She loves it. I can tell.

I try not to smile too broadly as I move out of the way, so that she can enjoy the view unobstructed.

I wait for her to notice the precise detail I’d put in. This piece had taken me much longer than usual. I wanted to make sure it was perfect when she saw it.

I look down at Seo-yun, her eyes are wide open and her mouth has formed a perfect “O” as she drinks in my art. I feel my pride swell as she remains staring, unable to take her eyes off my masterpiece.

“What?” She gasps in a deep breath. “Is that… is that..? Is that my birthmark?”

I don’t have to turn around to know what she is talking about.

Seo-yun has a tiny fish-shaped birthmark on her ribcage, just below her left breast. It had taken me awhile to get the exact shape and colour correct, but I was able to match it to perfection.

I wait for her to compliment my attention to detail, for her to tell me how flattered she is to have such a beautiful mural of her on my wall.

I wait. I wait.

She opens her mouth, and I smile in anticipation.

Then she turns to the side and throws up all over the floor. I stand stunned as she retches again and vomits out the contents of her stomach, some of it splashing onto my pants.

**Hahaha. I told you. You fool. She hates you.**

“Shut up. Just keep quiet.” I say, holding back tears.

She looks up at me, thinking I’m speaking to her.

“What do you think of my artwork?” I ask, knowing I won’t like her answer.

**Are you stupid? Of course she hates it! She just barfed in disgust.**

I ignore him as I wait for Seo-yun to answer my question. She opens her mouth to speak, but then she stops and shakes her head, as if deciding something.

“It’s…it’s uncannily accurate.” She says.

She forcibly removes her eyes from the painting and focuses her gaze on her lap.

I feel my heart swell at the compliment. It takes all of my self control not to burst out into delirious laughter.

**Oh. Will you look at that? She actually likes it. Maybe you were right about this one. She’s not like the others. Hehehe.**

For once I’m in agreement with Brendon.

“You’re right, Brendon.”

**Aren’t I always?**