Chapter 63

63

* * * *

The sun was red.

It was time to go home.

Squeak. After zipping up his bag, Gangseok turned around. Jo Dongbeom looked at the series of actions with a somewhat dazed expression. It felt like he was still dreaming.

What was it really?

Recalling Gangseok's butterfly drawing, Jo Dongbeom's face turned hazy again. The feeling of seeing a world he had never seen before. How could he forget that? It wouldn't go away.

Opening of the eyes.

A sensation like secretly peering into a new world.

If you experienced it, everyone would feel the same regret. The feeling of touching a world that was out of reach with the ordinary human structure was not something you could easily shake off.

The aftertaste lingered for a long time.

Jo Dongbeom's eyes looked at Gangseok's bag with a regretful expression. More precisely, they were looking at the drawing inside the bag. How nice it would be to see it again. Wait, didn't I come here to draw this butterfly?

– "I'm in charge of the major renovation at Yongshin Land this time."

– "Actually, what's more important is what happens after the renovation."

– "I'm thinking of decorating the abandoned building."

Although he hadn't said it clearly, the meaning was one.

"Master."

"Yes?"

"Are you thinking of using the butterfly drawing to decorate the abandoned building?"

"Hmm. The drawing... well, using butterflies is right. That's true, but..."

Gangseok frowned as he spoke. Since his facial expressions were usually not very clear, this revealed his feelings quite distinctly.

He doesn't like it.

Why doesn't he like it? Is it that he doesn't want to draw? He can't dislike drawing. Then, does he not want to draw butterflies? For example, if he planned to use butterfly drawings to decorate the abandoned building but found the butterflies too disgusting after seeing them, did he start to dislike drawing butterflies? Is that why he's frowning like this?

That can't be!

"Why are you doing that?"

I need to see the butterfly. My butterfly. My butterfly! Swallowing the cry in his heart, Jo Dongbeom looked at Gangseok with a desperate gaze. At the same time, Gangseok's mouth moved as if sighing.

"I'll probably be looking at the ceiling a lot this time. The environment is better than before, but I still can't stand it."

...What?

What time are you talking about?

Jo Dongbeom looked at Gangseok, who had just turned nineteen.

"Still, the world has really improved. Back in my day, we didn't even have lumbar support belts. Oh, was that all? We didn't have artificial tears either. What were goggles? If paint fell into your eyes, you just had to take it..."

Lumbar support belt? Goggles? Paint in the eyes? Jo Dongbeom's face turned blank as he listened to Gangseok's incredible life story. The butterfly drawing that had been floating in his mind had disappeared by early evening.

"...Back then, people would just stop and watch, and that old man would wave his cane, asking when I'd be done."

What kind of middle school days did you have? While listening to the tearful old story of his master, Jo Dongbeom matched his steps.

Under the red sky.

A space where earth and trees breathed, fitting for an ecological park. The shadows of the two stretched long on the deep brown ground.

"Are we going to the studio now?"

Gangseok's shadow, which was smaller than Jo Dongbeom's, stretched long and touched the old tree.

"No. I have an appointment."

"What kind of appointment?"

Gangseok's shadow scratched its head and then spoke the most appropriate word.

"...Dinner?"

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.

.

After the sun had completely set, in the evening.

The night sky, a mix of blue and indigo, like a palette of paint.

Gangseok walked through the bustling streets. It was the heart of Seoul. After parting ways with Jo Dongbeom, Gangseok walked alone, turning his head from side to side, looking for the meeting place.

"He said to find a big crab."

Where the hell is that crab? Narrowing his eyes, Gangseok looked around again. In the street covered with bright red, yellow, black, and white, finding a crab was not easy.

Then, at that moment.

Turning the corner of an alley, a restaurant with a bright blue paint job came into view, with a large red crab sign instead of a signboard. It was today's meeting place.

– "You must come. Eh?"

A few days ago, during the sketching class, Teacher Goduhan had walked around the easel a few times, emphasizing the meeting place as if picking a fight.

He said they were having a dinner with the seniors who graduated in February to celebrate the release of the human figure sketch collection. It was today. Gangseok, who suddenly had to attend the dinner, walked towards the door.

Now that the big projects are done, the renovation of the abandoned building hasn't finished yet, and today I plan to enjoy myself.

Thinking about the seniors who were now college students, Gangseok recalled their faces and opened the door.

"Is this water okay?"

"Yes, yes. We can bring it to you, but... sigh, the store suddenly got so busy."

"That's fine. I came to get it because it's more convenient for me. I'll take it. Thank you."

As soon as he entered, Gangseok saw a busy server and a bright blonde.

A tennis skirt with a university logo, excessively sparkling eyes, and red cheeks as if she had been drinking.

