This starts before Kain arrived at the construction sight and explains what he does during the few days he was busy with building/monitoring his new home being made
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My hands reached out and grabbed a bottle. "Hmmm, Hyungs skin was a little light" the bottle was put back as my eyes scanned all the skin colored acrylic bottles, trying to find the best tone that matched Hyungs skin tone. "This one!" I tiptoed, my fingers brushing against the last bottle that perfectly matched Hyung. "Ugh-" but I was too short. Kain was too damn short. I turned, staring at the guard who accompanied me. "Get it" the simple command made the guard move and grab the bottle for me. I took it, happy as I got all the supplies needed. "Sir, Are you going to paint?" The guard finally spoke up after staying silent the entire trip. "Mmmhm" I simply hummed, placing all the items on the counter.
"That'll be 434$" the old me would've passed out from the amount just for some supplies and paint but the new me, the Kain I go by, slipped out my card and tapped it on the paying machine. "Here's your receipt" just like that, both me and my guard walked to the car and shoved everything into the trunk. The guard silently walked to the driver's seat after opening my door for me.
"May I ask, what exactly are you going to paint?" He peeked my way through the rear-view mirror, watching as I opened my phone to look through the news of the many organizations in Eleceed, or the world I now reside in. "I'm going to paint someone I care about" My words seemed to hover over the guards head to the point he forgot to take the car off parking when he pressed the gas. I peeked up at him, an eyebrow raising when he flinched making eye contact with Kains red eyes. "Listen" He gulped. "Just Focus on driving me home safe and sound. You'll see my finished painting eventually so calm down" my sigh told the guard to never ask the question again but really, I wanted to hurry and start painting right away.
Why? Because in this world I don't have my hyung pictures saved in the cloud. I have nothing to remember him by. After I finish painting hyung, I'll paint my mother. Then myself. As far as I know, Hyung, Sehyun, and mom don't exist in this world. I have no way of looking at them and remembering their faces or how they look. So the only solution I found to this was to paint the people I desperately wish to remember. My original family.
"Great. Thanks" I arrived home, carrying half the stuff bought from the art store and the guard held the other half. Placing them down carefully in an empty room Kain probably never used before. It was a nice lovely room too. So, it felt pleasing to look out at the scenery of the city and paint at the same time. "Then, have a good night sir" the guard bowed, leaving the house as the dogs followed after him. They've become used to the guard by now that I've come to know as Suho. Especially Keum and Raon who sometimes sit out in the lobby, keeping Subo company as they guard with him. They're trained to do exactly that, so they're probably just going back into routine again. So Keum and Raon are usually out all day and sometimes night. Kemono stays at the house though, sleeping anywhere or playing with his toys.
"Alright Kemono! Time to start!" Fun fact about myself, I was quite the artist as Sehyun. Hyung, my brother was usually my muse when it came to painting portraits when I was bored. Same goes for mom. They were both my muses so I have quite the grasp at their features even if I didn't have a photo to go off by. It's also another reason I need to paint it right away before I slowly forget how they look and the features they hold.
Kemono watched as I scrambled about in the room, setting up the easel, the many kinds of brushes I grabbed, turpentine to clean the brushes whenever I use another color, and the palette. I took a deep breath, holding a pencil in hand and closed my eyes to imagine Hyung. Imagine what pose he'd be in, what clothes he'll wear, the lighting around him, the background I should give him, how his hair will be styled, and how exactly I should start off. After a few minutes, I opened my eyes and started sketching immediately.
First, the head shape then his pose. Next, the clothes he'll wear. His expression and hair. Slowly, Hyung started to come together as a small sketched outline I did. Once I felt satisfied enough after a few touches here and there, I opened some oil paint and started dabbing my brush into a bit of it. Except, my hands paused before the brush could stroke the canvas. To think I'd be desperately painting my Hyung because I'm afraid of forgetting how he looked. My eyes teared up at the thought alone. But being in that situation right now, I allowed my tears to fall silently as the brush touched the canvas, carefully bringing the picture to life.
I cried all night as I painted the base colors and his face. Afterwards, I took a break for a bit. In my break, I went out and ate at a restaurant, walked the three dogs, went to the construction site in order to monitor how my new home is coming along, then went to sleep for awhile. When I awoke, I started painting Hyung again, all while crying. It went like this for a few days until the last 7th day, I finally finished Hyung. Needless to say, I broke down crying again once I finished him. Since I missed my hyung so much.
"Wow~" my maid and guard who both started to become comfortable around me awed at Hyungs portrait in the lovely empty room. They both couldn't help but stare at my work. "Who is that sir?" The maid asked, tilting her head trying to think who amongst the people her employer knows looks like the person in the painting. No matter how much she thought though, nothing came to mind. Her employer never knew anyone this handsome, at least not in her eyes. She turned to look at the guard who also seemed a little lost at who this person was. If his personal guard didn't know, then obviously this person must be a picture Kain found off the internet and decided to paint right?
