Oil On Canvas

Signora’s Hong Kong friend’s house wasn’t that big. The well-maintained white outer wall and the garden, managed to the point of feeling strict, were impressive. The house gave an isolated feeling even though it wasn’t that far from the Lido pier.“Who are you?”“Who do you think I am?”“You don’t seem like a comfortable and cozy grandmother.”“You saw right through me. We weren’t friends for nothing. She was similar to my grandmother.”Maybe even more than that. It meant that her personality could seem like a foreign language that doesn’t communicate well.“It won’t be easy.”“That’s why I brought Dojin.”Luca lightly pressed the doorbell with a laugh, and Dojin, standing far back, swallowed his breath.What returned to them was silence.Should they press the bell again? When Dojin looked at Luca, Luca’s long finger pointed in one direction.“Up there.”At the unfamiliar sound, Dojin squinted his eyes.Something black attached to the edge of the outer wall blinked a red light. Luca grabbed Dojin’s shoulders with both hands.“Wha-what are you doing?”“Showing the offering.”“Th-the what?”There was no time to be properly bewildered. The black object, definitely a surveillance camera, blinked its light, watching Dojin. Pushed forward, Dojin hesitated and bowed. Just as he forced an awkward smile, a low, rough voice was heard.“That’s enough, come in.”The gate was open. An elderly man with white hair, who seemed strong and healthy, was looking Dojin up and down through the wide-open door. Dojin bowed again.“Hello.”“I opened the door to ask whose friend you are.”She turned her body to scrutinize Dojin from different angles.Her fluent Italian, with an intonation as stiff as Dojin’s, made Dojin blink nervously.“I’m Korean.”“Unusual looks. Why are you here?”“Well…”As if Luca Orsini was invisible, Signora’s friend, who was from Hong Kong, fixed her gaze solely on Dojin.Not knowing how to respond, Dojin glanced sideways at Luca. The returning voice of the elderly woman was sharp.“Is it because of that?”“Long time no see, Signora Leong.”‘That.’Not even referred to by a pronoun, Luca bowed. Signora Leong didn’t even glance at him. It was blatant disregard.‘It’s no wonder they brought me.’Luca’s claim that Signora’s friend didn’t particularly like him was true. In fact, “didn’t particularly like” was an understatement in light of the cold disregard.‘It’s at the level of contempt.’Moreover, Signora Leong looked ready to close the door, saying ‘It’s enough to know you’re Korean,’ if necessary. Dojin held the doorknob tightly and made the most innocent and pitiful expression.“It’s not because of… that. I have something I want to ask you.”“To me?”“Yes! Absolutely. I have a favor to ask, so I came despite the rudeness.”With an innocent and sincere expression that said, “I am a courteous and earnest young man”—it wasn’t difficult for Dojin, who grew up in a Confucian country that values propriety and integrity.Dojin maintained a desperate yet polite face while keeping an eye on Signora Leong.“You certainly look like a boy.”“Huh… who, me?”“Is there anyone else here?”There was someone else, a towering man with an intimidating presence, at least 190 cm tall.Moreover, questioning his gender out of the blue was quite rude to Dojin, who certainly had XY chromosomes, even if he didn’t have much facial hair. Nonetheless, Dojin didn’t lose his smiling demeanor.“Oh, yes, it’s just me here. I am definitely a boy.”“Heh.”He could easily ignore Luca’s snort from beside him. It seemed Luca found the sight of Dojin fawning to be absurd.‘Who am I suffering for right now?’Dojin wondered what Luca could have done to make him end up taking the blame like this. He quickly elbowed Luca in the side and looked at Signora Leong.“What’s your name?”“Dojin.”“Your round eyes make you look like an Immaemangnyang. At first, I thought I was seeing a ghost with your face looking like it was powdered with flour.”Despite the unflattering comparison that was hard to take as a compliment, Dojin kept smiling without a hitch. Signora Leong’s strategy seemed somewhat effective as she suddenly turned around.“Come in.”“Um, this… has to come in with me too.”Dojin subtly held onto Luca’s coat. If things went wrong, Luca might not even be able to step inside. That would mean Dojin would have to face Signora Leong alone.‘There’s no way I can do that.’Dojin could earn a bit of favor by smiling till his cheeks twitched, but he doubted he could extract important information with precision.Moreover, Dojin lacked the shamelessness of Luca Orsini, who remained unruffled despite the cold treatment. Signora Leong turned around without hiding her frown.