The Girl In The Painting (ON HIATUS) (Hyetomi/Chaetomi)

New Life

     Right at the middle, you could see this very big stairs leading up to the second floor. There's even a chandelier, a very big one, still made out of wood. When you look to the right, you could see the living room and on the right were glass doors, leading to a garden.

     "Oh right, Hiichan. I forgot about you. Let me show you to your room.", I heard her say as I saw her running down the stairs before carrying my luggage for me. She smiled sheepishly, as if saying sorry.

---

     "Here's Grandma's room.", Unnie put my luggage down. I stared at it in awe. It's the biggest room I've seen here. There was something off though. Something very big at the right was covered by a big piece of cloth.

     "Yup, I know. It's big, right? And she gave it to you and not me", she said jokingly and sat at the edge of the bed. She pointed at the door on the left.

     "That's the bathroom.", she said before standing up and then going to the other door at the right of the room.

     "Now, this is where Grandma's babies are kept. You know she has a huge thing for paintings, right?", she asked me before opening the door.

     "EEEHHH?", I said in shock. This room is probably bigger than Grandma's. It was more like longer actually. It had this rectangular seat at the middle, and all over the walls were paintings. It was like an art gallery.

     I saw how Sakura unnie was shocked too. And it's not because of the paintings.

     "Didn't know you could actually make your voice's volume go higher, Hiichan.", she said while her hand covered her mouth and her eyes were wide. She then laughed. I don't know why.

     "Your voice is so cute, just like when we were young. I feel like you still haven't grown up. Your height hasn't changed at all, now I know that your even your voice hasn't.", she said and laughed again.

     "Unnie.", I said as I glared at her. She stopped laughing immediately.

     "Hey, chill. I'm sorry. I just want you to speak more, just like old times.", she said as she put her hand on my shoulder and smiled.

     "I'm gonna cook my special recipe for you, so you can just look around or whatever.", she said and went out the art room but before leaving completely, she said something while holding the side of the door and while only her head is visible to me.

     "Oh and by the way, don't be scared. I mean, it's not like Grandma died here or like a lot of other people did since this house has been here for generations.", she grinned and ran away while laughing.

     "But she did though? Wait. What? Unnie!", I said but it was too late, she already left. I suddenly felt cold air brush past me. I'm scared.

     I was curious though so I stayed and I stared at all the paintings. Most of them were landscapes. There was this park with a river next to it. There was also an amusement park. One was even inside a classroom and one was at a restaurant. There were much more paintings but I've noticed something,

      Not a single painting had people in it.

---

     I did not expect Kkura Unnie to be good at cooking, seriously whatever this bread thingy with these stuff in the center is very good. I stared at her, my dorky and game-addicted cousin could really be a chef with her skills.

     "Why? Why are you staring at me like that? You look like you're judging me.", she said as she was about to put the food in her mouth.

     I just shrugged and continued eating.

     "Uhm. Hiichan? Don't you wanna check out your new school? It's pretty near, probably just a seven-minute walk.", she awkwardly said, knowing I won't like the topic. School.

     Studying is not the problem. It's the people I study with and I honestly don't wanna talk about it right now so I kept silent and continued to eat my food. She laughed awkwardly.

     "There's also this bakery on the way there.", she tried to look at my response unconspicuously. My ears perked up at the mention of a bakery.

"Where?", I asked her.

---

     I wet my lips as I exited the bakery. I had a paper bag in my right hand and a cup of iced coffee on the other. The paper bag was warm because of what's inside. I could smell what I bought and it's making me hungrier and more excited.

     I continued walking to the direction of our new home. I was really happy but someone really had to ruin my day. It happened so quickly, a moment ago, I still had my food and drink in my hands but now coffee was spilled all over my shirt and pants, even on my shoes. What's worse was what happened to my bread. It was all over the floor, dirty, ruined and under the left foot of the person who accidentally bumped on to me.

     I didn't even bother to stand up and I continued to stare at it as I felt my anger rising but my sadness overcoming it. My poor bread.

     "Oh shi-  I'm sorry, Cheeks. I really am but I have to run quickly. I'm really sorry.", she said in such a rush. I slowly  looked up and saw her wearing a uniform, then I saw her name tag, and then I saw her face but only briefly as she ran away.

     Well, that was rude. She bumped on to me, destroyed my food, didn't even help me get up, ran away and even called me cheeks. I was used to it though, people are always rude, but that doesn't mean it doesn't hurt.

---

     I quickly looked for clean clothes in my bag as I haven't really fixed my things yet. The clothes I was wearing were still soaked.  While changing, I saw the big cloth in the reflection of my mirror. I looked at the right side of the room and went near it, curious of what's underneath.

     I hesitated, 'Should I remove it? Am I even allowed to?'. I held on to the cloth but stopped. Maybe I shouldn't. I just went to bed because I'm tired and suddenly felt sleepy.

     I couldn't sleep. I feel really sleepy but I can't sleep. The thought of what's underneath the cloth is really bugging me. I stood up from bed and decided to end my suffering. This is my room now, isn't it?

     I stood in front of it and took a deep breath. I pulled the cloth and coughed immediately when I successfully removed it, it was so dusty, smokes of dust went flying everywhere.

     After recovering from the dust, I was mesmerized by the painting. It was the most different one. It actually had a person on it. I'm not really sure if it's even a human being. This sounds corny but she looks like an angel, a goddess even, but without wings. It's because she's- She's...

She's beautiful.