Chapter 36

36

* * * *

“Big brother? Are you asleep?”

“I just fell asleep.”

“Did you eat breakfast before going to bed? Did you and Seok eat breakfast?”

A muffled voice, as if water had entered the ear, came from outside.

As he listened to the murmuring voice tickling his ears, the voices gradually began to distinguish themselves.

Three people. The conversation was between three people. Father. Mother. Kang Chae-young. Kang Seok slowly lifted his eyelids.

It was already morning.

It seemed like he had just fallen asleep, but the dark dawn had already turned into a bright morning. How long had he slept? Kang Seok got up from the foldable bed where he had been lying. His body ached with muscle pain.

It seemed that working until just before dawn had taken its toll on his body. I wish my strength and muscles would build up quickly. Swallowing his regret, Kang Seok got up from his bed.

The first thing his eyes fell on was the statue of the vine owl, covered by an opaque white cloth. It seemed that his father, Kang Hyun-do, had placed it there to prevent dust from settling on it.

“Where did Dad go?”

“To check the mailbox.”

“Chae-young. Can you bring some rice from the rice cooker in the inner room?”

“Sure.”

Kang Seok looked at the cloth, which was draped over the statue like a slingshot, and slowly moved his steps. The voices were becoming clearer.

Click.

“Good morning.”

Holding the doorknob, Kang Seok bowed his head as he stepped out. At the same time, Baek Myung-hee, who had unexpectedly received a morning greeting, turned her head in surprise.

“Already up?”

Baek Myung-hee looked at Kang Seok with a worried expression. It seemed even more so because she had just heard that he had just fallen asleep.

Kang Seok’s gaze dropped. Her hand was holding a stack of side dishes, suspended in mid-air.

“You could have slept more. It’s still early to prepare breakfast.”

“No, I’ve slept enough.”

Kang Seok stretched and looked around the desk. A glass peony he had made was placed in a vase made by his mother. Why is this here? I thought I saw her take it home.

“I didn’t want to keep it just at home.”

Kang Seok’s gaze was directed at the glass peony, and Baek Myung-hee spoke as if humming. She stroked the glass peony, as if not accepting any objections.

“Isn’t it too beautiful?”

Kang Seok’s expression was blank at Baek Myung-hee’s words. It was true that he had managed to make a decent peony, but honestly, it was still lacking.

If someone were to point out the flaws in this glass peony, he could immediately list about 13 of them.

However, Kang Seok tightly closed his mouth. If his mother is happy, isn’t that enough? He thought. I’ll have to give it as a gift again later.

While making this resolution, Kang Chae-young, who was moving the rice, approached Kang Seok from behind with quick steps.

Thinking he might get in the way of placing the rice, he moved to the side, and Kang Chae-young followed closely behind. After repeating this a couple of times, he couldn’t help but ask.

“Why? What? Why?”

Why are you doing this? There’s no sign of the tray falling from her hands. Kang Seok looked down at Kang Chae-young. She had a face like a squished rice cake and narrow eyes, and she looked up at Kang Seok.

“Hey, Kang. Take care of your body, okay? You know, Mom and Dad worry about you every day. Health is wealth, right? Wealth. A person with the surname Kang and the name Seok told me this... Do you remember?”

“I’ve already quit the gym.”

“...Gym? The one near our house?”

“Yeah.”

Kang Chae-young pouted. She seemed at a loss for words, as he had even quit the gym.

“Anyway, now that the statue is complete, you won’t have to stay up all night for a while.”

And it’s almost time for school to start.

Kang Seok swallowed his words and turned to Baek Myung-hee, intending to ask if there was anything he could help with. At that moment, his phone, which he had carelessly stuffed in his pocket, reminded him of its presence.

It was Professor Min-hyuk. It wasn’t a dream. Kang Seok recalled. He thought it was a dream, but he must have sent a text message in a half-asleep state.

Kang Seok smiled faintly. He tried to complete it as quickly as possible, but it took quite a while. Hoping it wasn’t too late, Kang Seok put his phone back down.

