He looks at his watch and sighs. His last exhibition is about to start in a few minutes. He has been so tiredly lately. Holding art exhibitions in different countries for the past two weeks was not easy for him. Now many of you must be thinking that who holds art exhibitions that frequently, that too, in so many different countries? Well, I don't know about others but the very famous painter, Kim Dowoo, does. And the tickets of his art exhibition sell as fast as the tickets of your favourite K-Pop group's concert tickets. Why? Because Kim Dowoo is not just a famous painter but he is also very popular for his ethereal beauty.

He looks just so out of the worldly good that some people just come to see his handsome face. He is also one of the most followed people on social media. He has everything he always wanted and he is really thankful to God that he got this opportunity to live his dream.

"Dowoo-ssi, people have started coming." His secretary, Beomgyu, informs him. Dowoo not only puts his own paintings to the display but also of some struggling artists or students. He wants to do the same thing Lee Junho did for him years ago which was basically the start of his career.

"Alright. Let's go." Dowoo says and starts walking out of his waiting room with Beomgyu behind him.

The place is so full of people and it makes Dowoo feel a sense of accomplishment. He sees some of the other smaller artists explaining their paintings to the people who are here. It must be a special day for them. As for Dowoo, it's now something very normal but that does not mean he is ungrateful.

"Dowoo-ssi, I think you should open the event officially now." The manager of the exhibition appears and tells him. The painter nods and takes the mic from him. "Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls. I'm Kim Dowoo. I'm really honoured that so many of you could join me for this event and also decided to give some new artists a chance to showcase their talents as well. I hope you have a good time here."  He hands the mic back to the manager. The people around him record some video and click his pictures.

He spends his time interacting with people with a constant smile on his face. People admire him, think highly of him and they call themselves his fans. It's something his older self could not relate to. If someone told him that one day he would become the popular Kim Dowoo, he would've laughed at them himself. He wouldn't need a bunch of bullies to do that for him.

Once the group of flirtatious women leave, he sighs causing Beomgyu to chuckle beside him. "Did it get too much for you?" The younger asks.

"I don't know why it is so hard for them to understand that I'm fucking gay?" Dowoo shakes his head and again his secretary's chest rumbles because of the laughter. "Hyung, did you even come out?"

"No, but-"

"That should explain something." Beomgyu laughs as the older pouts. The manager of the exhibition walks up to them and calls Beomgyu for something. The boy walks away after telling his boss that he would be back soon. Dowoo walks around, observing people. He really likes observing people too. There's so much you can learn about them just by watching them.

Then his eyes fall on a couple who are busy making out in a corner. Some people really don't know what's the right place and what's not before indulging themselves into such activities. Dowoo is not a fan of PDA. Is it because of the lack of romance in his own life?

Rolling his eyes, he walks away. His eyes next fall on a tall man standing in front of his famous painting called 'The Eye'. Dowoo stands a little away from the person and looks at him staring so intently at the painting. The painter can see admiration in the eyes of the man for the painting and he feels so proud of himself because 'The Eye' is one of his masterpieces and it is a very important painting to him. He always puts it on display with a 'not for sale' sign under it.

"Hello, sir." Dowoo walks up to the man and greets him. When the taller male turns around, his breath almost hitches. The man is wearing a mask and a beanie. His clothes are oversized and he wonders if he eyes are deceiving him. It takes a lot of effort for him to just control his breathing. Why did he even walk up to him to talk to him? He should have let the man stare at the painting all he wanted and turned around to leave.

"Oh, aren't you the famous painter, Kim Dowoo? It's a pleasure meeting you." Dowoo can hear the smile in the man's voice. "It's... nice to meet you too, sir." Dowoo smiles back at the man, screaming internally at himself to not dare stutter.

"This painting is really beautiful. The Eye, it shows so many emotions within it. The feelings of the person and the beauty too. I really like it. You're really good at what you do, sir." The man praises him, his eyes looking back at the painting.