“I guess it can’t be helped.”It was an almost reluctant permission. Dojin bowed deeply in gratitude, but Luca simply followed Signora Leong into the house with a blank expression.It was a house with a long hallway.The long corridor had no decorations except for a few lights. However, at the end of the hallway leading to the living room, there was a large painting. It was a collage of bright, colorful patterns, almost as if highlighting something. Seeing it, Dojin’s mouth dropped open.“Isn’t this a Matisse painting?”“It was a gift.”“Did you receive it from my grandmother?”Though her answer to Dojin was curt, it was still a response, unlike the silence Luca received. Even though her tightly closed lips showed dissatisfaction, she did not deny it. Luca didn’t stop there.“Signora Leong, when you received this, did you get the transfer documents properly from my grandmother?”“Tell him this. Does it look like his grandmother, who spent her life dealing with these things, would be careless about such matters?”At the blunt response, Dojin and Luca exchanged glances.Even for a painting gifted to her best friend, Signora Orsini made sure the documentation was in order.Then, it was only natural that <Water Play> would also have transfer documents. Signora Orsini was not someone to neglect such things.Signora Leong’s answer gave them a certain confidence.Entering the living room, they sat on the sofa, and Signora left them with only a word to wait.The house, which could be described as tidy, was a bit dark. Unlike a typical Italian house, filled with excesses like crosses and statues of Mary, Signora Leong’s home was rather barren.There was a faint fragrance, and Dojin awkwardly looked around before whispering to Luca.“What exactly did you do for Signora Leong to not even look at you?”“It’s personal. For instance.”“How big of a deal is it?”He grumbled but had no intention of digging into matters labeled as personal.Dojin clammed up and looked out through the long window. The season was just transitioning from winter to spring. Italy was usually rainy and cloudy around this time, but peculiarly, it was a sunny day.‘Nice.’Dojin absentmindedly watched the sunlight falling beneath a leafless tree branch. After days of sharp tension, even this bit of relaxation felt monotonous yet peaceful.Except for the uncomfortable gaze that hit Dojin’s cheek and ear from the side.‘Why is he staring?’Unaware that his gaze carried warmth, Luca’s stare had a stubborn edge. After a while of ignoring it, Dojin snapped his head around.He expected Luca to be surprised, but Luca neither averted his eyes nor seemed startled. It was Dojin who felt oddly annoyed.“What are you looking at?”There was no chance to hear a response. With a clatter, a teacup was placed in front of Dojin.“Drink up.”It was Signora Leong, narrowing her eyes. She alternated her gaze between Dojin and Luca before comfortably sitting in a nearby rocking chair. A steaming teacup was placed in front of her as well.There were three people but only two teacups.Or perhaps, to Signora Leong, there were two people and one ‘thing’ that one of the people had brought along.“Uh, well, for this…?”Dojin mumbled briefly.Signora Leong raised an eyebrow while Luca just shrugged. Having no choice, Dojin quietly observed the atmosphere. Signora Leong took a sip of her fragrant tea and began to speak.“Are you the restorer who joined Cà D’oro?”“How do you know?”“Because I heard about it.”“From Signora Orsini, perhaps?”“Yes. She bragged quite a bit. Said a useful restorer joined. Naturally. Our hands are far more skilled than theirs.”Us and them. It was a blatant division.Dojin gave a vague smile. It sounded like a compliment, but he didn’t feel entirely comfortable.One of ‘them,’ Luca, sat quietly like a statue, pretending not to hear. Another silence fell. Dojin had to wrack his brain to keep the conversation going.“I don’t think I saw you at the funeral.”“Why would I go there? All the way because of that damn girl. I can barely leave Lido now.”“Oh.”“Enough of that. How’s the condition of that Matisse painting? I was thinking of maybe entrusting it to you.”The topic changed lightly. For Dojin, it was a welcome change. Moreover, restoration was one of Dojin’s favorite topics.‘Though not in this case.’Unfortunately, the painting was one of Matisse’s later works. It was from the period when Matisse, weakened by cancer, cut and pasted colored paper. If it were from another period painted in oil, it would have been different, but Matisse’s later works were slightly outside Dojin’s specialty.“Unfortunately, my specialty is oil paintings.”“I know. But I can’t trust those white folks. I can’t trust them with anything. There’s a reason I’m alone without any errand boys. You can tell just by looking.”He didn’t want to talk about a work he wasn’t sure about. But Luca’s light cough was clear in its implication.‘This isn’t the time to be stubborn.’Dojin blinked and recalled the Matisse painting from earlier.“I can’t say for sure, but from what I saw earlier, it didn’t seem significantly damaged, and it looked well-preserved. It seems Signora Orsini took care to gift it. It’s easier to manage than an oil painting.”“That’s good. I’ll keep it like this for a while.”“Yes, it should be fine for now.”“Alright. Now tell me why you came here with that thing. Actually, it’s not your business, is it? That thing must have used some trick to get in.”The eyes that had been on Dojin moved back to Luca. Having heard enough, Signora Leong’s attitude was almost generous, as if she would listen to whatever they had to say.‘I’ve done my part.’Dojin brought the teacup to his lips. Now it was time for the idle ‘thing’ to work. Luca leaned forward slightly.“I was wondering if my grandmother said anything recently.”Signora Leong leaned back in her rocking chair, not bothering to hide her displeasure at Luca’s question.“Do you mean to say that damn girl came to see me after she died?”“Before she passed away. I know she used to come by and spend time with you.”“She didn’t say much. Just came, drank my tea, and left. Damn girl. At least now I can save my precious tea.”The term “damn girl” made Dojin’s shoulders twitch, but Luca and Signora Leong seemed unfazed.“Why, is there another problem? Your family was always noisy. All of you were so unruly, the household was always in chaos.”“It’s about Cà D’oro. There’s a missing certificate for a painting in the museum, and we can’t find it anywhere. I wondered if my grandmother might have hidden it in a safe.”“There should be an employee responsible for that. Do they do their job so carelessly these days?”Luca didn’t respond. An odd silence followed.Luca’s vague explanation didn’t seem to be convincing, and Signora Leong’s eyes were filled with clear suspicion. Dojin was parched but couldn’t touch his teacup.Hmm, Signora Leong made a faint sound as she drank her tea. Even though it must have been cold by now, she slowly put down the teacup.“Your grandmother said she kept all important things at the summer villa. She always said that whenever I asked for something.”It was a sudden statement. Her tone was indifferent, yet it carried a hint of reproach, as if wondering why they hadn’t thought of it. Luca’s lips parted slightly.“‘I left it at the summer villa. I can give it to you next year.’”“Yes. She always said that. She was so stingy. She pretended to be generous, but when it came to money, she was just a typical Venetian girl.”Hearing Luca’s words, Signora Leong chuckled.The summer villa.Luca and Dojin’s eyes met. Leaning back in his chair, Luca casually asked another question.“Are you talking about the villa in the Dolomites?”“Of course. She kept all the valuable things there, even though she found it bothersome to go. She hid all the precious stuff there.”Dojin secretly let out a deep breath.It wasn’t certain that the certificate was there.But the trip, despite the seasickness, wasn’t entirely in vain. To hide his joy, Dojin took another sip of the fragrant green tea.“Did you come all the way here just to hear that? Forgetting something so easily after she died, really. Only the dead are unfairly blamed.”“I also wanted to ask that, and since I’ve been back in Venice for a while, I thought I’d pay my respects.”“I don’t need your respects.”Signora turned her head sharply. Luca didn’t seem to care much either.‘There are people who treat that person like this.’To do so, one would need to be of her age and have her level of skill. Dojin felt a bit of vicarious satisfaction and suppressed a smile.Regardless, Signora Leong stood up, taking her teacup. When Dojin tried to help, her wrinkled hand stopped him.“Do you want to eat something before you go? I’m thinking of making Cantonese-style pork for dinner.”Her gaze at Dojin was quite gentle. It was a tempting offer in a place without proper Asian restaurants. Dojin’s eyes sparkled as he looked at Luca.“Ah, but then… what about that?”“Those things don’t know how to appreciate good food even if they eat it. It’s a waste of precious food. Tell them to go out and eat pizza.”‘That would be really nice for me too.’Luca, who seemed indifferent after achieving his goal, was the same. He didn’t seem to understand how rare Asian food was in this damn rural town, showing such a lack of enthusiasm.‘But he did help earlier.’He also needed to take his seasickness medicine. Dojin looked at Signora Leong with a calm face.“Ah, so, shouldn’t we give that thing a chance to taste some precious food too?”“Do I have to offer food to that thing too? It’s not like his grandmother didn’t eat here often enough. If I got paid, maybe, but I won’t give anything.”