Chapter Text
The fresh, slightly tart scent of lavender filled the small room, overpowering the scent of the wooden shelves. A warm breeze brushed the flower, which sat in a pear-shaped vase on the round coffee table, gently fluttering its branches. The rustling of worn pages drifted around, mingling with the distant noise of the street outside. A high school student gazed with interest at the rainy landscapes in a book on 18th-century Italian art while sipping banana milk. The sunrays reflected off his elegant gold-framed glasses, lending the illustrations a multicolored glow. After his spring exams, Minseo was finally able to find time for his favorite pastime — art. Even during holidays, he visited the school library, reviewing the necessary materials for his art course. With the fall school semester approaching, he was trying to cover as many textbooks as possible.
Creativity and passion for art were in Minseo's blood. He always noticed things around him more deeply than anyone else. For example, people often dismiss summer rain as an irritant, a sudden intrusion into their personal space. But he saw this natural phenomenon as shimmering, weightless drops, seemingly floating in the air like confetti, glimmering in the sunlight.
As Minseo was about to turn the page, he noticed a corner of thin paper — unlike the thick, smooth pages of the book — hidden between them. Pulling it, he fished out a small white sheet, slightly frayed. A few words were written on it in a somewhat shaky handwriting. As he was reading them, he felt as if his feet, standing on the hot sand, touched cool seawater.
"Does art really exist?.."
Minseo looked closely at the scrap of paper and noticed some words visible on the other side. The small sheet turned out to be a library pass. Written in faded ink were some details, of which only the name "Lee Hanbin", the year of birth, the name of the school, and the phone number were legible. Of the class, only a faint outline remained.
That evening, tossing and turning in the bed, unable to sleep, Minseo couldn't get the phrase from the pass out of his head. "Who could doubt the existence of art?" he wondered. Realizing that the thoughts consuming him at 11 PM wouldn’t let him sleep anyway, he decided to search for Lee Hanbin's KakaoTalk account. He entered the phone number listed on the slip of paper and came across an account with a cute white dog as the profile picture. It sat on its paws on someone's lap, smiling brightly, its small black eyes looking into the camera. Its fluffy tail rested on neat little palms.
Minseo's half-asleep thoughts weren't quite coherent, but his curiosity was stronger. He was about to put his phone on the shelf to wait for a reply in the morning, but it vibrated before he could.
← Lee Hanbin
Lee Hanbin
Hello! 🐶 Oh, I don't think I even noticed I lost it...😯 Where exactly did you find it?
23:20
It was between the pages of the 18th-century Italian art book. And speaking of art... There's a phrase on your pass that's been bothering me, and that's why I messaged you so late... Why did you doubt the existence of art?
23:22
Lee Hanbin
Oh, that... I wanted to study sculpture, but apparently it's not for me...
23:24
Why not?
23:27
Lee Hanbin
The tutors say that effort alone isn't enough if you don't have talent... And even if I try, it won't yield results, so... Oh, sorry for burdening you with my problems, we just met. I'm glad you found my pass ☺️ I need to go to bed, goodnight😴
23:31
You're not burdening me at all! I'm curious... Thank you for answering, and yes, goodnight! 😇
23:33
Hanbin didn't read the last message. It felt as if he set the stage and then stopped at the most interesting part, like a TV series Minseo had recently watched. More than usual, the student was eager for the next day to arrive and find out the rest of the story.
The morning was quite cold. Minseo felt a chill run down his bare ankles. The forecast promised rain today, so he brought a black umbrella with a print of Greed on the right side, a character from his favorite anime, Fullmetal Alchemist. A man sitting next to him on the bus was sneezing more often than they stopped at traffic lights, and behind him, a guy in a business suit was loudly discussing his stock price decline on his phone. Despite all the noise around him, Minseo didn't seem to mind. He put on his headphones and turned on the radio station that covered art news. He dreamed of visiting an exhibition of his favorite artist in Italy one day. Little by little, he saved up for this, working part-time during the holidays as a food delivery man and as a merchandiser for various advertising campaigns, so that when the time was right, his dream would come true.