A familiar face, but in an unfamiliar outfit.

Why does she look so familiar? Just as he thought that, their eyes met. The blonde's eyes widened as if she had met an old friend.

"Seok-ah!"

The blonde turned her body completely towards him. Her front face, a bright smile. Recognizing her, Gangseok's mind searched through countless memories and found a matching face, and he slightly opened his mouth.

Ah.

It's Senior Yumiji.

– "First, Yumiji."

– "Yes!"

– "The colors are too bright, and the contrast is minimal, which could make it look flat, but I chose it because it captures a very feminine and delicate feel. It was selected based on its expressiveness and atmosphere, so don't be complacent and keep improving."

One of the three chosen for the final decision to publish the human figure sketch collection.

"It's been a long time. Really."

"It's been a long time, Senior."

"Call me 'Unnie' more casually. Yumiji Unnie, say it. Yumiji Unnie. Ah, this way. The teacher made a separate reservation."

"...Ah."

Avoiding her overly sparkling eyes, he turned his gaze. He was already at the door. Yumiji continued to pour out stories like a fountain.

She wasn't this proactive before, but it seems her personality completely changed after entering college.

"...So, I've been visiting Teacher Goduhan's studio a few times recently, but I haven't seen you. Are you not coming to the studio anymore?"

Her eyes sparkled with a hint of disappointment. Looking closely, she was wearing colored contact lenses. As she input a new image, Gangseok nodded.

"Yes. Well, I only went to the studio during the sketching project."

"Really? I'm disappointed. I thought I'd see you often."

Still, she said her goal was to join the Goduhan group, and it seems she's making progress. Gangseok casually brushed it off, saying they could meet again later, and followed Yumiji into the room.

"Today's star, Gangseok! Here he is!"

"You're here."

"Seok-ah...!"

"It's been a long time!"

Yumiji's exaggerated reaction was met with a warm welcome from the seniors, who were already used to it. The applause made it seem like Gangseok was the main event.

Didn't they say three people were chosen? Thinking about this, he looked for a seat, and someone calmly greeted him and gestured.

"There's a seat here."

Turning his head, he saw a calm male student with straight hair and glasses.

– "Second, Choi Youngtae."

– "Yes."

– "I chose it because the use of negative space and reflected light to create a sense of space was excellent. However, it's too sharp. Your drawings are all like knives, and even the human skin looks like a blade. Be careful."

– "Yes, I understand."

It was Choi Youngtae.

The last of the three chosen for the human figure sketch collection.

Still, this senior is the same as before, unlike Senior Yumiji. Feeling a strange sense of intimacy, Gangseok sat down in the indicated seat.

"Are you okay?"

"Excuse me?"

"Is the sculpture club at school bothering you? Are you okay?"

While pouring cola, Choi Youngtae pushed up his wire-rimmed glasses. The glasses, which had slipped down his nose, returned to their place. Sharp eyes were visible through the lenses.

Still, a sculpture club?

"I haven't really been bothered by them...?"

"Really?"

Choi Youngtae, with a strange expression, nodded casually. At that moment, Goduhan, sitting a few seats away, suddenly stood up.

"I bought it. If you don't like it, buy your own. Why are you making a fuss over someone else's things? Eh?!"

"Ah, Teacher, buying it before the book release is cheating."

"It's being released today."

"Ah, when are you going to the bookstore? I'm really exhausted from working late. I had to go to class this morning without even showering after drawing until dawn. Please, can you help me? Ah, Teacher. I really need the human figure sketch collection by Seok because I have so much sketching and drawing homework..."

"Buy it yourself."

"Ah, Teacher! I heard you bought more than ten copies as extras. Can you sell me one...?"

"Where are you going with this?"

Goduhan moved the human figure sketch collection in his arms, desperately trying to keep it from being taken.

Watching Goduhan, who was much older, fight over a book with a woman half his age, Choi Youngtae smiled.

"Your book has been causing a commotion since earlier. Everyone was looking at the actual copies and saying they had to buy them, while mine and Yumiji's were completely ignored."

Choi Youngtae and Yumiji looked at each other and laughed.

"Ah."

Gangseok turned to Choi Youngtae.

"Ah? Don't misunderstand. I'm a fan of yours too."

At the same time, Choi Youngtae took out a book. It was Gangseok's human figure sketch collection.

"I bought it on my way here because it's being released at the bookstore today."

Seeing Choi Youngtae proudly showing off the two copies he bought for collection and study, it felt strange. Looking around, he noticed that the seniors gathered for the dinner had placed bookstore shopping bags between their seats, and most of them had bought one or two copies of his book.

"Your book seems like it will be a hit this time?"

"Right. That's why everyone is buying a couple of copies before they run out."