“Well, that thing came by boat. If I go alone, I can’t get home.”As the persuasion reached that point, a hint of hesitation appeared on Signora Leong’s face. Dojin approached her with a bright smile.“Should I take a closer look at that Matisse painting from earlier? It feels wrong to just have dinner without doing anything, so I’ll take a closer look at it for you.”“Really?”“Yes, but I’ll keep this… with me.”“Well, I suppose it’s better than wasting the leftovers.”At the offer to examine the painting, Signora Leong finally curved one corner of her mouth in a smile. Only then did Dojin exhale a short breath, feeling relieved.“I’ll call you later. Rest for now.”“Um, before that, can I light some incense as well?”“Sure, do as you like.”Without even looking at them, Signora Leong disappeared. In an instant, the desolate living room was left with only Dojin and Luca. As Dojin moved closer to the incense, Luca followed.“That thing could have stayed outside eating pizza.”“Then go outside and eat pizza.”A small laugh returned to Dojin’s retort. Feeling a tickle in his ears, Dojin had to resist the urge to rub them with his palm.Behind the bronze incense burner at the edge of the living room was an old, faded photograph in a frame. It was hard to be sure when they entered the living room, but up close, it was clear. In the framed black-and-white photo, a woman with long hair and a sullen expression glared at the camera.“Signora’s expression really hasn’t changed. She had this exact expression in <Water Play>.”“It’s a photo that captures grandmother’s essence well.”“You two must have been close for a long time.”Close enough for such a personal tribute.Dojin took out two long incense sticks from beside him, handing one to Luca. Luca’s imitation of Dojin’s bowing and offering incense looked quite decent. Dojin stole glances at his elegant profile, curious.“What did you do to someone so close to Signora to make her dislike you so much?”“There are things in this world beyond personal control.”Luca’s answer, with his head slightly tilted, was light.“Did you prepare all this alone?”“This is nothing. I did it quickly.”It hadn’t been much longer than two hours since Signora Leong disappeared into the kitchen.But the food laid out on the table was clearly not for three people. There was enough food for at least five more people, with dishes that seemed impossible to source in a rural Italian town. Signora Leong smiled, pleased at Dojin’s admiration.“So, how did the painting look upon closer inspection?”“It looked good. I wrote something and left it in the living room. If you ever need restoration or management advice, you can refer to it. Oh, and if you keep burning incense, it’s better to keep it as far from the painting as possible.”“Alright. That’s enough. Let’s eat. And you.”The gaze that ended at Luca was not entirely approving.Luca nodded lightly. The appearance of a fallen noble bearing humiliation was inevitable due to his looks. While eagerly eating the delicious food, Dojin watched for an opportunity.Signora Leong led the conversation with stories about the superior Asian race surviving among ignorant and foolish foreigners, about how exceptional her late husband Signor Giampiero was, about their fateful love story in Hong Kong, and about what their children were doing now.Dojin responded and encouraged her appropriately, loosening her up until she was on her third glass of wine. Then Dojin spoke.“But Signora Leong, why do you dislike Orsini, or rather, this… thing?”“What?”“I was just curious since he’s the grandson of your close friend.”Luca, who had been silent, gave a small cough. It seemed to signal that Dojin should stop, but Dojin couldn’t resist his curiosity.“Why do you dislike him?”“I understand your feelings, of course. He’s arrogant, greedy, and not very humble. He likes to tease people. I know, but… he’s still your friend’s grandson.”“That’s part of it.”Signora Leong twirled her wine glass, looking at Luca. Luca smiled softly, and Signora Leong’s eyebrows shot up in disgust.“Does your friend not know about your lewd and promiscuous lifestyle?”“You’re exaggerating.”“Exaggerating?”“Well, standards vary, so you might be somewhat right.”“Somewhat… what?”“But it’s not at all what you think, Signora Leong. I’ve explained it several times.”“You wretched scoundrel!”Signora Leong banged the wine glass on the table. Red wine stains were left on the tablecloth, but no one seemed to care except Dojin. Luca remained calmly unruffled, almost bored.“You must watch your blood pressure, Signora.”“That despicable brat ripped Paola’s heart apart. And not just her heart, either!”“That never happened. If anything got torn, it was just her heart, and that wasn’t even my intention.”“So you’re saying you did the right thing?”