"Got it, Boss."
The drive wasn’t that long.
It only took a minute before Luna’s car slowed down, turning toward a modest yet stylish building. In front of the building was a banner with words announcing the opening of the exhibit on it.
"It seems like this is it, Boss." Daniel parked the car just beside Luna’s. "Do you want me to wait in the car?"
Gray adjusted his cuffs and nodded once.
"Yeah. I don’t think we will be long."
"Don’t worry about me. Take your time, boss," Daniel muttered with a knowing grin, leaning back in his seat.
For months that they have been working together, the two have naturally become closer to each other.
Gray shook his head and just ignored the remark. He looked at his reflection for the last time before stepping out of his car. The air around the building was cooler because of all the trees planted around.
Up ahead, Luna had just gotten out of her car, too. She spotted him instantly, her smile returning as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"You made it," she said warmly.
"Of course." A small smile appeared on his lips as he walked toward her. "Go on, lead the way."
And just like that, they entered the gallery side by side.
The moment they stepped inside, the air changed. It was quiet, but not in an empty way. It was more like the kind of calmness because people chose to lower their voices out of respect for the arts.
The gallery was bright. The walls were painted white, so the colors of the paintings could stand out even more. Soft lights also hung from above, shining on each piece.
A few groups of people were already there, walking slowly from one artwork to another. Some held glasses of wine in their hands, while others just stood still, looking closely at the details. The sound of faint background music filled the space. It created a gentle atmosphere.
Gray roamed his eyes around. He wasn’t much of an art person, but he could tell there was something special about the place. It was carefully arranged, almost like every painting had its own story to tell.
"This way, Gray," Luna muttered. Her voice was softer now, as if she were matching the calmness around them. She walked a little ahead, and Gray followed closely from behind.
Not long after, a young woman approached them. She had short dark hair. She had chinky eyes and a soft little nose. Her skin was fair, and she almost looked youthful. She wore a light dress that was simple yet elegant. Her face lit up instantly the moment she saw Luna.
"Luna! You came!" the woman’s voice sounded. She sounded so surprised that she even ran a little to meet Luna. When they met, she gave her a quick hug.
"Of course I did," Luna chuckled before hugging her back. "I wouldn’t miss it! You’ve worked so hard for this." She turned slightly and motioned toward Gray. "By the way, this is my friend, Gray. Gray, this is Mia, the artist behind all of this."
"It’s nice to meet you. Congratulations on the exhibit." Gray extended his hand politely.
Mia’s eyes widened a little, then she smiled, shaking his hand firmly.
"Thank you. I’m glad you came. Please, feel free to look around. I hope you enjoy the pieces."
Mia tilted her head slightly as she studied Gray. Her eyes stayed on him for a moment, then suddenly, it hit her.
"Wait," she said, almost in awe. "Aren’t you that popular businessman who’s been making a name on the internet lately?"
Gray blinked, caught off guard by the sudden question. He wasn’t expecting anyone here, especially an artist at her own exhibit, to recognize him that way.
For a second, he hesitated, unsure how to respond. But then, he can’t deny it either.
"Well..." he rubbed the back of his neck, "I wouldn’t really call it like that. But yeah, I’m that... I guess."
Mia let out a small laugh, her eyes narrowing more with curiosity.
"You’re being humble, I see. But I’ve definitely heard about you. I guess..." She paused, her smile growing. "It should be my pleasure to meet you, then."
Gray shook his head lightly, lips curling into a faint smile. "No need to put it that way. I’m the one who should be saying that. This is your day, after all."
Mia chuckled, "Well, either way, I’m glad you’re here. Please, make yourself at home."
With that, she excused herself to welcome another guest, leaving Gray and Luna to themselves again.
As Mia excused herself to greet another guest, Luna glanced at Gray with a small grin.
"She’s been preparing for this for months. I’m really proud of her."
Gray nodded, letting his eyes drift to the nearest painting. Her hard work is really evident. The strokes on the paintings were bold and colorful, nothing like the usual calm landscapes he expected.
Even though he wasn’t familiar with art terms, he could feel something from it. It was like the canvas itself was alive with energy.
"You can tell she put herself into it," he muttered quietly.
Luna, standing just beside him, smiled at his words. "Yeah. I know. That’s exactly what makes her work different. Mia doesn’t just paint what she sees around. She paints what she feels."
"I can see that," he admitted.
After staying in the same place for minutes, they decided to walk to the next piece. Their steps were unhurried. The next painting showed a woman’s silhouette against a wide horizon. It was simple, but the figure seemed almost hopeful, as if she were satisfied even if alone in the world.
"This one..." Luna whispered, her voice softer now. "She told me it was about freedom. About finding the courage to step out of your cage."
Gray’s lips parted slightly.
"I like it," he finally said. "It feels... honest."
Luna glanced at him from the side, her expression gentler than before.
"You surprise me, Gray. I didn’t think you’d actually connect with the art."
He chuckled under his breath. "Neither did I." Then, after a pause, he added, "Maybe I just needed someone to explain it to me."