* * *
“Doesn’t this painting seem out of place for him?”
As Jaeyoon had said, the painting’s atmosphere was quite different from what Siyoung had imagined.
Siyoung wasn’t particularly knowledgeable about art, but there was something about this painting that lingered in his mind.
A warm ambiance, a sense of comfort in the ordinariness of daily life.
It was a theme that didn’t suit Hyun at all.
“Interesting. It’s a bit different from what I thought.”
“What did you expect?”
“Hmm… something flashy or modern. Polished, with an air of sophistication?”
It was a somewhat amusing description, but it was clear the painting in front of them was the complete opposite of what he’d envisioned.
In the quiet exhibition hall, with no one else around, Siyoung softly asked,
“Did Hyun start painting because of his grandmother?”
“I don’t think so. It might be a stereotype, but art doesn’t really feel like something an Alpha would do, does it? His parents didn’t force him into a specific field since his siblings were already taking over the family business, but they weren’t thrilled about his choice to paint.”
Jaeyoon recalled something he had overheard years ago while visiting Hyun’s house.
It had seemed clear that Hyun’s parents disapproved of his major.
“They said he could do what he wanted but shouldn’t expect any special support from them. Better than doing nothing, I suppose, but they really stopped paying attention after that.”
“Really?”
Siyoung had always thought Hyun, who didn’t seem to put much effort into anything, was unusually well-prepared for things like admissions and portfolio building.
Now it made sense—it was all his own doing.
He’d assumed Hyun was just a sheltered rich kid, but this revealed a surprising side of him.
“Even his grandmother initially hoped her Alpha grandson would pursue something else. But at some point, she became proud of his talent. The gallery was supposed to go to someone else, but it seems she changed her mind and plans to pass it on to Hyun. It all worked out well in the end—he’s doing what he loves, and he has someone supporting him.”
“I don’t know much about art, but… it looks like he’s really talented. I mean, he’s at the top of his class, so he must be good.”
“To me, any painting displayed in a place like this seems amazing. Still, it’s fascinating. I remember asking him once why he liked painting. What did he say…?”
Jaeyoon paused, trying to recall. It hadn’t seemed like a grand reason.
“He said he doesn’t have many interests, but painting is the one thing he enjoys. He also mentioned it’s easier to express himself that way than with words. It’s good he found something he likes, at least.”
“Interesting. Painting takes much more time and effort than talking, though.”
“Everyone’s different. It’s lucky he likes it. Someone like Hyun needs something he enjoys. He seems indifferent to most things, but he’s surprisingly diligent.”
Jaeyoon smiled warmly.
“He’s a good guy, so don’t overthink it.”
He then wandered through the gallery, suggesting there were more of Hyun’s paintings elsewhere.
Siyoung followed, but without much interest or knowledge about art, he didn’t linger long.
After completing a circuit, they met Hyun and Jooyoung again in the hallway outside the main gallery.
“Where did you go?”
“You two seemed absorbed, so we went to look at other things. Oh, I saw your painting—it was really good.”
Knowing little about art, Siyoung could only muster a simple compliment.
Jooyoung, on the other hand, seemed to have genuinely enjoyed the visit.
“Did you have fun?”
“It’s been a while since I’ve gone to an exhibition, with school and cram classes taking up all my time. But seeing good art was refreshing—it felt like a mental reset. I’m glad I came.”
Jooyoung had initially hesitated about skipping a day of classes during such a crucial time, but it seemed the experience had been worth it.
“Thanks for today, hyung. I’ll work hard to get into the same school as you.”
The day ended there, but after that first meeting, they hung out a few more times during the break.
Siyoung learned a few things about Hyun during these encounters.
Hyun was kinder than he seemed. Though he didn’t like letting new people into his world, he was unexpectedly caring to those who were already within his boundaries.
Despite his detached demeanor, he didn’t shy away from helping or accommodating others.
“I thought he’d be the hardest person to get along with, but maybe I was overthinking it.”
“To be honest… he is difficult. But he’s not a bad guy. I thought you two could get along if you tried, but you both kept avoiding each other. I’m glad that’s changing.”
“Us?”
“Hyun doesn’t even look at people he’s not interested in.”
Jaeyoon shrugged.
Having been friends for most of his life, he knew Hyun well.
Hyun wasn’t naturally warm or sociable, often building walls and occasionally making his annoyance clear, even to the point of fights.
“Why build walls right away? If you spend time with someone, you might find they’re a good person, or even forge unexpected connections.”
“Coming from you, that’s rich—you’ve got plenty of shallow connections you forget about as soon as they’re out of sight.”
“Not every connection has to be deep. Just don’t be so closed off.”
“At least he wasn’t hostile to you at first. That’s a good sign.”
“Is that your benchmark?”
“It’s actually a generous one for him.”
Siyoung began to wonder what about him had made Hyun decide he was worth keeping around.
“Do you even have friends besides Jaeyoon and Yeonseok?”
“Are you picking a fight?”
“No, I just… was curious.”
It felt like a question he couldn’t have asked a month ago, but now it seemed okay.
Hyun rarely showed expressions, but his brief look of disbelief at the question felt like proof they’d gotten closer.
“You don’t hang out with anyone else much. Don’t you have classmates in your department?”
“I talk to them, but we’re not close.”
“Then what about me?”
This was a question Siyoung would’ve hesitated to ask before, but now it came naturally.
Hyun considered it briefly before answering.
“You’re not bad.”
“Why?”
“What, would you rather I disliked you?”
“No, it’s just… surprising. I didn’t think we’d get close, but now we’re helping each other and hanging out, even without any particular reason.”
Hyun smirked slightly. “That’s true.”
“Jaeyoon said you’ve been warmer to me than most people from the start.”
“He talks too much.”
“Was it because you liked me at first sight?”
“No. Jaeyoon brought you in as someone to help out, so there was no need to put up walls.”
Unhappy with such a vague answer, Siyoung frowned, and Hyun, noticing, added, “You were… intriguing. I’d never met someone like you before.”
“What kind of person am I?”
“I couldn’t figure out why you tried so hard.”
When Hyun first met Siyoung, he assumed Siyoung must be seriously strapped for cash to the point of desperation if he was willing to do an entire group project alone for an hourly wage.
Hyun had encountered people like this before.
People who linger around, hoping for scraps, and who take it for granted when others pay for them.
Hyun figured Joo Yeonseok had picked up yet another stray, though he wasn’t bitter about it.
At least this stray might prove useful, he thought.
However, Siyoung turned out to be a bit different from the others Hyun had encountered.
While Yeonseok loved spending money and had no issue buying meals or opening his wallet, Siyoung made an effort to keep their relationship reciprocal, in his own way.
This wasn’t common, even for Yeonseok and Jaeyoon, and perhaps that was why the two quickly grew close to Siyoung.
Naturally, Hyun also found himself curious about Siyoung.
Yet, being neither someone who easily approached others nor someone Siyoung would bother if a line was drawn, they didn’t have much interaction.
Hyun wasn’t curious enough to take the initiative, so their relationship didn’t change much.
Over time, though, they grew comfortable enough not to feel awkward around each other.
It was during this phase of maintaining a neutral relationship that Siyoung reached out to him.
Hyun, who rarely exchanged casual words with Siyoung and could see his discomfort in every interaction, was surprised to receive the call.
It was about Siyoung’s younger sibling, which Hyun found unexpected.
“It’s a hassle… but I’m also curious.”
Normally, Hyun would’ve made an excuse about being busy and declined.
But for some reason, that day, he thought it might be fine to meet up just this once.
And that’s how it all began.
* * *
