nodded. Hakyeon then ushered him out of the apartment with his bag.
“See you in a few days Hongbinnie!” Wonshik smiled as the door shut behind him.
“See you,” he whispered.
Within a few hours, he heard the door open and immediately was assaulted by the loudness that is Ken and Hyuk.
“Hongbin! We have come for a sleepover party!” Jaehwan chirped, coming into the living room.
“Hyung told me we had to keep you company, so we thought we would have a sleepover with you!” Hyuk grinned.
By the looks of them, it was apparent they had something planned outside of spending time with Hongbin. Jaehwan was dressed in his Chopper hoodie and pajama bottoms even though it was day time. That in on itself begged the question.
Dropping their stuff, they flopped onto the couches. Jaehwan grinned like a child. He sat up, pulling his legs up to his chest.
“You know….Wonshikkie talks a lot about you, Hongbin,” Jaehwan smiled.
Hongbin blushed, smiling, his dimples indenting his cheeks. “D-does he?”
“Yeah. He doesn’t shut up about you. It is kinda annoying, not going to lie,” Hyuk interjected bluntly.
“He cares a lot about you….you know that right?” Jaehwan continued.
“I know,” Hongbin replied quietly. “I care about him too.”
“Ew. So sappy. You guys are gross,” Hyuk commented, rolling over on his stomach.
A pause of silence ensued. Jaehwan shrugged and played with his pants. Smiling, Hongbin turned around to compose himself. He felt giddy, and he had no idea what that even meant. All it took was Jaehwan to even mention Wonshik.
“So…Hongbinnie. Has Wonshik ever told you about anime?” Jaehwan asked bluntly.
“No…what is that? Is it like the dramas on the TV?” he responded innocently, turning back around to look at them.
“If you want to call it that,” Hyuk butted in. “They are animated. People draw them. Want to watch one?”
Hongbin hesitated before answering them. “Sure. Why not?”
“ONE PIECE MARATHON LETS GO!” Jaehwan screeched. “Battle stations Hyukkie!”
The duo set to work, putting in a DVD and setting it all up. Course in the meantime, Hyuk had to explain the plot, since Jaehwan was too excited to speak.
And so, the trio set to watching One Piece for the entire weekend. Even when Hyuk and Jaehwan fell asleep, the show kept going. It was entertaining for Hongbin, watching their excitement and their screeching and their emotions. Though, when the duo fell asleep, Hongbin’s loneliness would set it. As a painting, he didn’t sleep. He truly wished he was a human. Because then he could be like Wonshik and the others. Rather than being stuck in a frame, surrounded by nothing but flowers.
Eventually Wonshik returned, to find the three of them engrossed in the television. He immediately dropped his stuff when he heard the screeches of the main character on the screen.
“Jaehwan…..Hyuk…what have you done?” he asked calmly.
“We showed Hongbin anime!” Hyuk responded happily. “You know he’s a lot nicer when you get him distracted by something!”
“Quit it, he is not mean. You just met on the wrong foot. But that’s not the point. Are you trying to tell me. You watched anime. For three full days straight?”
“We did,” Hongbin smiled. “It was all their idea.”
Wonshik hid his face in his hands, shaking his head slowly. Sighing loudly, he looked over at Jaehwan, who was too happy to care.
“You guys are idiots,” Wonshik stated bluntly.
“But we are YOUR idiots!” Jaehwan giggled.
******
With even more time passing, the air grew colder as summer changed into fall. Not like Hongbin could feel that either way. Wonshik was gone for most of the day even more now, with all the stresses of his studies and work coming to a head. It hurt Hongbin, too see him so stressed out. He would often come home, visibly exhausted. He would spend some time with Hongbin, before falling asleep on the couch. Truthfully, Hongbin was the primary reason Wonshik has not been admitted to a mental institution, even though an outsider may say that should give him a first class ticket to the institution.
“I’m home, Hongbin!” Wonshik announced as he shut the door behind him, not caring as it slammed against the door frame.
He shucked his shoes and coat off and dropped his bag unceremoniously on the floor before trudging into the kitchen. Taking a beer from the fridge, he trudged into the living room and plopped down in the seat facing Hongbin.
Hongbin waited to say anything-he knew something was off. He studied Wonshik as he drank from the beer can. Wonshik had to once explain to him what that was. It was supposed to make you feel good, or so Hongbin was told. Though some people, not Wonshik, abuse the privilege (though he failed to tell him that was because he really doesn’t handle alcohol well at all). Hongbin had never tried a drop of alcohol, or food, or anything in his lifetime on a shelf. Watching Wonshik day to day made him rather curious about what it was like. To be human. To be alive.
