Oil On Canvas

“Gasp.”Startled awake, it was a deep blue dawn.The ceiling light, shaped like lily of the valley, was the first thing that caught his eye. A rush of awkwardness from being in an unfamiliar space flooded over him. The smell of dust lingered in the air, typical of a space unused for a long time. Dojin rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand. Slowly, his vision adjusted to the darkness.He didn’t know why he was here, though it wasn’t surprising given the nature of the house. The room was cluttered with Turkish evil eye charms, Spanish tile crafts, and Moroccan tapestries.The space was filled with furniture ranging from Art Nouveau to Bauhaus, without any concern for harmony in era or style. Despite this, it somehow achieved a strange, unique balance.‘I seem to be the most out of place here.’Even half-asleep, that much was clear. But there was no room for complaints. He was staying in Marisa’s house.Despite the spaciousness, the room felt stuffy. The baseball jacket he had taken off at dawn was already dry and stiff. Even a poorly maintained house had a radiator that warmed the area better than Dojin’s original home.‘It’s nice.’Reflecting leisurely, the events of the previous night came to mind. What had once been a great artist’s bedroom was now Dojin’s room. He ran his palm over the black bedspread.‘This is an incredible stroke of luck.’Yet he couldn’t decide if it was simply a stroke of luck to be happy about.“Stay here for now. Outside, it’s chaos with Aqua Alta. The paths might even be gone. Tomorrow, you can briefly go home to fetch your things.”Luca’s instructions were firm and clear. The pretext of protecting the painting was simple yet compelling. Dojin had no choice but to nod.“You can sleep in Marisa’s bedroom upstairs.”“Uh… but I don’t have any clothes to change into. And how will I go to work tomorrow?”Luca briefly glanced over Dojin’s attire, understanding. What Dojin wore wasn’t exactly practical for working either.“I’ll check. This house has everything. We’ll find something for you to wear for a day.”“You… Mr. Orsini?”Luca theatrically looked around, his pale green eyes hard to read.“No one else is here.”“I can look myself…”“I’ll be faster.”It was an irrefutable point. The only space Dojin knew well here was the top-floor studio. But Luca Orsini wasn’t someone he could just order around.“It’s late; you should go home too.”“I’ll stay here tonight.”The declaration made without a change in expression startled Dojin. Maybe it was too blunt because Luca’s languid gaze fell on him.It was a look of irritation, sprinkled with a touch of ‘What were you thinking?’“Is there a reason to be that surprised?”“I’m… not surprised. Just cold. But where will you sleep…?”“Surely there’s a guest room.”Ah, a guest room.Despite his claim of not being surprised, Dojin visibly relaxed, then awkwardly stiffened under Luca’s gaze.“Dojin.”“Yes, yes?”“There won’t be incidents like the private party or earlier.”Amidst the sound of overflowing water, his low, gentle voice echoed. He didn’t expect him to bring that up.Yes, in hindsight, Dojin’s surprise was understandable.He had reacted out of nowhere, startling himself.Feeling a delayed sense of injustice, Dojin considered saying something more but closed his mouth. He nodded, slightly wary. Luca observed Dojin’s behavior. He found it difficult to understand Luca’s intentions.“Well, I’ll go upstairs now.”“And about earlier…”The words stopped him. Dojin inhaled sharply.“I apologize, Dojin. I didn’t realize it would be so shocking. I thought it would be taken naturally, given the history.”“Oh… that.”Feigning calmness, he didn’t want to overreact after being told not to be surprised again. Dojin bit his lower lip.Was he too nonchalant?But what could he say to an apology?Though the apology was polite, it felt like a subtle shift of blame, as if to say, ‘It wasn’t a big deal, why were you so shocked?’ Dojin clenched his fists, trying to read Luca’s expression.Luca looked detached, like he was reciting lines from a script, with no personal investment. There was no ulterior motive.Was he really just trying to ease the tension?