"He's someone I miss and love" they both turned to look at me, staring at how my gaze softened when I stared up at my Hyungs portrait, a small smile on my face. I'm glad. I'm so glad I'll be able to forever remember hyung now. Next up, I needed to paint my mother. Our mother. "Sir" the guard spoke up, gaining my attention as my eyes turned to look at Suho. "Is he your lover?" Both the maid and him seemed very interested at this turn of events, just wondering who softened the heart of this psycho named Kain. "Well...no comment-" I turned away, wanting to tell them no but I can't tell them he's my brother. After all, Kain had no brother. "He's my hyung. Someone I viewed as my own brother" I twisted the truth a little in order to stop suspicions from arising. "Ahhh~ but...you said you missed them too. Did he move away or..." the maid now spoke.
For a time, I was grateful they were now comfortable enough to ask and speak freely around me without freaking out or running off scared but, now I kind of wish they were still like that. Asking me such personal questions. But, it'd be better if someone else knew hyung though. Someone else to remember him besides myself. "Well...hyung died. Not long ago, actually" I said, a sad smile on my face as I had no more tears left to cry out.
"I see....my condolences" both Suho and the maid bowed deeply to Hyungs portrait, making me want to sob all over again. Hyung and mom will most likely never have a proper funeral. So this much felt heartbreaking. Seeing people paying their respects to them. "Thank you..." I whispered, my chest rising as I took a deep breath to keep calm. "Ah~ I need to go check on the building works! I don't need a guard there since it's just construction. I'll be fine on my own" I said walking by Suho and giving him a small pat on the shoulder as I left. Undoing my hair to let it fall freely.
Truthfully, I needed a breather after that. I decided to walk to the site instead of being driven there, a way to allow my mind to wander for a bit before having to go back to being a boss.
Hyung is my mentor, trainer, idol, goal, and my lovable brother. I'll never forget that. In fact, I always talk to Hyung nowadays whenever I feel distressed about being in the world of Eleceed, trying to survive as an awakened son and also to hide my newly found abilities that Hyung bestowed on me. Then there's avoiding the main characters of this Manwha, trying to lie low and stay away from Kayden and Jiyoung the most. Jiwoo is second most. Jisuk is third. Wooin and Subin are third. But as far as I know, Subin has yet to meet the trio. So it's still pretty early on in the story.
"Sir!" The workers greeted me, all sweating and red from the bright sun that shone down a moment ago. Now it slowly started to set behind the mountains. I blinked, wondering how long I'd been walking when the sun was completely out when I left the apartment. "Evening" I smiled, waving as they all went straight back to work after greeting me. "So far, we got the base and support done. After this we need to reinforce the support of the house and start installing the electrical wiring, plumbing, and insulation afterwards. But we still need time to finish the 2nd floor support after we finish the first floor...." I listened to the report made by our structural engineer. Kains father insisted on getting one to make sure the house will be absolutely safe and stable. He said after he finishes the main house, the awakened ones will take over for the basement to use as a hideout and/or training. All to be built to withstand awakened abilities as strong as the Klein brothers which is very strong, from what I know.
"You guys work fast. You've been working nonstop for the past week after all" I looked around, scanning the many workers all hauling lumber, pouring in concrete, nailing the boards together, drilling, etc. Since I felt a little down today after finishing Hyungs portrait, plus I was very happy as well, I pulled out my black card and gave it to the structural engineer in charge. "What's this for?" He asked, looking at me who stared at the house in the works. "Take them out to eat or drink. They deserve that much for getting this far in record time" I smiled happily, patting the guy on the shoulder before yelling out, "YOU HAVE THE REST OF THE DAY OFF!!! LET'S GO EAT!!" Everyone stopped what they were doing, glancing around for an explanation of why this kid was suddenly saying such a thing until the structural engineer lifted up my black card for everyone to see. The place erupted in cheers.
I smiled, telling them to eat as much as they want. Some, of course, wanted me to join them but I shook my head telling them I'd rather stay here with my own thoughts. Since I'm so very excited about my house coming this far in construction. "Alright, I'll deliver your card back to your apartment sir. Have a good night" the structural engineer bowed my way, I bowed back and waved goodbye to everyone until they had all left. Now alone, I walked into the house, or at least what was finished of it as I laid down in what's going to be the living room.
My eyes slowly shut from the tiredness I felt these days. Always busy with stuff. After this weekend, I have to go back to school. Otherwise Kain will have to repeat a year again. That's the last thing I need to do. But I drifted off to sleep anyway. Comfortable in this spot when the sun sets completely.
BOOM!
Then the loud sound that brought me into the awkward position of hiding behind a wall as still as can be, away from Kayden Breaks senses, sounded and woke me up in a fright.
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A/n: This chapter isn't necessarily connected to the story. It's more of just Kains actions during the time he wasn't involved with the Eleceed plot. That's why I called it a bonus chapter + it's just something I decided to write up bc I had the idea of making Kain paint his brother n stuff 😭💀 also bc I'm a painter myself so :3 ehe~
Kains painting of his hyung, Min Eunwoo
A/n: I just saw I put "Kim Eunwoo" I MEANT MIN OKAY I WAS THINKING OF KIM TAEHYUNG WHILE I WAS EDITING THIS-
Me throughout this whole chapter:
The guard, Suho, and the maid when Kain almost made them think he had a lover: