Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Mom's Feelings Revealed
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We went back inside the shop.
And the shop owner picked up where she'd left off.
"Now you get why Daeun told her mom that story, right?"
I nodded.
"Yes. Not sure if you knew this, Auntie, but after painting the mural, Hyorin opened up to me about her feelings."
"She told you her feelings?"
When the shop owner asked in surprise, I nodded slightly.
"Yeah. Looking back now, it was all thanks to you."
If it hadn't been for her, would Hyorin have ever expressed her feelings to me?
I cautiously guessed it might have taken even longer.
Just then, Daeun, sitting beside me, asked curiously.
"But what did Mommy say to Daddy?"
"Yeah, is Daeunnie curious?"
"Yeah! Daeunnie's super curious! Tell me what Mommy said!"
Well, of course. I'd stopped right in the middle.
The shop owner and I, who knew the whole story, weren't that curious, but Daeun must have been dying to know.
What happened after that.
So I pulled up a chair with a smile and sat down.
"Want me to tell you what happened after we finished the mural?"
"Mommy story!"
I nodded.
It was a bit embarrassing, but maybe even this would have a positive effect on Daeun.
"It's the story of Mommy and Daddy."
At that, Daeun shot her hand up and shouted.
"Yeah, I wanna hear it!"
And so, I continued the story from after we'd spent two days completing the job.
"Whew, it's finally done."
As I wiped the sweat from my brow and straightened my aching back, Hyorin, who had stepped back to admire the mural, spoke up.
"It's really finished."
The mural depicted a man and woman standing back-to-back, holding hands, with a rising sun in the distance.
Out of curiosity, I asked Hyorin.
"But why did you paint something like this? I get the rising sun symbolizing something positive, but I have no idea why they're holding hands."
Truth be told, I still didn't fully grasp how to infuse emotions into a painting.
I knew it in theory, of course, but even after a year at art school, it was just as hard.
Hyorin, her eyes still fixed on the painting, responded to my explanation.
"Well, does it have to have a reason?"
"Huh?"
"I mean, does a painting really need to convey emotions?"
What was she talking about?
"What do you mean?"
"Well, while painting the mural, it just naturally occurred to me. Why does Professor Kwon always insist on putting emotions into paintings?"
It was a fundamental question.
Couldn't we just see paintings as paintings? Did they have to carry the artist's emotions?
"Why are you suddenly thinking about that now? You never listened when I told you."
But Hyorin wasn't listening to me.
"Then it hit me—painting without any thoughts naturally reveals it. Actually, it might be harder to paint without emotions."
Now she was spouting nonsense...
Painting without emotions is harder?
"Because when you paint what you want to paint, thoughts naturally multiply. They seep into the work and become emotions."
She turned and looked me straight in the eye.
"So I got curious. How do you paint your works without any emotions?"
I had no idea how to respond to this out-of-left-field comment.
She was instinctively infusing emotions into her work, wondering why I couldn't—not mocking me, but still.
"You're so talented. Yeah."
I pouted and started tidying up.
"Oh, sorry. I didn't mean it like that."
"It's fine. And why do you think I don't know? Simple reason: I'm not a talent freak like you."
If anything, I'd acquired my painting skills through hard work.
"Could you stop comparing me to a natural genius who can put emotions into art from birth?"
As I shook my head, Hyorin jumped in surprise.
"Genius? Me? What..."
"No."
"Of course not! I'm no genius. I can't even touch the heels of your paintings."
She was still like this.
"Where do you get that from?"
As she said that, her gaze shifted to the wall.
She was an aspiring artist who hadn't even held a proper exhibition yet, but she had confidence in her eye for art—at least as good as anyone else's.
She just couldn't express it, but years of seeing countless works had sharpened her discernment.
In my eyes, Hyorin's work was top-notch.
Not just the colors, but the details woven into every corner gave viewers a sense of calm.
Except for one thing: what the hand-holding couple meant.
"Enough chit-chat. Let's clean up quick. You said there's a group reservation for lunch today. We need to finish before they arrive."
"Oh... right, yeah."
It felt like the roles had reversed somehow.
She grinned.
Well, it didn't seem so bad. I was starting to understand why she'd volunteered as my assistant all this time.
"Alright, let's get moving."
"Uh-huh..."
We hurriedly tidied up, removed the drop cloths from the floor, changed out of our work clothes, and finally slipped into our regular outfits.
"Good work."
"Thanks. I couldn't have done it without your help, Kanghyeok."
"You'd have managed fine without me. Don't say that."
As I smiled back at her, a group of about twenty people in ties approached from afar.
They were clearly the reserved group.
The first thing they did was check out the mural on the shop wall.
