It's Just A Picture (BL)
Chapter 57: Madam Ann, the Italian designer

Chapter 57: Madam Ann, the Italian designer

The twins looked at me for a while before looking away with a certain amount of displeasure written on their faces.

"What... What’s wrong? Why are you making that face?" I asked.

"Well, Hyung, why did you get a cat anyway?" Seojun asked.

"You look like you would do well without it." They said and I paused.

"You...don’t mean that, do you?" I asked, my countenance falling. "I got Lily recently. She was alone, just like me."

They had no idea how lonely I was and when I found Lily, I felt so happy that I would finally have someone to keep me company. Even if it wasn’t someone I could exchange conversations with, at least she was a living thing.

It was way better than talking to plants... It... It was better than being alone all by myself.

Without even knowing it, tears started rolling down my cheeks.

They would never know. It was because I had no one.

"Anyway, Lily is my responsibility." I said. "And I..." I raised my gaze only to see the shocked expressions on their faces. "What?"

They suddenly hugged me, both of them.

"Sorry. So sorry." Seojun said.

"Sorry, Hyung. We were insensitive." Seojun added.

"Stop it. You’re going to strangle me." I said, patting their backs but they refused to let go till they were completely certain that I was okay. "I’m fine."

"You’re not. You’re crying, Hyung." Seojun said and I touched my cheeks.

Ah, I didn’t even know when I was crying anymore. I guess I cried too much for this to happen.

"It looks painful. Why is it painful?" Seojin asked and squeezed even tighter. "What did you go through, Hyung?"

"Do you really think we should be talking about this now?" I asked but they still didn’t let go.

It was a topic I wanted to abstain from talking about to anyone. I preferred to keep my suffering and all its history in a tight jar and maybe throw it into the sea.

No, it would float back to shore and someone might pick it up.

That won’t do, it seems there is no place I can keep my secret that it would be completely hidden, not even my heart.

Then, is the only way to let it out?

"Someday..." I said. "I promise to tell you about it someday."

They broke the hug and looked at me with saddened expressions.

"Do you promise?"

"Yes, I promise." I said, with a giant smile. "Just don’t pressure me, okay? We have plenty of time, so someday when I’m ready, I’ll tell you my story."

"Alright."

I never would’ve known that the someday I was referring to was far closer than I thought.

I decided to pick up Lily after dinner. Just to be sure I wasn’t burdening Geumtae, I messaged him of my plans to which he responded with a smiling face and a little heart, adding the text that said, ’No problem. Your pile keeps piling up, sweetie. I’ll make sure to collect them in full.’

Yeah, I was going to dig my hand deep into my pocket this time.

"This looks good on you, Hyung." Seojin said, and Seojun nodded, giving his applause to the masterpiece.

Yeah, the suit was nice but I didn’t like the color black. Don’t get me wrong, I wore black regularly and mostly plain-colored clothes, but wearing a black suit reminded me of a funeral.

It was sad.

"Can we look at other colors, please?" I asked, and the designer took a good look at me.

"Can I see your eyes for a moment?" She asked and I nodded.

This lady who looked to be around 40 to 50 (ops, it’s rude to try and guess a lady’s age, but anywho), was an Italian designer famous for her runway shows and the likes. She was mostly affiliated with modeling companies.

And it would seem like she was the one who made the twins’ suit. Well, it could also be a form of advertisement so she wouldn’t lose one bit, having her piece being worn by them.

"It’s because it’s you, that’s why I’m going through the trouble." She said to the twins, who gave a smile and nodded in understanding.

’Did they know each other before they came to Korea?’ I thought. Maybe they met in Italy by chance, it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch.

I didn’t even know who or what the twins’ mother did. All I knew was that she came to pick them up after Mr Kim died.

Would it be too much to ask them about her?

I shook my head. ’No, I don’t want to know.’

I watched Madam Ann, as she’s mostly called, as she conversed with the twins. They spoke Italian amongst themselves, feeling comfortable.

Such a successful lady was the kind of partner I wished for the twins. Not Madam Ann though, she was old enough to be their mother.

But someone of that caliber.

"Alright, I think we have come to a conclusion." Madam Ann said. "I’ll take your measurement,s and on Thursday, you come and collect it, is that okay? If there are any problems, I’ll amend it the next morning before the anniversary party in the evening."

"Oh no, madam, it’s alright if I just pick anything in your store. You don’t have to go that far." I said but she sighed and said,

"I wish you could do that too, since I’m swamped at the moment. But those boys are being as stubborn as a mule and insist I make you a special piece." She said but then her eyes brightened like she was inspired. "But that aside you’re a peculiar one, and your eyes are pretty. I look forward to making something that will make you shine, so don’t worry about it."

I was left speechless. The glow in her eye said she was serious, but I really didn’t want to inconvenience anyone.

"You hear that, Hyung?" Seojin said and Seojun placed his arm around my neck.

"Madam Ann will make you something new so let’s come back and collect it on Thursday."

The twins were happy. So happy that once again, I felt I was falling into a trap.

"Uh, alright." I said. "I will... I will come and collect it with the twins."

"Okay. But drop your address as well." Madam Ann said. "There are times when schedules change so in case that happens, I’ll send it right to your doorstep."

"Thank you, Madam Ann." I said, bowing in appreciation.

"Oh oh, don’t thank you. You should thank those boys." She said and suddenly switched her tone to Italian, probably thinking I wouldn’t understand. "They’ll be paying me double the usual charges so it’s my win as well. The suit is pretty pricey."

"What?!" I exclaimed, shocked. "How much?"

Madam Ann looked at me, shocked, and then blinked.

"Oh dear." She covered her lips. "It seems I made a mistake."

The twins palmed their faces in disappointment and Madam Ann.

"Well, you boys go settle that outside. I need to get to work to earn my pay." She said, still laughing.

I stared at the twins who were trying their possible best to avoid eye contact and having to explain the situation.

After no one said anything for a few minutes, I sighed, letting out the steam and said,

"It’s your money but why go so far?" I asked.

"It’s because it’s yours." Seojun said but I couldn’t make sense of it.

"What about to?"

"Hyung should wear only the best. If we have to spend a fortune on it then we will." Seojin said and it made my heart skip a beat.

They were so good with words and with faces like that.... Seriously, who were they trying to impress?

"You... You should save that line for someone else."

"Who could we possibly say them to if not you?" Once again, my heart skipped a beat but it only made me sad as I opened my mouth to speak,

"Your future girlfriend."

"But I don’t want to have a girlfriend." Seojin said and my eyes widened.

’What?!’ What did he just say?

"I don’t like girls." Seojun said.

A bigger ’what?!’ What did I just hear?

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