“Come on, a kiss isn’t child’s play, is it?”Two thoughts fiercely battled, and Dojin let out a light sigh.Luca was shameless, and his eyes were bloodshot, determined to get “Water Play” properly. Considering that, it might have been part of his ‘tension relief.’For someone obsessed with money, a kiss might mean nothing if it helped Dojin restore the piece properly. With such a shell, a kiss was just like a handshake.How could I know what goes on in such a person’s mind? A simple conclusion was reached.“Well… it’s okay.”Dojin answered. It wasn’t sincere, but he didn’t want to appear as if he was making a fuss alone.Especially to someone who could keep such a nonchalant expression.It’s nothing to you, it’s nothing to me either.In short, he wanted to appear cool.If Luca’s actions were seen as a doctor’s treatment or prescription, there was no reason not to be cool.Moreover, the advice to distract himself was surprisingly close to the right answer. The restoration process he was about to start was simple, which made it even more so. After Luca kissed him and left, Dojin threaded the needle with a distracted mind. While stitching the broken canvas together once—‘What was that.’Again, while threading the fine thread—‘Why, or what. Why.’While examining the canvas fibers at the cut—‘What, will this continue.’Such scattered questions popped up in the middle of piecing the fragments together. There was no room for tension to squeeze in. Every five to ten stitches, Dojin shook his head. When such questions arose, the situation was at least better.The tongue that had roamed inside his mouth.The large hand that had gripped his cheek and the sudden warmth of the man.When such images came to mind, his insides boiled. He shook his head vigorously several times until the stitching was done. The afternoon time, when his hands trembled and he couldn’t even hold the fragments properly, was meaningless.Yeah. The tension was relieved, and the canvas pieces were joined.That was what mattered.“Are you okay?”Not Luca’s indifferent expression, momentarily disrupted by bewilderment.“Yes, well… it wasn’t unhelpful for the restoration.”It was literally true. A fact. But for some reason, Luca’s lips curled into a crooked smile.“Does that mean it was okay? Because it helped with the restoration?”“Did I… say that?”“It certainly sounded like that.”It wasn’t meant that way, but hearing Luca’s sarcastic voice made it feel different.Skipping all the processes in his head, even Dojin thought his words were a bit strange.“So you heard it that way… Well, I’m tired, so I’ll go up first.”With a tone implying it was clearly Luca’s fault for hearing it that way, Dojin fled the scene.There was nothing more to say. At least in Dojin’s mind, it wasn’t an awkward flow. Therefore, he could ignore Luca’s hollow laugh.Luca Orsini could have caught him if he wanted to, but he didn’t go that far. That was a relief.“Get a grip.”Dojin muttered softly as he entered the bathroom inside the bedroom. He splashed cold water on his face. His mind, which had been aimlessly recalling last night’s memories, finally cleared up a bit.“Get a grip, Bae Dojin.”He muttered while looking in the mirror. The reflection still looked bewildered, unable to grasp the situation.“Doin. You’re here early today?”It was Gemma who greeted Dojin, who was yawning in the restoration room. Dojin waved his hand.He could have come out at the usual time. But fearing he might run into Luca, he arrived at the museum a full forty minutes early, which seemed foolish no matter how he thought about it.“Your clothes look nice. Going somewhere today?”Gemma’s eyes sparkled, unaware of the situation.Dojin smiled ambiguously. It was a morning when he was reluctant to wear the clothes that had been soaked in not-so-clean water. Thinking there was no other way, he wore the clothes from yesterday, but a clean shirt and pants were placed on the small chair in front of the door. When he changed, they roughly fit.“It’s a house where you can’t know what’s there.”It was a moment when he understood why Luca Orsini had been rummaging around.Still, he wondered if he should express gratitude for finding these, but while he was briefly lost in such thoughts, Gemma quietly approached and whispered.