Do-gyeom’s eyes brimmed with nothing but adoration directed at Gi-hyeon. Unable to help himself at the sight, Gi-hyeon pressed a flurry of small kisses against his cheek.
“Gi-hyeon-ssi?”
When Gi-hyeon didn’t come out, the waiting Butler knocked on the door. The two conspirators sharing a secret giggled like children. Gi-hyeon cleared his throat and called out to the Butler on the other side of the door.
“Yes, I’ll be right out.”
Gi-hyeon turned his gaze back to Do-gyeom. He was a face he saw every day — so how could each time still feel this tender. He ran a reluctant hand through Do-gyeom’s hair.
“I’ll be back before you know it. See you later.”
As Gi-hyeon followed the Butler out of the room, Do-gyeom suddenly left alone seemed to find the moment awkward, and he scratched his cheek. Do-gyeom looked at the painting on the easel, then carefully made his way toward Gi-hyeon’s desk. The densely packed sketches filling the open drawing book gave him a sense of Gi-hyeon’s passion for his work. With a proud expression, he traced over the small doodles drawn in the corners of the pages.
“…….”
Do-gyeom’s gaze landed on the Porsche key sitting beside the drawing book. The light in his eyes sank in an instant, dropping to the depths of a dark sea. His neat throat bobbed up and down, as though chewing and swallowing down an emotion. The face that had been glowing with full, warm affection now looked hollow.
Gi-hyeon descended the stairs, lost in thought. Gwok Un’s summons had been frequent lately. Beyond the regular confirmations, he had also been showing his face at the studio — somewhere he used to never come down to — and seeking Gi-hyeon’s opinion on paintings to buy and sell. And that wasn’t the only thing that had changed.
“You’re here?”
The biggest change was this kind of attitude. The one who had always arrogantly gestured toward the seat across from him with his chin — now offering his side.
“Here today.”
Gi-hyeon hesitated, but sat down in the seat beside him without showing it. Apparently satisfied, Gwok Un smiled lazily and draped an arm over the back of Gi-hyeon’s chair.
“The director of Mum Gallery was supposed to come by today. Says he wants to borrow some pieces for an exhibition.”
“I see.”
“He already got a reply, so why bother coming all the way here…… what a nuisance.”
Gi-hyeon glanced at Gwok Un from the side. His formal shirt and slacks made him look immaculate, but the corners of his eyes — which he hadn’t quite managed to conceal — were red. Was yesterday Gam Eun-hyeong’s 49th day memorial. The faint sound of weeping had echoed through the estate all through the early hours of the morning. Gi-hyeon had been troubled by it all night, but deliberately chose not to bring it up.
“What kind of person is the director of Mum Gallery?”
“A pig stuffed thick with greed.”
The biting insult made Gi-hyeon burst out laughing. He turned his upper body toward Gwok Un and continued.
“Is there a reason you agreed to let him come?”
“He’s someone who only cares about immediate gain, but he still has pull for now — I thought it would be good for you to know him.”
“Young Master, the director of Mum Gallery has arrived.”
“Send him in.”
Gwok Un rose to his feet, and Gi-hyeon stood along with him. Through the open door, a middle-aged man entered the reception room. Contrary to Gwok Un’s description, he didn’t look particularly shabby — but his narrow eyes had a greedy look to them. Gi-hyeon murmured just low enough for only Gwok Un to hear.
“Indeed — Chairman Gwok raised his children well.”
Hearing his own words turned back on him, Gwok Un swallowed a laugh. The man, who hadn’t noticed Gwok Un’s trembling lips, extended his hand.
“Gwok-sajang, it’s been a while.”
“It has been. You’ve been well, I hope?”
“Me? Of course. And you’re the same as ever, Gwok-sajang.”
As the man kneaded his hand openly, Gwok Un’s eyes narrowed at once. His sharp, upturned eyes swept the man from head to toe. Sensing an ominous sign, Gi-hyeon extended his hand to the man first.
“How do you do. My name is Kim Gi-hyeon — I’m an artist under Gwok-sajang’s sponsorship.”
The man made no effort to hide his displeasure at Gi-hyeon cutting in. He laughed with irritation and shook Gi-hyeon’s hand.
“I don’t recognize the face, but you’re quite bold.”
“I still have much to learn — my apologies for the delay.”
“Gwok-sajang sponsoring an amateur who hasn’t even debuted yet…… isn’t that rather extraordinary?”
The man took an indirect dig at Gi-hyeon. Clearly displeased by his attitude, Gwok Un furrowed his brow openly and pulled Gi-hyeon toward him.
“If you’d seen the work, I don’t think you’d say that — a shame. The debut exhibition is planned to be held at Le Mans. I trust you’ll grace us with your presence then.”
“Ha ha, of course…….”
Cowed by the force of it, the man sat down submissively. Gwok Un took his seat without further preamble and opened the documents. As he scanned through the official letter, something seemed to catch him off guard, and he looked up.
