Chapter 163
Chapter 163
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 163
Chapter Title: Let's Break Up
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Hyorin's words made it feel like time itself had frozen.
"Wh-what... what did you just say?"
But Hyorin had clearly been thinking about this even before we set out. She gazed at me wistfully as she spoke.
"Let's end things here."
"You're joking, right?"
"I'm not. So don't think about someone like me anymore. Go higher. Climb even further."
Frustrated, I replied.
"What's the point without you?"
"No, that's just... you're used to it. Because I've always been by your side."
"No, why are you even saying this?"
"You're an amazing person."
What did being an amazing person even mean? Was success that important?
I just couldn't understand what Hyorin was saying.
Success—sure, I knew it was important.
But did it really mean I had to let go of the person I loved?
"No, I don't need that."
"No, you do. It's the path that's best for you. And take this."
With that, Hyorin pulled a bankbook out of her bag and held it out to me.
"What's this?"
"Money."
"What?"
"It's five million won that I've earned bit by bit over time."
"Why would you..."
"It's the only thing I can do for you."
No matter what I said, it was like her ears were closed. She just kept repeating the same thing.
I was angry, but I didn't lash out. Getting mad wouldn't solve anything.
Instead, I decided to ask about her true feelings. It was the only option left.
"You really think this is what's best for me?"
Nod.
"So you've decided to break up for my sake?"
Nod.
Hyorin just nodded silently, and I let out a long sigh before asking.
"But why are you making that face?"
Her lips were pressed tightly together, tears streaming down her cheeks.
She clearly didn't want to break up, but she was trying to do it for my sake. It almost made me furious.
Really...
I turned to Hyorin and asked.
"I don't know what you're thinking or how, but this isn't right. No, actually, you're looking down on me right now."
"No. I..."
"No, this is looking down on me. You're saying I can only succeed if I meet a woman with a good background. How little faith do you have in me?"
"That's not it. If only I could support you, you could climb even higher than you are now."
"You don't mean..."
Her words suddenly reminded me of the conversation I'd had with Director Go after my first solo exhibition.
That's when Director Go had said.
—Kanghyeok, why don't you go to America?
—America? Why America?
—To study.
—Study?
—Yeah. Broaden your horizons, and your paintings will hold even richer emotions.
—Nah, no thanks. Where would I get the money for that?
—I'll support you.
—I don't want to owe you any more than I already do, Director.
—You think of it as a debt?
—Isn't it?
I should have realized right then when the talk turned to support.
It seemed Hyorin had overheard that conversation with the director.
"Be straight with me. Did you overhear my talk with Director Go?"
Nod.
Hyorin nodded sadly with teary eyes.
At that sight, I let out a hollow laugh.
"You didn't hear the end, did you?"
"No."
"If you were gonna eavesdrop, you should have heard it all."
Hyorin's face shifted subtly.
Seeing that change, I chuckled and said.
Which made sense—if she'd heard the end of that conversation.
"Tell me what you and the director talked about that day."
Nod.
She wouldn't have made this decision.
Hyorin nodded.
To learn the truth of that day.
Everyone's faces were filled with question marks.
But I couldn't continue.
"Shouldn't we move to another spot now?"
The story had dragged on, and we'd been sitting there for quite a while.
We were still in the museum from the sudden start.
Originally meant as a quick rest area, we'd taken it over, so plenty of people were shooting us dirty looks as they passed.
"It's fine."
Representative Yoon.
"Representative Yoon says it's fine. Please continue."
Even Officer Kim was saying that, the stickler for the rules.
But Daeun, whom I'd expected to react strongly, just sat quietly.
Wasn't she curious?
That's when Daeun spoke up.
"Daddy."
"Yeah?"
"I heawd that befowe."
"Yeah? Heard what?"
"Mommy cwying."
I'd heard Mom cry before.
At Daeun's sudden words, I asked curiously.
"Where'd you hear it?"
"Mommy towd me."
"Hyo-Hyorin did?"
I couldn't help but jump in surprise at the thought that Hyorin had shared this story with Daeun.
"Mommy said on her biwthday. It was the happiest in her wife wiwfe. Supew happy."
"Hyorin said that?"
And at Daeun's following words, I couldn't help but smile.
"Mommy said when she cwyied, it was the fiwst time happy."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
Seeing Daeun's bright smile, I could picture Hyorin's expression as she told the story.
