Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Reunion with the Rival
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My connection with Changsik went back quite a while. Our first meeting was probably around the second semester of my sophomore year in college.
It started because Changsik, from a different department, happened to audit a class in our department.
Swoosh.
Jungeun glanced at me cautiously before quietly taking the call.
"Yeah, Changsik."
Then, as he subtly turned and started walking toward the far side of the studio.
Swoosh.
I reached out and grabbed his arm.
"Put me on."
"Y-You want to take it?"
I'd been about to call him myself, but now that the phone was ringing, there was no need.
"You sure?"
Jungeun looked genuinely worried, but I just smiled and said nothing more.
I took the phone without hesitation and spoke right away.
"Hello."
Kanghyeok?
Changsik's voice came through the receiver.
Hey, it's you, Kanghyeok, right? You're really alive, right?!
He kept asking as if to confirm, over and over. I chuckled softly.
"Yeah, long time no see. Rival."
At that, Changsik's voice cracked for a moment.
Hey, you... really...
Bae Changsik—my rival as a painter and in life itself.
His reaction made me smile.
"I figured you'd chew me out for taking so long to wake up, but I guess you were worried after all."
You call that worrying?
"So, how've you been?"
How could I be fine...? My rival vanished.
Still choking up, Changsik went on, and I couldn't help but laugh.
"Glad to hear you're still the same. That's a relief."
Of course. Do you know how long I waited for you to wake up?
"At least it wasn't a wasted life. My rival was waiting for me to come back—most rivals would hope for the opponent to die."
What kind of scary talk is that? I've never thought that way.
With that, a brief silence fell.
Bae Changsik—my rival in painting and in life. He was genuinely kind and good-hearted.
But both Jungeun and I had been avoiding his calls for one reason.
"I'm sorry."
It was guilt.
Yeah, you were out way too long.
"No, not that."
Did he catch my meaning?
Changsik went quiet for a moment before asking.
Where are you? I'll head over right now.
"Right now?"
Honestly, there was no reason not to meet him.
Swoosh.
Except for one thing: Daeun.
'Is this okay?'
But I didn't want to keep this relationship hidden forever. I'd planned to tell him someday anyway.
So give me the address. I'm coming now.
And just like that, I'd invited someone I hadn't even considered moments ago into Daeun's studio.
Then, a memory from my college days that I'd long forgotten suddenly resurfaced.
Sophomore year in college, right around the start of the second semester.
My living expenses were dwindling fast, and I was stressing hard.
'Supplies cost more than I thought.'
With already tight funds, buying art materials made it even worse.
Sure, I was covering some with part-time work...
'But tuition's the killer.'
Tuition was the real problem.
Swoosh.
Alone in the empty classroom, face buried in my arms on the desk, I ran the numbers in my head.
Part-time pay for tuition, plus living expenses.
Maybe I should just take a semester off.
Tap.
Someone poked my shoulder.
"What're you doing?"
It was Hyorin, the one who'd tapped me.
"Oh, hey."
I sat up and saw her face. My eyes widened.
"What's with you today?"
She'd done heavy makeup—unusual for her—and was wearing a dress I'd never seen.
"How do I look? Okay?"
"Y-Yeah, okay. But where you headed all dressed up?"
She plopped down in the seat across from me with a wry smile.
"Do you not remember what I said, or was it not important enough?"
"Huh? What do you—"
"I told you yesterday too. After class, I'm going with the professor to an exhibition with someone he knows."
Oh... right. She'd mentioned it casually over lunch.
"Oh, sorry. I remember now."
"Tch."
Not liking my response, maybe?
She pouted and asked again.
"So, how do I look? Okay?"
I pretended to give her a quick once-over.
"Yeah, looks good."
"You think so?"
I'd never been shy around her before. Was it the situation? I hesitated.
"That's it?"
She didn't seem satisfied and pressed, but my answer didn't change much.
"Yeah, you look good."
"......"
Scrape!
With that, she stopped asking.
Instead, she got up with a scary look and moved one seat over.
I'd messed up somehow, but I wasn't sure how.
Our awkward chat ended, and students started filing into the lecture hall.
Soon after, the professor arrived, and class began as usual.
"Today, we'll cover understanding and appreciation of Western art. What comes to mind first when you think of Western art?"
