Chef-d'oeuvre

"Her smile..."

Another day, and Chaeyoung couldn't be more excited. She didn't slept a blink, but she couldn't care less. She was too focused on what she painted all night; A portrait of Mina's face while smiling in a 12 x 8 inch canvas. She also left a note on the back of the canvas saying:

"7 billion smiles in the world, but yours is my favorite."

Other than Chaeyoung being a natural artist, she's also poetic and a hopeless romantic.

Chaeyoung gave Dahyun a call, it rang and without a minute, Dahyun answered.

"Yo Chae, what's up?"

"Dubs, can we meet before going to classes?"

"Sure. Why, though?"

"I'll tell you later. Also, be alone later when we meet."

Chaeyoung and Dahyun's call ended shortly. After that, it was Jeongyeon whom she called. She waited until her unnie picked up; but it went straight to voicemail

"Yoo Jeongyeon here, please leave a message"

"Hi hyung! It's Chaeyoung here. I am going to follow what you said and admit my feelings to Mina, but subtly.... uhh.... see you around campus today I guess? I hope you hear this because you really helped me to realize it. Alright, bye hyung!"

She ended it and put her phone inside her pocket.

Weird.

She picked up the canvas and put it in a paper bag. Before going outside her condo, she received another call.

"Hi, Chaeyoung."

"Hey Chae, it's Mina. Want to go to school together? I'll go there in a few minutes."

"Uhh, sorry, unnie. I can't today, I need to talk to my blockmate before going to school so I need to be early."

"Oh? Okay then. I'll see you at lunch?"

"Yes, lunch unnie. I gotta go, bye."

She hurriedly dropped the call and went to her car as fast as she can.

-

"Class dismissed." Are the words said by Chaeyoung's prof that made the whole class sigh in relief and ran out of the room as fast as they can so they can have a longer lunch break.

Chaeyoung, on the other hand, sat on her seat, nervous on what will happen to her plan.

"I think she will be creeped out. Damn it, Chae." She said to herself before going out the room. Little did she knew that someone heard her.

"Who will be creeped out, Chae?" A girl outside suddenly said that made Chaeyoung jump a little. She looked at the girl and immediately recognized who it was.

"You don't need to scare me like that, hyung." Chaeyoung uttered that made Jeongyeon chuckled.

"Sorry about that. Anyway, my question?" Jeongyeon saw how tensed and someowhat scared she was. "Mina unnie... I've painted her a portrait of her smiling... I think she will freak out when she sees it, maybe even think that the person who gave it to her is a stalker." She looks down, still worried what will Mina react later. Jeongyeon patted her shoulder, thinking that it will help ease her mood "I don't think Mina is a person who would think that way." Chaeyoung looked at Jeongyeon, who is now smiling brightly at her, giving her high hopes. "I know, hyung. But I couldn't stop myself for being nervous." She ruffled the younger's blonde hair, making her giggle. "You can do it, Chae. By the way, where's the painting?" Chaeyoung pouted a little. "It's... It's somewhere. I can't tell nor show you because it's not on me." Jeongyeon scoffed, "Bummer, but I know for sure that she'll like it. You are Son Chaeyoung, the second girl crush on campus." Chaeyoung smiled at what she said because it was true. She didn't need to ask who was first because she already knows it, but she asked anyway.

"Who's the first?" Jeongyeon smirked and scrunched her nose, "Me, of course." Chaeyoung burst out of laughter, being entertained how confident Jeongyeon can suddenly be."What? You know it's the truth." The younger wiped out a tear caused by laughing too hard. "I know, hyung. I know." Jeongyeon chuckled. She looked at her watch to check the time, "Shit." She cursed.

"Why? What's going on?" Chaeyoung asked worriedly, Jeongyeon shook her head. "Nothing to worry about. It's just that I need to go somewhere. I'll talk to you when I can, okay?" She grabbed her phone to text someone, "Sure, hyung. Talk to you whenever." Jeongyeon smiled before turning her heel to go.

Now Chaeyoung is all alone. She went to the Music room to meet Mina, which still has five more minutes in class before having another vacant.

"Hi Chaengie, have you been waiting long?" Mina finally got out of her 2-hour music class, which made her really exhausted. "Yes... I mean- no, unnie." She couldn't help but to stutter. Mina giggled a bit. "You okay?" Chaeyoung nodded, "Good, where do we eat today, my happy pill?" Mina saying that to Chaeyoung made her chest squeeze, having that bittersweet feeling that she love and hates at the same time. "I brought us lunch." Chaeyoung said, lifting two lunchboxes. Mina couldn't help but to smile at her. "Been a while since you did this. What's up?" Chaeyoung shook her head, "Nothing much. I just felt extra happy today." Chaeyoung lied, because she wasn't near being happy. She was just plainly scared and anxious.

But what can go wrong, right?

"You good for us eating at the school's garden?" It was basically their safe place, haven, or whatever you want to call it. They find the soltitude there very relaxing, and calming. "Sounds perfect, Chaengie." Mina grinned widely at her, making Chaeyoung's heart sink. Mina was so precious to her, that she wants to be with her everytime she gets a chance.

Her smile... lights up the deep, darkest parts of me.

They went to the garden, and as usual, no one was there. Students never really appreciated this part of the campus. All varieties of flowers can be seen, and there's an apple tree right in the middle. It was so nice to be there; alone, or with a friend.

"I was planning to eat tteokbokki today, but I guess your homemade lunch is better." Mina watched how Chaeyoung carefully organized their lunch. "When is it not, unnie?" Chaeyoung smirked, making Mina laugh. "Where did that confidence came from, Chae?" Chaeyoung faced Mina after arranging their lunch, "Jeongyeon unnie." Mina gave her a faded smile. She didn't respoded to her anymore.

Many minutes passed, a well-known janitor went to them, carrying something so familiar to Chaeyoung. "Excuse me, but are you Myoui Mina?" He asked Mina, who gave a nod as a response. "Someone told me to give it to you." He handed the canvas to Mina. Her jaw dropped as she saw a great painting of her smiling. "Excuse me, but who gave this to me?" The janitor scoffed. "I'm sorry, ma'am. I'm just a delivery man. I can't answer anymore questions." He bowed and went off.

She observed it carefully, touching it from time to time. Chaeyoung saw how Mina's eyes sparkled every second after receiving a painting from someone she doesn't know.

"Oh Mina, there's something attached on the back." Chaeyoung said as if she doesn't know. That she only saw it accidentally and being clueless. Mina turned the canvas around and looked at the message. Her eyes widen as she read it. "This painting... this message... it's so beautiful." She smiled unconsciously. It made Chaeyoung relieved, eased. Her plan worked for unknown reasons. "Do you know who made this, Chaengie?"

Me.

Chaeyoung shook her head. "I have no idea, unnie."