“Signora Leong, in case you’ve forgotten, your granddaughter is married now and has two kids.”“So, to you, it’s an old story already?”“We never even met.”“If you did nothing, how did my precious Paola end up starving for a fortnight, looking like a skeleton? She couldn’t even invite you to her wedding because she was terrified. You must have seduced my innocent Paola with your treacherous tongue, huh?”“She fell for me on her own, and I properly rejected her three times. I just stood there, and she seduced herself.”“Heh.”Signora Leong’s scoff seemed to signal a temporary end to the conversation. It wasn’t a difficult situation to grasp.Dojin rolled his eyes, marveling at the farce likely born from Luca’s impressive looks since childhood.“Of course, I somewhat regret refusing Signora Orsini’s request to pretend to date Paola. I didn’t expect to be bothered for it to this day.”“Bother you? You didn’t even care, so what are you talking about? Someone like you is a sin just by existing. You go around charming the local girls like the Pied Piper and then claim you did nothing. You made fools of the girls here and then flew off to England, only to come back every summer causing all sorts of trouble—”“You’re exaggerating too much.”Luca waved his hand dismissively, looking at Dojin.“That never happened, Dojin.”“I didn’t say anything.”‘Why drag me into this suddenly?’Dojin found himself in a position where he couldn’t take sides. Personally, he found Signora Leong’s words quite credible.Signora Leong’s gaze also shifted to Dojin.“Never happened? Do you know how many times I’ve seen it? Why do you like him when you’re the same? You seem smart.”“Me?”Dojin felt bewildered, like a spectator suddenly dragged onto the stage. Signora Leong’s reproachful voice reached him.“Yes. Aren’t you dating that guy? I’ve seen all sorts of things living long enough. The rumors are all over this area.”Oh.Dojin suddenly felt his throat tighten and quickly grabbed a glass of water. In this tiny Venice, there was no escaping those damn rumors.“Aren’t you?”“It’s similar. But that’s not why we came.”Luca answered for Dojin. It wasn’t surprising, given they were being sold as a ‘couple’ package.“I thought you might confess to deceiving your grandmother when you came together.”“You already knew.”“I didn’t want to hear it. I heard it because I have ears.”“We’re not here to blame you. You know that. We just came to pay our respects.”Luca gently wrapped his arm around Dojin’s shoulder. It was a calculated move to appear affectionate, but it only made Dojin feel awkward and uncomfortable.“I’ve seen all sorts of things.”Signora Leong shook her head and emptied her wine glass again. Luca skillfully replaced her wine glass with a water glass.“Signora Leong.”“What is it, you insolent person?”“Please let go of your anger towards Paola. I mean, I’m like this. It was impossible from the start.”“Impossible? I saw you causing trouble with Venetian girls with my own eyes.”“Shouldn’t we exclude stories from when I was a minor?”“Exclude what?”Even as she spoke, the anger in Signora Leong’s eyes subsided a bit. She clicked her tongue but finally pushed the remaining pork dish towards Luca. Luca smiled lightly.“Thank you.”He maintained his elegant and dignified demeanor even while saying that.‘He’s impressive in many ways.’Dojin looked at Luca with mixed feelings.Using those damn rumors to his advantage again was despicable. How could someone be so shameless yet dignified?“Would you like some more?”Dojin shook his head, and Luca’s warm gaze returned. The murmured “cute” made Dojin wonder if he had heard correctly.“Pardon?”Luca smiled brightly, looking at Dojin as if wondering what the problem was. He was clearly over-immersed in his role. If not, he was crazy.“I said you’re cute.”He didn’t seem crazy, so he must be an actor who takes his role seriously, even with an audience of one. Feeling his stomach tighten, Dojin reached for the wine and drank it. The time he spent barely touching his lips to the glass to avoid seasickness seemed pointless.“Cough. Ahem.”Luca handed Dojin a napkin as he coughed from the wine. Dojin pushed it away and wiped his mouth with his palm.Signora Leong, who had been watching everything, let out a long sigh. “Hey,” she called softly, and Dojin looked up.“Keep your wits about you.”“Uh, me?”“Yes. You seem a bit enchanted already. Even if his strange eye color is fascinating…”Signora Leong trailed off, looking at Dojin, whose face was blotchy red, possibly from the wine or embarrassment.Luca, who had been listening quietly, lightly pressed his mouth with a napkin.“I need to keep my wits about me more, Signora Leong.”“Oh dear.”“I mean it.”“Someone like you is all talk. Your mouth is too slick. I should cut off that silver tongue of yours.”