“There’s barely any difference from the letter you sent.”
“One has to hand it to Gwok-sajang’s meticulous way of handling things.”
Even with his abilities being praised, Gwok Un’s face remained cold. His serpentine eyes moved slowly, as if trying to gauge his true intentions.
“Given how busy you must be with all manner of affairs — what is it that brought you all the way here?”
At the blunt demand to get to the point, the man pulled his chair in and leaned forward. The eyes buried between his drooping lids gleamed with greed.
“Well, the thing is——”
A coated tongue licked across his lips and retreated. After drawing it out long enough, the man finally opened his mouth.
“You know Gam Eun-hyeong has been causing quite a stir lately, right?”
Gwok Un’s face hardened in an instant. Oblivious to the ominous shift, the man continued.
“Being reexamined as a tragic young genius, his value has been skyrocketing. And I know all of his posthumous works are in Gwok-sajang’s possession.”
“…….”
“I heard you’ve been turning down all auction proposals, and I completely understand. It’s barely been any time since an artist you cherished like gold died such a senseless death — and people are already talking about selling this, not selling that…… Don’t people have any heart?”
“…….”
“Lend three pieces for this planned exhibition, and I’ll give you 40% of the proceeds. Oh, and the rental fee would be paid separately, of course.”
Gwok Un sat askew in his chair and smoothed his eyebrow. A cold smile settled over his face, which was saturated with volatile emotion.
“You must think it’s quite a bold offer — what do you think?”
“……All of the paintings have been incinerated.”
Dregs of contempt clung to his quiet voice. The knuckled hand gripped and released the armrest as if he might crush it. Gwok Un fixed the man with a ferocious glare — the look of someone who would drive a blade into him without a second’s hesitation if one were within reach.
“What! But why would you——”
“Do you remember, back when Eun-hyeong wanted to exhibit at Mum?”
“Hmm. Did he?”
“You said this, didn’t you — why would you push an artist with no credentials, go build up a career first and then come back. Said that if he did, you’d at least consider it. I remember it clearly. They say you never know how things will turn out in life — isn’t that right?”
“I don’t recall it well, but if I did say that, I’ll apologize. Still, it’s all in the past, so why don’t we——”
“Butler! Please show the director out.”
“Gwok-sajang!”
The man grabbed Gwok Un’s arm in a panic. Gwok Un shook him off roughly. Murderous eyes turned on him.
“If you don’t want to die a senseless death, keep your hands off me.”
“What……”
“Do see yourself out safely. Though it would be even better if you got run over on the way.”
The man’s sagging cheeks trembled with humiliation. As Gwok Un kicked back his chair and stormed out, Gi-hyeon swallowed a deep sigh. With the situation utterly beyond salvaging, he gave the man a silent bow and rose as well.
Gi-hyeon lingered in front of Gwok Un’s bedroom. Because this was where he had held Gwok Un, opening the door was difficult — but turning away was equally so. What if he’s crying again, like he was in the early hours. After hesitating, Gi-hyeon pressed his ear to the bedroom door. Thankfully, no sound of weeping could be heard. He let out a breath of relief — and then a small voice reached him.
“……Come in.”
Gi-hyeon opened the door with care. He had expected Gwok Un, unable to contain his rage, to have made a wreck of the place — but contrary to his expectations, the bedroom was tidy. In the middle of a room where nothing had been broken, Gwok Un sat with his face buried in his knees. The back that had always been so proud it was almost arrogant was now deeply bowed. Even the anger that had been holding him upright seemed to have lost its strength.
“Why did it have to be Eun-hyeong.”
“…….”
“The ones who should truly be dead are those people — so why…… why did it have to be Eun-hyeong……”
It was a voice similar to the sobbing he had heard in the early hours. The hand gripping his own thin ankle was trembling finely. To Gi-hyeon, Gwok Un felt less like a predator and more like a plant. A flower blooming with poison, beautiful and lethal — yet a fragile plant whose neck could be snapped in an instant. In that contradictory fragility, Gi-hyeon suddenly wanted to stroke Gwok Un’s back. He comforted him in a low, quiet voice.
“Because it was Gam Eun-hyeong.”
“…….”
“Because he was too pure……”
Through the disheveled strands of hair, unfocused eyes turned toward Gi-hyeon.
“It must have been so hard to endure. This world is too filthy a place for someone like him to live in……”
Gi-hyeon felt a flicker of déjà vu as he looked into those eyes that were gazing past him. His eyes were desperately clinging to the phantom of the dead. Unable to bear the sight of such desolation, Gi-hyeon closed his own eyes.
“There was nothing to be done. Let’s just think of it that way — just……”
Gwok Un rose from where he sat and felt for Gi-hyeon’s face like a blind man. His fingers slid from his eyes to his cheeks, from his lips to his chin. After a moment’s hesitation, Gi-hyeon opened his mouth.
“You already know, but I’m not Gam Eun-hyeong.”
