Chapter 211
Chapter 211
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 211
Chapter Title: Paintings Are Friends
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Daeun's words, saying that the painting was similar to one I'd drawn...
Swish.
I examined the painting once more.
A single tree, drawn with exquisite detail.
Not a single leaf or branch felt sloppy.
It drew the eye naturally, looking almost like a photograph pinned in place.
'But yeah, it really lacks any distinctive flair.'
Anyone could draw a good picture.
But infusing your own emotions into a painting? Not just anyone could do that.
If I hadn't met Hyorin, would I have ended up painting something like this?
With that thought, I asked Daeun,
"Why do you say it looks like Dad's painting? The style?"
She shook her head.
Daeun shook her head and explained what she saw in the picture.
"This painting is super fun!"
"Yeah? Sounds fun."
"It laughs! It gets mad! And it plays pranks!"
Every time I heard Daeun describe a painting, I felt the same way.
What was it? Incredibly abstract, I guess.
If only she could explain it a little simpler.
But expecting that much from Daeun felt like too much.
So I had no choice but to infer from her words.
'I wonder what kind of kid drew this.'
If it were one of the paintings I'd seen in the practice studio before, I might have guessed who, but...
This was a painting I'd never seen in the studio.
That meant it was something she'd worked on alone at home and brought in.
Swish.
Just in case, I scanned around for the student who might have drawn it.
But no one stood out.
Feeling a bit disappointed, I turned back to the painting.
"Hey, there you are."
Minji approached, her tone like she was looking for me.
"Oh, yeah. Daeun wanted to see more paintings before we go."
"Ah, got it."
Then Minji looked at the painting hanging in front of me.
"You're looking at Horyeong's painting."
"Horyeong?"
"Yeah, you wouldn't know her. She's a student who hardly ever comes to school."
Hearing she skipped school made me feel oddly guilty.
"I-I see. But she must've scraped together enough credits to graduate somehow."
"The professor helped her out with that."
"The professor did?"
"Yeah, the professor feels a bit sorry for Horyeong."
If the professor cared that much about a student, she wasn't your average kid.
Ah, not in a bad way, of course.
If anything, it was probably in a good way.
"Looks like Horyeong's pretty talented."
Nod.
"You saw the painting yourself, so you know. Her skills are top-notch. She's been getting attention for her talent since freshman year."
At that, I glanced around and asked,
"But where is she? I don't see Horyeong anywhere."
"Probably sleeping at the Octagonal Pavilion."
"S-Sleeping?"
"Yeah, she skips class every day and hangs out there."
Skipping classes was bad enough, but the Octagonal Pavilion of all places?
"What an incomprehensible girl."
At my words, Minji gave me a strange look.
"You're one to talk."
"What?"
"Hey, you should be really grateful to Hyorin. Without her, you'd have ended up just like Horyeong."
"Nah, not to that extent."
"No, definitely. The only difference between you and Horyeong is whether there's someone to keep you in line or not."
Of course! I admit it.
Thanks to Hyorin, I was able to attend school without skipping and see it through to the end.
And my paintings improved leaps and bounds because I met her.
But still, to say I'd be like that...
"If you're curious, go meet her."
"Go meet her?"
Daeun, who'd been quietly listening beside me, perked up at Minji's words.
"Daddy! Daeun! Daeun wants to meet her! Daeun wants to go see!"
"D-Daeun..."
"Yeah! Daeun go to Octagonal Pavilion!"
Caught off guard by Daeun's sudden enthusiasm, I didn't know what to do.
Then Minji, who'd brought it up first, smiled and said,
"I'll talk to the director and professor, so go ahead. You've already seen the other works from before anyway."
"That's true, but..."
Squeeze!
Daeun grabbed my hand and yelled,
"Daddy! Let's go!"
In the end, I had no choice but to let Daeun drag me toward the Octagonal Pavilion on campus to meet this student named Horyeong.
* * *
Stepping outside felt like a breath of fresh air.
With so many people around and students on edge from the tension, even I watching had been wound up tight.
Daeun seemed to feel it too.
"Feels good to be outside, right?"
"Yeah! Super good!"
"It's a bit of a walk to the Octagonal Pavilion, so let's take it slow."
"Okay! Got it!"
And so, with the sunlight pouring down as our companion, Daeun and I strolled across the campus.
End of term, so not many students around. Quiet and peaceful.
A sense of leisure I never felt back when Hyorin and I were rushing around campus.
It lifted my spirits naturally.
"Daddy, but Mommy went here to school too, right?"
"Yeah, Mommy did."
"Yeah! Mommy and Daddy went here!"
Smiling brightly at her question, I replied,
"We walked this path all the time. To eat, heading home, or when we wanted coffee during class—every day."
"For real?"
"Yeah, really. If I'd known I'd come here like this with you, it would've been even better."
Of course, that wouldn't happen.
"Hee!"
As long as Daeun was happy, that was enough.
Chatting away with her like that as we walked...
Drop.
