Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: The Mysterious Painting
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"Daddy!"
After finishing a short conversation with the Art Supply Shop Owner, I headed straight to Daeun and picked out supplies together.
Next to us, the owner—who had snapped back to reality—started filling the basket Daeun was holding with art materials.
"You'll need this too, and oh! These markers are really great. Use these as well."
I tried to stop her as she kept adding things.
"Whew, we don't need this many."
"It's a service, a service."
"Why are you giving us so much service?"
The owner looked at me like I was the one who didn't get it.
"It's a service, and I'm the one giving it. You just take what's offered."
The basket was filling up so much it seemed like she might be closing shop, but she kept stuffing in more materials.
After wrestling with her for a while, I finally got her to stop.
"We just got this new easel in..."
"We already have an easel."
"If you need oil paints, I can do a set..."
"Daeun's still too young for oil paints. We'll come back when she's older."
"No, then you can use them."
"Why would I?"
"You don't paint?"
I was at a loss for words for a moment.
I had painted with Daeun, but I hadn't thought about picking up my own brush again.
It would take time to get used to this life with her.
Pushing aside the flood of memories, I shook my head.
"I'll paint later."
"Why would an artist put down the brush? What if you lose your touch?"
"I won't lose it. If I did from that, I'd have to quit art altogether."
She didn't push further at my half-joking response.
"Come back whenever you're ready to paint again. I'll hook you up properly then."
"I'd have to pay for it. If you keep this up, I'll feel too awkward to come back."
"Try not coming. I'll pack up supplies and hunt you down at your studio."
Whoa... that was a bit scary.
"Got it. So, can you ring these up?"
I handed over the card I'd reissued recently.
"Nah. Like I said earlier, this is a gift for our spunky Daeun."
The owner then knelt down to eye level with Daeun, who was holding bags in both hands.
"Right, Daeun?"
"Yes! Daeun is super spunky!"
"Oh my, such a good responder. Alright, come back to Auntie when you run out of paints. I'll give you paints and supplies anytime you want."
Just then, Aram Go and her friends sidled up, pouting and grinning slyly.
"Wow, Shop Owner! What about us?"
"We come here all the time too. No service for us?"
"Yeah! Service for us too!"
At their pleas, the owner's expression turned icy.
"No. Go home."
"Aw! Why not!"
"If you want service, hold an exhibition first. Then I'll think about it."
'Ah!'
Her words made Aram's friends' eyes go wide.
"An exhibition?"
The owner gave them a similar look and said,
"Don't you know who this is? He's your senior from school."
"O-Our s-senior?"
"Ah, Sh-Shop Owner..."
I tried to cover her mouth in a panic, but it was too late.
"You don't know Painter Kanghyeok Lee? How could you not?"
My identity had come out of nowhere.
'Ah, damn...'
An awkward silence stretched out endlessly.
We entered the campus with our purchased supplies.
Maybe because the weather was nice and warm.
Daeun was running around and playing on the lawn in front of the arts building.
As I quietly watched her, someone spoke up.
"S-Se-Senior... W-Would you like something to drink?"
Her name was Eunbi Kim, right?
With her short bob haircut and round glasses, she approached awkwardly, unlike our first meeting.
I smiled warmly.
"I'd prefer if you treated me like before."
"Heek! A-Are you un-uncomfortable?"
'Your reactions right now are what's uncomfortable...'
I wished she wouldn't, but it seemed like time was needed.
"I wasn't hiding it. Just hadn't found the right moment to say."
If I'd wanted to hide, I would've from Aram too.
Maybe that got through to her.
"So, treat me casually like at first."
Eunbi spoke a bit less awkwardly.
"But I was really shocked. Never thought you'd be Painter Kanghyeok Lee."
Aram, who'd been listening quietly beside us, chimed in.
"I was shocked too. Honestly, Senior, you're like a legend in our department."
Legend? Seemed like too much hype with me right here, but Haeun Park with her long straight hair piled on.
"Speaking of which, truth is, I came to this school thinking I might meet Painter Kanghyeok Lee."
"Yeah?"
"For real! I'm a huge fan."
Sounds fake. Then why didn't she recognize me right away?
Aram seemed to share my doubt.
"Pfft, then you should've known immediately."
"It's true! The only photo of you is from graduation, and after that, I'd only seen your works. Of course I didn't know. I went to all your exhibitions, even the day of the accident... Ah."