Wonshik made eye contact with Hongbin, the latter almost squeaking. Hongbin smiled awkwardly.
“How was your day, Wonshikkie?” Hongbin finally said, his expression innocent.
“It was nothing, Hongbin. Don’t worry yourself,” Wonshik sighed.
“Nothing my ass! You seem so…tense! What’s wrong?” Hongbin cried out.
“Just a stressful day in the studio, nothing to concern yourself with.”
“I will concern myself with it!”
“Why? Why do you care?” Wonshik snapped.
Hongbin was taken aback. “Because! Because you are you! Just accept that someone cares a lot about you!”
In that moment, Hongbin squeaked and slinked back into his painting a bit more. He cleared his throat, his face tinted red, realizing the gravity of his words.
“I mean…I care because you are practically all I know now. I see you day in and day out. And I cannot bear to see you upset. I understand everything is stressful. But you don’t have to suffer alone…just talk to me. I am here for you, Wonshik. I am always here for you. Literally, I can’t go anywhere.” He blubbered, the words like word vomit.
Wonshik was silent. He just looked up at Hongbin. Puzzling, he sat in silence. The silence itself was deafening. Hongbin chewed his lip nervously. Had he said too much? But then, the silence was broken with laughter.
“You mean that?” Wonshik laughed.
Hongbin could do nothing except nod, smiling cutely. Wonshik laughed and actually smiled. Hongbin hadn’t seen him smile in a while.
“You know,” Wonshik continued. “That actually means a lot. Not often do you hear people say things like that.”
“So will you tell me?” Hongbin smiled, cheekily.
And so Wonshik did. He started from the beginning. How the undergraduates were insufferable in his class that he taught, how his advisor required work that simply could not be obtained, how he was unable to compose anything to his liking recently, how hard his classes were, etc. This was a milestone for Wonshik. Normally he kept his thoughts and emotions bottled within, keeping them to himself. He would only occasionally talk to Hakyeon, but he never told him literally everything. Hongbin simply took it all in, offering his ear. It felt good to know he was trusted enough to be able to listen.
Wonshik finished his spiel, sighing. Visibly he was more relaxed, looking at Hongbin with a warmer and softer gaze. He seemed less irritable, which was what Hongbin had intended.
After a decent amount of time spent in silence, Hongbin decided to speak. “So…remember way back when we first met…you had asked why I was painted to look sad?”
Wonshik nodded. “Ah yes, you and your many secrets.”
Hongbin raised his eyebrows. “Well…I suppose since you trust me…I also trust you to tell you. About myself.”
He sat down within his painting and took a deep breath. Now no one has ever heard this story before. He had never told anyone before.
“So. From my understanding, I was painted by a woman in the aftermath of losing her lover to a great storm that ravaged the seas. I’m assuming he was a pirate of some sorts. In her sadness, she painted me to manifest her own emotions. Now I don’t remember all the details of that….but one day…I was able to see and observe what was around me. It was a full moon. The scene was breathtaking. But the artist, my maker, she was so far gone, drowning herself in liquor.
“My freedom did not last long. I was stowed away, covered by a sheet. It was dark. And lonely. I was scared. For years this lasted. Until someone bought me. As such I lived, watching the tenants that came through here, for years. Not speaking or moving unless alone. Or with animals. No one knew. But then you moved here. And…you were different.”
“Different?” Ravi interrupted.
“Different. I felt some…connection to you. Like I felt drawn to you. So I revealed myself. And well, here we are.”
“Are you sad now?”
“Not anymore.”
******
After that one night, Wonshik realized that story felt familiar. But he could not put a finger on how it was familiar. So he set to research. For days he would read through mythology, books, stories, and legends alike. Till one day, he finally found it.
There was a legend that an artist lost their lover. So they painted their sorrows onto their canvas. Day in and day out they would talk to the painting as if it was their lover. Eventually, due to a full moon, the painting gained consciousness. But the artist was unable to see that, and the painting was forever casted into loneliness. The legend then said that if certain conditions were met the painting could gain human life.
“If certain conditions were met….” Wonshik paused. “Like what?”
He decided this supernatural thing was up Jaehwan’s alley. So Wonshik decided to text him.
To Jaehwan: Jaehwannie, could you come over? I want your help with something…it’s kind of hard to explain so I’ll explain when you come, ok?
To Wonshikkie: Um…sure? Can I bring Hyukkie?
To Jaehwan: Sure.
Once Jaehwan and Hyuk came over, he took them into the living room. Hyuk sat down on the couch and Jaehwan followed suit.
“So whats up Wonshikkie?” Jaehwan asked, waving to Hongbin.