Flash!
Someone shot up a hand.
"Realism—that's the first thing for Western art."
The guy looked about my age. Not huge, but tall even sitting down.
'Realism, huh.'
The professor smiled at the student's answer and turned it back.
"First time seeing you. Not our major, right? Mind explaining why?"
Swoosh.
Before answering, the guy stood, looked around.
Then introduced himself.
"Hello. I'm Bae Changsik, sophomore in Industrial Design. I've always loved art, so I started auditing the professor's class."
A bit stiff, but a clean intro.
The professor seemed pleased.
"Nice to meet you. Makes me curious now. Why realism?"
Changsik explained confidently.
"Western art changed dramatically. Key movements: Romanticism, Realism, Impressionism..."
He rattled off Western art history flawlessly. The professor who'd asked, and everyone else in class, listened in stunned silence.
'Industrial Design?'
I was shocked too. He knew more than me, the major.
"It carried religious meaning, depicted reality to critique society."
Studying that deeply? Only possible if he truly loved it.
That was my take after his presentation.
'Another crazy one.'
The original crazy was right beside me, still pouting: Hyorin.
Who knew there was another like her?
"That's why I thought of realism."
After Changsik finished, the professor clapped.
Clap clap.
"Impressive. Never expected someone else to know it this well."
"Someone else... like me?"
Not kinship—something else in his expression.
What was it? Then the professor pointed at Hyorin beside me.
"Our Hyorin here probably knows even more than you, Changsik."
Swoosh.
Hyorin looked at Changsik.
He stared back, face slightly stiff.
'What?'
An inexplicable exchange of glances, then the professor resumed.
"Good job. You explained well, but missed a few points. Let's pick up from there..."
Class continued for two hours.
Finally, it ended.
"That's it for today. Next week, Impressionist painters. See you then."
"Thank you."
As the professor left, students rose busily.
Amid them, I eyed Hyorin carefully.
"Still mad?"
"Why would I be?"
She was mad.
Her cold vibe screamed it. She always got over it quick, but as a friend, I should help.
I moved to scoot next to her.
"Wait, you're Hyorin, right?"
Changsik from Industrial Design approached her.
"Yeah."
Swoosh.
Even extending his hand like a handshake.
"Nice to meet you. I introduced myself earlier—Bae Changsik, sophomore Industrial Design. I'd love to chat Western art with you."
Chat Western art? Just hearing it choked me.
But he seemed unfazed, confident even.
"Uh... yeah. N-Nice to meet you."
Hyorin glanced between me and him, then shook his hand.
"I'm a sophomore too, Art major."
"No wonder—the professor hinted at it. I wanted Art, but circumstances led to Industrial Design."
Bit of an overshare.
"Oh, so that's why you know Western art so well."
Hyorin, being nice, responded to everything.
"Hey, if you have any Western art books, mind lending some? I love it, got some originals. Helpful for assignments."
'Lending books?'
He'd shown up friendly, now offering his books.
Seemed well-intentioned, but Hyorin looked uncomfortable.
She kept glancing at me—like begging for rescue.
Swoosh.
I stood and went to her side.
"Sorry to butt in, but Hyorin—we're going to the exhibition together today, right? Professor's waiting. Let's go."
"Oh, right."
Her face brightened. Definitely hated the situation.
"Sorry, books later. Got somewhere urgent."
"Oh..."
He looked like he had more to say but didn't.
"Talk later when there's time."
"...Yeah."
Hyorin and I hurried out.
That was my memory of first meeting Changsik.
'Whew, why's that popping up now?'
I shook my head, brushing off the sudden thoughts.
As I stood to pack up.
Knock knock.
Someone from downstairs called up.
"Mr. Artist, guest here. Bring them up?"
I'd hung up just 30 minutes ago.
'He got here fast.'
Like he'd been waiting.
"Yeah, please."
"Right away."
The staff went down, and soon Changsik climbed to the second floor, calling out loudly.
"Kanghyeok, you...!"
Right then.
Daeun, with me, stood and asked.
"Dad, who's that uncle?"
Changsik spotted her and yelped in shock.
Slapping both hands to his face.
"Aw, so cuwte!"
Changsik's sudden baby talk hit me—my brain short-circuited.
'What the hell is this creepy act...?'