Pandora's Box

Chapter 15

small content warning !!! there's mentions of a car crash in this chapter; brief but still worth noting !!

Taehyun was engrossed in his own still life project when the other came in, visibly distressed.

Extra time in the art studio was his one peace. It was his chance to get away from everything he was cursed with. But of course, the son of Apollo had to ruin that too.

"Oh, hi." Beomgyu obviously seemed surprised to see him, though his smile afterwards was hard for Taehyun to ignore. "Hey."

The other tried to see what Taehyun was painting, but he shifted the easel just in time. Beomgyu frowned, but he wouldn't give in. Not on this.

He didn't mean to act as cold as he was, but he didn't like being in a position where he was constantly reminding himself not to get attached or friendly with the boy in front of him. Not when what awaited them was so soon.

Beomgyu toyed with his fingers. "You haven't seen my sketchbook, have you? I think I left it here after class."

Taehyun reached over to his side and grabbed the black journal. He had seen it, and selfishly, he had flipped through the other's drawings out of curiosity for his rumored skill. The action didn't make him feel better.

Beomgyu's eyes lit up as his hand provided the lost item. "Oh, thank you! God, I figured I was screwed."

He nodded in response, then took a deep breath. "They're good by the way," he told Beomgyu. "Really good."

He could tell the other heard the whisper from the way his nose scrunched up, and embarrassment coated Taehyun's face from the bitterness he failed to disguise. 

"I guess. I don't know, I've never really had a knack for this sort of thing." Beomgyu told him. He sat down gently next to him, Taehyun uneasy at his lack of misery at the action.

"What do you have a knack for?" he found himself asking. It was strange of him to engage in the conversation, but the reaction on the other's face was slightly worth it.

"Music. Definitely. I've always wanted to be a music teacher, and I'm still gonna try to have a... normal job. Even now."

Taehyun breathed out a laugh. "That's a good goal. Unless you're interested in being painted on a hydra. Then you're screwed."

Beomgyu threw a hand over his eyes. "No! That was my one wish for fame!"

 Taehyun couldn't help it. He was fully laughing then. Prophecy be damned, he felt more relaxed joking with this one person than he'd ever felt in his life.

After they'd calmed down, Beomgyu spoke again. "I just...want to inspire people through music. I've just always loved it, and I want to give people the feeling that I get when listening to it."

"You already have."

Shit. He hadn't meant for that to be spoken out loud, but the other didn't miss it for a second. His head jolted toward Taehyun, his eyes begging for an explanation. Taehyun gave it to him, after sighing in defeat.

"The day you played in Yoongi's class. I mean, the stuff in Taehyung's was good too, but..." He trailed off, embarrassed. His hand was resting on the art table in front of him, and he almost jumped at the feeling of something on it. But when he glanced up, he let Beomgyu's hand remain there.

"But what?" The other was clearly not giving up. Taehyun's outer shell had cracked slightly, and Beomgyu was clearly determined to keep searching inside.

"But...when you sang Today by John Denver, that did what you said. For me."

He noticed the stir his words caused. "It...it was different because that song has a lot of meaning to me."