Just as he was about to put it in his pocket, the phone vibrated again. Confused by the buzzing sound, Kang Seok picked up his phone.

The name on the screen was Park Ji-yeop.

Ah, has so much time passed? Living in a blur of day and night while working, he hadn’t even noticed the time passing. Just as Kang Seok was about to reply that he was available anytime, the front door jingled and moved.

“The health check-up results are in.”

It was Kang Hyun-do who entered, holding four white envelopes in his hand. They were the results of the comprehensive health check-up.

Events were piling up.

* * * *

“The weather is nice.”

“We’re at school on such a day.”

“What’s wrong with that? Otherwise, Mr. Kwon, you could have gone for a walk on the trail behind the school.”

The clear sky, with rare fluffy clouds floating in the winter, was bright. The office of Cheonghua High School of Arts was bustling with people.

Seoul Cheonghua High School of Arts.

In line with its prestigious name, the school was focused on implementing a glamorous and revolutionary curriculum, as demanded by the board of directors. This situation arose as teachers, regardless of whether they were specialized or general subject teachers, came to school to coordinate the schedules for each grade.

The office was so busy that it was hard to believe they had just held a graduation ceremony. It was so busy that it could have been the beginning of the semester.

The reason Jeong Byung-kwon, who usually stayed in the sculpture studio, was dragged out was the same. Thud. Thud. While organizing the schedule for the grade exhibitions, specialized class times, and evening lesson times for each major, Jeong Byung-kwon inserted the documents.

It was already lunchtime.

What to eat? Jeong Byung-kwon’s gaze dropped. The topmost document was a makeshift schedule for the 3rd-grade 1st-semester specialized lessons.

3rd grade, 1st semester.

– “I think it would be better for Seok to prepare for the college entrance exam during the after-school lesson time, starting from his third year.”

The words he had reluctantly spoken in December came to mind. The emotions in Seok’s eyes on that day were vividly recalled. Giving up. On that day, Seok gave up on art.

Because of me.

Jeong Byung-kwon’s lips were pressed into a straight line. Was it the right choice? I don’t know. Jeong Byung-kwon quietly smoothed the paper. Seok, who always approached his classes diligently even when there were no immediate results, was drawn on the paper.

Just as Jeong Byung-kwon’s expression was about to twist, the office door was rudely and violently opened.

The entrance was far from quiet, and everyone’s gaze turned to one side. The person who entered was Ko Doo-han.

Ko Doo-han, the teacher in charge of drawing in the art department.

Ko Doo-han was a well-known talent at Cheonghua High School of Arts. His career was long enough to be considered a veteran. As he entered, everyone in the office, without exception, stood up to greet him.

“Mr. Ko. You’re here.”

“Mr. Ko. It’s been a while.”

“What brings you here today?”

“Are you here to work on the schedule?”

And the same was true for Jeong Byung-kwon.

“Hello.”

“Good morning, everyone. I’m here for this.”

Ko Doo-han lifted and lowered the items in his hands like dumbbells. It was a book. All the teachers easily recognized what it was. An exhibition catalog. It was clearly Ko Doo-han’s personal exhibition catalog.

It’s already that season.

“Take one each.”

With Ko Doo-han’s heavy voice, the teachers, who had been sitting, got up and moved forward.

Ko Doo-han’s personal exhibition, used as a means to nurture promising young artists with solid fundamentals, was always bustling with new artists.

Because of this, it was a highly polarizing exhibition. However, it was still very popular.

Regardless, the teachers at Cheonghua High School of Arts viewed such efforts positively. Not just the teachers at Cheonghua High School of Arts, but even the board of directors liked it very much.

As a result, for nearly five years, Ko Doo-han’s personal exhibition had become a mandatory annual event for the teachers, like a school event.

At that moment, Joo Sa-rang approached Ko Doo-han without hesitation and took a catalog.

Joo Sa-rang quickly flipped through the pages, looking for something, and then beamed.

“Seok’s work is here. I have to go see it.”

“That’s a good piece. It will look even better in person.”

“...Really? It already looks good.”

“What do you feel?”

“I’m not sure. But I can tell one thing. It’s not an ordinary drawing. ...”

“Is that so? By the way, have you talked to Seok about it?”

“What do you mean?”

As Joo Sa-rang spoke, Jeong Byung-kwon, who was moving to get a catalog, tilted his head. If he hadn’t misheard, it sounded like they were talking about Seok. Was there another Seok at the school besides the one I knew?

Jeong Byung-kwon couldn’t hide his puzzled expression and slowly took a step forward.

“Tell him to change his major to Western painting.”

“Oh.”

At that moment, Joo Sa-rang, who had been looking at Jeong Byung-kwon with eyes that seemed to let in no light, turned her gaze towards him. For a moment, Jeong Byung-kwon felt as if he was staring directly into her pitch-black eyes, but her gaze quickly turned away.

“That’s Seok’s decision. I think he’ll do well no matter what he does.”

“Is that so?”

“You didn’t see Seok plastering a wall for a fresco. I thought there was some kind of on-site ace here.”

“Is that so? Well, that’s up to you. Anyway, if you’re going to be in the exhibition, you should come on the opening day.”

“Why?”

Joo Sa-rang, still holding the catalog, turned her head towards Ko Doo-han. In the meantime, Jeong Byung-kwon reached out to take a catalog.

Trying to ignore the strange feeling of being watched by Joo Sa-rang and Ko Doo-han, Jeong Byung-kwon picked up a catalog when...

“Ryu Su-hyun will be there that day.”

“Ryu Su-hyun? Who is that?”

“The person in charge of the high school mural project. He seems to be a section chief in the Cultural and Arts Division. Anyway, he seems to have some plans, so you might want to come and see.”

“Really?”

If he was a section chief in the Cultural and Arts Division of the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, he would be a 4th-grade civil servant. Moreover, if he was in charge of the high school mural project, he wouldn’t be a local section chief. Joo Sa-rang started to think about adjusting her schedule.

Can’t miss this. Whether it’s reputation or money, one of them is definitely guaranteed in a national project.

While Joo Sa-rang was thinking, Jeong Byung-kwon stepped back, as it had nothing to do with him. He just needed to put a bouquet of flowers somewhere and clap a few times and leave.

Just as he was turning to leave, Ko Doo-han spoke to his back.

“Mr. Jeong, are you coming that day?”

“Huh?”

Why ask me specifically? Jeong Byung-kwon turned around and looked at Ko Doo-han.

He had no intention of going, but Jeong Byung-kwon and Ko Doo-han didn’t have much interaction. Not knowing the reason for the sudden question, Jeong Byung-kwon tilted his head.

At that moment, Ko Doo-han’s characteristic crooked smile flew towards Jeong Byung-kwon.

“Since your student’s work is being exhibited, wouldn’t it be good to see it?”

“...My student?”

Why is my student in Mr. Ko’s personal exhibition?

Ko Doo-han didn’t run separate specialized lessons or classes at the school, but he knew the Cheonghua High School of Arts graduates who joined his group during the drawing classes.

And their works often appeared in Ko Doo-han’s personal exhibitions. However, none of them were Jeong Byung-kwon’s students.

Jeong Byung-kwon was a sculpture major.

“Maybe... a misunderstanding...”

“Do you not know? Seok is participating in Mr. Ko’s personal exhibition this time.”

“Seok?”

There was only one person with the name Seok and who was his student. Kang Seok.

Why is Kang Seok’s name coming up here? Jeong Byung-kwon looked at Joo Sa-rang in confusion.

At the same time, his eyes met Joo Sa-rang’s pitch-black eyes, which seemed to let in no light. Joo Sa-rang, who had been watching Jeong Byung-kwon from the beginning, showed no sign of surprise at the sudden eye contact.

“I was really curious. Did Mr. Jeong really tell Seok to quit art? I heard the rumor was widespread.”

Why? Why? Joo Sa-rang tilted her head.

At the same time, a few art and practical subject teachers turned their gazes