TAE POV:

We step inside to the gallery, ears picking up on the low level of chatter, the sound of people moving around, low murmurs as the exhibition is about to begin. There's already a small crowd having formed and yet it's easily that I pick out Ryan from it, standing firm and tall with his mate towards a side, talking to her with his arm draped around her waist.

"Hyung over there!" I say, calling out to Jin hyung who nods, leading the path he weaves effortlessly through people- others parting to let us pass, maybe because of the natural aura a complete coven radiates or maybe something that Jin hyung naturally exudes; a sense of authority and power without even having to demand it.

I stay close to (Y/N), Kookie flanking her other side and Jiminie and the hyungs bringing up the rear, I realise unconsciously all of us have shifted around her, to form a circle of sorts as we walk forward, not wanting her to feel the uncomfortable brush of shoulders or rough motion of people quickly moving past- she's our baby mate and as such, it's an instinctual natural need that drives us to keep her in the centre, covered from all angles by us. And I can't stop darting admiring glances to her side profile, the natural beauty and appeal she's emanating, the way her body is poised and she seems to sense my stare, turning to shoot me a soft smile, rosy lips still slightly swollen and darkened, my eyes burning with satisfaction and pride at the sight, as well as a need to keep her covered from others. It's a mixed feeling, but even so I shift closer, her arm brushing against my side and reach out to lace our fingers together, feeling the way she squeezes reassuringly as well as gratefully; feeling a tinge of her being overwhelmed slightly radiate through the bond.

I make a mental note to stick close to her tonight and to make sure she's always with one of us.

That idea is extremely short-lived when Ryan and Deok-mi greet us with their customary friendly professionalism and yet have no qualms whatsoever to tug (Y/N) out of the protective circle and into their arms, Deok-mi fussing and cooing over her and pressing kisses to her cheeks and Ryan folding her carefully into his arms, causing her to giggle when he leans to whisper into her ear.

The fiery red that sears through my eyes and body is that feeling of him so close to her but I push it back knowing they share a history, have a past together and that he has every right to whisper in her ear and make her giggle, her sweet precious giggle...of course he does.

And yet it's almost immediate with how Joon hyung quickly folds her into his arms afterwards, nodding politely before we turn to enter the exhibition, the doors open slowly- excited anticipation mounting higher and higher like bubbles rising to the surface, close to bursting.

That giddy elation that comes with going to each of Amparo's exhibition, stepping into a dimly lit gallery hall- the only areas of strong light are to cast bright clear glows onto the artwork, everything else is in shadows. Immediately I can pick up that the theme of this exhibition is different, a more deeply rooted exploration of themselves. And as we all slowly walk towards each artwork, stop to take each of them in I feel the thick crashing waves of the emotion in each painting burst out, force everyone to come to a standstill as we look and I feel my heart ache and twist in pain as I look at each violent, bold stroke and lines on the canvas.

Each painting screams with anguish, screams with suffering and pain and feelings of hurt, being lost, drowning in the overwhelming nature of emotions. Each painting hits me like a strike to my body, the feeling of a knife driven in to the hilt- far more painful than the physical experience of it, I knew and could compare.

And I find that I naturally curve towards my mates- seek out comfort and reassurance in them, noting that I'm not the only one shaken by this exhibition. This exhibit of the rawest, most agonising memories Amparo has chosen to share with us, to share with the world. It feels like we're intruding on the most intimate and privates details of them, as if we have no right to intrude on their pain and their grievances.

My hand around Jiminie's arm goes tight, needing to feel him near me because the further we walk into the exhibit and look at each artwork, the more I feel myself tearing apart, feel the world under my feet become unsteady and wobbly. It's hauntingly captivating, the harsh beauty in each work and so incredibly devastating in how poignantly Amparo has captured a feeling, an expression in each curve of the brush, in each stroke of paint. Artworks full of shadows, dark colours, harsh lines and angles.

And yet I find myself at a standstill in front of a huge canvas which is entirely black save for the splash of white at the centre at the top and the way the black bleeds into a crimson red as it reaches the bottom. Three colours. And yet this is it. The one I find horrid memories of (Y/N) lying unseeingly on the ground and feel cold shivers wrack my body- feeling my heart twist in panic as I remember that night.

My head immediately darts around, eyes seeking her out in the darkness and failing to spot her figure.

"Jimin-ah, where's (Y/N)?" I ask urgently, tugging at the silky sleeve of his arm.

He turns, eyes glowing red and looking equally pained. He turns and shifts.

