Art of Time

Since they’ve known each other, Madame Choi has given them time to talk. They are now sitting in a coffee shop inside the art gallery. The aroma of the coffee beans is so refreshing like it’s also reviving her long-lost memories with him. He’s not the same young boy that appeared in her dreams. Although he has clear pale skin, she noticed that he has aged. His monolid eyes are round and brown while staring at her with wonder. His tall sharp nose has once made her envy him. His entire face describes him the same as before as an umchina* like Song Joong-ki. (A son of a mother's friend, meaning mother's friend's son who is good at everything.)

The ambiance of the coffee shop is conventional with a minimalist art design on the walls and in every corner, a strange form of art is displayed. The surrounding is a basic pattern of her unexplained emotion of meeting him after years. This unexpected event has become an art of time with karma’s involvement. Here they are sitting across from each other with separate coffees on the table. His is iced Americano while hers is a hot caramel macchiato that matches their moods. She doesn’t know what to say like what she did when she left. This is not awkwardness or distance. There are no words to explain the situation they are in. There is something in him that makes her a bit nervous. He looks calm but he does not look friendly enough to talk to. He somehow looked upset.

“So, after so many years here we are.” He finally said speaking casually to Mayu, which made her wonder if she should talk to him like that too.

“Oh, I never expected to meet you today actually. I saw your paintings. They’re magnificent. I never thought that you’ll pursue painting. And now, you are also into photography. That is nice.” She said casually as if she'd talked to him for years.

He smiled but not a happy one. “I got caught up from a moment.”

“Congrats looks like you’re doing great,” she said as she tried to take a sip of her drink.

“I don’t exactly think if I’m doing great. It’s been months since I paused from painting. So, I just focus on photography. You also look great, I did not know you write?”

“You knew I was writing in my diary. That somehow made me think what if I write to live?”

“Oh, yeah, you had a diary before.” He paused and took a sip of his coffee. “We’ll work together soon.”

“Y-yeah.” That’s the only thing that she could think of to say.

“Did you go back with your parents?” He asked.

“No, it’s just me. I’m living with Cha Hea. Do you remember her?”

“Cha Hea? Ah, the chubby girl?”

“She’s not chubby anymore. She’s a gym instructor now. Are you not attending the reunion? She’s always present.”

“No, I had never. I was busy painting.”

She thought, Cha Hea once mentioned that Hwan and Moon Areum had already broken up since they were in college. She has this urge to ask him about that but her instinct tells her that this is not the right time to ask it. Seconds later she heard his phone ring somewhere in his body. He picked it out from his pocket to answer it.

“I’m here at the gallery. Where are you?” He asked the other line. “Okay, I’ll be there.” After that, he ended the call and looked at her. “I need to go.”

He stood up first so she also rose. He dug in his back pocket to get his wallet and he opened it to get a card. “Since we need to work together, you can call me.” He handed his calling card. “I’m free anytime.”

“Araso*, I’ll call you soon.” (I understand, informal)

###

The evening finally came. If during the day the surroundings smell like heat due to the season of summer. At night you cannot distinguish the season due to the blinding lights from the buildings and cars on the road. The traffic is as usual during the rush hour where you will wait longer at the bus stop. Although she’s been living here for months, the overwhelming feeling and excitement have never left her body.

After years of wanting to experience Seoul again now, she never gets tired of it. She loves everything about it. She loves the breathing breeze of the night air that smells like reality. The busy stalls on the streets are like a paradise where you can drink for as long as you want. Every corner is selling her favorite dishes that taste better than home. Here in Seoul, she has found deliverance. She has a job and she’s now pursuing her dream of writing a screenplay for a series. She wants to become the first foreign screenplay writer that writes dramas. Aside from having a job in the art gallery, she’s also writing her series which she’s ready to pitch.

Now Mayu is with her friend Cha Hea at a restaurant that sells Samgyeopsal* with soju as a drink. (Korean barbecue) They are sitting across from each other. Cha Hea is a fine woman with tanned skin and with a round face but has muscular physical features. Unlike before during High School, she was fat which made some students bully her. She has been friends with Mayu since Middle School. She’s not the only friend of Mayu but she finds her comfortable to live with since she’s disciplined.