"Wow, there's a painting like this here?"
"Yeah, but it's amazing. Feels pioneering, full of fighting spirit or something."
The male employee said that, but the woman next to him shook her head.
"Nah, I don't think it's that kind of painting."
"Lee, what do you mean?"
"It's that, you know."
"That?"
"Yeah. Love."
"What?"
At the word "love," the male employees furrowed their brows.
"How is this love?"
The woman, stroking her chin thoughtfully as she studied the painting, made a knowing expression.
"It's got that vibe only women get. You can tell at a glance it's love."
At "love," I glanced over at Hyorin...
'What the...?'
Had she eaten something weird? Her face was beet red, like it might explode.
But as their conversation continued, I could only stare blankly at Hyorin, the actual artist.
"Come on, explain properly. Why is it love?"
"Look here."
The woman pointed to one side, as if she had no choice for the demanding man.
"Does this look like they're facing forward?"
"Huh, now that you mention it."
The couple in the painting stood back-to-back like they were watching the rising sun.
But as the woman pointed out, the woman's head was tilted slightly.
As if sneaking a glance at the person beside her.
"Whoever painted this probably hopes someone picks up on their feelings."
"Wow, Lee, did you go to art school? How'd you know?"
"Not art school, design. And any woman would get this. But it's a shame, really."
"A shame? Why?"
"Well, it's obvious the woman has a crush on the guy, but he's totally oblivious. Watching this play out in person would be hilarious. These situations make for drama that beats any TV show."
Unrequited love, and the guy clueless...
She was writing a whole novel.
I couldn't help but chuckle at the woman's ridiculous interpretation, then quietly said to Hyorin.
"Hey, she's really spinning a tale, huh?"
Her response was a bitter whisper full of hurt.
"You idiot..."
"Huh? What'd you say?"
Ugh, what did I do wrong?
Hyorin glared at me, her face flushed deep red.
I raised my hands defensively.
"Why? What did I do?"
Normally, she'd just say "nothing."
"Yeah, a lot."
"What?"
Caught off guard by her unexpected reply, Hyorin dropped a bombshell I never saw coming.
"Even other people get it, but you won't see my feelings, you dumb idiot."
Her... feelings?
What... feelings?
I was utterly confused by her words.
Click.
As Daeun and I left the shop, we bowed to the shop owner.
"Thanks for the meal!"
"We'll come again. Looks like we'll be working nearby for the next few months, so we'll see you often."
"Good, come by a lot. Keep this old lady company."
I smiled at that.
"Sure thing. Gotta eat every day anyway."
"Alright, take care."
Slide.
With our final goodbye to the shop owner, we stepped out.
On the way back to the studio.
Daeun skipped along lightly, her steps full of bounce.
Seeing that, I chuckled softly.
"Daeunnie looks happy."
"Yeah! Daeunnie feels goodie."
"Because of Mommy's story?"
Hearing about the person you love from the person you love feels amazing.
It did right now.
Daeun's face, having heard it, looked like she owned the world—pure bliss.
"Yeah, that's part of it."
Oh, there's more?
"Another reason you're happy?"
"Yeah! Another one!"
What about today's story made her so thrilled?
I had to ask.
"What is it? Can you tell Daddy?"
Freeze!
Daeun halted mid-step and whipped around.
"Oh! Right! Daeunnie totally forgot!"
"Yeah?"
"Daeunnie's gonna scrapbook Mommy's picture!"
"Scrapbook what?"
She turned back the way we'd come and stopped in front of Hyorin's mural.
Then she asked me to take a photo.
"Daddy, take it quick!"
'Take a photo?'
Honestly, Daeun had no need to scrapbook.
With her ability to remember every moment, she could recall Mommy's painting anytime she wanted.
So why suddenly scrapbook Mommy's picture?
'Well, she asked, so...'
Click.
I quickly pulled out my phone and snapped a shot of her in front of the painting.
Daeun waved her hand.
"Daddy! Take one with Daeunnie too!"
She dragged me over, linked arms, and posed.
I switched to selfie mode and took the picture.
Click!
Only after all the photos did Daeun look relieved.
"Awesome! Now Daddy can see Mommy's picture all the time too, 'cause Daeunnie's gonna scrapbook it!"
So that's it—she was scrapbooking for me, not herself.
"And this is why Daeunnie's happy."
Giggling, she beamed with the happiest expression.
"'Cause Mommy told Daeunnie thanks!"
"What story?"
"Here."
She pointed to the spot Hyorin had edited to include Daeun.
And pointing there, she said Mommy had told her.
"Mommy said thanks to Daeunnie! For being born as Mommy's daughter!"
Hearing Daeun's words,
Tears welled up in my eyes unbidden.