I turned to the two still watching me curiously and smiled.
"Then I'll tell you the rest on the way to the car."
They shot up from their seats, unable to wait any longer.
And with a grin.
My story continued.
Night had deepened.
But we stayed right there, gazing at each other.
"Tell me. What I heard wasn't the end."
"Yeah, exactly. If you were gonna listen, you should have heard it all."
Hyorin must have thought I wasn't going to America because of money.
That's why she'd given me everything she'd earned.
I folded the bankbook she'd given me carefully and said.
"That day, when the director told me to go to America, I said no."
"Why? Because of money?"
"You think I'd skip America just for something that simple?"
"Then no?"
"Of course not."
There was only one reason I didn't go to America.
Maybe it was a huge reason.
"The director said broadening my horizons would let me put more varied emotions into my paintings. But I told her she was wrong."
"Wr-wrong?"
"Yeah. For me, painting was for one person only."
I glanced toward the crashing waves.
"Honestly, when I first went to university, I had no real plans. I just liked drawing, so that's why I went."
It was true.
Not some grand dream. Part of it was the government stipend, and vague hopes it'd give direction to my wandering life.
"It was reckless. Even with the stipend, I'd have to pay tuition eventually."
That money could've supported me for a few months.
"But after starting school and meeting you, my thinking changed. I was glad I'd come."
"Me?"
"Yeah. Remember the first time you took me to your hometown, the one you remembered?"
Nod.
Hyorin nodded, and I hid a shy expression as I continued.
"I didn't say it then, but I knew for sure."
"What?"
"That you were the answer."
Her face flushed, just like the first time I'd confessed and asked her out.
"No need to be embarrassed. It was true. You steadied my wandering life, and the more time we spent together, the more certain I became. I knew it had to be you."
So right after graduation, I confessed to Hyorin.
Asked her to date me.
It might've been the most honest I'd ever been with my feelings.
At that, Hyorin stiffened and asked.
"But why tell me this now?"
"Because that's why I paint."
I'd told the director that day.
No emotions to learn from America.
That one emotion in my paintings was enough.
"You have to be there for my paintings to be complete, you fool."
Hyorin looked sad as she replied.
"But wouldn't you learn a lot in America?"
"You're serious?"
"Yeah."
"You really..."
I shook my head at her words.
From one to ten.
She was thinking only of me, not herself.
So I got a little angry.
"Why do you keep trying to make me the bad guy?"
"Wha—I mean, me?"
"Yeah. I exist because of you, so why are you trying to make me seem lacking?"
"..."
"If you leave, my life's painting stays unfinished forever. You trying to make me an artist who can't even finish one piece?"
"The painting of my life..."
It was dark night, but Hyorin's face glowed red enough to push back the shadows.
At her reaction, I took her hand.
"Still want to break up with me?"
"No."
Because Hyorin was the meaning of my life, my life's destination.
I never wanted to let her go.
"And just to clear up any misunderstanding, I really don't want to go to America. Nothing to learn there, and zero desire to study in a place where I can't even communicate."
It was true.
I'd rather spend that time with the Hyorin I loved.
"So never bring this up again."
Nod.
With that, I stood up.
Representative Yoon, in the driver's seat, asked.
"Is this your answer to my question?"
Officer Kim was listening— wasn't that too direct?
But Representative Yoon turned fully toward me, waiting.
I shook my head.
"No, my story isn't over yet."
"Not yet?"
"Yeah. The part where I decided I wanted to marry Hyorin came after."
"Yes! Ma-marriage?"
As expected, Officer Kim Sucheol was shocked. But Representative Yoon seemed determined to hear it all.
"Tell me the whole story. I need to hear it."
The vibe said she'd cause a scene if I didn't, so I grinned and continued.
"Actually, I'd been preparing something for a long time. And I'd always wondered: how do I complete the painting of my life? But hearing Hyorin that day made me realize. You can't complete life's painting alone. I realized a bit late that Hyorin could leave my side someday."
"Then..."
"I still remember it vividly. The sea breeze, the mood that day, even Hyorin's face."
And with a grin, I said.
"That was probably the happiest moment of my life. The moment my life's painting was complete."
Standing up, I looked at Hyorin, her face streaked with tear stains.
I knelt on one knee.
Pulled the ring I'd always carried in my bag and held it out.
"Will you marry me?"
At my words, Hyorin shed big tears like chick peas, but smiled.
"Yeah!"