Cha Hea is grilling the meat while Mayu is eating.

“How was meeting Ye-sung-ah?” She asked Mayu.

Mayu swallowed first, “I can’t understand the feeling.”

“Well, you left us without saying goodbye.”

“I was immature back then; I took revenge by not saying goodbye.”

“Now he’s famous. Who would have thought? We were always talking about him at every reunion. I think Woo-suk has his number.”

Mayu smiled greedily while she picked up his calling card on the back of her phone. “He gave me his number.”

Hea has stopped grilling to get the calling card from Mayu’s hand. “Daebak*, he gave you his number?” (Awesome)

Mayu stole the card away from Hea’s hand. “O, I’ll be working with him.”

“Jinjja*? Nice! Geureonde* are you okay working with him?” (Really, informal) (But, informal)

“It’s fine, he’s not an ex.”

###

Days have passed like pages in a book. Madame Choi has given Mayu time to study art and its artist to familiarize herself with the gallery. She researched Ye-sung who’s also known as the son of a popular female trot singer during the early 90s. It also mentioned that he started painting as a hobby at a young age which she already knew. His first artwork entitled First Love was recognized by a renowned and older painter who was his professor in college. After seeing that specific artwork, he encouraged Hwan to pursue painting to sell it. That made Hwan change his mind regarding his profession. Various art enthusiasts and well-known celebrities have been interested in Hwan’s works. Hwan also mentioned in the interview that his first painting the First Love has been popular for auction but he does not want to sell it because it’s special to him. He just decided to display it in the gallery to showcase its beauty.

After reading the article Mayu stood near the painting once again. Now she wonders why the hell the painting is special to him. She also finds it strange that people could see the beauty in it although amateurs did it for fun. She’s even thinking about making another painting with Hwan and selling it at a really huge price since people consider this painting a masterpiece.

Since she’s been busy, she forgot to call Hwan. Madame Choi made her remember that she needs to work with him for the upcoming photo exhibit months from now. She has no idea what to do with him. She checked several times his IG posts to be able to create a concrete question and tagline for his upcoming event. She wants to personally see the photos he’ll display on the exhibit. That gives Mayu the idea to finally call Hwan. She removed the case of her handphone to get the calling card inside it. When she got the calling card, she fixed the case again before reading the card and then calling its number.

He answered the call, “Hwan-ah, can I see the photos that you’ll exhibit next month?”

“Yeah, sure.” He said on the other line.

“When?”

“Maybe after I get out of the hospital?”

“Bo*? Wae? What happened to you?” Mayu asked. (What? Informal)

“I had an accident yesterday.”

“Bo?! Gwaenchanha*?” She asked, shocked. (Are you okay? Informal)

“Ah, o, I’m fine.”

“Which hospital are you in?”

###

Hwan told Mayu which hospital he was in. After work, Mayu decided to visit him while she brought packs of ginseng for good health. She was walking inside the hospital going to the elevator when her phone rang while she was holding it. When she reached the front of the elevator door, she answered it but the call suddenly dropped, so she looked at her phone with confusion. When the elevator opened, she waited for everyone to go out first, when the last person was about to go out, she decided to enter. Due to that the woman who was going out bumped into her shoulder which made her drop the box of ginseng on the floor.

“Joesonghamnida*.” Mayu said the woman before they bowed their heads. Mayu immediately picked up the box. The woman tried to get it also on the ground. (I apologize, formal)

When Mayu went back from standing straight, the woman has pale white skin and although her eyes are slanted, it has a double lid but it’s not round. Her semi-formal attire looks expensive and her shoes don’t look cheap. The handbag on her hand is branded also. Her setup made Mayu worried if she annoyed her.

“J-joesonghamnida.” Mayu once again apologized and after that, the woman left her. Due to this, she did not make it to the elevator.