“Thanks to Confucianism, I can’t use it even if I want to.”“Con-what?”“Good!”Dojin stood up abruptly. He had heard enough of Luca’s embarrassing nonsense. Even if it was an act, this was too much.‘Is he crazy?’He glared sharply, but only a bright smile returned.People don’t notice his nonsense because he says it with that face.Signora Leong’s light frown was manageable. At least that was a relief. Dojin continued with what he had to say.“Thank you for the meal. I think we should go now. We’ve imposed on you for too long.”“Are you leaving?”“It’s quite late.”It wasn’t that late. However, Dojin’s resolve seemed strong enough that no one argued further. Luca, maintaining a slight smile, nodded.“Thank you for dinner.”His gratitude was surprisingly polite, making his earlier dismissive words seem out of place.Signora Leong escorted them to the front door. Expecting only formal farewells, Dojin was surprised when she hugged him tightly.“Come again later. Without him.”“I’ll come back. I’ll take a proper look at the painting too.”Of course, this applied only to Dojin. All Luca received was a curt nod.“I thought you said you forgave me?”“If I think about my dear granddaughter, even drinking your blood wouldn’t be enough. Be grateful I’m even letting you show your face.”“Stay healthy. I’ll visit again.”After saying goodbye, Luca made a short exclamation as he reached into his coat pocket and handed Signora Leong a small envelope.“I found this while organizing and thought I should give it to you.”She accepted the envelope with a suspicious look, opening it to reveal several photos.Starting with black and white, the photos gradually turned to color. They showed two women of different races, their heads close together, standing stiffly, or sitting on a boat. Signora Leong slowly went through each photo.“Damn Venetian girl.”She muttered roughly, but her hands gently placed the photos back in the envelope.* * *The boat cut smoothly through the night sea, leaving a trail.Soft, wordless music Luca had put on played in the background. The scent of the heavier evening sea wafted around as Dojin shifted slightly.‘Never thought I’d lie on a motorboat deck in my life.’He had lay on seats inside boats before, but this felt more like lying on top of a boat.At first, he tensed up at every little increase in speed, fearing he might fall off. However, the tension soon turned into a thrilling sensation.Dojin, covered with a blanket Luca had given him, looked up at the night sky. He recalled their conversation just a few minutes earlier.“Lie down, here.”“Pardon?”“Lie down.”“Why? Are you going to drop me?”“You won’t fall. And it will feel good. I promise.”“What will feel good?”Luca had given him a crooked smile. Dojin felt wronged, considering Luca had just told him not to use his tongue or lips even if he wanted to. Now he was supposed to lie down without suspicion.As Dojin stared blankly at the floating boat, Luca extended his hand again.“I know you don’t trust me much, but I have no ill intentions. Or you can sit back up front if you prefer.”Luca had accurately perceived Dojin’s distrust. Dojin, still wary, eventually took Luca’s hand and ended up lying on the boat’s deck.“Wow.”Surprisingly, it didn’t take long for Dojin to softly exclaim.“The stars are amazing. And it’s a full moon.”It was as if glittering dust had been scattered across the dark blue sky, with stars everywhere. As the boat moved farther from the island, the stars became clearer.“It’s quite nice, isn’t it?”“They’re incredibly clear. And so many.”“I thought you’d like it.”Dojin felt a sudden surge of excitement and bit his lip to hold it back.“It’s a full moon tonight.”“That’s fortunate.”Luca’s light reply came back.On the ink-black sea, the only lights were from the moon and the boat’s searchlight.‘The moon is really bright.’While marveling alone, Luca’s smooth voice cut in.“Can you turn on the flashlight? I can’t see the boat’s controls, and my battery’s dead.”“Oh, sure.”The moon was bright, but not enough to see finer details.Dojin fumbled in his pocket as he got up. His phone was under a bunch of keys. As he stood, his pocket tightened, making him frown as he pulled out the keyring first.“Be careful!”“What?”Luca’s warning came a moment too late. The boat jolted from an unseen wave in the dark, causing Dojin, who was standing, to lose his balance.“Ah!”Falling backward meant going straight into the sea. Dojin flailed his arms forward. Luca quickly grabbed his wavering hand, pulling him to his chest.‘Nice scent.’It wasn’t a fitting thought for the situation.“Are you alright?”At Luca’s question, Dojin quickly pulled away. Cold sweat had instantly formed.