(^Credit: joony_art, Instagram)

"Thank you." Dowoo smiles. He would not deny that he feels really happy. The praise that came from this man means a lot for him... a lot more than the others' praises mean to him. Again, he is not being ungrateful. He just feels that it was important for him that the person in front of him notices even though it might not exactly be the best idea.

"It's really sad that it's not up for sale." The man says, looking back at him. Dowoo shrugs his shoulders, "That painting is really close to my heart. It's like... I want to show it to everybody but I don't want anyone to take it away from me, you know?"

"Oh, I understand."

"Thanks." Silence follows as both the men just stare at the painting. "I wonder who's eye it is?" The man asks again and Dowoo takes a second before responding. "Uh... a friend of mine." He replies, not wanting to give out the details.

"They're lucky having Kim Dowoo painting them." The man chuckles. Dowoo smiles too. Indeed he is lucky.

Soon the other man's phone beeps with a message. He stares at the phone and them looks apologetically at the painter. "I totally forgot I had another prior engagement. I'll have to leave now."

"Oh, that's fine. I hope you had a good time here." Just a mere sentence that Dowoo must have said to so many people but he feels sad saying that to the man in front of him.

"I actually did. I'm your fan and I feel so happy that you decided to do an exhibition in Seoul. I've even waiting for it since long." The man says making Dowoo smile again. "That's... amazing. I'm glad you liked it here." Dowoo says, not really knowing how to respond. The man bows at him and walks away.

Dowoo releases a breath he did not know he was holding. His back slumps in the wall. Oh God! He wasn't expecting this encounter at all. He closes his eyes for a few seconds to even up his breaths. When he opens his eyes next, he sees Beomgyu looking at him with a confused expression.

"Hyung, are you okay?" He asks with a look of concern that does not leave his face.

"I'm okay... I was... I was just not expecting J-Jungkook to be here." He says and Beomgyu's eyes widen in shock. He grabs the painter's arm and drags his away from the crowd. Once they are in a secluded corner, he releases him and asks, "What? Jeon Jungkook was here? The Jeon Jungkook? Why? What does he want?"

"I... I don't know." The painter says. Beomgyu is not only his secretary but also his friend and his main bodyguard. He is the in-charge of Kim Dowoo's safety, appointed by Kim Mingyu himself.

"What did he say, hyung?"

"He said that he's my fan."

"Did you guys talk about your past?"

"No, we just talked about 'The Eye'. I don't think he knows that I recognised him." The painter tells him. Beomgyu nods. "Okay, good. I did not know the one time you come to Seoul after leaving this place years ago would lead you to running into your ex lover. But we'll be going back to Japan tomorrow so I don't think you should dwell on it, Taehyungie hyung."

Kim Dowoo, whose real name is Kim Taehyung, nods. Its been so many years and he thought that he was over Jungkook but seeing his ex best friend here was really unexpected. Jungkook was in disguise. It was very clear but Taehyung still recognised him. How can he not when the only person he paid attention on five years ago was the now mafia boss?

How can he not remember those beautiful pair of eyes that inspired his masterpiece, 'The Eye'.

He finally saw Jungkook. He remembers writing in the note and even telling him that if he becomes a great artist, he would one day want to meet him and show him his exhibition. Guess that day finally came and even though the moment did not last long, Taehyung is happy. A smile makes its way on his lips thinking about the interaction they just had. Finally he could show someone he knew that he achieved something in life and that makes a feeling of content pass through his body.

~•~•~•~•~

Hey lovelies! Welcome to 'The Lost Love'. I really hope you guys enjoyed the first chapter of The Lost Love and the 40th chapter of Mine To Love lmao.

^No matter how much time passes by, I won't ever be able to get over his tattoos!!!

^This Jin is supreme! Oh, and Omggg Jin, Joonie, Hobi, and Jungkook are finally together!!! Their insta stories are so funny lmao.

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Borahae💜

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