Glancing at his phone, Minseo waited for it to vibrate with an incoming message. That morning, he texted Hanbin, asking if they could meet so he’d return him the pass. Soon, it was his stop. He took off his headphones, put them and his phone in the backpack, and hurried out.
Today was career orientation day at school, when students prepared for exams in their respective fields. Minseo settled comfortably in a spacious classroom with large windows covered with translucent curtains fluttering in the wind and began to paint a still life. The bright sunrays, which had illuminated his canvas well, were giving way to a muted bluish light, darkening the tone of the recently dried paints. The student was so immersed in the creative process that he didn't notice how quickly time flew by. Minseo added a few more strokes and went to wash his brushes and palette.
When his usual group of friends gathered after class, they decided it would be nice to grab a bite at a nearby café. Fall Mist isn't the cheapest place, but sometimes a little comfort is worth it. Especially during the hectic pre-exam period. Arriving at their destination, they settled into a cozy mansard, taking a small table by the window. Their spot offered an excellent view of the entire first floor of the establishment. The forecast called for rain within the next hour, so Minseo took an umbrella from his backpack and placed it next to him on a large black armless chair. A tall waiter approached their table, ready to take their order. Minseo's attention was immediately caught by the sight of neat hands holding a pen and a small notebook. The right wrist was adorned with a thin bracelet of multicolored beads with a pendant shaped like the face of a smiling white Samoyed. Minseo thought for a moment and remembered that Hanbin's profile picture also featured a Samoyed. There are many dog lovers in Korea, some even pushing them in strollers, so the student didn't dwell on it. Soon, the waiter's voice distracted him from his thoughts.
"Good afternoon, what would you like to order?" the employee asked in a calm, low, slightly husky voice.
Minseo abruptly turned his attention from the waiter's hand to the menu and voiced his order. After accepting it, the waiter hurried off toward the kitchen. While his order was being prepared, the future art student discussed his upcoming exams with friends. Soon, the same tall waiter placed trays of food for them and left just as quickly.
Time flew by as they chatted, and evening approached. The friends began to head home one by one, but Minseo remained in the café for a while to work on his laptop. The light in the room gradually dimmed due to gathering clouds. A cool breeze blew through the slightly open window, ruffling the black strands of Minseo's bangs. The student shuddered as the chill ran across his skin. He removed his glasses to give his eyes a break from the screen and looked out into the dining room. As it was getting late, the empty tables were quickly filling with customers, adding to the workload of the staff. There were four waiters in the café, but for some reason Minseo's gaze was drawn to the tallest one, the one who brought his order. He moved around the room faster than everyone else, causing his slightly baggy black dress pants to flutter like a sail in the wind. Due to his slight nearsightedness, Minseo couldn't clearly see the waiter's face and squinted, trying to catch his blurred figure. Finally focusing his vision, he noticed the proportions, which seemed perfect to him. Broad, stately shoulders, long, slender, toned legs, and nimble arms with sleeves rolled up to the elbows. On his bare forearms, fine veins were visible from tension, creating aesthetic reliefs reminiscent of the branches of bare trees. The café employee spoke very politely to customers, and in his white, fitted shirt, slightly unbuttoned, he looked more like a manager than a regular waiter. In addition to still lifes and landscapes, the student also practiced drawing portraits and human figures, so he thought it would be great to one day draw from life someone as aesthetically pleasing and perfectly proportioned as this waiter.
Minseo was so captivated by the image of the young man that he lost track of time. Putting his glasses back on, he hurried to pack his things but couldn't find his umbrella. He examined the floor and peered into the cracks under the chair and table, but the thickening darkness prevented him from seeing anything with the human eye. He still had a lot of chores to do, so Minseo didn't waste any more time searching and darted to the exit.