“I found a legend. About a painting who was able to talk. Long story short…if certain conditions are met…the painting could become human.” Wonshik’s eyes flickered to Hongbin. “I want….I want to make Hongbin human. I want him. Here. With me.”
Hongbin covered his mouth with his hand out of shock, his face red. Jaehwan paused, before smiling.
“You know…I thought about that legend a while ago, back when we were taking care of Hongbin,” he smiled.
“You knew about this?” the other three screeched.
Jaehwan nodded. “What if…we brainstorm possible things we have to do to bring him out of the painting? No use in playing the blame game now. How about we use alchemy?”
“Jaehwan, this is not Fullmetal Alchemist,” Wonshik scolded.
“Exorcism?” Hyuk suggested.
“NO!” Hongbin squeaked.
“Calm down there Satan, we aren’t trying to steal souls today. He’s not a ghost. This is not GhostBusters!” Wonshik spat.
“We could draw a chalk circle?” Jaehwan suggested.
“What does this look like, hyung? ChalkZone?” Hyuk sneered.
“Well what other options do we have?”
Hyuk and Jaehwan looked at each other. They each waggled their eyebrows and turned to Wonshik.
“Ok, here us out,” Hyuk began. “Why don’t you try the power of love?”
“The WHAT?” Wonshik asked in disbelief.
“Manifest your feelings and will him to become alive. Like the artist willed him to talk. Make sense?” Jaehwan explained. “We are not stupid. We know you fell in love with him.”
Wonshik turned a bright shade of red. “Well…I mean…we could try that.”
Hongbin looked between the three of them. Human? He could become human? Hell he would sell his hypothetical soul to Hyuk if it meant he could be human.
******
Later that night, Wonshik was finally alone with Hongbin. He looked down awkwardly.
“So the power of love, Wonshikkie?” Hongbin giggled. “Why are you so far away? Come closer, I actually want to tell you something. I have one more secret.”
“Well then say it,” Wonshik laughed.
“No you need to come closer first!”
Wonshik stepped up to his frame, placing his hands on the painted surface. Any art major would murder him for that. But who cared. Hongbin, in sentiment placed his hands against the same surface.
“I do have one more secret,” Hongbin leaned in a bit, his voice dropping to a whisper. “I love you.”
Wonshik turned red. His hands pressed into the painting. His hands were pressing more into the painting. Wait, what?
Wonshik felt a pair of hands enclose his. Hongbin squeaked as he felt rough hands in his. He gasped and almost fell backwards into his painting. But Wonshik stopped him from falling and pulled him forward. Hongbin squeaked as he fell forward. But rather than hitting the painted barrier, he fell against Wonshik, feeling the softness of his hoodie. They both gasped as they both hit the ground, Hongbin’s body no longer contained within the painting. Hongbin looked up, his gaze hitting Wonshik’s. Embarrassed, he buried his face into Wonshik’s hoodie. Tears escaped his eyes, hitting the cotton of the garment.
“Hey can I tell you a secret?” Wonshik smiled. “I love you too.”
Hongbin looked up, choking back a sob. Throwing his arms around Wonshik’s neck, he cried. Seeing Hongbin cry started Wonshik’s crying. Wonshik was never one to hold in tears. Wonshik wrapped his arms around Hongbin’s waist and kissed him passionately, his eyes fluttering shut. Hongbin kissed back with equal intensity before pulling away to look into Wonshik’s eyes.
“H-Hi there,” Hongbin smiled, rolling off of the elder.
Hongbin took Wonshik’s hands and pulled him up so that they were sitting on the floor now.
“Hello there, my beautiful artwork, my smiley bean.” Wonshik grinned. “Welcome to the real world.
“Thank you,” Hongbin whispered, hugging Wonshik tightly, nuzzling into his neck.
*****
With Hongbin out of the painting, Wonshik found it creepy to have it hanging around. So he covered it with a sheet, and hid it away in a closet. Technically there were no rules on him hiding it. He just could not get rid of it. Either way, Hongbin preferred that he never saw it again. It made him anxious to see it.
A few days after, Hongbin and Wonshik were sitting together on the couch, simply enjoying each other’s company. Hongbin was curled up in Wonshik’s lap, laying against his chest. Wonshik was set to petting Hongbin’s hair, his new favorite habit. He was looking off absentmindedly at his shelf, when something caught his eye.
Hongbin felt Wonshik pause and tense up. “Wonshikkie?”
“Is something missing from the shelf? Something seems off.”
Hongbin laughed. “You mean that reindeer figure you had? That has been gone for a long time. I would know. I know that bookshelf inside and out.”
Wonshik frowned. Then it hit him.
“DAMMIT JAEHWAN!”