"That's the Octagonal Pavilion Minji auntie mentioned."
In the back of the school, an old-looking octagonal pavilion came into view.
Did no one come this way? Not even the murmur of conversation.
Just the breeze from over the hills brushing pleasantly across our faces.
Maybe that's why.
'It'd be nice to come here alone.'
A space that put the mind at ease.
Holding Daeun's hand, I approached the pavilion slowly.
From afar, it looked empty, like no one was there.
But up close, I saw neatly placed shoes and a student lying right in the center.
"Daddy, sleeping."
"Yeah."
Even as we drew near, the student lay still with eyes closed.
'Hmm, should we wait until she wakes up?'
It'd be weird to barge in and ask if she was Horyeong.
Swish.
Checking the time, the event had just started, so we had plenty.
And even if we were a little late, Minji would cover for us.
"Shall we sit and wait here a bit?"
"Yeah! Good!"
Unexpectedly, Daeun and I sat side by side, enjoying the pavilion's atmosphere.
Then Daeun asked,
"Daddy, but Daeun curious about something."
"What?"
"Did Daddy like drawing when he little like Daeun?"
"Yeah, drawing."
"Yeah, Daeun wonder."
When I was little.
Truth be told, I didn't seriously start painting until middle school.
Sure, I'd drawn before that, but just doodling for fun.
Second year of middle school, I think.
Our homeroom teacher was also the art teacher, and she spotted my talent early.
That's when I really started painting seriously.
But that wasn't what Daeun was curious about now.
"Of course I did. I probably loved drawing since I was as young as you."
"For real?"
"Yeah. Back then, I drew on every scrap of paper I could find. Got scolded a ton for scribbling."
"Why get scolded?"
"Well, they thought it was just scribbles, right?"
I didn't remember much from back then, but the scoldings stuck vividly.
I remember because of the emotions.
I don't know why I felt that way, but getting yelled at felt so unfair.
"Truth is, drawing was my play back then. So when they scolded me while I was playing, it felt super unfair."
Daeun nodded at my words.
"Unfair."
Even without knowing exactly what it meant.
But her empathy got me excited, and I kept talking.
"But it was fun anyway. They'd scold me, and it'd feel unfair, so I'd hide and draw more. Get caught, get scolded again, but I didn't care. Draw, get scolded, draw some more, get scolded. Funny, huh?"
"If Daeun was there, would've let you draw!"
"Ooh! Daeun's awesome. If I'd had a friend like you, it would've been great."
Then Daeun said something unexpected.
"That's why you like Mommy, right?"
"Yeah, Mommy."
"Yeah! Mommy lets you draw without scolding!"
Come to think of it...
The first time I felt something for Hyorin...
Was probably when she took me around her old neighborhood.
Yeah, Hyorin had empathized with my paintings.
"Listening to you, yeah. I think I fell for Mommy because of painting."
She taught empathy to someone lacking it.
Taught love to someone who didn't know how.
Maybe even I as a person was only completed thanks to Hyorin.
Just then—
Twitch.
'Huh?'
I felt a sudden movement and turned.
'What? She's awake.'
The student I'd thought was sleeping, Horyeong, was twitching repeatedly.
Maybe she woke from our talking but didn't want to show it.
Suddenly feeling apologetic, I stood quickly and said,
"Ah, you're awake."
"Ah..."
At my words, Horyeong scratched the back of her head and sat up.
"Um... S-sorry. I wasn't trying to eavesdrop."
"No, it's fine."
I smiled and said it was okay, and Horyeong, now fully up, asked,
"Um, you're Painter Kanghyeok Lee, right?"
She knew me.
My name popping out of nowhere left me with an awkward smile.
"You know me?"
"Yes. You probably don't remember, but I attended your special lecture last time."
"Oh, you were there?"
"Yes..."
"Then this works out even better."
"Yes."
She blinked at my words.
"W-what do you mean?"
"I came to meet you, Horyeong."
"Me? Really?"
"Yeah, I was just looking at the painting you did."
At that, Horyeong's expression hardened instantly.
"Ah, that one..."
Her reaction was the opposite of her initial one, piquing my curiosity.
Why react like that all of a sudden?
But her next words made it clear.
"I just submitted that to graduate. The professor said she wouldn't let me if I didn't."
"You just... submitted it?"
"Yes. Once this exhibition's over, I'm throwing it out..."
Her saying she'd discard her own painting filled me with intense doubt.
But more importantly, I had to stop her.
Throwing away her own painting?
I couldn't comprehend it.
"Why? You drew it well. It's more than good enough."
"You don't have to say it that nicely. I know. My paintings suck."
Did she think I was just saying it to be nice?
What did she take me for?
Narrowing my brow at her words, I said,
"No..."
"Hey, uncle!"
Daeun planted her hands on her hips and yelled at Horyeong.
"That's not right! Paintings are friends! You can't throw away a friend! Daeun's gonna get mad!"
It was the first time I'd seen her like this.
Daeun.
Actually getting angry.