The sky had completely clouded over, about to begin its heavy rainfall.The student stopped at the entrance and felt something hit his white sneakers, turning into dark wet spots. Large drops of rain fell from the sky, leaving streaks on his glasses and straightening his brushed hair, more and more frequently with each passing second. Suddenly, Minseo heard the creak of the door opening behind him. A waiter approached him. He wore a gray hoodie over his white shirt and a hood pulled over his head. The downpour instantly soaked the young man's thick bangs, which covered his eyes. He handed Minseo a white umbrella with a small print of the Statue of Liberty in the corner.
"Take this, or you'll get wet," the guy said in a slightly muffled voice.
A sharp but pleasant shock ran through Minseo's palm from the cool touch of a gentle hand with a shimmering bracelet on the wrist. He thanked him timidly, the surprise making his voice lose its confidence. The waiter hurried back into the café, deftly turning toward the back room. Minseo watched him go, but the guy's silhouette was gradually blurred by the drops hitting the windowpane.
When the student returned home, the rain had subsided and the sky had turned a deep, dark purple. A cold wind blew through the window in gusty streams, stirring the clothes in the open closet. Minseo lay down on the bed and pulled the covers over himself, scrolling through his phone's news feed. Soon, a notification for a new KakaoTalk message popped up in the top bar.
← Lee Hanbin
Lee Hanbin
Hey! Sorry I haven't responded, it's been a busy day 😢 We can meet. I think I'm a little sick, so it won't be possible anytime soon. But I'll let you know when I feel better
22:31
Hey! Of course, get well soon. I hope it's not too bad
22:33
Lee Hanbin
No, I think it's just an ordinary cold. But thanks for worrying ☺️
22:35
It's nothing! By the way, what kind of sculpture are you doing? Can you send me some work? I'd love to help you out any way I can
22:37
Lee Hanbin
Oh... I don't think you'll like them, but whatever. I'll send them right now
22:39
Hanbin sent two photos. One was of David's head, and the other was of a torso in motion.
← Lee Hanbin
Hmm... You know, I think this looks like a good base, but your style is quite choppy. Have you tried softening the lines and making all the angles and reliefs more smooth?
22:47
Lee Hanbin
That's exactly my main problem. My tutors also constantly criticize me for sculpting too roughly...
22:49
What do you feel when you sculpt? What thoughts run through your head?
22:50
Lee Hanbin
I don't really feel anything, I only think about correcting the mistakes, but nothing changes
22:52
The feelings you put into it are very important in art. Like, when I draw, I think of a positive event and simply enjoy the process. If you only focus on not losing, you'll eventually lose. If you want, I can recommend some music I usually listen to for inspiration
22:55
Lee Hanbin
Oh, yeah! That would be really cool!
22:57
Minseo sent his favorite playlist, hoping Hanbin would find his advice helpful.
They texted each other occasionally, dabbling in mundane topics like the weather. Minseo considered calling Hanbin, but he had a busy schedule. Hanbin was working part-time jobs from school and returned home late. He mostly texted Minseo during breaks and before bed. Besides, they both had exams coming up. Apart from everyday topics, they discussed paintings of rainy landscapes they'd both seen in the Italian art textbook in the library. Minseo tried to explain to his interlocutor that inspiration should be drawn from all art, not limited to a single genre. The student was pleased that his new friend was so approachable, accepting his advice and constantly asking questions about art, keeping the dialogue going. Although Minseo was quite sociable, and at school only a deaf person could fail to hear him laugh loudly while animatedly discussing something with a group of his classmates, he had never felt such comfort as he did while talking to Hanbin. He found him modest and gentle, with a sweet insecurity that Minseo wanted to transform into something stronger, so that Hanbin would no longer doubt his abilities. He sent him art tutorials he'd used to teach himself, and Hanbin said he began to feel something more pleasant when he sculpted, and his lines became smoother.