She waited for minutes before the elevator going up arrived. When she reached, the floor she looked for the room number that was sent by Hwan through text. When she found it, she took a glimpse from the glass on the door. Hwan is sitting straight while on the bed and his left leg has bandages. From the sofa near the bed, a woman is sitting there. When she looks closely at her, she realizes that it’s Ajumma*, Hwan’s mother. (middle-aged woman; madam)

She brightly opened the door when she saw his mother. “Annyeong haseyo.” she bowed as she opened the door.

“Annyeong haseyo.” The mother of Hwan said while she slightly bowed her head.

“Aigo, look at you,” Mayu said to Hwan as she shook her head, and then she put the box of ginseng on the side table near the bed.

“Do remember my mother?” Hwan asked Mayu.

“Of course!” She faced his mother. “Do you still remember me, ajumma? You still look pretty.”

She stood up to walk towards Mayu before she squinted her monolid but round eyes to look at her and shook her head with confusion. “I don’t remember.” She said.

“It’s me Mayu. The daughter of Sylvia and Mario Acda? Your Filipino neighbor back in the days?” Mayu said.

“Whoa, really?! I remember now!” she came towards Mayu and held her arm. “Oh my, you still look young! You look pretty!”

“Aniyo*, you look much prettier and never aged.” (No, formal)

His mother was fluttered, “How are you? Where have you been?” she asked Mayu.

“I’m working in the gallery. I’ll be working with Hwan-ah. I’ve been here in Seoul for 7 months now, ajumma.”

“It’s good to see you after so many years.”

“Ne, I’m happy I’m back.”

“Where’re my manners, do you want some coffee? I’ll buy you some coffee.” She said. “I’ll be back.”

She left Mayu and Hwan in the room that made Mayu focus on Hwan on the bed.

“How are you?” She walked near the bedside. “Is this hurt?” she tried to poke the left leg with a bandage.

“Thanks for coming,” Hwan said.

“What the hell happened?”

“I was drunk. I was outside to drink alone. When I was about to cross the pedestrian, I did not see the stoplight turned red.”

“Good thing your leg got injured, not your hands. You should be careful. If you want a drinking buddy you can call me.”

“I need some time alone.”

“Why? Do you have any problems?”

“I can’t paint.”

“Why?”

“Maybe I feel empty.”

“After all these years of the painting you’re burnt-out. You need inspiration. You need love.”

He chuckled. “I need love?”

“It's a creative block. I’ve been there. The passion has gone, you need another reason to ignite your passion. Have you tried traveling?”

“Yes.” He nodded his head. “I’ve been traveling since the beginning of the year.”

“Watch some movies and series related to arts or romance?”

“Also tried that.”

“Meeting new people? Like blind dates?”

“Have you tried that?”

“You need to consider being in a relationship. Being alone in this absurd world is boring.”

“Boring? Not lonely?”

“I’m single but I’m not lonely.” She confidently said. “About your exhibit. Can I see your photos? I want to create a title for your exhibit and make an invitation about it.”

“After I got out of this. I’ll show you.”

“When is that?”

“Ahm, tomorrow?”

“Okay, the day after tomorrow?”

“Okay, call.”

After that conversation the door opened, Hwan’s mother arrived with an iced Americano in her hand. Mayu immediately offered her hand to help her carry the coffee and thanked her.

“Can we talk outside?” She asked so Mayu nodded her head.

“This may be shameful but can you please take care of Hwan for tonight?” She asked her.

“N-ne?” She asked as if she heard her wrong.

“Do you remember Tae-eun? Hwan’s yeodongsaeng*? She just gave birth 3 days ago and she needs help taking care of her baby.” (Younger sister)

“Ah, you will go home tonight?”

“O, is it okay with you?”

She swallowed first thinking she doesn’t have a choice. “N-n-ne, it’s alright.”

“Gomawo*, his secretary will be here tomorrow. As payment for doing this, I’ll invite you to eat with us someday.” (Thanks)

“N-n-ne, no problem, ajumma.” She said unsurely.