“Doin. Did you know Angelo scolded Lorenzo a lot yesterday?”“Huh?”“He got really mad, his face turned red, saying not to mix personal feelings with work. He said if it happened again, he wouldn’t let it slide. Lorenzo almost cried. Really. People say Angelo got scolded a lot in the director’s office.”Dojin rolled his eyes. It was a natural outcome given the contract conditions with Luca. Still, it was surprising that Angelo, Lorenzo’s best friend, got so mad. He was curious about what was said in the director’s office.In this situation, all Dojin could do was maintain a ‘what’s going on’ expression.“That’s a relief. Now we don’t have to mix them.”“Doin.”“Yeah?”“Are you really close with Luca Orsini? You seemed quite close at the funeral.”“We just exchanged a few words.”He was about to dismiss it like that, but thinking about it, they might be seen together more often in the future.Even yesterday, they headed to Marisa’s house together. There were many eyes on them.“We’re not very close, but we do know each other.”“Know each other?”Even with such a simple statement, Gemma’s eyes narrowed. With a face that seemed to have caught something good to tease about, Dojin busily organized the cleaning tools. He couldn’t understand why he felt such an uneasy feeling.“You sound like someone caught in a scandal, Doin.”“We both were treated unfairly. A reasonable boss would have stopped it.”“That’s true.”Gemma agreed. Thankfully, it didn’t seem like a particularly wrong statement to her.“But I didn’t expect Luca Orsini to be a reasonable boss.”Dojin just shrugged at Gemma’s additional comment.* * *The only belongings he brought from his previous home were a single trunk and a backpack. Dojin wiped the sweat from his forehead and opened the door.“Huh?”The ground floor, which had been flooded when he left for the museum, was now clean. The stone floor looked not just dry, but almost fluffy. Dojin adjusted his grip on the trunk handle. It was a relief, if anything.‘Did he call someone in?’It was a stark contrast to the still flooded streets of Venice. As he went up one more floor, Luca was there.“You’re here. Is that all your stuff?”“Yes, Mr. Orsini, you’re still here.”“I’m searching for that document.”“Ah.”To be precise, Luca wasn’t the only one there.Primordial chaos, or Chaos, was there too.Dojin slowly looked around. The surroundings were beyond messy.From every book neatly placed on the desk to every piece of paper, everything was piled up messily in the middle of the salon. Luca sat amidst these piles, dressed in an expensive-looking suit.“You… haven’t found it yet, have you?”“As you can see. Unfortunately.”Even as he answered, Luca didn’t stop. Quickly flipping through a book picked up from the left and tossing it to the right.Piled up old books, documents, LP covers, and albums, everything made of paper from this house was out in the salon. It almost surrounded the man like pillars.If not here, then there. The accumulated sediment Luca tossed around was surprisingly voluminous.“This way, it’s going to be even harder to find anything later.”Dojin almost pointed it out but quickly extended his hand. A huge pile of paper documents… something more accurately called a pillar, was tilting.“Oh dear.”Preventing the collapse of the paper pillar with both hands, Dojin inspected the precarious structures that seemed more precarious than a Jenga tower nearing the end.“Mr. Orsini, do you need… may I help you organize these documents?”It was almost a plea to be allowed to help. Living in an already chaotic house, having additional chaotic pillars of documents in the living room was troublesome. In a house already excessive with a large globe, butterfly specimens, and chandeliers.“No need. Dojin should do Dojin’s work.”“Ah, right.”Luca didn’t even lift his head. Dojin stared in astonishment at all the paper. It was unbelievable that these thin sheets could create such a sight.‘Looking for that document here?’It was like looking for a needle in a haystack. Sifting through each straw. And it wasn’t even certain if the needle existed.“Do you think the document really exists?”