Chapter 71 - The Storage Room (1)

Aki took one step towards the door. Then paused. Another step. Another pause. What would he find in that room? Would it be like Blue Beard's room in the folktale?

'Don't be ridiculous. Liam would not store dead bodies.' He rolled his eyes to himself. But it would not hurt to see what was inside right? 'Just this once,' he thought. 'I'm just going to take a peek then go back to my room.'

He chewed his lower lip as he trudged towards that enticing door as quiet as he could. If Liam caught him lurking around, Aki would apologize right away. The closer he got to the room, the harder his heart pounded in his chest that it might as well resounded throughout the unit. He stopped walking a step away from the door. He only needed to crane his neck, strained it a little further, and he would be able to see inside.

That was what he did. But he did not expect his movement after the sharp intake of breath he took when he saw what was inside. As if in a dreamlike state, he pushed the door a little wider to allow him passage, thankful that it did not creak.

The room was like Aki's room but narrower. Though, at first glance, it seemed more spacious as there was no furniture inside. The room was bare of the usual things you would see in a room like a bed or a closet. For this one did not mean to be a room but more of a studio. Different paintings adorned the walls. Some were hanging. Others were leaning. On the other side was a table containing framed photos on top. And in the middle, the part with better natural light and a greater view inside was an easel where Liam concentrated on his painting.

He ran his finger on the edges on the canvas as he walked along. Some were images of the view outside their unit. The other places looked like someplace in the country which Aki suspected to be where Liam grew up.

Aki had never seen anything like this in his entire life. He could not draw to save his life. But these paintings were magic in itself. They transported Aki within these landscapes.

He stared at each canvas with an intense concentration that the loud sound he made when he bumped the table startled him. His eyes immediately flew over in the middle of the room. Liam turned with the same startled look as Aki, his hand hung in the air, holding a brush.

It took a few heartbeats before Aki regained his voice and composure. "I'm-- I'm sorry for barging in. It's open and -- I just want -- I mean--" He flailed his arms, his eyes darted around.

Liam put down his brush. "It's fine. I never said you are not allowed in this room.

"Yeah, but--"

"It's just… quite embarrassing for you to see my paintings. They're not that good."

Anger flared inside Aki. "Who said that!?" The sad smile Liam gave Aki made him want to punch whoever said those words to his roommate. He spoke through gritted teeth, "How dare they. And no, don't you dare say that it's true because I'll take it as an insult as someone who can't draw a stickman."

Liam stifled a laugh. "There's no way…"

"Ha! You should say that to Rina -- that's my younger sister, by the way." Aki huffed a breath. He hoped that whoever said those lies to Liam would never make the mistake of crossing his path or he would have a word with them.