"Maybe with the hyungs, they stayed back at the other exhibits, or maybe with Kookie." He says trying to reassure me but he's already moving, trying to search for her in the darkness.

We're only halfway through the exhibit. And when we quickly assert that she's not there, we turn to step forward into the second half, seeing the way the lighting has turned into a soft glow- paintings softer and more delicate on this half as we turned the corner.

And there. I feel a massive weight lifted off my shoulders as I spot (Y/N) staring at a painting, alone, but engrossed in the large canvas in front of her.

Jiminie rushes forward, dragging me along as we take place on either side of her, and I have to touch her to confirm that she's actually there.

"Oh Tae, Minnie- you're the first ones out." She says softly, without turning.

But her shoulder is stiff where I've touched it.

I turn her face towards me, seeing the slightest look of red dancing through her eyes.

"What's wrong?" I ask softly.

She shakes her head.

"The first half...wasn't what I expected. It's so much pain and hurt, so I came out. To the second half instead. I prefer this half much more." She says, reassuring that she is fine and rather like me and perhaps the others too- has felt the emotional link Amparo has conveyed in their work.

I nod, acquiescing.

"The pain is agonising. Amparo is so strong, such a survivor. A warrior." I muse as I go to step behind her, looping my hands loosely around her waist- pressing a chaste kiss to the nape of her neck.

For how light the kiss had been, she still shivers, the sound pleasant and warming and cutting through the darkness the exhibit had created.

And it's mere minutes later that the others join us, a pale Kookie holding onto Yoongi hyung and Hobi hyung's characteristic warm smile dim as he stands in between Jin hyung and Joonie hyung.

Jin hyung lets out a sigh of relief when he spots the three of us, walking closer and it's clear that the others are relieved too.

"Ahh this half is so much more hopeful and brighter." Joon hyung comments, eyes alighting onto the piece we'd been standing in front of, noting that the colours of paint are soft and even the strokes are gentle and careful.

And this time we remain as a group of eight as we walk through this half, finding all the pain I'd felt conveyed across in the first half is diminished slowly with the optimism felt in the second half, the softness the canvases exude, radiating with this sense of belonging, of safety and of comfort.

We pause at the last canvas, the curve of a slender neck beaded attractively with crimson- forming a delicate sensual contrast; the canvas is appealing, something about the mixture of allure and safety it represents that suggests for Amparo the figure in the painting represented a sanctuary.

And as we step out, I come to realise what the exhibit stood for.

That after darkness comes light. That with pain there comes a balm. That there are two sides to something- the good and the bad, the coexistence of the two.

That's what the exhibition had truly been about.

(Y/N) POV:

I feel a sense of catharsis as we step out of the gallery, feeling a mixture of pain as well as relief- finally assured that displaying the paintings had been the right decision to make. That seeing and feeling the emotions of my mates had been confirmation that my message had gotten through, that the softened comprehending eyes of them as we'd stepped out had proved that my work had gotten its theme across.

It was a sort of healing for me, a solace it brought my soul that my pain was out there for people to see but so was my survival. I was here...proof that you could survive and keep on living.

It feels like a burden has been swept away and I smile knowing that to add the sudden change to the initial exhibition had been the right call.

Because Amparo didn't only show her pain, she showed her strengths too. The late nights painting and hiding this all from my mates had been worth it- glad that I'd gone through the stress of managing the exhibition but also creating the final pieces for it too.

And yet I want to get some fresh air, let the cool breeze waft over me and wash away the lingering feelings so carefully detach myself from Hobi oppa's hold- who'd clung onto me the moment we'd gotten out and was happily swaying the two of us.

He pouts cutely as I disentangle his arms.

"Where are you going?" he asks.

"The toilets. Why...need to come with me?" I tease, watching as he grins and shakes his head.

And the seven of them turn to look for someone, eyes busily scanning the open hall as I slip away. And yet when I do exit from the toilet, I find a familiar face beaming back at me. One starkly different and yet oh-so-familiar to the one I'd seen before. The young vampire from the last exhibition. And yet this time he looks physically healthier, there's a glow in him and his eyes are flashing red with happiness.

"Noona! It really is you!" he chirps.

I smile, feeling happiness as I see how he seems much happier and better than last time and yet the adorable shyness is still there when he asks tentatively if I'd like to go with him, mumbling about the place we'd talked at last time.

I nod, following him out where I find myself at the same place as last time, see the stars dotting the otherwise dark sky before turning to him.

"You're happier." I state, not questioning it for a single second.

He nods.

"I am noona. Because I remembered what you told me and took it to heart." he confesses, looking at me with a shy grin that coaxes a wide smile out of me.