“It would be better for us if it didn’t. Though it’s unlikely it doesn’t. Dojin, if you were my grandmother, would you have given such an item without any proof document, even if it was a gift for her daughter?”“Do you think she gave it? I mean… that the painting belonged to Marisa.”Luca, unexpectedly, looked up. The man, who had been slowly flipping through the paper with his index finger, smiled.“I can’t be sure about that, but if she really did give it, there would certainly be a document. Even when Marisa gave me that horrible painting as a gift, we exchanged documents.”“Ah.”It certainly wasn’t a normal world.‘Rich people.’Dojin put aside his short sentiment. Anyway, his immediate task wasn’t to find that document.“I’ll just drop my stuff off and head up.”“Alright. I’ve set aside any documents that seem relevant in the studio, but if you see anything unusual, let me know.”“Got it.”“And how long do you plan to work?”“Huh?”A dumbfounded response escaped. Luca’s gaze lingered on Dojin for a moment. It was a gaze that unnerved people without reason. Luca tapped his wristwatch.“Until what time today.”“Oh. I’m not sure. When I finish what I’ve planned for today.”“That seems unprofessional. Can’t you estimate how long the planned work will take?”‘Is he picking a fight?’There was no particular expression on his face. The content seemed like a fight, but the tone was gentle. So it was unclear whether this was a nitpicking of his lack of capability, work-related advice, or criticism. The response naturally came out lukewarm.“Of course, I can estimate.”“And?”“Didn’t you tell me to work as much as possible, that’s why I’m living here?”“That’s true, but what will you say if there’s a lawsuit later. I’m sorry I couldn’t provide a separate workspace, but you should have a reasonable quitting time.”“Oh.”So it wasn’t a fight. Dojin thought as he looked at Luca’s smooth nose.He was quickly flipping through the mountain of papers. Although fast, he didn’t skip a single page. While focused on the pile of papers, his responses remained calm.“Mr. Orsini, at this rate, you’ll never finish within the restoration period.”“Then should I speed up to match the period appropriately? Being too absorbed isn’t ideal either.”‘It’s easy for him to say, it’s not his work.’Work-life balance, they say. Maybe in the next life, he might enjoy it. This life was already a lost cause. Dojin calculated the workload and speed without much enthusiasm.“Around eight-thirty, I should be done with today’s tasks.”“Then come down at nine.”“Why?”“To have dinner.”“Who, you and me, Mr. Orsini?”Luca put down the document in his hand and lightly glanced around. It was a gesture Dojin had seen before. It wasn’t hard to guess what he might say.“No, Mr. Orsini. I know there’s no one else here. Me, I mean, why with me?”It was baffling. From yesterday, various not-so-pleasant memories flashed through Dojin’s mind like a panorama. Luca only glanced at the stammering Dojin briefly. His gaze fell back on the documents.“Well… Think of it as a business meeting.”If he put it that way.“The one who suggests it should pay.”A faint chuckle escaped. Dojin wondered what was so amusing about his words as he went up to the studio.“Ouch.”With a short groan, Dojin took off the magnifying glass. He stretched after ending the camcorder recording. His neck was stiff. He had barely finished on time without getting up from his seat for hours.‘Having an appointment sure makes you finish on time.’At Dojin’s usual pace, it would have taken another hour. With the person who assigned the work right downstairs and a dinner appointment dubbed a business meeting, it was no surprise his hands worked faster out of anxiety. Dojin twisted his neck and looked down at his outfit.‘Can I just go like this?’It was the same shirt and pants Luca had brought in the morning. A business meeting? For Dojin, mostly cooped up in the restoration room handling old paintings, it was an unfamiliar event.“Where are we going?”Nothing came to mind. Wasn’t this the sort of thing chairmen did in dramas? Besides, what kind of…‘Do we have anything to call a business meeting?’Was it to check how far the restoration had progressed? But it had only been two days.Dojin couldn’t find any answer, and the salon was still in a state of disarray that was distressing to look at. Changing clothes seemed too fussy, so he went downstairs in the same outfit.