“I’m fine, but…”For some reason, he couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling.It was the next moment when he felt an unpleasant sensation of emptiness in his hand.‘No way.’He thought he heard a plop, like something falling into the water, when he flailed his arms. Dojin quickly patted his trouser pocket.“It’s not… there.”“What is?”“…The keys.”Dojin looked at his hand in dismay. Lost keys wouldn’t miraculously reappear.“Hold on, Mr. Orsini. Please stop the boat. No, go in reverse, please.”“If the keys fell into the sea, they would have sunk.”“Just go back a bit, please. They might not have sunk too deep yet. Please, my keys from my previous place are still there.”He wasn’t thinking straight. He was still paying rent for his previous apartment, which was still under contract.‘This is a disaster.’Replacing the lost keys would be a matter of pure luck. They weren’t insured, and he had heard countless times from his previous landlord that the keys couldn’t be copied, making him even more desperate.“Okay, calm down.”Luca’s low and firm voice oddly reassured him. Dojin watched Luca slowly turn the boat. The sea looked inky black, like layers of pitch.‘Because it’s such a bright color.’Dojin tried to calm his anxiety and opened his eyes wide. The boundless sea made it hard to gauge distance. Turning his head back and forth, Dojin spotted a small yellow object.“There!”A duck. A bright yellow rubber bath duck was floating there.Dojin tapped Luca’s arm insistently.“There, over there! That yellow… duck.”“Duck?”Dojin didn’t respond, feeling self-conscious.‘He gave it to me, so what if I use the keychain?’In this situation, it was actually helpful. Without it, he might have had to replace someone else’s door. So there was nothing to be embarrassed about using the duck keychain Luca had given him. Absolutely nothing awkward about it.…Though he didn’t know why his lips were dry.“I’ll turn off the engine for a moment. The boat seems to be pushing it further away.”Luca steered the boat closer to the floating duck and then stopped the engine.At first glance, it didn’t seem too far, but it was just out of reach for Dojin.Even the seemingly calm sea had ripples. The rubber duck, heedless of Dojin’s groping, floated a bit further away.“Wait.”A large hand touched Dojin’s chest. With perfect grace, Luca extended his arm. With his long arm, he easily picked up the rubber duck keychain. Keys dangled below the silly duck-shaped keychain.“Th-thank you.”This time, he was genuinely grateful. The landlord’s warnings about replacing all the building’s locks if the keys were lost flashed through his mind, making him feel dizzy with relief.As Dojin reached out with both hands, Luca didn’t hand over the keys.“Dojin’s taste.”Instead, he held the keychain up to the moonlight as if appraising a jewel.“Not that bad.”It seemed off to say that about a keychain he had gifted. It didn’t sound like something a man who dealt in multi-billion-dollar artworks would say about a rubber duck keychain and a few keys.“Are you serious?”“Yes, absolutely.”With that, Luca dropped the keys into Dojin’s palm. As Luca’s gaze lingered on the silly duck keychain, Dojin quickly clenched his hand around it.‘Why is he like this?’Despite his thoughts, Dojin was grateful for the darkness. At least his ears, burning without reason, wouldn’t be visible.“Shall we rest a bit?”“Pardon?”“It’s been a while since I piloted a boat, and I’m tired. I’d also like to see those amazing stars.”There was no time to respond. Luca grabbed a blanket he had set aside and lay down where Dojin had been. Despite his long legs, he seemed comfortable.“Well… alright then.”Since he was the only one who could steer the boat, there was nothing to be done.Dojin took a seat near the controls. He couldn’t help but notice Luca’s prominent nose.‘He looks good even lying down.’It was a simple observation. Half-reclining with his arms supporting him, Luca looked undeniably elegant.The moonlight softly illuminated Luca Orsini’s profile, revealing some delicate details.Pale but lush eyelashes, eyes that turned a darker shade of green in the dim light, cheeks that looked cool as if holding a hint of frost. It was an unreal face turning toward the sea.“The sea looks like an oil painting at this moment.”His pleasing voice blended with the soft sounds of the small waves. It wasn’t a profound statement, but Dojin’s throat tightened. Without replying, Dojin turned his gaze to where Luca was looking.The sea viewed from the center was eerily black.The moonlight broke into white shards on the surface, and the waves layered and disappeared as if painted with multiple brush strokes.Just as Luca said, the night sea looked like a roughly painted oil painting.Dojin was about to agree when Luca raised his chin.“Don’t you think?”Ah.Dojin’s breath caught.