A week later, Hanbin reported feeling better, and they agreed to meet on the school rooftop. Although they hadn't yet met in person, Minseo realized Hanbin had become more than just a pen pal. He longed to see him as soon as possible, so they could stroll together through the autumn park, enjoying the golden scenery and discussing art.
On the day of the meeting, Minseo washed his school uniform with the most pleasant-smelling detergent he had at home and ironed it, ensuring not a single wrinkle spoiled the look. He tried changing up his everyday hairstyle to make it more interesting, but ultimately settled on his usual bangs, styled with a brush. Minseo usually didn't focus too much on his appearance, but for some reason, in front of Hanbin, he wanted to look his best. Throwing a dark blue jacket with the school emblem over a crisp white shirt tucked into slightly slim dress pants, he added the finishing touch — a tie, adjusted his glasses, and hurried out.
The weather was great for the meeting. After rainy, gloomy days, the sky had turned a deep blue, and the sun, with its last strength, illuminated the streets before the change of season. A warm breeze blew through his clothes and hair. Minseo sat on a bench, watching the birds perch on the edge of the roof and catching the sound of the school football field. After waiting for about an hour, he texted Hanbin asking if something had happened and how soon he would arrive. But there was no answer. The sky-blue had turned cobalt, ready to receive the tiny lights of the stars. The rooftop's edges were deserted, no longer inviting birds to their threshold, and the faint thud of balls could be heard from the soccer field. The student pressed the lock button every minute, hoping for a new message notification. He rose from the bench and walked to the edge of the roof. A cool breeze refreshed his face and cleared his forehead of his bangs. Not a single sound was heard. The space seemed plunged into a deathly silence, broken only by the flickering of the streetlights, sometimes illuminating the soccer net, sometimes obscuring it from view in darkness. Realizing that Hanbin wouldn't appear, Minseo sighed deeply, put his phone in his pocket, and descended from the roof.
One day followed another, leaving the trees bare, but the student still received no answer from Hanbin. Minseo tried calling, but only heard a robotic female voice repeating the same phrase: "The subscriber is out of service area". Sitting at home, he couldn't concentrate on his assignments because of his restless thoughts. Active conversations turned into emptiness, as if someone had suddenly stolen his painting, the result of months of work. Many questions swirled in his head, but no matter how much Minseo pondered the reasons for Hanbin's behavior, all he received in response was silence. He rested his elbows on the table, clutched his head, and sighed heavily. His eyes scanned the many letters in his notebook, but his brain failed to process any signals to recognize them. Minseo abruptly leaned back in his chair, waking the room from its silence with a creaking sound. Opening the closet door, he reached for a warm green sweater, but his gaze fell abruptly on the white umbrella hanging in the corner. Minseo had completely forgotten about the umbrella he'd received from that polite waiter. Deciding to unwind and return it at the same time, he threw on the sweater and left the house.
"Hello! Could you help me return this umbrella to one of your waiters? Unfortunately, I don't remember his face, but he was the tallest of them and had a low, slightly husky voice," Minseo explained, approaching the café worker at the counter.
"Good afternoon! I think I know who you're talking about, but he's no longer working here."
Minseo also asked if they'd found his umbrella, as he seemed to have left it there that day, but the worker couldn't say for sure.
Exams were approaching, and his thoughts were filled with manuals on human figure, Italian landscape painters, and art theory. In his free time, Minseo drew portraits of various people for his portfolio, but one day before the exam, an image came to him. Opening his sketchbook, the student traced a graphite pencil across the page, transforming the smooth lines into a man's face with soft contours. He formed a small, slightly plump smile with his lips, causing dimples to appear on his cheeks. A few white beads reflected the sparkle in his eyes, and the parting in his curly hair barely revealed his high forehead. Unconsciously, Minseo pictured Hanbin, imagining him as a sweet and kind student. No matter how hard he tried to distract himself with studying, he still couldn't forget him in the back of his mind. The clock moved to 12:00 AM with a click. He had to get up early tomorrow, so Minseo closed his sketchbook and placed it on the far shelf of the bookcase.