“Huh.”Even though winter in Italy wasn’t harsh, the ground floor air was sultry. A strong smell of tomato sauce hit his nose. In the kitchen, a large man in a suit with the jacket off… wearing a black apron.“You’re cooking.”It came out unintentionally. Luca glanced at Dojin and lowered the heat. There was a small popping sound from the tomato sauce pot.“And it’s pasta…”“Can’t you eat it?”“No. I can. Of course.”“Then have a seat for now.”The problem wasn’t the menu. It was surprising because it was such a typical Italian dish. Dojin sat down, leaving his coat nearby. With focaccia, salad, chilled white wine, and carpaccio, the table pointed to one thing.“We’re eating here?”“That’s the plan.”Dojin stared at Luca bringing the pasta plate.Luca Orsini serving. It felt like seeing a panda with a gun or an alligator with a bouquet.“Sorry if it’s too simple for a business dinner.”“No. This… this is comfortable.”Even as he said it, Dojin’s mind was filled with question marks.‘Is this how a business dinner usually goes? Isn’t it?’It was a doubtful thought. But what else could it be if not that. What else was there between Luca and Dojin besides business?Dojin looked at the man who sat across from him after removing his apron. Everything, including pouring wine into Dojin’s glass without asking, seemed so natural.‘Whatever.’Most things related to Luca Orsini were beyond comprehension anyway. Dojin took a sip of the chilled wine. Silence lingered between them over the food. Dojin was the one to break it.“Ah, today I cleaned an oil painting at Cà D’oro, like at Uffizi. Thanks for that.”“I was just fulfilling the contract terms. No need to thank me.”“But you found me the clothes today. Ah, thanks for finding the clothes too.”In his hurried gratitude, Luca only looked at Dojin.Wasn’t this the kind of conversation for a business dinner? Then what should he say?Dojin’s Italian conversation skills, unfortunately, hadn’t developed towards initiating talks. But feeling like he had to say something, Dojin brought up work again.“The document, still nothing?”“No. Nothing’s come up yet.”That was the end.It was indeed a question hard to follow up on. Dojin twirled the pasta with his fork. At least it was a relief to have something else to do. The pasta looked fine, but given the person who made it, he didn’t expect much taste.He put the fork in his mouth, pushing aside his brief worry. Dojin’s eyes widened.“It’s delicious?”“Glad to hear that.”Perhaps it was because he had no expectations, but his reaction was genuine. Luca, who was drinking wine, put down his glass and smiled. That smile restored Dojin’s confidence.“So, is the auction company going well?”“Yes.”“It seems like you have scheduled it with some leeway.”“Not really.”That confidence lasted only a moment. Once again, there was suffocating silence. The sound of putting down the fork and lifting the wine glass filled the space.‘This is going to give me indigestion.’Was he always this quiet?Dojin replayed every conversation he’d had with Luca. He hadn’t particularly seemed taciturn before. Unintentionally, Dojin sighed. He hadn’t meant for Luca to hear it, but in the otherwise quiet space, it was inevitable.“I always consider that such things can happen. Moreover, if it means I can sell a Batista Sorolla piece, the progress is unquestionable.”“Ah, I see.”Luca added while fiddling with his temple, and it was even appreciated. Dojin decided to shift the conversation flow a bit. He couldn’t keep asking questions forever, this wasn’t an interview.“Is there nothing you’re curious about regarding the restoration?”“It’s only the second day; expecting any progress would be a bit burdensome.”“Oh.”‘A man capable of such consideration.’And yet, he seemed unaffected by this suffocating silence. Ah, ah, ah, uh, uh, those monosyllabic sounds Dojin uttered to fill the silence had already been countless. What else could he say? Dojin stabbed a random shrimp in his pasta.Click, the sound of a lock turning.Confused glances exchanged. What was it, in a brief moment where no one could respond, the door opened.