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A stroke of black. A patch of grey. 

That's what she saw today. In his dreams.

She steps back to look around at the three different paintings she made. All his dreams.

Not the initial ones, they consisted of work-related stuff like broken music equipment or the members crying, sometimes normal things like falling off the building or drowning in the water. Though all of them never were happy, the recent dreams are drawn blank.

Though as an artist, she finds them creatively beautiful. They are lonely when she puts them on canvas as if those dark patches have some unsaid stories behind them. It makes her curious.

She's still working on some pieces for a client when the sound of the doorbell startles her and she quickly places her apron and brush on the table before closing the door to her art room.

Her studio is comparatively simple, with two rooms where she works on her artworks and a living room. She wanted something simple so that nothing hinders her inspiration inside the studio.

She is surprised when she opens the door and sees Yoongi standing, smiling nervously. "I didn't know you were coming..."

"Sorry for not calling ahead," Yoongi says, stepping indie the studio. "But I was just passing by..." and when Hayoung raises her eyebrows, he adds, "and I-I actually wanted a painting to hang in my studio too, yeah."

"Oh...sure." Hayoung licks her lips.

It's silent. Yoongi hopes he's not making it very uncomfortable."Quite a nice place you have,"

"It's just an average studio."

"It's peaceful, just like an artist requires." Yoongi smiles, "An artist like you."

'Someone like me' Hayoung smiles internally. But she shakes her head,  but he sounds so indifferent. Does that means...he hasn't been having those dreams or does he not remember? Or...is he just pretending?

"Would you like something to drink?" Hayoung asks. Yoongi shakes his head. But Hayoung is already walking towards the kitchen anyway.

Yoongi looks at her, trying to make sure he's out of her sight and immediately opens the drawer below the TV stand while pretending to look around. He quickly takes out the box of blades while making sure they do not make any sound and slips it inside his coat pocket.

He closes the drawer and pretends as nothing happened.

"This tea is really good." Hayoung mentions, "I drink it sometimes when I can't sleep."

Yoongi squints his eyes. Hayoung prays Yoongi doesn't read in between lines. She just wants him to sleep well. She immediately changes the subject.

"What type of painting would you like?" 

. . .

"Where do you go at this time every day? When did you start studying so much? Tell me the truth Arin, have you been up to something bad?" Era says, her voice demanding. She has been patiently waiting for Arin to say the truth herself but she hasn't said anything. It makes Era worried, knowing how Arin acts when something's wrong.

"I told you...I go to the cafe to study! Why won't you believe me? If you find it so wrong that I started studying, come with me then!" Arin says, irritation lacing in her voice.

"That is not what I mean...it is just you are naïve and don't know how things are outside, that is why I am asking you where do you go and what do you do? With whom do you spend time with... etc, etc. I don't mean bad, Arin. " Era reasons, speaking softly.

"Do I have to report everything to you?"Arin crosses her arms, "I am an adult now...and I don't need your gatekeeping on me!"

With that the younger walks out of the room, leaving a baffled Era behind. The elder clenches her fists and blinks away the tears in her eyes. It was not even a big thing to cry about, come on Era, you are more mature than this.

She knows how Arin feels, she's been there. But she can't help but feel hurt. 

It's strange how she fidgets through her bag to fish out the pair of Airpods that she had found the other day. She couldn't return them yet, and she doesn't know why. She wants to listen to music, maybe. She thinks, and plugs them in her ears.

I am just a human, you erode all my corners and make me into love.

Era exhales heavily, it feels like someone's singing right beside her. She closes her eyes.

Love, love. 

We're humans, humans, humans. Should I have tweaked the tone a little here? 

Era furrows her eyebrows, staring at the AirPods case in her hand. What are these AirPods? Then the singing continues.

In that myriad of straight lines

My love, love, love

When you sit on top of it and you become my heart

And she doesn't realise until she looks at herself in the mirror. She's smiling.

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