chapter 10.3

It wasn’t just because he was a great artist that Yeonhwa was attached to the artist Go Joon. When she was 18 years old in her second year of high school, Yeonhwa travelled to France with her parents. One the way to the airport to return to Korea, YeonHwa was alone in the subway, mixed with strangers. As soon as she arrived at Tertre Square, which is called the Street of Painters. In the background of a beautiful street, painters were painting under an open parasol. Most of them were portrait painters, but there were also quite a few painters selling works depicting Parisian landmarks and landscapes. While walking through the streets, Yeonhwa found a narrow alley. She looked at the image of a person sitting far away in a passage where no one could even notice, and Yeonhwa walked as if she was possessed. The man sitting on the floor turned to the footsteps. Yeonhwa first met Go Joon at the entrance of a dark empty alley.

[Hello, artist Go Joon. My name is Yeonhwa Song, a curator at Rest Museum. I would like to have a conversation with the artist about the exhibition. Please call me when you have time. I’ll wait.]

When she pressed the send button, a long message window appeared on the screen. Yeonhwa, who held the cell phone for 20 minutes and captured the sent message once again, put on a seat belt. And before stepping on the accelerator, she took out the bluetooth earphones from the console box and put them in her ears. Yeonhwa was prepared in advance because she wanted to get a call from Go Joon while driving. She hoped that Go Joon would contact her and that gave her strength to the foot on the pedal. On the way home after dinner with Mi-ok, there was a lot of darkness on the road. The city was incredibly dark today as if it was going to rain at dawn. It was when Yeonhwa’s car stopped at a stop sign.

Rrrr-

The mobile phone that she had placed on the passenger seat rang, and five letters of ‘Artist Go Joon’ appeared on the navigation screen. Without delay, Yeonhwa answered the phone by pressing the button on the earphone.

“Yes. This is Song Yeonhwa from Rest Museum.”

[I know who you are from the message.]

It was a tone close to achromatic, contrary to the bright, soft voice. Yeonhwa was thrilled with joy that Go Joon gave her a call.

“I left a message to the author even though I knew it was rude. I’m really sorry.”

[You know it’s wrong. I didn’t know my personal information would leak out so quickly.]

Yeonhwa bit her lip for a moment. While working as a curator, Yeonhwa met several people and experienced various situations. Thanks to that, she also knew how to flexibly get out of this situation.

“I know you’re getting angry. If it was me, I would have been. I would like to meet the author and express my apology.”

Yeonhwa thought that if she faced him in person, she would be able to relieve Go Joon’s anger.

[You are good. Are you going to meet with me like this?]

The words he threw inadvertently became harsh. Sweat oozes from the hand holding the steering wheel in tension.

[I know your purpose is my work rather than an apology.]

Although he was attacked in succession, Yeonhwa did not panic.

“Isn’t it natural to want to meet with a talented painter?”

At that time, when the light turned green, Yeonhwa looked ahead and stepped on the accelerator.

[That’s a great speech.]

She heard Go Joon’s words mixed with flattering laughter. She couldn’t tell if it was arsenic, but the stiff atmosphere was slightly relieved.

“I’ve liked the author’s work, not just words in my mouth. If you give me a chance, I would like to meet in person and have a conversation.”

[I don’t think we need to meet. I have no intention of exhibiting.]

Yeonhwa, anxious about the words he spoke out, quickly moved her lips.

“The Rest Museum will come to you as an attractive space. I want to talk to you even for a moment, Writer.”

[I need to go.]

Without answering Yeonhwa’s question, Go Joon calmly hung up the phone. When she pulled the earphones out of her ears, Yeonhwa’s car entered the four-lane road. It was a dark night. The shadows of the long cherry trees lining the sidewalk add darkness to the road, so she had to concentrate on driving. As Yeonhwa swallowed a sigh, an old man dressed in black suddenly jumped out of nowhere.

“Ugh!”

Quickly, Yeonhwa stepped on the brake, the seat belt pressed between her chest, and her body leaned forward. The rolling tire-wheel stopped in front of the old man. Whether he was deaf or familiar with this road, the old man leisurely passed by with his hands on his waist. It was the moment when Yeonhwa straightened up her body that had been leaned forward.

Bang!

The car running from behind hit the brakes, but it couldn’t stop completely and hit Yeonhwa’s car rear. Yeonhwa couldn’t even groan, and her body leaned forward to the point that it was incomparable to the previous one.

Thud.

She pounded her forehead in the centre of the handle, and Yeonhwa’s head crushed the horn, its sound tore the air around her.