“Hello, cousin.”The intruder was an overbearing Claudio.Luca’s face instantly twisted. Claudio’s gaze moved from the table to Dojin. His cold green eyes sparkled as if he’d seen something amusing.“And… you have a restorer friend.”“Claudio.”“Why is that friend here?”“Are you breaking in now?”“I just came to return the key. I was passing by and saw the lights on, thought I’d deliver it personally.”Luca didn’t hide his displeasure. Approaching Claudio, he snatched the key and stood firmly. The presence of two large men made the space seem cramped.“I’ll need to change the locks. I suppose you’ve already made a copy, sorry.”“Someone else’s house? It was my aunt’s house, you know. Besides, I’m part of the foundation, remember?”Without responding, Luca opened the front door again.Extending his arm in a near polite manner, silently indicating for Claudio to leave. However, Claudio bypassed Luca and stood before Dojin.“But why is your restorer friend really here?”“He’s my guest. It’s none of your business, Claudio.”“Really? But why do I feel it’s something I should be concerned about? Is there a painting to restore here? I heard that friend doesn’t work in the afternoons these days. Moreover, your auction company’s restoration team was already formed long ago, so why specifically with that friend.”Claudio’s eyes looked down at Dojin. Despite sharing the same eye color, it felt completely different from Luca. Only then did Dojin put down the fork he was holding.“Hello.”“Are you two having a cozy playdate? Invite me too. I haven’t had dinner yet.”Ignoring Dojin’s greeting, Claudio plopped down in the seat where Luca had been sitting.‘What should I do.’It was a perplexing situation in many ways. The silence that almost gave him indigestion was much more peaceful. Luca lightly grasped Claudio’s shoulder, and Claudio brushed Luca’s hand off.“I hope you realize how rude you’re being right now, Claudio.”“Friends can be like that.”“Friends?”It was almost a laughable question. Luca’s expression turned icy, and Claudio didn’t even glance at him.“Cousin, not you. I mean me and this restorer.”Claudio’s finger pointed alternately at Dojin and himself. Realizing the meaning a beat late, Dojin’s mouth fell open.“What?”“Bae, right? We’re friends. From the other day at the square.”“Oh. That.”That uncomfortable and strange meeting. Dojin glanced sideways at Luca. He had a hard-to-read expression.‘Does he misunderstand? That I’m colluding with this guy?’Claudio had sought him out at the square.Before they had even properly contracted, and Claudio had just babbled about his family’s affairs and left, there was nothing on Dojin’s side to worry about.Dojin shook his head slightly while looking at Luca. Claudio’s reaction was quicker than Luca’s.“You said you didn’t know Marisa’s house last time. Friend, which rat eventually led you to Marisa’s house?”“I… today is my first time here.”Lying made his heart race. His voice trembled a bit at the end, so Dojin quickly brought the wine glass to his lips. The wine felt too cold as it went down his throat. Claudio sneered.“First time? Really?”“Yes.”“Why? What was your goal, friend?”Claudio placed his hand on Dojin’s forearm. Instinctively, Dojin pulled his arm back. In that moment, Luca gripped Claudio’s shoulder so tightly that he couldn’t escape.“Get up, Claudio.”“Let me get an answer first.”“Dojin has no obligation to answer you. Nor to tolerate your unpleasant touch.”“You know, I wasn’t asking you, cousin.”Claudio’s face was stubborn. It didn’t seem like the situation could be easily smoothed over. Unable to bear the tension, Dojin spoke up.“Um.”He regretted it the moment he spoke.‘What am I doing, why am I stepping in!’Moreover, he couldn’t even continue. Everything he could say would only be disadvantageous.Both Luca and Claudio looked at Dojin. To buy time, Dojin reached for his wine glass again.‘What should I say.’Dojin glanced at Luca. His face was a perfect poker face.He wanted Luca to do something, anything more. But it would look suspicious if Luca intervened further. Dojin slowly sipped his wine.