Haeun clamped her mouth shut, realizing her slip.
I smiled at her.
"The accident isn't a bad thing. Waking up healthy like this is a blessing."
A blessing named Hyorin.
"Still, surprised. Didn't know you were at the exhibition that day."
Haeun nodded vigorously.
"Probably not just me—everyone there was shocked. Oh, your aunt was too."
"Hey!"
"Ah! S-Sorry! Th-That was a s-secret... right?"
At Haeun's words, Aram bit her lip and glanced around.
As if no one else knew.
Eunbi blinked at their reactions.
"What? Aram's aunt was at Senior's exhibition?"
"Ah, th-that's..."
Aram panicked and glanced at me.
Wondering if I knew the person.
Then it hit me.
Aunt, Aram, and someone at my exhibition on the day of the accident.
It all connected, bringing one face to mind.
Ice-cold personality, and I'd met her just days ago...
"No way. Director Go Yunmi is Aram's aunt?"
Aram let out a long sigh.
"Sigh... Haeun Park, we're talking later."
"S-Sorry... It just slipped out..."
Spilled milk couldn't be unpoured.
Still, Director Go being Aram's aunt was a surprise.
"Wait. So you knew who I was, Aram?"
It was the mural job she'd requested.
But apparently not.
"No, I really didn't. I went there because she asked me to. I didn't even know you'd be there."
Makes sense—given Director Go's personality, she wouldn't spill details.
So, she hadn't set it up on purpose.
Just sent me hastily to create a sponsorship pretext.
"Wow, I knew you were well-off, Aram, but your aunt runs Arnia Gallery, the dream of every artist? And I was the only one out of the loop..."
Hmm, you'd think she'd burrow into the ground.
It could feel bad, but Eunbi knew Aram's personality well.
"No! I found out by chance too. Didn't want to make things awkward for her."
"I know, but... just, you know."
Eunbi looked up at the clear sky and sighed.
"Feels chilly today... Is this loneliness or something?"
Aram put strength into her eyes.
"I'll buy you a hamburger."
"Ah, warming up! But still cold."
Haeun shot her hand up.
"Add your favorite chicken salad!"
"Ah, healed! Heart's warm now."
Her face brightened instantly. Their friendship made me smile.
"You three seem really close."
They grinned and shook their heads.
"Nope, not close."
"Yeah, just pretending."
"It's a love-hate thing."
Hmm, better not pry or their friendship might crack.
"Anyway, so glad you woke up without issues, Senior."
Haeun sounded genuinely relieved.
I smiled back.
"But are you really my fan?"
"Think I'm lying?"
Usually, yeah.
People say flattering stuff.
"I've seen so many of your paintings. I can tell your style from others. Oh! That painting in the studio is yours too, right?"
Studio painting?
Eunbi clapped.
"Ah! The one with all the debate if it's Senior's?"
"I saw it. The landscape at the studio entrance, right?"
Nod.
Haeun nodded and asked me.
"That's yours, right, Senior?"
I couldn't answer right away.
Sorry to her eager eyes, but I didn't remember.
"Uh, I don't remember..."
"Yeah?"
My response caught her off guard.
"R-Really? Don't remember? That rural landscape! You painted it yourself. I know your style—no one else could..."
Sorry, truly didn't ring a bell.
Might be from school days, but I drew so many jokingly then; it'd be weirder to remember exactly.
"Even if you say that..."
Couldn't fake remembering what I didn't.
Haeun pondered, then pulled her last card.
"Then let's all go see it. Might jog your memory."
"Ooh, good idea. Everyone in the department's curious if it's really yours."
"Yeah, it's one of our department's three great mysteries."
Three great mysteries? What's that?
Sure, I'm a school rep, but is my painting worth that?
Honestly, not sure.
'Well, hasn't been to the studio in ages. Not bad.'
I felt anticipation for a different reason.
Entrance, every semester, graduation prep.
Lived in that studio.
Full of memories with Hyorin too.
So, with different expectations from the three, I called Daeun playing on the lawn.
"Daeun!"
"Yeah! Daddy!"
"Wanna go see some paintings?"
At "see paintings," she toddled over eagerly.
"Yeah! Daeun wants to see paintings!"
I took her hand and followed the three to the studio, where we saw the so-called three great mysteries painting.
Click.
"This is the one I mentioned."
A single landscape hung above the studio door.
The moment I saw it, I instantly knew why the rumors spread.