Summer.

Red, yellow, orange.

Still nothing change.

Blue, rays, bliss.

For Jeongyeon there is.

Jeongyeon had eighteen summers in life, she wonders what her nineteenth will be like.

Honestly, she didn't expect that her summer would be like this. Running away from her family, moving somewhere else, working a job, and meeting this ebullient girl that became a part of her summer and maybe (she hopes but not really aware) also in this autumn season, Mina.

Fall.

Red, yellow, orange, brown.

Leaves descending to the ground.

This lively girl's grey life,

Are becoming so, so bright.

Mina maybe be cheerful on the outside but she's alone. Her parents died early, she had no one to lean on. She couldn't hear the melody of life, she couldn't feel the rythm, and couldn't see the notes. Thankfully, she has now friends by her side: Momo, Sana, Jihyo, and Dahyun. When they came to her life, leaves were starting to grow again. Life's becoming harmonious. Unlike the colors of the music manuscript,-black and white-she's now starting to see colors.

And it's very, very pretty.

Youth.

Oh how sweet.

But for these two, were they?

Maybe. Maybe not.

One who lives for art,

One who's still living because of music.

Them who decided to stay,

Their passion is to thank.

Oh how pure and innocent.

Will their life be magnificent?

...

"Mina? Are you there?"

"Jeongyeonnie‽"

"Mina..."

"Yes? Is there a problem?"

"Why is it dark? Why is the light off? Can you turn it on, please?" Mina remained silent. Stupefied, wanned, down in the dumps.

"Hey, why aren't you saying anything? You're the talkative Mina, right?" Feeling forlorn, feeble, and woe, Jeongyeon's tears were threatening to fall.

"Jeongyeonnie..." Mina holds her hands, tears falling from eyes. "Jeongyeonnie..." She repeats.

"Mina-yah," Jeongyeon said it so softly yet Mina felt something sharp pierced through her chest. "Please tell me you're just playing around, just like what you always do." Mina couldn't say anything, her mouth was sewn shut and body was paralyzed.

∆∆∆

Now, school is starting. College life is waving. Mina prepares for tomorrow for as she's coming back to school.

"Argghhh... Why did the past two months felt seconds?" She groaned. She lazily help herself up and get to prepare her things, and of course, her dearest violin.

The next day, she woke up early albeit forcedly. She and her friends went to school altogether.

"Hello, students. I'm Jin Young Park, your music teacher for the whole semester. I believe some of you already know me because of the summer class." Everyone became silent as he walked in. "You're here at my class because I know you want to learn. So, I expect you to be active in my class. Is that all clear?" The students nod their head.

Time have passed and so many things changed especially for Jeongyeon. She's still trying to register in her mind that she's here in an art room, holding her favorite brush, listening to her professor's teaching.

"No you're not studying art. It's a waste of time. And what it will benefit you, huh?"

"But I love painting, dad." Jeongyeon tried not to raise her voice.

"Why don't you just listen to your dad?" Her mom chimed in. "Look at your sisters." She pointed them while glaring at Jeongyeon.

Tzuyu and Chaeyoung only stared at them in silence.

"Tzu, Chae." She approached them with a reassuring smile. She placed her arm at their shoulder. "Why don't we go out? Change your clothes first and wait for me. Don't worry about mom and dad, it's just a little argument." She said as she walked them upstairs.

Jeongyeon shakes her head, trying to get it out of her mind.

"I know school's just starting but I'll give you an assignment." Her classmates groaned at the announcement.

Their professor chuckled. "Don't worry it's just easy." But the students don't believe it. "Hey, what's with the long face?"

Of course, there would be cases like this; a kind teacher but would give you lots of activities.

"Ok this is what will you do." Their professor clasp his hands. "You'll go in this exhibition," He said as he point the location presented at the board. "I want you to pick an artwork. Then, explain why did you choose it."

"Oh, then that's super easy." A student said.