“Why do you think I’m here?”Putting down his glass, Dojin spoke calmly.“That’s exactly what I’m asking.”“Do you think I’m doing some restoration work at this hour? During dinner time?”“If not, why is the friend here? Are you two really playing house?”‘That was almost a self-goal.’Instead of a smooth lie or cover-up, he had practically confessed. Yes, I’m doing restoration work separately, and I’m extremely flustered right now.Dojin swallowed hard and looked at Luca. Though expressionless, Luca seemed affected by Dojin’s self-goal. With the hand not holding Claudio’s shoulder, Luca stroked his own chin.‘Oh.’Seeing that large hand reminded Dojin of how it had held his cheek, his chin.The way Luca had calmed Dojin’s tension with his own reckless solution.‘Playing house.’Claudio’s annoying sarcasm echoed again.‘Maybe.’Yes, maybe that solution could be used differently.Dojin made a quick decision. There was no other sharp method anyway, so he had to go for it.“Can I say it?”“Dojin, wait.”Luca’s intervention was quick but unimportant. What mattered was the act of seeking permission, the attempt itself.Dojin looked at Luca and nodded slightly. Then, like someone trying to clear their throat, he muttered.“Can I tell him we’re seeing each other?”It wasn’t a difficult statement, and the atmosphere instantly froze as if cold water had been poured.Dojin fixed his gaze on the table. His throat felt tight.‘I said it.’In hindsight, it was an even more absurd lie.Dojin exhaled. It seemed like he had made a special confession rather than an outrageous lie.“Seeing each other?”Claudio looked genuinely dumbfounded. He couldn’t even glance at Luca, but having said it, he had to stick to it.“Otherwise, why do you think I’m here at this hour, with Luca?”“With this restorer? You?”Claudio looked up at Luca. Dojin was sidelined.‘He doesn’t believe me?’It should have hurt his pride, but honestly, he wouldn’t have reacted much differently.Luca naturally raised his hand and ran it through his hair. It was a trivial action, but it seemed like a strategy to hide his awkward expression.Dojin looked at him worriedly. But Luca quickly erased any sign of confusion.They say quick thinking is an auctioneer’s asset, and looking at that smooth, calm face, it seemed true. The question was whether Luca would play along with this absurd statement.‘Will I end up looking like a fool?’No matter how important “Water Play” was, suddenly claiming to be dating a man wouldn’t be pleasant. Especially in Italy, where many matters were still resolved in churches.‘It’s not even a real confession.’Yet his heart pounded. Dojin anxiously looked up at Luca.“Dojin.”A generous and elegant smile.Surprisingly, Luca smiled at Dojin. It even seemed genuinely pleasant, with laughter in his voice.“It was Dojin who wanted to keep it a secret. I said I didn’t mind. I’m glad Dojin spoke up first.”Luca approached Dojin. His hand touched Dojin’s curly hair, and his finger traced down to his nape.There was affection and… if one had to say, a sensual feeling.It felt strange. Dojin clenched his fist under the table to stop himself from trembling.“I’m a bit upset that Claudio is the first to hear this wonderful news.”Luca spoke softly, as if for Claudio to hear. Claudio almost laughed in disbelief at Luca’s affirmation.“You’ve finally gone mad. I’ve been waiting for this for a long time.”With a twisted smile, Claudio’s eyes, filled with a mix of interest and contempt, turned to Luca’s finger.“Thanks for the concern, but I’ve been mad for quite a while. Since the carnival.”“What?”Dojin’s startled reaction was a mistake. Without hesitation, Luca’s hand wrapped around Dojin’s shoulder.The movement was so gentle and soft that even Dojin was fooled. Dojin took a small breath. The ticklish feeling inside was driving him crazy, more than the tension of possibly being caught in a lie.“You didn’t know, Dojin? I’ve liked you since then.”“Oh, it’s the first time I’m hearing that…”His voice trailed off. Luca let out a small laugh. The eyes that met his were excessively kind. Dojin, not knowing what to do, lowered his head.Yes, Luca’s acting was terrifyingly perfect. Every small movement, gesture, and glance gave perfect legitimacy to this absurd lie.