Chapter 62
Chapter 62
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: The Couple's Promise
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Painter Oh Sangmun was Director Go Yunmi's husband.
'Wow, the director really is something else.'
How could she send me to her husband Painter Oh Sangmun's exhibition without any explanation whatsoever?
Well, knowing the director's personality, it was entirely possible.
It was information I'd learn anyway once I got there.
But the fact that she hadn't even given Painter Oh a heads-up was a bit shocking.
And now, belatedly, his behavior during the artwork explanation made sense.
"Haha, I should've told you beforehand. Sorry about that."
With that, he suddenly looked at Daeun and asked playfully,
"Did Daeun know?"
Shake, shake.
"Then you're not a stranger anymore, so you'll take the snack from Uncle, right?"
Nod! Nod!
Daeun knew the word "husband," too.
So she finally accepted the snack Painter Oh offered.
"Th-thank you."
"Eat up. I handpicked these, so they're delicious."
Swoosh.
Then he looked at me, flashed a grin, and said,
"Shall we take a walk?"
"Ah, sure."
"What about me?"
"Daeun should come too."
"Yes!"
And so I followed Painter Oh out of the building with Daeun in tow.
It was noon with the sun high in the sky, bright sunlight pouring intensely over the gallery grounds.
We walked side by side through it.
Step.
"You looked pretty shocked. Hope it didn't upset you."
"Oh, no, not at all."
I wasn't upset in the least. From their perspective, they had no obligation to tell me.
The only thing nagging at me was the director's past, perhaps.
"Then that expression means you know a bit about our story."
He was uncanny.
To pick up on that just from the shift in my expression.
"Yes, I found out by chance."
"I figured. Yunmi isn't the type to tell others."
What was it?
Painter Oh's face looked somehow bittersweet as he said it.
"Well, you might have sensed it, but this exhibition's theme? It's all about our angel."
I'd suspected as much.
That child was probably the one who'd brought them the greatest joy.
"That's why I think she sent you two here. Not sure if you know this about Kanghyeok, but Yunmi doesn't express her true feelings easily."
Was that really it?
She hadn't let on at all, so I hadn't realized, but now it seemed plausible.
Especially since it was the director.
"Honestly, when I heard you two were coming, I was a little disappointed. Yunmi was the one I wanted to connect most with these new pieces."
Now I understood the constant bittersweet smile on his face.
As Painter Oh spoke, one thing suddenly piqued my curiosity.
"But when did you come down to Daegu? The pieces look like they've been in preparation for a while."
"Daegu?"
Swoosh.
At the mention of Daegu, he glanced toward the mountain behind the gallery.
Then he let out a long sigh and said,
"Probably right after the child left us."
"Pardon?"
No, that would mean... right after the child died?
In that time of grief and pain, husband and wife had separated instead of comforting each other.
"Yeah, that's exactly the reaction I had. Why split up at such a sad time?"
"Th-then it wasn't your choice to come down..."
Nod.
"Yeah, Yunmi suggested it."
What on earth had Director Go been thinking?
I was dying to know her inner thoughts, but it wasn't something I could ask now.
"I don't know why, but I was in so much pain back then that I agreed. Probably started living down here in Daegu around then."
I nodded slightly and asked,
"Don't you want to go back up to Seoul?"
"Seoul? Hm, haha."
He laughed suddenly at the mention of Seoul and shook his head.
"Nah. It's too noisy for no reason. I like Daegu better for living. Just a bit out of the city center and it's all mountains—peaceful for the mind, and no better place for working."
It was strange.
He said he disliked it, but somehow his words felt like he was saying he wanted to return to Seoul.
Daeun must have sensed it too.
"Uncle, don't you wanna see Director Lady?"
"Yeah?"
"If it was Daeun, she'd wanna see her a ton."
"Haha, Daeun felt that, huh?"
"Yes."
Their exchange sparked my curiosity.
What had the director been feeling when she sent us here?
"Hmm, still, Uncle doesn't wanna. Doesn't wanna see her."
A much firmer tone than before.
But his face wasn't stiff. Still playful, yet unwavering in his stance.
'Ah.'
In that moment, I suddenly understood Painter Oh's feelings to some degree.
The passionate refusal to my question about going back to Seoul.
'He's waiting for her.'
He seemed to be waiting. Until she called him first.
Painter Oh, in Daegu far from Seoul.
For years...
Grin.
"Uncle's just gonna stay here."
For the first time, I felt sorry for Painter Oh Sangmun.
* * *
The sun began slowly cresting the mountain ridge. With it, long twilight shadows stretched across the ground.
"Daddy, Daeun's hungry."