"I'm not done talking yet because there's a catch. I want you to pick the worst artwork you think that was displayed there and explain why." Students start to murmur and some complained. "This is the rubric," He showed the next slide. "And the deadline for this is next week. You'll just tell it here in front and I'll ask you questions, and you'll give me the hard copy of your work. That's all, goodbye class."

After school, Jeongyeon just went back to her abode to rest before going to the exhibition, thankfully, there's still enough time.

But as she stepped in her apartment, she was encountered by Nayeon who's sitting on couch and watching TV, feeling herself home.

Jeongyeon let out a sigh and that made Nayeon felt her presence.

"Jeongie!" The older greeted her, sitting up.

"Why are you here? And why are you calling me like that?"

"I'm bored." Nayeon cheekily smile.

"You don't have any assignments or anything to do or be with your girlfriend?"

"I do have tasks to do." The older sit back to the couch and lies down, darting her eyes back to the TV. "You don't know what procrastinating is?" She nonchalantly said as if it's normal for her. Well, it is.

"And Momo said she's busy." There's a hint of sadness in her eyes.

Jeongyeon sits with her and sighed again.

"So, how's your first day?" Nayeon tilts her head to the girl besides her, waiting for an answer but of course, Jeongyeon just stared at her.

"Yeah, yeah. Just a normal day?" Nayeon rhetorically asked. "Your life is boring." She leaned on the couch. "You need something perky in your life." Jeongyeon rolled her eyes at her.

The younger stood up and makes her way to the door making Nayeon puzzled.

"Jeongie! Where are you going?" The younger ignored her and continues her way.

Nayeon stood up, turned off the TV, and follows Jeongyeon.

The younger still ignores her and let the older walk besides her.

She wants to finish this assignment of hers quickly even though it's deadline is next week. Sure, very opposite of Nayeon.

"I can't believe you! You can just do it next week and just rest." The older gasped at her, eyes widening.

"Yeah and many tasks will be given to us." Jeongyeon rolled her eyes again. "Rest now and eventually, you'll forget about it."

"You're doing it a week before... Mine? I do it a minute before deadline." Nayeon casually shrugged. "That 11:59 pm?" She clicks her tongue, shaking her head.

...

After some time, they eventually arrived at the exhibition.

"Woah, the artworks here are beautiful..." Nayeon was astound.

"So, what?" She looks at Jeongyeon. The younger looks at her confused.

"What will you do here? Find some inspirations? Or find the best artwork here..?"

"Actually, it's the opposite." said Jeongyeon.

Nayeon nods her head in understanding, she wonders her eyes, looking for 'this artwork' for Jeongyeon.

"What about that artwork?" She pointed a dull-looking, piece of an art. Jeongyeon shook her head in disagreement. Nayeon pursed her lips, and starts to eye every piece at the exhibition.

"What about this one?" She approached the artwork. It's colorfully weird. Again, Jeongyeon shook her head.

For the next minutes, it turned to a cycle; Nayeon travels every inch of the place, spotting an illustration, telling her opinion and asking for Jeongyeon's, then the younger would differ, then finds another painting they're looking for, and repeat.

The older stopped walking making Jeongyeon stopped too. She exasperatedly sigh.

"We've been walking around here. Finding that 'worst' artwork is very, very, very hard." She pants. "Let's stay here for awhile, I'm tired."

"I didn't ask you to go with me." Jeongyeon blatantly said. Nayeon crossed her arms and squints her eyes at her 'friend'. The younger only looks at her blankly.

In the end, they went back home, Jeongyeon tired of hearing Nayeon's whines. But before that, the older protest that they need to be finished but the younger said she's also tired─which is not true, because she just want Nayeon to go home and she knows that the older is tired and needs rest. She helped a lot, stating opinions, judgment, and her viewpoint which are also useful for Jeongyeon. So, she's grateful for her, but of course she won't say it out loud at Nayeon.