“Incredible.”Claudio’s sneer was not surprising. The most incredulous person right now was Dojin, not Claudio.“If Grandma knew about this, everything would have come back to me.”“My lover is considerate. I said I didn’t mind, but he didn’t want to cause me any harm. It’s unfortunate for you, though.”Luca didn’t spare a glance at Claudio. Instead, he stroked Dojin’s curly hair as if fascinated. His long fingers moved through the hair as if swimming. The sound of a chair being roughly pushed back was heard.“Cousin, I don’t want to see this disgusting sight any longer. Oh, by the way, I support your eccentricity. If you want to turn your back on the family with such a choice, there’s nothing I can do.”“I’m blinded by love right now. I’ll think about it when I have time later.”Soon, there was a thud and a friction sound. It was the sound of the door.Dojin pushed Luca’s hand away and craned his neck.Claudio was gone. At least, he wasn’t here.“Phew.”Only then did it feel like he could breathe properly. Dojin leaned back in his chair. The hand on his thigh trembled slightly.“Could I have another drink?”“Of course. For my lovely lover.”There was no room to scold the nasty joke.Unlike Dojin, Luca seemed unaffected. He sat back in his seat and poured wine with flawless movements.“Isn’t skepticism a virtue of a restorer? You could switch to a creative job, Dojin.”“I’m sorry.”“What’s there to apologize for between lovers.”Luca’s light laugh didn’t seem angry. Still, he couldn’t trust the expression.People sometimes laugh when they’re too angry or find something absurd, so it might be that kind of laugh.Dojin stared at Luca intently, trying to read anything. There was no particular gain. Having apologized, all that was left was an excuse.“I couldn’t think of anything at that moment…”“You did well. It might get a bit tough from now on, though.”“Tough?”Luca elegantly sipped his wine. Even then, his wet lips caught Dojin’s eye, and Dojin shook his head slightly as he asked.“Who, you, Mr. Orsini?”“Smearing, well, if you think of it as a smear, it can be.”“A smear…”“Rumors will spread. Especially since you told Claudio, it’s like putting an ad in the newspaper.”“Is that guy a blabbermouth?”“Especially about my scandals. He must be eager to take the director’s position.”Dojin’s mistake was assuming that at least his grandmother’s noble status would keep his mouth shut.As the saying goes, when whales fight, the shrimp’s back gets broken. If Luca gets kicked out of the director’s position, he might even claim damages. Dojin was just starting to realize the gravity of what he had done.Yes, he had caused it, so he had to at least pretend to clean up the mess.“Should I say it’s not true now? …If you get kicked out.”“I was planning to quit the director’s position early anyway. And if you say it’s not true, do you have another way to explain it? That we’re restoring ‘Water Play’? We don’t know exactly whose it is, but out of goodwill? Then a lawsuit will start, and it would be better to burn the painting.”It seemed they had deep-seated animosity.It was fortunate, but that was all.He had caused an absurd situation. It was beyond his capacity to handle. He felt like tearing his hair out.Why did I think of that? Why, why, why.“Dojin.”He would rather be teased as usual. The kind voice that triggered guilt made Dojin miserable.“I’m really sorry. Even if you’re okay, I’m not. I’m really sorry.”“I have no complaints. I’m just wondering why I didn’t think of hiding it that way.”“What?”“You did well. Let’s finish our meal, my dear lover.”Luca’s lips curved into a soft arc as he said that.He would definitely get indigestion.That was Dojin’s thought as he looked at the pasta he had barely touched.A silent meal continued. He felt like he should say something, but he couldn’t figure out what would be appropriate.He just mechanically put pasta in his mouth, chewed, and swallowed it with wine or water.“Mr. Orsini.”“Yes.”“What should we do if rumors spread?”Luca looked at his wristwatch. Dojin glanced sideways; it had been about thirty minutes since Claudio left.“The rumors must have already spread.”As he answered, the phone rang. It wasn’t Dojin’s.