"Yeah, let's go to the restaurant Painter Oh recommended."
"Yes! Yay."
We'd been chatting so much that time got away from us.
I'd planned to check out downtown Daegu, but heading out now would be too late, so we decided to hit a nearby spot and head to our lodging.
"Aren't you a little disappointed?"
"Huh?"
"About Painter Oh. Would've been nice if he came too."
"Ah! But! He said he couldn't come!"
Unfortunately, we couldn't have dinner with Painter Oh.
Apparently, there was an important guest among today's visitors, so he had to host them separately. He apologized profusely before heading off.
Well, it didn't bother me. I understood completely.
After all, for an artist, the most important people were those who bought their work.
"Still, it'll be yummy just us. Sound good?"
"Yay!"
He had recommended a great place near the gallery. Supposedly, even famous celebrities came by.
Painter Oh had eaten there a few times himself and swore we'd love it, so I was looking forward to it.
Daeun and I caught a passing taxi and headed to the restaurant he'd mentioned.
Screech.
Stepping out, we saw the parking lot already packed with cars.
'Whoa, it's hopping.'
Definitely a popular spot—cars crammed right from the entrance.
The lot was full, and inside looked just as crowded, barely room to stand.
Could we even eat here? I wondered strongly, but since it was recommended...
With sheer determination to eat somehow, I spoke to the lady at the counter who seemed like the owner.
"Excuse me. Any seats available?"
"Ah, yes! How many? Do you have a reservation?"
"No reservation. One kid, one adult."
"So two total?"
"Yes!"
"One moment!"
She quickly went inside to check, then came back out.
"There's a spot open by the entrance. Would that work? I can show you."
"By the entrance?"
I glanced over—sure enough, a small table sat empty.
Most groups seemed to be four or more, leaving the small one vacant.
Just Daeun and me anyway.
The entrance spot was a minor drawback, but with the place overflowing, inside or out was all the same.
I decided quickly.
"Yes, entrance is fine."
"Ah, this way then."
Following her lead, Daeun and I finally snagged a seat.
"Ready to order?"
"Two nurungji sets, please."
"Two nurungji sets. Anything else?"
"Oh, could we get a kid's spoon if you have one?"
"We'll bring a small plate too."
"Yes, and scissors if possible."
Nod.
The lady was incredibly kind.
"Of course. I'll bring everything right over."
This place specialized in nurungji sets—you couldn't get them just anywhere.
Painter Oh had raved so much that I was dying to try it myself.
Proving its fame, the wall beside our table was plastered with photos of celebrities who'd signed them.
Seeing the autograph extravaganza, Daeun asked,
"Daddy, you're super awesome too, so sign!"
"What?"
"Daddy's super famous! So you gotta sign!"
Man, whose kid is she? Talks so sweetly.
Grinning ear to ear at Daeun's words, I teased playfully,
"Is Daddy really that cool?"
"Yeah! Coolest daddy for Daeun!"
"Really?"
"Yeah! Totally real! So Daddy sign here too!"
Her words were touching, but unlike these folks, I wasn't that famous.
Compared to them, I might even fall short.
I appreciated Daeun's sentiment, but some things just weren't...
"Yeah."
That's when one photo caught my eye.
An old, faded one half-hidden behind the others.
'That photo...'
Old as it was, I recognized it immediately.
Then.
Clatter.
"Let me set out some side dishes."
The same lady who'd seated us wheeled over a cart and placed them on our table one by one.
I asked her cautiously,
"Um, one thing I'm curious about."
"Yes, what is it?"
"Yeah. That photo there."
I pointed to the old one at the wall's end.
"Wondering who they are. Do you know?"
She adjusted her half-slipped glasses and checked the photo I'd indicated.
I'd worried if she was just staff, but she seemed like the owner as I'd first thought.
After a moment's thought,
"Ah, that one?"
"Yes. Do you know?"
At my question, she smiled brightly and nodded.
Nod.
"Oh, of course I do."
"Are they famous?"
"Hmm, probably not now—I don't know their current status—but back then, definitely not famous."
"Then why's there a photo?"
A bit nosy question, but she answered without minding.
"We had a promise with that couple."
"What kind?"
Was the promise that funny?
"Hehe, still cracks me up. They asked if they could hang their photo here. Said they'd become famous and replace it with a real celeb shot, begged us to keep it up till then. It was so amusing back then, and even after all this time, I couldn't take it down."
At her story,
"Daddy, that's them!"
"Yeah, looks like it."
Daeun had caught on too.
A bright smile naturally spread across my face.
'Who would've thought I'd find their photo here.'
A special item that would be treasure to someone.