"Right. There's someone at the bookstore now. It might sell out on the first day."

"Really? Hahaha."

While agreeing, Gangseok had a skeptical expression. There was no advertising, and it was a book that came out before the sculpture announcement, so it didn't even have the phrase "by sculptor Gangseok" on it.

Starting in obscurity, even a good book would find it hard to be a hit from the beginning. Of course, Gangseok wasn't doubting his own book.

But selling out on the first day?

Isn't that a bit too much?

Gangseok put a piece of sashimi in his mouth.

It melted gently.

* * * *

While Gangseok was tasting his first king crab at the king crab specialty restaurant. The principal of the sculpture academy [Land], Choi Yulmok, was attending a principal's meeting in Seogyodong.

"Then, let's decide on this and wrap up for today?"

It was about scheduling for the upcoming academy joint evaluation.

Usually, each franchise academy would gather and take the national joint evaluation together, but this time, there was a suggestion to have a joint evaluation among the Seogyodong academies, and they had been adjusting the schedule through several meetings over the past week.

"Let's do it that way."

"I agree."

The principals, who had roughly discussed the schedule, all wore expressions that, while not entirely satisfied, were content with the arrangement.

And that was the same for Choi Yulmok.

"Then, let's discuss the rest at the next meeting and wrap up for today."

"Agreed."

"Thank you for your hard work."

"Good job."

"Thank you."

As the principals subtly competed in their greetings, Choi Yulmok quickly gathered his notebook and pens containing the meeting content and stood up.

"Then, I'll go first."

Usually, there would be a competition to see who would stand up last, but Choi Yulmok's sudden movement surprised everyone.

"Where are you going?"

Unable to hold back, the principal of Seogyodong Green Island grabbed Choi Yulmok. It was a question of what was so urgent. Choi Yulmok, who was about to open the door and leave, turned to look at the Green Island principal.

Choi Yulmok's eyes were filled with anticipation, urgency, and annoyance.

"Ah... it's... "

How do I explain this? After a moment of thought, Choi Yulmok decided and spoke with a determined expression.

"One of my students is publishing a book this time."

"Ah, really?"

"Really? Which student?"

"Who is it?"

The principals pretended to know. The minds of the principals, who managed hundreds of students, recalled if there was a student among the teachers of the sculpture academy [Land] who could be called a student.

'Is he talking about the vice principal?'

'But isn't the vice principal close to the same age as Principal Choi Yulmok?'

'I heard he joined as a vice principal when the academies merged. Wasn't that vice principal originally from the Incheon academy?'

Hearing the whispers pretending not to know, Choi Yulmok waved his hand.

"No, I'm talking about a student who recently left the academy."

"Ah...?"

"Left the academy?"

A student who left the academy. Was he a part-time teacher or a student? The more they listened, the more confusing it was from the principals' perspective.

"Haha. Haha."

Choi Yulmok laughed, unable to hide his awkwardness. He was eager to see the human figure sketch collection published by Seok, but the conversation wouldn't end.

After some thought, Choi Yulmok, clutching his leather notebook and gritting his teeth, asked.

"If you're curious, do you want to come and see it together?"

Just let me go, whether you like it or not. Choi Yulmok spoke with a desperate tone.

.

.

.

And so, now.

The principals had all come on an outing to a large bookstore in the middle of the Seogyodong art academy street. With every step, students greeted them, making them look like a gang of hooligans.

On a burning Friday, young people who had come out to the Cheongdae street looked at the middle-aged men with curiosity.

"What? Who are these uncles that students are greeting?"

"I don't know. Are they school teachers?"

"Their uniforms are all different. They can't be school teachers. What, they all look so tough? Are they gangsters?"

Blushing, Choi Yulmok walked towards a corner of the bookstore. While he was embarrassed, the others were blooming like flowers, following him.

"This is nice. It's good to breathe fresh air. After smelling pencils every day, it's nice to smell diffusers and candles."

"Good, this. It would be nice if the academy principals could get closer through this joint evaluation."

"While we're at it, I know a great place for grilled intestines. After the joint evaluation, let's have a drink together, okay?"

"Ah, that sounds good, that sounds good."

It looked like a middle-aged group on a field trip.

Ignoring the middle-aged men following him, Choi Yulmok quietly picked up a book.

Gangseok. A name that always made him feel warm.

Like most art books, it was carefully wrapped in plastic, so he couldn't open it. Still, the cover alone was convincing. Gangseok, who always drew the human body incorrectly, had a human figure sketch collection.

I feel proud even though I didn't do anything.

To succeed before graduation, the words I said a few years ago seem meaningless. Choi Yulmok, who had carefully written on the plastic, held about nineteen copies and turned towards