°°°

A week have passed and it's the day of their deadline. Students look like they were from a war, eyes are sleepy, muscles are tired.

"Ok next... Yoo Jeongyeon."

The girl stood up and walked to the front, giving the hard copy to their prof.

Their prof looks confused, eyebrows furrowing. "Why is this plainly white and blank?" He asked.

"I gave you a week yet you couldn't do it?" It's obvious that he's getting angry.

"Sir Lee," Jeongyeon starts. The students are scared for her because of the atmosphere. "I finished my homework."

Mr. Lee tilts his head to side. "Then, can you please explain your empty work?" He raised the paper submitted by Jeongyeon.

"I can, sir."

"Then," Mr. Lee smirks, amused by this student of him. "Please go ahead."

Jeongyeon mentally sigh but she's not scared nor intimidated by their professor's glare.

"The reason why my work's empty because there's no worst artwork displayed there." She averted her gaze from her classmates to her teacher.

"Elaborate it." He crossed his arms, challenging the girl.

"If there's a 'worst' illustration there, then why in the first place did they publicly displayed it in the exhibition?" She rhetorically asked, accepting the challenge, and still with her usual stern look.

"And I believe that there's no bad artwork made by a genuine, passionate, and aspiring artist, nay an ordinary person," She shrugged her shoulder. "if they're satisfied and happy about it."

"Ok, thank you for that." Mr. Lee held his pen and writes something. "What's your name again? Yoo Jeongyeon?" The girl nodded. "Just so you know, don't expect a high grade because I like your answer. It's unfair for those students who did an effort."

Jeongyeon sit back and went back to listening as if nothing happened, as if it didn't leave a bad impression at her professor (though, she doesn't care).

Maybe her answer at their teacher is the longest thing she ever said since Pierre died. Actually, it is (so far).

The bell rang and students get to pack their things.

As Jeongyeon's walking down the hallway, someone unfamiliar called her.

"Ms. Yoo!" But she disregard the shout calling her.

"Ms. Yoo Jeongyeon!" A girl jumped on her, putting her arms around her shoulder.

"You're the student whose assignment was blank, right?" Jeongyeon removed the said girl's arms around her. "Sorry." The girl apologized.

She went in front of her making the two of the them stops. "By the way, I'm Jennie." She raised her hand but Jeongyeon didn't accept it and walk away.

Jennie went in front of Jeongyeon again and received a death glare. Though, she was unfazed and just smiled it off.

"You probably don't know me because you don't care about your surroundings." If Jeongyeon wasn't intimidated by their professor, then Jennie wasn't intimidated by Jeongyeon herself. "Anyway, I'm your classmate and now a fan of yours." She casually said.

The girl who's younger walked pass through her again, not caring about her. Jennie turned her back and walks besides her. 'She's like Nayeonnie.'; She annoyingly thought.

"You're cool earlier." Jennie complimented, keeping up with Jeongyeon's pace because she's walking fast trying to run away from her.

It seems like Jeongyeon is getting surrounded by this people and she can't escape it. Maybe this is her fate when she moved in this city, if this is true, then she'll just unwillingly accept it for her sake.

Because in our lives, someone will enter and someone will go.

It's predictable yet unavoidable.

It's expected when Jeongyeon moved in the city-she'll meet new people. But, what will be their roles in her life? All Jeongyeon knows that these people here will play a part in changing her life.

Though, she doesn't know that there's someone who'll play a big role, not just by changing her life but also making it harmonious and melodious.

"Jeongyeonnie!" A dulcet voice called her.

That made her pause from entering her apartment, hands still on the door knob.

That word-her name from the caller-never fails to stop her in her tracks (unlike others).

That voice that always makes her tilt her head at that person.

This girl that always makes Jeongyeon unable to ignore.

"Mina?"

“Painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt, and poetry is painting that is felt rather than seen.”

- Leonardo da Vinci