"You told me I didn't need to live as a vampire but as myself. So I did." He says simply, turning to me with glowing eyes- satisfaction and content.

"I did, so how've you been finding it. How did you end up here again?" I ask, sitting on the same place I had last time, patting the space next to me and smiling when there's no hesitance this time.

"This time the exhibition was in the dark. It felt safer if I wasn't directly focused on the crowds. And it's been getting a bit better too." He confides.

I smile at how far he's come, how he's slowly and ever-so-slightly begun to fill in the once previous gangly frame.

"And you told me you'd root for me. That gave me strength." He adds.

I reach out to gently card fingers through his fair, feeling fondness and pride burst through me, fill me with a warm tingly feeling. He doesn't hesitate, leaning into the touch and he's still staring ahead when he speaks again.

"How are you finding being a vampire noona? You were human last time." he comments.

I feel a momentary spike of sheer blinding panic and fear but then it abates, disappearing just as quickly.

"Still getting used to it. But my mates are helping." I say.

He turns to face me, eyes briefly falling to the marks on my neck before rising- smiling at me.

"You'll be fine noona, because I'll be rooting for you." he says, echoing my words from all those months ago.

"Thank you..." I tail off realising I never knew his name.

He grins.

"Heeseung."

"(Y/N)." I reply.

----

He rises after a few minutes, holding out his hand to help me up, ducking his head bashfully.

"Such chivalry Heeseung-ah." I coo.

"I've got to go noona but take care. I hope we meet again." He says.

I nod.

"Of course, you even have my number now." I say. Then he dithers.

"Can I hug you?" he asks shyly.

And internally I melt over the sweetness of this boy, of someone who's learning to grow into the person he's meant to be.

I step forward to wrap my arms around him, hugging him- and smiling when his arms immediately come to reciprocate the hug.

But then he leans back, nose scrunching.

"Umm...I don't think your mates will like my scent on you." he says, a touch of fear in his voice.

"What do you mean?" I ask, head cocked.

"They've left trails of their scent on you, it's umm...quite strong around here." He gestures towards my face and neck before stepping back, cheeks flaming.

I feel my own cheeks burn with embarrassment and indignation.

"I'm sorry Heeseung-ah." I say, slightly flustered.

He shakes his head.

"See you noona." He says with a final wave.

And he's barely even disappeared from sight when a pair of arms wrap around me, startling me but the panic is abated with how their presence is welcoming and familiar.

I twist to face the person who's arms I'm in.

"Hey there little one." Joonie oppa greets warmly, tucking me close.

"Hey oppa." I greet, happily melting into his arms.

And then another body sandwiches me from behind.

The enthusiastic greeting kiss he gives the back of my head and the large hands that snake around my torso familiar.

"Hey Tae." I say, turning my head slightly.

"Hey jagi" he murmurs back.

And though I feel perfectly content between the two, happy to remain like this, we need to go home, because it's time I told them something.

"Let's go home." I say, feeling the vibration of Joonie oppa's affirmative press against my cheek.

Home. And then, I'll finally tell them.

Tell them that I'm Amparo.

(TA DA! THE GALLERY CHAPTER FINALLY HAPPENED!! SO DON'T KILL ME...AND LIKE (Y/N) SAID- THE NEXT CHAPTER WILL BE THE REVEAL AND BOY ARE YOU ALL READY! IS IT WEIRD IF I SAID I FELT WEIRD ABOUT REVEALING HER IDENTITY- THAT IT DOESN'T FEEL LONG ENOUGH EVEN IF WE'RE NEAR 90 CHAPTERS?! HAHA DON'T MIND ME, IT JUST MAKES ME FEEL SORTA SCARED AND NERVOUS AND EXCITED ABOUT IT ALL, AS I'M REVEALING MYSELF INSTEAD AND TO ALL YOU! PHEW IT'S EXHAUSTING FEELING THAT ON HER BEHALF! LET ME KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS MY LOVES AND WHETHER IT WAS A SUITABLE EXHIBITION- WHETHER IT GOT ACROSS WHAT I WAS TRYING TO! STAY SAFE AND ENJOY LOVES...AND I ACTUALLY CUT OFF A BIT OF TEASE FROM THE END OF THE CHAPTER- WHOOPS, SILLY ME HAHA!)

We spend our lives trying to live upto expectations, trying to fit a pre-existed image for us, trying to conform and make others happy but it's time we realise that we should live for ourselves and that if we don't fit a mould people have created for us, we shatter it and create our own shape and image.

Borahae! 💜💜💜

PurpleQueenie <3